SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER

Fields bordering the Smestow brook between Windmill Lane, Wightwick, and Castlecroft canal bridge, 10.45am to 11.45am.

Slight mist clearing, high cloud, SW breeze, clouding to rain later.

Kestrel, female, perched by brook just south of Windmill Lane.

Fieldfare, 8-plus, smallholding hedge by Castlecroft canal bridge.

Redwing, 5-plus,           "               "                 "             "          "

Goldfinch, 3-plus,         "               "                 "             "          " 

Buzzard, juvenile, calling frequently, perched on phone wire post near brook, mid-section of fields. A dark-plumaged adult (white primary streak, left wing) flew in to join it, both perched close together before adult, then youngster, flew off towards Radford Lane.

Yellowhammer, 6-plus, male and female, hedge by Castlecroft canal bridge.

Sparrowhawk, male, very low across canal by Castlecroft bridge to hunt along towpath hedge towards Pool Hall.

Kingfisher, male, perched by brook, southern section of fields.  Twice flew to perch again on low vegetation. Did not fish, brook cloudy and full. 

Grey Wagtail, first-winter bird, foraging on top of brook bank behind former Wine Rack off-licence building.

SUNDAY 25th NOVEMBER

Wood next to Newbridge playingfield, bordering Staffs &Worcs Canal,  09.45 to 10.15am. 

Bright, cold, calm.

Goldfinch, 3-plus, one singing, feeding tops of  trees.

Coal Tit 1

Goldcrest 2,  feeding in mixed titmice flocks.

Long-tailed Tit, 8-plus,    "            "          "  

Stock Dove 1