A touch of frost and we get Teal  

16th January 16          morning            mid section   

hazy sunshine,  -1-2°c,  1030 mb,   WNW 3-W 4

Again the Barleyfield and canal was pretty quiet, with more seen between Tettenhall and Hordern Rds. The slushy mud was mostly frozen and hazy sunshine took the chill of the very low temperature. Just two little grebe on canal one either side of Prefab weir, coal tits on the feeders at Newbridge boats and Double Pennants and two nuthatch at the latter. The Smestow near Hawthorn Wood produced a bright grey wagtail and four teal which were flushed from behind gardens in Aldersley Rd.

Little Grebe	2	S&W Compton
Teal	4 flushed from Smestow Hawthorn Wood / Aldersley Rd,
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow/H Wood
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Meadow View
Coal Tit	1 Newbridge boats feeder + 1 Double Pennant feeder
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	2	Double Pennant
Jay	1	Hills Coaches
Chaffinch	1+	Newbridge boats feeder
Greenfinch	7 top Barleyfield,  few Newbridge boats feeders.
Goldfinch	3	Eddies Alders
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

North to Aldersley

8th January 16,         morning            north section

partly sunny,    4-7 °c,   996 mb,   S 8-10 mph

 North again today. The treecreeper still at Double Pennant in the same trees as 21/12 also there at least two coal tit after one on the feeders by Newbridge Boat moorings and a nuthatch calling over the canal in Newbridge wood. A great tit singing here was the only species in song apart from the robins. On the Smestow as it runs between Hawthorn Wood and the gardens of houses on Aldersley Rd I found the dull grey wagtail that Ian's been having recently. Four lapwing flew west off Dunstall Park and over the canal ( there's usually a good sized flock on DP so its strange they are so uncommon in the surrounding areas ). The single mute swan was near Meccano bridge and between here and Oxley Moor Rd there were five little grebe including the two with remains of summer plumage.

Little Grebe	5	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1	S&W Canal just N Meccano bridge
Lapwing	4 over	Dunstall Park
Black Headed Gull	c50	Aldersley Field
Grey Wagtail	1 dull	Smestow behind Hawthorn Wood
Robin	10 singing	north section
Song Thrush	1	Newbridge wood
Long Tailed Tit	1+	Double Pennant
Coal Tit	3+	north section
Great Tit	1 singing	Double Pennant
Nuthatch	calls	Newbridge wood
Treecreeper	1	Double Pennant
Jay	1	Hawthorn Wood
Rook	2+	Dunstall Park  Oaks rookery
Greenfinch	1	Newbridge boats feeder

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

Bit and pieces 

11th December 15         morning         mid section

cloudy,  6-7°c,  1019 mb,  SW 10 mph

The holy trinity of wren,dunnock and robin all in song greeted me at Meadow View, a trio that's been rare this year here, at least all singing. Also the pale little grebe swimming south under the old bridge, this one was picked up on the return journey at Meccano Bridge. The Barleyfield came back to life today after a few weeks of  hibernation, a redwing flew to the Alder plantation bordering the Wetlands pool ( Lower Alders ) to join a chaffinch, three siskin and two lesser redpoll, also here a moorhen feeding amongst the bullrushes. Another redwing at the top of the field with two greenfinch and in the nearby Annex four male and three female bullfinch a redwing and a single jay. The summery little grebe was back near the Prefabs weir and a winter plumaged grebe near the Tennis Courts. The garden feeders just south of Meadow View and the feeders by the moored boats at Newbridge boat yard was alive with coal tits ( hard to count as they continually fly in and out ).

Little Grebe	3	1 s/p ,  1 pale, 1 w/p,
Moorhen	1 Wetland, 1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br,  3 imm Newbridge Boats,
Green Woodpecker	calls  prob Tettenhall  Ridge, heard from BF,
Wren	1 singing	Meadow View
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Redwing	3	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1+ Newbridge feeder,      4+ Newbridge Boats feeder,
Jay	1	Annex Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1♂ 4♀	mid section
Greenfinch	7+	mid section
Goldfinch	1	Compton Rough
Siskin	3	Lower Alders
Redpoll	2	Lower Alders
Bullfinch	12	mid section

A late start, but turned out fine

17th October 15          late morning            mid section

cloudy,  10-11°c,  1024mb,  NW 4-N 8 mph

You've heard of the early bird catches the worm, well the late birder didn't do too bad today. As expected it was generally quiet in the trees and bushes but the canal waterbirds saved the day. Good to get the dark winged kingfisher perched up reasonably close, enough to see the bill which looked all black, making it a male. So we have two individuals because I had a female in the same place not long ago. Still two little grebe again in the area of the MS centre and flying over the MS building, a grey wagtail calling.

