A rare visit to Dunstall Park

12th April 16              morning                Dunstall Park

mostly cloudy,  8-11°c,  1005 mb,  W 4-6 mph

  I knew Gazz had seen 2 wheatear yesterday at Dunstall whilst not finding any little gulls, so I thought it worth a trip this morning. Eleven wheatear were on view, one of which was bright enough to be of the greenland race. Also 2 singing willow warbler and 2 chiffchaff.

Little Grebe	2	Dunstall Park
Mute Swan	4	Dunstall Park
Greylag Goose	2	Dunstall Park
Canada Goose	few	Dunstall Park
Mallard	6	Dunstall Park
Buzzard	2	Dunstall Park
Moorhen	2+	Dunstall Park
Coot	6	Dunstall Park
Lesser Black Backed Gull	few	Dunstall Park
Herring Gull	3	Dunstall Park
Swallow	3	Dunstall Park
Pied Wagtail	1 over	Dunstall Park
Wheatear	11	Dunstall Park
Song Thrush	1 singing	Dunstall Park
Mistle Thrush	1	Dunstall Park
Chiffchaff	2 singing	Dunstall Park
Willow Warbler	2 singing	Dunstall Park
Great Tit	1 singing	Dunstall Park
Rook	few	Dunstall Park

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

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

MUGGED STARLINGS, MORE SWANS

AND A WINTERING WARBLER . . .

 

Dunstall Park

Saturday,  16th November

Mid-morning, dull, cool, damp, calm.

Well, the Mute Swans are still here, and now there are more of them.  Three adults and six youngsters were on the lake on November 9th, and since then one of the juveniles (its plumage was slightly more advanced then the other five) has departed, and at least two more adults have arrived.  The water level is still high, so perhaps they'll stay.  The Gadwall pair first seen at the start of the month are still here, sharing the water with five male and a female Shoveler and seven male and five female Teal.  At least three Coot are still present (adults and youngsters seen during the summer will have joined wintering rafts of their species at reservoirs such as Pool Hall, Gailey, Belvide and Chasewater), a young Moorhen picks its way along the base of the island, where at least six Snipe rest and preen among the rocks.  Thin notes from three Dunnock show how the lake's flourishing waterside vegetation is starting to attract small passerines,  a single Rook calls from the top of a tree near to where it and others of its species now nest by the Staffs & Worcs Canal,  six Goldfinch tinkle and twitter by lock 20 on the Birmingham Canal, and at least 25 Redwing arrow across and drop down over Aldersley, perhaps spooked by an unseen raptor.  On the central grass area 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull and two adult and one first-winter Herring Gull rest and preen, while some of a group of c.150 Black-headed Gull forage with a flock of at least the same number of Starling.  Closer observation shows there's a darker side to the Black-headeds' activities, for every few minutes a Starling will fly up and away from its feeding companions, with a gull hot on its tail.  The smaller bird tries to escape with a small worm or some other food item it has found, the gull won't give up the chase, the two species twist and turn, eventually the Starling loses its pursuer (one Starling flies to the top of a floodlight pylon and hides among the lamps), and the gull glides back down on to the grass to look for another potential victim.  I've seen Black-headeds do this to foraging Redwing on a playingfield, taking advantage of the smaller species' ability to find food. 

  

Dunstall Park

Tuesday,  19th November

Winter's here now, the leaves are turning and falling, the wind's in the north west, it's cold, with broken cloud.  Two of the Mute Swan adults have left the lake, and it seems the two that remain are parents to the five youngsters which are feeding quietly along the edges of the beds of aquatic grass.  The six Shoveler are still here, at least five Teal are visible (accurate counts of such a wary species can often only be made if  the ducks are frightened into flight), and two Snipe sit  motionless at the base of the island.  Coarse calls from trees and bushes along the south western side of the site bordering the former Valley Park School come from a loose group of c.40 Crows, typically worked up about nothing much, and 35 Canada Geese are foraging on grass by the all-weather track with two Greylag Geese, one of which flies off towards the city, its cackling call failing to persuade its companion to follow it.  A Buzzard lifts off from trees just south of Aldersley canal junction, a striking male Bullfinch sits at the base of a hawthorn, and, towards the top of a silver birch, a small shape hovers hummingbird-style under the crisp orange leaves, a Chiffchaff, my first warbler for the valley this winter.  Suddenly, the morning seems warmer . . .       

Dunstall Park

Saturday, 23rd November

Frost last night, morning mist clearing, the slightest of breezes from the north east, and sure enough, at least half the lake covered by thin ice.  Ones, twos, fives and threes, foraging Snipe are flushed, scratched alarm calls as they slant low across the stiff white-edged grass and over the wire fence towards the shelter of the shoreline and island, at least 20, their numbers having dramatically increased in recent days as the temperatures dropped.   On the lake are one adult and one juvenile Mute Swan, presumably the only ones of the family of seven to have stayed.  Six male and a female Teal are still there, four Coot chug along the ice-free passages, two Mistle Thrush rattle their way over the lake towards the Farndale estate (one was singing on Friday by the canal at Dimmingsdale near Pool Hall), and at least 25 Fieldfare and a handful of Redwing move noiselessly north eastwards across a dull sky.  The trees may still spell autumn, but it's winter now.  

(Dunstall Park is a closed commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled.)

    

                

 

Here's to black roosters, white

dancers and a grebe that got away

Dunstall Park, July 2013

Sporadic and brief visits to the racecourse during July in what is normally one of the site's quieter times, so perhaps a round-up is in order, a few snapshots of a month when migrants moved, the earth burned and butterflies danced.

Families of Canada Geese walk sedately across the central grass area as the heat increases mid-morning, the procession marking the end of one of their daily grazing sessions, the thirteen gosling now virtually adult-sized, following their parents to duck under and through a hole in the lake fence.  The birds follow a path single-file through dried rough grass, down the earth bank, across the mud margins and under a burning sun they push out on to the water to rest and preen.  Their relief at being afloat again is almost palpable.

Striking, alert, with black-moustache and azure wing-flash, an adult Jay sits, watching intently from a bush at the north western corner of the racecourse.  Its attention suddenly drawn to an insect at the very tip of the branch, the bird hops forward and as its weight becomes unsupportable, delibrately falls to one side and drops, the insect flying up as the branch shakes.  Already the Jay is climbing, describing an almost perfect circle against the bright sky to snatch its prey on the way back down.  The bird settles on its original perch, and consumes its victim.  A ten-second performance from a corvid to match a Spotted Flycatcher.

