Sunshine and song

17th April 16               morning              mid section

sunny,  4-9°c,  1015 mb,  NW 4-8 mph

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

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

Should have been at Pool Hall

sat 9th April 16            morning            mid section

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

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

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

Maybe the last siskin

3rd April 16,         morning             mid section

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

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

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

What did I tell you

2nd April 16             evening                mid section

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

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

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

A good tally this morning

31st March 16                 morning                mid section

sunny & warm,  3-7°c,  1015 mb,  NW 5-N 7 mph

 A treecreeper in Hanging Grds ( lower western border ) means I've had TC in all three of Barleyfield's wooded borders in the last few weeks. Plenty of song in the warm sunshine, including eight singing chiffchaff and a singing nuthatch. But no sign of any blackcap today. Should be here before the weekend is over.                                                                                                                                       A walk around yesterday afternoon found nine singing blackbirds.

Buzzard	1 over	Valley
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Annex Barleyfield
Wren	15 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackbird	3 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	9 ( 8 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	pair + 1	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair	hanging Grds
Coal Tit	1 singing	Top Birches
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	2 (1 singing)	Annex Barleyfield
Treecreeper	1	Hanging Grds
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	2	Station Paddock
Bullfinch	pair	Hanging Grds

1st singing chiffchaff

25th March 16               morning                  mid section

sunny & warm,   8-13°c,   1014 mb,   NW 10-SSW 9

 In the mid section that is,  ( gazz had 1 singing last Sunday at Dunstall Park). I was hoping for more on a lovely sunny warm day. A singing blackbird was also my first this year ( Ian's had song in his garden ) A pair of sparrowhawk soaring above Barleyfield was the best of the rest.

Sparrowhawk	pair	pr soaring over Barleyfield,
Buzzard	3 soaring	Tettenhall Ridge
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Wren	8+ singing	mid section
Dunnock	4+ singing	mid section
Robin	9+ singing	mid section
Blackbird	1 singing	Station Paddock
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Chiffchaff	1 singing	The Paddock
Goldcrest	2 pair	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1 pair	Station Paddock
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4+ singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Bullfinch	pair + 2♂	mid section

Still feels like winter

18th March 16          morning                mid section

dull,misty & cold,  5-6°c,  1028 mb,  ENE 5-NE 6 mph

 Cold and grey with misty fog, not improving all day. So was not surprised when the birding turned out just the same. The only bright spot was in the birch woodland at the top of Barleyfield. Met up with the two uni students who have been doing a survey of the birds in the middle section of the valley ( my sector ). We came across a tit flock ( reminiscent of winter activity ) that included coal and long-tail tits as well as goldcrest. We often get treecreeper,siskin,jay and great spotted woodpecker here and soon no doubt chiffchaff, blackcap and willow warbler.       

                                         

Little Grebe	2	S&W Canal
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Top Birches
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	12 singing	mid section
Dunnock	11 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Redwing	6	Wetlands
Goldcrest	pair	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	5 + pr	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2	Top Birches
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Bullfinch	2 pair	Annex Barleyfield

                

Thursday update

17th March 16                morning                mid section

mostly cloudy, sunny by 11:00,  5-9°c,  1033 mb, ESE 6,

The male grey wagtail was on the towpath by Meadow View bridge but no sign of the female there or on the Smestow. A green woodpecker calling, not from Tettenhall Ridge as is normal but from somewhere near the Tennis Club or Wolves training pitches.Still three little grebe including the bird below Compton Lock, all in or very near summer plumage. A female sparrowhawk checking out the Barleyfield and adjoining playing field and the kingfisher seen by the weir were good to have, and the male pied wagtail on the grass east of the Wetlands still in splendid plumage. Singing coal tit at Meadow View finished a day that started in dull, cold conditions, in warm sunshine.

