Pittswood Birds

A four hour patch visit from 06:30 was undertaken in grey and gloomy conditions, with a bit of light drizzle thrown in, typically by 10:30 the sun was breaking through!

Hopes weren't high this morning of finding anything different from the last few visits, and it was proving so for the first 45 mins, JACKDAW, STARLING, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, WREN, BLUE TIT, CARRION CROW, SWALLOW, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH and MAGPIE were the first ten species on the list, with WOOD PIGEON, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, GREENWOODPECKER, COLLARED DOVE, DUNNOCK, SWIFT, PHEASANT and LINNET taking me down to the end of the page in my notebook. Entering Migrant Alley, ROOKS were seen on the paddocks, and 24 CANADA GEESE were grazing on the Sheep pasture, a CORMORANT that flew over was the most noteworthy species up to that point.

The wooded headland at the north of Migrant Alley had a singing TURTLE DOVE and CHIFFCHAFF, also a SKYLARK singing way up, the first for 10 days. HOUSE SPARROWS went on the list as I passed the college stables, as did a flyover LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, and the first ROBIN was seen as I entered the College Grounds. The first place I go whilst at the college is along the stream, and whilst I stopped and listened to a BLACKCAP I became aware of a much more exciting songster, singing from a dense clump of young willows, it was a REED WARBLER (98,73) Superb! A very scarce bird on my patch! Fitting it should set a new May species tally, and also become the 98th species on the year list :-)

I added PIED WAGTAIL, GOLDCREST, GREAT TIT, MALLARD, and SPOTTED FLYCATCHER as I walked through the college grounds, the latter were again inspecting the potential nest site, as were 2 pairs of HOUSE MARTINS, they have always nested on the old buildings here, but they are late back this year, and are in much fewer numbers.

The second half of my walk was much less exciting for me, the Small Holding Wet Woods, Lake and Scrubby Woods only added another 12 species to the day list, bringing it to 48, they were: GOLDFINCH, HERRING GULL, STOCK DOVE, WHITETHROAT, NUTHATCH, JAY, LONG TAILED TIT, COOT, MOORHEN, BULLFINCH, MISTLE THRUSH, and last of all a CUCKOO.

After I got home the clouds parted and the sun came out, giving me a chance to take some garden Photo's:

Below is the ever confiding Dunnock


After lunch, a visit to the Tree Nursery to try and find some butterflies was had, I found a few species, plus this Mother Shipton moth

I took photo's of the above Meadow Brown, and the now worn looking Brown Argus, but I missed the Holly Blue, Small White, and Small Tortoiseshell

Later still, I was back home, and took some pics of the insect friendly flowers I have planted

Above : the bees love the Scabious! below is one of many field poppies.