Pittswood Birds

The skies were clear first thing this morning, but cloud rapidly moved in as I sat and watched the sky from my seat at Migrant Alley. Not a great deal was seen, but one bird of note was a SISKIN (65) that was heard as it flew over, I dont think this is an early Autumn arrival, it may be a local breeder, anyway its a good species for the June list  :-)  The Greenhouse Grounds KESTREL family were seen up hunting over and around the Greenhouses and Migrant Alley, the only other raptors seen were BUZZARDS, 3 of which called loudly from over the Wet Woods. LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULLS made up the passing species.

Common Buzzard

A SKYLARK sang from above the Ashes Lane Field as I made my way to the lakes, which were a bit less busy than yesterday, most of the Geese had moved to the adjacent horse paddocks, leaving just 4 CANADA GEESE and 6 GREYLAG GEESE on the main lake. The MUTE SWAN and COOT pair are continuing to feed their respective young on the ornamental lake, a few MOORHEN families were also there, with just 3 MALLARDS.

The Scrubby Woods were very quiet, the only song being from the odd CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP and DUNNOCK, plus calls from BULLFINCH and NUTHATCH.

This afternoon,  I tried for some Butterfly and Dragonfly photo's, but with the sunshine being a bit hit and miss, little was found. I did however come face to face with a Roe Buck, which pranced away as I lifted my camera, just a shame I had the 100mm lens on and left the focus on manual, so I didn't even get an in focus shot! here they are anyway  :-)

Off and away before I could focus on it!

At least a record shot anyway!

Might as well put a few images from wales up, these Stonechats looked picturesque on the foxgloves, my images didn't quite come out that way though!