Buzzards and warblers

17th September 15           morning              mid section

sunny, increasingly cloudy,  8-13°c,  996mb,  W 4-7 mph

An immature buzzard over the north west Barleyfield is proof of successful breeding this year, the other two seen today were both adults still in various stages of moult. A good show of chiffchaff for this time of year with  whitethroat and blackcap in smaller numbers. We may not have them for much longer.

Buzzard	1 imm over Barleyfield Annex,   1 ad over Barleyfield,   1 tatty adult over Compton Rough,
Moorhen	1 imm	Wetlands
Herring Gull	1	St Edmonds Sch
Swallow	10 >> SW over	Barleyfield
Wren	1 singing	Graiseley Cnr
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	2	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	6	4 together Paddocks
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	Meccano Br
Jay	calls	Top Roses
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	6	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	2	Annex Barleyfield

The return of the black-heads

5th July 15           dawn till early             mid section

cloudy,  11-15°c,   1018mb,   SE-S 4 mph

No unfortunately i'm a teenager no longer, a single black headed gull flew over the Barleyfield on wednesday but today 24 including a youngster of this year were resting on Compton playing field. When I was a teenager we had to take a trip to the seaside to encounter any sort of gull. How times change, many of the gulls we regularly see now have never been anywhere near the coast. In fact B H Gulls breed locally at places like Clayhanger Marsh and Mere, Brownhills. The bigger gulls we see over and around the valley are mostly lesser black-backed gulls with the odd herring gull thrown in for good measure, some of these actually nest in the city. Black headed gulls will be around now through the winter and will leave for their breeding grounds next march.

Mallard	1 brood	♀ + 8 almost f / grown imm Prefab,
Moorhen	1+ 3 imm Wetlands,  pr + 4 imm Prefab,  1+1 imm Prefab weir,
Black Headed Gull	24 ( 1 imm )	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	8 ( 4 imm )	Compton Field
Herring Gull	1 ad	Compton Field
Swift	odds over	Barleyfield
Wren	14 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2	Wetland Fields
Whitethroat	1 singing	Shrike Bushes
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Top Roses
Blackcap	8 ( 7 singing )	mid section
Chiffchaff	5 singing	mid section
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Meccano Br
Greenfinch	2 singing	Barleyfield
Goldfinch	2+ ( 1+ imm )	Top Roses
Bullfinch	3	♂ Top Roses,  pr Paddocks
Reed Bunting	1 ♀	flew from Top Roses to Barleyfield Annex,

Black Redstart on the Barleyfield

1st july 15             dawn till early                mid setion

sunny & warm,  20-28°c,  1013mb,  SE 12-9 mph

A very early start ( 04:40 ) paid off when I heard a garden warbler singing at the top of the Barleyfield, as we haven't had one sing for a few weeks now I wanted to find it. While searching I was aware of plenty of activity in the immediate area ( 2 yng greenfinch chasing around + a juv bullfinch and a chaffinch), having located the GW I began checking the other birds, when one with a rusty colour around the base of the tail came into view and quickly disappeared again. Eventually it showed again but only briefly as before,  again showing the rusty tail base, After more waiting a bird dropped down into nettles and then up onto the branches of recently felled trees lying on the ground where at last I managed a better view. Apart from the orange-red tail area it was pretty non-descript, having darkish grey back and head and lighter grey underparts, the breast was slightly spotty? There was a darker area on the forewing corresponding to the greater coverts and primaries, it had a dark eye and its bill was medium long,pointed and dark, I didn't get the leg colour. It then disappeared into the Cherry tree and was lost from view. 

              This will be first record of black redstart for at least 10 yrs.

Grey Heron	1	Wetlands
Mallard	pair	Wetlands
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 brood	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	1 >> NE over	Barleyfield. 1st returning summer bird,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	11	Compton Field
Herring Gull	1 ad	Compton Field
Swift	odds over	Barleyfield
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> N over	Compton Field
Swallow	1 over	Top Roses
Wren	14 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Black Redstart	1 ♀ type	Doctor's clearing
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	3 singing	Barleyfield
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Top Roses
Blackcap	11 (8 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	6 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	2 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	2 juv Top Roses,  + 1 singing + 4 flying around,
Goldfinch	1 singing	Top Roses
Bullfinch	1 juv Top Roses,  1♂  Top Roses  flew to  Barleyfield Annex,  pair Paddock,

Thunder crashes, lightning flashes,

and secretly a Blackcap sings . . .

