Pittswood Birds

Another bright start to the day, cloud eventually built up but it remained dry.

A full patch walk was undertaken today, when during the 4 and a half hour visit I recorded 47 bird species, with six of those being new for the July list. The first of those was the MISTLETHRUSH (44), of which 3 flew over Migrant Alley, where I also saw a BLACK HEADED GULL (45) fly over.

Other new species for the month included a COAL TIT (46) that was singing in the Scrubby Woods, a GREYLAG GOOSE (47) that was with 7 CANADA GEESE on the main lake, a SPARROWHAWK (48) that was hunting around the Small Holding, plus a HOBBY (49) that was seen to catch a SWALLOW over the Greenhouse Grounds, where just one young KESTREL was seen today. Three BUZZARDS were seen during my visit, making it a four Raptor species day.

On a sadder note for my patch, it was disappointing to see that the four old Plum Trees that were in a field  disused by the Greenhouse Grounds have been chopped down, the field is being brought into use apparently.  A shame as these gnarled and holey trees provided nests sites for many generations of Blue and Great Tits, the plums were nice too!

A Ringlet Butterfly was seen in the Scrubby Woods, a scarce butterfly here and the first ever to be found on this part of my patch.

Despite the nice bright conditions I didn't even get the lens cap off my camera - some days are like that! I do at least have a few 'blog brighteners' left from my wales visit  :-)

Spotted Flycatcher. A species now lost as a breeding bird at Pittswood

I've not even had a passage bird here this spring.

Tree Pipit. A species long gone from my patch. I just get the odd one turn up on Autumn migration.