Pittswood Birds

This afternoon, after work, I didn't visit the lakes as I usually do in winter, as I knew they would be frozen up with little to see there, instead I repeated yesterdays walk, over to the Greenhouse Complex, through the Greenhouse Copse, along the drainage Ditch,  round one of the sheep pasture fields, then back to my seat for a skywatch.

This proved to be a profitable decision, as some nice birds were seen. Entering the Greenhouse Grounds, the regular WREN and DUNNOCK were seen, both in the same bush in fact, having a good preen  :-)

Wren

Dunnock

Also seen was a GREEN WOODPECKER and the KESTREL, which never lets me within 60m of it for a photograph! Walking to the Greenhouse Copse a COMMON GULL flew over, allowing for a distant photo.

Adult Common Gull

A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER drummed from the Greenhouse Copse, and a couple of SONGTHRUSHES were seen, plus the usual GREAT and BLUE TITS. Coming out of the Copse I walked the drainage ditch where 2 COMMON SNIPE were flushed up, I watched them wheel away over the Greenhouses to find another safe hide-out. Walking around the sheep pasture a ROOK flew over, which I took a snap shot of, as did a first winter Common Gull, which also got it's photo taken  :-) better still, I heard my first LITTLE OWL (65,58) of the year calling from the Copse I had just passed through, then another answered it's call from a line of trees just off my patch, amazing how their calls carry.

Rook

1st Winter Common Gull

1st Winter Common Gull

I made it to my seat, which was now free of snow, as a rapid thaw had set in this afternoon, and watched the sky for an hour, recording a flock 5 LESSER REDPOLL, a single LAPWING, a flock 7 SKYLARKS, with a more heard but unseen, and also, heard but unseen was a  FIELDFARE. The sighting of the afternoon though was that of 6 GOOSANDER (66, 59) flying over, 5 males and a female - fantastic year tick!! Another little treat to visit was a male REED BUNTING, always good to get one of those here, it sat in a bush in the tall hedge by my seat  :-)

Reed Bunting (male)

Reed Bunting (male)

The walk back home along Ashes Lane was not without some action, as a SPARROWHAWK flew over, and the first 20 or so LINNETS (60) of the month were seen alighting in their pre-roost tree, bringing up the 60th species for February. A very nice couple of hours out today!

NEWS FROM YESTERDAY! ( I forgot to say!!) The first HOUSE SPARROW of the year came to the garden feeders, and here he is  :-)

First garden House Sparrow of the year  :-)