At last January has ended, disturbingly warm for mid-winter, with record rain levels, gales, thunder, lightning, even hail, a truly tempestuous start to the New Year.  Difficult to remember, but during the mayhem there were days when all was calm . . .


NEWBRIDGE     January 11th, bright, cold.

A walk through the wood as the morning progesses,  a single wintering Coot chugs by on the canal opposite the Double Pennant wharf as a pair of Stock Dove fly in to perch high up, wing-flapping in an exaggerated slow-motion display over their nest site.  A single Buzzard circles against the bright light, turning slowly and slanting away to show its dark underwing patches, eventually floating off towards Stockwell End, possibly one the valley's nesting birds already responding to the warm weather.  Soon pairs will be reinforcing control of their breeding grounds, driving away last year's progeny and defending territories against adult interlopers.  Bushes above the feeding station at Newbridge canal wharf produce a female Bullfinch, a male Greenfinch, a Goldfinch and a female Chaffinch, but no sign of Brambling.  They're thin on the ground this winter.

As dusk descends there's a slim brown shape on the garden fatball holder, a female Blackcap sneeking a last feed before roost time.  She's seen again at the same time next day, following another appearance in the morning by a male of her species, a bird first seen on 6th and still visiting at the end of the month, using the birdbath on 18th.  Regular garden visitors throughout January include two Coal Tit, at least three Woodpigeon and a pair of Robins, the male flying frantically back and fore as he tries to drive away two Dunnock and at least 15 House Sparrow.  Sheer weight of numbers eventually prevails in a piece of pantomime repeated daily. The redbreast, it seems, never learns.

NEWBRIDGE     January 15th, dull, damp, calm.

Across the field the wood stands cold against a grey sky, the winds have lifted, the rain has stopped. Low over the trees a familiar shape emerges from the gloom, small head, long-tailed, broad-winged, flying up over the canal before circling, barred wings spread and tail fanned, dropping into a shallow dive towards the trees before rising, the slow, laboured wingflaps a token of territorial possession to other females and a contact signal to any male that may be watching. The female Sparrowhawk is back.

NEWBRIDGE     January 22nd, dull, calm, cold.

A walk round to the corner shop, everything's quiet, back towards home, paper under arm.  A sharp "tac tac" from a corner garden privet, so  stop, silence, but the bird won't call again.  Give it a minute, turn the corner and, wait, there's the faintest of sounds, a soft chuntering warble, the pattern and pitch of notes the same as in those subdued songs heard in bushes and ivy-covered trees along the Smestow Valley on quiet, sunny mornings in March.  Still can't see the singer, no bins on me, so let's confirm this if we can by resorting to the twitcher's "schup, schup, schup" inticement call.  Yes, in under a minute a slim grey shape comes out to the edge of the bush, a male Blackcap, very likely my garden visitor, pecking at the leaf stems and then flying off in the general direction of my house. The bird, the only Blackcap I've ever heard singing in mid-winter, will almost certainly be one of thousands of his species which now come in ever increasing numbers to lowland areas of the UK in winter from Central Europe, appearing after our breeding Blackcaps have left for southern Europe and Africa.  The incomers eat berries and other natural foods, but also visit garden birdtables, particularly in harsh weather.  It is estimated that 90 per cent of Central European breeding Blackcaps migrate to Spain and north west Africa, with the rest finding a winter home with us.  There is now even a theory that the physical characteristics of the UK wintering birds are slowly changing, so that their wings are becoming more rounded because of shorter migration flights, and their bills are becoming longer and narrower due to a fat and seed diet provided by humans.  Evolution before your very eyes.

DUNSTALL PARK    January 30th,  cold, easterly wind, snow flurries.  

A quick visit to the lake before the bad weather closes in reveals three Grey Heron by the shoreline, a single Snipe motionless at the base of the island, at least 12 Coot starting to defend territories, and  a Mute Swan pair gliding out to preen and feed.  Duck numbers have increased, with at least 12 Teal, two Mallard pairs, seven male and two female Shoveler, five male and five female Tufted Duck and a pair of Gadwall present.  One of four large gulls moving northwards over Stockwell End turns out to be an adult Great Black-backed Gull, flying with two of its Lesser Black-backed relatives and an adult Herring Gull.  This powerful species is not often seen along the valley, so a good bird to report as the month ends.

