Pittswood Birds

Another cracking winters morning for my full patch walk today, with a hard frost, little wind and a clear blue sky, thats two nice mornings in a row now:-)

Another day dawns at Pittswood

Again I was out for about 3 and a half hours, finding one less species than yesterday, however this was compensated somewhat by finding a few more birds around, especially the BLUE TITS, GREAT TITS, LONG TAILED TITS, GOLDFINCH, and GREENFINCH, of which a nice flock of 17 dropped down into a large Lime tree over in the College Grounds. Some regularly seen species didn't turn up, such as Pheasant, Skylark, Bullfinch, plus any kind of Goose, also the winter thrushes, Fieldfare and Redwing are avoiding my patch still.

Again these omissions to the daylist were handsomely compensated for by the finding of 3 new species for the year list, the first being a COMMON GULL (58) that flew over the Greenhouse Complex, they are scarce enough here, but  GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL  are even more scarce, one flew over just minutes before the Common Gull,  - not often I see the two in one visit  :-)

I left the Greenhouse Grounds and associated copse, but not before finding a TREECREEPER, and a departing roost of SONGTHRUSHES. The walk across Migrant Alley was still and frosty, and not much bird activity was seen, but the wooded headland found to the north of it was noteworthy for two YELLOWHAMMER calling from an Ash tree there.

Onto the College Grounds, where activity was plenty, and despite flushing up a SPARROWWHAWK, which flew off with its kill, the likes of Goldfinch, Greeninch, CHAFFINCH, SISKIN, singing COAL TIT, singing GOLDCREST another Treecreeper, plus GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER all made themselves obvious. I left the area via adjacent the sports pitch, and went  back across Migrant Alley, where I entered the Pub Filed, here the second new species for the year was seen, two LAPWING (59) were found out on the grass with 43 BLACK HEADED GULLS.

I headed home for a quick snack and drink, by way of the Tree Nursery, which was not very good today, but a KESTREL was seen flying low on its way the the Greenhouse Complex, it's favoured hunting ground, and a BUZZARD flew low over heading south.

I left the lakes till last today, as I knew they would be frozen over, and so they were, which limits the chance of finding waterfowl somewhat, although a few MALLARD and MOORHEN tucked themselves into the overhanging branches. The surrounding Scrubby Woods, were good for adding the likes of NUTHATCH, MISTLE THRUSH, and JAY, to the days list. 43 Lapwing flew over in disarray, before gathering again and flying off North, it was no doubt these birds that I found at the later end of my walk feeding in a Wheat field just off Ashes Lane, I counted over 100, with also, what proved to be the star birds of the day - no fewer than 8 GOLDEN PLOVER! (60) a very rare sight indeed to have even one on the ground at my patch  :-)

The field of Lapwing, with one Golden Plover ( I have marked it for you !! )

Photo opportunities were limited, and apart from the above long range Golden Plover, I only managed to snap a DUNNOCK again, but this afternoon I took a few garden bird photo's, i'll put some up and save the rest for tomorrow  :-)

Dunnock

Long Tailed Tits, Pity about the bars!

Long Taile Tit - free from 'jail' !

Again. Long Tailed Tit