Saturday 10th August 2013
Dry, overcast, calm, light Westerlies
Mid-section: Compton to Newbridge including Compton Park and Barleyfield
With 22+ Swift and two Barn Swallows drifting South over The Barleyfield, and 30+ House Martins over Newbridge Paddocks, there were all the signs that passage was under way.
However it was the presence of what appeared to be a Meadow Pipit that truly signalled the start of what hopefully will be an interesting Autumn in the valley.
I had just left Ian Phillips at the top of The Barleyfield when, as I got to the tip of the Central Scrub, I noticed a small bird drop into the top of the field. I almost left it as it seemed to go into the field border, making me feel it was probably just another Chiffchaff searching for insects among the umbel flower heads.
Inquisitiveness got the better of me, so I turned back. As I got to the path leading to Compton Hill Drive, I could see that the bird had in fact landed on the pathway by Geoff’s bench. I managed to get two shots of it, but it just would not turn to face me or even turn sideways so that I could check the wing-pattern. In the field it looked pale brown with uniformed streaking on the back, suggesting Tree Pipit, but there can be pale examples of meadow Pipit around. The length of grass meant that I couldn’t see the legs clearly either. The bill appeared pale, again suggesting Tree Pipit. It then lifted showing white outer-tail feathers as it jerked it’s way low over the meadow, before dropping onto the path by the central scrub. It really was playing with me as it remained silent, again preventing a conclusive identification.
When I got home, a quick look in the valley archives, showed this to be an exceptionally early record. The earliest Meadow Pipit on record was at the Racecourse (Private land) on 28/8/2003 and the earliest Autumn Tree Pipit was on 17/8/2006.
This early date, again points more towards Tree Pipit, as there are local populations in South Staffordshire, but again, it’s not conclusive. The behaviour and overall feel of the bird was Meadow Pipit, although birds do behave oddly when they are on the move.
As I slowly made my way along the path, the bird lifted and flew off silently to the South west.
So for all you seasoned birders out there, check out the following pics and please help to confirm it by providing a comment:
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| Pale back and bill suggest tree Pipit. But no clarity on legs and cant see wing panels and breast patterning??? |
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| Back patterning does not appear tidy enough for Tree Pipit and the wing panels here don't look prominent or white-edged enough for Tree Pipit? Unless someone can nail this, it's going down as a very early Meadow Pipit. |
Other highlights:
Adult Red Fox with full a full-grown youngster, heading back to the den at Compton Park.
Wood Mouse scurried across the path in the main Paddock
2+ Tawny Owls calling well after dawn from near Meccano Bridge
48 Black-headed Gulls including one juvenile at Compton Park.
Green Woodpeckers at Eddy’s Alders and Henwood Road.
Common Whitethroat with 2 young feeding on umbel flowers at graisley Culvert.
15+ Long-tailed Tits at the Hanging Gardens.
A male Sparrowhawk low over the playingfield near Meccano Bridge.
2+ Coal Tits calling canalside near The Academy.
On the canal:
12 adult, 11 juvenile and 6 chick Moorhens (4 juv at Newbridge and Prefab Weir (The white ones were absent which would have added 3 more), 2 chicks at the prefabs and 4 at Compton lock, with an adult tidying a nest near the latter site).
All 11 juvenile Mallard still together at Newbridge with a total of 17 adults along the canal.
At last!!! I got to see a Kingfisher, heading South under Meccano Bridge.
C20 Canada Geese SW over Compton Park, as late Summer numbers start to build.
1+ Goldcrest calling canalside at The Academy.
2+ Coal Tits at Meccano Bridge.
A Jay at Compton rough.
A singing Blackcap by Compton Lock.
A Willow Warbler calling at The Crossings, but no sign of the juveniles seen last week. Also a young Blackcap watching it’s mother feeding on The Barleyfield:
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| Should I stay or should I go? - young Blackcap watching it's mother picking insects from the Barleyfield |
It seems that the mad Summer rains have led to a lot of late broods, as a female Blackcap was seen on feeding sorties at the south end of The Barleyfield, near to where Common Whitethroats are also still feeding young.
A female Great Spotted Woodpecker by the gardens at Compton Hill drive, along with 6+ adult Goldfinch.
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| Lord and Ladies (Arum maculatum) |
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| Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) |
Highlights from 9/8/13 on same patch of the valley, after drizzle on moderate Westerlies:
21 adult Mallard and 1 advanced chick at Compton park Wetland.
An adult Greenfinch with a juvenile at The Hanging Gardens.
Female Blackcap with 2 young at The Crossings.
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers calling together from Eastern border, Meccano Bridge and SW corner of The Barleyfield.
1 Stock Dove South over The Barleyfield.
Common Whitethroat taking A Large white Butterfly to it’s nest. Barleyfield area.
Green Woodpecker calling at The Crossings.
5+ young Bullfinches and 5+ Goldfinch near Graisley Culvert.
Common Whitehroat, 2+ Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap in the main Paddock.
Family party of 5+ Chiffchaff preening together in the Middle Paddock.
Local Fisherman reporting Perch, Bream, Roach, Gudgeon, Chubb and Carp in the canal.
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| Cinnabar moth catterpillar on Ragwort. a true Wolves fan by the look of it. Ragwort might not be everyone's favorite, but at The Barleyfield it has attracted a wide range of Bees, Butterflies, Hoverflies and other insects by day and Moth's by night. |
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| With luck we may be able to enjoy magnificent black and red adult moths at the Barleyfield Soon, thanks to the increased field margins that are planned. In three years I have yet to see one, so I assume that a (Wolverhampton) Wanderer from elsewhere produced these young. |
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