Pittswood Birds

A change in the weather this morning brought showery rain and a SW breeze, not too bad, so I undertook a full patch walk.

43 species were recorded in all, which is bang the average for a winters full patch walk, although the likes of Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Stock Dove, Jay, Common Gull, Little Owl and Grey Wagtail, that have all been around in recent visits were not seen this morning, so 50 species for the morning may well of been achieved if I had extended the four hour visit.

I was pleased to add a flyover LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL (62) to the February list, which at 62 species is now one more than I recorded in the whole of January!

The regular 3 raptor species were all seen, with the KESTREL pair seen mating on a telegraph pole along Ashes Lane, and both BUZZARD and SPARROWHAWK flew over the Wet Woods. GREY HERON, SKYLARK, YELLOWHAMMER, HERRING GULL and BLACK HEADED GULL were seen as flyovers, the latter were totally absent from Migrant Alley today, but in their place were a mixed flock of at least 700 winter thrushes, mostly FIELDFARE, with about 10% being REDWING.

Song from DUNNOCK, WREN, ROBIN, GOLDCREST SONGTHRUSH, CHAFFINCH, and GREENFINCH, plus pre - breeding calls from GREAT TIT, BLUE TIT, NUTHATCH and COLLARED DOVE made it feel springlike.

With the poor weather of late the photo's have come to an end and the blog folder is empty, sp no photo's today  :-(