Pittswood Birds

The weather this afternoon once again had an Autumnal feel about it, a cool NW wind blew, and there was variable cloud cover, giving some less dull moments.

I visited the Tree Nursery first again today, but few butterflies were seen, as yesterday, it was only the Meadow Brown, and Skippers that were found. Two WHITETHROATS were singing, three STOCK DOVES flew up out of the wildflower patch, and a PHEASANT called from nearby. I walked up the side of the Pub Field, where the Maize crop is now six feet high, I was hoping for a Sedge or Reed Warbler to fly out in front of me, from the crop into the hedge, but none materialised, more Skippers were seen at the base of the hedgerow though.

The Pub Field takes me out onto Migrant Alley, where a work crew had taken out the old fenceline ( much loved by the migrant Whinchat and Wheatear) They told me a new wooden one was going in, lets hope the migrants like it as much as the wire one :-) I walked the perimeter of the fields, and was pleased to see at least 3 SKYLARK in the sheep pasture, which is now high enough to conceal them now most of the sheep have gone for slaughter, also seen was a mixture of the usual Corvids, WOODPIGEONS, a few LINNETS, PIED WAGTAILS, HOUSE SPARROWS and 4 Juv. SWALLOWS being fed on the fence rails.

A 45 minute Sky watch was had from my usual seat, where LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING, and BLACK HEADED GULL were all recorded going over, at least 15 SWIFTS were up feeding with the local Swallows, of which there are around 25 now, and with all those birds in the air it was only a matter of time before the HOBBY showed up, putting them all into panic mode!

I wasn't going to take my camera out today in the dull conditions, but i'm glad I did in the end, as a couple of photo's ended up ok. These WREN shots were taken in the Greenhouse Complex grounds as I walked through on my way home.

I also got near enough for a shot of the young Swallows.

Here's two of the Skippers seen today, below is the Large Skipper, and above is surely an Essex Skipper ?