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

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

                

The wait goes on

15th March 16              morning                mid section

mostly cloudy,  6-8°c,  1032 mb,  NE 7-10 mph

 The wind has turned northerly again after briefly going south then east over the weekend. This is maybe why our hopes were heightened and now dashed. The forecast for the next few days is continued northerly's. A pair of grey wagtail on the Smestow looks like the same pair Ian and myself had by the Prefabs at the end of Feb, if so they may be a breeding pair holding a rather long territory. The redwing and chaffinch are probably the same group from yesterday, count is a guestimate as only seen flying away through dense wooded area adjacent to Wetlands. The siskin was in the same area but seen perched up (behaving itself). 

PS  just seen Ian's post.  interesting grey wags. Yes I was also surprised to find a grebe below Compton Lock, only the second time this winter. ( I think )

Little Grebe	2 s/p	1 s/p Below Compton Lock,   1 s/p Meccano Br,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Black Headed Gull	1 flew N over	Compton Rough
Grey Wagtail	pair	Station Paddock
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Redwing	10+	Lower Alders
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	2	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Hanging Grds
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Jay	calls	Top Birches
Chaffinch	2+ 1 singing	2section
Siskin	1	Lower Alders

Plenty resident bird song

13th March 16             morning                mid section

sunny & mild,  8-12°c,  1035 mb,  E 6-9 mph

  Looks like I will have to kick myself out of bed earlier now there's a dawn chorus starting to happen. At least three little grebe, one summer plumage, early morning heading north by Meadow View, another between Prefab weir and Meccano, seen from Compton Rough,  which we couldn't find fifteen minutes later on return from Compton Lock. Another two by the Squash Club ( 1 s/p + 1 partial s/p ) but can't be sure one of these wasn't a recount. A kingfisher near the grebes which eventually flew towards the Smestow in the Paddocks.

Little Grebe	1 s/p MV, (return) 1 N of weir,  2 ( 1 s/p + 1 p/s/p ) SqC,
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming    Aspine Way area ( heard from canal )
Wren	11 + singing	min section
Dunnock	4+ singing	min section
Robin	10+ singing	min section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	2	Compton Field
Goldcrest	pair	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	min section
Great Tit	4+ singing	min section
Chaffinch	2 singing	min section
Greenfinch	3	min section
Bullfinch	1♀	Annex Barleyfield

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

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

A game of two halves 

1st january 16         morning            Compton Rd to Hordern Rd

cloudy,  3-6°c,   1014 mb,  ESE 11-14 mph

 Apart from a few singing robins and song thrushes, the Paddocks, Barleyfield and canal were very quiet. It wasn't until we strayed north of the Tettenhall Rd that things picked up. The feeders by the boats were buzzing, both sparrowhawk and buzzard overhead scattered these birds,  a goldcrest and nuthatch were at Double Pennant and the mute swan was under Hordern Rd bridge. We returned via the rail track where we heard a parakeet calling from the other side of canal and picked it up flying towards Newbridge wood and a male great spotted woodpecker was it trees by the coach depot.

Little Grebe 2 S&W Canal Mute Swan 1 S&W canal Hordern Rd, Sparrowhawk 1♂ over Newbridge boats Buzzard 1 over Newbridge boats Ring Necked Parakeet 1 Newbridge wood Great Spotted Woodpecker 1♂ Double Pennant Robin 7 singing mid section Song Thrush 5 ( 4 singing ) mid section Redwing 2+ Shrike Bushes Goldcrest 1 Double Pennant Long Tailed Tit c30 mid section Coal Tit 2 Newbridge boats feeder Nuthatch 1 Double Pennant Jay 1 Hawthorn Wood Chaffinch 3+ Newbridge boats feeder Greenfinch 4 Newbridge boats feeder Goldfinch 2 Double Pennant Bullfinch 4 mid section

grey geese and treecreeper

21st December 15           morning            mid section

cloudy, cold,  6-9°c,  1009 mb,  S  12-23 mph

Mid winter's day, the shortest day of the year and at least it was cold compared to recent mornings. Met Ian on the Barleyfield who had just had a cormorant flyover the Wetlands. Whilst stood in the middle of Barleyfield a stock dove landed not far away and 4 grey geese flew over to the north but to distance to identify down to species. We later had six little grebe on the canal, a treecreeper and about ten siskin by Double Pennant.

Little Grebe	6	S&W canal
Mute Swan	2	S&W canal Double Pennant,
Grey Geese	4 flying NE over Wolves Academy twds West Park, too far away to ID species,
Moorhen	1 imm	Prefab weir,
Stock Dove	1	Barleyfield
Wren	1 singing	Lower Alders
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	1	Compton Lock
Long Tailed Tit	few	Double Pennant
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge Boat feeder
Treecreeper	1	Double Pennant
Chaffinch	1♀	Newbridge boats feeder
Goldfinch	2	Wetlands
Siskin	10+	Double Pennant
Bullfinch	2	mid section

The early birder catches the grebes 

28th November 15         morning              mid section

cloudy,  3-6°c,  1011 mb,  SW-S 13 mph

Whilst I was lazily making my way to site Ian was clocking up the highest little grebe total this winter. Five in all including a new bird still showing much summery plumage. We met on the Barleyfield which apart from distance small flocks of finches and tits was pretty dead. We walked the canal together but could only find four of the grebes, unfortunately the brightly coloured new bird was the one we missed.