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

   

    

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Moorhens are climbing, Goldcrests

are chasing, Coots are contesting

NEWBRIDGE,  JANUARY 4th,  2014

Cold and damp but comparatively calm, a break in this seemingly endless run of storms that have battered out the Old Year and blown in the New.  The trees are bare, trunks glistening with overnight rain, the paths through the wood brown and damp under a carpet of rotting leaves and broken branches.  Birds and humans are out and about again, a weekend clutch of joggers striding their way along the towpath, dog-walkers waiting patiently as their pets nose the earth by the canal arm bridge.  Above them Crows and Magpies call in the leafless treetops as Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Dunnock and Wren busy themselves in bankside bushes.  Two Stock Dove fan in and perch close together, their iridescent neck patches clear even in the dull light, a Nutchatch calls, and the clear but as yet subdued notes from a Song Thrush and the hollow drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker show that woodland territories are already being proclaimed.  A single Redwing arrows its way across the school playingfields, and thin high-pitched calls are traced to two tiny shapes flitting and fluttering their way along a hedgeline.  It's courtship time for Goldcrests, the birds calling continuously, the male's crest flaring and spreading from yellow to orange as he pursues his intended mate.  There's a sudden movement in treetops beyond the towpath, black wings arching upwards as a squat, unfamiliar shape edges its way slowly out along one of the highest branches to sit quietly next to another of its kind, two Moorhen, at least 15 to 20 metres above the ground.  It's not unusual to see this species climbing out of the water at dusk to roost in bushes and low trees, but these two seem to be high-altitude specialists.  Minutes later they've disappeared, presumably having flown back down to resume their patrols, low along the edges of the canal.  That's some change of scene.

DUNSTALL PARK,  JANUARY 5th,  2014                               

A westerly breeze, another dull day, and a mid-morning check at the racecourse reveals at least 200 Canada Geese and two Greylags grazing as 220-plus Black-headed Gull, an immature Herring Gull and 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull rest and preen.  The gulls rise suddenly as a Buzzard comes in low to skim the grass and head towards the Farndale estate perimeter, pursued by corvids.   Some of the gulls move to the shelter of the lake, where three male and one female Shoveler edge out from the island, and nine female and 13 male Teal fly up and then settle near two at least seven Coot.  Numbers of this highly territorial bird have risen in the comparatively warm weather of recent weeks, and even this early in the year, pairs are gearing up for noisy and aggressive clashes as they defend nesting areas.   Two Grey Heron stand hunched in rough grass near the shoreline, a single Snipe is motionless at the base of the island, and thin calls from bankside sallows reveal the presence of a single male Reed Bunting, the washed-out version of his dark black summer bib just visible.  After a few minutes he flies off towards the west, and I walk back towards the east, and to a cup of hot Bovril at home.  Cheers.

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

PS.  This morning (January 6th), a male Blackcap is bossing birds on my garden fatball feeder. Long may he stay . . .

 

 

HEADS OR TAILS, MALE TEALS WIN

WHEN IT COMES TO WOOING . . .

Dunstall Park

Sunday December 29th 2013

Cold, calm, bright, slight frost, mid-morning.

The gales of recent days have blown themslves out, new ones are forecast, but at least now there's a brief respite between storms as the year nears its end.  Clear overnight skies have brought a frost, but not hard enough to put off at least 175 Canada Geese which with two Greylag Geese graze the central grass area near to resting groups of c.380 Black-headed Gull,  35 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and a single adult Herring Gull.  Around 20 per cent of the lake is covered with thin ice, five Coot busy themselves on the open water, two adult and an immature Moorhen tread gingerly along the shoreline, and at least seven Snipe rest and preen in the morning sunshine between sandy-coloured rocks along the base of the island.  An adult Grey Heron stands motionless on the grass banks, looking down as a single male Shoveler pushes out from the shore, and a group of  12 Teal emerge one by one from the spiked aquatic grass.  This diminutive duck species has been at the lake since late summer (22 birds were present on October 22nd), and the group that remains are mostly males, now resplendent in full chestnut, green, grey, white and yellow breeding plumage.  They are determined to impress the four or so light-brown females, escorting and chasing, giving high fluted calls and pushing their heads and tails skywards in a exaggerated banana-shaped attempt to catch the eye (the species' collective name is a "spring", capturing perfectly their ability to rise instantly and vertically into the air when disturbed).  A Wren and a Robin are heard and seen in shoreline bushes, two species which have become more frequent visitors to the lake as the waterside vegetation has spread, and two Stock Dove float in to perch in the canalside oak copse near the Water Bridge.  Corvid commotion often means there's a raptor about, and sure enough at least six Crows and a couple of Magpies surround a Common Buzzard as it sits on the banked grass between the racetrack and  service road.  Quite what it's up to is unclear, but if it's looking for worms there's no joy, and it flies up on to a junction box on the side of one the light pylons which line the course perimeter.  The corvids won't give up, and eventually the Buzzard drops off the pylon and flaps slowly away towards the northern end of the site.  The tree-lined western edge of the racecourse is a quiet reflection of a calm day, there's nothing about, so it's back across the tracks and grass to the warmth of the hotel and its reception staff.  A Happy New Year to them, and to you all.

