Pittswood Birds

Another grey and overcast day today, but it remained dry and virtually windless early on.

A three and a half hour patch visit didn't turn out anything new for the December list, but it was still a decent mornings birding. The mixed finch flock was feeding at the Greenhouse Grounds, mostly CHAFFINCHES with a few GREENFINCH and GOLDFINCH, plus a dozen or so LESSER REDPOLL. There were 4 SISKIN were seen in the nearby Alder Trees and the KESTREL looked on from the greenhouse roof. It was also good to see at least 6 YELLOWHAMMERS in the small patch of rough ground between the greenhouses and the Greenhouse Copse.

Out on the sheep pasture of Migrant Alley there were at least 100 ROOKS, 150 BLACK HEADED GULLS and 250 STARLINGS, a couple of HERRING GULLS and COMMON GULLS were among the Black Headed Gulls.

Just 3 MEADOW PIPITS got up from the grass silage at the Ashes Lane Fields, where in the nearby old shack the LITTLE OWL was seen perched up again, a SPARROWHAWK flew over as I neared the Wet Woods, where a BUZZARD was disturbed as I walked through.

Over at the lakes it was once again down to the KINGFISHER to make it worth while visiting, as there was nothing else of note on the water. The adjacent Scrubby Woods was quite active, with GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, STOCK DOVE, JAY, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH and COAL TIT being found.

Making my way back home via the Wet Woods and Small Holding area, I found the likes of NUTHATCH, LONG TAILED TIT and TREECREEPER, as well as a couple of FIELDFARE feeding with 2 GREEN WOODPECKERS, plus flyovers from 37 REDWING and a CORMORANT were noted.

Much the same as yesterday then, but until the weather changes, if it does change, I dont think things will shake up much here.

This afternoon, back home at my garden feeders, it was frustrating to see so many species feeding, but not having any light to photograph them (properly!)  A Goldcrest came in, a garden first for this month and the 25th species for December. Also a flock of 7 Long Tailed Tits, 13 Redpoll and a Siskin all entertained, not to mention other good garden species like Coal Tit, SONGTHRUSH, and WREN  :-)

Down to the last few images in the 'Blog Folder' now....................................

Lesser Redpoll......yes more of them!