Pittswood Birds

At last a day without that cold NE wind!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ive suffered it for eight days, but today it was calm, abeit frosty, with a bank of fog for an hour early on.

Once the fog and frost cleared, it was wall to wall warm sunshine, and it is on such April mornings that the first cuckoo is usually heard, alas it was not to be on this one though. In fact for such a beautiful spring day very little bird song was heard, maybe its a sad reflection on the amount of habitat destruction that has been happening on my patch by the landowners and large garden owners over the last year.

The CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAPS were singing though, they have a safe haven by the lakeside scrub, owned by a very 'nature sympathetic' couple. Whilst at the lake and scrub area, I once again heard a TAWNY OWL call, and on the lake itself was the feral BARNACLE GOOSE along with 8 CANADA and 3 GREYLAG GEESE.

Canada and Barnacle goose

Not mush else happening bird wise, a MEADOW PIPIT flew over Migrant Alley, quite a late one for my patch, the latest date being the 23rd April. Raptors were again very evident, 4 SPARROWHAWKS circled over Migrant Alley, and as I watched, two broke away to harry a COMMON BUZZARD, lower down the KESTREL was hunting around the Greenhouses, and I watched it catch a large vole.

Later this afternoon I went off for a Butterfly search, which proved very successful, with sightings of Holly Blue, and a stunning male Orange Tip both firsts for the year. Peacock, Comma, and Small White also showed up.

I think this one above is a female Orange Tip, Dean -Greenie?

This group of Flyovers were unexpected, it has been so peaceful now the jumbo jets are all grounded, pity the volcanic ash doesn't affect propeller driven aircraft! You might have to click on photo and enlarge it.