Where did I put my gloves

This post covers the last six days covering the whole of the valley. All visits have been early morning when the frost has been in the ground. Generally the northerly winds have held up migration
Star bird was a female redstart found on Saturday which promptly disappeared into the blackthorn on northwest corner of the barley field never to be seen again. This was rivalled by a whinchat found by lord Angus at wightwick fields.
Mallard, having seen a typically large early yr brood just outside the valley it was surprising our first, at castle croft, was a single 2 day old chick. Had others been predated.
Tree creeper, Sunday on old railway by paddocks.
Willow warbler, songsters on Sunday at metal bridge and smestow heights
Blackcap seemingly a further arrival with several singing birds above Compton lock. Whereas as the paddock birds, also in good numbers.
Whitethroat, 2 on Saturday 3 Sunday both midsection 1 each of the other days including at lupin field which was the only one to give a sense of staying.
Swallow 2 over aldersly orchard flying north on weds.
Mistle thrush, having seen none all week 5 were well spread out ground feeding in the midsection today when long tails and bullfinch were also visually prominent.

stale news

Catch up on last week first.
Midweek walks ranged from wightwick to Oxley,
29 singing chiffchaff -6 south of Compton and 11 in northern section.
4 singing willow warbler 2 in paddocks-either end on Tuesday and 2 in north on Wednesday.
1 by aldersly tyres and 1 from canal but on racecourse. the latter was still singing from the same spot today. But only 9 blackcap which seem scarce this year-altho by far the commonest warbler on somerset levels at the weekend.
Yesterday mid section 7-9
mainly thrush and blackbird song to start with but eventually got to 8 blackcap but only 4 songsters,
Swallow parakeet and 2 cormorant all overfjew the paddocks.
today very pleased to see a male grey wagtail collecting food at a spot where I had seen a pair recently also just outside the valley on the Shropshire union my first brood-12 newly hatched mallard,

Sunshine and song

17th April 16               morning              mid section

sunny,  4-9°c,  1015 mb,  NW 4-8 mph

 Plenty of activity and song this morning in chilly but sunny conditions. A sparrowhawk seen soaring in the distance probably over Aldersley area eventually drifted of north, then just minuets later three found soaring over Compton Park, then again minutes later two buzzard soaring very nearby. The only singing willow warbler that I am aware of in the mid section was behind the station cafe again but this will be a passing migrant ( they always are here ) so will one yet turn up to breed this year?

Grey Heron	1 >> NE over	Compton Park
Sparrowhawk	1 soaring N of Tett Rd,   3 soaring over Compton Pk,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 sitting	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	2 >> N over	mid section
Wren	15 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	8 ( 7 singing )	mid section
Chiffchaff	6 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Goldcrest	pair	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	3	mid section
Coal Tit	2 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 ( 2 singing )	mid section
Goldfinch	1 >> W over	Barleyfield

Back to winter and snow

16th April 16           morning              mid section

mostly sunny,  3-7°c,  1004 mb,  NNE 9-11 mph

 A cold and slow start to the day, as it warmed up ( a little ) the birds became more active.                               Later another trip just up the road to Pendeford Hall Lane, Coven, where the last few days has been home to a ring ouzel ( a mountain blackbird ) proved bountiful again. Along with the ROuzel was a whinchat, yellow wagtail, 13 white wagtail and 3 wheatear, Also the other end of the lane a green sandpiper and little egret.

Mallard	2♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 sitting	Wetlands
Stock Dove	1+ singing	Station Paddock
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Smestow Bridge
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Blackcap	6 (5 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	11 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	1	Station Paddock
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Bullfinch	1♂	Hanging Grds

A rare visit to Dunstall Park

12th April 16              morning                Dunstall Park

mostly cloudy,  8-11°c,  1005 mb,  W 4-6 mph

  I knew Gazz had seen 2 wheatear yesterday at Dunstall whilst not finding any little gulls, so I thought it worth a trip this morning. Eleven wheatear were on view, one of which was bright enough to be of the greenland race. Also 2 singing willow warbler and 2 chiffchaff.

