Pittswood Birds

A few light showers blew across the area on a raw NE wind early this morning, it did slowly brighten up somewhat as the day progressed though.

I spent 3 hours out, wading around in the muddy conditions, after all the rain there were some decent pools of water about, but they hadn't attracted any exciting birds.

The best of what was found today were; The 3 regular raptor species of SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD and KESTREL, the latter were displaying and calling around the Greenhouse Grounds, where a small flock of 12-15 SISKINS were seen in the Alders.

The pair of MUTE SWANS remain on the ornamental lake, plus the likes of LONG TAILED TIT, COAL TIT, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were found in the wooded areas of my patch.

The FIELDFARE / REDWING / STARLING flock had moved from the Ashes Lane Fields to the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, there were at least 3 MISTLETHRUSHES with them, but there were no gulls out there today.

Flyovers from a single YELLOWHAMMER, a single SKYLARK, 2 LESSER REDPOLLS and a skein of 9 GREYLAG GEESE were of most note.

Around midday, there was some brief watery spells of brightness, so I tried to get some images of the birds at my garden feeding station, which was very busy now the temperature has dropped, there were 22 species counted, which included Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, SONGTHRUSH, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and WREN, all nice species to get in the garden, plus the Sparrowhawk made an appearance!

Up to 4 BLACKBIRDS are visiting

3 male and a female Siskin fight the other finches for the sunflower hearts

Of course, the Lesser Redpolls have to be photographed!

A dozen or so GOLDFINCH are always present

There is nearly always a Great Spotted Woodpecker ''stuck'' on the suet feeder!

The Long Tailed Tits have to wait for the Woodpecker to leave before they get there fill!