Pittswood Birds

This morning was overcast, misty and gloomy, but still warm for the time of year, moderate to heavy rain moved in by 09:00hrs.

The arrival of the rain curtailed my patch visit, just 2 and a half hours were spent out, where there was little to reward me for my efforts. The Greenhouse Grounds were quite active, although the SISKIN and GOLDFINCH flock have dwindled to around a dozen birds, there were a few species around the seed I have put out under the Hedgerow, along with 5 CHAFFINCH were a few GREAT and BLUE TITS, DUNNOCK, ROBIN and 2 GREENFINCHES. A pair of LINNETS were feeding on Fat Hen nearby and the female KESTREL, sensibly, sat up in her nest box, out of the rain.

A walk around the paddocks and sheep pasture of Migrant Alley had me scanning through a flock of 46 BLACK HEADED GULLS, hoping to find a Common or Mediterranean Gull among them, but just HERRING GULL was found. As I walked the circuit, I noted fly overs from a pair of GREYLAG GEESE, a CORMORANT, 2 SKYLARKS and a few SISKIN.

Heading for the lakes, I noted 2 MEADOW PIPIT at the Ashes Lane Fields, but the lakes themselves had attracted no duck species, apart from a few MALLARD, but there was a glimpse of the KINGFISHER and the GREY HERON was actively fishing again.

Heading home, the only notable birds seen were a flock of LONG TAILED TITS, again at the Small Holding area, with them were the usual species of NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, Blue and Great Tit. A flock of 14 FIELDFARE flew low over, and 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS were also in the area.

So nothing to add to the months list this morning, but most of the expected species have now been recorded for November, just Little Owl and Tawny Owl remain to be found of the resident species.

No photo's again today and with the weather set wet and windy, it could be a while before the camera gets an outing !