Pittswood Birds

Two LINNETS had returned to Migrant Alley, they were seen with 4 GOLDFINCH'S as I walked home from work this afternoon, nothing else had changed there though.

This afternoon, in cool showery conditions, I paid a visit to the Lakes and scrub area. Once again the lakes were populated only by MALLARDS and MOORHENS, and little was observed around the bankside vegetation or scrub, only GOLDCREST was seen, all the other woodland birds were missing, I suspect they were in a large feeding flock somewhere, but I didn't find it ! What was noteworthy though was a small flock of 7 SWALLOWS, they dropped down out of a shower cloud, and headed south, todays sighting is now my latest date recorded for this species. Oh! and of course, a SPARROWHAWK was soaring up above :-)

Moving on to the Tree Nursery, things continued in the quiet mode, 7 SONG THRUSHES flew out of the Laurel bushes as I walked the row, as did 2
DUNNOCKS, 8 BLACKBIRDS, a BLUE TIT and a GREAT TIT. The STARLINGS continue to feed on the Berries, but in smaller numbers now, just 25 were seen today, whilst there a SISKIN flew over, calling as it went.

A visit to the hedgerow dividing Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds only produced more Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Blue and Great Tits, and a couple of ROBINS. 18 more Siskins flew over, 3 MEADOW PIPIT were seen out in the sheep pasture, along with 3 SKYLARK, but nothing more interesting than that. Other flyovers seen were BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULL, KESTREL and the PIED WAGTAILS that use the Greenhouses to roost. Not a very inspiring visit today !

I took a couple of garden Photo's before a big shower came through this evening

Goldfinch above: and female CHAFFINCH below