Little Grebe                                         2 (1 s/p + 1 w/p )  MS centre

Buzzard	1 adult over	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1 by tennis club flew twds Smestow at Paddocks,  later same around boats MS centre when seen to be ♂ dark bird,
Grey Wagtail	1	1 calling over MS centre,
Wren	2 singing	Wetlands
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Redwing	7	5 flying S along V,   2 over Top Roses Barleyfield,
Nuthatch	calls	Tennis Courts
Jay	1	Barleyfield

A hard slog for little reward

16th October 15            morning               mid section

dull & o/cast,   10-11 °c,   1024mb,   N 7-9 mph

Just one grebe, a summer plumaged bird with the mallards by the MS centre on arrival at the old Tettenhall Br, On the way back probably the same s/p bird was by Meccano bridge and another bird in winter plumage was just south of said bridge, A flock of about 40 redwing headed over Barleyfield to the northwest again, shortly after another 12 followed. Two calling nuthatch in the trees alongside the Smestow and behind the prefabs and a grey wagtail on the brook farther north by small Prefab bridge.

Little Grebe	2 (1s/p 1 w/p)	S&W Canal
Mallard	21♂   10♀	S&W Canal
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	19	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Grey Wagtail	1	prefabs
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Redwing	c52	c40 + 12 flew NW over Barleyfield,
Mistle Thrush	1	Wolves Firs
Nuthatch	2	Prefabs
Jay	1	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	2+	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	calls	Graiseley Cnr

Redwings have arrived 

15th October 15          morning               mid section

o/cast & cold,   6-10°c,  1023mb,   N 6 mph,

After just five minutes on site a small flock of c25 redwing flew northwest over Meadow View. The first for this autumn in the valley ( as far as I know ). The bushes and trees were quiet again, so instead of spending time bush bashing the lower Barleyfield I made my way up top to view the sky ( birders call this  "vismig" or visible migration ) in only half an hour two redwing  flocks of around 60 each went over again heading northwest, also seven were found in the dogwood and roses and blackthorn of the southwest corner.

Two parakeets flew west over the Wetlands, Two mute swan entered the Barleyfield airspace from the north arched around just once and immediately returned back north ( what's wrong with Barleyfield ).  The kingfisher put in another of appearance, this time by the tennis club.

Little Grebe	1 N of Meadow View,  later  2 ( 1 s/p+1 wt) N of Meccano Br,
Mute Swan	2 looped over	Barleyfield
Canada Goose	c30 > NE over	Barleyfield
Ring Necked Parakeet	2 flew W over	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1 flushed Tennis Courts flew twds Smestow,
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Redwing	c 150 over	mid section
Chiffchaff	calls	Wetlands
Jay	2	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

Reed Bunting  valley year tick for me

13th October 15            morning                mid section

mostly cloudy,  5-11°c,   1025mb,  N 6-11 mph

Up until 2010 reed bunting was a regular breeding bird on the Barleyfield, indeed that year i'm sure  the pair had two successful broods. I still miss the repetitive song every spring when sitting on the seat at the top of the meadow. From there I could hear many singing birds in april including reed bunts and willow warbler, another species which didn't breed this summer for the first time.

A calling parakeet above the Paddocks, two chiffchaff still hanging on and still two little grebe by Meccano Br were other highlights.