Two stripe-necked juvenile Little Grebe (fledged, from another site and present from mid-month) float together on the lake preening and washing, all is calm, a female Shoveler feeds in the shallows, adult and juvenile Coot are chugging to and fro, a juvenile Grey Heron stands hunched on the island, where House Sparrow feed in stands of rosebay willowherb and adult and juvenile Starling cluster, sunning themselves against a bank of bramble.  An immature Lesser Black-backed Gull lands and floats towards the grebes. Sensing danger, one moves away as the gull lifts off and accelerates towards the sibling, its intention suddenly clear, but not to the grebe, which young and inexperienced sits motionless as its attacker homes in.  The gull twists and plunges forward, its wingtip hitting the water, there's a splash as its bill seems to touch the smaller bird, but the grebe vanishes, crash-diving at the last moment and avoiding the fate of Mallard duckling, many of which were amost certainly taken in this way earlier in the summer.  The gull shakes itself, straightens, climbs and moves off towards the city. No easy pickings this time.

The heat has been intense for days, but overnight thunderstorms are promised.  It's mid-evening on 22nd, the air is still, the atmosphere close, as a flock of at least 50 House Martin, adults and youngsters from the nesting colony on the nearby Farndale housing estate, swarm around the tops of floodlight pylons near the grandstand and Barn Swallow track back and fore low over the grass near their stables breeding site.  Three swallows perch in bushes by the edge of the lake, where a Coot still finds time to be stroppy, rushing past a single Green Sandpiper which stands motionless in the shallows (this migrant species has been dropping in at the lake throughout the month, with four birds seen on June 30th).  A Stock Dove bends forward to drink from water so still it reflects the outlines of  c.40 Lapwing clustered along the muddy margins, as a young Whitethroat flies from the base of a bush and disappears into the grass.  Dusk approaches, so it's back along the tarmac strip towards the grandstand. More than 500 dark shapes are resting, preening or foraging, black against the scorched yellow-brown grass, most of them Crows and Jackdaws, with a scattering of juvenile and adult Rooks, all drawn to this pre-roost gathering.  I leave before they do, clouds are gathering on the far horizon, the heatwave is ending.

The month is coming to a close, the storms have retreated, and at the lake it's quiet in the late morning.  The two young Little Grebe are still present, 12 Lapwing fly up as a female Sparrowhawk flaps her way across towards the Farndale, and a Green Sandpiper picks its way along the shoreline.  Flying low from the oak copse near the Water Bridge, an adult Buzzard gains height before moving purposefully towards Stockwell End, where it circles, drops and is lost to view.  It's sunny and hot, but not with the intensity of recent days, long grass and thistles along the north western edge drainage ditches stirring gently in the warm breeze as fluttering shapes move through and low above them, butterflies dancing their way from one flower to the next, a sight which was missing last year in one of the worst-ever breeding seasons for their kind.  Small Whites are here in abundance, with smaller numbers of Large Whites, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Small Tortoiseshells.   Two newly emerged Peacocks sun themselves, "eye" wings outstretched, perfect in colour and form  (a female Common Blue was seen earlier over close-cropped grass by the lake, and in recent days Commas have appeared).  A last look upward, slender white shapes are flicking and twisting against the bright sky, a flock of ten or more Black-headed Gulls fly-catching high over the lake, drifting towards the city as they follow the insect feast.  Summer has a way to go yet . . .   

                                      
(NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled).

                       

By 'eck, Drain Swallows are back

and these two are early birds . . .

Dunstall Park

Sunday 23rd June 2013,  cool, early drizzle, clearing later, 09.40 to 10.30.

A few days away, so back to the racecourse to see what if anything is happening in one of the quietest years in three decades locally for breeding and passage bird species.  Barn Swallow flit back and fore from the open stables where their newly fledged youngsters are sheltering from the weather, and adult and juvenile Rook forage on the open grass, near to a group of Canada Geese, the 13 surviving youngsters grazing alongside their parents and other adults.  Gulls are beginning to return, with 14 adult and two immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a single second-summer Herring Gull preening and resting near to the geese before flying off towards the city.  At the lake at least ten Coot youngsters of varying sizes either stick close to their parents or are starting to find food for themselves, a female Mallard still shepherds three youngsters nearly as big as herself, and a pair of Gadwall sleep on the water near the island, the male's breeding plumage starting to fade as the summer progresses (these may have been the birds which stayed at the lake from early January until late April this year).  A male Pied Wagtail picks his way along the shoreline, near to a single Lapwing and two Green Sandpiper, the latter very possibly the birds seen at the lake six days ago on 17th.  These waders are among the first species to be seen locally on return migration, leaving their breeding grounds in northern and eastern Europe in mid-summer and flying back to their wintering quarters in Africa and western Europe.  On return passage, they and other species often stay for some time at favoured sites, and in 2010 ones and twos stopped off at Dunstall Park, sometimes lingering for periods of a week or longer, from late June through to early September, with four birds present on one occasion.  These latest visitors fed along the shallow margins before flying to a more sheltered inlet by the island, white rumps showing why their old Norfolk nickname Martin Snipe is so appropriate (other names include the intriguing Yorkshire tag of Drain Swallow, perhaps referring to the bird's liking for relatively small wetland sites such as farm ponds and rural sewage beds).  This is the second-earliest local return record for Green Sandpiper, so good to know that not everything this year has been weeks late.

Dunstall Park        

Thursday 27th June 2013, hot, broken cloud, westerly wind, 10.20 to 11.30.

Weather better, with at least 20 Jackdaw swirling and chacking their way against the wind over the western edge trees, and brief song from Chiffchaff and Blackcap near the canal junction copse.  A Chiffchaff family with at least four youngsters is in a hedge near the old pumphouse (the shale-based racetrack had to be watered regularly during hot spells in the 1990s), and Greenfinch and Common Whitethroat call from lakeside bushes.  There's a pleasant surprise in the form of three Moorhen chicks being fed by their parents along the base of the island, where 50-plus Starling, mostly juveniles, preen and sunbathe.  A single Common Buzzard wings its way heavily low along the canal towards Newbridge, at the same time as two more of its kind sweep up to circle high above Tettenhall ridge far off to the west.  Buzzard sightings will become more frequent now, with youngsters fledging or flying.  They will soon be calling continuously from exposed perches as their parents circle above, drawing them away from the security of their nest sites into the world of the adult raptor.    

(NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled).


    


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One glimpse, and the grebe is gone

Dunstall Park

Friday 7th June 2013, calm, warm, bright, 09.30 to 10.25.

