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

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

Playing catch up

sun 24th January 16    Pool Hall area

dull & o/cast, 12-13°c,  1023mb SW 13 mph

A trip to Pool Hall and area with Ian was mostly quiet but did give us a good size flock of fieldfare, redwing and starling on fields between Perton Mill farm and the sewage works numbering at least 300 birds. They were eventually flushed by a predator which we couldn't find ( probably a high over flying  peregrine  as we would have seen anything else ). Pool Hall pool was poor with just 5 tufted duck and a few coot and moorhen. A single shoveler flying over fields was maybe heading to Pool Hall. Two lesser redpoll (a scarce species this year ) was found on Wightwick Fields. 

Grey Heron	3	SE fields
Mute Swan	1 flew E over	Wightwick Fields
Canada Goose	1	Pool Hall
Mallard	2 over	Smestow Fields
Shoveler	1 flew SW over	Smestow Fields
Tufted Duck	3♂ 2♀	Pool Hall
Buzzard	2	Wightwick Fields
Moorhen	1	Pool Hall
Coot	2	Pool Hall
Black Headed Gull	14	Pool Hall
Wood Pigeon	100+ flock	Eastern Fields
Robin	song	Pool Hall area
Fieldfare	c100	Perton Mill Fields
Redwing	c100	Perton Mill Fields
Long Tailed Tit	5+	Wightwick Fields
Starling	100+	Perton Mill Fields
Greenfinch	10+	Wightwick Fields
Goldfinch	2+	Wightwick Fields
Redpoll	2	Wightwick Fields

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

Parakeet the only highlight today

28th December 15           morning               mid section

cloudy,  10-11°c,   1014 mb,  SW 14

A brighter day than of late ( that's the weather not the birding ) and a good start with three little grebe from the old bridge on Meadow View and a robin singing, but the star was a calling parakeet in the large trees by the corner, it eventually flew and perched in the canal side trees of Station Paddock and then back again. It was still calling when I left for the Paddocks where I had it again, it left the area to the south. Two male pied wagtail by the Wetland pool and two redwing which flew from the Barleyfield Annex to Lower Alders and a female great spotted woodpecker flew to the trees between the prefabs and canal before going over Compton Rough to the railway trees were as good as it got today.

Little Grebe	4	S&W canal
Ring Necked Parakeet	1	Meadow View
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Prefabs
Pied Wagtail	2♂	Wetland Field
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Redwing	2	Barleyfield
Long Tailed Tit	few	Lower Alders
Great Tit	1 singing	The Paddock

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 nice walk

8th December 15           morning              mid section

partly sunny,  10-11°c,  1016 mb,  SSW 13 mph

  Very quiet again, just one little grebe sums the day up. Although some species not encountered for a while including a calling green woodpecker,the buzzard and a couple of redwing. The finch flock flew around the Wetland just once and disappeared over Lower Alders, probably mostly goldfinch but you never know.

Little Grebe	1 w/p	S&W Canal  tennis court
Buzzard	1 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	few including 4 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	17	Compton Field
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Redwing	2	Annex Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2+	Newbridge boats feeders
finch flock	c15	Wetlands
Bullfinch	1♂ 2♀	mid section

Another mixed bag

3rd December 15           morning               mid section

O/cast v/mild,  11-13°c,  1018 mb,  SE 4-S 10 mph

 The kingfisher seen twice was probably the highlight today, it flew to a perch below Compton Lock before flying off and a little later I had it or another fishing on the Smestow brook, from the bridge at Prefabs, it eventually flew north. A sparrowhawk high to the south of Barleyfield mobbed by two crows and later ether the same or another was briefly seen over Tettenhall Ridge, flying north. Just three little grebe today, the usual summery bird south of Prefabs and the two standard winter plumaged birds one either side of Meadow View bridge.

Little Grebe	3	S&W canal
Sparrowhawk	1  S of Barleyfield mobbed by 2 crows,  later 1 over Tettenhall Ridge,
Moorhen	1 imm	Prefab Weir
Kingfisher	1	mid section
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Hanging Grds
Pied Wagtail	1	Wetlands Field
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Redwing	1 over	Wetlands
Long Tailed Tit	15	Barleyfield
Great Tit	1 singing	Graiseley Reedbed
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Bullfinch	2	mid section

Winter birds star on a very wintery day

21st November 15       morning              mid section

sunny but very cold wind,  2°c,   1010 mb,   NW 19 mph,

Another by and large slow and quiet day was saved by a fieldfare in the Barleyfield Annex and a count of 6 siskin and about 8 goldfinch in the alders by the wetland pool which when they lifted off as usual proved to almost double that number.

