Pittswood Birds

A mixed bag of weather today, I got a good soaking on the way home from work this afternoon, but it then cheered up a bit, with some short sunny spells, a cool wind blew, making it feel much cooler than yesterday though.

I didn't have much of a plan this afternoon, the Butterflies, Damselflies, and Dragonflies were not much in evidence without the warmth of the sun, so I didn't walk the Tree Nursery, instead I visited the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley to watch the KESTREL family, at one point it was they who watched me and I was inspected as one flew over to check me out, looks like the adult female.

Kestrel

The three nestlings made forays out from there nestbox tree, but always quickly returned at the slightest sign of any danger, the adults giving the alarm calls to them. I kept an eye on the sky for anything interesting, but not a lot went over, only a few HERRING GULLS, and a flock of 6 BLACK HEADED GULLS, and of course the SPARROWHAWK was up hunting, agitating the local SWALLOWS  :-)

The BLACKCAP and WHITETHROAT pair continue to feed young in the Greenhouse Grounds and the WREN pair were seen, having presumably now built their nest which I photographed them building on Wednesday and are now trying to raise a second brood, the first two photo's below are from Wednesday, the second two from this afternoon, what a contrast in lighting!

Nest building Wren

Nest building Wren

 

 

 

Wren holding territory

Above Wren again

I didn't have too much more to see of note for the afternoon, two TURTLE DOVES flew out of a grassy area around the Greenhouses, and a family party of Linnets were about it for today. I'm hoping for a good visit tomorrow on my full patch walk, to pick up the few remaining regular species that need to be added to Julys' tally.

Male Linnet, shame it was on the framework of the poly tunnels!