Pittswood Birds

Not much at all happening out on my patch today, although walking into work I finally added MISTLE THRUSH (70) to the months list, bringing up the 70th species, two were seen in the College Grounds. Only 9 more to beat last years best ever Sept total, and if I achieve that, it would be the best total for any month in any year! The only other thing of note was a LITTLE OWL calling from the Greenhouse Copse.

On the walk home from work, I again found the REDSTART, in exactly the same spot on the fence line as I saw it yesterday, this was the highlight of the day by far.

After lunch I took a walk over to the lakes and scrub area, hoping maybe to add Garden Warbler to the Sept. list, but it was one of those days when hardly any birds were seen at all, maybe it was the greyness of the day, and the now strengthening wind, but not a single migrant species was recorded. The lake was just as quiet, only 3 MALLARD were on that !

I wandered back over to Migrant Alley, but I couldn't re-locate the Redstart, in fact all I saw were the local HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS, with the odd MEADOW PIPIT calling from the sheep pasture. A SPARROWHAWK flew over, but that was it for today, it seems a mass exodus of birds has occured over night. Looking at my mean last dates for the regular migrant species, it shows clearly why I struggled to find any today :
Mean last date for:
Hobby.......................................16th Sept
Lesser Whitethroat .................8th Sept
Whitethroat..............................7th Sept
Turtle Dove...............................25th Aug
Spotted Flycatcher...................29th Aug
Garden Warbler.......................22nd Aug
Swift..........................................22nd Aug
Swallow.....................................8th Oct
House Martin...........................7th Oct

Ive left off Chiffchaff and Blackcap as they sometimes over winter in small numbers.


I will be surprised if I get many more than 40 -43 species on tomorrows full patch walk, but you never know. :-)

Conditions prevented any photo's today, that and the lack of birds !!