Little Grebe	2	2 Meccano Br
Moorhen	1 Wetlands,  17 counted Compton Rd - Tettenhall Rd,
Ring Necked Parakeet	calls	The Paddock
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E over	Barleyfield
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	2	c Paddock,  1 in bullrushes  Wetlands,
Coal Tit	1	The Paddock
Jay	2	mid section
Greenfinch	calls	Annex Barleyfield
Goldfinch	4	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	calls	graiseley Cnr
Reed Bunting	1	Central Scrub
Speckled Wood	1	Prefabs

Meccano Gardens saw all the action today

12th October 15          morning               mid section

sunny,   4-11°c,   1021mb,   N 3-4 mph

A better day, with three quarters of the species seen today being at or near Meccano Grds. Chiffchaff and great spotted woodpecker the highlights but jay,goldfinch,chaffinch and bullfinch also. Two little grebe by the MS centre, a kingfisher ( dark one) below Compton Lock and another chiffchaff at the Wetland sallows.

A couple of late butterfly species in the warming sunshine rounded the day off.

Little Grebe	2	2 ( 1 s/p + 1 dark ) off  Meadow View
Buzzard	1 over	Prefabs
Moorhen	2 ad	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	15	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 (dark)	below Compton Lock
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Meccano Grds
Robin	15 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	2	1 Meccano Grds,  1 Wetlands
Long Tailed Tit	10+	Meccano Grds
Jay	3	mid section
Chaffinch	5	Meccano Grds
Goldfinch	4	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	5	Barleyfield
Red Admiral	1	Meadow View
Speckled Wood	1	Prefabs

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

A flock of parakeets and Barleyfield lifted

9th October 15          morning            mid section

sunny,  7-13°c,    1022mb,  S 1-6 mph

A cracking start with a kingfisher dashing south along the canal. The Paddocks were quiet, no chiffchaff today, but arriving at Meccano Br I heard the calls of a parakeet, it didn't take long to locate. As I watched it another appeared and after a while they both flew into back gardens of houses in Henwood Rd. Now I had one yesterday and we've been seeing one or two since January, so I wasn't surprised, but another flew to join them in the garden ( brill ) feeding together on sunflower heads and sitting on an ornamental arch. Imagine my surprise when two more flew in!! ( brilliant ) and then another !!!, making six ( double brill ), all performing on and around this arch, plus i'm sure I could still hear another calling above me. They must have bred somewhere near over the summer, possibly up on Tettenhall Ridge?

Contractors were collecting and lifting the grass cuttings off the Barleyfield this morning, so that's good news for our flower meadow next year.

Little Grebe	1 s/p	1 by boats MS centre,
Moorhen	1 imm	1 imm Prefab weir,
Ring Necked Parakeet	6+	6 Henwood Rd grd + 1 c Meccano Br,
Kingfisher	1	1 >> S along canal past SqC,
Grey Wagtail	1	Prefabs, Smestow
Wren	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	22 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	11	mid section
Coal Tit	1	The Paddock
Jay	1	Wetlands
Bullfinch	5 (2♂)	Hanging Grds

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

Chiffchaff

6th October 15              morning                   mid section

mostly cloudy,   13-16°c,   996mb,    E-SE 6 mph

Three sightings of chiffchaff in the Paddocks this morning was probably the same bird but two together in Meccano Grds makes three, then another in the Hanging Grds and later, it or another was found feeding and heading towards the Barleyfield crossings. So at least 4 and possibly more chiffchaff today, but no other warbler species present. 

Buzzard	1 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Meccano Br,   1 imm Wolves Firs,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> N over	The Paddock
Grey Wagtail	1 flew W over top BF,  1 on Smestow Prefabs,
Wren	2 singing	Barleyfield
Robin	17 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	3 sighting, poss same bird Paddocks,  2 Meccano Grds,  1+ Hanging Grds,  later 1 HG moving twds crossings,
Long Tailed Tit	c10	mid section
Nuthatch	1	The Paddock
Jay	6 sightings	mid section
Goldfinch	1	Shrike Bushes

A mixed bag

4th October 15              morning                  mid section

sunny,  8-13°c,  1014mb,  SE 6 mph

Two warbler species, chiffchaff  one in bushes near Meccano Br and blackcap 1♀ in Hanging Grds northern end and a male by the Barleyfield crossings in elder bushes. Again numerous sightings of jay around the Barleyfield probably involving 2-3 birds and one calling by the station. Two green woodpecker flying and calling in the Hanging Grds, one flew across field to Wetland Alders. A nuthatch calling from the eastern border of Barleyfield was unusual. A grey wagtail foraging in the brook by the bridge at Prefabs and a little grebe by the Meccano bridge.

