Pittswood Birds

Another bright and sunny day, after initial mist and fog - proper spring weather  :-)

A view from Migrant Alley, across to ''Bustard Hill''

I spent 4 and a half hours this morning visiting the farmland parts of my patch, that is, the Pub Field, the ashes Lane fields, Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds. It proved an eventful visit, with the first YELLOW WAGTAIL (80,62) of the year heard, then seen as it flew over the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, its arrival is on the same date as the first recorded last year, the earliest arrival for the 15 years of recording, the 15 year median average first date being the 20th April. There were 7 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS and a lone HERRING GULL feeding on the sheep pasture, but no ''chats'' out there today.

Another spring migrant had also arrived, this one at the Ashes Lane fields - the  WHITETHROAT (81,63) this is also an early arrival for this species on my patch, the joint third earliest, its median average arrival date is the 18th of April. The enjoyable visit was topped off by a flyover RED KITE, which flew over the Greenhouse Grounds, where the KESTREL pair were again seen. A sky watch produced plenty of BUZZARDS, a few single MEADOW PIPITS, SKYLARKS, GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE, GREY HERON, and at least 8 SWALLOWS, all local birds  :-)

Red Kite, no chance to get a decent photo, but this shows him well enough  :-)

A down side to the visit was seeing this Red Fox that had a snare round it's body. It doesn't matter what your opinion of Foxes is, this kind of ignorant, ''dont know what your doing'' kind of behaviour from some of the scum bag, local landowners / farmers is unacceptable.