Pittswood Birds

This morning was Grey, misty and damp, making it feel cold in the light Northerly wind. Brighter spells developed later in the morning, with some sunshine in the afternoon.

I undertook a full patch walk today, the five hour visit producing an excellent tally of 50 species, only Stock Dove, Mistlethrush and Nuthatch were absent out of the birds I could have expected to see.

It was good to find 3 singing CHIFFCHAFFS during the visit, 2 at the lakes and 1 at the Greenhouse Grounds. Another trio, this time of LITTLE OWLS was also found, with a pair in the Greenhouse Copse and a a single calling from the Small Holding, carrying on the trio theme 3 BUZZARDS were seen soaring above Migrant Alley, where the BLACK HEADED GULL flock had reached 150 plus birds, with them were 2 COMMON GULLS, 2 immature HERRING GULLS and a single MEDITERRANEAN GULL, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL flew low over, making five Gull species for the visit.

FIELDFARE and REDWING moved around and over my patch, but only a few Redwing dropped in, they went into to the Scrubby Woods, where I heard the TAWNY OWL hoot from its roost site. Another fruitless search for Redpoll and Siskin was had, but at least I got to see TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, BULLFINCH, JAY, GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKER, as I searched.

The KESTREL pair were up hunting, as was a SPARROWHAWK, plus a few flyovers were noted, the best being MEADOW PIPIT, YELLOWHAMMER, SKYLARK, and PIED WAGTAIL.

 Mediterranean Gull at Migrant Alley

COOT on the ornamental Lake