Sunshine and song

17th April 16               morning              mid section

sunny,  4-9°c,  1015 mb,  NW 4-8 mph

 Plenty of activity and song this morning in chilly but sunny conditions. A sparrowhawk seen soaring in the distance probably over Aldersley area eventually drifted of north, then just minuets later three found soaring over Compton Park, then again minutes later two buzzard soaring very nearby. The only singing willow warbler that I am aware of in the mid section was behind the station cafe again but this will be a passing migrant ( they always are here ) so will one yet turn up to breed this year?

Grey Heron	1 >> NE over	Compton Park
Sparrowhawk	1 soaring N of Tett Rd,   3 soaring over Compton Pk,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 sitting	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	2 >> N over	mid section
Wren	15 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	8 ( 7 singing )	mid section
Chiffchaff	6 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Goldcrest	pair	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	3	mid section
Coal Tit	2 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 ( 2 singing )	mid section
Goldfinch	1 >> W over	Barleyfield

Should have been at Pool Hall

sat 9th April 16            morning            mid section

sunny,     6-9°c,   1001 mb,  NW 5-SW 6 mph

 Ian and I seeing plenty of species with chiffchaff and blackcap numbers building nicely, but, a continuous text conversation with Gazz at Pool Hall  / Wightwick area involving tree pipit, 2 white wags and red kite put things in a different completion.

Sparrowhawk	1♂ over	Wolves Training Grd
Buzzard	2 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1	wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Kingfisher	1	Prefabs
Green Woodpecker	Calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	2	mid section
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Blackcap	6 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	12 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	song	mid section
Nuthatch	2 calling	mid section
Chaffinch	2 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	Calls	Top Roses
Goldfinch	2+	mid section
Bullfinch	2 pair	mid section

1st singing chiffchaff

25th March 16               morning                  mid section

sunny & warm,   8-13°c,   1014 mb,   NW 10-SSW 9

 In the mid section that is,  ( gazz had 1 singing last Sunday at Dunstall Park). I was hoping for more on a lovely sunny warm day. A singing blackbird was also my first this year ( Ian's had song in his garden ) A pair of sparrowhawk soaring above Barleyfield was the best of the rest.

Sparrowhawk	pair	pr soaring over Barleyfield,
Buzzard	3 soaring	Tettenhall Ridge
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Wren	8+ singing	mid section
Dunnock	4+ singing	mid section
Robin	9+ singing	mid section
Blackbird	1 singing	Station Paddock
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Chiffchaff	1 singing	The Paddock
Goldcrest	2 pair	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1 pair	Station Paddock
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4+ singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Bullfinch	pair + 2♂	mid section

Thursday update

17th March 16                morning                mid section

mostly cloudy, sunny by 11:00,  5-9°c,  1033 mb, ESE 6,

The male grey wagtail was on the towpath by Meadow View bridge but no sign of the female there or on the Smestow. A green woodpecker calling, not from Tettenhall Ridge as is normal but from somewhere near the Tennis Club or Wolves training pitches.Still three little grebe including the bird below Compton Lock, all in or very near summer plumage. A female sparrowhawk checking out the Barleyfield and adjoining playing field and the kingfisher seen by the weir were good to have, and the male pied wagtail on the grass east of the Wetlands still in splendid plumage. Singing coal tit at Meadow View finished a day that started in dull, cold conditions, in warm sunshine.

Little Grebe	1 s/p below Com Lock,  1 s/p Meccano Br,  1 nr s/p Sq Club,
Sparrowhawk	1♀ low over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	Prefab Weir
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tennis Courts
Grey Wagtail	1♂	Meadow View
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Tennis Courts
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Meadow View
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	3+	2 Meadow View,  c Compton Rough,
Bullfinch	2	Barleyfield

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

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

Winter song and siskin flock

14th December 15          morning             mid section

cloudy, mild, 7-8°c,  1014 mb,  SSE 8 mph

Had Ians company this morning . The Wetland area provided most of the interest with a flock of 30 plus siskin feeding in the surrounding alders along with a few goldfinch and a couple of chaffinch. Two bullfinch here were the first of several more contact with this colourful finch. The mild weather tempted some bird song including robin (7), wren (2), dunnock (1) and song thrush (1).

Little Grebe	3	S&W Canal
Sparrowhawk	1♂ >> N over	Tettenhall Ridge
Black Headed Gull	7	Compton Field
Wren	2 singing	Barleyfield
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	c6	Last Tree Standing
Coal Tit	1+	Newbridge boats feeder
Chaffinch	1♂ 1♀	Eddies Alders
Goldfinch	c5	Eddies Alders
Siskin	c30	Eddies Alders
Bullfinch	6+	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

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

The one that got away

22nd October 15              morning                mid section

cloudy start, sunny later,  11-12°c,   1013mb,  WNW 14 mph

 Walking through the Paddocks a calling nuthatch caused me to look up to find a bird just dropping onto the top of a fir tree on the other side of the canal where it joined another bird ( ahh two nuthatch thought I, but no, the light was poor so only grey  silhouettes were visible but they were surely not nuthatch. The stubby bill put pay to that, so what were they? They looked quite big and acrobatic feeding on the small cones. I then found another lower down the tree where viewing conditions were a little better and this one was mostly green and eventually shown two light wing bars. After a few minutes all three flew a short distance to another tree and disappeared. I didn't relocate them again. So what were they??  Probably finches, but not green, not chaffinch, not common crossbill and too small for siskin.

