My first full patch walk of May was carried out this morning in cold and grey conditions, but after the 6 hours I had spent out, a decent tally of 48 species had been found.

Adding to the 41 species seen yesterday, were the LITTLE OWL (42) that was at its usual place in the Greenhouse Copse and a YELLOWHAMMER (43) that flew over Migrant Alley, calling as it went, also, a little later as I walked along High House Lane, a pair of MANDARIN DUCKS (44) flew low over.

A GREYLAG GOOSE (45) was added to the May list when a single bird was seen grazing on one of the ashes Lane Fields, but much more notable were the two LESSER WHITETHROATS (46) that were seen and heard singing from around the run off pool at the edge of the fields.

A good search of the wooded areas of my patch didn't give me a Treecreeper or a Nuthatch for the months list, but singing from CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, SONGTHRUSH, GOLDCREST and COAL TIT was heard, plus the calls from STOCK DOVE, JAY, BULLFINCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS. There was nothing at all on the lakes apart from four CANADA GEESE, it looks as though Mute Swan and Coot will be missing from the monthly lists now, as they are not breeding here this year.

An end of visit sky watch was very productive, as it provided me with my first SWIFTS (90,47) of the year, plus my first HOBBY (91,48) of the year, plus lots of BUZZARD sightings and views of the male KESTREL up hunting over the Greenhouse Grounds.

No camera action today in the poor light, all ive got in the 'blog folder' are these Woodmouse images, taken in my garden  :-)

Woodmice

For a bit of a change this morning, I met up with a good friend and headed off out to Bough Beech reservoir, arriving at just before 06:30hrs.

In some very chilly conditions we encountered 62 species in the 3 hours we were there, 6 of those being first sightings for me this year, they were Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden warbler, Swift, Common Tern and Common Sandpiper, plus the spring migrant species of Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin were also around in good numbers  :-)

We were back at Pittswood for a 90 minute visit around parts my patch by 11:00hrs, where we picked up 41 of the regular species to be found here, helping to kick off my May list.

Best patch sightings today were watching 5 BUZZARDS soaring over Migrant Alley and the male KESTREL hunting at the Greenhouse Grounds, the likes of Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Sparrowhawk weren't seen, but they will be picked over the weekend no doubt.

My target for this May will be to beat the best May tally of 74 species, which was achieved last year, this will be a tall order, as many of the spring migrants that used to breed here no longer do, but with some long hours of sky watching, I might just pick up a few nice passage birds. The 14 year combined May bird list stands at 95 species, maybe a good percentage of those will visit this month  :-)

May should also bring out more of the Butterfly species, plus of course the Dragon and Damselflies, providing this weather warms up! Much to look forward to then!

Photo's today are of the Common Sandpiper, a bit distant but good enough  :-)

Common Sandpiper at Bough Beech

This species has once been recorded on my patch, that being a flyover only.