Pittswood Birds

Light rain and a moderate breeze early this morning gave way to broken cloud and sunny intervals this afternoon.

A four hour patch visit this morning didn't produce any of the summer Migrants that could still pass through here, so it was down to winkling out the few that have arrived, they include the 2 WHITETHROATS at the Greenhouse Grounds, plus the one along the Pub Field hedgerow,  A singing BLACKCAP in the Wooded Headland at Migrant Alley, another in the Greenhouse Copse and possibly up to 4 in the Scrubby Woods. Single singing CHIFFCHAFFS were also at the Wooded Headland and the Greenhouse Copse, plus one at the Small Holding and possibly 4 at the Scrubby Woods, while the only other summer visitors on my patch are the SWALLOWS, with 3-4 pairs at the College Stables and at least 4 pairs in private buildings around my patch, a poor sate of affairs when compared to years gone by, nothing else to blame but habitat destruction though.

Other birds of note I saw/heard today were......... the TAWNY OWL, which hooted from the Scrubby Woods roost, the LITTLE OWL, which was back at the Greenhouse Copse roost, plus pairs of BUZZARD, KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK which all displayed over the area.

Nothing yet to add to the ''successfully bred'' year list, which took a bit of a set back when I discovered the MALLARDS nest at the Lakes had been predated, I'm sure there are more on nests in the Wet Woods though  :-)

Not a good day for the camera today with the early rain, then this afternoon the light was a bit fierce, or am I too picky! The HOUSE SPARROW shot below was taken in 'fierce' light  :-)

House Sparrow