Pittswood Birds

First thing this morning as I left for work, I noticed at least 4 SISKIN (58) in the garden, another of those left over winter species for the months list :-)

This afternoon a cool, moderate breeze blew, making it feel chilly, but at least it broke the cloud up as the day went on. I visited the lake as normal, alas, all I found were the now resident pair of COOTS, the pair of CANADA GEESE and just one MALLARD.

I went and had a 20 minute sit in the scrubby woods, hoping to maybe hear one of my favourite summer songsters, the Willow Warbler, they pass through my patch but rarely stay. I didn't hear one, and in fact bird song was at a premium all round, BLACKCAPS and CHIFFCHAFFS were the most prominent singers, with DUNNOCK joining in on occasions, calls from NUTHATCH were heard in the distance, and the only other song was from a GOLDCREST as I was leaving. Whilst there I found a SONGTHRUSH nest with the female sitting tight, I thought about a photo, but decided against it, maybe if the nest is successful i'll go back for some feeding shots, but I dont hold out much hope, the nest is a bit early really, and lacks much cover.

As usual, my next stop was to scan the Pub Field, and found absolutely nothing on the recent plough! The Tree Nursery wasn't much better, a few PIED WAGTAILS were bathing in some puddles of water that remain in the deep wheel ruts, and a SPARROWHAWK whizzed through at head height. A walk round the paddocks at Migrant Alley was also fruitless, maybe due to the disturbance there caused by the stable girls mending the horse chewed fence rails, I took up my seat and watched the sky for an hour, which gave me a KESTREL, a BUZZARD, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL and a SWALLOW, but nothing new for the month or year, good job I had those Siskin this morning!

I resorted to photographing the garden birds when I returned home, but the Siskins didn't turn up :-)

Above and Below GOLDFINCH

Above: CHAFFINCH. Below: GREENFINCH

COLLARED DOVE

Lastly a BLACKBIRD