Pittswood Birds

There was a HOUSE MARTIN over the College as I walked through on my way to work this morning, just the second one seen this year, and a few minutes later the female PEREGRINE flew low over as well, that's two species I didn't find over the long weekend! A SPARROWHAWK put up a group of STARLINGS at Migrant Alley on the way home, but not much else was seen here - too many doggy folk about :-(

It was still sunny, but with a cool wind as I set off for the lake area, approaching the lakes, I found my first fledged BLACKBIRD of the year, it posed a few photographic problems as it was in dense cover, but I did get the shot below :-)

Another species had fledged young as well, this family of 5 CANADA GEESE Goslings were happily following mum around the main lake, where I had to evict a trespassing fisherman, obviously couldn't read the 'Private, no fishing' sign!!

On the ornamental lake the COOT was seen, but no sign of breeding from it yet, also another pair of Canada Geese were here, but there eggs haven't hatched just yet.

A walk around the Scrubby Woods, was mainly to try to find a Garden warbler, but that was unsuccessful, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, TURTLE DOVE and CHAFFINCH all sang, but it was generally quiet. I checked the SONGTHRUSH nest, and found they had fledged! Excellent news, and still time for another brood :-)

I finished up with a skywatch at Migrant Alley, but couldn't see any Hobby or Swifts for the year list, there wasn't much at all in fact, but two more Turtle Doves went whizzing through no more than 6 feet off the ground, and 3 SKYLARKS flew up from the sheep pasture, the most I have recorded since the winter.

9 Species of Butterfly were recorded; they were, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Green Viened White, Small White, Large White, Holly Blue and Comma.