Breeding season review

Time for some early thoughts on this years nesting season in the valley.  The mild winter had induced some species to nest early but I suspect they were caught out by the cold spring.  Some species will still be rearing young or sitting on eggs but the majority have now completed their breeding cycle and young have fledged and dispersed from the natal area.  Thus we are starting to see records of birds moving into or through the area.
Moorhen;  Badly affected by the canal dredging work and only a few young raised of which 3 at MS centre is the seemingly the only success on a stretch of canal which might have 6 nests.  The exception is the new wetland where the first brood of 2 are now fully grown and helping to raise the second brood of 4.  There is every chance of a third brood something I haven't seen since 2009 at the water bridge immediately before the harsh winter that year almost wiped out the local population of this sedentary species.
House Martin; Good numbers nesting around local streets and feeding over the barleyfield with food passing noted at beginning of July,
Swallow; nesting at north and south of valley.
Swift; numbers seem to be on a par with recent years.
Kingfisher: Occasional sightings but no evidence of  repeat of breeding of 2 years ago
Grey Wagtail;  2 juveniles regularly at wetland suggest local breeding around Compton as does 3 birds by spill weir in the week.
Green Woodpecker; juvenile on canal towpath opposite tennis club today.
Nuthatch; juvenile in station paddock last weekend
Goldfinch;  family party of 7 on bfield
Chiichaff; many juveniles and 2/3 still singing
Blackcap; one still singing and birds suddenly more obvious but may have bred elsewhere, whereas 2 weeks ago several still singing and a family party in main paddock.
Whitethroat; bit of a puzzle this year, did well at turner's field 4 singing birds and 2 family parties but apparently absent from the bfield in May but 3 singing birds into July.
Jay; family party of 4 on bfield

Gulls have returned now with 80+ black headed this morning. Only 1 juvenile but have had 3. wonder where they bred.  Also juvenile lesser black back which presumably bred in town.

Other birds passing through this week on bfield were meadow pipit, reed bunting and lesser whitethroat.

Down at pool hall the great crested grebes which have raised 2 young seem to be sitting again, a common tern adult visits regularly (surely too far to have come from belvide although I saw it flying in from that direction) and a surprising black redstart last sunday which could not be relocated.

Finally a stunning red kite (untagged) on 1st june on perton golf  course (back of 14th green) so keep eyes open,

end of may review

I have been back for over a week but still wish I was in the wilds of assynt and the far north west.
First reaction when I headed into the paddocks was to be overwhelmed by the greenery. More surprisingly I was taken aback by the amount of birdsong, by far the loudest of the year. When I caught up with Geoff he had noted the same dramatic but short lived cacophony.  We speculated as it was the third week of may perhaps the late april/early may cold snap had caused many nests to fail and the noise reflected a resurgence of interest in breeding.
Blackbirds were the dominant species closely followed by song thrush also 11 chiffchaff singing.
the amount of song has settled down now but still plenty of blackcap, song thrush and a resurgence of dunnock.  The lack of any passerine young birds would seem to support the theory.
There is also a contrast between the ornithological desert formerly known as the barleyfield and the rest of the valley although the lupin field is also disappointing.
This is most notable for whitethroats which are quite numerous in the surrounding area and 4/5 were singing on turners and sand fields-see map, also a willow warbler sang there repeatedly-all on Saturday.
A treecreeper was a nice find at the metal bridge on sunday where a kingfisher has been occasional. A female grey wagtail fed on the tow path at the spill weirs yesterday and flew off low towards Compton lock and in the paddocks a fully independent juvenile blackbird showed that some early breeding succeeded and a little ringed plover flew fast overhead towards the wetland but was not relocated.

Newbridge,  20th May  2016

 

Morning’s bird blitz

so near to the record

 

Ian had forsaken us for a fortnight in God’ Country (it starts at Gretna) so it was down to Geoff, Gareth and myself to see just how many bird species we could tot up in or over the valley on a weekend morning in May.  The record number seen or heard locally in 24 hours stands at 66, achieved some years ago by Gareth and his dad Kevin.  But they were up at dawn and considered it over only when the fat Tawny Owl hooted, so we didn’t expect to top their total (us ancient birders do need our rest).

