Pittswood Birds

A steady rain fell first thing this morning, and it wasn't until 08:30 that I got out. I only went as far as Migrant Alley, as it was far too late for a full patch walk. I was hoping for a migrant Wheatear or yellow Wagtail, or maybe one of those elusive Whinchat, but none showed. I was reading about the Whinchat in the latest bird watching magazine, and at the rate they are declining I will be lucky to see one at all this Autumn :-( The population has halved over the last 3 years!

Anyway, my walk round the Pasture and paddocks did provide some birds, best of which was a KESTREL, but nothing much more interesting than that.

This afternoon I had a walk round the Tree Nursery, Pub Field, and back round Migrant Alley again, still no migrant species, but there was alot of disturbance today. I did a bit of skywatching and saw 2 PREREGRINE, 2 SPARROWHAWK, with a Juv. calling from the Greenhouse Copse, where a LITTLE OWL also called, and another Kestrel hunted over the Greenhouses. Four SWIFTS went over, and the few HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS seen were local breeders.

Most of my time was taken up chasing Butterflies! Here's the results,


A Male Comon Blue

also the Female Common Blue

A Small Copper

and this Holly Blue

I did take one bird photo, that was of this CARRION CROW, perched on a fence rail.