tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60523267670702139002024-03-13T20:18:44.557+00:00Smestow Valley BirdingA resource for nature enthusiasts and residents who enjoy the Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve. Latest bird news and an insight into the history of the area and ongoing preservation work.This site has been inspired by the incredible work of the Smestow Valley Bird Group and the development of this blog will stand as testament to the efforts of a small group of caring and energetic birders that helped create history for the valley.
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14341034029204417144noreply@blogger.comBlogger508125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-52139211959236421272018-06-25T10:46:00.001+01:002018-06-25T10:46:26.387+01:00into summerthe seeming jump from winter to summer has had varying effects on our wildlife.<br />
there is a distinct lack of butterflies at the moment presumably down to the timing of the cold snap. so the new season larger butterflies such as peacock and comma and not showing (yet?). these species overwinter as hibernating adults and produce a fresh generation in early summer but so far only one fresh small tortoisehell. Otherwise a couple of large skippers probably the best.<br />
Similarly with dragon/damselflies with a very poor showing so far just the odd banded demoiselle and a few common blues with nothing on the increasingly overgrown wetland.<br />
Birds are still just about singing with a garden warbler on Compton rough today (and one in paddocks 10 days ago; 2 chaffinches and rather subdued chiffchaff (3) and a blackcap.<br />
on the canal mallard seem to have had a very good year with fresh broods still appearing (a brood of nine this morning. The pale duck which had a broken wing last year has 5 nearly full grown juveniles all normal darker plumage. The white necked female with the dark male type plumage has three young with same plumage as her and a normal juvenile,<br />
By contrast not a good year for moorhens with 4 fully grown young by MS centre being the only good news. The complete lack of any birds between paddock view and aldersly junction is a surprise and only 4 between the junction and newbridge apparently with no young.<br />
House martins seem to be back in good numbers eventually but not sure about swifts both species over a week late. black headed gulls have already returned to the fields and mingle with the mixed age lesser black backs.<br />
Finally for the 3rd year running a loan adult common tern at pool hall.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-85869721724961668062018-05-12T11:20:00.001+01:002018-05-12T11:20:22.974+01:00Last and first.it is not unusual for winter and summer visitors to overlap. but not this year in the valley.<br />
The wintering little grebes left at the beginning of march and were outstayed by the 3 water rail at the wetland which stayed until mid march.<br />
the frozen fields were deserted by winter thrushes which presumably went further south and west. A handful of redwing on 28 march at the wetland seem to have been the last.<br />
So with thanks to Angus, Gareth,Geoff and Kevin I will try and summarise our summer visitors many of which were just passing through. In general birds were between 7 and 19 days late at the start but generally have caught up since, which reflects t6he weather.<br />
first on the patch was a silent chiffchaff on the 27 march but it was only on 30th that songsters were heard.<br />
3rd of april saw the first three swallows at pool hall and 4th bought the first wheatear at the racecourse and a blackcap mumbling at the orchard at aldersley junction. the 4th also saw the first willow warbler by the station but again silent. it was not until the 14th that 4 were heard but all seem to have been passage birds.<br />
First house martins were two amongst 20plus sand martins at pool hall but they did not appear around their street nesting areas until the 26th and only yesterday showed interest in nesting with the bulk of birds still to arrive. swifts are expected any day now.<br />
A lesser whitethroat sang by the station on the 16th (and 25th) and first common whitethroat was the lupin field on the 19th. the lesser have gone but commons have set up 2 territories on barleyfield .<br />
Also on passage were common sandpipers at wightwick fields on 20th and the canal at newbridge on the 26th.<br />
the only garden warbler was a songster by lock 17 on 11th of may and I think the only redstart was a brief bird at Compton lock today.<br />
Resident birds are also running a bit late but the first mallard brood appeared on 23 april and the first moorhens today at Compton lock. Of note is an increase in the local jay population.<br />
two scarceties have been a red kite at wightwick on 30 march and a calling woodlark over racecourse on 16 april.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-60015202413681991542018-02-28T20:00:00.000+00:002018-02-28T20:00:24.926+00:00Ogre betterSo tomorrow is the first day of spring by some authorities!!??<br />
This is a post covering winter and hiliting records additional to those mentioned by Angus.<br />
Little grebe, not a good winter for a valley regular. Always difficult to assess numbers but we tend to assume once birds arrive they stick. It was the end of the year before 3 were seen on same day all quite colourful. A very grey, juvenile?, bird was therefore number 4 and it frequented the southern half of the valley. A dead bird mostly eaten was found on the towpath by the pre fans in early January. The report o otter traces the previous week at Compton suggested this could be the killer. Otters have left signs both at pool hall and on the pink at pendeford recently and it certainly wasn't a raptor kill.<br />
<br />
Goosander, scarce this winter so 18 (4 male) at pool hall today was a surprise. Also good to see 2 pairs of great crested grebe there.<br />
<br />
Water rail, a calling bird was noted at the wetland around start of December. Not sure of exact date due to new phone and losing access to last year's records.<br />
It remained throughout December and we began to suspect two birds. However last saturday geofff and I confirmed 3 were present.<br />
<br />
Parakeet, occasional reports suggesting still around coming from gardens on he nwood road, old hill and person rd. My only sighting was 7 in early January over the paddock. All would seem to on same vector from west park.<br />
<br />
Kingfisher, only 2 sighting in the north, lock 19 in early Jan and today at Oxley viaduct.<br />
<br />
Grey wagtail, a regular bird at the Water bridge and another ranging between Compton and Newbridge.<br />
<br />
Red poll, scarce this year with the odd bird at the wetland but one in My garden today was a surprise and could herald an influx as natural food sources will be exhausted.<br />
<br />
Siskin, better numbers regular at wetland all winter (max30) and latterly by double pennant.<br />
<br />
Rambling a bird by lock 17 in early December was a nice surprise.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-9700765163925400472018-01-17T20:20:00.002+00:002018-01-17T20:28:50.739+00:00<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Newbridge,
January 1</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>7</u></span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>th</u></span></sup><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>
2018</u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Year ended on a high</span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The
new year's under way, so let's round off the old one with some
notable sighting from December, a month which reflected one of the
Smestow Valleys' best-ever 12 months for records of resident and
visiting birds . . .</b></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
cold snap mid-month was perhaps too short to produce any discernible
bird movements into the valley, but the subsequent thaw meant that
melting snow and a few days of rain did raise water levels at
Dunstall Park lake. Single </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goosander</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were visitors on 19</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and 22nd, three </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jack
Snipe</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were recorded on 16</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and the last day of the year saw counts of 40 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Teal</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
12 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Snipe</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and two </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lapwing</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Green
Sandpiper</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
records of two birds flying south westwards over the racecourse on
1</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and a bird at the lake on 31</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
showed once more how the valley has become an annual wintering
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">passage
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">area
for the species. Three </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shoveler</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew south westwards over the racecourse on 17</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
three </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Skylark
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">went
northwards over the same site on 16</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th
</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mute Swan</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
pair swam in thin ice on the lake on 28</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
Other Dunstall Park records included 28 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Greylag</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
geese foraging on the central grass area on 16</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
two </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grey
Heron</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
at the lake on 31</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
nine foraging </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rook</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 31</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and c.50 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Crow
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
the last day of the year, some of which kept watch on a
light-plumaged </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buzzard</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
perched near the school perimeter fence.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Elsewhere
along the valley the cold snap brought </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goldcrest
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
Nuthatch </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into
a Newbridge garden</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>,
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Treecreeper</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was in Newbridge wood on 9</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bullfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were recorded at Newbridge and Compton Park, a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Raven</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew low over Castlecroft Lane on 30</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jay</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were reported from Newbridge, Compton and the racecourse, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
the winter's largest </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Siskin</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flock was seen on 6</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
when c.30 birds fed in alders on the edge of Compton Park. Records
from the southern end on the valley included a male </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shoveler</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on the dam lake at Pool Hall on 3</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Little</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Owl</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
perched near Mops Farm on 30</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kestrel
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hovering
north of Mops Farm on 3</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and 40-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stock
Dove</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
foraging on fields north east of Mops Farm on 30</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
(a bird displayed over Newbridge wood on 6</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">).
