Pittswood Birds

I spent a few hours this morning around the Greenhouse Grounds, Migrant Alley, and the Bean Fields, some of that time though was spent sheltering from the thunderstorms that passed through, although little rain actually fell from them.

The LESSER WHITETHROAT was seen again in the scrubby area at the Greenhouse Grounds, along with a CHIFFCHAFF, and the families of both WHITETHROAT and BLACKCAP, two young KESTRELS were calling from the glasshouse roof, and were attended to by an adult bird, as well as being mobbed by the GREY WAGTAIL again  :-)

A circuit of the Fields and paddocks didn't produce a passage migrant as yet, but the disturbance here is getting ridiculous, most of it from the development of the football pitch, I dont think it will be the same here now. There were no Geese on the sheep pasture either today, but large numbers of GREYLAGS with fewer CANADA GEESE flew south over the area.

A walk around the Bean Fields, and up High High lane, then back to my seat produced another Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and a few Chiffchaff, as well as a singing YELLOWHAMMER, but it was remarkably quiet overall.

Back at my seat, I watched the sky go black as a thunder shower rolled in, but it did bring down a gathering of HOUSE MARTINS (50), with them were at least 2 SAND MARTINS (51), two more for the months list. Another two species joined that list as I scanned the sky - LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL (52) and HOBBY (53). Also seen gathering in the updraft of the large, towering clouds were a flock of at least 100 SWIFTS, which quickly headed SW, back to Africa for them  :-)

I stayed at home this afternoon, and got a few jobs done that needed doing, so as to free up an evening walk around Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds this evening, maybe something will have droped in, or maybe flyover  ;-)

Not much for the camera today, just a couple of record shots from the Greenhouse Grounds.

Common Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat