Pittswood Birds

A very blustery patch walk this morning was cut short after a couple of hours, due to the persistent showers being blown through, not particularly wetting rain, but combined with the wind they made birding pretty much hopeless.

It was nice to see a BUZZARD feeding on worms in a seedling wheat field off Ashes lane, comical to watch it chasing about on the ground  :-) The MUTE SWAN pair were still on the Ornamental Lake, staying into their 5th day now, where yet another KINGFISHER sighting was had. On the main Lake 11 MALLARDS dabbled around, and a CORMORANT was fishing, but nothing else but MOORHENS was seen on the water today.

The LONG TAILED TIT flock happened to pass my way as I walked the Scrubby Woods, very fortunate, I wouldn't have found them otherwise, as the wind was making such a roar through the tree canopy, just a few BLUE TITS, a GREAT TIT and a GOLDCREST were picked out amongst them. A Hawthorne bush was being stripped of berries by 4 BULLFINCH and a couple of BLACKBIRDS, but the only birds heard above the wind were JAYS and GREEN WOODPECKERS.

Just the odd SKYLARK and MEADOW PIPIT passed over the Greenhouse Grounds as I searched them, 4 PIED WAGTAILS were up on the rooves, and a LITTLE OWL flew from a bush and headed towards the Greenhouse Copse. At least 22 GOLDFINCH fed in a line of Alders, and had at least 5 SISKIN among them. The KESTREL pair were again noted, and I could see 8 BLACK HEADED GULLS out on the nearby sheep pasture at Migrant Alley. The only winter thrushes seen today involved 3 REDWING that flew over, not much else went over though, just HERRING GULLS, not a very successful day!
Good job I've got a few photo's left from the Garden session I had on Friday, These HOUSE SPARROWS are not a frequent visitor nowadays.

House Sparrow

House Sparrow

House Sparrow

House Sparrow