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">mixed
flock of foraging birds on fields near the Smestow brook north of
Mops Farm on 30</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
included at least 60 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Redwing</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
30-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fieldfare </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
100-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Starling</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
valley's run of wintering warblers continued, with a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chiffchaff</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
caught at Dunstall Park on 2</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">nd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
found to have been ringed previously in Belgium. Other single
Chiffchaff were at the racecourse lake on 1</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and 16</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
another was seen there on 28</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
and one foraged on the racecourse bank of the Staffs & Worcs
Canal in freezing weather on 12th. At least two </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Little
Grebe</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were on the canal between Compton and Aldersley throughout the month,
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grey
Wagtail</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
foraged along the Smestow brook by Aldersley stadium on 12</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mistle
Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
sang at Newbridge on 24</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
eight</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
Collared Dove </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">were
in a tree near Castlecroft canal bridge on 3</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rd</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Tawny Owl
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">called
by Newbridge playingfield on the night of 28</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th
</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mute Swan</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
pair with three youngsters was on the canal at Newbridge on 9</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>(Dunstall
Park is a restricted commercial site. Access is strictly
controlled.)</b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-1293811302393151522017-12-24T16:04:00.000+00:002018-01-17T20:28:06.943+00:00<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Newbridge,
December 2</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>4th</u></span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>
</u></span></sup><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>2017</u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Finch
feast, plus new </span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 44pt;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">'first' feeding in a field</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The
last of the ice has melted, it's dark soon after four, and we're into
calm, dull days after the first real snowfall for some years. It's a
quiet time for birds, but the first winter visitors have been with us
for weeks following an excellent autumn run of local records,
including a “first” for the valley and an invasion by a species
last recorded locally more than two decades ago . . . </b></i></span>
</div>
<br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's
the country bus adage, none for ages then two at once. Except that
this year we've done even better, with no less than three new species
recorded in the Smestow Valley, the first, as reported earlier, a
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cetti's
Warbler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
in August, then an </span><b>E</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>gyptian
Goose </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
September, and the third a totally unexpected </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>CATTLE
EGRET </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">seen
on October 18</span></span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
foraging with cows and sheep in a field by the Smestow brook just
north of Mops Farm. The bird was found around mid-day and was
present for at least 90 minutes before disappearing. Another was
reported at exactly the same time at Doxey Marshes near Stafford, and
there's the distinct possibility both birds had dispersed from
Alvecote pools north of Tamworth where at least three had been
reported the previous week. This rare visitor to the UK is now
appearing more and more regularly, with reports of breeding, and this
year communal roosts of 30-plus birds seen in the South West. </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Winter
invasions by species from Continental Europe moving westwards as
their food sources dry up are not uncommon (last year it was again
the turn of Waxwings) but the latest irruptive behaviour involved a
species not seen locally for more than two decades. The UK reports
began in mid-October, and since then an unprecedented number of
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hawfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
records have poured in from across the country, with the Smestow
Valley enjoying its fair share. A flock of nine flew south westwards
over Wightwick fields on 24/10, and subsequent sightings have
totalled 15 birds, not a huge total, but astonishingly the first of
their kind seen locally for 27 years. Other autumn and winter finch
records include at least 11 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Redpoll</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over Wightwick fields on 16/11, a flock of 30-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Siskin
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">in
alders by the Compton barleyfield on 6/12, at least 12 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Goldfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over Wightwick fields on 16/10, seven-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bullfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
at Dunstall Park on 9/10, no less than 100 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Linnet
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">foraging
on fields by the Smestow brook west of Wightwick on 27/10, two
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Brambling</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over Wightwick fields on 26/10, four </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greenfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
by Newbridge canal wharf on 16/12, and at least 80 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chaffinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over Castlecroft canal bridge on 26/10. </span></span><br />
<br />
******************************<br />
<br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Low
water levels at Dunstall Park lake have restricted wildfowl counts,
but at least 20 wintering </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Teal</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
have visited the site, with 80 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mallard</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
recorded there at dusk on 5/9. Other lake records include 16
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lapwing</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 22/10, thirty </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Snipe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 15/11, three </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jack
Snipe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 16/12 and a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Water
Rail </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">seen
throughout November. Three </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Shoveler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew northwards over the racecourse on 17/12, two </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Green
Sandpiper</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
went south westwards over the lake on 1/12, and two</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Cormorant</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew north westwards over the same site on 4/11. Other racecourse</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">records
included passage </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Redstart</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Whinchat</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Wheatear</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
four </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rose-ringed
Parakeet</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 10/10, four </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rook</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 17/10, twenty-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Skylark</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
moving south westwards on 6/10, and three </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Buzzard
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
13/12. A </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grey
Wagtail</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
foraged along the Smestow brook by Aldersley stadium in icy
conditions on 12/12, (one was regular autumn visitor to a Wightwick
garden), four </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grey
Heron</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were near the Smestow brook west of Wightwick in freezing weather on
12/11, and two female </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pheasant</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were flushed in the same area on 27/10. At least 30 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Stock
Dove</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were on fields west of Wightwick on 27/10, eight </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Collared
Dove</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were in a tree by horse fields near Castlecroft canal bridge on 3/12,
where a dawn migration watch on 26/10 produced the astonishing total
of 2,900 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Wood
Pigeon</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
A group of up to</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">28</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Greylag</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
geese have been foraging on the racecourse, where more than 500
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Black-headed
Gull</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were seen resting and preening on 22/10. A family of </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mute
Swan</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
(possibly the birds which bred at Dunstall Park lake this year) were
on the Staffs & Worcs Canal at Newbridge on 29/11, at least two
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Little Grebe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
have been wintering along the canal, a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Great
Crested Grebe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was at Pool Hall lakes on 4/11, where three male and a female </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tufted
Duck</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were present on 12/11. </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wintering
thrush records have centred on Dunstall Park, where more than 280
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Redwing</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
have been caught and ringed already this year (a total of 764 birds
were seen during a dawn watch at Castlecroft canal bridge on 26/10).
Other species ringed at the racecourse this autumn and early winter
include </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Stonechat,
Green Sandpiper, Goldcrest</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Long-tailed
Tit</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blue Tit</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dunnock</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blackbird</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Song Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Treecreeper</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Meadow
Pipit. </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Among
a run of passage or wintering </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chiffchaff
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">visiting</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
racecourse lake during the last two months was a greyish-plumaged
bird caught and ringed on 2/11, a member of the Siberian </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>tristis</b></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
sub-species, the first record of its kind for the valley. A
wintering </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chiffchaff</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was seen by Aldersley stadium along the canal towpath on 12/12, and
a female </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blackcap</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was on a garden feeder by Newbridge playingfield on 1/12.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Records
from elsewhere along the valley include singing </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mistle
Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
by Newbridge playingfield in mid-November, eight </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Raven</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
over Wightwick fields on 27/11, a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kestrel</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on phone wires near Mops Farm on 27/10, a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jay</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
bathing in the Smestow brook at Newbridge on 2/12, a male </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sparrowhawk</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flying through St.Michael's churchyard, Tettenhall, on 2/12, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Stock
Dove</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
display flight and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dunnock</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
wing-waving courtship at Newbridge, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">two</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Little Owl</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
together near Mops Farm on 12/11, two </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Nuthatch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
in Newbridge wood on 19/12, and 20-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yellowhammer
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">along
hedges near Mops Farm on 18/10.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> *******************************************
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Flying
fierce and free . . . but only for a week</span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">An
addition to the Smestow Valley</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'s</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
list of exotic / escaped birds came with the sighting one night in
the late summer of an </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Eagle</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Owl</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
in a tree in a Tettenhall Wood cul-de-sac. This huge bird, the
largest owl in Europe, had disappeared by the next day, but reports
then came in of it having been seen in trees in the Finchfield Hill
area. Around a week after the Tettenhall Wood sighting the bird was
relocated in trees in the grounds of the Mount Hotel on Tettenhall
ridge, was captured and returned to its owner in Compton. Local cat
owners could breathe again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
southern end of the valley has over the years been a something of a
hotspot for escaped raptors. A female </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lanner
Falcon</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was returned to her home at the Hagley Falconry Centre after being
found exhausted and hungry in a garden in Henwood Road on 15/3/1990,
and in September 1993 a female </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Harris's
Hawk</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
being flown in Wightwick fields disappeared into Peasley Wood chasing
a Wood Pigeon. The hawk was free for three days before suddenly
appearing near Wightwick canal lock and flying down to land on the
gloved fist of her relieved owner as he walked along the towpath in
search of her. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-41200526281490739792017-11-20T17:54:00.002+00:002017-11-20T17:54:52.159+00:00Breeding season part 2Apologies for delay of this post and thanks to everyone who has given me info, especially angus and Gareth for comments on part 1.<br />
So to start with update on species covered in part 1;<br />
Little Grebe, a juvenile at the racecourse may well have been raised there.<br />
Sparrowhawk, almost as soon as had published part 1 young were heard and then seen at the northern end of the reserve.<br />
Parakeet; a sudden upsurge in records with several double figure reports in early autumn suggests they bred locally.<br />
Green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch all successfully reared young.<br />
Swift swallow and house martin were rare in the central part of the reserve and were sustained by crowther rd, the racecourse and farndale/racecourse respectively.<br />
Warblers also had mixed fortunes the hilite being the successful breeding of reed warblers on the racecourse. But willow warbler and garden warbler seemingly failed to nest and common whitethroat were thin on the ground with the lupin field producing the only family parties of local nesters. Chiffchaff and blackcap nested in good numbers but lesser whitethroat were probably restricted to passage birds.<br />
Treecreeper; the only known nest failed due to predation (possibly due to the weasel seen in the paddocks) but were regular in newbridge wood and probably bred elsewhere.<br />
All the common tits did ok with great being the most successful but a lack of the usual mixed flocks in late summer suggests it was not a good year.<br />
Whereas thrushes especially song and blackbirds had a good year as did robins.<br />
Grey wagtails were successful at the prefabs and on the racecourse raising at least 5 young but their pied cousins were very lacking apart from on the racecourse.<br />
Linnet; two pairs on lupin field outcome unknown.<br />