Little Grebe	2	Dunstall Park
Mute Swan	4	Dunstall Park
Greylag Goose	2	Dunstall Park
Canada Goose	few	Dunstall Park
Mallard	6	Dunstall Park
Buzzard	2	Dunstall Park
Moorhen	2+	Dunstall Park
Coot	6	Dunstall Park
Lesser Black Backed Gull	few	Dunstall Park
Herring Gull	3	Dunstall Park
Swallow	3	Dunstall Park
Pied Wagtail	1 over	Dunstall Park
Wheatear	11	Dunstall Park
Song Thrush	1 singing	Dunstall Park
Mistle Thrush	1	Dunstall Park
Chiffchaff	2 singing	Dunstall Park
Willow Warbler	2 singing	Dunstall Park
Great Tit	1 singing	Dunstall Park
Rook	few	Dunstall Park

A lovely sunny morning

10th April 16            morning                south section

sunny & warm, 6-12°c,   1007 mb,  SE 8-13 mph

But nothing special bird wise.  Plenty of buzzards soaring everywhere, Kestrel and a singing skylark was good to see. Not many small songsters noted. Pool Hall res only viewed from dam. No little owl ( or tree pipit, white wag ,red kite or peregrine that Gazz had yesterday ).

Great Crested Grebe	2	Pool Hall
Grey Heron	1	Perton Mill Fields
Canada Goose	3	Pool Hall
Mallard	few	Pool Hall
Tufted Duck	c10	Pool Hall
Buzzard	plenty	South Staffs area
Kestrel	1♀ over	Perton Mill Fields
Coot	1+	Pool Hall
Lapwing	1	Bridgenorth Rd fields
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	South Staffs area
Green Woodpecker	Calls	Wightwick Fields
Skylark	1 singing	Pool Hall
Pied Wagtail	2♂	Perton Mill Fields
Wren	song	Wightwick Fields
Dunnock	song	Wightwick Fields
Chiffchaff	song	Wightwick Fields
Jackdaw	few	Perton Mill Fields
Raven	2	Perton Mill Fields
House Sparrow	few	Small Holdings
Chaffinch	song	Wightwick Fields
Greenfinch	song	Wightwick Fields

Should have been at Pool Hall

sat 9th April 16            morning            mid section

sunny,     6-9°c,   1001 mb,  NW 5-SW 6 mph

 Ian and I seeing plenty of species with chiffchaff and blackcap numbers building nicely, but, a continuous text conversation with Gazz at Pool Hall  / Wightwick area involving tree pipit, 2 white wags and red kite put things in a different completion.

Sparrowhawk	1♂ over	Wolves Training Grd
Buzzard	2 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1	wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Kingfisher	1	Prefabs
Green Woodpecker	Calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	2	mid section
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Blackcap	6 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	12 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	song	mid section
Nuthatch	2 calling	mid section
Chaffinch	2 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	Calls	Top Roses
Goldfinch	2+	mid section
Bullfinch	2 pair	mid section

Just Whitethroat to come

fri 8th April 16             morning                mid section

cloudy, brighter last hour,  8-11°c,  1013 mb,  W 6 mph

 Both Ian and myself have had chiffchaff,blackcap and willow warbler in the mid section and Gazz had all three at Dunstall Park, so that just leaves whitethroat to go, as far as our regular summer breeding migrants are concerned. Whitethroat should be with us in 10-14 days. The Loopinfields are a good area to find the earliest.

Mallard	2♂ 1♀	Wetlands
Buzzard	Pair over	Compton Rough
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Annex Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	16 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Blackcap	5 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Graiseley Cnr
Great Tit	11 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Prefabs
Goldfinch	4	mid section
Bullfinch	9	mid section

Migration update

mon 4th April 16              morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  9-11°c,   1001 mb,  SW 3-1 mph

Hardly any breeze gave a strange still feeling to the day. Good numbers of chiffchaff again and two singing blackcap. Two ring neck parakeet heard calling from Tettenhall Ridge area eventually picked up flying north over Station Paddock. Last bird seen today was a grey heron flying north over Tettenhall Rd. After  none seen for ages, this is the second in a week.

