Pittswood Birds

At last some decent spring weather, nice that it coincides with my 50th birthday  :-)
After a cold and frosty dawn, the morning soon warmed up once the sun got going, making for an enjoyable full patch visit, which with a few lengthy sky watches thrown in, took up most of the morning and early afternoon - 8 hours in all  :-)

Not surprising then that a very good species tally of 52 was reached, the only real omission to that total that could have anticipated today were the Bullfinch, and the Greylag goose.

Three new species were added to the April list, the first of those being a KINGFISHER (57) that was seen flying across the main lake, which also had the GOOSANDER still there, as well as 8 CANADA GEESE a GREY HERON and the COOT, there was no Greylag Goose at the nest site today however. As I moved from the lakes, the familiar call of the feral BARNACLE GOOSE (58) was heard, and I watched it alight with the Canada Geese already on the water.

Much of the visit was as yesterday, i'm still finding plenty of winter species, with 60 - 80 FIELDFARE on the Sheep pasture between the Wet Woods and Tree Nursery, with those were 5 REDWING. SISKIN and MEADOW PIPIT were continually heard going over and a nice flock of 7 CORMORANT was also witnessed flying N, a good number for here.

7 Cormorant

Five Gull species were seen on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, 28 of those were BLACK HEADED, 4 were HERRING, 2 were MEDITERRANEAN and there was one each of COMMON and LESSER BLACK BACKED.

Mediterranean Gull pair, with Black Headed Gull

A few WOODPIGEONS, JACKDAWS, STARLINGS and ROOKS made up the bird life on the sheep pasture and paddocks, but later whilst on a sky watch, I saw a CHIFFCHAFF move through the hedgerow behind my sitting position, - that's the hedgerow above, behind the lamb  :-)

Rook

The first LINNET (59) of April was seen in the ruins of the Tree Nursery, it was singing away, but there will be no territory for it use there this year  :-(

SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL and many BUZZARD sightings were had on my 3 separate sky watching sessions, but as yet no Swallows or Martins have be found.

Kestrel

Kestrel, on the Greenhouse Roof