At last it's summer, warmest day so far this year, so a quick check of the racecourse before the sun gets hot and high.  Barn Swallows are hawking low near their nests in the open stables, and corvids, including juvenile and adult Rook, are feeding on the central grass area, where the Canada Goose creche is grazing, 14 well-developed youngsters with 18 adults in attendance.  On to the lake, where a few House Martin from the Farndale housing estate nests are hawking, and a juvenile Grey Heron, very probably from the Pendeford Mill breeding colony, sits motionless in long grass near the shoreline.  An adult Moorhen chugs away beyond the island, and three pairs of Coot are feeding a total of eight chicks (there are probably more, but it's the devil's own job to count them accurately).  Adult and juvenile Starling take advantage of the falling water level to bathe, splashing vigorously on the shoreline near to a single drinking Stock Dove, and a female Mallard shadows three well-grown ducklings, the only ones of her 10-strong brood to survive.  That appears to be it, when a low, squat shape suddenly appears deep amidst the patches of spiked aquatic grass, a single Little Grebe sitting motionless, in outline against the glittering water.  I'd virtually written them off as a breeding species here this year, despite the presence of two pairs at the lake at the end of April, and this sighting proves nothing.  But these diminutive birds are secretive nesters, so it's just possible they may be breeding after all.  Another look to check where it might go, but too late, the bird's already dived, not a ripple remains.  We'll have to wait and see . . .   

(NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled).

              

Loneliness of the long-wait Lapwing

Dunstall Park

Wednesday 22nd May 2013, cold northerly wind, dull.

It's bitter for the time of year, and the dearth of birds at the racecourse lake is a true reflection of one of the coldest springs ever recorded.  Some species are now sadly marked only by their absence:  the Mute Swan pair have left, the long-staying Gadwall are gone, and the Little Grebe pair have provided neither sight nor sound for around 10 days.  If they're nesting they're keeping their heads down, but I rather think they've quit the site.  Two of three Coot chicks are still being fed by adults, Canada Goose goslings number ten in total (three broods have now hatched), but there's no sign of any Mallard youngsters.  All in all a sorry state of affairs . . . but then a familiar shape on the island shows that hope can spring eternal.  A single Northern Lapwing stands bravely against the wind, half-sheltered by low vegetation, in a spring vigil that its species has kept here for the last ten years.  Lapwings first appeared at the lake only months after its creation late in 1993, and wintering flocks have visited the site annually ever since.  Numbers have fluctuated, but totals of c.500 and c.600 were noted in February of 2000 and 2002, and display flying in April and May was seen as early as 1998.  It seemed only a matter of time before breeding was attempted, and sure enough in 2002 two pairs nested, with one set of youngsters successfully fledging.  Since then at least one pair has bred annually, but success has eluded them since 2007.  Even so, birds have still turned up in late March and early April, waiting for a mate to appear, so although very late, this one is at least keeping the breeding tradition going.  Perhaps the same bird appeared briefly last month at the lake in one of the few warm breaks in the weather, but with June now fast approaching,  hopes of it pairing and nesting are fading fast. The racecourse operators always keep a 20-metre strip unmown near the lake to encourage the birds to nest, so it's fingers crossed all round.  At least ten House Martin are hawking over the lake, harsh calls from treetops at the canalside oak copse on the western edge of the site suggest young Rooks are being fed at their nests, and to the north a single Common Buzzard hovers Kestrel-like against the wind as it scans the grass slopes by the railway carriageworks for anything that moves.  With things the way they are, I wish it luck . . .           

NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled.




  

A "Swift" Walk Home Produces Late Arriving migrants!!

Monday 6th May -  Early evening Farndale to Compton Park

A beautiful sunny Bank Holiday prompted me to walk along the valley after work.

I rarely visit the area of the valley between Lock 16 on the Birmingham Canal and The Lupin Field, so I was pleasantly surprised to see good numbers of House Sparrows among the canal side hedges.

On the Farndale Estate, it looked like around 20 House Martins were busy around nest sites.

Goldfinches were singing at Locks 16,17 and 18 and at the Lupin Field, 3 Common Whitethroat, were noted, apparently in separate territories.

2 Blackcap were singing near Lock 20, with a pair of Greenfinch and a vocal Song Thrush nearby.

Rooks were on 2 nests in the NW corner of Dunstall Park (Private land), and on all 4 near Dunstall Water Bridge. A Chiffchaff was singing and presumably it's mate calling nearby.

The Moorhen was still sitting on the nest platform at The Wildside Activity Centre, and at Hordern Road Bridge an adult was with 2 small chicks on the canal.

At Newbridge Wood the Great Spotted Woodpecker was still drumming and calling along with a singing Chiffchaff.

I hadn't eaten so I grabbed a some Fish & Chips and went up to Geoff's bench at the top of the Barleyfield to scoff them, doing a half-hearted skywatch as I filled my belly!!!

At about 8pm, they arrived. The balmy weather seemed to have made them lazier than usual on passage.
At first they headed straight up the valley from the SW, but then they started climbing and circling, with occasional banking and dives: Swifts, 2 of them. They continued to circle and dive, working their way slowly up the valley till they were out of sight with the naked eye.

I finished my meal, happy that though late, these amazing masters of speed were back. I headed up onto Compton Park and as I got up onto the top pitches, I looked up towards the traditional Swift nesting area at Newbridge. To my Surprise, there were now three birds, tracking backwards and forwards, quite high, between. These were certainly behaving as local birds and may possibly have explained the leisurely behavior of the two birds I had seen earlier....lets see.

2 Grey Wagtail headed NE off the Wetland to roost and 3 Stock Dove were on the wetlands.

N.B On Saturday, whilst playing football with my lad and some mates by S. Peter's School, I noted a pair of crows chasing off Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, from their nest site, an adult Herring Gull flew North (causing me to let in a goal!!) and 2 Stock Dove passed over.

THURSDAY  18th APRIL 2013

Dunstall Park

Strong north westerly wind, cold, broken cloud, 10am to 11.30am.

It's always worth waiting for the waders

All the action seemed to have been at the Compton barleyfield last week, so a visit to the racecourse on Thursday seemed to be in order.  A strong wind and bright sun meant  conditions weren't easy at the lake, but almost immediately a flash of white drew attention to a small dark bird that appeared to have landed on a patch of spiked vegetation near the shoreline. The lack of exposed margins will probably mean fewer wader sightings this year, but this one had chosen to come down during its migration journey, the site's second Green Sandpiper for 2013, its white undersides clear as it stood motionless on top of what would have been open water in recent years.  Five or so minutes later I heard it call as 13 adult and three immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew up, and despite a search of the shoreline, it was not seen again.  Soon afterwards a single Lapwing left the site and headed off in its rolling jerky way low towards Newbridge. It may have been checking out the lake for others of its kind, as at least one pair of the species has nested there for many years.  Three Snipe crouching motionless on the lee side of the island brought the wader total for the morning to three species.  The strengthening wind and glittering water made it difficult to pinpoint and stay with  two Barn Swallow and a couple of House Martin as they flicked back and fore over the surface, but close attention to one bird's erratic flight action revealed a light-bellied, brown-bibbed Sand Martin, almost certainly the first record for the valley this year.  Elsewhere on the lake at least four Coot pairs were building nests, the Gadwall pair upended in the shallows and  a Little Grebe appeared briefly among vegetation in which it and its mate are almost certainly nesting. Just one pair of Teal were still present, at least three pairs of Canada Geese were sitting, and a male Reed Bunting sang from the island.  Black tail feathers sticking up from two nests in the nearby oak copse suggested two pairs of Rook were sitting, and a check soon afterwards of rookery nests further along the site's north western edge showed another two were occupied.  A male Shoveler flew high across the site towards the city, two Nuthatches called from trees near the raceourse's north western corner, and song from a Blackcap and at least three Chiffchaff showed that good numbers of migrant warblers were now arriving along the valley.  A pair of Bullfinch were among other birds bringing the number of species seen during the visit to 34.  Things are getting better . . .    

NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Access is strictly controlled.

     

                

THURSDAY 11th APRIL 2013

Dunstall Park

Dull, damp, overnight rain, 10.15 to 11.30am.

It's a ducks de luxe day down at Dunstall

At last, an end to a seemingly endless run of freezing high-pressure easterlies, when nature seems to have been suspended, and wildlife has been barely ticking over.  Some proper weather now, still a wee bit cold, but what a pleasure to walk after the rain, to smell the damp, and to see the first faint signs of green on trees and bushes.  A singing Goldcrest, four Siskin and a bumble bee in the garden yesterday lifted the spirits, so with the Compton barleyfield starting to produce migrant birds for Chris and Geoff,  it's off to Dunstall to see what, if anything, has arrived, and equally importantly, to see what intends to stay.  As usual, colder on the course itself than in the car park, so put on an extra layer, and move out alongside the central grass and drainage ditches.  Nothing on the grass, no migrants, it's late now for gulls, so a brisk walk towards the lake, where at least 15 Canada Geese are grazing or noisily defending nesting territories.  Five young Coot from last year's broods are feeding as usual on top of the grass banks, while at least two pairs of adults are again building nests (some were started and then left during one of the brief lulls in the cold spell).  With at least ten adult birds present, it could be a record breeding year for the species.  A pair of Moorhen are briefly visible by the concrete run-off apron for the Smestow brook, the Mute Swan pair glide out to feed alongside the rafts of vegetation, and from the same area come the shrill calls of Little Grebe.  They're not seen, but a pair has been here for at least three weeks, and with any luck they'll nest (birds last bred here in 2000, when one out of three hatched youngsters fledged).  The telephone-ring song of a  Reed Bunting is eventually traced to a male perched on a bankside bush, but there's no sign of a mate.   On the other side of the lake are three pairs of Teal, resting at the base of the site's steepest bank, a place they have favoured over the past few weeks as they sheltered from the bitter winds.  Near to them a pair of Gadwall (they first arrived in January) move out from the water's edge, shadowed by a single male, as two pairs of Mallard rest on the grass.  A good day for ducks becomes even better as a handsome male Shoveler escorts his partner into the middle of the lake before they both take off and rise to circle before heading off towards the city, their spatular bills obvious against the dull sky.  Then effortlessly and gracefully from the semi-enclosed end of the lake near to the brook run-off, the morning's star emerges, slim, elegant, his sleek head and sawbill pointing out towards the deeper water, a first-summer male Goosander, the first of his species to be seen at the site this year.  He's not yet the real deal in plumage terms, but already what an imperious, superb bird he is.  Regional nicknames include the Yorkshire label "Jacksaw" and the Sussex tag "Spear Duck".  The species only started to breed in Britain in the 1870s, and since then wintering birds have been recorded in increasingly large numbers all over the country.  Breeding is still largely confined to northern Britain, but a few pairs have nested in Worcestershire and Staffordshire.  The first Smestow Valley sighting came in 2002, and wintering birds have been recorded annually since then over and on the canals and on the racecourse lake.  Numbers peaked in 2009 when eight were seen together on the  lake on January 12th, but falling water levels at the site meant that numbers dropped subsequently.  Last year's sodden summer filled the lake again, so hopefully totals will rise once more.  This record was bang on the average date for the last West Midland departures for late winter and spring, and our bird conformed to migration patterns by leaving late morning towards the north.  Five duck species listed, and it's time to go, but first a check of the local Rooks, two nests, one occupied, in the oak copse corner near the Water Bridge, and two pairs sitting on nests in a tree used annually in recent years, again canalside and nearer to Aldersley junction.  So, both breeding sites being used, but nest numbers at a minimum following two difficult foraging years for these early-nesting corvids.   A Mistle Thrush, another early breeder, performs his laboured song from the top of a beech, a Nuthatch calls from a nest tree near the canal junction corner, two Greenfinches weeze away along the Birmingham Canal side of the racecourse, and  a Goldfinch sings from near one of the locks.  Back at the car park, a Pied Wagtail calls as it dips away from the hotel roof.  Booked in for nesting, no doubt . . .               

NB.  Dunstall Park is a restricted commercial site.  Acess is strictly controlled.

          

finally spring ??

walk this morning from meccano to aldersly junction canal one way and old railway the other.
32 species was good but what was noticeable was the birdsong. both mistle and song thrush were in full song, as were robin wren coal tit nuthatch amongst others.
similar walk on 1st april had produced 34 species highlights being treecreeper and nuthatch both half way between water bridge and aldersly junction; 2xsparrowhawk in hawthorn wood (just south of water bridge) which also held 7+jays. Soaring raven and buzzard over Tettenhall ridge. There were also a few lingering redwing at the stadium.
female grey wagtails were seen on this date and the 3rd both halfway between hordern rd and newbridge one on canal one on smestow. presume same bird but on the 3rd another at aldersly canal junction.
The little flock of siskin were seen regularly up to 5th april but not this morning and likewise little grebe on the canal.
The rooks seem to have settled around two nests towards the canal junction where they have nested for the last couple of years but are also sometimes at water bridge copse (max 2)
Finally chiffchaff which I am yet to hear in song, but after 1st bird near meccano on 26th another (poss same bird) was towards canal junction on 28th and a different (paler) bird was halfway between junction and water bridge on 29th.  All three were feeding at ground level and across canal picking items from the surface of canal.

The Valley Produces Again - Quality and Quantity!!

Wednesday 3rd April 2013

Dry, freezing cold still. Heavy overnight frost but overcast for an hour after dawn. Light NE, increasing to moderate/strong.

Mid Section of reserve: Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Every so often nature has a habit of producing something to take your breath away. Today was perfection in terms of the number, variety and quality of the birds. Truly one to remember and arguably the best morning I have had in the Valley.