Little Grebe	1 w/p Squash Club + 2 ( 1 s/p + 1 dark w/p )  Wolves Firs,
Sparrowhawk	1♀/imm	The Paddock
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Robin	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	The Paddock
Chaffinch	1	Meccano Grds
Goldfinch	c20	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	pair	Meccano Grds
finch sp	3 Wolves Firs, looks big & bulky,mostly green,stubby bill,with 2 light wing bars (ie Chaffinch) feeding on small cones at top of fir tree,

Hour vizmig produces 169 redwing

18th October 15          morning                 mid section

dull & o/cast  10-11°c,   1021mb,   N 5-NNE 8 mph

Changed my routine today and started at the top of Barleyfield to catch the last hour of redwing migration. 169 redwing in flocks of between 4-5 up to c50. ( 5 heading N + 30 SW + 4 local + 20 NW + c50 NW most of which dived into the cover of the Barleyfield Annex + 16 N + 9 into Annex + another 4 into Annex + 11 W + 10 W + at least 10 in and around the area of top Barleyfield ). Strange thing is when I later went to find the birds that had dropped into the Annex area there was no sight or sound. Where had they gone? All was very quiet later when I did the rounds.

Always check Chaz Masons excellent blog http://clayhangermarshlog.blogspot.co.uk/ and today he's encouraging aspiring birders to get out there because its teeming with winter visitors like redwing,fieldfare,siskin,redpoll and others, just wish he would sent some of them over here.

Little Grebe	2 ( 1 s/p + 1 darkish w/p )  Squash Club,
Sparrowhawk	sat in Eastern Border ash tree, Barleyfield
Moorhen	few	1 imm Meccano Br,  1 imm Prefab weir,
Stock Dove	1	1 Barleyfield,  prob same Wetlands,
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Redwing	169	Barleyfield
Greenfinch	3+	Top Roses

An autumn selection 

24th August 15             morning                  mid section

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

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

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

Tettenhall Ridge buzzards may have juvenile on the wing

1st August 15          morning          mid section

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

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

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

Hardly any song today

18th July 15            early morning                mid section

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

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

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

A surprise at the Wetland site

30th May 15             morning               mid section

mostly sunny, 9-13°c,  1013mb,  W 9mph,

I arrived at the old bridge on Meadow View and looked down stream to note 2 ad female mallard with a group of young juveniles, I counted 9 juv then 10 then 11 and then the creche split up, most of them disappearing into the vegetation and out of sight, leaving 1 female with 1 chick which swam towards me. Confused by my wowful count I set off to find  and count the larger group ( if its 9 its probably the Wetland family) but some how they had completely disappeared ( must have climbed up the bank and snuggled down in the thick undergrowth)?
A family party of blackcap found at the Hanging Grds ( my name for the area of mostly spreading Blackthor n south of  the old farm railway crossing) is my first this year. The garden warbler seems to be still in attendance at the top of Barleyfield, singing for Ian but not for me.( I spent 30 minutes today and 20 minutes on thursday but with no sign)
Completely out of the blue another mallard brood appeared at the Wetland site. No sign a female here since the earlier family left on tuesday, indeed I have only had 1 female here all spring.

Mallard 3 broods f+1 chk & f+ 9or10 chk N of Meadow View,  f+ 3 chk Wetlands, Sparrowhawk probable very distant to the west of Barleyfield Buzzard 2 1 over Barleyfield,  1 to the distant north, Moorhen 3 broods Staffs & Wocs Swift 10+ Barleyfield Great Spotted Woodpecker 1♀ Barleyfield Annex Grey Wagtail 1 Prefab weir briefly,disappeared into weir but couldn't be relocated, Wren 11 singing mid section Dunnock 4 singing mid section Robin 7 singing mid section Blackbird 7 singing mid section Song Thrush 3 singing mid section Whitethroat calls single call from lower BF, Blackcap Family party Hanging Grds, + 4 singing mid section, Chiffchaff 5 ( 3 singing) mid section Long Tailed Tit 4+ (family ) Barleyfield Annex Chaffinch 1 singing Station Paddock Bullfinch 2 (1♂) Hanging Grds
thur 28th May 15           morning            mid section mostly cloudy,   9°c,  1014mb,     W 12mph The only bird of note today was a willow warbler by the Graiseley brook culvert. Probably brought in with the over night rain. Mallard 1 br 9 ♀ + 9 chk ( WL family )  MV >> N, Buzzard 1 flushed Wetlands Moorhen 1 Wetland,  pr +   5 chk Prefabs, 1+2 chk Prefab Weir, 1+1 chk Meadow View, Swallow 1 >> N over Barleyfield Wren 9 singing mid section Dunnock 4 singing mid section Robin 5 singing mid section Blackbird 5 singing mid section Song Thrush 3 singing mid section Blackcap 6 singing mid section Chiffchaff 6 singing mid section Willow Warbler 1 Graiseley Culvert Jackdaw few Barleyfield Chaffinch 5 singing mid section