Pittswood Birds

Before todays news, yesterday evening both CANADA GOOSE (40) and GREYLAG GOOSE (41) were added to the months list when two large mixed flocks took their usual flight path over my house.

This mornings walk to work proved useful, three more species went on the September list, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, (42) and SPARROWHAWK (43) were both seen as I walked along Ashes Lane first thing, but the best addition was a YELLOW WAGTAIL (44) it circled over the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, a nice bird to get inland. Also of note was another HOBBY over the College Grounds

I was looking forward to getting out this afternoon, god knows what birds I've missed while i've been working ! The walk home through Migrant Alley was much anticipated, maybe something nice had dropped in, but it wasn't what was sitting the fence posts that had me whooping for joy, it was what was flying over, ............an OSPREY (101, 45) !!! A magnificent find for my patch, I am chuffed to bits! This is just the 2nd year of the nine recorded that an Osprey has been seen, the last was a notable record of 3 single sightings back in Sept. 2008. After watching it drift over to the ENE, I carried on home wards and almost fell over a WHEATEAR (46) , oops I had lost my focus for a few minutes :-).

After a short lunch I was back out at Migrant Alley, via the Tree Nursery and the Greenhouse Complex, the latter produced the first COMMON WHITETHROAT (47) of the month, a particularly striking looking individual, in fresh plumage. A circuit of the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley was made, and the Wheatear was relocated, however it had a migrant mate with him - yes, another (or the same) Whinchat, both stayed well out of Camera range though. Todays Whinchat makes it 10 days in a row that this species has been recorded, incredible, normally, even in the best years two or three days is considered good.

An hours skywatching was had, and a fourth Raptor species for the day was seen going over, a COMMON BUZZARD, but no other excitement, or monthly additions were added, although a few HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS went over and the local SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS provided some amusement.

The months list ticks along nicely, and a visit to the Wet Woods and lakeside scrub area should bring half a dozen more species, with the likes of Mallard, Moorhen, and Long Tailed Tit but they can wait until Sat. Morning, as those species wont be going anywhere :-)

The year list is now 101 , only the third year to pass 100 species, the next target will be to beat 106 (achieved in 2008) then who knows, the patch record is 109, achieved last year.

The only photo's I took today were in the Garden this evening. Again they are of familiar species, top is the NUTHATCH, Middle is the BLUE TIT and bottom is a GREAT TIT