Goldfinches had another good year judging by the flock of 30 plus at the end of August at the wetland and both bullfinch and greenfinch bred on barleyfield successfully but chaffinch were scarce.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-57364103948888301822017-10-02T20:22:00.000+01:002017-10-02T20:23:55.174+01:00<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;">
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Newbridge,
</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>October 2nd </u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>
</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>2017</u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><u><br /></u></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><u>A
superb </u></i></span><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><u>summer
</u></i></span><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><u>ends</u></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><u><br /></u></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><u><br /></u></i></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 44pt;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><u>with
two new species </u></i></span></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Officially
it's now autumn, most of our summer breeding migrant birds are
leaving or have left us, and the first of the winter visitors are
starting to arrive. As the leaves start to turn and the nights draw
in, it's a good time to survey what's been a</b></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>n
excellent </b></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>summer,
including a couple of local “firsts” and an addition to the
Smestow Valley's list of breeding species . . . </b></i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spring and early summer
migrants provided Dunstall Park with </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">a
good run of </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Whinchat</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Northern</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
and </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greenland
Wheatear</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">, plus
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yellow Wagtail</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sand </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ma</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>rtin</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Garden Warbler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lesser Whitethroat</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Willow Warbler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Common Sandpiper</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
and </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Green Sandpiper</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">An
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Oystercatcher </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">flew
from the racecourse lake on 2/5, a female</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Pintail</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was at the lake from 1/5 to 13/5, fifteen</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Greylag</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
geese were on Dunstall Park on 25/5 and a male </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pheasant</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was at the same site on 13/4. Migrant species seen elsewhere in the
valley included two </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Common
Tern</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
at Pool Hall on 1/5, and a single bird of the same species flying up
the 21 canal locks by the racecourse on 27/6. Breeding warblers
seemed to have had a good summer along the valley, with </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blackcap</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chiffchaff</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Whitethroat
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">numbers
on or above average, while Dunstall Park provided the first local
record of nesting </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Reed
Warbler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
At least four of these migrant birds had appeared suddenly at the
lake in June last year, possibly as a result of traditional nest
sites in the region being flooded out, and although two were seen
mating, there was no proof of </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">nesting.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
This summer, most likely one of last year's males was heard singing
at the lake in late April, and</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by
mid-July a pair had produced at least two fledged youngsters. The
species is known for its site fidelity, so hopes are high birds will
return to the racecourse in 2018. Other Dunstall Park breeding
species included </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pied
Wagtail</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>House
Sparrow</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>House Martin</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Swallow</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Rook</b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Grey
Wagtail</b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Coot
</b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Little
Grebe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blue Tit</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Great Tit</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
successfully fledged from nest boxes put up along the western side of
the racecourse, juveniles made up the vast majority of 60-plus
visiting </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jackdaw</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
seen and heard in trees along the same boundary on 19/6, and a young
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Green
Woodpecker</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was seen feeding on Dunstall Park in July and August. Young </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Linnet</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
from nests on the sloping grass fields just north of the Birmingham
Canal locks foraged along drainage ditches on the racecourse in June,
and juvenile </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chaffinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greenfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bullfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Goldfinch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were seen in the north west corner of the site near Aldersley canal
junction. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
racecourse </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
visited by a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kingfisher</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
throughout July, and in early August </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
lake </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">provided
a touch of Africa with the appearance of a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Village
Weaver</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
second record for the species on the </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">valley</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">'s</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
list of aviary escapes. </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Pick
of the raptors</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Elsewhere
along the valley a mild winter and damp spring boosted </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Goldcrest</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Song Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Blackbird</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
numbers, with other breeding species including </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Moorhen</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mallard</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Woodpigeon</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Stock Dove</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Swift</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mistle
Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Starling</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jay</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crow</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Nuthatch</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Great Spotted
Woodpecker</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Treecreeper</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
A pair of </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Great</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crested Grebe</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
raised three youngsters at Pool Hall lakes, single singing </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Reed
Bunting</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were heard near the towpath east of Mopps Farm canal bridge in April
and at Dunstall Park lake in early May, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
two </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Corn
Bunting</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were on phone wires near Mopps Farm on 16/5.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
valley's first proof of attempted breeding by </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rose-ringed
Parakeet</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
came when a pair were seen mating and attending a nest hole from
February until early April. The female was fed in the hole by the
male, but he disappeared in late March, and his mate deserted the
site soon afterwards.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">T</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>awny
Ow</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">l
were heard calling at traditional nesting areas, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Buzzard</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
pairs maintained valley territories, their young heard and seen daily
in August during their first tentative flights over nesting sites
(eight birds were seen from the racecourse circling together over
Oxley/Pendeford on 19/8), and </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sparrowhawk</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
juveniles spar</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">r</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ed
with </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Magpie</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and other corvids, twisting and turning low over the trees in late
summer as they honed their flying skills. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kestrel</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
records were intermittent, but single birds were seen near Mopps Farm
and over Aldersley and the racecourse in April, and over the Compton
barleyfield in May, and a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Peregrine</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew north eastwards over Aldersley/Oxley on 3/5. Pick of the
raptor reports involved a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Red
Kite </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">seen
from Newbridge</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">circling
with a Buzzard over Lower Street/Lower Green in a cloudless sky on
the afternoon of 17/6, then moving south westwards and disappearing.
There have been sporadic local reports of this charismatic species
since the valley's first sighting, a Welsh-tagged bird over Newbridge
on 5/5/1996. Pairs are now nesting in Shropshire, and it can be only
a matter of time before birds move into South Staffordshire, as the
species continues to spread eastwards. </span></span><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mid
and late-summer movements brought </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lapwing
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
Dunstall Park, with numbers peaking at 28 on 10/7, and a run of
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Little Ringed
Plover</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to the racecourse lake (two adults and two juveniles were seen on
1/7). Other lake records included adult and juvenile</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Grey Heron</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
a male </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tufted
Duck</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 10/7, a small number of </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Shoveler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
in mid-August, with </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tea</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">l
numbers building to 13 on 25/9 and 15-plus </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Snipe
</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">present
on the same date. A pair of </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gadwall</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
visited the lake on 10/9, a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greenshank</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
circled the site before leaving south westwards on 1/9, and at least
90 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Meadow
Pipit</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew over the racecourse in the same direction on 14/9. Two </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sedge
Warbler</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were at the lake on 1/9, a migrating</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>
Hobby</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was seen from Dunstall Park catching a herundine over the Farndale
housing estate on 28/8, eight </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cormorant</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
moved northwards over the racecourse on 28/8, and a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tree
Pipit </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
seen by the lake on 22/8. </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Chance
of nesting</span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Two
of the valley's top sightings of the year so far came with a </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Little
Egret</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
seen briefly at the racecourse lake on 7/7, only the second-ever
record for the site, and a single </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Curlew</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flying north westwards from the central grass area of the racecourse
on 9/8. Both of these records came from Gareth Clements, who then
surpassed them by finding two new species for the Smestow Valley in
ten days, both at Dunstall Park. The first, a bird more often heard
than seen, was watched at the lake on the morning of 26/8, flying to
and from the island. The valley's first </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>CETTI'S
WARBLER</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
was harassed constantly by a Reed Warbler before it eventually
disappeared into what has become perfect habitat for its furtive
lifestyle, and was not seen again. Vegetation around the lake now
provides it with </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">good
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">breeding
conditions, and with the spread of the species across the region in
recent years, there's a chance of nesting in the future. Species
number 183 for the valley, an </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>EGYPTIAN
GOOSE,</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
flew on to the central grass area from the west on 5/9, to join a
group of Greylag. It was seen visiting the site for the next week
with presumably the same group of geese.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
central grass area of the racecourse attracts gulls in late summer
and throughout the autumn and winter, sometimes to forage but mostly
to preen and rest. Good numbers of juveniles are among </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lesser
Black-backed Gulls</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
which have bred in the city, and these, combined with visitors of the
same species from other urban breeding sites and elsewhere, combined
to produce counts of more than 200 birds on 6/9. Other records
included c.360 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Black
headed Gull </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
27/8 and 14 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Herring
Gull </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">on
6/9. The racecourse was visited by a juvenile </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yellow-legged
Gull</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
through July, August and September, and an adult was noted there on
6/9. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mediterranean</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gull</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
are now annual visitors to Dunstall Park, with at least two adults
and an immature seen throughout the late summer this year. Other
birds seen foraging on the central grass included 38 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mistle
Thrush</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
on 8/8, with </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Greylag</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
totals reaching 24 on 4/9, and 264 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Canada
Goose</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
counted on the same day.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Recent records have included a
sub-song surprise from a <b>Skylark</b> over Dunstall Park on 9/8
(the species nested on the site before its redevelopment in the
1990s) and three chat species on the morning of 25/9 at the
racecourse: a juvenile <b>Redstart </b>on the lake fence alongside a
<b>Whinchat</b> and near to a <b>Wheatear</b> foraging on the central
grass. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>(Dunstall
Park is a restricted commercial site. Access is strictly
controlled.)</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mute family </span></i></span><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">moves in a mysterious way . . .</span></i></span></u></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></u></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Last
year witnessed the sad demise of <b>Mute Swan</b> youngsters at Dunstall
Park as the </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">adult
pair </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">abandoned
the site following predation of cygnets, possibly by foxes.
