Pittswood Birds

I again heard the CHIFFCHAFF singing this morning as I walked to work, I also saw a single FIELDFARE at Migrant Alley, and a single REDWING in the College Grounds.

After work, I ventured out into slightly less gloomy weather than of late, the sky was a lighter shade of grey, and the wind had dropped, which made it feel more pleasant.

16 GREENFINCH and 18 CHAFFINCH were on the Alpaca enclosure at the Small Holding, along with 2 GOLDFINCH and numerous BLUE and GREAT TITS, 2 JAYS flew from the old orchard, and a GREEN WOODPECKER was on a large lawn. The Wet Woods held little at all today, more calling Blue and Great Tits and a drumming GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were about it.

Moving on to the lake area, I watched the pair of COOTS feeding on the weed that is growing up from the bottom of the ornamental lake, this is why they have stayed, in the past there has been no weed for them, I dont know where it came from, probably an introduction from another species of duck or goose, the other two lakes have no weed at all, and explains why little is seen on them. Today was o exception to that, only two MALLARD and a MOORHEN were on the water, although as I left the 6 CANADA GEESE dropped in.

I didn't go round the Scrubby Wood today, but as I watched the sky above it, a TAWNY OWL (62) hooted twice from the deep cover where it roosts, a nice addition to the March list :-) I also heard a NUTHATCH, a TREECREEPER, a COAL TIT and the MARSH TIT from where I stood.

The Pub Field today was again full of Corvids, 75 JACKDAW, 22 CARRION CROW and 27 ROOKS were a conservative count, the KESTREL flew across from the Tree Nursery, but they took little notice of it. I carried on to Migrant Alley, and scanned all the fence lines and posts, but no Wheatear today, at least a hundred BLACK HEADED GULLS were in with the Sheep, where despite much scanning I couldn't find a Common Gull amongst them, Ive not recorded one this month yet.

I ended the walk with a 40min skywatch at my seat, however not much flew over, HERRING GULL, LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, SPARROWHAWK, SISKIN and PIED WAGTAIL were the best that I could come up with. I was surprised to hear 2 LITTLE OWLS arguing over at the Greenhouse Copse not far away, must be the first time Ive had two owl species during an afternoon visit! Whilst at my seat I was entertained by a pair of LONG TAILED TITS and a GOLDCREST in the tall hedge behind me.

Above: One of the Coots that are attempting to breed on my patch, the first ones ever :-)

Below: One of the Long tailed Tits that was in the tall hedge.