Pittswood Birds

The forecast for this morning was for sunshine, so I was eager to get out, too eager really, as it was still dark when I left the house at 07:15hrs, so little was noted as I walked along Ashes Lane and crossed the Ashes Lane Field, except for the very loud singing of ROBINS and SONGTHRUSH, plus a couple of MEADOW PIPITS that flew up from the frosty Ashes Lane Field.

The meager sightings continued as it got light, mainly due to the fog that rolled in, just BLUE TIT, DUNNOCK, and MAGPIE were seen before getting to the Lakes, with SISKIN, MAGPIE, CORMORANT and FIELDFARE being recorded as flyovers.

On the lakes everything had moved on, probably due to the noise of chainsaws that were here yesterday afternoon, cutting up a storm felled tree. I say everything had moved on, however there are always a few MALLARD and MOORHEN to be seen.

Very few of the woodland species were found this morning, maybe due to the fog and frost, or me being out earlier, but just GOLDCREST, JAY, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER and a REDWING were of any note in the Scrubby Woods and Wet Woods.

The fog started to clear around 10:00hrs and the sun finally came through, making it feel very warm for the time of year, but despite this, very little was found birdwise, the best I got was finding around a dozen Meadow Pipits around the frames of the Poly tunnels at the Greenhouse Grounds, a couple of PIED WAGTAILS were with them. Two BULLFINCH were also found in the Greenhouse Grounds, along with a few Siskin and GOLDFINCH, but there were fewer BLACKBIRDS, WRENS, DUNNOCKS and CHAFFINCHES and Robins about than yesterday.

One sighting that was unexpected at the Greenhouse Grounds was seeing my first butterfly of 2014, when a Red Admiral fluttered past me, thats how warm it was this morning  :-)

I spent some time just lapping up the warmth of the sun on my sky watching seat, a real treat after all that crap weather we've had, but the bird sightings never picked up, just LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULLS were of any note as they flew over. By the end of my 4 hour visit I had totaled just 31 species, very poor for a December visit, and another day without adding to the year list!

I did get the odd photo though!

Meadow Pipit on the Poly Tunnel scaffold

they kept their distance, but gave a nice record shot  :-)

This Blackbird however was feeding around my feet!

It was too close for my lens and I had to back off  :-)

The Siskins always make good subjects to photograph

I'd like just to get a foot or two nearer though

plus get a clear, uncluttered shot  :-)

This female Chaffinch had some nice light on it