Pittswood Birds

It wasn't quite as gloomy and dull for the penultimate November patch visit this morning, just the more usual grey and overcast stuff  :-)

I managed a little over two hours out, finding a respectable tally of 40 species, but none of them new for the November list, looks like that Yellowhammer could well be missing from this that list, it would be only the second month ever not have been recorded, the other month was the September just gone, proof that this species is in real decline here now  :-(

I heard both MEADOW PIPIT and SKYLARK fly over Migrant Alley this morning, the first recorded here all week, and a pair of CORMORANTS that went over were the first here since the 14th. The LITTLE OWL was again seen on its territory at the old shack in the Ashes Lane Field, and the female KESTREL again hunted over the Pub Field.

Over on the lakes it was the KINGFISHER that drew most attention, but an increase in MALLARD numbers was noted, with 14 being spread over the three water bodies, MOORHEN was the only other species on the water.

In the adjacent Scrubby Woods, a pair of COAL TITS chased around a fir tree, at least 4 BULLFINCH were seen, and a NUTHATCH called, the MISTLETHRUSH and SONGTHRUSH were again singing, plus a couple of LESSER REDPOLL were heard flying over. A small flock of 7 FIELDFARE that flew over were proof that we are indeed approaching the first proper winter month, but there was no sign of the other winter thrush, the Redwing.

I ended the visit over at the Greenhouse Grounds, where the seed I had spread on the trackway had attracted BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, DUNNOCK, BLACKBIRD, ROBIN, CHAFFINCH and the small flock of GOLDFINCH, another 2 Bullfinch were also close by. A brief sky watch only produced HERRING GULLS and BLACK HEADED GULLS, along with a SPARROWHAWK that was being chased buy JACKDAWS, but just as I was leaving I saw a pair of MUTE SWANS fly over low, heading towards the lakes, must be the pair that left a couple of days ago, it will be interesting to see if they have indeed returned when I visit tomorrow  :-)

Ive almost come to the end of the photo's taken at my feeders last weekend, all there is left are these LONG TAILED TIT images, they turned up in the garden today, but I didn't see them on my walk!

Long Tailed Tit

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