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

Back to square one

21st March 16               morning                   mid section

cloudy,  6-8°c,   1024 mb,   WNW 7-10 mph

 No sign of yesterday's chiffchaff or any other migrants in cold cloudy unfavourable conditions with a north-westerly air-flow ( so no surprise there then). I heard a knocking from the trees between the canal and Smestow behind the prefabs on Henwood Rd ( which I've just christened Prefab Border) ( original err ). It could be a woodpecker or a nuthatch searching for insects, but it could also be someone in the prefabs doing some odd jobs. After a short wait, a female great spotted woodpecker revealed itself. A treecreeper was also in this small area.

Little Grebe	1 pale	S&W Canal
Mallard	1♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 >> low W over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Prefab Border
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Lower Alders
Long Tailed Tit	3 pair + nest	mid section
Great Tit	5 singing	mid section
Treecreeper	1	Prefab Border
House Sparrow	calls	Meadow View
Goldfinch	1 singing	Hanging Grds X
Bullfinch	2 pair + calls	mid section

Chiffchaff at last

20th March 16,          morning               mid section

cloudy,  5-8°c,   1028 mb,  N 5- ENE 7 mph

But is it from Africa? Or a british wintering bird moving north to breeding grounds in Scandinavia. Who knows?  Not singing or calling but feeding greedily in vegetation on opposite side of canal at Newbridge. But the star bird of the day must be a male kestrel, hovering high over Barleyfield. the first for almost a year.

  Made another visit late afternoon to see if chiffy would sing, refound bird by Tennis Courts but still not singing. Also had a female goosander fly north west high over Barleyfield and a female great spotted woodpecker on tree tops in Hanging Grds.

Little Grebe	2	1 s/p Squash Club,  1 pale Newbridge Wharf
Mallard	pair	Wetlands
Goosander	1 >> NW over	Barleyfield
Buzzard	1 over	Compton Playing field
Kestrel	1♂ hunting	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge & railway S of Barleyfield
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drum Shrike Bushes,  1 flew over Prefabs, █ later pm 1♀ Hanging Grds,
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	14 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	1 feeding from opp canal bank Newbridge, seen again 17:20,
Long Tailed Tit	7+	mid section
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	Tennis Courts
Chaffinch	1 singing	Meadow View
Greenfinch	3 (1 zz )	Barleyfield
Goldfinch	1	The Paddock
Bullfinch	2 pr + 1♂	mid section

Still feels like winter

18th March 16          morning                mid section

dull,misty & cold,  5-6°c,  1028 mb,  ENE 5-NE 6 mph

 Cold and grey with misty fog, not improving all day. So was not surprised when the birding turned out just the same. The only bright spot was in the birch woodland at the top of Barleyfield. Met up with the two uni students who have been doing a survey of the birds in the middle section of the valley ( my sector ). We came across a tit flock ( reminiscent of winter activity ) that included coal and long-tail tits as well as goldcrest. We often get treecreeper,siskin,jay and great spotted woodpecker here and soon no doubt chiffchaff, blackcap and willow warbler.       

                                         

Little Grebe	2	S&W Canal
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Top Birches
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	12 singing	mid section
Dunnock	11 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Redwing	6	Wetlands
Goldcrest	pair	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	5 + pr	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2	Top Birches
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Bullfinch	2 pair	Annex Barleyfield

                

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

The wait goes on

15th March 16              morning                mid section

mostly cloudy,  6-8°c,  1032 mb,  NE 7-10 mph

 The wind has turned northerly again after briefly going south then east over the weekend. This is maybe why our hopes were heightened and now dashed. The forecast for the next few days is continued northerly's. A pair of grey wagtail on the Smestow looks like the same pair Ian and myself had by the Prefabs at the end of Feb, if so they may be a breeding pair holding a rather long territory. The redwing and chaffinch are probably the same group from yesterday, count is a guestimate as only seen flying away through dense wooded area adjacent to Wetlands. The siskin was in the same area but seen perched up (behaving itself). 

PS  just seen Ian's post.  interesting grey wags. Yes I was also surprised to find a grebe below Compton Lock, only the second time this winter. ( I think )

Little Grebe	2 s/p	1 s/p Below Compton Lock,   1 s/p Meccano Br,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Black Headed Gull	1 flew N over	Compton Rough
Grey Wagtail	pair	Station Paddock
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Redwing	10+	Lower Alders
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	2	Station Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Hanging Grds
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Jay	calls	Top Birches
Chaffinch	2+ 1 singing	2section
Siskin	1	Lower Alders

Maybe Tomorrow

14th March 16              morning                  mid section

mostly sunny,  3-5°c,    1036 mb,   ENE 10 mph

With a chiffchaff at Belvide yesterday and a sand martin at Alvecote Pools today I was hoping for movement on the patch this morning. I did find some, but of winter birds moving out, not summer birds coming in. The unusual sight of a mixed flock of redwing and chaffinch with a single siskin around the Wetlands. A treecreeper in the Eastern Border may have been the same one I had three weeks ago in the plantation at the top of Barleyfield.       

