Pittswood Birds

Once again this afternoon I set off over to the lakes and Scrubby Woods, giving the Wet Woods and Small Holding a look in on the way, where it was reasonably quiet with only 4 GREEN WOODPECKERS on a large lawn being of any note, I was hoping for a Teal in the Wet woods but just a MALLARD and 3 MOORHEN were seen on the stagnant pools.

Over on the lakes, yesterdays surprise Wigeon had moved on, leaving just 4 Mallard, 4 Moorhens, 9 CANADA GEESE and a KINGFISHER that zipped inches above the waters surface, the Coot wasn't found today either. Two KESTRELS called loudly as they sparred over the Scrubby Woods, and a flock of LONG TAILED TITS with GOLDCREST, TREECREEPER and NUTHATCH were watched on the far bank of the largest lake, needless to say their constant calls attracted a SPARROWHAWK, I cant get away from these sprawks!

The adjacent Scrubby Woods had two BULLFINCH calling from it, and a LESSER REDPOLL, SISKIN and SKYLARK flying over it, Skylarks were heard during all of my 2 hour visit today as they went over in ones and two's every 15 mins or so.

The Tree Nursery was visited next, where another two Green Woodpeckers were seen, plus a couple of MEADOW PIPITS. Another Lesser Redpoll and two more Siskins were heard going over whilst there. I was surprised to see a Small White Butterfly flying through, and then a few minutes later a Red Admiral.

I spent the last 40 minutes of my visit walking the Greenhouse Grounds, finding the usual PIED WAGTAILS, WRENS , DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, BLACKBIRDS, and two REDWING, but all was pretty quiet really, despite the sunshine that had now broken through. I had decided to leave for home, but first thought I would try to get a Kestrel photo, as one was sitting out on one of the poles that hold the Raspberry plants up, but just before I pointed the camera, something caught my eye on another of the poles, it was only a BLACK REDSTART (70)  !!  What a superb species to find! I quickly dropped the idea of a kestrel shot, but as nice as Kestrels are, Black Redstarts take precedence !

This is the fifth year from the eleven years of watching my patch I have had this lovely species visit, todays bird was the third Autumn one, the other two Autumn ones were in July 2007 & October 2009, spring Black Redstarts have been seen in the past 3 years, but this year is the only year I have found them on both spring and Autumn passage, an excellent find, and a great way to bring up Otobers 70th species  :-)

I couldn't get very near to the bird, it was very flighty, but got some ok shots, better than my last Black Redstart attempts  :-)

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

When I pushed my luck and tried to get closer, the bird flew up onto the Greenhouse |Rooves, where I left it in peace, catching flies :-)

Black Redstart