Thursday 28 April 2016

Where did I put my gloves

This post covers the last six days covering the whole of the valley. All visits have been early morning when the frost has been in the ground. Generally the northerly winds have held up migration
Star bird was a female redstart found on Saturday which promptly disappeared into the blackthorn on northwest corner of the barley field never to be seen again. This was rivalled by a whinchat found by lord Angus at wightwick fields.
Mallard, having seen a typically large early yr brood just outside the valley it was surprising our first, at castle croft, was a single 2 day old chick. Had others been predated.
Tree creeper, Sunday on old railway by paddocks.
Willow warbler, songsters on Sunday at metal bridge and smestow heights
Blackcap seemingly a further arrival with several singing birds above Compton lock. Whereas as the paddock birds, also in good numbers.
Whitethroat, 2 on Saturday 3 Sunday both midsection 1 each of the other days including at lupin field which was the only one to give a sense of staying.
Swallow 2 over aldersly orchard flying north on weds.
Mistle thrush, having seen none all week 5 were well spread out ground feeding in the midsection today when long tails and bullfinch were also visually prominent.

Wednesday 20 April 2016

stale news

Catch up on last week first.
Midweek walks ranged from wightwick to Oxley,
29 singing chiffchaff -6 south of Compton and 11 in northern section.
4 singing willow warbler 2 in paddocks-either end on Tuesday and 2 in north on Wednesday.
1 by aldersly tyres and 1 from canal but on racecourse. the latter was still singing from the same spot today. But only 9 blackcap which seem scarce this year-altho by far the commonest warbler on somerset levels at the weekend.
Yesterday mid section 7-9
mainly thrush and blackbird song to start with but eventually got to 8 blackcap but only 4 songsters,
Swallow parakeet and 2 cormorant all overfjew the paddocks.
today very pleased to see a male grey wagtail collecting food at a spot where I had seen a pair recently also just outside the valley on the Shropshire union my first brood-12 newly hatched mallard,

Sunday 17 April 2016

Sunshine and song

17th April 16               morning              mid section

sunny,  4-9°c,  1015 mb,  NW 4-8 mph


 Plenty of activity and song this morning in chilly but sunny conditions. A sparrowhawk seen soaring in the distance probably over Aldersley area eventually drifted of north, then just minuets later three found soaring over Compton Park, then again minutes later two buzzard soaring very nearby. The only singing willow warbler that I am aware of in the mid section was behind the station cafe again but this will be a passing migrant ( they always are here ) so will one yet turn up to breed this year?


Grey Heron 1 >> NE over Compton Park
Sparrowhawk 1 soaring N of Tett Rd,   3 soaring over Compton Pk,
Buzzard pair over Barleyfield
Moorhen 1 sitting Wetlands
Green Woodpecker calls Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow 2 >> N over mid section
Wren 15 singing mid section
Dunnock 4 singing mid section
Robin 6 singing mid section
Blackbird 5 singing mid section
Song Thrush 4 singing Barleyfield
Blackcap 8 ( 7 singing ) mid section
Chiffchaff 6 singing mid section
Willow Warbler 1 singing Station Paddock
Goldcrest pair Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit 3 mid section
Coal Tit 2 singing Station Paddock
Great Tit 6 singing mid section
Chaffinch 4 ( 2 singing ) mid section
Goldfinch 1 >> W over Barleyfield

Saturday 16 April 2016

Back to winter and snow

16th April 16           morning              mid section

mostly sunny,  3-7°c,  1004 mb,  NNE 9-11 mph


 A cold and slow start to the day, as it warmed up ( a little ) the birds became more active.                               Later another trip just up the road to Pendeford Hall Lane, Coven, where the last few days has been home to a ring ouzel ( a mountain blackbird ) proved bountiful again. Along with the ROuzel was a whinchat, yellow wagtail, 13 white wagtail and 3 wheatear, Also the other end of the lane a green sandpiper and little egret.


Mallard 2♂ Wetlands
Buzzard 1 over Barleyfield
Moorhen 1 sitting Wetlands
Stock Dove 1+ singing Station Paddock
Green Woodpecker calls Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker calls Smestow Bridge
Wren 13 singing mid section
Dunnock 2 singing mid section
Robin 5 singing mid section
Blackbird 5 singing mid section
Song Thrush 5 singing mid section
Blackcap 6 (5 singing) mid section
Chiffchaff 11 singing mid section
Willow Warbler 1 singing Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit 1 Station Paddock
Coal Tit 1 Station Paddock
Great Tit 6 singing mid section
Chaffinch 3 singing mid section
Bullfinch 1♂  Hanging Grds

Tuesday 12 April 2016

A rare visit to Dunstall Park

12th April 16              morning                Dunstall Park

mostly cloudy,  8-11°c,  1005 mb,  W 4-6 mph


  I knew Gazz had seen 2 wheatear yesterday at Dunstall whilst not finding any little gulls, so I thought it worth a trip this morning. Eleven wheatear were on view, one of which was bright enough to be of the greenland race. Also 2 singing willow warbler and 2 chiffchaff.


