WEDNESDAY 24th APRIL 2013

Aldersley/Oxley/Dunstall Park

10.00 to 12.30,  south westerly breeze, broken cloud, warm.

It's high fives for the floating foursome

A better day, bit of a breeze, warmer than of late, so a trip to the northern end of the valley to see what's about.  Later than I'd intended, but the towpath walk from Jones Road, under the railway arches and down the 21 locks is always worth a try, singing Goldfinch immediately obvious, and as the old smallholding fields come in from the right by lock 18, so four warbler species are heard, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and a single Willow Warbler singing, and what seems still to be the only Common Whitethroat to have arrived, calling from scrub and low bushes.  Apart from that, all pretty quiet, but below lock 20 a handsome male Reed Bunting sings from the edge of the rough grass fields near the canal junction, and a ragged-tailed Kestrel banks away over the railway towards Oxley golfcourse.  Standing on top of the grass bank by the railway carriageworks it's possible to see right down the valley, but despite the clear air and favourable wind, there's nothing obvious of note.  Give it five minutes, and, just as I'm about to head down towards the canal, a large familiar shape floats up from behind the carriageworks, broad wings angled into the wind, moving gently against the warm air, tail fanned, round head turning, a Common Buzzard, a bird that 20 years ago would have had me running to the nearest phone box to contact Frank Dickson.  How times have changed, for now this is the most frequently seen raptor locally, with at least three pairs nesting along the valley.  Within minutes there's a second bird, then another, and finally four are together above the grass slope, riding the upward draught, taking advantage of conditions which for the most part have been absent from this cold, dry spring. There's no real aggravation, there are no calls, the four holding station, almost hovering, until presumably the resident pair break off to descend and fly low over the railway viaducts, one bird perching briefly in embankment trees before both leave towards the golfcourse.  I check for the other two, they're gone too, the show is over.  If you want to see Buzzards well, I tell my relatives in Mid Wales, come to Wolverhampton (there was one yesterday low over New Cross hospital during afternoon visiting).    

Dunstall down just spot on for Starlings

Half an hour at Dunstall Park produces three Barn Swallows and eight House Martin hawking over the lake, six Greylag geese, the long-staying Gadwall pair, plus three Moorhen, a singing Reed Bunting, a pair of Little Grebe, four pairs of sitting Coot, the Mute Swan pair and three handsome Pied Wagtail.  Five adult Lesser Black-backed Gull wash and preen, and Canada Geese are sitting.  Three pairs of this noisy species have set up on the lake island, and House Sparrows and Starlings have been quick to take advantage of the goose down which covers the surroundings of the nests.  The opportunists fly back with beakfulls of the soft material to their own nests on the nearby Farndale housing estate.  Recycling and insulation all in one.  You know it makes sense . . .

NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled.