Are you ready for winter

20th November 15            morning               mid section

partly sunny,  6-7°c,   1008 mb,  SW 5-9 mph.

It was lovely and sunny today if a little chilly in the cold south west wind, but tomorrow the wind is switching to a more northerly direction and it will feel much,much colder. Later in the year ( jan/feb ) when we get a cold snap it often stirs up the bird population and brings us unusual species like goosander and other wild duck ( this is because our canal stays mostly unfrozen due to the warmish water pumped in from the sewage works up steam ).

Anyway back to today. The kingfisher was perched up 70m north of the bridge on the Smestow at Prefabs ( looked to have an all black bill but couldn't be 100% sure due to distance )( if so its a male ) it eventually flew north along the brook. Later seen again from the bridge over Smestow near Meccano flying south. Two little grebe between Compton Lock and the weir ( dark bird and the summery one ) also one near the Tennis Club, seen from Meadow View old bridge, I must have walked past it 10 minutes earlier ( what am I ).

Little Grebe	2 ( dark + s/p ) Prefabs,   1 Tennis Courts,
Moorhen	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Tennis Courts,
Kingfisher	1♂ ? Prefabs  smestow brook flew N,  later 1 flying S along smestow at Smestow bridge, prob same bird,
Robin	1 singing	Graiseley Culvert
Song Thrush	3 ( 1 singing )	Barleyfield
Redwing	5+	Barleyfield