Little Grebe	4	S&W Canal
Moorhen	5+ imm	S&W Canal
Robin	1 singing	Newbridge boats
Redwing	2	mid section
Goldcrest	1	1  in tit flock Hanging Grds,
Long Tailed Tit	few	few in tit flock Hanging Grds,
Coal Tit	3+	Newbridge boats feeder
finch flock	c10 over Hanging Grds but too distence to separate,
Chaffinch	1♂ 1♀	Newbridge boats feeder
Greenfinch	few	Newbridge boats feeder
Goldfinch	finch flock Hanging Grds must be mostly Goldfinch,
Bullfinch	1♂ 1♀	Newbridge boats feeder

Kingfisher the only highlight

11th October 15            morning                 mid section

mostly cloudy,  9-11°c,   1018mb,   ESE 7-E 9 mph

Met Ian at Meadow View just after I'd had a coal tit impersonating a yellow browed warbler. Nothing of real interest in overcast conditions until we came across a tit flock half way between Compton Lock and the weir. It was mostly long tail and blue tits with at least one coal tit and a poss goldcrest. Then all went quiet again until we found another flock around Meccano bridge containing a goldcrest, we went on the bridge for better views. After these had dispersed a kingfisher flashed by at tree top height. The sun was just appearing so a revisit to the Barleyfield was in order, but to no avail.

Black Headed Gull	60+	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Kingfisher	1 flashed N by Meccano Br at treetop height
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Graiseley Reed Bed
Wren	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	song	mid section
Song Thrush	1	Station Paddock
Goldcrest	1	Meccano Br
Long Tailed Tit	few	Prefabs
Coal Tit	2	1 Meadow View,  1 Prefabs
Jay	2	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

Summer migrants almost gone

still waiting for winter migrants

8th October 15           morning              mid section

sunny,  7-12°c,  1020mb,  SSE 1-SW 4 mph

One chiffchaff and two blackcap linger on from summer, soon to disappear completely, to be replaced by siskin,redpoll,redwing and fieldfare plus perhaps scarce visitors like brambling, waxwing and possibly a rarer gull ( iceland, mediterranean or yellow-legged )?

A ring necked parakeet was the first for two months, they are reported regularly around the Wolverhampton area now. six seen last week to the south of us on the West Mids border.

Little Grebe	2 (1 nr s/p)	2 ( sculking ) ( 1 nr s/p ) GRb,
Buzzard	1  >> W over	The Paddock
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 >> W over	Barleyfield
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> S over	The Paddock
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Robin	22 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1♂ 1♀	Hanging Grds
Chiffchaff	1	The Paddock
Goldcrest	2	The Paddock
Coal Tit	1	Canal Grds Newbridge
Nuthatch	2	c Wolves Firs,   1 feeding Canal Grds Newbridge,
Jay	1	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	3	Barleyfield

All the water birds present 

29th September 15             morning                mid section

high cloud,becoming sunny,  10-14°c,  1036mb,  E 4-6 mph

The first little grebe on the canal this autumn. 3 were just north of Meccano Br on the outward journey but on return two had moved near Meadow View Br. Two grey wagtail on Smestow at Prefabs and a kingfisher ( dark bird ) was fishing from overhanging bush by the Newbridge Squash Club.

Blackcap again played the numbers game, with 2♂ and 3♀ at Hanging Grds and later 2♂ plus 2♀ 300mtrs up the hill in the Annex but are they the same individuals as earlier, I returned to Hanging Grds to try to resolve the matter and in a 15 minute stint there was just one female?? so to play safe I can only claim two male and 3 female.

Little Grebe	3 just N Meccano Br (return) 1 Mb,  2 MV, ( 1st of winter)
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Kingfisher	1 fishing Squash Club  flew N twds Newbridge grds,
Grey Wagtail	2	Prefab Weir
Wren	1 singing	Meadow View
Dunnock	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackcap	2+♂ 3+♀	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	3+	The Paddock
Goldcrest	1	Hanging Grds
Long Tailed Tit	4+	The Paddock
Nuthatch	calls	The Paddock
Jay	3+	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	1 imm	Wetlands

Barleyfield ready for stock dove,so where are they?

19th September 15         morning              mid section

thick fog early,clearing 10:00,  8-15°c, 1024mb, S-SW 4 mph

The Barleyfield was mown almost two weeks ago, normally a whole host of species take advantage of the seeds that become available, but so far this year all i've had is a few wood pigeon and corvids, so where are all the stock dove ( normally upto 20 ), jackdaw,crow and magpie ( usually plenty ). 

            The contractor has left the cuttings covering the ground, maybe that has something to do with it. It's suppose to be a flower meadow and leaving the cuttings will enrich the soil, which will encourage the growth of ranker vegetation which is not what a flower meadow needs.A phone call to the ranger Mark Game will hopefully get the job finished.

         Birdwise.   Chiffchaff and blackcap put in a good show, two nuthatch together in the Paddock along with a goldcrest and four chiffchaff was notable. A few late butterflies on the wing with a comma and speckled wood found.

Moorhen	2 young	1 nr full ad  Wetlands,   1 juv Prefab weir,
Wren	1 singing	Graiseley Culvert
Robin	21 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1	Barleyfield Annex
Blackcap	4	mid section
Chiffchaff	4	The Paddock
Goldcrest	1	The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	c6	The Paddock
Nuthatch	2	The Paddock
Bullfinch	3 imm	Barleyfield Annex
Comma	1	Wetlands
Speckled Wood	1	Annex Barleyfield