A raven kronk's west and a kingfisher flashes east over the Barleyfield

13th September 15          morning                 mid section

sunny & warm,  10-15°c,  1008mb,  SE 6-S 7 mph

A much more interesting day with highlights being raven,kingfisher and garden warbler. The garden warbler came early, as I stepped through the gate between Station Paddock and the main Paddock it flew into an elder bush on the bank of the brook, flying off before Ian arrived, also in the paddock were at least 4 chiffchaff. The Barleyfield was quiet at first but gradually picked up with more chiffs,blackcap and whitethroat, we found ourselves at the bottom north-east corner when a kingfisher flashed across the Shrike Bushes and disappeared behind the alders which form the northern boundary of the Wetland site, but on checking there was no sign in there. Later Ian heard a raven calling in the distance which gradually came closer and eventually we picked up arching high over Compton playing fields and turning to head south-west along the valley.

Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1 flew E past or through Wetlands seen from NE crn Barleyfield, not found at Wetlands,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Barleyfield Annex
House Martin	3 over	Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	3	Compton Field
Wren	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1	Hanging Grds
Garden Warbler	1	The Paddock
Blackcap	2	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	6 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	few	The Paddock
Nuthatch	2	Barleyfield Annex
Jay	2 calling	mid section
Raven	1 flew W high over Compton Field   turning  to head SW along Valley,
Goldfinch	c15	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	few	Barleyfield

A motley collection

10th September 15            morning               mid section

foggy early lifting 10 ish,  11-15°c, 1022mb, E 9 mph

The Paddocks was quiet early in the chilly conditions and so was the Barleyfield, but as it gradually warmed up a party of blackcaps appeared in the Hanging Grds with a whitethroat near by. More blackcap deep in the Annex at the top west Barleyfield and even more in the Wetland hedge with goldfinch,bullfinch and 2 house martins overhead. A grey wagtail was flushed from near Compton Lock and flew north along the canal. 5 swallow flew north ( yes north? )  over Barleyfield, 7 mistle thrush on Compton Field and a great spotted woodpecker sat atop the fir tree by the Meadow View entrance were noted.

Mallard	3♂ 2♀	Wetlands
Moorhen	1 imm Wetlands,  1 juv Prefab weir,
Black Headed Gull	odds over	Barleyfield
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Meadow View
Swallow	5 >> N over	Barleyfield
House Martin	2 over	Wetlands
Grey Wagtail	1 flushed	Compton Lock
Wren	1 singing	Wetlands
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	7	Compton Field
Whitethroat	1	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	10	Barleyfield
Greenfinch	3 over	Barleyfield Annex
Goldfinch	c15	Wetlands
Bullfinch	3	1 imm ♂ + 1 imm ♀ + 1♀  Wetlands,

Sunshine performs it's magic again

6th September 15         morning               mid section

sunny & warm,  10-15°c,  1029mb,  W 3-NW 12 mph

A text from Ian informs me that there's a spotted flycatcher and a lesser whitethroat on the Barleyfield. ( trust me to be having a leisurely start )  When I eventually arrived we quickly relocated the spot fly but the lesser throat had disappeared. The supporting cast was more warblers with common whitethroat,blackcap ( strangely all male ) and chiffchaff.
A complete turn around from yesterday when with cloudy sky's the whole of the valley was dead quiet.

Buzzard	calls	Barleyfield
Swallow	2 over	Hanging Grds
House Martin	1 over	Hanging Grds
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	4	Barleyfield
Blackcap	5	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	2+ calling	Barleyfield
Spotted Flycatcher	1	Hanging Grds
Long Tailed Tit	10+	mid section
Jay	1	Station Paddock
Goldfinch	c15	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	4	Barleyfield

Warblers passing through again

30th August 15            morning                mid section

cloudy,  12-16°c,  1019mb,   NW 2- NE 4 mph

The Barleyfield was quiet again apart from a small group of blackcap in the Hanging Grds. One male and probably about 3 female plus a chiffchaff, there's so much cover now it's difficult to obtain good numbers. Two young bullfinch also Hanging Grds and a ♀ great spot up the hill in the western border. The Paddocks, quiet early morning but on return journey Ian and myself picked up a small group of mixed warblers including at least 3 willow ( 2 imm ) probably 2 chiffchaff and another 2+ blackcap along with a goldcrest,coal tit and a few long-tail tit. A nuthatch calling from trees by the old bridge on Meadow View and another singing coal tit rounded off a better day.

Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Barleyfield Annex,
House Martin	4 over	Meadow View
Pied Wagtail	13	Compton Field
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Blackcap	5 (1♂)	1♂ 3♀ Hanging Grds,   2♀ Paddocks,
Chiffchaff	4	mid section
Willow Warbler	3+ ( 2 imm )	The Paddock
Goldcrest	1	The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	c6	The Paddock
Coal Tit	1 singing	Meadow View + 1 Paddocks
Nuthatch	1 calling	Meadow View
Greenfinch	3 over	The Paddock
Bullfinch	3 ( 2 imm )	Barleyfield

Wow a mega and a scarce on Barleyfield

28th August 15            morning              mid section

mostly warm & sunny,  11-14°c,  1013mb, S 6-SSW 10,

Met Ian on the Compton playing fields just after I had picked up his mixed flock of recent days. It contained 15 or so long tail tits, 3 willow warbler inc 2 imm, 1 chiffchaff and a blackcap. Ian had just seen a house sparrow in the Shrike Bushes so we went to find it, sure enough it was still sat in the bush and was soon joined by another, both female. This believe it or not is a mega bird here on the Barleyfield, I don't remember the last one I had.
    Ian left and I continued around the field, I ended up back at the Shrike Bushes so another go for the sparrow seemed a good idea, no sign but a bird sat in hawthorn bushes by the Graiseley brook cutvert 100+ yds away looked interesting? so I approached carefully and sure enough it turned out to be a spotted flycatcher. Lost it trying to photograph it with my phone through the bins. Relocated in the Meccano Gardens ( the bushes bordering Compton playing fields south of the bridge with the railway walk the other side ).

Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> S over	The Paddock
House Martin	5 over	Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	3	Compton Field
Wren	1 singing	Hanging Grds X
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	1 >> S over	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	2	Barleyfield
Blackcap	3	mid section
Chiffchaff	4 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Willow Warbler	4 ( 3 imm)	3 (2 imm) Meccano Grds,  1 imm Shrike Bushes,
Spotted Flycatcher	1	Graiseley Cnr s/well then lost whilst trying photograph it. Later relocated Meccano Grds,
Long Tailed Tit	c18	3+ Station Paddock,  c15 Meccano Grds,
House Sparrow	2♀    ( MEGA )	Shrike Bushes
Chaffinch	1♂ >> E over	Shrike Bushes
Greenfinch	2+	Top Roses
Goldfinch	few	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	2	mid section
Small Skipper	1	Barleyfield
Common Blue	2	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield
Small White	few	Barleyfield

More unfulfilled expectations 

26th August 15           morning               mid section

cloudy after o/ night rain,  14-15°c, 998mb,  S 12-SSW 11 mph

Once again overnight rain alerts birders to possible good finds in the form of migrating birds having to seek shelter, and once again our hopes are dashed. The promises of autumn last monday faded somewhat yesterday and have disappeared altogether this morning. There seems to have been a clearout of passage birds instead of the hoped for abundance due to difficult flying and navigational conditions for birds making their way to europe and africa.

Black Headed Gull	28 all adult	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Kingfisher	1 probably came from a perch on off side of canal (CR) and flew S twds Compton Lock,
House Martin	6 over	Wetlands
Wren	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Robin	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1 calling	nr Annex oak Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	1 calling	Compton Rough
Nuthatch	1	1 seen calling from Meccano Firs,
Goldfinch	5 over	Compton Rough
Bullfinch	3+	Hanging Grds

An autumn selection 

24th August 15             morning                  mid section

cloudy,  13-16°c,  1000mb,   NW 4- N 6 mph 

Nothing special  but a reasonable selection of common birds with warblers, finches and birds of prey.

Sparrowhawk	2♀ circling over Valley,  1♀ mobbing Buzzard to the S of Barleyfield,
Buzzard	1 fully winged bird circling S of Barleyfield mobbed by Sparrowhawk, drifted N over Barleyfield then back S and away W,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
House Martin	5 >> N over	Compton Field
Pied Wagtail	10	Compton Field
Robin	3 singing	Paddocks
Whitethroat	3	Barleyfield
Blackcap	4	mid section
Chiffchaff	7	mid section
Willow Warbler	2 ( 1 singing )	1 imm + 1 singing The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	few	The Paddock
Chaffinch	2	Shrike Bushes
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	few	Graiseley Culvert
Bullfinch	4 inc imms	The Paddock

A tale of two seasons

20th August 15              morning                 mid section

mostly cloudy,mild,  15-17°c,  1018mb,  SSE 4-S 8 mph.

A family of chiffchaff in the Shrike Bushes is possibly the last sign of summer and the breeding season for our migrants and a lonely swift heading south west over the Barleyfield is definitely on its way to Africa. A frustrating time of year for us birders when many of our breeding birds have left us but we are still anticipating the arrival of birds travelling south and stopping over in the valley to rest and feed before moving on. 

