Pittswood Birds

Walking to work this morning, it started off bright and sunny, but within minutes I watched a fog bank roll in, and visibility was restricted to 30 meters, however 30 meters was all that was required to see the second spring migrant species of the year sitting on the last piece of fenceline at Migrant Alley, not one that I was anticipating though, it was a BLACK REDSTART (77, 64)BRILLIANT!!!!!! What a great find! This is only the 3rd spring Black Redstart in the ten years of recording so far, and two of those were seen last spring! It's also the only record of this species for March, that made my day alright :-)

I had a good scan of the paddocks and sheep pasture at Migrant alley as I walked back home from work, but the bird had moved on.

After a bite to eat, I made a quick visit to the lake, just to check up on the COOTS, which were still about, only a pair of MALLARD and a single MOORHEN were on the other lakes today. A quick look round the Scrubby Wood was mainly to try and get a new butterfly species, but I only found the Comma again. A few birds were about as well, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, and GOLDCREST were all seen, while quite a few of the BLUE TITS were now observed carrying nest material, as was a ROBIN and BLACKBIRD.

I spent most of the afternoon watching the Pub Field, which was already being ploughed in, frequent scanning of the fresh turned earth provided me with at least 13 PIED WAGTAILS, as well as the gang of Corvids. Surprisingly the only Gulls seen were a flock of 7 BLACK HEADED GULLS, they only stayed for a few minutes, before moving on northwards. Above the field I saw the female SPARROWHAWK, then a few moments later one of the PEREGRINES flew over clutching its dinner. Six STOCK DOVES, and two CHAFFINCH were the only other birds seen on the plough.

I finished with another quick look around Migrant Alley, hoping for a Wheatear, but still they elude me, I think I have probably missed one or two whilst I have been at work, as I find the best time to see them is mid morning. 7 STARLINGS a few WOODPIGEON and a flyover LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL made up the afternoon. The day goes to the Black Redstart seen first thing though, well chuffed with that :-)