Presumably the same breeding pair reappeared at the lake in </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">March
this year, and by late June five youngsters were feeding </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">on
the lake </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">with
the adults. Falling water levels were giving cause for concern, and
plans were drawn up for experts to try to catch the birds and
transfer them to the neighbouring canal. However, nature took its
own course, and on either 16/7or 17/7 the adults and all five
non-fledged cygnets somehow made their way from the lake to the
safety of the canal where they were seen happily feeding between
Newbridge and Compton. </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">How
they navigated their way through hedges and security fences remains a
mystery.</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Butterflies
feature in a year of 'firsts'</span></i></span></span></u></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></u></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Smestow Valley's
invertebrates list increased this year when two new species of
butterfly were recorded in late summer. The first, a <b>Marbled
White</b>, was seen on 8/7 and 9/7 on a grass slope by the Smestow
brook culvert at Dunstall Park lake. The second, a <b>White-letter
Hairstreak</b>, was watched feeding on a budleia bush in a garden by
Newbridge playingfield on 25/7. No fewer than 14 butterfly species
were recorded on 18/7 at the racecourse and along the Staffs &
Worcs Canal.</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-9433170446302153642017-08-08T09:02:00.001+01:002017-08-08T09:02:17.122+01:00breeding season part 1Great crested grebe: After false starts finally young birds at pool hall, so no repeat of last years double brooding and seemingly a poor year regionally, predation or weather?<br />
Little grebe: attempted to breed at Dunstall Park but probably unsuccessful.<br />
Mute swan: Pair at Dunstall successfully translocated their 5 young to the canal at the end of last month. Coincidentally a pair at west park with 5 similar sized young disappeared from their natal area at the same time. both pairs were being monitored so we know the group which appeared by MS centre were the dunstall birds which then moved to Compton and I suspect went south. The report this week of the family of swans around the dead fish at autherley junction could therefore be the west park birds. The mystery is how they get from the lakes to the canal. ABC taxis maybe airial bird carriers.<br />
Mallard: Disastrous breeding season with almost all of the many hatchlings predated within days. Lesser black back gulls and herons are the main culprits, but wonder if large pike or even carp attack from below. The one brood which prospered was at Compton lock where 7 survived for several weeks and five have made it to full size.<br />
Moorhen: Very similar to previous species. young did not appear until early june when pairs elsewhere were hatching second broods. Few survived long but Compton again fared better with 5 (out of initial 6) lasting over a month and 3 still around and fully grown. Speculation as to why relates to nearby haven of smestow brook, presence of long term moorings and better cover unaffected by last autumns bank repairs.<br />
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RAPTORS<br />
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Not a good year. No reports of any kestrel breeding attempts and the species is becoming a rare sight in the valley. More surprisingly no reports yet of young sparrowhawks which normally have at least two nests and still waiting to see pristine young buzzards sharing the skies with their dishevelled parents. could the weather be the explanation?<br />
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Parakeets: Hopes were raised early in spring by prospecting in newbridge wood but it came to nothing and sightings dropped off. A sudden surge in sightings at the end of july with up to three birds flying between west park and tettenhall ridge raises the possibility they bred on the ridge somewhere.<br />
Kingfisher: Only occasional records in spring but in a manner which suggested possible breeding. An upsurge in reports from june including 2 at the meccano suggests this probably happened.<br />
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If you have any info on the swans or the birds covered so far please use the comment facility.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-56301068453073328622017-04-21T19:48:00.000+01:002017-04-21T19:48:33.119+01:00Early thoughts on migrationThe current spells of high pressure and northerly winds have led to a subdued spring migration thus far.<br />
Chiffchaff, traditionally the first arrival and true to form this year with all birds seeming to arrive in one go in the 3rd week of March. Nine singers in middle and north sections and nesting now well underway.<br />
Blackcap, always interesting to see the gap between departing winter birds heading for central Europe and spring arrivals from Iberia and North Africa. We had 1 or 2 males giving a desultory song in the 3rd week of March and I had a female in my garden on the with. Also was on the south coast of Devon for the last weekend of March and had about 10 songstress on the coast. None were visible and the contrast with the arrivals from the 3rd of April, full song and showing well was stark. 8 in the middle and 8 in the north on that day with females appearing around 5 days later. Much contact calling now in evidence and numbers swelled by further arrivals this week. I wonder if the Devon birds had spent the winter on the coast or were preparing to cross the channel.<br />
Willow warbler, thin on the ground in the valley with 1 or 2 birds for the last 10 days either end of the paddocks probably passing through and a contrast to good numbers on Cannock Chase.<br />
Swallow passage birds on one or two days (max3) and returning pair to racecourse last Sunday.<br />
Sand Martin 2 flew south also last Sunday.<br />
Wheatear .Also the same day 2 on racecourse a male which was ringed (by a licensed ringer) and found to be a Greenland bird by wing measurement accompanied by a female, 2 having been seen on the 14th.<br />
The southern section has given Angus both lesser and common whitethroat but they don't seem to have reached the rest of the valley.<br />
In terms of resident birds the first brood of Mallard today 11 at the water bridge.<br />
Grey wagtail around dunstall park (could they be the pair which were regular at lock 21 before moving through disturbance) and around prefab weir.<br />
A kingfisher carrying material in its beak was only the second report of the year.<br />
A singing reed Bunning was a one day wonder on the 3rd April also single red poll and siskin in the 2nd week all 3 presumably on passage.<br />
Finally twice in the last week 2 herons flying north over the paddocks early doors, a spcies we seem to see far less often these days.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-17915775393572877332017-03-15T20:08:00.001+00:002017-03-15T20:08:52.608+00:00PostscriptFurther to the Angus post yesterday, I went early to aldersley stadium this morning and was surprised to see a waxing fly up into the trees by the old railway at the far end. This was followed by 2 groups of about ten and all birds departed in the direction of claregate.<br />
Other additions are a pair of grey wagtail around lock 20, two linens at the top of the Lupton field and the singing chiffie by the same lock. All seen both Sunday and today the chiffie being a surprisingly pale buff bird.<br />
Additionally on Sunday we had a woodcock flying along parallel to the railway towards the Lupton field and a very brief view of a kestrel by lock 19.<br />
Some wintering birds lingered into March with a dozen fieldfare at the southern end last Friday and half a dozen redwing by the wetland on Saturday. A very wintry looking little green remained south of Compton to at least the ninth of March.<br />
The bright weather on the 1st had produced a singing blackcap yards from the old bridge, it sang quite well which is unusual but was back to a more normal chunter a few days later. However on Monday it was quite loud from the station laurel, we assume this is a wintering bird testing its vocal chords before heading off to its breeding grounds in central Europe.<br />
Finally Saturday afternoon gave me an encounter with a presumed goshawk which flew across my view as I was checking out a perched buzzard. The bird perched twice and generally only showed rear views but I was able to study its head and see two clear eyestripes of a rather off white colour. The tail was very dark and contrasted with the blue grey back. I did not get a view of the underparts which would have clinched it but dont see what else it could have been.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-48123588223088240672017-03-14T15:29:00.000+00:002017-03-14T15:29:25.113+00:00
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<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Newbridge,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>14<sup>th</sup> March <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2017<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">Chiffies are singing<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">so spring has
sprung<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The daffs are out on the playingfield, celandines are
brightening the towpaths, hedgerows are white with blackthorn and queen wasps and
bumble bees are flying . . . it might as well be spring (meteorologically it
already is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>March is the month of
change along the Smestow Valley for birds, with winter visitors departing, the
first passage and breeding migrants arriving, and resident species paired, defending
territories and looking for nest sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late-winter
weather conditions have again been relatively benign, despite last month’s
brief cold snaps and the damaging winds of Storm Doris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as the sun rises higher and the days
lengthen it’s time to take a look back at bird activity locally over the last
ten weeks or so <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">FIRST THINGS FIRST</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> . . . our migrants are arriving!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chiffchaff</b>
singing yesterday along the track between Castlecroft Lane and Pool Hall (Ian
and Geoff listed a singing bird at Aldersley on Sunday) followed reports of
many appearing across the West Midlands at the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chiffchaff return dates for the valley are on
average earlier now than when our records began in the late 1980s, with March
29<sup>th</sup> the latest date for the first singing bird, and March 5<sup>th</sup>
the earliest date for one being heard.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One obvious sign that the seasons are changing has
been the sound of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greater Spotted
Woodpeckers</b> marking out territories in the still leafless trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both sexes are involved, with at least four
birds heard calling and drumming between Newbridge and Aldersley on 12/3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green
Woodpeckers</b> have been vocal in the last week or so after months of absence,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nuthatch</b> continue to maintain
territories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Treecreeper</b> was in Newbridge wood on 11/3, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mistle Thrush</b> are singing and nest-prospecting, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stock Dove</b> are display-flying low over
the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resident passerines in full
song include <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blackbird</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Song Thrush</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dunnock</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been few