Little Grebe 2 Dunstall Park
Mute Swan 4 Dunstall Park
Greylag Goose 2 Dunstall Park
Canada Goose few Dunstall Park
Mallard 6 Dunstall Park
Buzzard 2 Dunstall Park
Moorhen 2+ Dunstall Park
Coot 6 Dunstall Park
Lesser Black Backed Gull few Dunstall Park
Herring Gull 3 Dunstall Park
Swallow 3 Dunstall Park
Pied Wagtail 1 over Dunstall Park
Wheatear 11 Dunstall Park
Song Thrush 1 singing Dunstall Park
Mistle Thrush 1 Dunstall Park
Chiffchaff 2 singing Dunstall Park
Willow Warbler 2 singing Dunstall Park
Great Tit 1 singing Dunstall Park
Rook few Dunstall Park

Sunday 10 April 2016

A lovely sunny morning


10th April 16            morning                south section

sunny & warm, 6-12°c,   1007 mb,  SE 8-13 mph


But nothing special bird wise.  Plenty of buzzards soaring everywhere, Kestrel and a singing skylark was good to see. Not many small songsters noted. Pool Hall res only viewed from dam. No little owl ( or tree pipit, white wag ,red kite or peregrine that Gazz had yesterday ).


Great Crested Grebe 2 Pool Hall
Grey Heron 1 Perton Mill Fields
Canada Goose 3 Pool Hall
Mallard few Pool Hall
Tufted Duck c10 Pool Hall
Buzzard plenty South Staffs area
Kestrel 1♀ over Perton Mill Fields
Coot 1+ Pool Hall
Lapwing 1 Bridgenorth Rd fields
Lesser Black Backed Gull odds over South Staffs area
Green Woodpecker Calls Wightwick Fields
Skylark 1 singing Pool Hall
Pied Wagtail 2♂ Perton Mill Fields
Wren song Wightwick Fields
Dunnock song Wightwick Fields
Chiffchaff song Wightwick Fields
Jackdaw few Perton Mill Fields
Raven 2 Perton Mill Fields
House Sparrow few Small Holdings
Chaffinch song Wightwick Fields
Greenfinch song Wightwick Fields

Should have been at Pool Hall

sat 9th April 16            morning            mid section

sunny,     6-9°c,   1001 mb,  NW 5-SW 6 mph


 Ian and I seeing plenty of species with chiffchaff and blackcap numbers building nicely, but, a continuous text conversation with Gazz at Pool Hall  / Wightwick area involving tree pipit, 2 white wags and red kite put things in a different completion.


Sparrowhawk 1♂ over Wolves Training Grd
Buzzard 2 over Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen 1 wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull odds over mid section
Kingfisher 1 Prefabs
Green Woodpecker Calls Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail 2 mid section
Pied Wagtail 1♂ Wetland Field
Blackbird 4 singing mid section
Song Thrush 3 singing mid section
Blackcap 6 singing mid section
Chiffchaff 12 singing mid section
Long Tailed Tit 2 pair mid section
Coal Tit 1 singing Station Paddock
Great Tit song mid section
Nuthatch 2 calling mid section
Chaffinch 2 singing mid section
Greenfinch Calls Top Roses
Goldfinch 2+ mid section
Bullfinch 2 pair mid section

Just Whitethroat to come

fri 8th April 16             morning                mid section

cloudy, brighter last hour,  8-11°c,  1013 mb,  W 6 mph


 Both Ian and myself have had chiffchaff,blackcap and willow warbler in the mid section and Gazz had all three at Dunstall Park, so that just leaves whitethroat to go, as far as our regular summer breeding migrants are concerned. Whitethroat should be with us in 10-14 days. The Loopinfields are a good area to find the earliest.


Mallard 2♂ 1♀ Wetlands
Buzzard Pair over Compton Rough
Moorhen 1 Wetlands
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming Annex Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail 1♂ Wetland Field
Wren 13 singing mid section
Dunnock 4 singing mid section
Robin 16 singing mid section
Blackbird 5 singing mid section
Song Thrush 2 singing mid section
Mistle Thrush 2 singing mid section
Blackcap 5 singing mid section
Chiffchaff 7 singing mid section
Willow Warbler 1 singing Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit pair Graiseley Cnr
Great Tit 11 singing mid section
Chaffinch 4 ( 1 singing ) mid section
Greenfinch 1 singing Prefabs
Goldfinch 4 mid section
Bullfinch 9 mid section

Migration update

mon 4th April 16              morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  9-11°c,   1001 mb,  SW 3-1 mph


Hardly any breeze gave a strange still feeling to the day. Good numbers of chiffchaff again and two singing blackcap. Two ring neck parakeet heard calling from Tettenhall Ridge area eventually picked up flying north over Station Paddock. Last bird seen today was a grey heron flying north over Tettenhall Rd. After  none seen for ages, this is the second in a week.


