Pittswood Birds

After no patch visit yesterday due to the dreadfully dull, misty and wet conditions, I was eager to get out at first light this morning for a full patch walk. Initially the weather remained dull and drizzly, but it lifted by mid morning, to leave some brighter spells.

There were few birds about during the 3 and a half hour visit, and the days species total reached a little below average 41, but there were some highlights for me, notably a decent sized flock of SISKIN that were in Alder Trees along the College Stream, at least 60 were seen. A KINGFISHER was also seen at the College Gardens on one of the small ponds there, another Kingfisher was found over at the lakes too, where a GREY HERON was also seen, as well as at least 10 MOORHEN, but the only ducks involved 3 MALLARD. In the adjacent Scrubby Woods, a party of at least 4 BULLFINCH plus a TREECREEPER were about the best of it.

Flyover species made up a large part of todays list, with the likes of HERRING GULL, BLACK HEADED GULL, LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, FIELDFARE, REDWING, LESSER REDPOLL, YELLOWHAMMER and another 2 Grey herons all passing through. Just one KESTREL was seen up hunting over the Tree Nursery today, and the SPARROWHAWK was seen successfully hunting in a hedgerow at Migrant Alley, taking a DUNNOCK by the looks of it.

A flock of a dozen LONG TAILED TITS were located at the Greenhouse Grounds, they were joined by 2 or 3 each of GREAT and BLUE TITS, as well as 2 GOLDCRESTS.

Around midday, a brief spell of sunshine was had, allowing me to grab some garden bird photo's. Here's a selection, i'll put more up during this coming week, when it gets dark and wet again!  :-)

MARSH TIT

GOLDFINCH

JAY

Jay

Great Tit