Pittswood Birds

It was sunny and calm for the walk to work this morning, thus plenty of birds were found to kick start the the August list, 35 species in all. First up were the GOLDFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, JACKDAW, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, BLUE and GREAT TIT, all seen in the garden as I put my boots on to leave. Once out MAGPIE, WREN, SWALLOW, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, and CARRION CROW were quickly added as I walked along Ashes Lane. Entering the Greenhouse Complex, a WHITEHROAT was seen with a BLACKCAP in the same bush, and a DUNNOCK was also seen, plus a couple of LINNETS. I heard a far away YELLOWHAMMER singing from the back edge of the Tree Nursery, this is where I heard one in July, but I've yet to actually see it!

I crossed Migrant Alley and scanned the sky as I went, finding HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, STARLINGS, STOCK DOVE, SWIFT, WOODPIGEON, ROOK and a small flock of 6 GREYLAG GOOSE that were on a paddock, along with the female MALLARD again.

Next up was the College Grounds, where HOUSE SPARROW, PIED WAGTAIL, GREEN WOODPECKER, CHIFFCHAFF, COLLARED DOVE, GOLDCREST, a ROBIN (at last) and a pair of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS feeding at least two young  were all found.

The walk from work was in stark contrast, rain was falling, and the only species I added to the months list was one of the KESTRELS. When I got home I had a quick bite to eat and a cuppa while I waited for the rain to pass, I was just looking out into the garden at the Elder berries that had started to ripen, and out popped a Blackcap, they love the Elder berries! Then a few minutes later a GARDEN WARBLER popped up, even better! I was trying to find this species throughout July and I get one under my nose on the 1st of August, typical  :-)  Thats a new species for the garden this year, the 30th species to enter my garden for 2012.

The rain stopped and I ventured out, not taking my camera, as it still looked like rain was imminent, but 20 minutes into my walk the sun came out, didn't expect that! I decided not to visit the Scrubby Woods and lake area to find the woodland species, I'll leave that for the weekend, instead I walked the Tree Nursery, and Migrant Alley, hoping for a Migrant Species, it wasn't to be, but I added JAY, and MOORHEN, to my months list, and got a flyover GREY HERON as well, A raptor watch from my seat at Migrant Alley proved fruitful, when BUZZARD, SPARROWHAWK and PEREGRINE were all seen, and 4 more of the Kestrel family were also about.

43 species to kick off the August list then, a good start, but there's a lot of work to be done still to reach the mean average August total of 66.8 species, and a real Olympic effort will be needed to beat the record August total of 78 species, set in 2010.