After the Peregrine strikes, the

name of the game is patience . . .

Dunstall Park

Sunday, September 29th 2013, mid-morning, cool, high broken cloud, easterly breeze.

Two weeks away in sunnier climes, so now it's time to see what might still be around and what might have arrived.  The ground staff say the last swallows and martins departed early last week, and the only migrant seen on this quiet morning is a single Blackcap feeding on elderberries in the north western corner of the site.  An adult Pied Wagtail forages along a drainage ditch by the grandstand, a male Sparrowhawk flaps and glides low towards the Farndale estate, a Jay flies from the oak copse, and on the central grass area 50-plus Lesser Black-backed Gull sit or stand with 160-plus Black-headed Gull and an adult Herring Gull.  At the lake a single Lapwing stands somewhat forlornly by the island, four Snipe and 16 Teal are lined along the water's edge out of the wind, four Coot and four adult and two juvenile Moorhen swim or pick their way through and around the banks of spiked aquatic grass, an adult Grey Heron stands hunched near the perimeter fence, and a Grey Wagtail calls as it flies away towards the Staffs & Worcs Canal.

Tuesday, October 1st, morning, cool, dull, south easterly wind.

Duck numbers are increasing now, with birds coming out of eclipse and dabbling species returning to the racecourse lake as winter visitors, taking advantage of relatively low water levels.  Five Mallard, possibly a female and her offspring present for some months, are feeding, at least 17 Teal rest and preen, and near the Smestow brook overflow apron five male Shoveler are grouped together, their chesnut flanks and dark green heads now becoming more obvious as their breeding plumage emerges.  Ten Snipe are visible (there will almost certainly be more present), and a last check reveals a single Green Sandpiper feeding along the margins (there have been regular records since mid-June of this migrant wader calling in at the lake).

           

Wednesday, October 2nd, mid-morning, dull, warm, south easterly breeze, clearing later.

Meet up with a Codsall birdwatching group on the car park as arranged at 10 o'clock, and notice as we sign in at the hotel reception that Gareth's name is already in the book.  That means he can tell us what's about, and, knowing him, he may well have found something good.  So, through past the grandstand, and yes, already there's the "cronk cronk" of a Raven, the bird moving north westwards towards Stockwell End and Tettenhall.  A good start, but hang on, Gareth's approaching to tell us that a "huge" female Peregrine has in the last ten minutes come in low over the lake and has sent ducks, waders, the lot, flying to the four corners of the earth. Gareth's on his way to work, he can't stay, but he wishes us luck.  OK, we'll just have to be patient, not everything will have gone.  An initial check shows Coot and Moorhen going about their fussy business as two Stock Dove fly up from the lake edges, two Jay fly towards the Farndale and at least 60 Starling go to and from the top of nearby floodlight pylons.  In the distance come the autumnal calls of two large skeins of Canada Geese, at least 150 birds honking their noisy way low over Newbridge towards the city.  Then, one by one, the Teal quietly emerge from the aquatic grass, seven of them eventually resting or feeding near the island.  Two Snipe are spotted, sleeping one-legged and head tucked in, their brown striped plumage perfectly camouflaged against the dying yellow of the sallows.  Someone's sharp eyes pick what could be another flying away from the lake, definitely a wader, but the bills's too short, a white rump shows as it turns to circle before leaving north eastwards, it's a Green Sandpiper, possibly the bird seen at the lake the previous day.  Time's getting on, so we move along the racecourse's north western edge, where a juvenile Buzzard floats low over the canalside trees, a Nuthatch calls, and at least two passage Chiffchaff flit in and out of the elderberry and bramble bank near Aldersley canal junction.  Finally, back to the hotel and off to lunch. Just like the weather, things turned out fine in the end . . .

Saturday, October 5th, morning, dull, calm, warm, heavy overnight rain.           

A quick visit, but enough time to see that Snipe numbers are building nicely, with at least 20 at the lake.  Thirteen Teal are present, and there's the unusual record for the lake of a Long-tailed Tit flock moving through the waterside bushes.  Nearly all the Coot have now dispersed, with only three seen at a site which has enjoyed its best-ever breeding year for the species.

   

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