Pittswood Birds

Another very dark and grey winters day here, very apt then, that I should add GREYLAG GOOSE (55) to months list as I walked into work this morning, a skein of 34 flew over, then on the walk home a GREY WAGTAIL (56) was seen feeding on the manure heap at the College Stables. The sighting of the day however, was a few moments later, when the magnificent sight of at least 160 LAPWINGS lifting off from the Pub Field and flying overhead was witnessed, the only thing missing was finding a Golden Plover amongst them  :-)

After getting home and having a quick bite to eat I set off over to the Pub Field, just to see if there were any more Lapwing there, or maybe a possible Golden plover, on the way as I crossed the Tree Nursery, a COMMON BUZZARD flew out of the Wet Woods, it headed straight for me, giving some cracking views, it hung about for a few minutes circling my patch, until it got fed up with the mobbing CARRION CROWS, and moved off. When I reached the Pub Field, I found just a single Lapwing, with a dozen BLACK HEADED GULLS and the usual assortment of Corvids.

I made my way over to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods next, and was surprised to find a Common Darter Dragonfly still actively hunting at the edge of the Wet Woods. Over on the Lakes it was again a case of counting the MALLARD and MOORHEN with 23 of the former and 7 of the latter, while the Scrubby Woods was home to BULLFINCH, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, SISKIN, and a couple of REDWING that were guzzling the Hawthorn berries. A small flock of FIELDFARE flew over, as did two LESSER REDPOLL, but the light was now fading fast ( what little there was to start with!) so I made a quick visit to Migrant Alley, here the only notable sighting was of 5 MEADOW PIPITS and 2 SKYLARK out on the pasture.