Pittswood Birds

A WILLOW WARBLER, seen on the way to work this morning, was only my third record this spring, it's such a pity that my patch has lost this migrant as a breeding species, as it song is one of my favourites.

Back to this afternoon, and a trip to the lakeside scrub to listen for Turtle Doves proved fruitless, as did my hope, of hearing a Nightingale, they are now sadly extinct as a breeding species on my patch, the last known birds bred back in 2007. I did get to hear the other songsters though, even the TAWNY OWL was heard to hoot again! Also, CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP, MISTLE THRUSH and SONG THRUSH, WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN and BLACKBIRD all were singing loudly in the warm sunny conditions, there was no sign of the recently arrived Common or Lesser Whitethroats though.

I had a 90 minute wander around Migrant Alley a little later, but apart from the PEREGRINE, a SPARROWHAWK and a pair of KESTRELS it was pretty quiet and tranquil. Butterflies were more active than the birds, with Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, and Speckled Wood all being recorded.

So another day goes by without adding to the month or year list, just 9 to go. I'll be on the lookout for Swifts, Hobbies, and Turtle Doves, but they are not always recorded in April, and who knows I might get a Stonechat or Whinchat - with a large slice of luck :-)

Above: Comma Butterfly, Below: Speckled Wood