Pittswood Birds

A strong southerly wind brought more grey, dull weather to the area this morning.

I wasn't expecting to see much in the conditions, but was pleased to add another 4 species to the months list, the first of which was a flyover CORMORANT (57), seen as I spread the sunflower hearts at the Greenhouse Grounds, where there were fewer finches than of late, but still a good mix of species, with LESSER REDPOLL, SISKIN, CHAFFINCH, GOLDFINCH and GREENFINCH all present. The GREY WAGTAIL was also seen again.

Greenfinch ( photographed in my garden yesterday)

There were hundreds of birds on the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley, with at least 250 STARLINGS, 150 BLACK HEADED GULLS, 50+ ROOKS and 20-30 JACKDAWS, they were all flushed up by a passing BUZZARD, making for a spectacular sighting as all the birds swarmed around the sky on the gale!

The first LITTLE OWL (58) of the month was seen at the old shack in the Ashes Lane Fields, the first seen there since the immediate area around it was slashed burned and sprayed off. Nearby on the grass silage, I could just make out the call of the MEADOW PIPITS over the wind.

I checked the lakes, finding only the KINGFISHER of note, the Coot seems to have left, but as I stood scanning the water, a calling raptor was heard above, this turned out to be the first PEREGRINE (59) recorded here since October.

Not much was observed in the Scrubby Woods or Wet Woods, the wind was just too strong to hear much, although I did pick up the call of a GOLDCREST, then better still saw my first STOCK DOVE (60) of the month to bring up the 60th patch species for December  :-)

Walking home through the Small Holding, it was interesting to see 4 GREEN WOODPECKERS feeding within a meter of each other.

Garden BLUE TIT to brighten the post