Pittswood Birds

Early frost and dense fog seemed to clear around 08:00hrs, but within the hour the fog returned with a vengeance, not clearing until around mid day.

In the poor conditions, most of the 44 species recorded were done so by ear, with very few species actually being seen and those that were, appeared as just single birds, the exception were of a flock of mixed winter thrushes that were on the Ashes Lane Fields, made up 70/30 in favour of REDWING over FIELDFARE, plus 15-20 SISKIN that fed in the Alders at the Greenhouse Grounds.

The highlight of the visit was re-locating the COOT over at the lakes, which were re-frozen again, but at least I did see, if poorly, all three regular raptor species of BUZZARD, SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL hunting over various parts of my patch.

Calls from TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, GREEN WOODPECKER, and JAY were all heard in the wooded parts of my walk, plus a few single GOLDCRESTS were noted and a pair of LONG TAILED TITS, while the drumming of GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was the only clue to this species presence.

Nothing much more of any real note was seen this morning, except maybe the LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL that flew over during the brief clearance of the fog.

The last of my 'blog brighteners' ......................... STARLINGS !