Pittswood Birds

There was a bit more bird activity than of late, as I walked to work this morning. A dozen CANADA GEESE and two GREYLAG GEESE were on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, and around 25 SWALLOWS were feeding low over the paddocks. TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST and COAL TIT were all noted in the College Grounds, but the Spotted Flycatchers seem to have bred and gone already.

This afternoon I repeated the walk of yesterday, across the Tree Nursery, up the side of the Maize crop in the Pub Field and a short Skywatch at Migrant Alley. In the warm sunny spells, butterflies were once again the main attraction, with Common Blue, Brown Argus, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and both Small and Large Skippers seen whilst in the Nursery. All these species were again recorded in the small wildpatch at the Pub Field, with the addition of Small Copper.

A scan of the paddocks and sheep pasture at Migrant Alley didn't reveal any early migrant bird species, just the resident ROOKS and JACKDAWS resting on the fence rails, taking turns to have a drink from the horse trough. The skywatch here proved a little more interesting, as well as the usual HERRING GULLS, Swallow, PIED WAGTAILS and a few HOUSE MARTINS, three raptor species were encountered, first a female SPARROWHAWK spiralled past, then a KESTREL and just as I was leaving a HOBBY was seen.

Not a bad visit in all, for an afternoon session, but a change in the wind direction might liven things up a bit! Maybe next week :-)

Below is a break from butterfly photo's, this Juv. BLACKBIRD posed on the fence in my garden as I was leaving this afternoon.

Then it's back to the butterflies again :-) of which i'm sure you all know that below is a Common Blue

Next up a Holly Blue

Now after yesterdays mis- ID of a Brown Argus, today I can say this is definitely one :-)

Lastly a Small Copper, I don't often pay attention to the reverse side of these little grassland gems, but they look just as attractive, back or front!