So, the Saturday before last (May 7^th) yet-to-be-ancient Gareth went straight from a night shift to cover Pool Hall, Wightwick fields and Turner’s fields, Geoff took in the mid-section centred on the Compton barleyfield, and yours truly trudged northwards from Newbridge, taking in Aldersley, Oxley and Dunstall Park.  Migration had slowed (the north end of the valley continues to be quiet for the second spring running) high pressure weather didn’t help, but comparing notes over a welcome Cupcake coffee at Newbridge station around mid-day we were more than pleased with the result.  Sixty four species, a total which would have been bettered had we seen among others Rose-ringed Parakeet, Little Owl, Garden Warble and Bearded Vulture.

As it was, we managed to list Kingfisher, the first Spotted Flycatchers for the year (single passage birds by the barleyfield and Wightwick fields), Great Crested Grebe feeding youngsters at Pool Hall, singing Skylark, nesting Barn Swallow, House Martin and Mute Swan, and a singing Sedge Warbler. Among other species seen were Bullfinch, Lapwing, Linnet, Herring Gull, Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Rook, Raven, Jay, Collared Dove, Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush, Coot, Tufted Duck, Greylag, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel. A male Pheasant called from a rough grass field just north of Windmill Lane, and Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer were seen and heard near Castlecroft canal bridge.

All in all, not bad for patch that at its furthest point is less than four miles from the centre of Wolverhampton.  At a time when monoculture agriculture is degrading large tracts of the British countryside in terms of wildlife variety it’s refreshing to see a relatively small mixed-habitat linear park on the edge of one of Britain’s largest conurbations produce such an extensive list of bird species.  Here’s to the Smestow Valley!

small postscript

Thanks to lord Angus for an excellent roundup. And now the weather has dried up so to some extent have the birds. Wandering round the mid and north sections has only produced a singing sedge warbler 100 yds north of aldersly junction in the canal scrub and a stunning lesser whitethroat on the western border showing down to 10 yds. Interestingly both birds were accompanied by a willow warbler.  At the moment only a single common whitethroat seems to have set up territory in barley field, as usual in new corner.

Newbridge,  3rd May  2016

 

Forget the weather,

it’s time for a chat

 

Sleet, squalls, stair-rod rain, hail and snow last week, winds from the north, frost at night.  Spring has been somewhat unsprung, but nights have often been sharp and clear, and, as Ian, Gareth and Geoff have reported, bird migration is well under way.  Despite the wintry conditions, chats, wagtails, pipits, waders and warblers are calling in on the valley on their way to breeding grounds, some of them staying on to nest locally, others feeding up and moving on . . .

 

Star birds for 2016 so far are in fact non-migrants, Gareth’s and Ian’s Goshawks, only the seventh and eighth of their kind reported locally since 1990.  Gareth’s male bird attacked a Buzzard over Wightwick ridge late in the morning on 2/4, Ian’s sighting involved a bird over Aldersley playingfields on 20/4, and there was a reliable late-winter report of one flying over the Mermaid pub at Wightwick.  Goshawks nationally are now being seen more frequently in or near to urban areas, and these records may have involved a bird or birds from a small Shropshire/South Staffordshire breeding population.  Another top raptor sighting came from Gareth in the shape of a Red Kite flying northwards over Wightwick fields towards Tinacre Hill on 9/4.  This is a prime time of year to see wandering birds of this species locally, and there have been around eight valley records since the first sighting of a Welsh-tagged bird over Newbridge on May 5^th 1996.  Just as Buzzards moved eastwards to nest in and beyond the Wolverhampton conurbation in the late 1990s, so Red Kites have already spread into Shropshire (more than 30 breeding pairs were reported in the county last year).  It can only be a matter of time before these beautiful birds hold nesting territories close to the Smestow Valley.

