Pittswood Birds

I had the builders finishing off the work on my drive today, so once again only a couple of hours was had out on my patch this morning. I don't think I missed much in the grey and windy conditions though. The walk around the Tree Nursery, Migrant Alley and the College Grounds didn't throw up any surprises, although the 39 species I did see was a good total for just 2 hours, and half my patch covered.

Two species seen today that didn't get recorded yesterday, were LONG TAILED TIT and LESSER WHITETHROAT, both seen in the wooded headland at Migrant Alley. In the College Grounds, the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were still feeding at least two young, and a few other summer species were around, CHIFFCHAFF, WHITETHROAT and BLACKCAP, plus 40 or so SWALLOWS around the college stables.

A SPARROWHAWK flew over Migrant Alley, and the daily routine of the GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE geese going over is always good to see. Other than that it was all a normal day on the patch.

Ive been sorting out the status of the breeding birds on my patch for this year, and with no more new species likely to start breeding now, the results are as follows:
The total number of species that successfully fledged young was 43.
Two species Treecreeper and Swift probably fledged young, as breeding evidence was seen.
Three species, Little Owl, Stock Dove and Cuckoo also probably bred young but no evidence was seen, other than pairs displaying/present
One species unsuccessfully bred, that was the Coot.

so 49 species made some sort of breeding attempt this year - not too bad!