Pittswood Birds

At last a break in the weather! The forecast showers avoided my area, and the wind had dropped, allowing for a walk around the Tree Nursery and Scrubby Woods this afternoon.

As expected, there were a few butterflies out today, the wildflowers and grasses along the hedgerow at the Tree Nursery held plenty of Small and Essex Skippers, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, a Red Admiral, and a Common Blue. I was very pleased to see the long awaited fledged young of the WHITETHROATS that have sung here all spring, my first confirmed successful breeding for this species this year :-) ( pics below)

I made my way over to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, seeing a few SWIFT high up and, as usual, a SPARROWHAWK. On the lakes it was a case of CANADA and GREYLAG GEESE, MALLARDS and MOORHEN, but a GREY HERON was also fishing. My first sighting in the Scrubby Woods was a real pleasure, a recently fledged TURTLE DOVE was sitting up on the power line, good to confirm successful breeding for this declining migrant species :-)

A few BLACKCAPS were seen, mostly immatures, and CHIFFCHAFFS were giving their Autumn calls, both TREECREEPER and NUTHATCH were seen and a family of GOLDCRESTS, but I couldn't locate a mixed feeding flock of tits this afternoon.

More butterflies were seen in the woods, at least 8 Purple Hairstreaks were high up in the Oaks, while Speckled Wood, Comma, Small and Large White were all busying themselves on the bramble flowers.

What a relief to be able to get out and do some proper wildlifing, today cheered me no end :-), also cheering me up was a new pair of Binoculars, waiting for me when I got home, the old pair just fell to bits in my hands, they were ok optically, but they couldn't take the physical daily punishment !

Above - recently fledged Turtle Dove. Below - Common Blue Butterfly