Pittswood Birds

A superb sunny late spring day was had today, temperatures got up in the mid seventies and there was just a slight warm breeze  :-)  Conditions were ideal for Butterflies and Damsels again, but not quite so conducive for finding birds!

The Tree Nursery was my first port of call this afternoon, where I found plenty of Butterflies about, Small Whites, Green Veined Whites, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Brown Argus and my first Small Coppers of the year, 21 days later than last years first sighting. Damsels were again represented by immature Common Blues and Large Reds.

It was hot and still in the sunshine, and not much was happening bird wise, just the WHITETHROATS and GREEN WOODPECKERS were of note, so i spent an hour photographing the flutters  :-) I spent some time around the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley after the photo session, where it continued hot and still with little to be seen, another Whitethroat sang, as well as a BLACKCAP, and I was surprised to see a LITTLE OWL perched on one of the greenhouses guttering. Overhead, the KESTREL was hunting, and two BUZZARDS soared high over Migrant Alley as I walked a circuit of the fields and paddocks, not finding anything much apart from two GREYLAG GEESE, maybe an evening visit in the sunshine would be a better for finding birdlife, if I get time later I may try.  Today was mainly about Butterflies though, so here's the photo's.

Brown Argus Mating

Brown Argus Mating

Small Copper - my first this year :-)

Small Copper