Pittswood Birds

After last evenings rain, this morning felt fresher than of late in the SW breeze, but at least there were some sunny spells to be enjoyed during the 4 hour patch visit.

A view through the heart of Migrant Alley - no migrants here today though

Once again, I tallied up a fair few bird species this morning, 50 to be exact, a couple down on yesterday, as I didn't see Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Pheasant or Coot today, but I added HOBBY, one was seen hunting over the main Lake, and MANDARIN DUCK, an Immature, which was also on the Main Lake.

Everything else noted was the same as yesterday, flyovers from the three Gull species, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED as well as GREY HERON, YELLOWHAMMER and HOUSE MARTIN all helped the list along, as did the three other Raptor species seen - SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD and KESTREL, the family of which continue to show at the Greenhouse Grounds, where once again the immature GREY WAGTAIL was seen. Over 100 GEESE were again seen at Migrant Alley 90% were GREYLAGS, with the rest being CANADA'S.

I cant resist photographing the Kestrels when they sit on the Greenhouse!

Kestrel

Not much song was heard today, just one BLACKCAP, one CHIFFCHAFF and a TREECREEPER were of note, although SONGTHRUSH, DUNNOCK, WREN and LINNET also did their bit, along with the efforts of COLLARED DOVE, WOODPIGEON, and STOCK DOVE, if their repetitive sound counts as a song  :-)

As yesterday, I spent some time at the greenhouses early this afternoon photographing the Butterflies, where I found Large and Small Whites, Large and Small Skippers, Meadow Brown, Gate Keeper, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Common Blue and Comma.

This is just the second Common Blue Butterfly on my patch this year

Common Blue

I found a newer Small Copper than yesterdays specimen

Good job it perched low down, as the wind today made for difficult photography

Small Copper

Small Copper