Pittswood Birds

Still no change in the weather for the first full patch walk of March, the overcast and dull conditions made it feel dank and cold in a cool north wind.

It didn't take long to add a new species to the March list this morning, when a CORMORANT (41) flew over heading south west, then ten minutes later, as I was approaching the Wet Woods a LITTLE EGRET (42) was also added as it flew low over in the opposite direction, a good species to record on my patch  :-)

On the Lakes 18 CANADA GEESE, the COOT pair and a few MOORHEN were all that was to be seen, whilst around the Scrubby woods SISKIN, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, a pair of LONG TAILED TITS and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were about the best of it.

A SPARROWHAWK zipped through the Wet Woods as I returned through them, but the STOCK DOVE there carried on singing regardless, whilst all around the GREAT TITS, BLUE TITS, WRENS, and BLACKBIRDS called in alarm.

I reached the Greenhouse grounds and found my first PIED WAGTAILS (43) for the month, but only two GOLDFINCH were found in the Alder trees this morning, maybe everything else was put off by the KESTREL pair perched up on the greenhouse rooves.

Crossing Migrant Alley, two SKYLARKS got up from the sheep pasture, where around 150 BLACK HEADED GULLS were also feeding, along with a single LESSER BLACK BACK GULL (44) On the adjoining paddocks a mixed flock of around 300 birds comprised approximately 50/50 STARLING and FIELDFARE, although my first REDWING (45) of the month, just a single bird, was also with them  :-)

The College Grounds was uninspiring today, a bit too much disturbance really, but a GREY HERON (46) joined the months list as it flew up from one of the small garden ponds, a pair of MISTLE THRUSH seen feeding on the sports pitch are no doubt going to breed somewhere in the gardens. Walking back home, I added a COMMON BUZZARD (47) to the March species list, it was perched up in the lone fir tree at the Tree Nursery.

The daylist of 45 species was about average for early March, and the seven new species for the month takes the March tally to 47, not too bad, but still 24 off the record March total ........and it will be tougher tomorrow!

A few very brief glimmers of light around midday allowed me to try and get some garden photo's, but it was hard going, just these two were snapped with any clarity.

Siskin

Blue Tit