Pittswood Birds

Shower after shower passed through the area today, one every few minutes meant that it rarely stopped raining all day, that combined with a dental visit mid morning meant little patch visiting was done today.

A wet hour was spent out first thing though, but as yesterday, it soon became apparent I was wasting my time again as far as finding any new spring arrivals  :-(  I made it to the College Grounds without getting too wet, and heard a bit of spring song from the likes of TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, COAL TIT and CHIFFCHAFF. A heavy down pour soon had me looking for cover, but there was none with the trees still being leafless, all I could do was press myself into a yew hedge and wait for the rain to pass, I did see both KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK whilst I waited though  :-)

The rain passed, but the next down pour could be seen hot on its heels heading in from the south west, so I headed for home, re crossing Migrant Alley as I went, where a passage of MEADOW PIPITS flew over the Sheep pasture, 2 , 2 , 4 , 4 then 6 birds were noted in quick succession, a FIELDFARE ''chacked'' as it flew over, and a few minutes later a CORMORANT also passed over.

The rain started up again as I reached the Greenhouse Grounds, and once again I did my best to shelter from the rain, this time as I waited I noted a pair of BULLFINCH nearby, and a SKYLARK sang as it flew North, two COMMON BUZZARDS flew low over and headed towards the Wet Woods.

Whilst at home, I was just getting ready to go out to the dentist, when I saw a BLACKCAP (63) feeding on my garden 'Blog Log' Not the first one seen this year, as I had an overwintering individual back in February, but this one was no doubt a spring arrival, the latest I have had to wait for a spring Blackcap by 3 days. I grabbed the Camera and took a few shots, then realised there was another one on the fat feeder! Both the birds were males, I think it just goes to show how few insects there are out there when I get two birds on my feeders!

Two more attempts were made to get out this afternoon, but all I got was wet!

I just hope it stays dry tomorrow morning, for my Full patch Walk, when hopefully something will turn up for the year list, a Cuckoo is imminent, and maybe a passage Willow warbler will be heard to sing  :-)

Male Blackcap

Male Blackcap

Female GREENFINCH