Little Grebe	1 just N of Meadow View,   1 (dark ) Compton Lock,
Buzzard	1 over	Wetlands
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Robin	1 singing	Meadow View
Fieldfare	1	Annex Barleyfield
Song Thrush	1	Hanging Grds X
Redwing	10+	Annex Barleyfield
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Greenfinch	5	Annex Barleyfield
Goldfinch	2 over Wetlands,  8+ Eddies Alders,  ( mixed flock c20 (GO+SK) flew off,
Siskin	6+ Eddies Alders, ( mixed flock c20 (SK+GO) flew off,
Bullfinch	5	mid section

Are you ready for winter

20th November 15            morning               mid section

partly sunny,  6-7°c,   1008 mb,  SW 5-9 mph.

It was lovely and sunny today if a little chilly in the cold south west wind, but tomorrow the wind is switching to a more northerly direction and it will feel much,much colder. Later in the year ( jan/feb ) when we get a cold snap it often stirs up the bird population and brings us unusual species like goosander and other wild duck ( this is because our canal stays mostly unfrozen due to the warmish water pumped in from the sewage works up steam ).

Anyway back to today. The kingfisher was perched up 70m north of the bridge on the Smestow at Prefabs ( looked to have an all black bill but couldn't be 100% sure due to distance )( if so its a male ) it eventually flew north along the brook. Later seen again from the bridge over Smestow near Meccano flying south. Two little grebe between Compton Lock and the weir ( dark bird and the summery one ) also one near the Tennis Club, seen from Meadow View old bridge, I must have walked past it 10 minutes earlier ( what am I ).

Little Grebe	2 ( dark + s/p ) Prefabs,   1 Tennis Courts,
Moorhen	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Tennis Courts,
Kingfisher	1♂ ? Prefabs  smestow brook flew N,  later 1 flying S along smestow at Smestow bridge, prob same bird,
Robin	1 singing	Graiseley Culvert
Song Thrush	3 ( 1 singing )	Barleyfield
Redwing	5+	Barleyfield

Anything about?  just another kingfisher

16th November 15              morning                  mid section

cloudy,  9-10°c,  1007 mb,  SW 9-10 mph

Same time, same place, same bird, Yes Meadow View Bridge, my first glance down the canal and a kingfisher flying towards me, it carried on under the bridge north to the moored boats and disappeared behind them. Same time, same place, same birds, Yes the same two little grebe by Meccano bridge, later the summer plumaged grebe was again just south of  the weir, that's where the similarities ended. Two nuthatch together in the Barleyfield Annex along with about 20 redwing and a few finches was the best of the rest. That is unless Angus knows better? I met him arriving as I was leaving.

Little Grebe	3	2 (dark) Meccano Br,  1 (s/p) Prefabs,
Moorhen	1 imm ♂	S&W Compton
Black Headed Gull	30	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 flew N under Meadow View bridge,
Robin	1 singing	Compton Rough
Redwing	c20	Annex Barleyfield
Nuthatch	2	2 together Annex Barleyfield
Chaffinch	2♀	Annex Barleyfield
Greenfinch	few	Annex Barleyfield
Bullfinch	4♂ 1♀	mid section

Kingfisher,   Grey Wagtail,   Little Grebe

14th November 15           morning             mid section

o/cast,dull,  7-8°c,  1023mb,  SW 9-S 8 mph

Forecast rain held off long enough to get some birding done. I seemed to have flushed a kingfisher from just below the old bridge on Meadow View as I arrived on site, which flew off towards the brook in Station Paddock , also seen from here a little grebe to the north by the boats, probably the pale bird, two more seen by Meccano Br both darkish birds and another the now fast fading summer plumaged bird at the weir.  A grey wagtail on brook by Smestow Bridge makes a full pack of our water birds. 