On a smaller scale, but none the less impressive, three chat species have been recorded passing through the valley in recent weeks.  First up was a single male Wheatear seen on 26/3 on Dunstall Park, a site visited annually by this perky species.  Totals since the end of March at the racecourse have reached double figures, including eleven present on 12/4, with birds feeding in and alongside drainage ditches near to the grandstand.  Ian’s female Common Redstart on the Compton barleyfield on 23/4 was reported on the same morning as a male Whinchat was seen feeding near the Smestow brook on Wightwick fields.  Other migrant records at the racecourse include two Little Ringed Plover on 24/3, a Lesser Whitethroat by the lake on 20/4, a male Yellow Wagtail on 4/4, a Sand Martin on 15/4, a Meadow Pipit on 3/4, and by far the valley’s earliest ever Sedge Warbler singing on the Birmingham Canal side of the site on 8/4.  Three Barn Swallows were back at their racecourse nest area on 12/4, fifteen House Martin were over the same site on 15/4, and two Willow Warbler were at Dunstall Park on 6/4.  Chiffchaff have been vocal all along the valley since late March, with Blackcap totals increasing over the same period (adverse weather meant that females were catching up with males, the two sexes appearing within days of each other.)  Migration for other later warblers is, just as last year, relatively slow, with only four Common Whitethroat reported from their main valley breeding ground at Aldersley/Oxley on 30/4.

 

Records in late winter and spring for resident species include two pairs of Grey Wagtail active at former nest sites, Stock Dove pairs displaying, Green Woodpeckers calling, and Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker seen mating.  Goldcrest and Coal Tit have been reported all along the valley, Goldfinch have been singing at Wightwick, Newbridge, Aldersley, Compton and elsewhere, Nuthatch pairs have been seen narrowing nest holes with mud at a traditional breeding site, at least 12 Rook nests had been built in the oak copse at Dunstall Park by the end of March, Linnet have been singing at last year’s nest site and a male Reed Bunting was in voice by the racecourse lake on 2/4.  Little Grebe, a pair of Mute Swan and at least three pairs of Coot have set up at the lake, but Canada Goose nests on the island have been abandoned for the second year running.  Sparrowhawk activity has been limited, but Buzzard pairs have been seen daily since late winter, with plunge-diving displays over what are now traditional nest sites (at least 14 birds were seen at the same time over Wightwick and out towards Pool Hall late in the morning on 5/4).  A pair of hunting Kestrel suggests the species may be nesting again in the valley after an absence of several years.

Sawbill surge as waters rise

 

Water levels at Dunstall Park lake are still high after a warm, wet winter, and although this may have put off passage waders this spring, good numbers of a sawbill diving duck have been reported.  Goosander have been using the lake as a stopping-off place to rest, preen and fish, with regular sightings there and along the valley since December.  Records include two males and a female on the lake on 20/4, and eight birds flying along the line of the canal by the racecourse towards Newbridge on 10/4.  Reports of other wintering duck at the racecourse lake include a pair of Tufted Duck on 28/3 and 2/4, ten pairs of Teal on 23/1, three males and a female Shoveler on 5/3 and a pair of Gadwall on 26/1 and 3/4.  Snipe numbers at the lake peaked at 14 on 15/2 and a wintering Green Sandpiper was in the open culvert of the Smestow brook by the lake on 15/2 and 16/2.  Other racecourse records include a Cormorant seen moving south westwards on 30/1, fourteen Greylag Goose on 20/2, a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull on 15/2, a moulting adult Mediterranean Gull on 20/2 and a Peregrine flying over the site on 20/3.

 

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

 

Late-winter and spring records from elsewhere along the valley include sightings of at least three Rose-ringed Parakeet, three late-departing Redwing near Tunstall Water Bridge on 12/3 and at least ten Siskin by the old railway south of Hordern Road on 12/3.  Two Red-legged Partridge were seen on Wightwick fields on 17/4, a male Pheasant called from a field just north of Windmill Lane canal bridge at Wightwick on 5/4 and 6/4 and a Kingfisher was by the canal run-off stream at Wightwick fields on 11/3.  A Tawny Owl called from Newbridge playingfield on 5/3 and 1/4, and Little Owl were reported regularly at dusk near Castlecroft canal bridge by Wightwick fields.

