Pittswood Birds

After the early fog had cleared, the morning turned sunny and warm again, another bonus day!

An early visit to Migrant Alley didn't provide too much birding activity, a LITTLE OWL was seen in the adjacent Greenhouse Copse, a few HERRING GULLS and BLACK HEADED GULLS flew over, also the passage of WOODPIGEONS was noted again.

Immature Herring Gull

I made my way over to the lakes via the Ashes lane Fields, from where a couple of MEADOW PIPITS flew up, a CORMORANT flew over, as did a few single SKYLARKS, calling as they headed NW.

Arriving at the lakes I counted 8 MALLARD on the main lake, a GREY HERON was at the small Lake and the ornamental lake had the usual MUTE SWAN family and a scattering of MOORHENS, however, a few ripples of water caught my eye under the tree overhang as I passed back along the main lake, then looking through my bins at the spot, I found a brilliant LITTLE GREBE (108,74) That's the first here since January 2012, and only the second record in five years, so I was well pleased to add this species to my year list  :-) As I waited for it to come into photographic range, a party of 24 CANADA GEESE and a lone GREYLAG GOOSE splashed down, then I spied the KINGFISHER zoom low across the water.

I got a distant photo of the Little Grebe eventually, but it was very wary, it's extremely good eyesight spotting my movements from 30 meters away!

 Not the best image, but I like the reflection of the bird in the water, plus all the Autumnal colours  :-)

I ended up back at my seat over at Migrant Alley for a bit of a sky watch, but only a COMMON BUZZARD and the male KESTREL were seen of any note. I was saddened to see the Greenhouse Grounds taking another battering, the nettles and brambles were being strimmed down to the ground, looks the place has had a change of ownership and is being ''tidied'' up  :-(