Pittswood Birds

There was some brief sunshine for my patch visit this morning, when I managed to add a few more bird species to the October list, the first of those was a KINGFISHER (50) that was seen on the main lake, a nice species to reach 50 with  :-) The adjacent Scrubby Woods was also good for a new October bird, When two BLACKCAPS (51) were seen feeding on the Elder berries there.
GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH and a flyover SISKIN were also noted around the Scrubby Woods and lake areas, where it was quite busy today. Walking over to Migrant Alley, via the Ashes lane Field, I looked up to see a BUZZARD fly low over and in the process saw 5 REDWING (52) go past, my first of the Autumn and the earliest I have recorded them here, albeit by just one day, the 12 year mean average arrival date for Redwing here is the 8th October.

Over at Migrant Alley it was once again a case of watching the SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS feeding over the sheep pasture and paddocks, many moved on after feeding up on the craneflies, but were soon replaced by a fresh batch of hungry migrants, many hundreds must have passed through here today. The SPARROWHAWK was again harassing the hirundines, plus the KESTREL was seen today, another or the same Buzzard went over the nearby Greenhouses.

SKYLARKS were passing over in ones and twos, as were MEADOW PIPITS, also a BLACK HEADED GULL and 7 HERRING GULLS were noted flying over. 2 CHIFFCHAFFS were in the Greenhouse grounds, where at the water intake I found 2 GREY WAGTAILS. Not a bad 3 hour visit today, I even managed a couple of photo's  :-)

Grey Wagtail, a scarce bird here

Grey Wagtail

WREN

MAGPIE