Pittswood Birds

A few hours respite from the rain this morning was spent doing another full patch walk, a cool wind developed, and once again it felt most unsummer like, but, as yesterday, a good total of 48 species was recorded.

Another two species were added to the confirmed successfully breeding list, when a newly fledged BLACKCAP was seen along the banks of the College Stream, and a short distance away over at the College Stables, a PIED WAGTAIL was seen feeding a newly fledged youngster, that brings the total for the successful breeders to 24 species this spring.

The visit was also notable for a couple of flyover species, nine BLACK HEADED GULLS flew south over Migrant Alley, not a species often recorded here in June, especially in any number, also six LAPWING (59) headed NW,  another scarce June species and a new one for this month.

Other notable species were a LITTLE OWL that sat on the Greenhouses again, KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK over the Tree Nursery, and TURTLE DOVE singing in the Scrubby Woods. The COOT pair were seen with their two young, after not being found yesterday, and a GREY HERON dropped onto the main lake to fish. A TREECREEPER (60) was at last recorded as it scampered around a large Oak tree in the Wet Woods, bringing the June species list to 60  :-)

Not much made it onto the camera this morning, apart from a distant shot of the hunting Kestrel, so early this afternoon, before more rain set in,I made an effort to try and get a couple of familiar garden bird photo's as well.

Hunting Kestrel

Hunting Kestrel

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

GREENFINCH

Immature GOLDFINCH