Pittswood Birds

At last a bit of sunshine today, although it was a bit cool in the wind first thing, but i'll take that over the greyness of recent days.

The walk into work this morning reflected the improvement in conditions with another WHEATEAR being found at Migrant Alley, where else! Above the paddocks and pasture there, the passage of HOUSE MARTINS continued, or are the same birds just feeding up ? They don't seem to be headed in any particular direction, 200 or so were seen milling around, that was until a HOBBY came speeding through !

On the walk back home from work I again stopped and scanned the fence lines and paddocks at Migrant Alley, this time not only re locating the Wheatear, but also finding a WHINCHAT, fantastic, two passage migrants on the same afternoon!

After lunch I grabbed the camera and went out to see if I could photograph the Whinchat or Wheatear, and had some success at last - of sorts :-)

Whilst there, I again had to endure seeing the machines smashing the hedgerows. This time it was the turn of Migrant Alley, even the straggly, recently planted sheep and horse chewed hedges were flailed, and the only bit that hadn't been grazed into submission, the one bit I had been urging to grow to get out of the reach of the animals, finally succumbed to the Hadlow College ''countryside management'' unit - wankers!!!
Judging by the comments on yesterdays post ( thanks all ) I dont thnk you'll mind my swearing for once :-)

I decided to leave, and take a walk around the Tree Nursery and Maize crop in the Pub Field, here I found a few of the common summer migrants, CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP, as well as the hundreds of House martin that were feeding over the maize, they were now joined by the local SWALLOWS, but I couldn't find any Sand Martin amongst them. Apart from that lot, it was down to a group of 7 MAGPIES, a few WRENS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS and PIED WAGTAILS.

After an hour or so I decided to brave another walk around the Pasture and Paddocks of Migrant Alley, the tractors having done their worst and had moved off. I scanned the first bit of sheep pasture and found a Wheatear, then another, and then another! Three wheatears, brilliant ! I looked up the fenceline and blow me down another Wheatear! Only twice before have I recorded 4 Wheatear together, this went some way to cheer me after the hedgerow disappointment.

I had my fill of the superb little travellers, taking a few photo's as I did, then moved up to the horse paddocks, where yet another surprise awaited, 2 WHINCHAT ! This is the best fall of passage migrants Ive ever recorded, Migrant Alley really lived up to its name today :-)

I spent the next half an hour or so just watching and getting my fill of these favourite little birds, until finally I had to go, I wonder if they will stay around for tomorrow ?

Below are a few Wheatear photo's

below are the 2 Whinchats, they still dont alow close approach.........

..............but I cropped a few pics