Grey Heron 1 >> N over Meadow View
Canada Goose 8 >> NE over Barleyfield
Mallard 1♂ Wetlands
Buzzard 1 over Valley
Moorhen 2 Wetlands
Ring Necked Parakeet 2 >> N over Station Paddock
Wren 10 singing mid section
Dunnock 5 singing mid section
Robin 8 singing mid section
Blackbird 4 singing mid section
Song Thrush 2 singing Barleyfield
Blackcap 2 singing The Paddock
Chiffchaff 8 singing mid section
Long Tailed Tit pair Annex Barleyfield
Coal Tit 1 Station Paddock
Great Tit 4 singing mid section
Chaffinch 1 singing The Paddock
Greenfinch 1 singing Meadow View
Bullfinch pair Station Paddock

Maybe the last siskin

3rd April 16,         morning             mid section

mostly cloudy,  8-11°c,  1005 mb,  S 3-9 mph


The blackcap in the Paddock again only sang briefly. Barleyfield north west corner only ( Ian had already done it ). Ian had two male blackcap just inside Compton Rough but no sign when we looked again. Eight singing chiffchaff in mid section, another four north to Waterbridge. There's a feeding station in a garden off the railway in Corve Grds ( off Aldersley Rd )( behind Hills Coach depot ) where we heard what sounded like many siskin in a dense fir tree, we only saw two, three or four.


Green Woodpecker Calls Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Hills Coaches
Blackcap 1 singing The Paddock
Chiffchaff 12 singing mid section
Coal Tit 1 Graiseley Reedbed
Nuthatch calls Crowther Rd Wood
Jay 1 Hawthorn Wood
Rook 5+ Dunstall rookery
Chaffinch song mid section
Greenfinch song Station Paddock
Goldfinch 2 mid section
Siskin 3+ Aldersley feeder
Bullfinch 2 The Paddock

Wednesday 6 April 2016

Dodging the showers

Did the full length of the valley today from Oxley to Castle croft bridge.
10 singing chiffchaff which is less than we had at the weekend.5 singing blackcap which is better, also a female by the metal bridge.
2 lesser redpoll were a surprise in the paddocks but no sign of the weekends siskin.
Also no sign of yesterday afternoon s silent but active willow warbler in the paddock.
The southern end produced a welcome kestrel pair, raven, pair of yellowhammer, pair of coot on canal, single lapwing and 2 singing skylark.
Overall most pleasing was good numbers of goldfinch but disappointing ly no grey wagtail.

Saturday 2 April 2016

What did I tell you

2nd April 16             evening                mid section

sunny & warm,    13-12°c,  1007 mb,  S 9-7 mph


 Rain this morning prevented me from doing the valley, so I ended up at Belvide Reservoir , where I found a singing blackcap. But this evening in sunny and warm conditions I found a another singing blackcap, albeit only briefly. Ian saw a male near Compton lock on tuesday but not singing.


Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 >> SW over The Paddock
Blackbird 9 singing mid section
Song Thrush 5 singing mid section
Blackcap 1 singing The Paddock
Chiffchaff 3 singing mid section
Coal Tit 1 singing Station Paddock
Chaffinch 3 singing mid section

Friday 1 April 2016

Morning visit to the northern section on my way to teams.
4 chiffchaff (3singing)
Pair of grey wagtail at aldersley bridge
Calling and flying parakeet not sure if more than one bird

Afternoon visit to castle croft bridge from pool hall
Swallow
Yellowhammer
Reed bunting
All singles but no skylark or lapwing in cold and breezy conditions

Pool hall had a double figure flock of sand martins which presumably would fly up the valley.

A surprising day

1st April 16                morning                  mid section

cloudy,  4-7°c,  1018 mb,   S 5-SSW 10 mph


 Early mist lifted but didn't clear, resulting in a cloudy day  with a chilly southerly breeze. I've always said sunshine brings the birds out here in the valley and that’s the difference between yesterday and today. I was surprised therefore, when I counted up the results of my notebook with the numbers of singing birds, wren in particular 17 singers, but the general feel of the session was slow. Both pied wagtail together on the grass by the Wetlands was a surprise, haven't seen the elusive female for ages.


Canada Goose 2 >> NE over Compton Field
Mallard 3♂ Wetlands
Green Woodpecker calls Tettenhall Ridge
Pied Wagtail pair Wetland Field
Wren 17 singing mid section
Dunnock 6 singing mid section
Robin 12 singing mid section
Blackbird 5 singing mid section
Song Thrush 4 singing mid section
Chiffchaff 9 ( 7 singing ) mid section
Long Tailed Tit 5 Station Paddock
Great Tit 4 singing mid section
Chaffinch 1 singing Station Paddock
Greenfinch 2 singing mid section
Goldfinch 2 Meccano Br
Bullfinch pair + calls Barleyfield