Pittswood Birds

The morning was overcast and dull, but with little wind it felt pleasant enough.

Once again though the birding was slow, many of the species that bred here seem to have dispersed already, even the regulars! With all that dispersal going on at least I stand a chance of having something different pass through, and that proved the case this morning when a pair of LAPWING (61) flew over Migrant Alley, a good species to add to the July list  :-)

The YELLOWHAMMER was in the same Oak tree in High House Lane, and as yesterday, was singing away again, one of only a handful of songsters heard today, which included just 2 CHIFFCHAFF two BLACKCAP, and a half hearted attempt from a WHITETHROAT at the Greenhouse Grounds, where a new family has fledged.

I was pleased to see an almost fully fledged MANDARIN DUCK in the Wet Woods, so at least one has made it from the original four youngsters.

I was having no success at finding new breeding species for the year over in the Scrubby Woods, so decided on a sky watch back on my seat at Migrant Alley. Although it remained cloudy it was still bright, which encouraged 3 COMMON BUZZARDS to soar over, also a HOBBY, and a SPARROWHAWK were seen. BLACK HEADED, HERRING, and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL were also added to my hours vigil, along with the local SWALLOWS and a dozen SWIFTS.

I of course saw the local KESTRELS taking food to their young, and on my way back home I was told by the foreman of the Greenhouse Complex that 3 young had fledged that morning, excellent news, two successful years in a row for them now, raising 3 young each year  :-)

Later in the afternoon I was out chasing Damsels, Dragons and butterflies, and got a few photo's, I'll save them for another post, as I also went round to see if I could locate the young kestrels, which I did, and took over 200 photo's in 10 minutes! I didn't want to stay too long, so as not to upset the adult birds, but there was no sign of them whilst I was there.

Here's my favourites from the all the shots I took  :-)

Recent fledged Kestrel

Recent Fledged Kestrel

Recent fledged Kestrel

Recent fledged Kestrel

This was the youngest of the 3 birds, it was hiding in a pile of wooden pallets