38 Magpie around the Winter roost area at Compton Park, was significant for this late date.

I arrived at the top of the Barleyfield to start my sky watch with a Song thrush singing it’s heart out, behind geoff’s bench, to keep me company.

The fact that the light wind was blowing perfectly down the valley made me quietly optimistic. Smestow Valley runs from the brook’s source at fallings Park, South-west to Wightwick, meaning that birds are channelled along it on migration. This is emphasised by the fact that Wolverhampton lies at the West end of the West Midlands Conurbation. Birds don’t like flying over built up areas so in a similar way to Lutley Wedge, birds fly around the edge of the conurbation, and hence numbers passing through tend to swell. However the belief that birds simply fly North and South each year on migration is too simplistic. Birds also utilise the winds and so will fly across rather than along the valley, when the winds run in such directions.

Another odd fact is that a lot of birds prefer to fly into the wind, rather than with it. This is due to the design of the wing, and appears to be especially important to smaller species. (numbers of Wood Pigeon heading South last Autumn peaked when they actually had North winds pushing behind them. Nature has very few set rules.)

Anyway enough of the Science and Geography……the next two hours (06:30-08:30) produced a superb range of birds, including what I believe to be a first for the Barleyfield:

Canada goose- 5SW

Black-headed gull – 23 SW

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2SW

Stock Dove – 1 North

Wood Pigeon – 62 East to North

Skylark – 3 North

Meadow Pipit – 66 NE to North

Grey Wagtail – presumably a local bird heading North along the line of the canal.

WAXWING – 5 birds flew low NE over the Barleyfield at 07:00aring over Compton Park, heading straight at St Judes Church, showing beautifully in the emerging sunlight.

Redwing – 14 North, 2 NE and 2 East

Mistle Thrush – 2 NW, 2 East and 1 West

Fieldfare – 10 NE, 4 North and 1 SW

Rook – a single flew East over.

Brambling – a single NE over at 07:30

Greenfinch – 10 East

Siskin – 1 South

I then had a text from Geoff to say that he had found a Chiffchaff in the station Paddock. As if by magic a Chiffchaff started singing in the South-west corner of the Barleyfield. At last they have arrived!!! I rang Geoff and shared the news. In traditional fashion though the bird was slowly making it’s way North along the railway line, but it was replaced by another bird that started singing in the Barleyfield Annex. This was confirmed when both birds were heard singing at the same time, the first having reached Graisley Culvert by this time. This again shows the importance of Wolverhampton’s linear Nature Reserve. Birds not only fly over the valley in significant numbers, they also move along it, feeding and replacing valuable energy along the way.

Having had such a good start to the day, I decided to cover the patch and see how many species I could Knock up. In addition to the sky watch, I had already added Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (3 chasing each other on the eastern Border whilst a female sat watching the affair from the top of the barleyfield), Long-tailed Tit, Jay and 4+ Bullfinch to the day’s list.

At Compton Lock, the Goldcrest was picked up, with 2 Long-tailed Tits. A Coal Tit was calling as it moved along the tree tops at Prefab Weir.

The area just North of Meccano Bridge has been productive lately (where Ian had the first Chiffchaff of the year). A Little Grebe was present on the canal and a Treecreeper was making it’s way up one of the Alders. 2 long-tailed Tits were calling and 7 Siskin were calling and passing between the trees on both sides of the canal by the south end of the Paddocks.

At Newbridge, House Sparrow was added to the day’s list. I was conscious of time so I forfeited the search for the chiffchaff that Geoff had found at the old station, so I retraced my steps along the canal.

Everything was performing for me today, and the moment I got to the border between the Tennis Club and The Academy, the resident Nuthatch started singing. I had commented to Geoff that I could do with Cormorant and Goosander today, and I nearly fell in the canal when an adult and immature Cormorant passed West overhead. Everything was on cue!!

I started to try and guess how many species I had seen and became aware that I hadn’t had a bird of prey. So it was over to Compton Park at the North end of the Barleyfield to play the waiting game.

Mother Nature was really playing with me today. No sooner had I got myself positioned with a good view of the sky by Eddy’s Alders, when a pair of Linnet flew out of the hawthorn, only my second sighting of the year.....amazing. I spent 10 minutes watching and waiting, during which time, 3 more single Meadow Pipits, fighting against the now strong wind, headed North, being forced to fly just metres above the ground.

This prompted me to reflect on Kevin Clements’s posting at the weekend. I have this theory that might explain why the autumn migration appears to involve masses of birds, compared to much smaller numbers on the spring return….hormones!!!

In Autumn, most species tend to join feeding flocks, which I suppose has the added advantage of protecting the youngsters through safety in numbers. So when the birds do take to the air, their numbers are impressive. In Spring however, if you use say Little Grebe as a good example (for hormones, rather than migration), we see through both the plumage and leaving dates, that birds get the urge to move at different times. Only in the past few weeks, we have had full Winter-plumaged birds that have no intention of thinking of breeding along-side splendid full Summer-plumaged birds that were ready to jump on anything!!!! Black-headed gulls also demonstrate this variation, showing the various stages that their dark hoods are in.

Spring birds aren’t held back or needing to protect young either in Spring, so they are quite literally free as a bird to fly off to breeding grounds as soon as they get the urge. In Autumn it seems that by 9am it’s virtually a waste of time looking to the skies for moving birds, as most have shifted in the first hour and a half after dawn.

In Spring However I have seen Meadow Pipits, Wood Pigeons and Winter thrushes on the move at any time of day, although granted it still peaks about an hour after dawn.

I don’t really have time to read books on bird behaviour and migration much as a single working parent with my own business to run so please understand, these are only my thoughts. I am sure someone out there has the answers, so if you have, then please, please share. The best way to learn is through sharing and making mistakes!!!

Food for thought??…………more to the point!! How great is our Valley?? Within a mile of the City centre, and here I was, just about to tick off my last three birds that meant a grand total of 50 for the morning, and all wrapped up by 9:30 (and all seen within a linear section of the reserve, less than one mile long).

Just as I was about to give up, a  male Sparrowhawk flew into the lower Alders, and after a few minutes I decided I was happy without having to wait for a Buzzard to turn up so I headed off home across Compton park. A male Pied Wagtail was feeding under the foot-bridge at the wetland and after almost tripping over through looking back for a Buzzard as I walked, one kindly obliged, drifting up from the South and then circling overhead to make sure I had seen it!!!

Governments continue to ignore global warming, favouring profits, and vast swathes of the planet continue to vanish beneath the bulldozer, but for all those people who have profiled, created, managed, protected and enjoyed Smestow Valley, please please feel proud when you read these words. For Mother Nature was dancing this morning and showing her beauty up and down, on and over the jewel that is…..Wolverhampton’s only Local Nature reserve…..Smestow valley.

Mother Nature is powerful….but she can’t do it all now that there are billions of us around. She needs YOU!!!!!

