Pittswood Birds

An early slight frost led on to clear skies for most of this morning and some warm sunshine was enjoyed, although there was a bit of a chilly westerly breeze still blowing.

I carried out a full patch walk today, the four and a half hour trek producing 44 species, a shade over what I would expect for early March.

Just one more species was added to the months list, the Greenhouse Copse finally giving me the first LITTLE OWL (56) sighting for March. Two raptor species were encountered, the female KESTREL at the Greenhouse Grounds and a pair of BUZZARDS soaring over the Ashes Lane Fields.

Winter thrushes were still in evidence, with a flock of FIELDFARE at the bean fields off High House Lane, there were 140 minimum, with just a few REDWING scattered among them. The BLACK HEADED GULLS were back on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, with them was the single COMMON GULL, but I didn't find a med Gull today, I noted the sheep and their lambs had been unleashed onto the fields, everything and anything green will be eaten by them  :-(

Over on the lakes I was surprised to find the Mute Swans had gone off somewhere, hopefully they will be back soon, 4 CANADA GEESE and a GREYLAG GOOSE were visiting though, and the COOT pair remain.

NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, JAY, STOCK DOVE, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were the pick of the species seen in the Wet Woods / scrubby Woods, no Long Tailed Tits were seen though, that is until I got home and found a pair at my garden feeders  :-)

Not much was seen flying over, just SKYLARK, YELLOWHAMMER and HERRING GULLS of note.

Long Tailed Tit at my feeders today

This WREN was singing loudly on its territory

BLACKBIRD