Pittswood Birds

The weather has now made a complete turn around, the cool, wet and windy weather we have suffered endured for the last 3 months has given way to wall to wall blue skies and hot sunshine  :-)

After I had finished work I went over to the Tree Nursery to see what Butterflies and Damselflies were about, not as many as I had expected was the answer, maybe it was too hot for them! There were plenty of Meadow Browns and Small Skippers, with, I suspect, Essex Skippers amongst them, a dozen Gatekeepers, a couple of Red Admirals, and a Small Copper were also seen, plus my first Holly Blue since the spring  :-)

With the sun beating down on me, I had to take a rest in a shaded area, and as I watched the SWALLOWS flitting about the blue, I spotted a larger black bird above them, I had a look through my bins and was pleased to see it was a CORMORANT (60) at last I've found one for the month! That was it for the birding highlights, not many were seen out in the open during the heat of the day, i'll have a walk out this evening once it cools off a bit.

I had a look at the run off pool at the bottom of the Tree Nursery while out, and saw a few Damsels, including Azure Blue, Common Blue and Blue Tailed, as well as the White Legged, there was also a Common Darter and an Emperor Dragonfly. A CHIFFCHAFF dropped in for a drink whilst I was there  :-)

Just one of the KESTREL family was up hunting today, and the first SPAROWHAWK since the 15th was also seen.
 I took 135 photo's today - here's the ones I kept  :-)

This immature WOODPIGEON is only the second one ive seen this year

Immature SONGTHRUSH

The Chiffchaff that came down for a drink

My first Holly Blue Butterfly since the spring, egg laying on ivy, as the second brood does

Having brown tips to its antenna, I say this is a small skipper, not Essex  :-)

White-legged Damselfly

Blue tailed damselfly

Common Darter