Pittswood Birds

A moderate wind picked up this morning, blowing in a few short sharp showers, making for a less enjoyable patch walk than in recent days. There wasn't to much to be seen in the changed conditions, the lakes had the MUTE SWAN and COOT pair present, along with 8 CANADA GEESE and the Feral BARNACLE GOOSE, pus a scattering of MALLARD and MOORHEN today.

In the Scrubby Woods I could just about hear COAL TIT and GOLDCREST singing over the wind, a couple of LONG TAILED TITS looked like they were prospecting for a nest site, and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER called and drummed.

This Oak tree in the Scrubby woods was victim of the recent storms.

The Wet Woods were checked for a possible Teal, but none were found, just a couple more Mallard and Moorhen pairs, however I did get a glimpse of two pairs of MANDARIN DUCK that were also in there. NUTHATCH and TREECREEPER were both active, feeding on the trunks of mature oaks.

Out on the Fields it was quite miserable in the wind and showers, but there was some interest, mainly on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley where a group of mixed gulls were feeding I counted 13 HERRING GULLS, 18 BLACK HEADED GULLS and 6 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, a few single MEADOW PIPITS and SKYLARK were heard on the wind, and what was probably my first Yellowhammer of the month was also heard, but it was gone in a flash, blown along on the wind, so I couldn't be sure - one that got away ?

Later in the day there were a few brighter spells, and on seeing both LESSER REDPOLL and SISKIN at my garden feeders I of course tried to get some images of them, which proved difficult in the wind, I did get some shots, just a shame the redpoll always had a bill full of sunflower hearts  :-)

I also took some shots of the other finch's, i'll post them later this week  :-)

This male Siskin was in full spring plumage, brilliant birds  :-)

Another male Siskin

There was also a female Siskin coming in, but it only stayed briefly.

I took this image despite the feeder in view, as it might of been my only chance

It did return however, and gave me a few quick views

It kept getting chased off by a Nuthatch

But returned three or four times to fill up on sunflower hearts  :-)

Lesser Redpoll, shame it's not the lovely rosy breasted male :-)