Pittswood Birds

The day started dry and quite bright, before rain and wind moved in before midday.

I only had an hour out this morning, as I had a lot to do preparing for my trip to Wales tomorrow. I spent that hour out around the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley, where all was rather quiet for the final patch visit of May.

The were 13 GREYLAG GEESE and 5 CANADA GEESE on the sheep pasture, a place they always spend a few weeks at this time of year, the LINNET / GOLDFINCH flock was still moving around the paddocks, then moved even faster when a SPARROWHAWK drifted slowly over  :-)

There was a female KESTREL out on one of the fence posts, the pair at the Greenhouses were up in the sky, so this was an interloper, there seems to be no activity around the next box at the moment, maybe their breeding attempt failed this year ?  I watched a couple of HERRING GULLS go over and also watched a pair of PIED WAGTAILS taking food to their nestlings that must be in one of the Greenhouses, the LITTLE OWL sat on the guttering, also watching the comings and goings. The only other bird of note was a COMMON BUZZARD that flew low over towards the Wet Woods.

This month has proved very disappointing, with a total of just 66 bird species being recorded, a total that was also recorded in 2007, when visits were not as frequent as they are now. Post 2007 May totals have all exceeded 70 species, with an a mean average of 72, highlighting just how poor this May has been, even accounting for the missed days at the end of the month, and two days out off patch during the month  :-(

The next Blog post will probably be mid June, but I may post something up from Wales should time allow  :-)

This is whats left in the 'Blog Photo Folder'

 Juv. STARLING, still at least a Dozen scoffing the suet in my garden

Beautiful Demoiselle from Wednesday's visit

Broad Bodied Chaser from Wednesday