Pittswood Birds

Rain and wind, plus an appointment with the dentist mid morning, made for a short patch visit today.

It wasn't wet all the time, but pulses of rain blew in every 15 minutes or so, and in the clearer moments the passage of SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS was seen, the third day on the trot that these birds have been noted going over, there cant be many left to come now.

With the Hirundines, a few SKYLARKS and a single MEADOW PIPIT were seen as they made there way over Migrant Alley, where on the sheep pasture a flock of at least 300 STARLINGS fed, all the time moving about to avoid the SPARROWHAWK that was tracking them.

Only two CHIFFCHAFFS were noted today, one at the Greenhouse Grounds, which was also hosting the KESTREL pair, and one over in the Scrubby Woods, this area was quieter than recent times, no doubt due to the rain and wind, but I did see two NUTHATCHES, and heard two TREECREEPERS.

Between them, the adjacent lakes had 8 MALLARD, 7 MOORHEN a GREY HERON and a KINGFISHER, but no Geese of any description to add to the months list, in fact no new species were seen for the month during the visit today.

I did note a Ruddy Darter and a Migrant Hawker, it may of been wet, but it was very warm for the time of year, warm enough for a couple of Small White and Speckled Wood Butterflies too. The weather is meant to settle down for the weekend, so I should be able to get a couple of full patch walks in, hopefully providing something new for the month, at least  :-)

My only photo's taken today come from my garden feeders, where activity has come to a virtual standstill due to the persistent Sparrowhawk attacks, only the quick and the brave venture in now, and there are extremely wary when they do!

DUNNOCK

COLLARED DOVE - Most of the birds refuse to risk feeding at the tube feeders

CHAFFINCH - preferring the seed filled logs, they feel safer!

GREAT TIT -wary and watchful!