Pittswood Birds

Only a short 2 hour patch visit was had this morning, in cold and mostly cloudy, but dry conditions. Most of the time was spent walking over to the College Grounds and back, checking for the possible arrival of the Spotted Flycatchers, which were not there  :-( In fact very little was about, the cold morning was keeping things quiet, the best I found were GOLDCREST and COAL TIT, with a couple of singing BLACKCAPS and CHIFFCHAFFS. I did find the first newly fledged ROOKS as well though, one day earlier than last years first record. Food was being carried back to nests by both TREECREEPER and SONGTHRUSH, so hopefully their fledged young will be seen soon.

Newly Fledged Rooks

Songthrush with food for nestlings

Songthrush Again  :-)

Walking back over Migrant Alley I saw 7 CANADA GEESE, and 2 GREYLAG GEESE had dropped onto the paddocks, a flock of 24 STARLINGS were with them, and on an adjacent paddock 8 LINNETS were feeding on dandelion heads. Overhead a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL and 2 HERRING GULLS went over, as did just 2 SWIFTS, but there really was very little in the sky today, even the SWALLOWS were sitting it out on the power lines!

The only raptor seen today was one of the KESTREL pair, seen perched on the Greenhouses, where the Whitethroat pair were notable by their absence, they are normally quite vocal in the surrounding bramble patches.

Not a very inspiring day then  :-( , I put it down to this cold weather !

This ROBIN sat perfectly in one of the few bright spells to be had this morning

Two Jays were in the garden early on this morning

If you look in the background of the above photo, you can make out the male BLACKBIRD, its his nest that is in the garden boundary, he soon saw the Jays off, and the young Blackbird nestlings are still doing ok  :-) they should fledge later next week, all being well   :-)