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


DRUM FINALE TO A QUIET YEAR

All told, a quiet end to a quiet year for the whole of the Smestow Valley.  Autumn passage wader records have been few across the region, not helped by high water levels at lakes and reservoirs, but a Green Sandpiper was present from December 1st to at least 4th at Dunstall Park, only the second winter record for the site.  A male Peregrine visited the racecourse on December 4th, and a wintering Coot was on the canal by Newbridge wood on December 16th.  Relatively warm weather encouraged a few singing birds, including single Mistle Thrush near the canalside flats by Hordern Road on December  16th and by Newbridge playingfield on December 24th.  And, sandwiched between the squalls and rain, came the sounds of spring in Newbridge wood on a calm, clear morning on December  29th . . . territorial calls from at least one Nuthatch, and, high in the bare trees, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming away for all the world to hear.








   
 


         


        
 

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.)

    

                

Mud and snipe may have vanished,

but for swans the lake's spot on . . .

Dunstall Park

Saturday, November 9th, 10.00 to 11.30, dull, drizzle, clearing later.

Miserable morning, but fresh air better than staying in, so on with the rain gear and off to check the racecourse lake.  The water level's as high as it's been all year, the mud margins are minimal, so no sign of Snipe (there were at least 20 present at the beginning of October), but some stately visitors have already found the depth to their liking, a group of Mute Swan, feeding and preening quietly.  There are three adults and six grey-brown juveniles, difficult to say whether it's one family or two, but one adult distances itself somewhat, suggesting that the other two are a pair.  Two youngsters feed on their own for while, but then glide back to the group, so maybe all six are siblings (seven cygnets hatched at the lake in 2004.  The last successful nesting was in 2005).  Certainly it's the largest swan group seen here since six adults and six juveniles flew in on 2/11/2008.  Floating gently near the shoreline, a pair of Gadwall preen and sleep (they were first seen on  November 4th), at least eight Teal forage along the margins, while six male and one female Shoveler up-end near the beds of aquatic grass, bright red legs pushing backwards as half-submerged the birds feed from the lake bed.  Some of the males, most likely winter visitors from north western Europe, are now resplendent in black, white, chestnut and black-green breeding plumage.  At least six Coot busy themselves back and forward across the water, an adult and two juvenile Moorhen pick their way along the shoreline, and an adult Grey Heron calls harshly as it glides low over the lake, only to drift up over the trees and disappear down on to the Staffs & Worcs Canal.  Along the north western edge of the site all is quiet, just the glimpse of  a brown-backed Buzzard flapping noiselessly away from trees near the canal junction.  A flock of at least 200 Starling slants and slides low over the central grass area, feeding momentarily before being harried by a single Crow which forces them to fly as soon as they have settled, two adult and a second-winter Herring Gull look down from floodlight pylons, and at least 200 Black-headed Gull and 23 Lesser Black-backed Gull rest and preen on the grass.  Close to the hotel reception doors a male Pied Wagtail scurries under the parade ring railings.  What's the betting he'll be breeding here next year . . . 

                             

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

PS

At Wightwick canal lock on Thursday 9th in calm, warm late-morning sunshine, wasps, flies, bees and a perfect Red Admiral butterfly feed on compact banks of sweet-smelling flowering ivy.  Nearby in the lock cottage hedge, red and pink roses are fully open.  It might as well be spring . . .       

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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Unsettled weather but birds settling down

fri 10 May 2013            early morning         light  drizzle

mid section 

With good weather for birders ( unsettled and showery ) if not for the birds ( poor things ) I was expecting some minor rarity this week. I was sadly disappointed,just the usual fare. Things will settle down now as resident and migrant birds are busy nest building,sitting on eggs or feeding young.

Mallard                          6 young near Tettenhall Bridge, unusually moms been missing since at least 30th April.

Buzzard                        Probably one of the resident pair over Compton Field.

Swift                             The odd one over.

Swallow                        1 over Barleyfield.

Herring Gull                The odd one over ( usually a near adult ).

Stock Dove                  2 around the new Wetland area.

Starling                        Small numbers gathering food on Compton Field to take back for youngsters.