winter finch records, but at least eight <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Siskin</b>,
some of them singing, were at a garden feeding station by the old railway south
of Hordern Road on 5/2, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Redpoll </b>was
at Dunstall Park on 4/2, the same day as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Linnet</b>
was reported from the same site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Resident finches have enjoyed the relatively mild conditions, with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chaffinch</b> now in full song and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greenfinch</b> males producing their
wheezing song from the tops of playingfield trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wintering <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldfinch</b> flocks were reported early in the year (at least 20 birds
were in the Dunstall Park oak copse on 22/1) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bullfinch</b> pairs have been evident along the old railway between
Newbridge and Aldersley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blue Tit</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Tit</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coal Tit</b>
are now paired, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long-tailed Tit</b> have
been seen carrying nest material, and a pair of courting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldcrest</b> were watched flaring their crown feathers by the canal
towpath north of Hordern Road on 2/3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wintering thrush records include c.30 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Redwing</b> at Dunstall Park on 19/1 and at least 20 by the old railway
north of Aldersley stadium on 2/3, and a single <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fieldfare</b> at Newbridge on 5/1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A wintering female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blackcap</b>
first seen in a garden by Newbridge playingfield on 28/1 was still a daily
visitor at the start of this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite some warm bright mornings in recent weeks soaring <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Buzzard </b>records have been sporadic, but
three were circling together over Wightwick yesterday, and pairs have been
reported over Compton and Aldersley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kestrel</b> was hunting last
month at Wightwick fields south of Windmill Lane, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sparrowhawks</b> of both sexes are becoming more obvious as the
breeding season starts, with two birds soaring high over Wightwick yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey Wagtail</b> along the Smestow brook include singles by Aldersley
stadium and between Tettenhall Road and Hordern Road throughout February, and a
pair by the open culvert at Dunstall Park on 10/3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny
Owl</b> called from the edge of Newbridge playingfield in early January, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little Owl</b> was seen at the south end of
the valley yesterday, and there have been regular reports of at least two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rose-ringed Parakeets</b> locally since the
beginning of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Crested Grebe</b> were in courtship
display at Pool Hall lakes yesterday, a site which produced records of a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goosander</b> on 17/1 a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tufted Duck</b> on 18/2 and a juvenile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mute Swan</b> on 13/3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Skylark</b> were over fields between Pool Hall and Wightwick on 18/2, a
flock of 17 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lapwing</b> were in the same
area, also on 18/2, and single <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey
Heron</b> were by the Smestow at Wightwick fields on 18/2 and at Dunstall Park
lake on 4/2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Impressive species<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corvids have been at the centre of activity at
Dunstall Park racecourse in recent weeks, with an unexpected and unprecedented
influx of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ravens </b>taking centre stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up to four birds have been seen regularly since
mid-February, with records involving individuals flying low over the central
grass in various directions, and at least one pair foraging on the lake’s grass
banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This impressive species is
spreading eastwards nationally and regionally, and was found to be breeding locally
a decade ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The racecourse <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rook </b>colony had built at least ten
nests by 12/3, and other corvid records from the site include more than 100 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jackdaw </b>on the central grass on 11/1,
twenty-plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magpie</b> on 10/3 and more
than 40 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crow</b> on 24/2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little Grebe</b> pairs are defending territories on the racecourse
lake, where up to 15 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coot</b> have been
seen this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other lake records
include an impressive total of 52 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snipe</b>
counted on 1/3, four <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jack Snipe</b>
flying from the island on 18/2, a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goosander</b>
on 8/3, twenty-plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teal</b> on 25/2,
seven <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tufted Duck</b> on 8/3, a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shoveler</b> on 17/2 and a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gadwall </b>on 3/2 and 18/2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 170 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canada Geese</b> were at the racecourse on 8/3, two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greylag</b> were present on 10/3, and two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cormorant</b> flew south westwards over the
site on 17/2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gull numbers are now
falling away, but 900-plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-headed
Gull</b> were on the racecourse on 4/2, thirty six <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> were counted there on 29/1, and six <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Herring Gull</b> were present on 4/1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other racecourse records include 17 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stock Dove</b> on 9/1, a flock of c.60
foraging <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Starling</b> on 25/2, and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reed Bunting</b> at the lake on 14/2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Access is strictly controlled.)</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A couple
of important recent additions to this year’s valley list:</span></u></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">At
least one of two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stonechat </b>found by Geoff
and Ian on 26/2 on the rough grass slopes between the canal locks and the
railway carriageworks at Aldersley/Oxley was still present last Sunday, and
there was a report yesterday of c.20 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Waxwing</b>
in a garden by the Bridgnorth Road between Compton and Wightwick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere else in the UK seems to have enjoyed
these exotic visitors this winter (birds have been seen in Codsall, Wolverhampton,
Penkridge and Brownhills since Christmas), so it’s nice to have our own at last!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-24958812121683119132017-02-27T19:51:00.000+00:002017-02-27T19:51:16.663+00:00Things are looking upA good weekend in the valley mainly focused around the neglected northern end.<br />
Friday afternoon produced a raven flying at tree top height, and calling, in a NNE direction over aldersley canal junction. A few minutes later what was presumably the same bird made the reverse trip.<br />
The weekend produced 9 grey wagtail sightings. Difficult to know how many birds were involved a minimum of 4 seen in 2X2 at water bridge, but 2 at Oxley were probably one 2 and 2 at the pre fabs could have been the others. If so this would suggest passage birds heading towards their upland breeding sites but hopefully we will have breeding success again in the valley.<br />
Two stone chat, presumed to be female were on the Lupin field.(the rough ground below the Oxley carriage sidings). Wonder how long they had been there. Similarly with a very active chiffchaff just north of oxley viaduct which is not an unusual wintering spot.<br />
The rooks seem to have moved a little south perhaps due to the high winds with regular counts just into double figures.<br />
Great spotted woodpeckers are much more obvious than of late (as are nuthatch) with a pair excavating at the regular spot by the water bridge.<br />
Also in their regular spot were a twittering group of about 10 siskin on the railway line by the coachyard.<br />
Finally the parakeets continue to be seen but am not sure what is going on, a pair have been noted but early doors there was a three some with 2 possibly young birds snuggling up together on a branch and the 3rd not seeming to have a ringed neck although it may have had a little black under the bill. It certainly did not have the bright pink bill and pink collar of the regular male as seen today.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-10901646306129063432017-02-19T19:56:00.000+00:002017-02-19T19:56:31.414+00:00Signs of SpringBirds signing is a classic signal of an impending springtime, as is the recently blooming crocus and snow drop. But this time last year the daffodils had been out for a while. Actually some birds have already been in song for sometime. <br />
An early morning visit on a bright sunny day this week was rewarded with much song especially in the paddocks. Song thrushes dominated with at least 9 in the middle sector reflecting decent breeding in the previous 2 years.<br />
Dunnock were also well represented. Strangely one bird, by the old bridge, has been singing for about 3 weeks but now many others joined in.<br />
Not many robin's which seem to start a little later in the morning but they have been signing all winter.<br />
Another winter singer can be the wren but this year they seemed to go quite before Xmas and have only recently started, but not full song.<br />
Another curiosity is the blackbird which in the mid section does not sing till April but in the last week Geoff and I have each heard a signing bird in a street garden.<br />
Chaffinch has joined the party as have many great tots.<br />
As far as wintering spices are concerned Redding are still with us, normally the flock only comes together in high wind, fog or late in the day and numbers 40ish. This group's frequents the mid section and dispersed around the adjoining gardens. Another larger flock feeds with fieldfare at the southern end.<br />
My recent visit gave me both siskin and red poll. Flocks around 20 of two species which have been scarce this year.<br />
Two spices more associated with breeding appeared towards the end of January, a chiffchaff by Wightwicl lock and a female blackcap visiting 2 gardens in Crowther rd.<br />
