Pittswood Birds

My full patch walk this morning was undertaken under leaden skies, which only started to open up as I finished the walk over four hours later.

The total species tally for the visit was a bit less than could be expected, 43 species reflected the quietness of the morning. The most numerous species were the STARLINGS, again there was a flock of around 4-500 birds on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, where the second most numerous bird was also encountered, the SWALLOW, at least 60 were feeding low over the fields, joined by a dozen or so HOUSE MARTINS. The most exciting species for me today were the 4 YELLOW WAGTAILS that flew over, one of them alighting in the sheep pasture, but it was quickly mobbed by the Swallows, and it only stayed for a few seconds, - what have Swallows got against Yellow Wagtails! The GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE continue their morning commute southwards, and today the Canada's were joined by the BARNACLE GOOSE, back from visiting Alan's patch over at Sissinghurst   :-)

Warblers are getting fewer by the day now, the Greenhouse Grounds had 2 WHITETHROAT, 2 BLACKCAP and this CHIFCHAFF

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Chifchaff

There were 4 - 6 more Blackcap over at the Scrubby Woods, and 2 more Chiffchaff, but the best warbler today though was the GARDEN WARBLER seen along with some of the regular species like TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKERS.

LONG TAILED TITS were seen at the Small Holding, only the second record this month, around half a dozen were feeding with a small group of GREAT and BLUE TITS. JAY and STOCK DOVE were additions to the day list from here as well.

Once the sun was out, and I had refueled, I headed off back out to my seat at Migrant Alley for an hours skywatching, where within  ten minutes I had added all the missing raptors from the earlier walk, with 3 BUZZARDS, a SPARROWHAWK and 2 KESTRELS being seen, also at least 4 SAND MARTINS had joined the Swallows and House Martins, all of which seemed to want to sit in a sapling Birch tree, why ?  There were plenty of better and stronger places to sit!

House Martins, Not the best image, I had changed over to my 300mm lens

Wrong, lens, wrong light, wrong positioning, but it shows the action  :-)