Singing birds included:   wren,dunnock,robin,song thrush,blackbird,whitethroat,blackcap,chiffchaff,willow warbler,goldcrest,blue tit,great tit,greenfinch and chaffinch.

And finally a brown staffordshire bull terrier which was first seen by a dog walker on sun 28th April on Barleyfield is still roaming free. I have seen it 3 times,including this morning,always near the trees in the NE corner.

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 21st March
Dry, light frost, sunny periods, moderate easterlies, daytime temp 4C

Skywatch from North end of Barleyfield 06:00- 07:00 then
Mid-section of reserve - Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch:
Canada Goose 6 West and 1 NE
Black-headed Gull 15 SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull 14 SW
Meadow Pipit 2 N
Starling 160 SW (largest group of 90, peaked at 06:20)
Chaffinch 5 E

Mid-section highlights:
Buzzard - one flew into the college ground trees on the ridge from the South early
Sparrowhawk - usually the best time to watch birds of prey is later on in the day, when the air is warmer. However, this morning I was treated to 3 birds displaying high overhead from 6:10am!! The poor light conditions and varying heights of the birds made it hard to be sure of their sex, (i felt that it was 2 females and a male) but they took turns in performing displays involving undulating, rapid climbs and closed wing dives.
Gulls: 26 Black-headed Gulls, 3 adult and a 1st Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 adult Herring Gulls were on the playing field by the Wolves Academy.
Green Woodpecker - one was calling early from the Eastern Border and then a female spent over half an hour in an Alder at the North East corner of the Barleyfield.
Grey Wagtail- it appears we now have a settled pair, and they were noted again today around and over the Compton Park wetland site.
Goldcrest- these beautiful little birds are becoming more obvious and its so good to see them after such a harsh Winter. One was near Compton Lock.
Magpie - the Compton Park Winter roost is still forming and 25 late risers were noted around Compton Park.
Carrion Crow - Its amazing how the corvids on Henwood ridge, appear to vary daily. Some days you see just Jackdaws. This morning c15 Carrion Crows were flying around the ridge above the college.
Starlings - 2 birds were singing at their Newbridge breeding stronghold. The modern DIY culture and plastic soffets and fascia boards, fitted to properties offer no nesting opportunities, but it seems that there are still enough older properties around the village, to allow you to see these birds throughout the Spring and Summer on the roofs and t.v. aerials across the canal.
Siskin - 2 went South over Meccano Bridge, and a rowdy individual was calling as it circled over Newbridge canal bridges and houses later.

Census:
Mallard: 18 male and 4 female
Moorhen: 7
Dunnock: 10 singing: Graisley Culvert, Compton "Rough" (3), Prefab Weir, South of Meccano Bridge (2), The Academy, The Paddocks (2)
Song Thrush: singing bird numbers well down on last month: 1 at the annex of the Barleyfield and one in the Paddock.
Great Tit: 4 pairs: Compton Lock, Station Paddock, the main Paddock and Graisley Culvert
Long-tailed Tit: a good showing this morning: Graisley Culvert (2), the Barleyfield Crossings (2), Compton "Rough" (3), Meccano Bridge (4), Newbridge (2).

Total: 32 species

Sunday 20th January 2013

Cold, lying snow, overcast then snow from 9am, Moderate NE.
Mid-section - Compton Bridge to Newbridge and Barleyfield/Compton Park

Very quiet overall with only 29 species noted - the lowest on any day since I started watching the patch in 2010!! The only indication of any cold-weather movements, were 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading SW over Henwood Ridge.

As usual though, the valley yielded some encounters that made braving the elements worthwhile:

Firstly, I had a mid-section PB for Little Grebe counts with a total of 7 present - 1 at Prefab Weir, 3 at Meccano Bridge, and 3 around the barges at Newbridge.

Whilst watching the Grebes at Meccano Bridge a drake Teal suddenly shot up from the Smestow Brook just South of the bridge. It circled then appeared to head South-West following the Western edge of the Barleyfield.

A Nuthatch called briefly from the Railway Walk near Compton Lock.

Common water-bird numbers had swelled slightly, with the 36 Mallard counted being understandable given the amount of frozen local water, but the count of 20 Moorhens may, simply have been a result of their being more visible against the snowy backdrop. Even so 20, including 8 at Newbridge and 5 around Prefab Weir, was close to a patch record for me.

A Green Woodpecker called from the Henwood Road area adjacent to Meccano Bridge and 3 Dunnock, including a singing bird were breaking the silence nearby.

a Grey Wagtail flew East over the old canal bridge at Newbridge and a Coal Tit was briefly calling from the tree tops there.