Buzzard	1 ad  SE over	1 moulting ad flew SE over Barleyfield,
Black Headed Gull	7	Compton Field
Swift	1 >> S over	Barleyfield
Green Woodpecker	calls	Barleyfield
House Martin	c10 over	feeding high over Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	2	Compton Field
Robin	1 singing	The Paddock
Whitethroat	4	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	3	mid section
Chiffchaff	3 ( 2 juv )	Shrike Bushes
Jay	1	1 flew E across rail tr into Hanging Grds,
Chaffinch	3+	Graiseley Reedbed
Greenfinch	1	Meadow View
Bullfinch	4 ( 2 imm )	Barleyfield
Peacock	1	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield
White sp	few	Barleyfield

Three hours on the Barleyfield

 16th August 15         sunrise till early          Barleyfield

sunny,chilly,misty,  6-11°c,  1017mb,   calm

A beautiful sunny start with blue sky at the top of the Barleyfield but thick mist down the hill. The early start just about paid off with a little more action on the warbler front but it's still very quiet. Blackcap and whitethroat were seen regularly in the western border but counting was difficult due to them moving up and down the hedges (  counting same bird numerous times  ) , most whitethroats together = 3, most blackcaps together = 3 but blackcaps covered a longer stretch of the hedgerow, no chiffchaff was a surprise. No early morning movement overhead to speak of ( pigeons, corvids or gulls ) was also a surprise.

Canada Goose	23 >> E over	Barleyfield
Mallard	4	Wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	Barleyfield
House Martin	1 feeding	1 briefly feeding over Barleyfield,
Wren	1 singing	Wetlands
Dunnock	few	Barleyfield
Robin	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Song Thrush	2	Barleyfield
Whitethroat	3+	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	5+	Western Border
Jay	2	1 >> S along Valley,  1 >> N over Barleyfield Annex,
Jackdaw	odds over	5 SW over Barleyfield,  then  odds over,
Chaffinch	1♀	Top Roses
Greenfinch	4	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	1	Hanging Grds

Tettenhall Ridge buzzards may have juvenile on the wing

1st August 15          morning          mid section

sunny spells,  11-16°c,  1014mb,   S 6- SW 9 mph

Three buzzards seen briefly a couple of time, flying between the trees on the steeply sloping edge of Tettenhall Ridge below a possible nest site, after possible calls to entice young into the air were heard.Otherwise its been very quiet today.

Mallard	few	S&W Canal
Sparrowhawk	1♀ flew north over  Tettenhall Ridge,
Buzzard	3,   poss 1 or 2 juv  seen briefly flying between trees of Tettenhall Ridge,
Moorhen	2 imm	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	22	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
House Martin	few over	Newbridge
Wren	2 singing	The Paddock
Whitethroat	2 ( 1 imm )	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	calls	Hanging Grds
Chiffchaff	2	Barleyfield
Long Tailed Tit	c6	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2	Top Roses
Goldfinch	2	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	3+	mid section
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield

A good mix of species but not great numbers

29th July 15            early morning                mid section

mostly sunny,  8-15°c,  1008- 1011mb,  W 2- NW 8 mph

At 7 o'clock this morning I thought it were September, misted up car windows,heavy dew and pretty cold. Walking through the Paddocks I think someone had turned the sound off, but once on the Barleyfield things started to pick up, with 4 blackcap greeting me in the Shrike Bushes and as the sun performed its magic so I began to see some birds. Another immature willow warbler along with an adult was by the old oak tree at the top of the western border.

Sparrowhawk	1♀ circling to the south of the Barleyfield
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 brood	1+1 imm Meadow View,
Black Headed Gull	18	Compton Field
Stock Dove	1 over	Top Roses
Swift	odds over	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E over	Barleyfield
House Martin	20+ over	Barleyfield
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Station Paddock
Whitethroat	1+	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	7	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	3	Barleyfield
Willow Warbler	2( 1 imm )	1 imm Hanging Grds, prob same imm + 1 ad  Annex oak,
Goldcrest	1	1 Station Paddock with tit flock,
Long Tailed Tit	few	small flock Station Paddock
Coal Tit	1	1 Station Paddock with tit flock,
Jay	1	Annex Barleyfield
Greenfinch	calls	Annex Barleyfield
Goldfinch	calls	mid section
Bullfinch	4+ ( 1 imm )	mid section
Small Tortoiseshell	2	Barleyfield
Small Skipper	few	Barleyfield
Essex Skipper	3+	Barleyfield
Comma	1	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield
Gatekeeper	2+	Barleyfield
Ringlet	few	Barleyfield
Banded Demoiselle	1	Hanging Grds
Blue Tailed Damselfly	1	Wetlands

First immature willow warbler this year

27th July 15           morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  14-16°c,  996mb,  WSW 8-15 mph

The only interest today was my first lovely lemon yellow immature willow warbler this year and I think the first for the valley. Otherwise very quiet, Ian visited earlier and it seems had more action but still struggled.
Two identical mallard broods with two juvs each and of similar age but at opposite ends of the patch.
A few nice fresh comma and gatekeeper butterfly, along with mostly worn and faded meadow brown and ringlets.

