Pittswood Birds

At last the weather was decent enough to get out for a full patch walk this morning, although initially cloudy, the morning brightened up towards the end of the walk.

I recorded a good tally of species, 48 in all, nothing new for the May list, but as that has reached a record high I am not really expecting to add anything to the months list.

Flyovers today included LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULL, GREY HERON, GREYLAG GOOSE and CANADA GOOSE, plus quite a number of SWIFTS were feeding over the area.

I checked the woods for any new breeding species to add to this years list, but I couldn't find any today, most of the resident woodland species were seen as I searched though, BULLFINCH, TREECREEPER, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, GOLDCREST, STOCK DOVE and MANDARIN DUCK were the best of them, but Nuthatch didn't get found today, I checked their nest hole, and all was quiet, I presumed the young have fledged I just need to find them!

MALLARD, MOORHEN, 6 more Canada Geese, 2 more Greylag Geese, plus the MUTE SWAN and COOT pair with their respective young were all that was seen on the lakes. Whilst i was there, 3 BUZZARDS flew over low, calling loudly, one may just of been a young bird, but I only had fleeting views.

The KESTRELS were both hunting over the Greenhouse Grounds, taking food back to their young in the nest box, plus it was good to see a few WHITETHROATS, BLACKCAPS and CHIFFCHAFFS back around the place now the weather has improved  :-)

This afternoon the sun broke through proper, so I headed off over to the Scrubby Woods to see if I could find and photograph some more dragons. I got lucky, as I walked through the Ashes Lane field, I put up my first Black Tailed Skimmer of the year, an immature, I watched it settle again, and got a few images of it  :-) I'll save the images of the Damsels I got this afternoon for another post - just in case the weather changes again!

PS: Please sign this petition in support of a complete ban on grouse driven shoots, I know we have all signed these things before, but this is the BIG one! http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/new-e-petition-ban-driven-grouse-shooting-in-england/

Immature Black Tailed Skimmer