Little Grebe	1 s/p below Com Lock,  1 s/p Meccano Br,  1 nr s/p Sq Club,
Sparrowhawk	1♀ low over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	Prefab Weir
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tennis Courts
Grey Wagtail	1♂	Meadow View
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Tennis Courts
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Meadow View
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	3+	2 Meadow View,  c Compton Rough,
Bullfinch	2	Barleyfield

Maybe Tomorrow

14th March 16              morning                  mid section

mostly sunny,  3-5°c,    1036 mb,   ENE 10 mph

With a chiffchaff at Belvide yesterday and a sand martin at Alvecote Pools today I was hoping for movement on the patch this morning. I did find some, but of winter birds moving out, not summer birds coming in. The unusual sight of a mixed flock of redwing and chaffinch with a single siskin around the Wetlands. A treecreeper in the Eastern Border may have been the same one I had three weeks ago in the plantation at the top of Barleyfield.       

Little Grebe	2 s/p	S&W canal Meadow View
Sparrowhawk	1 soaring	Tettenhall Ridge
Buzzard	3	pair over Barleyfield, 1 to the north
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Redwing	c20	in mixed flock CH  Wetlands
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair + 1	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Treecreeper	1	Eastern Border
Chaffinch	3 singing	The Paddocks
Chaffinch	c5	c5 in mixed flock RW  Wetlands
Greenfinch	1	Hanging Grds X
Goldfinch	2	Compton Rough
Siskin	1	Wetlands
Bullfinch	2 pair	Barleyfield

Winter birds still hanging on

11th March 16          morning              mid section

hazy sunshine,  6-9°c,   1028 mb,  S 4-6 mph

 Good numbers of blackbirds still in evidence, probably passage birds, 9 black headed gulls on Compton Playing Fields and 4 little grebe on the canal at Newbridge still. The grebes may also be passing through. We cant tell whether they are different individuals or the same birds acquiring breeding plumage or indeed a mixture of the two scenarios. No sign of any summer migrants yet, the northerly winds of the last two weeks seem to be holding them up. 

Little Grebe	4	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1	S&W Canal near Meadow View,
Mallard	3♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1	over Prefabs
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	9	Compton Field
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Compton Lock
Grey Wagtail	1	Station Paddock
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	8 singing	mid section
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	Meadow View
Coal Tit	1	Newbridge feeder
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	2 singing	The Paddock
Goldfinch	2	Wetlands

Wagtails save the day

28th February 16        morning            mid section

cloudy,  3-7°c,  1023 mb,  NE 5-8 mph

 Met Ian on arrival at Meadow View, Fishermen on canal so we did the Paddocks. A pair of coal tit was found in the main paddock but little else, a splendid male pied  wagtail in breeding plumage was on the field to the east of our Wetland pool. Another coal tit this one singing from the eastern border of Barleyfield. We headed south to Wightwick Mill Lock and back along the canal without seeing much until we checked the Smestow behind the prefabs, where we were treated to a pair of grey wagtail feeding on the edges of the brook, Little grebe ended the day back at Meadow View.

Little Grebe	1+	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Compton Rough
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> over	Sandfields
Grey Wagtail	pair	pair Smestow Prefabs,
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	song	mid section
Dunnock	song	mid section
Robin	song	mid section
Song Thrush	song	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	pr Paddocks + 1 singing Eastern Border Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1 over	Wetland Field
Greenfinch	1 singing	Compton Allotments
Bullfinch	3♀	Annex Barleyfield

Lack sunshine lack birds and song

26th February 16          morning                mid section

hazy sunshine,   3-6°c,   1009 mb,     SE 5-8 mph

 A mini version of yesterday. Missing six species and numbers down, all I suspect down to the lack of sunshine.

Little Grebe	2	both approaching s/p  Squash Club,
Canada Goose	5 over NE	mid section
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	5 & 37	5 Compton Field,  37 Compton Park,
Stock Dove	1 singing	Lower Alders
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Lower Alders
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Lower Alders
Long Tailed Tit	2	Shrike Bushes
Coal Tit	calls	Top Birches
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 (1 singing)	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Top Roses

Standard fayre for February

25th February 16            morning                mid section

cold but sunny,  2-4°c,  1017 mb,  NNW 5-N 8 mph

A lovely sunny day with plenty of birds around although nothing special on view, all pretty normal for this time of year. Just one little grebe today, it's a little early for their departure so maybe they're north of my area. Two pair of coal tit in the Eastern Border of Barleyfield with both of the males singing, two siskin in the birch plantation at the top and a lone goldcrest there.

