Pittswood Birds

Heavy cloud cover and a brisk wind this morning made for a very subdued patch visit, the total of 43 species was a bit down on recent days, but then again I didn't visit all parts of my patch.

The only summer bird species seen in the Greenhouse Grounds were the WHITETHROATS, but as the fruit pickers were busy around the place - even before I was, the Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs may have just gone into cover. There were however still plenty of GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, BLACKBIRD, and BLUE TITS along with a few GREAT TITS, LINNETS, SONGTHRUSH, DUNNOCKS, WRENS, ROBINS and PIED WAGTAILS. Two KESTREL young were seen and a YELLOWHAMMER called as it flew over.

50-60 SWALLOWS fed over Migrant Alley, but nothing joined them today, the sheep pasture had a good size flock of around 200 STARLINGS feeding on it, along with the usual crowd of ROOKS and JACKDAWS. Overhead, small skeins of GREYLAG GEESE flew SE, and a flock of at least 50 HERRING GULL came up from the south, just one LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL was with them.

On the way to the Scrubby Woods, two GREY WAGTAILS flew over the Ashes Lane Field, heading towards the Greenhouse Complex, and both BUZZARD and SPARROWHAWK were seen up hunting. At the Scrubby Woods I tried again to find Long Tailed tit and Mistle Thrush for the months list, but still they are missing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and Treecreeper also avoided me today. The BULLFINCH families are still very vocal here though, and it was good to see at least 2 newly fledged BLACKCAPS deep in the brambles, just 3 CHIFFCHAFFS were heard though. Nothing of interest was on any of the lakes this morning - as is noraml at this time of year, but GOLDCREST and NUTHATCH called from the bankside vegetation of the main lake.

That was about it for this morning, nothing added to the months list which is at 65 now, in 7th place out of 12, it should really be up to 70 by now judging by the 5 previous Augusts, still time to get more species though  :-)

The camera stayed at home today as it was so gloomy, and I didn't get out this afternoon, by which time it had turned sunny and warm! So its more Butterfly images from the past two days  :-)

There were plenty of these Peacock Butterflies on the Buddleia over at the Scrubby Woods

Peacock

Peacock

Large White

Green Veined White

Small Tortoiseshell. There has been a fresh emergence of these

Small tortoiseshell

Common Darter - the only species of Odonata I saw this morning