Pittswood Birds

Some sunny spells were had this morning, but it clouded over by mid-day, the NE wind making it feel chilly at that point.

I was eager to get out and check Migrant Alley this morning, after yesterdays haul of migrants. On arriving I couldn't see any birds at all on the sheep pasture and paddocks, not even the corvids and Woodpigeons, but after I while, I spotted a lovely WHINCHAT on the fenceline, which I got some distant record shots in some nice light............

I can never get enough of the Whinchat!

They always excite me, when they arrive on my patch

So i'll take any opportunity to get an image of them!  :-)

As I photographed the Whinchat, the calls of YELLOW WAGTAILS were heard and looking up I saw a group of 6 circle round, then move off SE, these were the first of at least 14 seen on my circuit of Migrant Alley, with another group of 3, and 5 singles all recorded headed SE. I checked the Hedgerow where yesterdays male Redstart was seen, it wasn't there but a female / immature REDSTART was! This year has been the best ever for Redstart sightings!

I looked through the Greenhouse Copse area, and the Greenhouse Grounds, finding 2 BLACKCAPS, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, and 1 WHITETHROAT, but there were a few birds missed, all I got to see were the tail end disappearing into the Blackberry bushes, never to be found again, probably a barred warbler among them  :-)  So although not up to yesterdays bonanza, it was still a good haul of migrants :-)

WREN among the old Raspberry canes at the Greenhouse Grounds

 

I popped over to the lakes, just in case a duck species had dropped in, its that time of year when it has been known to happen, perhaps a Shoveler, Tufted Duck or a Teal, but unfortunately not today, just a few MALLARD, MOORHEN, a GREY HERON and a KINGFISHER were there.

The adjacent Scrubby Woods produced the regulars of NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH, JAY, STOCK DOVE and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER as well as the more common stuff, also, whilst there, I once again heard the calls of SISKIN flying over.

Immature HOUSE SPARROW, seen along High House Lane

After a snack and drink back at home, I headed off out to my seat at Migrant Alley for a sky watch, it didn't produce much today, just a few BUZZARDS, a SPARROWHAWK, two of the local KESTRELS, a few single HERRING GULLS, and the odd small party of mixed SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS. Still no Mistlethrush, Skylark, Yellowhammer or Greylag Goose for the month, all of which I would be disappointed not to record in September, but I think the chance of Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and Turtle Dove have all but gone now.