Smestow Valley bird walk

7th May 15         mid morning         mid section

Mostly cloudy , frequent showers, 9-12°c, 1014mb, SW 6-8mph

Todays annual valley bird walk organised by the rangers  went off well with a small enthusiastic group led by Ian ( chief  ranger ) and myself. We had plenty of bird song ( we even saw some of them ) , the highlight was a singing lesser whitethroat in the Blackthorn of the Hanging Grds, Barleyfield but we couldn't locate it. No sign of the garden warbler in the Annex at the top south west of the Barleyfield but thats not surprising with the current weather.

Mallard		♀ with 1 chick  Meadow View,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	wetlands
Stock Dove	4	wetland Fields
House Martin	7	mid section
Grey Wagtail	1♀	Smestow Bridge
Wren	song	mid section
Dunnock	song	mid section
Robin	song	mid section
Blackbird	song	mid section
Song Thrush	song	mid section
Lesser Whitethroat	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	3 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	song	mid section
Goldcrest	2 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair + 1	mid section
Great Tit	song	mid section
Jay	1	Meccano Br
Chaffinch	2 singing	mid section