Pittswood Birds

A four hour visit this morning covering all parts of my patch, plus a 3 hour skywatch this afternoon, produced an excellent total of 52 species, the only species not found that should have been was a Bullfinch.

The liveliest part of my patch was once again the College Grounds, where I spent ages watching a mixed feeding flock that contained 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, at least 10 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 LONG TAILED TITS, 2 WILLOW WARBLERS, 2 GOLDCREST, a BLACKCAP, a COAL TIT, plus the usual BLUE TITS, GREAT TITS, ROBINS and WRENS. All these as well as BLACKBIRDS, DUNNOCKS, SONGTHRUSH, GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKER, GOLDFINCH, CHAFFINCH GREENFINCH, and a flyover MISTLE THRUSH made for a lot to look through!

Elsewhere the summer species were few, just one WHITETHROAT was seen in the Tree Nursery, and a couple more Blackcaps at the Scrubby Woods and one more in the Greenhouse Grounds. Four HOUSE MARTINS joined the Swallows over Migrant Alley, the only other summer birds were flyovers, one a HOBBY, the other another YELLOW WAGTAIL the third in consecutive days.

On an adjacent field to my patch, there were an incredible 2000 plus Gulls, mostly HERRING GULLS, but also BLACK HEADED and LESSER BLACK BACKED with them, the flock was being added to throughout the morning, In fact a continual stream of Gulls flew over my patch all day.

To add to the Hobby seen early on, I added the three usual raptor species to go with it during my sky watch, those being SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL, and 3 BUZZARDS, also a GREY HERON went over, but nothing more exciting than that.

No additions to the month, a bit disappointing, but ive lots of holiday visits left yet  :-)

I tried for ages to get some more Warbler photo's, but they didn't stop feeding for one moment, the Long Tailed Tits were more obliging though  :-)

Long Tailed \tit

Long Tailed Tit

Long tailed Tit

Long tailed \tit