Pittswood Birds

Migrant Alley first thing this morning

After the early morning mist cleared, it became sunny and very warm, during the 6 hour visit, of mixed fortunes, I recorded just 43 species, the summer birds among them were few, but included the likes of WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and small numbers of the local SWALLOWS.

Single Whitethroats were found in the Tree Nursery, and College Grounds, and single Blackcaps were at the College Grounds and Greenhouse grounds, with 4-5 at the Scrubby woods, Chiffchaffs were in just about every habitat I looked at, many had arrived overnight.

A GREY WAGTAIL was at the pump station in the Greenhouse Grounds, where two WHEATEAR were sat up on the greenhouse rooves, not that often I see them here, I took a record shot  :-)

One of the Wheatears on the Greenhouse Rooves

Many of the regular woodland species were picked up as I walked through the Small Holding, Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods, the likes of TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH, and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were all found, no Coal Tit today though, one of many regular species that eluded me this morning, like Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, and surprisingly Linnet, at this time of year I would expect a flock of 30-40 at Migrant Alley. On the lakes just a GREYLAG GOOSE, 2 CANADA GEESE, 3 MALLARDS and 4 MOORHEN were seen.

Flyovers were few, but I had a CORMORANT, a GREY HERON plus HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULLS go over, only two Raptor species were up hunting - Common BUZZARD, and KESTREL, the Sparrowhawk was another missing off the list today.

Kestrel - One of a pair seen

Kestrel

This afternoon I had another patch visit, mainly to look around Migrant Alley, where all was quiet still, but an hours sky watching from my seat produced a nice surprise - another OSPREY! It was seen off by a Buzzard, and was always too high for a photo - unfortunately!

Photo's I did take were :-

LONG TAILED TIT, with breakfast, one of a flock of seven at the College Grounds, they were with a team of Chiffchaffs, i'll post photo's of them on tomorrows post  :-)

Immature GOLDFINCH