Pittswood Birds

This morning was windless and remarkably warm again for the time of year, but alas, it was still very grey out there!

My three hour visit today was mainly unremarkable, the overwintering CHIFFCHAFF was re located at the Greenhouse Grounds, where the usual finch mix was visiting my supply of seeds,, mainly CHAFFINCHES, but small numbers of  GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH and LESSER REDPOLL were mixed in among them, while the nearby Alder Trees had a minimum of 6 SISKIN feeding in them today. The now daily flock of 100+ BLACK HEADED GULL were seen out on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, where 150+ STARLINGS were a notable flock.

The LITTLE OWL was seen in the old shack after not seeing it yesterday, I only see it if I am the first person the cross the Ashes Lane Fields :-) The female KESTREL was also here hunting.

The ''Old Shack' that homes the Little Owl. The battered hedgerow behind the shack divides the Ashes Lane Fields from the Pub Field, the over tidied hedgerow just about visible further back, hides the busy A26, which is this side of those tall pines.

As I crossed the above field this BUZZARD flew over, eventually alighting in the Wet Woods

Just look at that grim sky!

A visit to the lakes was made enjoyable, as one of the male GOOSANDERS was still there, I took some photo's, but today wasn't a day for the camera!

Male Goosander. This is the best I could do, given the lack of light and the distance involved

Another, or maybe the same Buzzard alighted in the pine tree at the far side of the lake, about 70-80 meters away, I took a photo, well sort of!

Buzzard

A stroll through the Scrubby Woods, Wet Woods and Small holding, hoping for something different was had, but only the usual stuff was there....TREECREEPERS, NUTHATCHES, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TITS, GOLDCREST, STOCK DOVE, JAY, GREAT SPOTTED and GREEN WOODPECKERS  ....etc.... A SPARROWHAWK whizzed over my head as I neared home, making up the three regular raptor species for the visit  :-)