Those beaky boys are back, and the Gareth transfer is complete . . .

Dunstall Park

Summer's over, we're in early September, and things are relatively quiet, with few migrants to report and some wintering species beginning to appear.  The lake is still attracting Green Sandpiper (two were present today, 12/9), single Yellow Wagtail (30/8 and 5/9) have been foraging on the central grass area with good numbers of Pied Wagtail (42 on 5/9), Northern Wheatear have been seen along the grass-sided drainage ditches (Mick from the ground staff saw two on 26/8 and one on 8/90), and the racecourse's second Spotted Flycatcher for the year was present on 11/9 in the north western corner, an area which is attracting small  numbers of  Chiffchaff and Blackcap to banks of elders and bramble, with  Blackbird, Song Thrush and Bullfinch also taking advantage of a bumper berry crop.  Barn Swallow are still present, with late-brood youngsters born in the stables now sitting on the race rails waiting for parents to bring food (ten or more birds were present today, 12/9)  or flying upwards to be fed in mid-air by the adults.  Some House Martin have left, but good numbers still hawk over the lake, where the odd late Common Whitethroat can be seen moving through bushes above the water's edge and single adult and juvenile Grey Heron stand motionless on the island or on the top of the grass banks.  A winter-plumaged Little Grebe was seen briefly on 9/9,  at least ten Coot are still present after their best-ever breeding year at the site, along with three broods of Moorhen, the youngsters varying in age from sooty spindly-legged chicks to adult-size juveniles.  A surprise visitor in the form of a single adult Cormorant has been seen daily at the lake since 5/9 (fourteen  birds flew south westwards over the site on 5/9),  and duck totals have been rising, with up to seven Teal and increasing nubers of Shoveler (17 on 12/9)  feeding and resting as they emerge from eclipse (at least 40 Mallard flew on to the lake to roost at dusk on 20/8).  Lapwing numbers have dropped away, but 15 were at the lake on 28/8,  and single Grey Wagtail have been seen and heard flying to and away from the lake.  And, reappearing after their summer absence, Common Snipe stand and preen almost invisible against the yellow and brown vegetation around the base of the island.  These are some of Dunstall's winter stars, either probing mechanically with their long bills along the margins of the lake or venturing out to forage on the central grass area among flocks of Black-headed Gull (200-plus on 5/9), Lesser Black-backed Gull (50 on 10/9) and Starling (c.100 on 9/9).  Conditons at the lake are now perfect for Snipe, but it remains to be seen whether numbers this coming winter will exceed the astonishing total of  107 birds seen in the lake area on January 8th 2006.  The 16 seen today (12/9) provide a good start.  Elsewhere, a flock of  eleven Mistle Thrush on the central grass on 30/8 show that the species has had a good breeding season following a run of relatively dry and difficult years for thrushes in general.  At least one juvenile Common Buzzard is still present, its by-now ragged parents less frequently in attendance, on 5/9 there was the surprise sight of a male Kestrel perched on a TV tower (a welcome appearance of a species that until 2010 bred annually in the nearby oak copse), and on 20/8 a Tawny Owl called at dusk from the direction of the canal and Aldersley Stadium.

It has been confirmed that Gareth Clements has completed a late-window transfer to the Smestow Valley.  His name in the signing-in book at the racecourse last week brings to an end months of speculation as to whether a deal had been done, but it seems a couple of Double Decker choc bars and a packet of Polos was enough to lure freelance Gareth away from the more remote Black Country fringes and return to where he first cut his teeth as a young birder.  Clayhanger visitors were tight-lipped today, but it's clear they've lost a top man, and they'll be watching to see what he kicks up on his old patch.  No need to kiss the badge, Gareth.  Welcome back. 

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