Pittswood Birds

Rain showers went through the area this morning, making for an at times wet patch visit.

I spent 3 hours out, but didn't visit all parts of my patch, so to find 41 species wasn't too bad a result. Nothing new was added to the patch list today though, its getting harder by the day now to do that! CHIFFCHAFF was the only summer bird seen this morning, and just one of those remained, while winter species were represented by only a couple of small REDWING flocks passing over.

A LITTLE OWL was seen venturing out into the Greenhouse Grounds, before flying back into the private garden whence it came from, the KESTREL pair sat on their nearby post roost perches, the only other raptor seen today was the SPARROWHAWK which hunted over Migrant Alley. Also of interest in the Greenhouse Grounds was the group of no less than 12 DUNNOCKS, unusual to see so many together  :-)

Over on the lakes it was busier than most days, with 8 MALLARD, 6 MOORHEN, a GREY HERON, a KINGFISHER, a CORMORANT and the 4 pairs of MANDARIN DUCKS that have stayed into their third day. The adjacent Scrubby Woods, produced the sometimes hard to find TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT and GOLDCREST.

My end of walk sky watch over on my seat at Migrant Alley, was rewarded with the likes of MEADOW PIPIT, SKYLARK, SISKIN, BLACK HEADED GULL, HERRING GULL, and another grey Heron flying over, as well as two, then a group of four Cormorants. Not too bad a visit  :-)

This afternoon I had an off patch visit to the local Bough Beech reservoir, where 45 species were recorded, nothing out of the ordinary, but lots that I dont see on my patch!

I took a few photo's here, distant but recognizable  :-)

Grey Heron

Snipe

Chiffchaff

Female Mallard

Male Mallard