Mallard	2 broods	1♀+2 juv Meadow View,    1♀ + 2 juv  Prefabs ( brook)
Moorhen	2 broods	2 imm Wetlands,   4 imm Prefabs,
Black Headed Gull	54	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Swift	odds over	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	1	Compton Field
House Martin	plenty	Barleyfield
Wren	3 singing	Paddocks
Blackcap	1♀	Meccano Br
Chiffchaff	1 calling	Station Paddock
Willow Warbler	1 imm	Hanging Grds X
Chaffinch	1♂	The Paddock
Goldfinch	8+	mid section
Bullfinch	4	Hanging Grds
Comma	3	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	plenty	Barleyfield
Gatekeeper	few	Barleyfield
Ringlet	plenty	Barleyfield
Small White	few	Barleyfield

It felt like autumn stirring this morning

25th July 15           morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  12-15°c,  1014mb,  NW 11 mph

Only one singing bird (song thrush ) today, but  more activity than the last few days with family parties of whitethroat,blackcap and chaffinch. Nothing unusual yet but it's early days for autumn passage.

The parakeet was heard calling from the fir trees near Meccano bridge and then it arched north over Compton field almost following the line of the canal. Our parakeets spent most of last winter in and around West Park defending a tree with a possible nest hole which was blown down in storms around January. They were not seen again until Ian had them flying over Crowther Rd on 22nd Jan, but for the last two weeks local birders have reported them back at the park again, I had one today and one last saturday so are they the same pair or have we got more??

Mallard	1♀	Wetlands
Moorhen	2 broods	1+1 imm  Wetlands,   1+1 imm  Meadow View,
Black Headed Gull	15 ( 1 juv )	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 over	1 calling then flew  N across Compton playing field,
Swift	2 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	1 over	Compton Field
House Martin	30+ over	Barleyfield
Song Thrush	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	4 (family)	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	3+ ( family )	Hanging Grds
Chiffchaff	calls	Station Paddock,   Graiseley Culvert,
Long Tailed Tit	calls	Hanging Grds
Jay	1 >> to	Lower Alders
Chaffinch	3♂ 1♀ 2 juv	1♂ Meccano Grds,  2♂+1♀+2 juv ( family ) Hanging Grds
Greenfinch	4	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	calls	Hanging Grds
Bullfinch	calls	Hanging Grds

Another very quiet morning

23rd July 15          morning                mid section

cloudy,  12-14°c,   1017mb,   SW 4-7 mph

Roll on the autumn, next to nothing showing or singing today and definitely nothing unusual .

Good to see the moorhen brood near the Prefabs still intact.

Mallard	few	Staffs & Wocs
Moorhen	2 broods	1+2 full grown juv Wetlands,  1+4 well grown juv Perfabs,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Stock Dove	1	Wetland Fields
House Martin	3 over	Meadow View
Wren	1 singing	Station Paddock
Dunnock	2 singing	Station Paddock
Song Thrush	1 singing	Station Paddock
Whitethroat	calls	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	1 singing	Compton Rough
Chiffchaff	3 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Chaffinch	2	Top Roses
Greenfinch	3 (2 singing)	mid section
Goldfinch	5 ( 1 singing )	mid section

Hardly any song today

18th July 15            early morning                mid section

sunny & warm,   9-16°c,  1015mb,  S 6-SW 13 mph,

Birding was hard work today with very little song to guide us and lots of foliage to disappear into. The ring-necked-parakeet was heard calling in the Paddocks and then flew across towards the gardens of Henwood Rd. A few blackcap and whitethroat were around the lower Barleyfield and a sparrowhawk flew over to the north east as did a great spotted woodpecker. An adult and juvenile goldcrest was in the hedgerow between the canal and the Paddocks.

Mallard	few	Staffs & Wocs
Sparrowhawk	1♂ >> NE over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	2 broods	1 juv Meadow View,   1 + 3 juv Prefabs,
Black Headed Gull	11	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 >> W over	The Paddock
Swift	odds over	mid section
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> N over	Hanging Grds
House Martin	odds over	Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	1	Compton Field
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	3+	Barleyfield
Blackcap	2 singing	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	2 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	2 ( 1 imm )	2 ( 1 ad + 1 imm ) in trees btw canal /Paddock,
Chaffinch	pair	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	7	4 Paddocks,   3  Wetlands,
Bullfinch	pair	Barleyfield