This blog is linked to many other sites and also signposts you to organisations that protect our beautiful world. If you aren't already, then please get involved....the more the merrier and the safer our world will be!!

Saturday 30^th March 2013

Afternoon: Cool, sunny intervals, Moderate NE, becoming calm by dusk.

South Section of reserve:Compton Park, Barleyfield then Compton to Castlecroft along canal

Little Grebe - The Summer-plumaged pair had moved to the section by The Dell

Grey Heron – one SW over Wightwick Fields

Canada Goose – 3 on the canal at castlecroft

Mallard – 14 male and 9 female South of Compton Lock

Buzzard – 2 at wightwick Fields

Moorhen – 8 south of Compton Lock

Black-headed Gull -  3 on houses at Castlecroft

Stock Dove – 2 on Compton Park wetlands site

Little Owl – My first for Smestow Valley!!! Flew out of the Oak Tree just East of Castlecroft Canal Bridge, heading low North over the paddocks and hence into the West Midlands!!! This appears to be a different territory to the Pool Hall Bird and was a most welcome addition to my “patch” list.

Grey Wagtail – a male seen at Wightwick Mill Lock headed North towards the Bridgnorth Road Petrol station, suggesting that it may be the same bird that is seen at Prefab weir and Compton. If so, then the pair hold a sizeable territory.

Redwing – 2+ at Compton Park and c5 on the Railway Walk by Compton Lock at dusk.

Mistle Thrush – one at Compton Park and another singing at Wightwick Fields near Castlecroft Bridge

Fieldfare – c95  flew NE over Castlecroft Bridge shortly before dusk. These were probably from the flocks seen feeding in South Staffordshire earlier and presumably were migrating, rather than heading to roost??

Long-tailed Tit – pairs at Compton park, Compton Lock, The Dell, Wightwick Mill Lock and Castlecroft Bridge

Treecreeper – one feeding in the lone Alder by the canal, just South of Wightwick Road Bridge, where one had been seen earlier in the year.

Rook – strangely an immature bird was seen in a canal-side tree just North of Wightwick Road Bridge on the way out, calling by a partly constructed nest and was in exactly the same position on my return later.

Starling – 9 North over wightwick Fields and 20 north over Pool Hall Lane late afternoon.

House Sparrow – small colonies noted at Compton allotments and the canalside houses at Castlecroft

Goldfinch – 4+ at Compton Lock

Bullfinch – male at Compton allotments, 2+ at The Dell and 2+ at Wightwick Lock

 South Staffordshire – Castlecroft canal Bridge to Trescott

Highlights:

Great Crested Grebe – 3 at Pool Hall

Coot – 8+ at Pool Hall

Lapwing – 30+ NE over Trescott

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 195+ North over Trescott to roost in 5 groups.

Skylark – 9 on field just East of Trescott Ford, with 2 rising to sing.

Meadow Pipit – 2+ at the sewage works

Pied Wagtail – 20+ at sewage works, with 8 heading off to the South and located on a ploughed field near Pool Hall later (No White Wagtails amongst them!)

Redwing – 10+ in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields

Fieldfare – c50 in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields and 75+ in fields between trescott Ford and the sewage works.

Starling – c50 in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields

Yellowhammer – just one calling from a hedge by Pool Hall Lane

47 species seen in total today, 43 of which were in Smestow Valley.

Saturday 16/2/2013 Dry, light frost foggy start, clearing around 10:30, then clear and sunny. 

Calm – light SW

 Compton, Castlecroft, Pool Hall, Perton Mill Farm, Trescott, Freehold Wood, Sling Wood, Great Moor, Staffordshire Way to Seisdon via Furnace Grange, Church Lane, Trysull, The Grotto, Awbridge, Bratch Locks, Staffs & Worcs Canal to Aldersley Junction, Barleyfield and Compton Park.

A target based on probability, produced what seemed like a low aim of 45 species for this trip. I had used the same method for my last trip North of the valley and that had produced a target of 55, which I missed by one. So I kept faith with the system and set off before dawn, in order to arrive at Pool Hall for first full light, and make the most of the day.

Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird and Wren were all singing along the Compton Road, and some Carrion Crows were on Compton Park. 4 more Song Thrushes were in voice at Compton Hill Road, Compton Railway Bridge, Boots Field and the start of the Bridgnorth Road. Mallard and Jackdaw could just about be made out in the darkness at the Dell. The fog made viewing of the Corvid Roost difficult, so I continued and was lucky to catch a Male Tawny Owl (8) calling at pine Tree Hill, before heading off over Smestow School Fields.

An 8^th Song Thrush was also singing by Wightwick Mill Lock, where my first Woodpigeon of the day was seen. The first visible Moorhen (10) was below the lock. Further Song Thrushes were vocal at Wightwick lock, 2, West of Wightwick Road Bridge, at Windmill Lane and on Wightwick Fields, making 13 in all on the reserve South of Compton Road.

Two Dunnock were singing by the canal at Windmill Lane, and the first Magpie (12) was also there. A Yellowhammer (13), was in the hedge half-way along Wightwick Fields. On my trip North, I had recorded 32 species on the morning, before leaving the Valley, so all of the sudden the 45 species target felt more of a challenge!!!

I arrived at Castlecroft Bridge at 7am. Grey Wagtail, Great Tit and Pheasant (16) were noted just South of the bridge. A Song Thrush was in voice at the Willow Coppice near Mopps Bridge. 7 Yellowhammers, left roost from the hedgerow at the South end of Pool Hall Lane, causing 2 Redwing (17) to lift with them.

At Pool Hall, 13 Canada Geese were on the flooded field by the dam. A male and 2 female Reed Bunting were in the bushes on the near bank by the dam. Two Chaffinch and a Pied Wagtail (21) passed overhead. A great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the copse beyond the canal.

A male Reed Bunting on a foggy morning by the dam at Pool Hall,
which was accompanied by 2 females

On the main Pool, 15 Coot were splashing around, and I was pleased to find a Drake Pochard and two Drake and one female Tufted Duck, through the mist. I was now on 25 species and feeling back on track.

A Song Thrush and a Fieldfare (26) lifted from the central path between the Pools and my first Blue Tit of the morning was nearby. I checked the wood at the South end for Treecreeper or Goldcrest which were regular there in the 90’s, to no avail, so I returned after noting two adult Mute Swans (28). The first few Gulls arrived so I was able to tick off Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed (30), before leaving the Pool.

A lone male Pochard on Pool Hall

Hybrid Geese at Pool Hall - these two have been around over the last few years and have been the
source of the many valley reports for "Snow Geese"

2 Buzzard (31) were worming in the hall gardens and 4 fieldfare, a Pied wagtail and a Pheasant were noted by the brook near Perton mill Farm. 15 Starling (32) were seen heading South-West from roost and at the sewage works an impressive flock of c50 Chaffinches flew in from the South. Unfortunately they were too distant and had dropped low, so I was unable to check for any Brambling amongst them.