The Paddocks were unproductive and it was a little concerning that I had yet to encounter a feeding band anywhere!! (Though what appeared to be the tail end of one was represented by 5 Long-tailed Tits heading off into the Newbridge housing area).

Next up was the Barleyfield, where 5 Bullfinch were seen, lifting from the Railway Walk and heading up the Western edge and a 2nd Winter Herring Gull drifted low over the canal the other way. A second Grey Wagtail of the morning was feeding at Graisley Culvert.

A lone and very confiding Goldcrest was flitting through brambles at the top of the Barleyfield by Geoff's seat, which for me gave the highlight of the morning, as the views reminded just how beautiful these often overlooked little birds are.

The snow was now becoming more persistent and after standing for half hour in the vain hope of seeing some movement birds, I gave up and set off to find the finch flock. This didn't take long, as the party were feeding in the smaller Lower Alders. There were good numbers and 3 female Siskin were picked out as the birds fed. Eventually they lifted, revealing a good count (by today's standards) of 30+ Goldfinch. Redpoll still, surprisingly remained absent.

I had intended to stick around and persevere with the skywatch, but a text from my waking hungry son, and worsening conditions prompted me to abandon match!!

Hopes of catching my first Winter Thrushes of the day at Compton Park failed, but at last a feeding band of 9+ Long-tailed Tits and Blue/Greats rounded off the walk.

Sunday 13/1/2013
Overnight heavy frost calm, clear

Walk before dawn from Compton to Castlecroft Bridge, then return along canal to Newbridge and quick look at paddocks, barleyfield and Compton Park.

3 Little Grebe -Compton allotments, below Compton Lock and by the Wolves academy.
Grey Heron - 1 North over Wightwick road bridge
61 Mallard - 45 South of Compton bridge, 16 between Compton and Newbridge
4 Buzzard - 3 together in oak at South end of Wightwick Fields and 1 in tree by Meccano Bridge.
2 Sparrowhawk - 1 at Wightwick Fields and a female over S.Peter's playing fields
Pheasant - Male on Southern edge of Wightwick Fields
33 Moorhen - 17 between Compton Road and Newbridge. Only 16 recorded South of Compton Road
Herring Gull - Adult with 3 LBB Gull and 54 BH Gull at Compton Park
Tawny Owl - A pair calling from trees at Compton Hospice. A welcome encounter, after the Compton Park birds abandoned their Compton Park winter roost sight due to the housing development last year.
Kingfisher - male at Wightwick Fields
Green Woodpecker - Castlecroft Bridge area
G S Woodpecker - calling from oak by paddocks near Castlecroft Bridge
Pied Wagtail - 2 South over Castlecroft Bridge (N.B. A pair were at Compton Park wetland yesterday)
Grey Wagtail - 1 at Prefab Weir
4 Song Thrush - singing West of Wightwight road bridge, houses at Wightwight Fields, by Newbridge old station and in the middle paddock nearby.
2+ Redwing - Compton Park
Mistle Thrush - singing East of the canal at Newbridge
3 Fieldfare - 1 at Castlecroft Bridge, 2 on Compton Park
Coal Tit - 1 singing briefly at Compton Park, by Compton Road entrance
18+ Long-tailed Tits - 5+ at Turners Fields, 9 in the main Paddock and 4 at Compton Park
Nuthatch - 1 calling from Henwood Ridge near Prefab Weir
Peasley Wood Corvid Roost - arrived at 07:20 just in time to see 400+, mainly Jackdaw, with a few Rooks and Crows, lift over Smestow School and split into two similar groups, 1 heading NW, presumably to feed beyond Tettenhall and the other heading straight up the Valley. The fact that none headed South, seems to confirm the absence of flocks late last year heading over Wightwick Fields and numbers are now a fraction of the 10,000 that roosted in the area at this time of year in 2004.
151 Starling - South over Castlecroft bridge
10+ House Sparrows - in small colonies at Newbridge and Compton Park - The Compton Village colony were not in their usual canalside spot, maybe visiting local feeding stations in the cold weather.
Siskin - a single male ground-feeding at Eddy's Alders with c10 Chaffinch and c20 Goldfinch. This is highly unusual behaviour since the smaller finches are traditionally in the Alder tops at this site. The "Goldies" were mixing between ground-feeding and low-level tree feeding. This may indicate the wet Summer has produced some failure in the food source.
9 Bullfinch - 5 at Turners Fields, 2 at Compton Lock and 2+ at The Paddocks, with a soft singing male there.
3+ Yellowhammer - in canal side hawthorns by Castlecroft Bridge

44 Species.

Friday, January 11th,  2013.