Little Grebe	1	1 nr s/p  Meccano Br,
Moorhen	2 imm	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Meccano Br,
Green Woodpecker	2	Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1	1 ad wt  Prefabs on smestow,
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	15 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1♂ 1♀	1♀ Hanging Grds,  1♂ Hanging Grds X,
Chiffchaff	1	Meccano Grds
Nuthatch	calls	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Jay	4+	mid section
Chaffinch	2 >> E over	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	5	Barleyfield
Red Admiral	1	Meadow View
Speckled Wood	2	1 Barleyfield,  1 Prefab Weir

an oversight from yesterday

A confrontation with the Barleyfield fox

Steady as you go

3rd October 15            morning             mid section

low cloud,chilly,  7-8°c,   1017mb   SW 3-N 4 mph

A chiffchaff with the tit flock in the Paddocks was the only warbler of the day. Another kingfisher sighting again the same general area eventually flew north under the two Tettenhall Rd bridges and disappeared behind the moored boats at Newbridge boat yard. This was a female, it would be interesting to know the sex of the dark bird? The Barleyfield wasn't exactly jumping with birds but a steady stream gradually filled my notebook. Only one little grebe seen today and I saw it from Meadow View bridge, having just walked the towpath, I obviously missed it, Wonder how many more were hiding in the canal side vegetation.

Little Grebe	1	S&W Canal  near tennis club
Moorhen	2 imm	1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br,
Stock Dove	4 >> SW over	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	S&W Canal near Squash Club
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E over	Barleyfield
Wren	1	Compton Rough
Robin	20 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2	Annex Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	1	The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	c6	The Paddock
Nuthatch	calls	Tennis Courts
Jay	c4	Barleyfield
Goldfinch	9	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	2	mid section

Two seasons clash again

2nd October 15         morning              mid section

foggy start but sunny later,  6-13°c,  1028mb,  NW 3-NE 7 mph

Two singing chiffchaff a reminder of summer and autumn and two little grebe very much winter visitors. The chiffchaff, one at either end of the mid section, the grebe, first one near Meccano Br and later two together near Meadow View Br ( can't be sure whether  2 or 3 birds involved ? )  Three buzzards together over the valley suggests the local pair with a female immature. The kingfisher seen again by Dave and Jesseney ( of Wolves Wild fame ) in exactly the same area that I had it on tuesday and I later had it today.

I met our two readers this morning. Two lovely ladies who asked if I was Mr Russon ( after looking around for some posh bloke, I realized they were referring to me ) they reported seeing a treecreeper at the end of the Paddocks. Thanks Sue & Helen.

Little Grebe	2	S&W Canal
Buzzard	1♂  2♀	Valley
Moorhen	calls Wetlands,  1 imm Prefabs, Smestow brook
Black Headed Gull	odds over	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1 flew N along	S&W Canal past Tennis Club
Robin	14 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	2 singing	1 Station Paddock, 1 Barleyfield Annex,
Long Tailed Tit	4	Barleyfield Annex
Jay	3+	mid section
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

Autumn strikes the Barleyfield

1st October 15             morning                  mid section

low cloud,chilly easterly,  11°c,  1033mb,  ENE 6-E 7 mph

The leaves are starting to change colour and fall, the mornings are foggy and the wildlife characters are beginning to changeover. Not surprisingly given the cloudy and cold conditions it was generally quiet today, 

Only one warbler all morning, a single male blackcap in the elder bushes near the Barleyfield crossing exit. Siskins have been entering our islands from Scandinavia in huge numbers  recently and so have coal tits. Not sure why but it's probably a lack of food on the continent or perhaps they have had an exceptional breeding season but they have found our patch at last. I had a flock of 20+ siskin over the trees near Meccano br this morning. Also a single coal tit in the paddocks ( this was probably a local bird ). Regular sightings of jay again probably four birds involved.

Little Grebe	2	Canal just south Meadow View bridge
Robin	16 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1♂	Hanging Grds
Long Tailed Tit	1	The Paddock
Coal Tit	1	The Paddock
Jay	c4	Barleyfield
Siskin	20+	flock 20+ over MG landed briefly,