Pittswood Birds

A thin veil of cloud persisted for most of the early morning, preventing the full benefit of the sun to be had, but at least it was still, bright and dry  ;-)

I had a four hour wander through my patch, but found little to suggest the onwards progress of spring, as far as Butterflies and birds were concerned that is. There were a few winter visitors left though, with a light passage of MEADOW PIPITS heard and seen flying NW throughout my visit, plus 20 odd FIELDFARE flew over Migrant Alley, where the BLACK HEADED GULLS continue to feed, with them today were 4 COMMON GULL, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL and 4 HERRING GULLS.

One of the LITTLE OWL pair was at it's usual roosting tree at the Greenhouse Copse and the adjacent Greenhouse Grounds had 4 LINNET moving around, plus the KESTREL pair were up hunting.

Little Owl at its usual roost

A quick look around the lakes and Woods produced little of note, a MANDARIN drake was in the Wet Woods, giving hope that they may breed here, plus a SPARROWHAWK sped through the Scrubby Woods causing much agitation form the regular tits and finches.

I was dismayed to see another 40m section of bramble hedge being slashed and burnt, more habitat gone, I really think it might be difficult to even get a breeding pair of Whitethroats this year, such is the lack of scrub here now  ;-(

I payed another visit to Migrant Alley mid morning, hoping to find a passage Wheatear, but the sheep pasture and paddocks were heavily disturbed again, so I just watched the sky for an hour or so, seeing GREY HERON, YELLOWHAMMER, BUZZARDS on every horizon, plus 3 of the local ones, and more of the Meadow Pipits, despondancy is creeping in again  :-(