Pittswood Birds

Upon leaving for work this morning, I picked up a new species for the month when a LITTLE OWL (63) was heard calling, very pleasing :-) However, once at work, the tedium of the morning was blown away when I spotted no fewer than 35 Waxwings as I was unlocking the main gate. As more people arrived at the school the Waxwings moved to a large silver birch tree right outside my office! They were attracted by the water that had gathered on the schools flat roof, where I watched them drinking and bathing for a good hour FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! The pleasure was bitter sweet though, as the school is 200m off my patch - Doh!!!

So it was with renewed enthusiasm that I wandered over to the lakes and scrub area this afternoon, I scanned every leafless tree and bush, but alas, no waxwings on my patch :-( In fact there was very little to report at all, the lakes are still hard frozen, and I didn't find a mixed feeding flock today, and that knocks a big whole in the species seen!

I did find a nice flock of 9 LESSER REDPOLLS feeding in a silver birch tree adjacent to the main lake, and with them were two SISKIN. A NUTHATCH was busy going to and fro from the nearby garden with the feeders, which also attracted the regulars, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, GREENFINCH,GOLDFINCH and CHAFFINCH mainly. A KESTREL was hunting over the scrub, but a look through the area didn't turn up the hoped for Woodcock for the months list.

I had a short look around the Tree Nursery, and Pub Field, scanning the large adjacent gardens as I went, just in case a Waxwing was lurking, but it wasn't, only 4 PHEASANTS and a handful of BLACK HEADED GULLS were seen, plus a low flypast from the male Sparrowhawk.

Again no photo's today, even in the sunshine the birds aren't particularly co-operative at the moment :-) Tomorrow is Xmas dinner for the school pupils, so i'll be late home, so wont have time to get out, just be a garden watch for an hour - Waxwing perhaps! ?