Dunstall Park
Misty, clearing to high broken cloud, dull, calm, damp, cool. 10.40 to 11.50.

Few birds were visible initially on a misty, cold, quiet racecourse, just a handful of gulls on the central grass area and eight Canada Geese grazing near the lake perimeter fence.  On the lake, four male and three female Teal fed near the shoreline, while a pair of Mallard rested along the base of the island.  A pair of Gadwall, now present for over two weeks, moved away from a group of quarrelling Coot, at least 11 of which are now on the lake, some of the adults already contesting territory in what has so far been a comparitively warm winter.  The depth of water provides no margins at present for Snipe, but closer inspection of the island revealed 21 resting birds (doubtless more were present), beautifully camouflaged among dried and dead vegetation as they waited to feed elsewhere on the site.  Two Pied Wagtail foraged on the banked lake sides, as a group of Crow took off to pursue a dark-plumaged Common Buzzard low across the lake and into trees by the Staffs & Worcs Canal below Dunstall Water Bridge. As the mist began to lift, a Nuthatch was heard calling from towpath trees just north of Aldersley stadium, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker flew on to a canalside oak and two Robin sang near to each other in the racecourse's north western corner.  A brief glimpse of two Jay and a single Fieldfare in the same area, and it was back on to the open central grass to check the gulls.  Many had flown in as the weather brightened, and a count produced three adult Herring Gull, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 200-plus Black-headed Gull.  Also foraging were more than 40 Woodpigeon, at least 12 Magpie and 12 Rook.  No sign yet of activity around the site's rookery, but in recent years birds have been seen "chase-flying" near the nest trees, sometimes as early as late December and early January.         

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

31st December 2012

Dunstall Park

Cloudy, cold, WNW wind, continuous light rain, perfect end to 2012.
11.40am to 12.30am.

A quick check of the lake showed the Gadwall pair were still present, dabbling and preening near the margins (at least a five-day stay).  A pair of Mallard  provided an interesting comparison of the females of the two species.  Teal numbers have risen to their highest of the winter, with 22 birds counted (12 males and 10 females), the males displaying madly, calling, rushing at each other, arching backwards and flaring their crests.  Eight Snipe crouched among brown and streaked vegetation at the base of the lake island, difficult to spot, doubtless more present.  A Jay flew to lakeside bushes, dropping down into long grass, possibly to hunt for buried acorns.  At least six Coot are still on the lake, almost certainly adults and youngsters from the summer's two breeding pairs.  At least 90 Canada Goose grazed on the central grass area, near 20 Rook feeding with at least two Jackdaw.  More than 250 Black-headed Gull rested on the grass, alongside at least 15 Herring Gull and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, the birds being periodically disturbed by Crow and Magpie.  I left them to it, for a hot coffee in hotel reception.  Undisturbed.   

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

SUNDAY 23rd DECEMBER

NEWBRIDGE WOOD next to Newbridge playingfield, south of Hordern Road and bordering Staffs & Worcs Canal, 10am to 10.30am.

Cool, bright, WNW breeze, high broken cloud.

A brief walk through a relatively quiet wood, livening up as flocks of Long-tailed Tit (eight-plus seen), Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch started to feed in trees warmed by the early sun along the eastern edge of the site.  A Nuthatch, calling, joined them, with Wren, Robin and Dunnock heard in ground cover each side of the main path.  Magpies were active over and in the southern end of the wood, with Woodpigeon flying away over the Double Pennant boatyard towards the old railway.  Gruff warning notes from a resident Crow suggested something was about to happen, and sure enough, within seconds there were the unmistakable "cronk" calls as two Raven swept in over the trees, close together and barrelling away towards the north west low over the boatyard towards the Tettenhall Road.

Later, a flock of c.20 Black-headed Gulls circled, dipped and floated low over the cricket square on the playingfield, touching down briefly to snatch bread left for them by a dog-walker, the pure white tails and underwings of the adults lit up in the clear air.  A single Jay perched on the Newbridge wharf fence before dropping down to the canalside feeding station, and two Coal Tits fed from a garden fatholder at the back of a house in Crowther Road bordering the playingfield.

DUNSTALL PARK

10.55am to 11.40am.