Otherwise a wasp on friday whilst the gulls behaved as if they were catching insects and the parakeets bursting out of an ivy covered bush right in front of me whilst the ground was frozen.<br />
What we haven't been seeing is kingfisher and greywagtail which may sought warmth further south and in the town centre respectively.<br />
Finally on Friday afternoon at least 6, probably 7 or even 8, buzzards were soaring very high between Oxley and Newbridge.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-18861401478877912752017-01-19T17:44:00.001+00:002017-01-19T17:44:11.479+00:00
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<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Newbridge,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>19<sup>th</sup> January 2017<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">Two top birds are<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cooper Black","serif"; font-size: 36pt;">mid-winter warmers<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy New
Year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That long dry autumn of 2016 is
already a distant memory and we’re deep in a mix of damp misty <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>days, gale force winds or clear frosty
nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a quiet time along the
valley, with bird numbers seemingly down in general, possibly due to a poor
breeding year for resident passerines s like Blue Tits, Great Tits and Dunnocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter migrants are with us, but visiting
finch flocks are as yet few and far between, and cold-weather wader and duck
totals are down on recent years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so
there have been some excellent sightings to warm the mid-winter weather . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The year started in style in the shape of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pink-footed Goose</b> found by Geoff on
January 11<sup>th</sup>, only the second ever Smestow Valley record for this
wintering species (two were seen flying north westwards over Aldersley stadium
on 11/3/2012). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This individual, an
adult, was feeding in a stubble field bordering the Smestow brook just to the
north west of the dam lake at Pool Hall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Top Dunstall Park billing must go a female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scaup</b> which stayed for a day on the lake
on December 12<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This diving
duck is an annual winter visitor to the West Midlands, averaging perhaps only 40
or so records across the region’s lakes and reservoirs, and the racecourse bird
was only the third Smestow Valley report in three decades (a juvenile was noted
in January 1987 and there was an unusual summer sighting of a drake in May
2007).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other racecourse duck records for
recent months include two female and three male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gadwall</b> on 21/9 (a pair have been infrequent visitors since then),
nine male and three female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shoveler</b>
on 31/12, thirty-plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teal</b> on 28/10<sup>,
</sup>a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tufted Duck</b> on 9/9 and
four male and one “redhead” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goosander</b>
on 31/12. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere cold weather brought
reports of at least 40 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mallard</b> to
the Staffs & Worcs Canal between Hordern Road and the Meccano Bridge on 23/12
and five <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teal</b> on the Smestow brook
by Aldersley Road gardens on 21/12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mute Swan </b>were at Dunstall
Park lake in early October (an adult female was on the canal at Newbridge on
8/10), adult and juvenile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey Heron</b>
were late-summer visitors in small numbers to the racecourse, where <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coot </b>numbers fell from eight on 29/10
to four by the year’s end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wintering <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little Grebe</b> numbers are down (two or
three at most have been seen along the canal), but Dunstall Park has produced
the valley’s first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Water Rail</b> for
some years, first seen on 23/11, and 2016 was a bumper year at the racecourse
for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Sandpiper</b>. The first
reports of this migrant wader came in mid-July, and birds were reported in every
month from then until the end of the year, with the last ones recorded two on
11/11 and one on 9/12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snipe</b> began returning to the lake in
mid-September, with numbers peaking at 32 on 28/10 and tailing off to less than
10 at the end of December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least 200 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canada Geese</b> were foraging on the
racecourse on 24/12, accompanied by 19 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greylag</b>
(numbers of this feral species are increasing markedly across the region), and
other records from the same site included two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lapwing</b> on 11/12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Racecourse
gull totals peaked in September, with 128 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser
Black-backed Gull</b> seen on 5/9 and around <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">300 Black-headed Gull</b> reported on 21/9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dunstall Park passage records included two
juvenile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wheatear</b>, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow Wagtail</b> and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sand Martin</b> all on 5/9 and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted Flycatcher</b> on 6/9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reports of flocks foraging on the central
grass area included nine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mistle Thrush</b>
on 28/9, at least 200 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Starling</b> on
9/9, eighteen <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stock Dove</b> on 7/9 and
19 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Magpie</b> on 23/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other racecourse reports included two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raven </b>flying together high towards the
north east, followed minutes later by a third, on 19/12, four <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fieldfare</b> in boundary trees on 18/12
and at least five <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bullfinch</b> in the
north western corner of the site on 2/12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Winter raptor records along the Smestow Valley have
been intermittent, but at least one <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common
Buzzard</b> has been frequenting the northern end, with birds seen perched at
Newbridge and in the grounds of the former Valley Park School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sparrowhawk</b>
have been less obvious, but males and females have been seen hunting in recent
weeks at Aldersley, Newbridge and at the racecourse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kingfisher</b>
was visiting the Smestow brook between Tettenhall Road and Hordern Road in
December, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Spotted Woodpecker</b>
have been active (brief drumming was heard at Newbridge in late November), a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny Owl</b> called in the early hours at
Newbridge on 30/12, and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey Wagtail</b>
was by the Smestow brook near Aldersley stadium on 12/12 (possibly the same
bird has been visiting the open brook culvert at the racecourse lake).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mixed flocks of foraging passerines have been
few, but two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldcrest</b> were with
titmice by the old railway south of Hordern<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Road on 3/12, and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nuthatch </b>called
in Newbridge wood throughout December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Treecreeper</b> were by the
old railway below Tettenhall Road on 10/12, and at least 10 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long-tailed Tit</b> moved through Newbridge
wood on 10/12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Redwing</b> flew over Newbridge playingfield on 8/12 and subdued <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Song Thrush</b> notes were heard at
Newbridge in December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldfinch </b>were at Dunstall Park on
18/12, and the only wintering finches recorded were a flock of 20 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Redpoll</b> in silver birches near Compton lock
on 10/12, and last but not least at least two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rose-ringed Parakeet</b> were seen between Compton and Aldersley
throughout December <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-18159425059229373782017-01-02T17:42:00.001+00:002017-01-02T17:42:21.759+00:00December reviewLittle to report in the way of unusual sightings in the last month, but still plenty of interesting behaviour. Dunstall park has done better but I will leave that to Angus.<br />
The parakeets have been scarce during the year but December saw daily sightings between the meccano and the water bridge. There had been a couple of reports of 4 and a pair have been exploring nest holes. This is not unusual as they nest anytime between January and June. Also investigating their nests have been the rooks where 10 birds have been seen on 3 occasions in the rookery, more surprisingly the adjacent pair of crows have also been visiting their old nest and even passing nest sticks. <br />
Raven are the earliest nesting of the corvids and it would not surprise me if the birds that breed just into staffordshire are regularly visiting their nests already but the rooks will be driven away by the cold and not return properly for a few weeks whilst the crows don't normally set up until march.<br />
Collared doves are another early nester and they are already actively courting.<br />
Birdsong increased during the month, at the beginning mistle thrush, from the middle song thrush and at the end wren and great tit; whilst robins sang throughout the month.<br />
Most intriguing behaviour was a pair of goldcrest mutually preening. Normally when you see a goldcrest they flit around and quickly disappear but these two remained extremely close together and seemed to be picking at each other. the male constantly displayed his orange crest (as opposed to the yellow of the female).<br />
On the canal little grebe were scarce with few sightings (maybe due to disturbance/tree cutting), although the cold days either end of the month saw 3 birds present. Finally the juvenile moorhens seem to have heralded the new year by acquiring red bills, although one presumably a late hatching only has yellow so far.<br />
All the best for the new year from the local crew.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-66583520076786547352016-11-12T11:35:00.002+00:002016-11-12T11:35:39.625+00:00More signs of winterHaving previously bemoaned the lack of flocks November has produced a change.<br />
Most notable have been the 40ish goldfinches around the wetland (which continues to deteriorate).<br />
Don't think there were any other finch species involved although have seen a single redpoll at newbridge wharf.<br />
Bullfinches usually stay in small groups so 9 at Compton lock was good. 10plus long tailed tit were at the same location.<br />
