Pittswood Birds

After a difficult few days, i've decided to get the patch diary going again, although reports may be patchy for a couple more weeks.

I have managed a few short visits to my patch this month, and have targeted the most productive areas, finding a total of 55 species to kick off the October list, still a long way to go to reach the best ever October total of 77, which was achieved in 2010, I think i'll do well to reach the 69 species recorded last October :-)

A quick summary of the most notable species so far then :-
The COOT remains on the lakes, where it had just enough room with the 109 CANADA GEESE, 4 GREYLAG GEESE and the lone feral BARNACLE GOOSE that were also there, never seen the lakes so crowded!

Migrant Alley produced a WHEATEAR, yesterday and 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS on Tuesday, two YELLOWHAMMERS were in the Greenhouse Complex also on Tuesday, and a LITTLE OWL called from nearby my house on Wednesday evening.

Of the Raptors, SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL and BUZZARD have all been seen, and of the Gull species LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULL have flown over.

A BLACKCAP was seen in the Pub Field/Tree Nursery boundary hedgerow, the only other summer species were a couple of CHIFFCHAFFS and the HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS that are continually passing through, although as I walked home from work today I noticed numbers were much reduced.

No winter thrushes have yet been noted, but a few SISKIN have been flying over, they are early this year.

I hope to get out tomorrow afternoon, but the weather looks very wet! However, the weekend should see me back to some kind of routine again :-)

I havn't taken the camera out this month yet, but i got some garden bird photo's last weekend, here's a few to brighten the page :-)

Collared Dove

Goldfinch Juv.

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Greenfinch

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Great Tit