Pittswood Birds

Some warm sunshine this morning made for a very pleasant full patch walk, with a clear sky and little wind the temperature soared, so much so that by 11:00hrs most of the birds have melted away into the undergrowth.

Before leaving home, I finished up my mug of tea whilst looking out onto the garden feeders, where I spotted a CHIFFCHAFF, more evidence that birds are starting to disperse now. The Chiffchaff is the 24th species to use my garden this month, a new July record! Also its the 37th species for this year, which is also a record, quite something as we're not even out of the 7th month yet!   :-)

Out on my walk I manged a respectable 46 species in the five hours I was out, the only real additions that may have been added to the days list were Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Yellowhammer. All the other regular species were located, including the sighting of a LESSER WHITETHROAT (62) at the Greenhouse Grounds a new species for the month, it was associating with a family of COMMON WHITETHROAT, and takes the July tally to 62, the joint 9th best July out of 12, the months list is creeping ever higher towards the best July tally of 69  :-)

Two LAPWING were again seen flying over the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, maybe the same two as yesterday,  those, and a few HERRING GULL were the only additions to the flyover count today. The only Raptors seen were the KESTREL pair around the Greenhouses, no young were seen, but they may be round the back, where they were yesterday.

I located the SPOTTED FLYCATCHER at the western end of Ashes lane, no sign of a mate or young though, but i'm hopeful there is a nest somewhere here.

Young BLACKCAP, and Chiffchaff were seen in the Scrubby Woods, along with TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT and GOLDCREST, its not every visit I get all of those on the list  :-) As usual at this time of year the lakes are mostly empty, but the COOT family were seen, as were a few CANADA GEESE, two MOORHEN and a single MALLARD. A LITTLE OWL called from the Small Holding as I made my way home.

In the heat of the late morning I went out to find some Dragons, Damsels and Butterflies around the Greenhouse Grounds, although nothing new for the year was seen, I did find only my second Painted lady for the year.

A few photo's were taken, and ive added a couple from yesterday too :-)

This Meadow Brown was in my garden, the Scabious I planted is paying off!

Meadow Brown on Scabious

This Meadow Brown was out in the rough areas of the Greenhouse Grounds

Large White Butterfly

Comma Butterfly

I managed to get this record Brown hawker shot, high up in a tree