Pittswood Birds

All change with the weather again! It was back to the cold, overcast conditions for this mornings full patch walk, when in four hours I recorded 48 species, most of those being the common regular species, but there were also a few highlights. One of those was seeing two KINGFISHERS chasing through the trees along the College stream, also good views of a COMMON BUZZARD were had as it floated low over the Tree Nursery, finally alighting in a small apple tree in a large garden, nice garden tick for someone!

On the lakes, it was again mostly CANADA GEESE, 14 in all, but today two GREYLAG GEESE had joined them, the BARNACLE GOOSE was also present as was the COOT pair, and a few MALLARDS and MOORHENS. Much song was heard in the Scrubby Woods, despite the dull conditions, singing from , WREN, ROBIN, DUNNOCK, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, MISTLE THRUSH, CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, GOLDCREST, TREECREEPER and CHAFFINCH, also the calls of NUTHATCH and BULLFINCH were heard, all helping make light of the gloom.

Flyovers today, whilst sitting over on my sky watching seat at Migrant Alley, included a SPARROWHAWK, and a passage of MEADOW PIPITS, of which small groups of 9, 6, 4 and another 9 all flew North West, but the main highlight of the visit was seeing my first SWALLOW (78,55) of the year, only a brief sighting, as it sped over northwards, but how apt that it turns up on my birthday  :-)

This years first Swallow sighting comes eight days later than last year, and 6 days later than the 11 year mean arrival date, the local Swallows wont be long in arriving now!

With the dull conditions the camera stayed at home today  :-(