 

A sad postscript:  A dead Barn Owl found under a hedge at the southern end of Wightwick fields on 11/3 may well have been the bird seen regularly quartering the same area in late January.  This beautiful species bred in the valley in the late 1990s, and birds could be seen at dusk hunting over grass fields north of Smestow School, Wightwick, and over Wightwick fields.

two at a time

2 birds I forgot to mention overflying last Sunday a raven flying due south and a lapwing due north both over the Meccano.
2 swallows flying low through the paddocks yesterday morning
2 greylags flying towards west park this morning
2 common tern at pool hall yesterday
 2 great crested grebe chicks again at pool hall
2 whinchats reported yesterday at wightwick fields thanks David also a lone redpoll
Too many blackbirds to count especially early doors in the station paddock, both male and female which suggests young being fed
Otherwise a pretty disappointing weekend especially the lack of whitethroats.

Where did I put my gloves

This post covers the last six days covering the whole of the valley. All visits have been early morning when the frost has been in the ground. Generally the northerly winds have held up migration
Star bird was a female redstart found on Saturday which promptly disappeared into the blackthorn on northwest corner of the barley field never to be seen again. This was rivalled by a whinchat found by lord Angus at wightwick fields.
Mallard, having seen a typically large early yr brood just outside the valley it was surprising our first, at castle croft, was a single 2 day old chick. Had others been predated.
Tree creeper, Sunday on old railway by paddocks.
Willow warbler, songsters on Sunday at metal bridge and smestow heights
Blackcap seemingly a further arrival with several singing birds above Compton lock. Whereas as the paddock birds, also in good numbers.
Whitethroat, 2 on Saturday 3 Sunday both midsection 1 each of the other days including at lupin field which was the only one to give a sense of staying.
Swallow 2 over aldersly orchard flying north on weds.
Mistle thrush, having seen none all week 5 were well spread out ground feeding in the midsection today when long tails and bullfinch were also visually prominent.

stale news

Catch up on last week first.
Midweek walks ranged from wightwick to Oxley,
29 singing chiffchaff -6 south of Compton and 11 in northern section.
4 singing willow warbler 2 in paddocks-either end on Tuesday and 2 in north on Wednesday.
1 by aldersly tyres and 1 from canal but on racecourse. the latter was still singing from the same spot today. But only 9 blackcap which seem scarce this year-altho by far the commonest warbler on somerset levels at the weekend.
Yesterday mid section 7-9
mainly thrush and blackbird song to start with but eventually got to 8 blackcap but only 4 songsters,
Swallow parakeet and 2 cormorant all overfjew the paddocks.
today very pleased to see a male grey wagtail collecting food at a spot where I had seen a pair recently also just outside the valley on the Shropshire union my first brood-12 newly hatched mallard,

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

Back to winter and snow

16th April 16           morning              mid section

mostly sunny,  3-7°c,  1004 mb,  NNE 9-11 mph

 A cold and slow start to the day, as it warmed up ( a little ) the birds became more active.                               Later another trip just up the road to Pendeford Hall Lane, Coven, where the last few days has been home to a ring ouzel ( a mountain blackbird ) proved bountiful again. Along with the ROuzel was a whinchat, yellow wagtail, 13 white wagtail and 3 wheatear, Also the other end of the lane a green sandpiper and little egret.

Mallard	2♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 sitting	Wetlands
Stock Dove	1+ singing	Station Paddock
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Smestow Bridge
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Blackcap	6 (5 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	11 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	1	Station Paddock
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Bullfinch	1♂	Hanging Grds

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

A lovely sunny morning

10th April 16            morning                south section

sunny & warm, 6-12°c,   1007 mb,  SE 8-13 mph

But nothing special bird wise.  Plenty of buzzards soaring everywhere, Kestrel and a singing skylark was good to see. Not many small songsters noted. Pool Hall res only viewed from dam. No little owl ( or tree pipit, white wag ,red kite or peregrine that Gazz had yesterday ).