A loose mixed flock seems to frequent the metal bridge area and includes nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker as well as the common tit species. <br />
Winter thrushes are more in evidence with decent numbers of redwing especially at the south end. " fieldfare were at aldersley junction and a few at castlecroft. The expected Scandinavian blackbirds have supplemented the local population although I was surprised to see 2 males fighting.<br />
Jackdaws are flighting to their winter roosts with 100plus in a single flock heading for the racecourse.<br />
<br />
Individual sightings have included several of kingfishers. So far we have only managed to confirm males but it is possible we could have up to 4 winterers. Two sightings yesterday at wightwick lock (closed for major repair until 9th December) and the recently privatised wightwick fields were assumed to be the same bird. A bird was at Oxley last weekend. 2 were seen within minutes either side of tettenhall road one on canal and the presumed other (based on colouration) on the smestow.<br />
With regular sightings around the prefab weir and others north of the water bridge and a normal lateral territory of a mile to a mile and a half I think 4 is a fair guess.<br />
<br />
Grey wagtails follow a very similar pattern of sightings but are more variable and I would suggest we have 4/5 wintering in the valley.<br />
We only seem to have 1 wintering little grebe at the moment favouring the area just below Compton lock, a juvenile seen in October seems to have moved on.<br />
Star bird of the month so far was a woodcock which flew languidly from the canal sdrub onto the racecourse in the vicinity if the feeding station.<br />
Curiosity of last month was what I think was a king quail, an Australian species. Readily available to buy on the internet it was at a puddle by the old tettenhall bridge and not in the least spooked by my presence. It was seen the day after the barleyfield was mown which could mirror sightings I had of grey partridge in unusual spots adjacent to recently mowed hay fields.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-26022156589120711592016-10-23T10:59:00.001+01:002016-10-23T10:59:03.889+01:00signs of winterOur reader will have noticed no mention of autumn, the reason being very little to report. The midlands as a whole has had a comparatively poor autumn migration season and the valley has as far as we know failed to attract any scarce migrants.<br />
Specifically we have had no mixed flocks of any size which can attract rarities to join them. Also absent have been the normally regular passage and local pied wagtails, perhaps just too much disturbance on their favoured short cut grass.<br />
In contrast much evidence of badger activity with new setts appearing and a welcome water vole sighting yesterday.<br />
So the signs of winter: redwings appeared in small numbers at the beginning of the month although they appear to have moved on; robins have established winter territories and are everywhere suggesting a population supplemented by Scandinavian birds; blackbirds will follow the same pattern though given the success of the breeding season will be less obvious.<br />
The only other songster, besides robins, is the wren and a lone great tit at the station which has been singing on and off since end of August. Jays also have an increased presence (8 in a day) again difficult to differentiate between immigration and breeding success.<br />
Finally an immature male sparrowhawk at the wetland and 4 overflying cormorant this weekend.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-71918240399409645142016-09-02T09:05:00.000+01:002016-09-02T09:05:28.482+01:00last days of summer.......Overall disappointing end to the month with little evidence of passage birds.<br />
The parakeet has been heard more often and a male kingfisher (all dark bill) was watched fishing successfully north if the water bridge raising the question of the gender of the bird at the prefabs,.<br />
last Thursday's gloom produced my only sighting of a large mixed flock made up of at least 40 birds. Unfortunately the light was so poor and they moved so quickly that I could only pick out goldcrest and the commoner tit species.<br />
Friday was better with a group of blackcap in the hanging gardens along with willow warbler and both common and lesser whitethroat. Another willow was with a couple of blackcap at the wetland.<br />
Then it went downhill with nothing to report/<br />
1st of September was almost an exact repeat of last Friday at the hanging gardens but presumably they were different birds. A treecreeper was seen at the metal bridge, my first for a couple of months but they will have been there and hopefully raised young. It seemed to be with a very loose mixed flock which included nuthatch in bright weather. Was the tightness of last weeks flock due to the gloom??<br />
Finally having reported the seeming departure of the bigger groups of goldfinches I am now seeing the odd little group of 3/4 but they are all juveniles-could they be from 2nd broods?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-19664350391102696682016-08-24T21:00:00.003+01:002016-08-24T21:00:36.390+01:00Subtle changesMore to report this week with a good range of birds and a noticeable change in behaviour.<br />
2 kingfisher sightings yesterday at prefab weir and today reported by a regular dog walker by the meccano. Could be a bird establishing a winter territory.<br />
A calling parakeet from the paddock continues the recent run.<br />
Blackbirds foraging on ripening berries rather than on the ground is a portent of autumn.<br />
A singing chiffy at t6he wetland yesterday was very hesitant and seemed to be a juvenile whereas todays bird was more confident but unseen. Which raises an interesting question about autumn singers. Also a silent willow warbler yesterday and a calling bird today. And a garden warbler at the hanging gardens (NW barleyfield today).<br />
Biggest surprise today was a flock of 9 cormorant flying south.<br />
Mondays bird of the day was a high flying duck over the paddock which initially puzzled me. I got as far as that's not a mallard and is it a goosander before getting the bins on it-a rather uniform pale buff elongated slim bird with set back wings-but needed a look at the books to realise it was a pintail.<br />
Other species encountered in the last 2 days have been green woodpecker, collared dove, and a (mega) house sparrow where we saw an adult and juvenile last year.<br />
Finally flocking behaviour with 2 family parties of bullfinch temporarily giving a flock of 9 but goldfinch and mistle thrush seemingly joining larger flocks elsewhere.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-43900721817028083062016-08-20T12:56:00.001+01:002016-08-20T12:56:33.480+01:00Well into AugustHad been waiting for something to happen before doing a post and maybe with stormy weather this weekend it will, but so far it has been a quiet month.<br />
Star bird was a juvenile cuckoo which made a brief visit to the wetland last Saturday.<br />
Otherwise pretty thin pickings, an adult lesser whitethroat at the wetland on 1st, the odd willow warbler, and passing swifts. Our swift had left by the end of July but passage birds were apparent for the first 10 days of Aug, with best count of 20 on 3rd. (also a flock of 11 at i54 last sunday must surely have passed thru the valley.<br />
As far as breeding is concerned sir Geoffrey has confirmed the third moorhen brood at the wetland, though they are very hard to see and 2nd brood of great crested grebe at pool hall. Recently fledged<br />
birds indicate 2nd broods of blackbird, song thrush, chiffchaff (5 birds feeding on last years bulrushes at wetland) robin and dunnock. <br />
Calling kestrel and raven at castlecroft bridge raise hopes of breeding.<br />
Only one parakeet sighting high over paddock coming from ridge and a similar report.<br />
Southern and migrant hawker dragonflies.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-410810904345790372016-08-13T18:16:00.001+01:002017-03-23T17:29:05.968+00:00<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Newbridge,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13<sup>th</sup> August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , "serif"; font-size: 40pt;">Thanks to the ants<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , "serif"; font-size: 40pt;">its a falcon feast
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Summer’s got
that slightly past-it feel now, long-grass browning and the pink of willow herb
fringing roads and tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evenings are shorter,
sunsets are earlier, and resident and migrant birds have all but finished
breeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many avian visitors to the UK
are already on their way back to southern Europe and Africa, and some are
stopping off in the Smestow Valley to rest and feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, time to report on what’s happening now,
and on what have been a relatively quiet couple of months for local wildlife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Highlight so far this month has been the appearance of
three <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hobbys</b> high over Dunstall Park
and the Farndale housing estate, seen from Crowther Road, Newbridge, in the
early afternoon of Friday 5<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A large flock of gulls, mostly Black-headed, had been noted minutes
earlier, circling against the cloud base on a close and oppressively warm day,
almost certainly feeding on clouds of flying ants, huge numbers of which had
been leaving their nests since mid-morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hobbys appear annually but irregularly over the valley in the summer
months, but this was the only the second time three had been seen together
(three were over Aldersley on 9/8/2001).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For several minutes they swooped and dived among the gulls, picking
insects from the air and eating them on the wing before moving further away as
the airstream carried the ants eastwards, and eventually disappearing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The earliest local record for these beautiful
migratory falcons has been April 20<sup>th</sup> and the latest October 3<sup>rd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>House Martins nesting on the Farndale were
for decades mid-summer targets for Hobbys feeding nestlings at breeding sites
in South Staffordshire and elsewhere, but this agile and fast-flying raptor has
been all but absent from the valley in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Wader migration is well under way, and on August 5<sup>th</sup>
and 12<sup>th</sup> four <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Sandpiper</b>
were noted on the shoreline of Dunstall Park lake, equalling the site maxima recorded
on 21/8/2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been a handful
of winter sightings for this species locally in the last 30 years, but most birds
are seen on mid-summer/autumn passage at the racecourse, with reports in 2010
stretching from June 28<sup>th</sup> to September 9<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Other summer reports from Dunstall Park include two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cormorant </b>moving south westwards on
11/6, two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sand Martin</b> on 26/6, a
male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reed Bunting</b> singing by the
lake on 11/6, two male and a female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tufted
Duck</b> on the lake on 17/6 and a flock of 42 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lapwin</b>g on grass near the lake on 24/7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An early female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teal</b> was on the lake island on 15/7, and 20-plus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldfinch</b> were by the lake on 5/8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gull numbers have increased dramatically
