Pittswood Birds

More fog this morning meant a later start, and I didn't get out until 07:30hrs, it was very mild, but still a bit foggy even then, in fact it never really cleared all day, even a bit of rain fell mid morning - strange weather!

With the maize crop now harvested, I can use the footpath that runs along the edge of the Pub Field to get to Migrant Alley and then onto the Greenhouse Grounds. If taken steadily that route takes about 2 hours.

Crossing the Ashes lane Field to get to the Pub Field the only birds of note were a few flyover MEADOW PIPITS, whilst the hedgerow along the Pub Field had just one CHIFFCHAFF of note, the new stubbles had only attracted a few WOODPIGEON, ROOKS and a couple more Meadow Pipits.

A circuit of a disturbed Migrant Alley, produced a single YELLOW WAGTAIL that was out amongst the sheep and with it were 3 SKYLARKS, a SNIPE flew over attracting my attention with its call, a little later in the morning another was seen, quite something to get two in one day, especially in September!

The Greenhouse Grounds had at least 2 Chiffchaff, as well as at least 2 BLACKCAP feeding on the Elder Berries there. The LITTLE OWL in the adjacent large garden, heard almost daily now, was joined by another today, both were heard calling together, then just before I left 2 SISKIN flew over calling loudly, another good September bird to find here  :-)

I made some attempt to visit the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, but the area was well disturbed today, the nearby very large gardens were full of Chainsaw and scrub cutter noise, I did sit and try to listen over the din, and heard BULLFINCH, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, and COAL TIT, the latter gave some song, as did another Chiffchaff. Four more Blackcaps were noted in a tangle of Blackberry/elderberry, one of those gave a bit of Subsong too.

An hours sky watch over on my seat at Migrant alley was brought to an end by a downpour, but nothing much was moving now, just the local SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL and a few HERRING GULLS.

A short afternoon visit to the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant alley didn't get me a Yellowhammer, i've still to find one this month, if I do mange to locate one, it will take the months list to 74, moving this Septembers tally to second place out of twelve, at the moment it is in joint second place with 2010, 2011 and 2012!

The camera got an outing, but not much came near today.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

These LONG TAILED TITS turned up again at my garden feeders, at least a dozen visited   :-)

Long Tailed tit

Five Long Tailed Tits