Pittswood Birds

Six hours were spent out in the field this morning in mostly cloudy but bright conditions, an early change of trousers was called for after getting soaked from the still wet vegetation from yesterday evenings unforecast downpours!

A full patch walk was undertaken, as it was the first day of the month, here's what was seen in the order of Appearance ;

BLACKBIRD, BLUE TIT, JACKDAW, WOODPIGEON, GREENFINCH, GREAT TIT, WREN, GOLDFINCH, MAGPIE, DUNNOCK, COLLARED DOVE and ROBIN were all found as I walked the 200 meters along Ashes Lane to the Greenhouse Grounds, where LINNET, SWALLOW, SONGTHRUSH, HOUSE SPARROW, KESTREL, WHITETHROAT, CHAFFINCH, PIED WAGTAIL, and PHEASANT joined the July tally. Next stop was the Greenhouse Copse, in which CHIFFCHAFF and BLACKCAP were heard singing, plus a MISTLETHRUSH was seen flying over.

Out onto the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley, I added SKYLARK, STARLING, CARRION CROW, ROOK, and a flyover STOCK DOVE, with LONG TAILED TIT being found in the Wooded headland to the north of the paddocks.

The Pub Field is now inaccessible due to the thoughtless farmer planting the maize crop right up to the hedge line and over the footpath, I cant walk that field now until the crop is cut later in the year. The Ashes Lane Field was walked but nothing new for the day was found, I had hoped to pick up the Little Owl at the old shack there.

Walking the Small Holding, I saw a BUZZARD fly low over, it was being hounded by the Kestrel pair and all three circled high into the sky, more of a surprise was hearing a LESSER WHITETHROAT singing, ive never heard one on this part of my patch, and didn't get this species on the June list!.

The Wet Woods was good for JAY, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, as well as the MANDARIN DUCK family, which was down to just two young, from the original ten.

The Lakes had the usual regulars of CANADA GOOSE, GREYLAG GOOSE, MUTE SWAN, COOT, MALLARD, and MOORHEN, but a GREY HERON joined them as I left for the Scrubby Woods, where GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, and GREEN WOODPECKER were added to the months list. Whilst I sat and listened I noted LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, HERRING GULL, then BLACK HEADED GULL flying over, as well as seeing SWIFTS and HOUSE MARTINS wheeling above me.

A really good tally of 53 species were seen all together, a good start to July, but still some way yet to get to the record July tally of 69, which was achieved last year and also back in 2007.

Another two hours were spent out this afternoon, mostly looking for Dragons/Damsels and Butterflies, but thickening cloud and a breeze made it a bit difficult. I got a couple of images though  ;-)

Immature Common Darter

The black tips on the antennea of this skipper suggest it could be an Essex Skipper, but i'm not sure!

Again on this individual, Black tips on the Antennea, Small or Essex Skipper ?

Ive again added a page to show a few bird images I took in Wales, click here to see Wheatears, or click on the tab labelled ''Wheatears'' that can be found under my header photo, here's one to kick off with.

Immature Wheatear (Wales)