Pittswood Birds

Although it was cloudy this morning, it was less gloomy, with no drizzle or cold wind, making for a better feel to the day.

I had the morning spare, before going off to do some Easter family visiting, so I spent a good 5 hours carrying out a full patch walk. The upturn in the weather brought about an upturn in my birding fortunes, with a very good tally of 50 species being found, one of those being my second sighting of a SWALLOW as it flew over the Ashes Lane Fields.

Nothing new was added to the months list, but a very varied list of birds were recorded, three Gull species were at Migrant Alley, those being singles of LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULL, the three regular Raptor species all showed, with SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL and COMMON BUZZARD all on show, at one point I watched 7 of the latter soaring just to the south of my patch.

Flyovers from MEADOW PIPIT, SKYLARK, GREY HERON, a trio of MUTE SWANS, a pair of CORMORANTS, plus PIED WAGTAIL and YELLOWHAMMER kept the list ticking over, there was also a Yellowhammer calling from the Ashes Lane Field.

The Lakes had 18 CANADA GEESE, 8 GREYLAG GEESE, the Mute Swan pair, 6 MALLARDS, the COOT pair, plus a scattering of MOORHENS, also the 3 MANDARIN DUCKS remained.

Of the scarcer woodland species all but Jay and Treecreeper were found in the Wet Woods / Scrubby Woods, with the best being CHIFFCHAFF, GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, BULLFINCH, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, STOCK DOVE, and NUTHATCH, but little song was heard.

One of the LITTLE OWL pair was seen at the Greenhouse Copse and it was good to see 5 LINNETS feeding on a weedy patch at the Greenhouse Grounds, where two GREEN WOODPECKERS were also feeding.

Nothing for the camera today, not had a chance with it for days now!