Pittswood Birds

Today's weather was the reverse of yesterday, with the morning bright and sunny and the afternoon showery, which suited me  :-)

I got out by 05:45hrs, and headed as always at this time of year across to the Greenhouse Grounds, Migrant Alley and then on to the College Grounds, two GREYLAG GEESE flew over as I left home, and the SWALLOWS were already up in the sky catching insects, WOODPIGEON, GREENFINCH, JACKDAW, BLUE TIT, STARLING, a calling PHEASANT, plus CHAFFINCH, CARRION CROW, GOLDFINCH and WREN all went into the note book in quick succession. There were a couple of COLLARED DOVES at the Greenhouse Complex Grounds, along with the WHITETHROAT and BLACKCAPS that hang around there, under the poly tunnels BLACKBIRDS and SONGTHRUSH fed on the fallen raspberries.

At Migrant Alley I scanned all the fence lines for an early migrant, I always hope for a Wheatear or a Whinchat, or maybe something more scarce, but it wasn't to be today, still to early I think  :-)  Just the ROOKS were on the fence lines. HERRING GULL, BLACK HEADED GULL and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL all were seen going over, and looking back across the fields I saw two KESTRELS on the Greenhouses. 13 more Greylags were on one of the paddocks, with two CANADA GEESE, as well as 5 MAGPIES.

At the College Grounds, it was not as quiet as yesterday, but still not very active either, CHIFFCHAFF, ROBIN, HOUSE SPARROW, PIED WAGTAIL, GREEN WOODPECKER, TREECREEPER, DUNNOCK, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, MOORHEN, GOLDCREST, and at last the first GREAT TIT of the morning were all seen, and of course mustn't forget the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, one of which sat in some perfect light for a photo, but as you can see, it wasn't in the perfect position!

Almost the classic Spotfly Photo! Of course as I moved round to get the bill in shot, the bird flew off!

A KINGFISHER again was seen on one of the small garden ponds, and I noted another CORMORANT fly over followed a few minutes later by a GREY HERON. A young fox showed itself well, giving me a quick burst of photo's of it.

Young Fox

Young Fox

I had 39 species on the list When I re-traced my steps and headed over to the Small Holding, Wet Woods, Scrubby Woods and Lake area, so there wasn't an awful lot more to be found, especially as I added LINNET to the list on the way there. I had a good look around anyway, and added JAY from the Small holding, STOCK DOVE from the Wet Woods, as well as BULLFINCH, NUTHATCH, LONG TAILED TIT, and COAL TIT from the Scrubby Woods, which were part of a mixed feeding flock. The lakes, as is nearly always the case at this time of year especially, was mostly devoid of birds, I added just MALLARD to the days list.

I finished up at the Tree Nursery, where the last bird species for the morning, the 48th, was added - a SPARROWHAWK. An average tally then, on an average type visit!

This Goldfinch was on a thistle at the Tree Nursery, an immature one, but already learning whats good to eat  ;-)

Immature Goldfinch, learning how to survive