Pittswood Birds

Being a bank holiday weekend, I'm used to the weather taking a turn for the worse, but today was really taking the micky! I left for my first full patch walk of May in light but persistent rain, with a cold NE wind blowing, it felt freezing!

Under the leaden skies the birds that could be expected at this time of year were hard to find, and some, like the Cuckoo, which should be none stop calling, wasn't found at all. Of the resident summer birds, just one SWALLOW, one LESSER WHITETHROAT, five CHIFFCHAFF, and four WHITETHROAT were found, thats abysmal four a May day  :-(

On the upside, a YELLOW WAGTAIL passed through, flying over Migrant Alley, as did the first of four SWIFTS seen during the 3 hour visit. I watched three WHEATEAR on one of the paddocks as well, they are late in passing through this year, nice to have them here though  :-)

It was bit of a relief to get over to the Scrubby Woods and Lake area, just to get out of the cold wind, but there wasn't much happening here to get me warmed up, the best offering was a male MANDARIN DUCK (57) the first for the month, swimming on the main lake with two CANADA GEESE and five MALLARDS. I searched the Scrubby Woods for the likes of Treecreeper and Nuthatch to add to the May list, but failed to locate any, the best i came up with were GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH, LONG TAILED TIT, and a couple more Chiffchaff and Blackcaps. Before heading home, I checked up on the JAYS nest I found last week, the parent was still sitting tightly, I also checked up on the COOT young, of which 2 are still doing nicely  :-)

I braved the wind again at Migrant alley for a sky watch a bit later, and saw a couple of LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULLS, plus two BUZZARDS and a KESTREL, a SKYLARK flew over and joined the WHEATEARS on the paddock, where the flock of LINNETS had started to gather to feed. I got a photo of one of the males, but in the conditions, I dont think I did this beautiful male bird any favours!

Male Linnet

Male Linnet

This STARLING provided me with a blog brightner , as it sat and waited for the fat feeder in my garden to became free  :-)

Starling