Little Grebe	4	1 (s/p)+2 (dark w/p)+ 1 (pale poss 1cy)
Moorhen	3 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	13	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 flushed from below bridge-flew off twds Smestow Station Paddock,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Railway walk Annex Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	1 singing	The Paddock
Dunnock	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Redwing	c25	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	calls	Meadow View
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge boats feeders
Nuthatch	2 calling	Newbridge Wood
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	c5	mid section
Greenfinch	c15	mid section
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

Winter visitors out of the gloom

9th November 15           morning              mid section

gloomy,  11-12°c,  1017mb,   SSW 17 mph

A little grebe north of Tettenhall Rd to start the day and probably the same one had moved south later on return. Met Ian in the Paddocks. The Barleyfield produced ten or so fieldfare and a few redwing and a small group of finches in alders above Meccano Br proved to be goldfinch,chaffinch,bullfinch and three or four siskin. Otherwise very quiet in very gloomy and breezy conditions.

Little Grebe	1 (dark w/p )	Meadow View
Fieldfare	c10	Barleyfield
Redwing	9+	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1♀	Meccano Br
Goldfinch	1	Meccano Br
Siskin	3+	Meccano Br
Bullfinch	1♂	Meccano Br

Didn't see Ian but we seem to have had a similar day

3rd November 15            morning              mid section

O/cast & gloomy,  8-9°c,  1016mb,  SSE 5-S 2 mph

As Ian found, most of the action was up the top of Barleyfield. Redwing, more blackbirds than usual, more song thrush than usual, plus 9 greenfinch. Elsewhere I had 3 fleeting glimpses of the kingfisher on the Smestow off the Prefab bridge and the feeders by the boats at Newbridge wharf produced coal tit x3 plus more greenfinch and three bullfinch. Two little grebe off Meadow View early and probably the same two north of Meccano on the homeward journey. ( none of which was the summer plumage bird ). So if Ian had the s/p individual that's three today.

Little Grebe	2 ( 1 just N + 1 S ) Meadow View,  later same 2 Meccano Br,
Moorhen	5 imm	S&W Canal
Kingfisher	1	1 fleeting views Prefabs smestow,
Wren	1 singing	Compton Rough
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackbird	6\8	Annex Barleyfield
Song Thrush	4\6	Annex Barleyfield
Redwing	c20	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	3+	Newbride boats feeders
Chaffinch	1♂+	Newbride boats feeders
Greenfinch	15+	9 Top Roses,   few NBb feeder,
Bullfinch	2♂ 1♀	Newbride boats feeders

A winter fare

31st October 15          morning               mid section

murky,   11-13°c,  1019mb,  SSE 9-7 mph

A good start with grey wagtail and 3 little grebe off Meadow View bridge and a few redwing over the Paddocks. Barleyfield was quiet until we got to the top where we had more redwing, greenfinch, goldfinch and a ♂ sparrowhawk, the sparrowhawk reappeared over the Wetlands  and we had a ♀ over the valley later. The Wetlands also held more goldfinch and chaffinch. A great spotted woodpecker (probably ♀) perched high in trees between Hanging Grds and the railway walk and the Barleyfield was done. The canal produced six immature moorhen, more than we have seen for a long time but 3 of them were just north of the Tettenhall Rd so not officially the mid section. Also at the feeders here by the moored boats we had a coal tit, loads of greenfinch and another great spotted woodpecker a male this time. A smart grey wagtail on the Smestow at the Prefab bridge brings at least 3 different individuals on the patch. Two here ( prefabs ) and another well marked bird on the Smestow by St Michael's school.

Little Grebe	3 ( 1 S + 2 N ) MV, later  2 Tennis Courts,
Canada Goose	c50 over Barleyfield in 3 groups
Sparrowhawk	1♂ over Top Roses,  again Wetlands,  1♀ over Valley,
Moorhen	6 imm (1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br, 1 imm Meadow View, 3 imm Newbridge boats,).
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀ Hanging Grds,  1♂ Newbridge boats feeders,
Grey Wagtail	1 Meadow View,  1 v/bright Prefabs Smestow,
Wren	1 singing	Lower Alders
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5+	mid section
Redwing	c45	mid section
Coal Tit	1	Newbridge boats feeders
Chaffinch	2+ Wetlands, 2+ Newbridge boats feeders,
Greenfinch	c10 Top Roses,  c10 Newbridge boats feeders,
Goldfinch	10+	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	2	Shrike Bushes