Pittswood Birds

A couple of CHIFFCHAFFS both gave some song at the College Grounds as I walked into work this morning, where a TREECREEPER was also singing loudly, the place sounded quite springlike with the ROBINS singing as well   :-)

This afternoon after work, I visited Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds, a gusty wind was blowing, and some light showers fell, as the sky became progressively greyer. After not finding much amongst the scrubby parts of the Greenhouse Grounds, I did a circuit of the pasture and paddocks at Migrant Alley, it had once again been heavily disturbed, but a small flock of a dozen GOLDFINCH were seen, they were joined by 4 MEADOW PIPITS and 2 LINNETS. Also seen was a nice flock of at least 250 STARLINGS, which fed very warily, they had one eye on the sky like I did, and it wasn't long before a SPARROWHAWK visited, 2 single BUZZARDS also flew low over, and the KESTREL pair traversed the fields from time to time, no wonder the Starlings were jumpy! The only other birds present were 40-50 JACKDAWS, around 40 ROOKS and 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS.

All the time I was out this afternoon, a passage of HOUSE MARTINS was noted, they continually streamed through, stopping only to briefly to grab some aerial food, and mingle with the local SWALLOWS, before moving on, many hundreds must have passed through in the 2 and a half hours I was out.

I had a short sky watch from my seat, and had more Kestrel and Sparrowhawk views, as well as all those House Martins and Swallows, a GREY HERON flapped slowly over, and a few HERRING GULLS, BLACK HEADED GULLS and two LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS were also seen, best bird today was a single YELLOW WAGTAIL that flew over high, giving its distinct call.

Once again though, no new species were added to the months list, but maybe my full patch walk early  tomorrow will throw up  one or two  :-)  Nothing for the camera today, and the blog photo folder is empty  :-(