Pittswood Birds

Despite the fog early this morning, I decided to carry out a full patch walk, which produced a bit of a disappointing 42 species for the 5 hour visit, but that was more due to the fog than anything  :-)

I didn't find any exciting passage migrant species, nor did I add anything to the months list, which after yesterdays Stonechat has moved into the second best September tally, and just 3 species off the record September tally of 78, I still hope to find a Yellowhammer for the month, and maybe the feral Barnacle Goose, the Peregrine might just show up at some point too  :-)

Anyway back to this morning, where I was scratching around a bit really, the 40-50 MEADOW PIPITS were again seen at Migrant Alley, but only a dozen or so LINNETS were present. A pair of SPARROWHAWKS sat on the Greenhouses, they were frustrated by the fact that the PIED WAGTAILS were just out of reach, behind the glass, the automatic windows hadn't opened at that time.

Now that the Maize has been cut, the birds have cleared out of the Pub Field, just a few CHAFFINCH and HOUSE SPARROWS picked over the old cobs that were left. The Stonechat in the Ashes Lane Field had moved on also, but there was a BUZZARD seen sitting on a fence post .

A CHIFFCHAFF sang in the Scrubby Woods, but of the scarcer woodland species only GOLDCREST, LONG TAILED TIT and NUTHATCH were found. There was nothing visiting the MUTE SWAN family, COOT, MALLARDS and MOORHENS on the lakes today.

A LITTLE OWL called from the Small Holding, where plenty of BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, Chaffinch, WREN, ROBIN, and DUNNOCK were also seen, along with the GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS.

My end of visit sky watch from my seat at Migrant Alley proved to be the more interesting part of the visit, I watched a procession of SWALLOWS go over, some just on there own, others in two's and three's, with a couple of parties of 10 plus. One small band of HOUSE MARTINS also flew south, and a a pair of YELLOW WAGTAILS dropped into the sheep pasture to join the Meadow Pipits. Seven SKYLARKS called as they went past, and a couple of CORMORANTS put in a flypast. HERRING GULLS and BLACK HEADED GULLS continually flew over, plus I again saw a flock of JAYS, not the nine of yesterday, just 5 today. behind me on the Greenhouse Roof the Sparrowhawk pair had been replaced by the KESTREL pair!

Meadow Pipit