Damp conditions are attracting gulls to the site's central grass area, and at least 200 Black-headed Gulls were present initially, with a small number of Lesser Black-backed Gull.  Within minutes of a rough count being made all the birds took off responding to alarm calls from at least two Herring Gull circling overhead.  There was no sign of a raptor, but none of the gulls returned, most leaving towards the NW, others towards the city.  Water levels at the racecourse lake are their highest since late summer downpours, with six Coot present, the birds almost certainly adults and immatures from this summer's two breeding pairs and their offspring.  A first-winter Grey Heron was tucked into shoreline vegetation, and at least six male and two female Teal swam close to the lake island.  Five Snipe stood partially concealed by the edge of the island (with no exposed mud or visible margins, numbers for this species are way down for this stage of the winter).  A Robin sang from lakeside bushes (an unusal location) and c.70 Crow foraged near the lake or perched in the oak copse next to the Staffs & Worcs Canal.  A male and female Bullfinch moved through bushes on the western edge of the site, and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker called from trees by the north west corner near Aldersley canal junction.  A light-plumaged adult Buzzard took off from a wood pile in the same corner, circling low over lock 20 on the Birmingham Canal and flying off towards the railway carriageworks and Oxley.                

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

           

Sunday 16th December 2012

Light SW, dry, clear with light frost.

Skywatch from Barleyfield till 08:00 then count between the road bridges at Newbridge and Compton, including canal, railway, most of the barleyfield and Compton Park.

Skywatch:
1 Canada Goose - West
4 Goosander - NE along ridge
Kestrel - from roost SW over St. Edmunds
34 B H Gull - SW
56 LBB Gull - South
Adult Herring Gull - South
7 Pied Wagtail - Presumably from City roost - South (Anyone know where roost is this year after the traditional roost trees were cut back last year by Ann Summers!!!)
94 Magpie - ex Roost at Compton Park
At last Corvids!!! Must have heard my plea on Saturday!!!
c100 Jackdaw and c25 Carrion Crow - North over at 07:30 in one large spread flock
4 Starling - SW

Count results for mid-section (excluding skywatch figures):

18 Mallard, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 14 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 107 B H Gull, 5 LBB Gull, Adult Herring Gull, 64 Woodpigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 G S Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 10 Wrens, 14 Dunnock, 30 Robins, 27 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Coal Tit, 20 LT Tit, 13 Great Tit, 33 Blue Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 11 Magpie, 2 Jackdaw, 8 Carrion Crow, 2 Starling, 5 House Sparrow, 45 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 7 Greenfinch, 20 Siskin, 8 Bullfinch.

5 Robins, 3 Wrens,1 Dunnock (Newbridge), 1 Mistle Thrush (Newbridge), 1 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and 1 Coal Tit (Station Paddock) were singing during count.

Total 40 SPECIES

sun  16/12/12    Cloudy          Early Morning

canal   Tettenhall Rd  -  Compton Rd  and Barleyfield area

Coot                                   1 just north Meccano Bridge,
Little Grebe                      5 canal ( 3 between Meccano Br - Tettenhall Br,  2 north Tettenhall Rd )
Grey Heron                       1 fishing nr Compton Lock,
Coal Tit                             1 railway walk nr Aspine Way, 1 calling SW cnr Barleyfield, 1 calling wolves firs
Greenfinch                       10  gardens top of Barleyfield,
Herring Gull                     1 flying SW over Barleyfield,
Siskin                                c 10 feeding in Lower Alders flew to join more at Eddys Alders, making at least 20 birds with the goldfinch. The siskin are new in today,previous max was 3.
Goldfinch                         c 35 with the siskin in Eddys Alders,
Green Woodpecker         1 probable female flew into Eddys Alders,
Great Tit                          1 singing at Meadow View was a surprise,

Sat 15/12/12     Cloudy,mild.       Early Morning 

Canal  Tettenhall - Compton  then Barleyfield.

In order of appearance

Little Grebe             3 ( 1 north of Tettenhall Rd, 1 Newbridge Squash Club, 1 Prefab weir,

Grey Heron             1 fishing  just south of Prefab weir,

Herring Gull            1 flying around Barleyfield,

Cormorant               5 ( 3 ad 2 imm ) flying SW down valley, 1 flying NE up valley,

Greenfinch              4+  between gardens at top of Barleyfield & Central Scrub,

Chaffinch                 20+ mostly ground feeding in Lower Alders,  pair top of Barleyfield,

Coal Tit                   2 calling from top SW cnr Barleyfield,  1 singing nr the Paddock,

Mistle Thrush         1 feeding on Compton playing field,

Goosander              4♂  3♀ flew SW along canal over Meccano Bridge,

Goldfinch                 20+  feeding in Lower Alders,

Robin                       1 singing in the Paddock,

 Coot                         No sign this morning,