since the beginning of this month, with no less 248 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> resting and preening on the central grass
area on 12/8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The large percentage of
juveniles in this total reflects the growing number of gulls now breeding in
the Birmingham/Wolverhampton conurbation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A juvenile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-legged Gull</b>
in the flock was one of several of this species seen recently at regional roost
sites such as Belvide reservoir near Brewood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An unusual feature of early summer came in the
shape of regular visits to the lake by two pairs of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greylag</b>, evidence of an increasing number of this goose species at
lakes and reservoirs across the West Midlands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sign of a good breeding year for thrushes
came with the appearance of 32 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mistle Thrush
</b>at Dunstall Park on 11/8.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 4pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s been a mixed breeding story this summer at the
racecourse, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Little Grebe</b> have
taken advantage of increased shoreline vegetation at the lake, with two pairs
producing at least four youngsters, one of which is now adult-sized and diving
for its own food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coot</b> too have had a good year with at least three pairs raising
young (a fox was seen catching a non-breeding adult on 31/5), but a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mute Swan</b> pair first seen nest-building
in late winter at the lake have lost seven of the eight cygnets which hatched
in late-May (the adults are very likely the pair which lost all five of their
cygnets last year at the lake).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canada Goose</b> breeding attempts failed
for the second year running, with all nests on the lake island robbed of their eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the other end of the site at least four
pairs of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swallow</b> nested in the
stables and second broods have now fledged successfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House
Martin</b> pairs nesting under the eaves of the nearby hotel have produced
fledged young, a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pied Wagtail</b>
have again bred in the same area, with three juveniles seen foraging along drainage
ditches by the grandstand on 11/6, and juveniles were among at least 30 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Starling</b> making daily visits to the
lake island daily in late May and early June.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 4pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Elsewhere along
the valley at least one pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey
Wagtail</b> have nested, a singing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goldcrest</b>
was heard by Newbridge playingfield through May and into June, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny Owl</b> calls came from Newbridge
wood over the same period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also at Newbridge
two pairs of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swift</b> nested (adults
and youngsters had departed by the end of July), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House Martins</b> were faithful to what is now a traditional nest site
under house eaves near Tettenhall Road, and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Treecreeper</b> was in a mixed bird flock moving through gardens next
to the playingfield on 28/6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rose-ringed Parakeet</b> trail has gone
cold, despite the fact a pair was seen checking potential nest holes in a
Smestow Valley wood in late April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
recent report has been of a bird flying low along Henwood Road towards Compton on
27/6. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raptor records have been intermittent,
but a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Buzzard</b> was seen carrying prey
low over Wightwick fields on 18/6.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , "serif"; font-size: 22pt;">Missing bird makes
up the numbers<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 6pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As reported in a previous post, our May morning local bird
blitz produced 64 species, falling just short of the Smestow Valley record of
66 seen in 24 hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, we were even
closer than that, since some careless counter had in some way managed to exclude
Blackbird from the total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apologies all
round, it’s just that I can’t read my own writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were close, but no cigar . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01159754397480734326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-86553072511382525112016-07-25T20:22:00.001+01:002016-07-25T20:22:24.918+01:00More breeding newsSpecies already reviewed<br />
Swift seem to be departing but a reasonable year<br />
Whitethroat finally a juvenile at top of barley field and at the difficult to access lupin field<br />
Kingfisher a dark bird at aldersley junction probably worn adult rather than youngster<br />
Goldfinch a good year throughout the valley<br />
<br />
Species not previously reviewed<br />
Buzzard 2 juveniles at both wightwick fields and Tettenhall ridge, distinguished by their pristine plumage as compared to the increasingly worn adults<br />
Sparrowhawk juvenile at Compton<br />
Chaffinch 2 juveniles in hanging gardens<br />
Song thrush an excellent year and finally stopped singing<br />
Blackbird again a very productive year<br />
Blue and great tits both done OK but more so the former, yet to find juv coal tit but several family parties of long tails.<br />
<br />
Negative on kestrels which had hoped would breed at wightwickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-20645919191579228862016-07-16T20:47:00.000+01:002016-07-16T20:47:13.464+01:00london busses-more thoughts on breeding seasonYeah I know nothing for weeks and then 2 posts in 2 days.<br />
Truth is I forgot to mention the bird of the year on the barleyfield.<br />
Reed warbler; A singing bird took up residence at the wetland for 8 days in early july (and could still be there sil;ently). Lord angus had reported 4 from dunstall in june so it could have been one of these.<br />
Bullfinch; several juveniles this morning<br />
Coot; 2 adults and 5 juvs by waterbridge. Presumably bred on dunstall.<br />
<br />
An early morning visit today produced a surprise when a bird flew up from the ground in the main paddock flashing an orange tail. despite searching I could not relocate it so it will have to go down as redstart sp(ecies). Interesting though after sir Geoffreys's black redstart last year july and mine this year at pool hall (see ydays post), some consolation was a spotted flycatcher.<br />
<br />
Apparently absent as breeders this year are willow and garden warblers and last years mega house sparrow.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-52365980470295645852016-07-15T16:59:00.001+01:002016-07-15T16:59:48.101+01:00Breeding season reviewTime for some early thoughts on this years nesting season in the valley. The mild winter had induced some species to nest early but I suspect they were caught out by the cold spring. Some species will still be rearing young or sitting on eggs but the majority have now completed their breeding cycle and young have fledged and dispersed from the natal area. Thus we are starting to see records of birds moving into or through the area.<br />
Moorhen; Badly affected by the canal dredging work and only a few young raised of which 3 at MS centre is the seemingly the only success on a stretch of canal which might have 6 nests. The exception is the new wetland where the first brood of 2 are now fully grown and helping to raise the second brood of 4. There is every chance of a third brood something I haven't seen since 2009 at the water bridge immediately before the harsh winter that year almost wiped out the local population of this sedentary species.<br />
House Martin; Good numbers nesting around local streets and feeding over the barleyfield with food passing noted at beginning of July,<br />
Swallow; nesting at north and south of valley.<br />
Swift; numbers seem to be on a par with recent years.<br />
Kingfisher: Occasional sightings but no evidence of repeat of breeding of 2 years ago<br />
Grey Wagtail; 2 juveniles regularly at wetland suggest local breeding around Compton as does 3 birds by spill weir in the week.<br />
Green Woodpecker; juvenile on canal towpath opposite tennis club today.<br />
Nuthatch; juvenile in station paddock last weekend<br />
Goldfinch; family party of 7 on bfield<br />
Chiichaff; many juveniles and 2/3 still singing<br />
Blackcap; one still singing and birds suddenly more obvious but may have bred elsewhere, whereas 2 weeks ago several still singing and a family party in main paddock.<br />
Whitethroat; bit of a puzzle this year, did well at turner's field 4 singing birds and 2 family parties but apparently absent from the bfield in May but 3 singing birds into July.<br />
Jay; family party of 4 on bfield<br />
<br />
Gulls have returned now with 80+ black headed this morning. Only 1 juvenile but have had 3. wonder where they bred. Also juvenile lesser black back which presumably bred in town.<br />
<br />
Other birds passing through this week on bfield were meadow pipit, reed bunting and lesser whitethroat.<br />
<br />
Down at pool hall the great crested grebes which have raised 2 young seem to be sitting again, a common tern adult visits regularly (surely too far to have come from belvide although I saw it flying in from that direction) and a surprising black redstart last sunday which could not be relocated.<br />
<br />
Finally a stunning red kite (untagged) on 1st june on perton golf course (back of 14th green) so keep eyes open,Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052326767070213900.post-71483987038370172462016-06-01T10:47:00.001+01:002016-06-01T10:47:17.823+01:00end of may reviewI have been back for over a week but still wish I was in the wilds of assynt and the far north west.<br />
First reaction when I headed into the paddocks was to be overwhelmed by the greenery. More surprisingly I was taken aback by the amount of birdsong, by far the loudest of the year. When I caught up with Geoff he had noted the same dramatic but short lived cacophony. We speculated as it was the third week of may perhaps the late april/early may cold snap had caused many nests to fail and the noise reflected a resurgence of interest in breeding.<br />
Blackbirds were the dominant species closely followed by song thrush also 11 chiffchaff singing.<br />
the amount of song has settled down now but still plenty of blackcap, song thrush and a resurgence of dunnock. The lack of any passerine young birds would seem to support the theory.<br />
There is also a contrast between the ornithological desert formerly known as the barleyfield and the rest of the valley although the lupin field is also disappointing.<br />
This is most notable for whitethroats which are quite numerous in the surrounding area and 4/5 were singing on turners and sand fields-see map, also a willow warbler sang there repeatedly-all on Saturday.<br />
A treecreeper was a nice find at the metal bridge on sunday where a kingfisher has been occasional. A female grey wagtail fed on the tow path at the spill weirs yesterday and flew off low towards Compton lock and in the paddocks a fully independent juvenile blackbird showed that some early breeding succeeded and a little ringed plover flew fast overhead towards the wetland but was not relocated.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01745418896574035519noreply@blogger.com0