Pittswood Birds

I've finished work for a week now, so I was straight out on my patch this morning. The weather was dry and partly sunny with a westerly breeze, and I headed off to Migrant Alley in hope of a Migrant species. My hopes were realised almost straight away, on the first scan of the fence rails and posts I spotted a WHINCHAT, the second in 3 days, that's exceptional ! On moving closer for a possible photograph, I was gobsmacked to see another one fly up from the paddock to join the first bird, how happy was I !!!!

Well that set the day up nicely, especially as moments later a HOBBY came streaking through, sending up 30 or SWALLOWS. Also coming through on their daily circuit were hundreds of GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE, passing over in small noisy flocks.

The SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were again seen in the College Grounds, and close by them GOLDCREST and COAL tit were feeding, also a MISTLE THRUSH went over, one of only 4 sightings this month.

On the return Journey both KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK were seen over Migrant Alley, but the Whinchats were nowhere to be seen, workers had turned up to mend the broken fence rails and flushed them off.

Very little was noted over at the Lakes and scrub area, it was extremely quiet there, it took me ages just to find a BLACKCAP, and BULLFINCH !

I decided to return for a skywatch back over at Migrant alley, by now it was 10:30, but it did prove worth while, as 3 TURTLE DOVES went through, 2 CORMORANTS went over high up, scores of HERRING GULLS and a SINGLE BLACK HEADED GULL. The YELLOWHAMMER I have been seeing carrying food over the past week or so dropped into the Tall Hedge beside my seat, and was seen to be with 2 recently fledged young, Nice to see.

Around 12:30 I left for something to eat, but was back at Migrant Alley for a quick walk round an hour later. I was pleased to find another or one of the Whinchats again, and got a distant photo, I also recorded 2 SKYLARK in the sheep pasture, but another good species was to turn up as I walked home through the Greenhouse Complex - a REED WARBLER, my second this month, it was seen chasing a GREAT TIT, then disappearing into dense cover.

What a great days birding :-)


Photo's today - below a BLACKBIRD ruffled up to catch the early sun.

Below is one of the Whinchats

I also saw a few Butterflies early on, this Small Copper was outshone by the Ragwort I think !

Below is a pristine Red Admiral