Grey Heron	1 >> N over	Meadow View
Canada Goose	8 >> NE over	Barleyfield
Mallard	1♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 over	Valley
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Ring Necked Parakeet	2 >> N over	Station Paddock
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	8 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	2 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Annex Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	The Paddock
Greenfinch	1 singing	Meadow View
Bullfinch	pair	Station Paddock

Maybe the last siskin

3rd April 16,         morning             mid section

mostly cloudy,  8-11°c,  1005 mb,  S 3-9 mph

The blackcap in the Paddock again only sang briefly. Barleyfield north west corner only ( Ian had already done it ). Ian had two male blackcap just inside Compton Rough but no sign when we looked again. Eight singing chiffchaff in mid section, another four north to Waterbridge. There's a feeding station in a garden off the railway in Corve Grds ( off Aldersley Rd )( behind Hills Coach depot ) where we heard what sounded like many siskin in a dense fir tree, we only saw two, three or four.

Green Woodpecker	Calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2	Hills Coaches
Blackcap	1 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	12 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	1	Graiseley Reedbed
Nuthatch	calls	Crowther Rd Wood
Jay	1	Hawthorn Wood
Rook	5+	Dunstall rookery
Chaffinch	song	mid section
Greenfinch	song	Station Paddock
Goldfinch	2	mid section
Siskin	3+	Aldersley feeder
Bullfinch	2	The Paddock

Dodging the showers

Did the full length of the valley today from Oxley to Castle croft bridge.
10 singing chiffchaff which is less than we had at the weekend.5 singing blackcap which is better, also a female by the metal bridge.
2 lesser redpoll were a surprise in the paddocks but no sign of the weekends siskin.
Also no sign of yesterday afternoon s silent but active willow warbler in the paddock.
The southern end produced a welcome kestrel pair, raven, pair of yellowhammer, pair of coot on canal, single lapwing and 2 singing skylark.
Overall most pleasing was good numbers of goldfinch but disappointing ly no grey wagtail.

What did I tell you

2nd April 16             evening                mid section

sunny & warm,    13-12°c,  1007 mb,  S 9-7 mph

 Rain this morning prevented me from doing the valley, so I ended up at Belvide Reservoir , where I found a singing blackcap. But this evening in sunny and warm conditions I found a another singing blackcap, albeit only briefly. Ian saw a male near Compton lock on tuesday but not singing.

Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> SW over	The Paddock
Blackbird	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	3 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section

Morning visit to the northern section on my way to teams.
4 chiffchaff (3singing)
Pair of grey wagtail at aldersley bridge
Calling and flying parakeet not sure if more than one bird

Afternoon visit to castle croft bridge from pool hall
Swallow
Yellowhammer
Reed bunting
All singles but no skylark or lapwing in cold and breezy conditions

Pool hall had a double figure flock of sand martins which presumably would fly up the valley.

A surprising day

1st April 16                morning                  mid section

cloudy,  4-7°c,  1018 mb,   S 5-SSW 10 mph

 Early mist lifted but didn't clear, resulting in a cloudy day  with a chilly southerly breeze. I've always said sunshine brings the birds out here in the valley and that’s the difference between yesterday and today. I was surprised therefore, when I counted up the results of my notebook with the numbers of singing birds, wren in particular 17 singers, but the general feel of the session was slow. Both pied wagtail together on the grass by the Wetlands was a surprise, haven't seen the elusive female for ages.

Canada Goose	2 >> NE over	Compton Field
Mallard	3♂	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Pied Wagtail	pair	Wetland Field
Wren	17 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	9 ( 7 singing )	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	5	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	2	Meccano Br
Bullfinch	pair + calls	Barleyfield