Pittswood Birds

Day two of spring :-), another mild sunny day, two in a row! Thats the first rarity this year!

I managed to pick up FIELDFARE (39) for the months list early this morning as I crossed Migrant Alley on the way in to work, it was in a large-ish flock of REDWINGS with more Fieldfares, I counted 207 birds in all - split about 50/50. I also found another new species for the month on the way home, a GREEN WOODPECKER (40), which was in the grounds of theGreenhouse Complex.

This afternoon I made my way over to the lake again, picking up a real bonus bird for the month, a BRAMBLING (41). It was in the Small Holding with all the GREENFINCH'S and CHAFFINCH'S that gather there after visiting my garden feeders, so I would say that this is the bird that has been visiting the feeders all last month, this is the first time I have seen it outside my garden.

As I walked through the Wet Woods the 4th new species for the month was seen, the anticipated TREECREEPER (42), also noted here were 4 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, but I couldn't find a Siskin. As I neared the lake area, I passed the large garden with the chainsaw gang in, they were thankfully packing up for the day, but the area had still been disturbed all morning. I got to the 'ornimental' lake and was surprise to see the pair of CANADA GEESE still there, but a better surprise was that the COOT (43) was back, I think it just may of been well hidden yesterday! It nows joins the famous Coot of Dec 2006, as the longest staying one on my patch, will it be here tomorrow and take the record outright ? ( exciting stuff eh?).

A quick look around the adjacent scrub area, and the anticipated LONG TAILED TIT (44) joined the months list, as well as a COAL TIT (45), a GOLDCREST was nearby, belting out its distinctive song, but what i wanted to find was the Marsh Tit, but it wasn't about, maybe it has left my patch for it's breeding area already, last year two stayed until the 18th march, so I might yet find it.

I spent half an hour or so at Migrant Alley, trying to locate the first Skylark or Meadow Pipit for the month, but none were found. The only thing of note was a SPARROWHAWK, and the Peregrine, again on the tower, but not deciding to visit my patch yet. As I sat on my horse jump seat, three Long tailed Tits flitted through the Tall hedge behing me, giving me some great photo opportunities.

Below are a few photo's of them.

I couldn't resist this BLUE TIT photo, it was on my garden peanut feeder.

below is the Coot and Canada Geese on the ornimental pond

Lastly another photo of the peregrine on the Tower. This ones for Songbird, you might find it this time, but it's not really recogniseable!