Pittswood Birds

Two hours were spent out on my patch this afternoon, in sunny but cool conditions, with a wind that had more than a little hint of winter about it.

It was hard going today, but there was the odd interesting species recorded, initial scans of the lake proved fruitless for anything but MALLARDS and MOORHENS, but as I left the area a CORMORANT dropped in and immediately started to fish, so I stealthily moved away, so as not to disturb it.

Yesterday the woodland birds were not seen at all, and I supposed they were in a feeding flock elsewhere, well today I found the flock in the Wet Woods, and it contained all that was expected - GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER and GOLDCREST, 30 - 40 birds were present, but as much as I tried I couldn't find anything new for my patch in amongst them :-)

The Tree Nursery was much the same as yesterday, SONGTHRUSH'S, BLACKBIRDS and DUNNOCKS were amongst the shrubs, and STARLINGS were feeding on the Laurel berries, 4 female and 1 Male PHEASANT were seen today though.

Lastly a visit to the hedgerow separating the Greenhouses and Migrant Alley, was made, as well as a 30 minute skywatch, the hedgerow held no surprises for me, more Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Blue Tits and a few GOLDFINCH, but the skywatch had some interest, a KESTREL was up Hunting, as was the now obligatory SPARROWHAWK, and a lone SWALLOW flew low over heading SE, the do seem to be hanging around this year! Other than that it was just BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS, the odd single MEADOW PIPIT, and two SKYLARK of any note.

Whilst I was eating my lunch, I saw that a Red Admiral had returned to the Daises that grow in my garden

After my walk I heard the MARSH TIT calling in the garden, and managed some photo's of it.

Lastly, I was going to put a photo of a Bumble bee on one of the Scabious flowers that are still flowering in my garden. But blogger has said no more images can be uploaded for the next two hours due to maintenence ! I'll put it on tomorrow :-)