A Grey Wagtail, 10+ Crows and 30+ Jackdaw were at the sewage Works, a Grey Heron (33) rose off the Brook and 50+ Black-headed Gulls and a male Pheasant were around a flooded area of the field. Unfortunately there was no sign of any Tree Sparrows, which I had seen in this area last year.

I got to the Ford at 08:20 and was well happy that I now needed to find only 12 more species during the rest of the day to reach my target. Things got off to a good start, when a small colony of House Sparrows and a singing Mistle Thrush (35) were at at the houses on the Bridgnorth Road.

Then a bird which, when I last used to watch this area in the 90’s would have been took for granted, but on this visit, by no means had been taken as a certainty. I had just started on the track North towards Freehold Wood, when 11 Lapwing (36), lifted from the field to the North. With Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting already under the belt, I was developing a strong feeling that this area of farmland was much richer in bird life than that which I encountered North of the valley a few weeks ago.

Freehold Wood had game feeders and it was no surprise that 4 cock Pheasant were noted immediately on the eastern fringe. Then another bonus bird, away from the Valley: a Green woodpecker (37) laughed briefly, whilst a Song Thrush sang and a Great Spotted woodpecker drummed nearby.

On to Great Moor Ridge and Sling wood, and this area definitely felt like a hot-spot for passage migrants, with Redstart and Flycatchers in the mind. A Buzzard was in a low tree on the ridge, with another drumming Woodpecker nearby. Along the path, 3 Nuthatch (38) were seen together in an oak and my first Long-tailed Tit and Goldfinch of the day were by the stile leading to the fishing pool at Great Moor. I had now hit 40 species and it had only just turned 9am!!!

The path between Great Moor ridge and Sling Wood, just North of Freehold Wood

Back to Trescott on the Staffordshire Way, where 6 Collared Doves (41) were present along with 2 singing Chaffinches, c10 House Sparrows and rather worryingly, my first 2 Greenfinches (42) of the day. These birds, really seem to have crashed, locally over the last few years.

Across the Bridgnorth Road and back onto the Staffordshire Way, where my first Badger activity outside the valley was noted along with a Mistle Thrush. I bumped into the farmer, and after a ten-minute chat, I began to understand why this area felt so rich for wildlife. This guy shared details of Barn Owl nest projects, Skylark set aside, his son’s feeding station and a recent sighting of two “English Partridge” and 40 Lapwing near the farm. As he spoke, my first Linnet (43) passed overhead and I left him energised with hope that here was a man with power over the land that actually cared for his birds and knew Angus Dickie!!!

It wasn’t long before I had a beautiful sign as to just how good the land management and farming methods were. I left Furnace Grange and in the field immediately South an incredible (by today’s standards) 13 Skylark (44) rose and circled the field together, before settling again, after 2 or 3 had a quick singing practice. To add to this my first Meadow Pipit (45) lifted and called. What a fitting way to reach my target, celebrated through the efforts of such a caring land-owner.

All of the sudden, I realised that I was in with a shot of beating the 55 species that I recorded, on my trip North of the valley. I avoided an analysis of my predicted list in the fear that I might miss something whilst buried in my papers. However, my head started picking out a string of birds which I had missed so far: little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Jay (Dohh!!), Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Bullfinch…..maybe, just maybe??

On the way into Seisdon, I noted 3 Starling and 2 Fieldfare in the Horse Paddocks, and registered this as my second potential migrant hot-spot!! The rolling fields and fences felt like areas of Kingswood near Cannock, or Berry Hill Fields in Stoke, where Wheatear and Whinchat were regular, and it also felt like a good patch for Ring Ouzel and Hoopoe….sorry I just started dreaming again!!!

I could hear the strange sound of traffic and at the Elms in Seisdon, 4 Bullfinch (46) flew across the narrow path, with 2 Goldfinch tinkling nearby. In the village, 6+ Jackdaw, a Pied Wagtail, 2+ Greenfinch and 10+ House Sparrow were noted, and then it was on to Church Lane, where I was hoping to encounter Red-legged partridge and Kestrel around the ridge. I was sorely disappointed. In the late 90’s the paddocks and fields held good numbers of Partridge, but after extensive searching, none could be found. Only a Buzzard was worthy of note.

Good numbers of Corvids could be seen across Seisdon Road, but they were too distant to be able to tell what they were for sure. At Trysull 2 Rooks (47), were seen on wires as I entered Church Lane. A Song Thrush was singing near the brook and as I headed across the field to Bell Road, I could see 4 Skylark to the North, and as I watched them I could see that there was a considerable Corvid gathering around a stubble field at The Grotto. I climbed the bank for a view over the open area and was pleased to see about 150 Corvids, comprised roughly of 40% Rook, 40% Crows and 20% Jackdaw, with 6 Skylark circling the field together. 2 Stock Dove (48) also passed over.

Part of the Corvid flock The Grotto near Trysull

C5 Long-tailed Tits were at Awbridge and 2 Grey Heron were seen by a pool opposite the Cricket Club. A mistle Thrush passed over the canal. A search for Little Owl on some Pollarded trees just South of the Cricket Club was fruitless, so I turned round and started the journey home. It was 12:30 and I was ahead of schedule, so I was planning to have another shot at locating the Tree Sparrow near Trescott. At Awbridge canal bridge a Song Thrush was singing, a Buzzard was mewing overhead and 2 more Skylark were over fields beyond the farm. Then, another bonus bird – the hard to find Treecreeper (49). I had regularly seen these birds in the Alders along the canal here, but that was many years ago, so to find one in the same place by the moorings was pleasing to say the least. I watched the bird for 10 minutes or so and took a few shots of it. I noticed a feeding station nearby, so while I had the camera out I took a pic’ of a Goldfinch feeding there. This allowed me to stay long enough to see a beautiful male Reed Bunting in full breeding plumage lift from below the feeders and cross the canal.

Goldfinch on one of the many canal mooring feeding stations
- this one  just North of Awbridge.

Treecreeper - on the same Alders by the canal at Awbridge Farm,
where I used to watch them in the 90's

A Skylark was singing near Ebstree Lock and 3 Goldfinch passed over. Then on to Dimmingsdale Lock, a stronghold for Willow Tit in the past. The outflow from the angling pool had been upgraded which meant the loss of a lot of scrub, and a good scouring of the rough and wet woodland to the East of the lock produced nothing. I was rewarded for my efforts with a singing Goldcrest by the Severn Trent Water Station, my first and species number 50 for the day. With two birds of prey and Little Grebe left to add, it looked possible to beat my last trips total.