Little Grebe	1 w/p	S&W Canal
Mallard	pair	Wetland
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Black Headed Gull	10+	Wetland Field
Stock Dove	1 singing	Prefabs
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Compton Rough
Wren	6 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	1	Barleyfield Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair + 1	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2 pair	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	Barleyfield Annex
Jay	1	Barleyfield Top Birches
Chaffinch	1♀	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Greenfinch	1 singing	Prefabs
Siskin	2	Barleyfield Top Birches
Bullfinch	2 pair + 1♂	Barleyfield

Goldcrest and Treecreeper chasing overhead whilst tree felling on Barleyfield

22nd February 16              morning                mid section    

partly sunny,  6-7°c,  1008 mb,  W 8-11 mph.  

 The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust are continuing their management plans on the Barleyfield, so today I turned up to help out. They are thinning out the birch trees at the top and planting a greater variety of native tree and understory species like hazel and also ground plants such as primrose. Having a well earned tea break, we were treated to a display of three goldcrest chasing each other around and doing what comes naturally at this time of year, a treecreeper dashing from tree to tree and a pair of long tail tit quietly feeding above our heads. All in all a good way to spend a few hours. I'll be back next time two weeks today and would encourage anybody with some spare time to join us. It's great fun.

Little Grebe	4	S&W Canal
Mallard	pair	Wetland
Buzzard	pair	over Prefabs
Black Headed Gull	14	Wetland Field
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Top Barleyfield Birches
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 (3 singing)	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 (1 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	1+ Station Paddock,  pr + 1 chasing top Barrleyfield,
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Compton Rough
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	1	Barleyfield Annex
Treecreeper	1	Top Barleyfield Birches
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Goldfinch	2	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	pr + 1♂	mid section

Playing catch up

fri 5th February 16    morning     mid section 

cloudy,  9-10°c,  985 mb,   SW 4-7 mph

Good to be back after a week off. Nothing particularly outstanding but a good mix of species, the best being three goosander over Compton Lock. The ground is much drier ( until it rains again I suppose??). Plants in flower, daffs,snowdrops,lesser celandine and  lesser periwinkle. 

Little Grebe	3	S&W canal
Goosander	3 flew N over Compton Lock then flew back S,
Buzzard	2	mid section
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	21	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	1	Compton Field
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Top Roses
Wren	1 singing	Smestow Bridge
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	14 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	2+	Newbride Wharf feeders
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	3	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	The Paddock
Greenfinch	7	Top Roses

 

Kingfisher and Ring neck Parakeet

23rd January 16          morning             mid section

hazy sunshine,  7-9°c,  1028 mb,  S 8-13 mph

  A kingfisher at the Prefabs was a first for the year and good to see it's still around. Met Ian at Compton Lock and continued to the Barleyfield where we had a great spotted woodpecker drumming in the Annex and a goldcrest in trees there also about ten redwing around the Wetland area. A chaffinch singing along Railway Walk past the Paddocks is very early along with several great tit and plenty of robins singing. A ring neck parakeet seen and heard flying south over Station Paddock and maybe the same bird later heard calling further north in Newbridge wood. Another great spot a male seen in trees at Double Pennant and a total of five little grebe including the two summery birds rounded off a decent mornings birding.

Little Grebe	5	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1 imm ♂	Meadow View
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 flew S over Station Paddock,  poss same calling Newbridge wood,
Kingfisher	1 flushed from Graiseley Brook Prefabs,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming Barleyfield  Annex,   1♂ Double Pennant,
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Smestow Meadow
Redwing	c10	Wetlands
Goldcrest	1	1 exit Barleyfield Annex to railway,
Long Tailed Tit	c10	Smestow Aldersley Stadium
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge Wharf feeder
Great Tit	5 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	5 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	7+ 5	mid section
Bullfinch		mid section