Pittswood Birds

Some hefty showers trundled their way over my patch today, but in between downpours the odd sunny spell was also enjoyed. It was a slow start to the day, and for most of the morning it was a distinctly average patch visit, the only real highlight being a KINGFISHER that flew up the College Stream, and the sighting of a SWALLOW around the College Stables, this one was a 'patch breeder' no doubt, good to see them back :-)

I ended my walk over at the Lakes and Scrubby woods, but failing to find Nuthatch and Coal Tit there, or any sort of Raptor species earlier in the walk, limited the day list to just 42, rather disappointing after reaching 50 species yesterday, it was still a worthwhile exercise though, as a few more BLACKCAPS had arrived, especially in the Scrubby Woods, and I also encountered a pair of TREECREEPERS nest building there.

I decided to go over and do some skywatching, from my seat at Migrant Alley, where things took a turn for the better, one of the KESTRELS was up hunting, and a pair of PIED WAGTAILS were with three MEADOW PIPITS in the sheep pasture, just three of many that were seen and heard going over for the two hours I was there. I spied two small birds coming towards me from the SE, these turned out to be my first HOUSE MARTINS (81, 58) of the year, a little later 3 Swallows also passed over. A SKYLARK was up singing, so high as to be unseen, but as I scoured the sky for it, I spied a SPARROWHAWK circling, a few minutes later  the first of three BUZZARDS went over, and later still a fourth raptor - the PEREGRINE was watched as it slowly glided across the blackening sky. That brought the total species list for the day to 49, much better, but before ending the visit, due to a large black shower heading my way, I was treated to my fifth raptor species of the day, when a fantastic RED KITE (59) flew over, what a great bird to reach the 50 species with!

I took quite a few photo's today, alas, not of the Red Kite!

One of the Treecreepers seen in the Scrubby woods

Its mate was colecting nesting material

One of 16 CANADA GEESE that were o the lakes

I post lots of DUNNOCK photo's, but I was so pleased with these shots i'll post them as well :-)

Dunnock

One of the three Meadow Pipits in the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley