Pittswood Birds

Thanks for all the comments on yesterdays post, i'm sorry for not leaving any replies to them, but I had a trip out yesterday evening and ran out of time, some thing that will also happen tonight! I did get a bonus for March though, for as I left the house, two MANDARIN DUCKS flew over, so a revised total of 69 for March makes it the equal second best March total :-)

Back to today, and a new month beckons. April always has the potential for a nice surprise visitor on my patch, but even if there isn't one, there are still all the spring migrants to look forward to.

The new months list was kicked off as I walked into work this morning, and the half hour produced 25 Species, MAGPIE, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, JACKDAW, WREN, WOODPIGEON, CHAFFINCH, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, LINNET, GREENFINCH, PHEASANT, CARRION CROW, and DUNNOCK all went in the book by the time I had reached the Greenhouse Complex, which is 5 mins walk from home. A ROOK flew over the greenhouses, and in the grounds there, a SONGTHRUSH was in full song, a beautiful songster, loud and clear :-)

Only HERRING GULL and GREYLAG GOOSE were added as I crossed Migrant Alley, a pair of each flying over, but the College Grounds had a few birds around, including; STARLING, PIED WAGTAIL, GOLDFINCH, COLLARED DOVE, CHIFFCHAFF, and a newly arrived BLACKCAP, the last of the 25 species. The return walk home, added just 3 more species, GOLDCREST, MISTLE THRUSH, which were in the College Grounds, and at least 3 MEADOW PIPITS that flew over Migrant Alley.

This afternoon I headed over to the lakes and Scrubby Woods, via the Small Holding and Wet Woods. Just 12 more Species were added, a GREEN WOODPECKER, was in a large garden adjacent to the Small Holding, feeding with a Mistle Thrush. The Wet Woods added MOORHEN, MALLARD and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER to the list, three of them drummed in close proximity, all at different pitches!

On the lakes, the COOTS were still present, a good April species to get here, and the CANADA GOOSE was on her nest. Most of the woodland specialists were found in the Scrubby Woods, LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, NUTHATCH and TREECREEPER, but no sign of the Marsh Tit.

A walk around the Tree Nursery and Pub Field, was not productive at all today and nothing was added to the April list, and unfortunately Migrant Alley had two different work crews in it, so i didn't stay, but I did have two LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS and a STOCK DOVE flyover whilst there, bringing the April list to 41 species. A good start :-)

Above are the Green Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush together

Below: One of the Bluebell flower stalks, ready to open soon!

Below is another of pittswoods' variable rabbit population!

Lastly, you may be able to make out the entrance to a Wrens nest in this photo. It's right where the brown, and straight dead bramble cane disappears into the tangle. :-) The male wren builds the nest, in fact he builds a few, and the female chooses the one she likes, this one looks quite well concealed, obviously an experienced bird, with the knowledge how to beat the predators :-)