Pittswood Birds

A much more pleasant day than of late, as the wind has dropped right out allowing the warmth of the sun to be felt :-)

I again spent a couple of hours over at the Scrubby Woods and lakes this afternoon, Migrant Alley is just so disturbed lately, it's not worth the effort of walking round the fields and paddocks, unless I get there at at dawn.

I checked out the lakes first today, and saw one of the COOTS, but no sign of any young yet, there was no sign of any Goslings either, but they may be out in the adjacent field. Just one MOORHEN and 3 male MALLARD were the only other species on the water today.

In the woods I again had Garden Warbler as my target species, but despite hearing what might have been one, I didn't get a prolonged bit of song, and even that was drowned out by the SONG THRUSH, BLACKBIRD, CHAFFINCH, DUNNOCK, WREN, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and CUCKOO that all sang constantly this afternoon. TURTLE DOVES and BULLFINCH'S called but went unseen, and a HOBBY flew over. Bird of the afternoon goes to the YELLOW WAGTAIL (59) that also flew over, giving it's distinctive call, I just got a glimpse of it as it bounded away NW.

Whilst wandering the woods I came across a COLLARED DOVE on it's nest, it flew off on my passing, and I could see the 2 white eggs through the nest, which was made of no more than 30 small twigs! I also found another nest, or rather it was carelessly shown to me by the female bird, a PHEASANT, she came in and silently dropped down a few yards from me, I then watched her walk through the brambles and sit on her eggs, i'd never of found it otherwise!

Butterflies today included, Orange Tip, Comma, Small and Large White, Speckled Wood, and Peacock, I also found a few Burnet Moths on the wing today, as well as relocating the White legged Damselflies.

Checking the Tree Nursery on the way home, was not very exciting, a SPARROWHAWK flew over clutching it's prey, the local SWALLOWS chased it excitedly into the Wet Woods. The WHITETHROAT continued to sing and display plus two GREEN WOODPECKERS chased about the shrubs. A PIED WAGTAIL chased insects on the bone dry ground, then sat up on an old metal cage for a photograph :-)

Photo's today include this fox, seen in the Scrubby Woods, I again managed to chop its paws off!

Below is the Burnet Moth, but I dont know which type, there are at least 6 species of them! No It's not - it's a cinnabar moth! thanks Marianne

Above and below are the White Legged Damselflies

Lastly, the Pied Wagtail, it was just too far away really, but it wouldn't allow me to get any closer