Pittswood Birds

The ''Tree Nursery'' a wildlife haven...............for now.

This morning on the way to work there was a mix of Geese on the paddocks at Migrant Alley, 26 CANADA, 20 GREYLAG, the feral BARNACLE GOOSE and the feral RED BREASTED GOOSE, an unusual sight on this part of my patch! I also saw the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER and a nice male BULLFINCH in the College Grounds.

This afternoon it was hot and sunny, but with a refreshing breeze, and I headed of to the Tree Nursery for yet more Butterfly action, ( see top photo) I'm getting quite addicted to these little jewel like creatures, well, this weather wont last forever, and when it goes, so will the flutters, so get 'em while you can I say  :-)

I didn't find anything out of the ordinary, but I did see my first Common Blue of the summer, the 15th butterfly species of the year, and 18 days later than last years first record. I also noted Orange Tips, Small White, Holly Blue, Small Copper, and Brown Argus, which are far more abundant than last year, I was finding one every ten paces along the hedgerow! I also got to see my first White Legged Damselfly of the year ( I hope i'm right this time!) a Large Red was also recorded.

In the two hours I spent ''butterflying'' in the Tree Nursery I only noted a few birds, GREEN WOODPECKER, WHITETHROAT, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, GOLDFINCH, LINNET, BLACKBIRD, WREN, DUNNOCK, HOUSE SPARROW and ROBIN were about it, I also noted a COMMON BUZZARD and 2 KESTRELS up hunting, a few HERRING GULLS went high over, but the day was again mainly for the flutters, tomorrow i'll be out early for a full patch walk to catch up on the birdlife.
Here's a few of todays flutter photo's  :-)

Small White

Orange Tip

Brown Argus - a stunning little butterfly, you dont notice the irridecence on the wings when in the field

Holly Blue

Small Copper - these small flutters look like red hot lumps of coal, that have jumped from the fire into the grass

Large Red Damsel

White Legged Damsel

Unknown moth  :-) It was very small, and had a tiny orange dot on the bottom of each hindwing.