Pittswood Birds

This morning was grey and breezy, with a few light showers. By 10:00hrs, a little brightness and even a fleeting glimpse of the sun was had.

I got out for a full patch walk, not expecting much in the sometimes near dark conditions, but in the four and a half hour visit, I recorded a very good tally of 49 bird species.

Just about every species residing on my patch was found, with once again the Greenhouse Grounds being the busiest habitat by far, with GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, LESSER REDPOLL, SISKIN, LINNET, YELLOWHAMMER, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, SONGTHRUSH, BLACKBIRD, FIELDFARE, REDWING, WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, GREEN WOODPECKER, PIED WAGTAIL, GREY WAGTAIL, PHEASANT and the female KESTREL all being found there.

Out on Migrant Alley a few ROOKS, STARLINGS and WOODPIGEONS joined the BLACK HEADED GULL flock, of which there were fewer than in recent days, just 50-60 being present, with half a dozen HERRING GULLS, a COMMON GULL was also seen drifting over, but it didn't join the flock. The Ashes Lane Fields had the seemingly over wintering MEADOW PIPITS out in the sheep pasture, while overhead I picked up a couple of calling SKYLARKS.

In contrast the Wet Woods and Scrubby Woods were remarkably quiet, I had to work hard to find the likes of NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH,, MISTLETHRUSH, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, COAL TIT and LONG TAILED TIT. The lakes were disappointing again, I added just MALLARD and MOORHEN from them.

The Small Holding Area produced a LITTLE OWL and a TREECREEPER for the day list, as well as a couple of JAYS, then walking back over to Migrant Alley via High House Lane, I had both BUZZARD and SPARROWHAWK fly over, the lane itself added HOUSE SPARROW and COLLARED DOVE to the mornings list.

I had a second look around the Greenhouse Grounds, hoping to find a Brambling amongst the finches there, but failed to do so, I've not seen one here since 2013  :-(  I did however get to use my camera, as a few short glimpse of sun had now arrived, so I managed to get some much more pleasing Lesser Redpoll images.  :-)

Lesser Redpoll