Pittswood Birds

A strong NE wind blew this morning, but at least it broke up the early cloud, making for a warm and sunny afternoon.

The conditions early on didn't seem that promising, but it turned out to be a pretty good patch visit today, my first family of WRENS were seen in the hedgerow along Ashes Lane, the twentieth species to have successfully bred on my patch this spring. More of a surprise was finding the REED WARBLER singing at the College Stream, in the same willow stand that I recorded it at the end of May, will it stay I wonder? Also at the College, a PEREGRINE FALCON (60) wheeled it's way over the grounds, no doubt a bird from the village tower, but they haven't been seen so regularly of late, so it's good to get one on the June list.

Three Juv SWALLOWS were perched on an out building in one of the large gardens at the Small Holding, one more for the patch breeding list! Whilst at the lakes the expected GREYLAG GOOSE (61) was seen with it's six goslings (pictured at the top of the post). One more surprise patch visitor was waiting for me over at the run off pool that sits between the Pub Field and Tree Nursery, a GREY WAGTAIL (62), the same young bird that I recorded in May no doubt.

Other notables for the day were 3 GULL species that went over, HERRING, LESSER BLACK BACKED and BLACK HEADED, plus flyovers from GREY HERON and KESTREL. The CUCKOO sang strongly from the Scrubby Woods, as did at least 2 TURTLE DOVES. The discovery of so many BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT families, along with the young of GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, NUTHATCH, a second brood of WRENS and a large party of LONG TAILED TITS, is very encouraging to see, I reckon the breeding season this year is the best for quite some time.

The list for the day ended on a fantastic 52 species, thats without the likes of Spotted Flycatcher, Mistle thrush, and Coal tit, the months total creeps up into joint sixth place out of ten, the same total as June 2007 ended, and it's only the 4th!

Whilst having lunch in my garden, in the warm sunshine, the feeders were very active with more young birds, I took some photo's of a couple of the finch's, below is a young GREENFINCH
Below is the young GOLDFINCH

next of course the young STARLING

This GREAT TIT is and adult, but it has with it at least 4 young.

After lunch, a walk round the Tree Nursery turned up some good photo opportunities below is an Emperor Dragonfly very impressive! Click on the photo's for a more detailed look!

below is an Immature Black Tailed Skimmer

Above is a Common Blue Damselfly, whilst below is the now ever present White Legged Damselfly

Few butterflies stopped for a photo, but this Common Blue was one

Below is a photo of the wildflowers that carpet the Tree Nursery now, I only had the 120-400mm lens so it's not very representative as I couldn't fit much in! The whole place is teeming with insect life, I shall be very sorry when all this gets poughed in later this year, as will the insect life no doubt :-(