Pittswood Birds

Once again a five hour full patch walk was undertaken this morning, in conditions that were not as forecast, it was cloudy and dull, and there was even a light shower - not quite the warm sunshine that was promised by some, that didn't arrive till mid afternoon!

Bird wise, it was a very successful walk, with an excellent 53 species recorded, which reached 54 later in the afternoon, when a SPARROWHAWK visited my garden. Three other raptors were noted, both KESTREL and HOBBY were seen going over the College Grounds, and at last my first COMMON BUZZARD (57) was seen this month. Quite a few Gulls went over at various points in my walk, mainly HERRING GULLS, BUT 3 LESSER BLACK BACKED and 4 BLACK HEADED GULLS were also noted.

A LESSER WHITETHROAT was seen in the Tree Nursery Hedgerow, and a TURTLE DOVE was feeding on the wild flower seed amongst the shrubs, along with 3 STOCK DOVES.

SWALLOWS have started gathering on the telephone wires along Ashes Lane, 23 were seen this morning, mostly this years young birds, SWIFTS were constantly moving overhead, but the only HOUSE MARTINS were the ones seen over at the College Grounds where a couple of pairs breed.

Over at the lakes and scrub area, all the usual species were recorded, mostly in a feeding flock, Tits, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER all moved through the Oak trees and brambles. Over on the water a GREY HERON fished, and a couple of MALLARD and MOORHEN were seen. Overhead a CORMORANT flew low over but didn't alight on the lake.

The only bird that could have been expected today, but didn't get recorded, was the Mistle Thrush, they have completely left my patch at the moment.

There were very few butterflies on the wing today, apart from the Purple Hairstreaks that were easily seen as the roving Tit flock disturbed them from the Oak leaves, no photo's today, ive put enough P. H. pics on :-)

I did get a poor photo of a LESSER WHITETHROAT, this is as good a view as you normally get of these skulking birds.

The rest of today's photo's come from the garden feeders, below is my favorite visitor at the moment - the BULLFINCH. He still looks stunning, even though he's moulting big time now :-)

This Great Spotted Woodpecker came in at 05:45, just as I was leaving for my walk. It didn't seen to mind sharing with the HOUSE SPARROW.

Lastly the GREENFINCH, about a dozen are feeding here at the moment, but that number is increasing as more young come in. ( the head down chap is a Juv GREAT TIT)