Pittswood Birds

When I left for work this morning my garden looked like a herd of Elephants had rampaged through it, after a night of heavy rain and gales, there were snapped off Elder branches, Lilac Blossoms, leaves and various other debris scattered about the garden, and worse of all the portable greenhouse which held all the Tomato and cucumber seedlings as well as lots of other just germinating seeds, was found in bits along the side passage  :-(.

One cheery but brief bit of relief from the wind and rain, was hearing my first YELLOW WAGTAIL ( 86,66) of the year flyover Migrant Alley as I walked into work, it's arrival over my patch comes just one day later than the 11 year median average date.

The rain had mostly cleared for this afternoons walk, but the wind was still almost gale force, blowing in some light squally showers. I made a visit to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods area, but in the wind little was noted, as I passed through the Small Holding two MISTLE THRUSHES gathered food for their nestlings, and at at the entrance of the Wet Woods both CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP were heard singing.

Over on the lakes 17 CANADA GEESE, were seen, along with the feral BARNACLE GOOSE, but just two drake MALLARDS, one MOORHEN and the COOTS were the only other birds there, the Coots look to be down to two chicks now, but I was looking from a distance and may of missed the third  :-)

In the Scrubby Woods it was too noisy with the wind gusting through the trees to hear anything except only the closest Blackcap and Chiffchaff, the only other thing of note seen here were both Orange Tip, and Speckled Wood Butterflies.

A shortened visit to Migrant Alley for a sky watch didn't excite at all, just the KESTRELS were seen, ....................the disappointing month continues  :-(

The camera stayed at home today, but here are the last of the photo's I took on Sunday......

Robin

This is a typical Blackcap effort, nice and close, but obscured by twigs  :-)

Blackcap

 Then if you do find one out in the open, it's too distant, the frustrations of bird photography :-)

Blackcap, male in full song

Blackcap