Pittswood Birds

Small chinks of blue sky were allowing some sunshine through for this mornings patch visit, which was dry for the second day running, that's a first for this year!!

I picked up a few LINNETS (54) for the months list as I walked through the Small holding first thing, I think their roost is at the front of the Greenhouse Grounds, as this is where they flew in from, they didn't hang about long, preferring to feed elsewhere during the day.

The Wet Woods had a SPARROWHAWK hunting through it, making the likes of BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, BLACKBIRD, NUTHATCH and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER all alarm call. On the pools of water a pair of MALLARD were seen, and a few MOORHEN, but not the hoped for Teal! Later in the day a work crew moved in to tidy part of the Woods, chainsaws and bonfires again, mustn't have the place looking like - well......a woods!

Over on the lakes today there very was little to note, which was expected after the anglers had been night fishing over the weekend, however the MUTE SWANS and COOTS were happily feeding on the ornamental lake, good to have them as regular patch birds so far this year  :-) I spent an hour looking through the Scrubby Woods, a Woodcock would be nice, but one wasn't found, but most of the regular birds were though, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, TREECREEPER and GOLDCREST were all very active, spring is coming and they know it  :-) I checked the main lake again before leaving the area, which paid off as 3 female GOOSANDER had returned.

Making my way across the Ashes Lane Field a PHEASANT (55) flew up, and joined the February list, then moments later another tick for the list was seen when 5 GREYLAG GEESE (56) flew over.

Only two MEADOW PIPITS were of note at Migrant Alley, the pasture and paddocks were completely empty of birds this morning. The LITTLE OWL was seen at it's day roost in the Greenhouse Copse, while the nearby Greenhouse Grounds was busy with the regular WRENS, ROBINS, DUNNOCKS, Blackbirds, SONGTHRUSH'S, Blue and Great Tits, plus a dozen GOLDFINCH at the Alder tree line, with a couple of SISKIN.

My sky watch from my seat at Migrant Alley today produced the male KESTREL up hunting, and 3 BUZZARDS low over the Wet Woods, a few HERRING GULLS were seen, as were single BLACK HEADED GULLS.  5 FIELDFARE with a MISTLETHRUSH went over and the ever present ROOKS, JACKDAWS, CARRION CROW and WOODPIGEONS crissed crossed the fields. 43 species for the day, that's bang on the average for a day list that can be seen here.

Nothing much happening at my garden feeders today, a LESSER REDPOLL dropped in very briefly, that was the highlight, a couple of Nuthatch continue to visit, but the LONG TAILED TITS now arrive in ones and two's, they are pairing up to breed for sure now  :-)

Long Tailed Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Robin

Blue Tits

Blue Tits