Pittswood Birds

Last evenings walk around Migrant Alley was a more comfortable affair, and there were more birds to be seen than in the afternoon visit. A flock of at least 25 LINNETS were on one of the paddocks, as were 33 STARLINGS. 3 single LESSER BLACK BACK GULLS flew over, and a LITTLE OWL called from the Greenhouse Copse, another HOBBY was also up hunting.

This morning I found myself yet again walking the fields and paddocks of Migrant Alley, this time on the way to work. However, today a nice surprise was waiting for me, my persistence with this place has paid of, with a handsome WHINCHAT (101, 64), the first this year, it was sitting out on the fence line, a superb species for my little patch, the end of July does often bring a 'chat' or Wheatear, but I thought this time i'd missed out, just goes to show, patience is everything :-)

This afternoon as I walked home, I again located the Whinchat, and after lunch I was back out to try to photograph it, which I managed, but I couldn't get very close to the bird :-) It was associating with the flock of LINNETS, and a group of 8 HOUSE SPARROWS.

I was quite near to the College Grounds, so I decided on a quick visit to check up on the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, I found one family, two adults with at least two young, they were feeding busily on flies - what else :-) Whilst taking photo's of them a party of BLUE and GREAT TITS came through, with them was a TRECREEPER that narrowly missed getting on my camera, and also this COAL TIT that didn't escape so easily!

This ROBIN shows the reason lots of birds are hiding away at the moment, they are heavily in moult, and their flight is somewhat hampered whilst their new flight feathers come through.

I took lots of Whinchat photo's these 3 are the better ones

I also filled my boots with Spotted Flycatcher pics, again these are the 3 better ones

The Whinchat takes the year list past 100 now, and the months list onto 64, which is the joint 4th best July tally out of the ten years of recording, along with 2006 and last year.