Great Crested Grebe	2	Pool Hall
Grey Heron	1	Perton Mill Fields
Canada Goose	3	Pool Hall
Mallard	few	Pool Hall
Tufted Duck	c10	Pool Hall
Buzzard	plenty	South Staffs area
Kestrel	1♀ over	Perton Mill Fields
Coot	1+	Pool Hall
Lapwing	1	Bridgenorth Rd fields
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	South Staffs area
Green Woodpecker	Calls	Wightwick Fields
Skylark	1 singing	Pool Hall
Pied Wagtail	2♂	Perton Mill Fields
Wren	song	Wightwick Fields
Dunnock	song	Wightwick Fields
Chiffchaff	song	Wightwick Fields
Jackdaw	few	Perton Mill Fields
Raven	2	Perton Mill Fields
House Sparrow	few	Small Holdings
Chaffinch	song	Wightwick Fields
Greenfinch	song	Wightwick Fields

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

Just Whitethroat to come

fri 8th April 16             morning                mid section

cloudy, brighter last hour,  8-11°c,  1013 mb,  W 6 mph

 Both Ian and myself have had chiffchaff,blackcap and willow warbler in the mid section and Gazz had all three at Dunstall Park, so that just leaves whitethroat to go, as far as our regular summer breeding migrants are concerned. Whitethroat should be with us in 10-14 days. The Loopinfields are a good area to find the earliest.

Mallard	2♂ 1♀	Wetlands
Buzzard	Pair over	Compton Rough
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Annex Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	16 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Blackcap	5 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Graiseley Cnr
Great Tit	11 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Prefabs
Goldfinch	4	mid section
Bullfinch	9	mid section

Migration update

mon 4th April 16              morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  9-11°c,   1001 mb,  SW 3-1 mph

Hardly any breeze gave a strange still feeling to the day. Good numbers of chiffchaff again and two singing blackcap. Two ring neck parakeet heard calling from Tettenhall Ridge area eventually picked up flying north over Station Paddock. Last bird seen today was a grey heron flying north over Tettenhall Rd. After  none seen for ages, this is the second in a week.

Grey Heron	1 >> N over	Meadow View
Canada Goose	8 >> NE over	Barleyfield
Mallard	1♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 over	Valley
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Ring Necked Parakeet	2 >> N over	Station Paddock
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	8 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	2 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Annex Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	The Paddock
Greenfinch	1 singing	Meadow View
Bullfinch	pair	Station Paddock

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

Dodging the showers

Did the full length of the valley today from Oxley to Castle croft bridge.
10 singing chiffchaff which is less than we had at the weekend.5 singing blackcap which is better, also a female by the metal bridge.
2 lesser redpoll were a surprise in the paddocks but no sign of the weekends siskin.
Also no sign of yesterday afternoon s silent but active willow warbler in the paddock.
The southern end produced a welcome kestrel pair, raven, pair of yellowhammer, pair of coot on canal, single lapwing and 2 singing skylark.
Overall most pleasing was good numbers of goldfinch but disappointing ly no grey wagtail.

What did I tell you

2nd April 16             evening                mid section

sunny & warm,    13-12°c,  1007 mb,  S 9-7 mph

 Rain this morning prevented me from doing the valley, so I ended up at Belvide Reservoir , where I found a singing blackcap. But this evening in sunny and warm conditions I found a another singing blackcap, albeit only briefly. Ian saw a male near Compton lock on tuesday but not singing.

Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> SW over	The Paddock
Blackbird	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	3 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section

Morning visit to the northern section on my way to teams.
4 chiffchaff (3singing)
Pair of grey wagtail at aldersley bridge
Calling and flying parakeet not sure if more than one bird

Afternoon visit to castle croft bridge from pool hall
Swallow
Yellowhammer
Reed bunting
All singles but no skylark or lapwing in cold and breezy conditions

Pool hall had a double figure flock of sand martins which presumably would fly up the valley.

A surprising day

1st April 16                morning                  mid section

cloudy,  4-7°c,  1018 mb,   S 5-SSW 10 mph

 Early mist lifted but didn't clear, resulting in a cloudy day  with a chilly southerly breeze. I've always said sunshine brings the birds out here in the valley and that’s the difference between yesterday and today. I was surprised therefore, when I counted up the results of my notebook with the numbers of singing birds, wren in particular 17 singers, but the general feel of the session was slow. Both pied wagtail together on the grass by the Wetlands was a surprise, haven't seen the elusive female for ages.

Canada Goose	2 >> NE over	Compton Field
Mallard	3♂	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Pied Wagtail	pair	Wetland Field
Wren	17 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	9 ( 7 singing )	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	5	Station Paddock
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	2	Meccano Br
Bullfinch	pair + calls	Barleyfield