wed 16 january 2013                  early morning

mid section             Hard frost slight fog

 Prefab Weir

The new wetlands

Hoping for some cold weather movement I first checked the canal from Tettenhall Rd to Compton Rd and only had 1 little grebe by the moored boats just north of Compton lock.Up to the Barleyfield where a bullfinch was calling from the scrub roses at the top,all was very quiet,nothing overhead and no movement in the bushes,the fog was almost hiding the Shrike Bushes. Lower Alders was empty but Eddys contained the small finch flock, 20+ goldfinch and at least 5 siskin. A grey wagtail was the only bird encountered in the Shrike Bushes area this was flushed from the Graisley Brook culvert. Back to Compton lock via Compton Rough,still no grebes below the lock. 2 little grebe by the weir and 1 fishing near Newbridge tennis courts. The kingfisher flew north along Smestow brook behind the prefabs. The only singing birds today 3 robin, 2  great tit and a dunnock. No song thrush.