100+ Woodpigeon were in the field by the Ebstree Road Bridge, and I reached Pool Hall at 1:20pm and was greeted by a Siskin (51), calling as it circled the birches at the South End.

The same birds were present on the Pools, so I moved on to retrace my steps to the sewage works at Trescot in search of Tree Sparrows. As I headed out from Mopps farm over 175 Winter thrushes, most of which were Fieldfare headed North overhead in the direction of wightwight Fields. Were they early departing birds or was it a local feeding flock?? 10 stock Dove also passed over North-east.

Back to the Sewage works where 2 Kingfisher (52) were on the brook with 100+ Starling, a Yellowhammer, 75+ Black-headed Gulls and a male Pheasant nearby. Whilst counting the Gulls, I suddenly heard Lapwing and realised that c50 had lifted off the field at the Southwest end. This presumably contained the birds I had seen this morning and represented the flock reported by the farmer at Furnace Grange. It was such a good sight, even though it failed to match the 150+ I used to see around Pool Hall in late Winter during the early noughties. A singing Pied Wagtail was on a fence-post near a traditional nest-site, by the brook.

I then decided to go and locate the finch flock just East of Mops Farm Bridge. As I headed out to the area where up to 150 Linnet had been earlier in the Winter, I suddenly became aware of a stout undulating bird heading towards me…. Little Owl (53). It landed awkwardly on a lower bow of an oak, right by me and as I tried to get my camera out, it dropped out of the tree and headed low along the line of the hedge and could not be relocated. Although I had heard calling birds in this area last year, to see one at such close quarters was such a treat and a definite contender for bird of the day.

So there I was, home and dry!! I added my Feral Pigeon from up my sleeve and had now matched the 54 species seen on my last trip!!!

I came across c30 chaffinch in the area where the finch flock had been, but I headed further round the field for better viewing of the area. 10+ Long-tailed Tit and my second Treecreeper, were in an Oak Tree, but there was no sign of more finches.

I headed back to Mopps Bridge and decided to check along Pool Hall Lane. Immediately I could see a Flock of thrushes, starlings and Finches in front of me and birds were passing from the field to the right of the lane to the trees lining it and also across the canal to a sheep field. After watching the flock for some time, I was able to conclude that 200+ Fieldfare, 30+ Redwing, 200+ Starling, c25 Chaffinch, c50 Linnet and 2+ Reed Bunting were present. A male Yellowhammer was seen in the oak at the South end of Wightwick Fields as I approached Castlecroft Bridge and a Collared Dove flew over the canal near the clubhouse.

I decided not to return to Compton via the railway walk. I weighed up that although I had less chance of seeing Jay, the canal would increase visibility and the chances of seeing Kestrel and perhaps the unexpected. It also allowed me more chance to look for Little Grebe as I was aware that numbers may have fallen heavily due to the change in weather.

Surprisingly I had my third Treecreeper of the day, when one was seen in the lone alder by Wightwick Fields just South of the road bridge among 8 Long-tailed Tits.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from Peasley Wood and a Nuthatch flew West over the canal from Pine Tree Hill.

A second singing Goldcrest was at the canalside by the allotments at Compton, but there were no Little Grebe around. 3:30pm and I was at Prefab Weir, watching a soaring Buzzard. Amazingly my fourth Treecreeper was in Alders by the damp wood South of Meccano bridge, in the company of 4+ Blue tit and 2 Great tit. This was the second sighting this month in this area and hopefully it bodes well for the breeding season.

I was still after my Little Grebe and with none at Meccano Bridge I began to think that the milder weather had dispersed the entire local population.

A calling Coal Tit (55) was a lucky find for this time of day, seen in trees by the caravan park at Newbridge. A Nuthatch called at Crowther Road Playing fields and nearby a group of Magpies and Crows started a rowdy show, possibly in response to an Owl or Sparrowhawk. I waited to try and see what was causing the commotion, and suddenly 2 Jays (56) joined in the racket….Yes, my bogey bird from the last trip!! I couldn’t find the source of the chaos and a Buzzard over Dunstall Water bridge seemed too far from the scene to be involved.

7 moorhen were together at the water bridge underlining just how they enjoy the shelter and prosper in our valley. A single Rook was at the Dunstall Park nest site and 2 Bullfinches were quietly singing at each other, nearby.

No Little grebe!!! Dohh!! Better head back to the Barleyfield for Raptors!!

I had got just North of Hordern Road, when there was a splash near the footpath and shortly after a virtually full Summer-plumaged Little Grebe (57) surfaced near the far bank. How could I have missed it?

Little Grebe - Emblem of Smestow Valley- most leave the canals before attaining this level of breeding plumage,
so it was a colourful addition to the days list

10+ long-tailed tits were at Horden Road and I looked among them almost expecting to find a Treecreeper….. not this time!! A great spotted woodpecker called from Crowther Road Playing Fields, and then a more Winter-plumaged Little Grebe was by the barges at Newbridge Wharf.

The day’s birding had been way beyond my expectations: no scarcities or rarities, and all species had been on my probability list but it was just a rock-solid farmland experience, and at no point during the day, had the word sterile entered my head. Perhaps the morning fog, had extended the period of activity for the birds, but whatever, it was there was no real lull in the birding.

To finish the day -  back to the Barleyfield, to enjoy a dusk-watch, having already beaten my target for both trips!!

When I arrived, I was put off a little as the “2013 Compton, One Woman and her dogs competition” appeared to be well under way and the only additions to my bird list seemed likely to be those knocked out by flying rings and frisby’s…..Dohh.

I made my way to the top of the field. 4 Song Thrushes were vocal and a Great spotted woodpecker was calling to the south. Surprisingly 100+ Starling passed high over Northeast. Presumably these were part of the Pool Hall Lane flock, heading to a roost in the City.

Shortly after, a massive stroke of luck. The male Kestrel (58) headed Northeast over the barleyfield towards Newbridge on the same roost flight as has been seen since late summer. 4 Redwing flew in to roost on the western border and then 75 Jackdaw headed NNE over, confirming that roosts have locally altered over the last two years. Strange how birds headed from the south, don’t roost at Peasley wood. Then another familiar sight: a female Sparrowhawk (59) flew low across the field and into the crossings. A further 65 Jackdaw headed NNE at 5:50pm, making it a record dusk roost number for this site, signalling home time.

As I crossed Compton Park, I reflected on a superb days birding, and I felt warm at the thought that there still remains a diverse pool of birds at the Southern end of the Smestow Valley green corridor. Long may it continue. The Valley itself had also produced 39 species, highlighting, as it did on my last trip just how special the reserve is. 59 species overall and all this in a month, which is generally one of the quietest of the year!!!