Pittswood Birds

Variable amounts of cloud came and went this morning as I walked round the sheep pasture and paddocks at Migrant Alley, some sunshine was to be had and with a light wind it made for a pleasant enough morning  :-)

There were more songsters this morning than in recent visits, the summer migrants of CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP and WHITETHROAT, the latter with their young, were all heard to sing at the Greenhouse Grounds, where 2 of the young KESTRELS were seen on the roof of the glasshouses.

I made a circuit of the fields at Migrant Alley, and found just 8 CANADA GEESE had turned up on the sheep pasture, I wonder where the 100+ Greylag Geese have got to ?  The STARLING flock were still about though, 100+ were feeding and moving between the pasture and paddocks, the power lines above had 16 SWALLOWS sitting on them, and further along around 75-100 ROOKS sat.

Once I had completed a circuit of the fields, I sat on my sky watching seat, I watched for 2 hours, hoping for a Cormorant to go over, or any other new species for the month, but none appeared. There was plenty to see and hear as I sat though, a HOBBY was the second raptor of the day, seen as it chased the Swallows, SPARROWHAWK and BUZZARD made the raptor count to four. Three Gull species went over, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED, plus there were plenty of SWIFTS high up.

From my view point I can see and hear the comings and goings at the Greenhouse grounds and the Greenhouse Copse as well as the fields and paddocks of Migrant Alley, and noted quite a few species as I sat there. As well as the species already mentioned I recorded, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, GOLDFINCH, GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, COAL TIT, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, PIED WAGTAIL, CARRION CROW, JACKDAW, MAGPIE, JAY, WOODPIGEON, COLLARED DOVE, STOCK DOVE, LINNET, SKYLARK, GREEN WOOD PECKER, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, HOUSE SPARROW, YELLOWHAMMER and GOLDREST - 41 species without hardly moving  :-)

I did eventually move though, and wandered over to the Scrubby Woods and lake area, which was a let down, it was a bit late in the morning to get there really, and now that the hot weather has passed, just about everyone was out mowing, strimming and hedgcutting, there was also some woman roaming around the Scrubby woods and lakes shouting for her two dogs, which had run off, why take your dogs off the lead if they run away and upset other countryside users,  and disturb the wildlife as well!! Anyway, I didn't stay long, but I did get a view of a KINGFISHER as it zoomed across the main lake, where 4 Canada Geese were also found, the COOTS, MALLARDS and MOORHENS seen on the Ornamental Lake took the mornings bird tally to 45, so not too bad, considering  I didn't do a full patch walk  :-)

Canada Goose taking a drink on the main lake

Canada Goose

Whitethroat at the Greenhouse Grounds, Scolding me as I walk past  :-)

Whitethroat