Pittswood Birds

This morning it was cloudy and grey, with the odd light shower blowing through, conditions not unlikely to produce a migrant or two, however it proved to be a fruitless search for those so far elusive migrants.

On an overall poor visit, just 42 species were found, the best of those being the pair of MANDARIN DUCK that flew from the Wet Woods as I was being entertained by the pair of albino Squirrels  :-)  Not a single raptor was found, for the second day running, and the Little Owls also proved elusive.

Singing birds from the Scrubby Woods were reduced to CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, and COAL TIT, with some half hearted song from GOLDCREST and DUNNOCK. The BULLFINCHES continue to call, and the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS are still drumming. A MISTLETHRUSH was seen sitting on her nest, which looked exposed on the bare limbs of a large Oak, although they have done the best to make it as concealed as possible, time will tell if it is a successful breeding attempt, hopefully the Oak leaves will burst forth very soon, giving a bit of cover to it.

On the lakes the CANADA and GREYLAG GEESE continue to sit on their nests, and the MUTE SWANS look to be still adding material to theirs, still no sign of any young COOT yet.

That was about the sum of it for the day, until I saw a SISKIN (57) at my garden feeders this afternoon, the first for April.

Tomorrow looks like it will be wet and windy, so I dont expect much change on my patch, maybe Wednesday will bring the first Swallow or Willow Warbler of the spring, perhaps even an early Whitethroat  :-)

No chance of any photo's today, and the blog folder has run dry again, so I'll have to resort to putting up archive images, here's a few migrants that might well turn up in the next week or so  :-)

Willow Warbler

Common Whitethroat

Swallow