Mid-section of reserve

Thursday 8th August 2013
Cool, clear, misty start to calm glorious day
Mid-section - Compton to Newbridge including Compton Park and Barleyfield.

The Barleyfield at Dawn

Start of a beautiful day

An early start was surprisingly quiet with only the burst of Wren song against a background of bubbling Woodpigeons, breaking the silence.

A short sky-watch produced:

Black-headed Gull - 15 SW, 7 West

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 5 South

Jackdaw - 5 SW

Magpie - 18+ West ex roost

Greenfinch - 14 in from the North, with a few settling at the top of the Barleyfield, but most continuing SW

Starling - 2 SW

Chiffchaff activity was a lot quieter than last week, with 2 at the top of the field and 3+ near The Barleyfield Annex, where a small party of Long-tailed Tits were also noted. A Green Woodpecker called from just South of the crossings.

At Graisley Brook, near the Crossings, a Blackcap was calling and a Song Thrush flew out over the path.

At Compton Lock, a Goldcrest was singing and Coal Tits were calling from near Alpine Way.A male Blackcap was also there.

A young Buzzard was calling from Tettenhall Ridge and a Green Woodpecker was also vocal along Henwood Road.

The canal held a total of:

12 adult, 9 juvenile and a single chick Moorhen

13 adult, 10 advance juveniles and 8 chick Mallard (All the young were at Newbridge)

A Grey Heron flew South over The Paddocks.

At Newbridge c5 House Sparrow were present along with a calling Nuthatch in the beeches by the old bridge. At first it appeared that there were only 3 Swift over Newbridge, but as I got to the Paddocks, 20+ were seen flying high overhead between Henwood Road and the Ridge. They were observed for a good while and seemed to be a collection of Newbridge and Tettenhall birds, rather than passage birds.

2+ Goldcrest were in the station paddock and a family party of 5+ Chiffchaff were in the middle paddock feeding on umbel flowers.

At the Barleyfield, the number of bees and Hoverflies was impressive

I tracked back through the paddocks to head for a meeting with the Park ranger services. I had reported that we had lost a number of species from The Barleyfield in recent years and that the field would benefit from extending margins and leaving a small area (less than 6% of the total area of the field) uncut. This would allow insects to continue to feed after the mowing and would also provide micro-habitats for them to shelter across the Winter months and complete their life-cycle.These areas would also allow late flowering plants to flourish and act to reduce the level of disturbance to nesting and feeding birds.

As regular readers of this blog are aware, I have held a really positive view regarding the councils's attitude to conservation and the protection of the Valley and it's wildlife. Once again, I can say wholeheartedly that Leisure Services have acted in a really positive manner.

The Barleyfield is a very special part of Smestow Valley LNR, and the protection of it's wildlife, and the creation of new habitat and increased bio-diversity there will mean that it's long-term value and designation is protected.

In the main Paddock, I was surprised to see 2 Male Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and a Common Whitethroat, all feeding together on the umbel flower tops.

At the reserve entrance, I stopped to enjoy the Bumblebees that were visiting the flowers by the Ranger Services building. In the following pics, note the Tree Bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum). They have a distinctive fluffy ginger thorax (back), Black Abdomen (body) and a white tail. This species was first found in the UK, in 2001, but can now be found across much of England and south Wales.They prefer to nest above ground, using tree holes and unused bird nest boxes.

A newcomer - Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)