Saturday 7 January 2017

It was such a dull, misty and grey day today, that the light was no different morning, noon or dusk!

A poor day to choose really for a full patch walk, but I did one anyway, so I cant be too surprised at recording a low tally of just 36 species, all of which were the core species to be found here at Pittswood, so no additions to the months list. Where are all the Pheasants ? They cant all have been shot and dumped under a hedgerow in black bin liners!

For the scarcer woodland species, all but Stock Dove turned out in the Scrubby Woods/Wet Woods, with the best species seen being the GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, LONG TAILED TIT, BULLFINCH, NUTHATCH and TREECREEPER, plus BUZZARD that left it's roost, the only raptor seen today. Not a thing was seen on any of the lakes, not even a Mallard or MOORHEN, although the latter was seen in an adjacent garden.

FIELDFARE, REDWING, MISTLETHRUSH and SONGTHRUSH were the highlight from the Small Holding, with more on the Ashes Lane fields, but the rest of the farmland was pretty dire for birds, just ROOKS and BLACK HEADED GULLS in small numbers, with a lone immature HERRING GULL.

The Greenhouse grounds were similarly bereft of birds, PIED WAGTAIL was the only species added to the days list from there.

Skylark and Yellowhammer seem to have left the area adjacent to Bustard Hill, hopefully they will return soon and join the months species tally!

2 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Not the best day to be out was it. Wet clothes and optics don't make for a happy birder. It can only get better.......... can't it?

Simian said...

Warren...had low numbers too...had a Treecreeper...must check if its new for the year...lol...whats your tally...50 here...halfway there!