Pittswood Birds

Not a bad afternoon weather wise, it was mostly cloudy, but the rain and wind kept off today.

An initial trek around the Tree Nursery, was a bit disappointing for butterflies, a few Meadow Browns, one or two Small Skippers and a dozen Gatekeepers were about it, this was more than made up for when a Common Buzzard came soaring over, slow and menacing, awesome birds! A family of LINNETS were also seen, but I didn't hear or see the Whitethroat family today.

As yesterday, I walked up between the Maize crop and the hedgerow at the Pub Field, but the only birds seen coming from the maize were CHIFFCHAFFS, i'll keep checking this area though :-) The walk led me on to Migrant Alley, once again, as yesterday, a flock of Linnet/GOLDFINCH were seen on the paddocks, along with a few STARLINGS and PIED WAGTAILS, plus a GREEN WOODPECKER on one of the fence posts. Up above, SWIFTS and SWALLOWS fed, and flyovers from LESSER BLACKED BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULL were seen, the latter now in its winter plumage.

My next stop was over at the College Grounds, just to see and also try to photograph some SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, I found one family of 3 young, being actively fed by both parents, and did get some photo's of each. Whilst stalking the Spotfly's I noticed a SONGTHRUSH family on the lawns, and a GOLDCREST family in the nearby pine trees, also a couple more butterfly species, Holly Blue and Red Admiral.

Lets hope the weather holds for tomorrows full patch walk, and fingers crossed for a new species for the month :-)


Above and below is the young Spotted Flycatcher

Below is a couple of photo's of one of the Adults

The only Butterfly photo came courtesy of this Gatekeeper