However I did manage to get down for the first time at the start of the month and boy did it feel good!
Nature has an amazing habit of creating a bond with you and the more you spend time enjoying the beauty and wildlife on a patch, the stronger this bond becomes. On Sunday 4th May I took a journey South from Compton Park down to Castlecroft canal bridge on a beautiful evening. It felt so intoxicating and everything felt magnified as I was drawn to all that moved or caught the eye as I got back up to speed with the valley.
At Graisley culvert 2 Chiffchaff were singing along with a Whitethroat and a Blackcap.
"Compton Rough" near the lock was looking all the better for the scalping last year and it was great to see a Whitethroat performing it's display song flight from the Globe Buddleja there. A pair of Goldfinch were nearby.
South of Compton Road there were plenty more Common Whitethroat with birds singing at The Sandfields, Turners Field and Wightwick Fields. Pheasant seem to have drifted North into the Nature Reserve this year with birds calling from Wightwick Lock, Wightwick Fields and the paddocks just North of Castlecroft canal bridge.
The highlight just had to be a stunning Little Owl on the West midlands side of the border
 |
| The Little Owl breaks away from the mould by being active by day, but is often most obvious during twilight hours. |
21 Magpie and 100 Woodpigeon on Smestow playing fields, together with a pre-roost Buzzard worming.
1 Grey Wagtail South over Wightwick lock.
Male Yellowhammer singing at Castlecroft canal bridge.
The following morning, I was still intoxicated so wrapped up for a dawn circuit of the mid-section from Compton to Newbridge, taking in Compton Park and the Barleyfield.
I was rewarded with a singing Garden warbler which, though distant, allowed me to get a poor shot (they all are! - only just worked out which way round to point the camera!) as it sang beautifully from the top of the Barleyfield.
Other highlights were:
A Willow Warbler singing from the Eastern border
4 singing Common Whitethroat around the Barleyfield and also one still present on Compton Rough. What looked like a pair were in the scrub in the SW corner of the upper playingfields by Meccano Bridge
Adult Mute Swan SW over Meccano Bridge
Grey Heron at Compton Park wetland.
Goldcrest at top of Barleyfield.
2 Stock Dove at Compton Park wetland
3 Swallow low South over the Barleyfield.
A female Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard over the college on the ridge.
Petitions:
As Ian pointed out in his last posting there are a mountain of issues which have petitions. Most of these can be seen on the Twitter feed attached to this blog.
There is one that is really close to home though, which is bound to shock you all!
Please read this article by Patrick Barkham on The Guardian Comment entitled "What do robins, buzzards and badgers have in common? They're all on the Tories' kill list" - speaks for itself really
Comment: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/26/robins-badgers-buzzards-tory-kill-list
If you just happen to care for our beautiful robin, which to most is our national bird, then you may just wish to sign this petition to "STOP NATURAL ENGLAND FROM GIVING PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO KILL ROBINS AND DESTROY THEIR NESTS AND EGGS"
Last but not least, and to complete my re acquaintance with the valley I shall be attending the SMESTOW VALLEY ADVISORY GROUP MEETING TONIGHT, and will be providing an update over the next few days. I will also be collating records for the valley now that the transition from paper reporting to online is almost complete. Thank you to all who have submitted records over the past months via e-mail. the year list will get some TLC at the weekend.
Thank you to all blog readers. We have crossed 20,000 page views, which isn't bad after just 17 months!
Thank you to all blog readers. We have crossed 20,000 page views, which isn't bad after just 17 months!
GREAT TO BE BACK!!
No comments:
Post a Comment