Pittswood Birds

It was mainly cloudy this morning, with a blustery SW wind, but in the occasional sunny spells that occurred, it became exceptionally warm again for the time of year.

I was out for less than two hours though, the warm weather had brought out just about every land owner, all armed to the teeth with implements of habitat destruction and a box of matches, what is it with these people who every Autumn feel the need to get out and have a big bonfire, then claim they had a great time out in the countryside?  These are the same people that will be asking me next spring 'where have all the Butterflies gone''? or ''where have all the birds gone''?

Anyway, early on, before the plastic countryfolk got out, I did get some birding in, a pair of BULLFINCH were seen in the hedgerow along Ashes Lane and the KESTREL pair were up hunting around the Greenhouse Grounds and Ashes lane Fields. I watched 4 GREYLAG GEESE fly over Migrant Alley, where the MEADOW PIPITS were still active on the sheep pasture and the LINNET/GOLDFINCH flock were feeding on one of the paddocks.

I saw a pair of MANDARIN DUCKS on the main lake, where a KINGFISHER skimmed over the surface, a slight increase in MALLARD numbers was noted, 12 were counted spread across the 3 water bodies, but nothing more had arrived to join the MOORHENS and MUTE SWAN family.

A single BUZZARD was seen up over the Wet Woods as I walked home, it was mobbed briefly by a SPARROWHAWK, but that was about it for my patch visit today, maybe i'll get some enthusiasm back for tomorrow  :-)

The warm weather has meant very little activity at my garden feeders, but I did get a couple of STARLING photo's to brighten the page  :-)