Pittswood Birds

With heavy downpours forecast for mid morning onwards I was reticent to wander too far from home this morning, so I spent 3 hours sky watching over the fields of Migrant Alley, I then did a circuit of the sheep pasture and paddocks at Migrant Alley before walking the perimeter of the Ashes Lane Field, all are within a quick dash of home if necessary !

I was searching for my first Yellowhammer of the month, or maybe a Hobby, chasing the plentiful SWALLOWS over the sheep pasture, a sighting of one of the Peregrine pair that haven't been seen this month was also high on the wanted list, alas, none of above were added to the June tally :-(

I watched a few single HERRING GULLS fly over, and more unusually for June 8 BLACK HEADED GULLS, 4 singles and a group of 4. A GREY HERON went low over, but that was about it for passing species. Behind my sky watching seat, in the Greenhouse Grounds, I could here a new family of WRENS calling, as well as a new family of DUNNOCKS, the WHITETHROATS scolded as they carried food to their fledged young, a CHIFFCHAFF sang, as did a BLACKCAP very briefly.

The local BUZZARDS were up soaring, and a SPARROWHAWK got mobbed by a mixed flock of Swallows, HOUSE MARTINS and SWIFTS. The KESTREL family had spread themselves over the area, many sightings were had of them and they continually spooked the 30-40 STARLINGS that fed in the sheep pasture, the flock contained a few second broods of juvenile birds, that was good to see.

In the Ashes Lane Field, a flock of 30 - 35 GOLDFINCH fed amongst a large patch of thistles, a SKYLARK was up singing and 4 STOCK DOVES flew up from the mown grass. The sky started to get cloudier and the horizon looked dark so I headed off home, hoping to beat those heavy, thundery downpours that were apparently imminent.

Of course, once home, the clouds dissipated, the day became sunny and warm without a single drop of rain, I should have gone out again but I had started work on editing more of my photo's that I had taken in Wales, so I can at least put a few more of those up. I also noted a pair of BULLFINCH in my garden as I took a break from the keyboard, very nice species to see, the 30th to visit my little oasis this year  :-)

Bullfinch in my garden, how lucky am I  :-)

Not the best of shots, unfortunatley the light in my garden is always poor and coming from the wrong angle at this time of year, I really want them to visit in the winter.

Male Bullfinch, munching in the weedy borders  :-)

Ive edited a few more images from my Wales holiday, here's a few Meadow Pipits.