Pittswood Birds

Back to work today :-( , and walking in at 06:45hrs I could hear, and just about see, skeins of GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE heading north. The walk back home was not without some interest, a lone SISKIN flew over the College Grounds, and Migrant Alley had a flock of 18 GOLDFINCH in the paddocks, however the Linnets seem to have left my patch, none have been seen since last week, I wonder if they will use the Tree Nursery as a roost this year, as they have done for the past two winters.

This afternoon I had a two hour wander over to the lakes and scrub area, checking out the Tree Nursery on the way and ending up with a short visit to the Greenhouse Complex Grounds. In the very dull and still conditions very little was seen of any note, except for a lone REDPOLL (76) that circled over the lakes and dropped down into the scrub, giving that harsh 'chet chet' call all the while, no wonder it dropped down, a few seconds later a SPARROWHAWK came low over, why do they have to go everywhere I am ?

The visit was as dull as the weather but for that episode, and not a single summer visiting species was seen, I think thats it now for them, the odd swallow might pass over, but the vast majority are now en route to africa :-)

The Redpoll was the first seen since 11th April, and brings the months list to within two species of achieving the best ever total for any month, which was reached in September last year. I will be be very fortunate to add anymore species to October now, but looking at the accumulative total for the past 9 Octobers, species such as Black Redstart, Golden Plover, Marsh harrier, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, Teal, Grey Partridge, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Snipe, Firecrest, Little Egret, Mandarin Duck, and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker are all there, but every one of them is a very scarce species on my patch !

Too dark for photo's today !