Little Grebe	2 s/p	S&W canal Meadow View
Sparrowhawk	1 soaring	Tettenhall Ridge
Buzzard	3	pair over Barleyfield, 1 to the north
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Redwing	c20	in mixed flock CH  Wetlands
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair + 1	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Treecreeper	1	Eastern Border
Chaffinch	3 singing	The Paddocks
Chaffinch	c5	c5 in mixed flock RW  Wetlands
Greenfinch	1	Hanging Grds X
Goldfinch	2	Compton Rough
Siskin	1	Wetlands
Bullfinch	2 pair	Barleyfield

Plenty resident bird song

13th March 16             morning                mid section

sunny & mild,  8-12°c,  1035 mb,  E 6-9 mph

  Looks like I will have to kick myself out of bed earlier now there's a dawn chorus starting to happen. At least three little grebe, one summer plumage, early morning heading north by Meadow View, another between Prefab weir and Meccano, seen from Compton Rough,  which we couldn't find fifteen minutes later on return from Compton Lock. Another two by the Squash Club ( 1 s/p + 1 partial s/p ) but can't be sure one of these wasn't a recount. A kingfisher near the grebes which eventually flew towards the Smestow in the Paddocks.

Little Grebe	1 s/p MV, (return) 1 N of weir,  2 ( 1 s/p + 1 p/s/p ) SqC,
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming    Aspine Way area ( heard from canal )
Wren	11 + singing	min section
Dunnock	4+ singing	min section
Robin	10+ singing	min section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	2	Compton Field
Goldcrest	pair	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	min section
Great Tit	4+ singing	min section
Chaffinch	2 singing	min section
Greenfinch	3	min section
Bullfinch	1♀	Annex Barleyfield

Winter birds still hanging on

11th March 16          morning              mid section

hazy sunshine,  6-9°c,   1028 mb,  S 4-6 mph

 Good numbers of blackbirds still in evidence, probably passage birds, 9 black headed gulls on Compton Playing Fields and 4 little grebe on the canal at Newbridge still. The grebes may also be passing through. We cant tell whether they are different individuals or the same birds acquiring breeding plumage or indeed a mixture of the two scenarios. No sign of any summer migrants yet, the northerly winds of the last two weeks seem to be holding them up. 

Little Grebe	4	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1	S&W Canal near Meadow View,
Mallard	3♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1	over Prefabs
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	9	Compton Field
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Compton Lock
Grey Wagtail	1	Station Paddock
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	8 singing	mid section
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	Meadow View
Coal Tit	1	Newbridge feeder
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	2 singing	The Paddock
Goldfinch	2	Wetlands

Ring neck Parakeet

5th March 16            morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,  4-5°c,  1001 mb,  NW 8-15 mph

  Very quiet today in cold raw conditions after what looks like heavy o/night rain. The ground is really slushy and slippery. The best I could muster was two silent ring neck parakeet flying high west over the Paddocks. Still three little grebe, two of which are almost in full summer plumage. A noticeable  increase in blackbird numbers, many feeding on the ground.

Little Grebe	3	S&W Canal
Buzzard	calls	Barleyfield
Ring Necked Parakeet	2 >> W over	The Paddock
Grey Wagtail	1 >> NW over	Top Roses
Wren	5 singing	mid section
Dunnock	7 singing	mid section
Robin	8 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Tennis Courts
Long Tailed Tit	1	Graiseley Cnr
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	pr + 1♂+1♀	mid section

Wagtails save the day

28th February 16        morning            mid section

cloudy,  3-7°c,  1023 mb,  NE 5-8 mph

 Met Ian on arrival at Meadow View, Fishermen on canal so we did the Paddocks. A pair of coal tit was found in the main paddock but little else, a splendid male pied  wagtail in breeding plumage was on the field to the east of our Wetland pool. Another coal tit this one singing from the eastern border of Barleyfield. We headed south to Wightwick Mill Lock and back along the canal without seeing much until we checked the Smestow behind the prefabs, where we were treated to a pair of grey wagtail feeding on the edges of the brook, Little grebe ended the day back at Meadow View.

Little Grebe	1+	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Compton Rough
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> over	Sandfields
Grey Wagtail	pair	pair Smestow Prefabs,
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	song	mid section
Dunnock	song	mid section
Robin	song	mid section
Song Thrush	song	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	pr Paddocks + 1 singing Eastern Border Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1 over	Wetland Field
Greenfinch	1 singing	Compton Allotments
Bullfinch	3♀	Annex Barleyfield

Lack sunshine lack birds and song

26th February 16          morning                mid section

hazy sunshine,   3-6°c,   1009 mb,     SE 5-8 mph

 A mini version of yesterday. Missing six species and numbers down, all I suspect down to the lack of sunshine.

Little Grebe	2	both approaching s/p  Squash Club,
Canada Goose	5 over NE	mid section
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	5 & 37	5 Compton Field,  37 Compton Park,
Stock Dove	1 singing	Lower Alders
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Lower Alders
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Lower Alders
Long Tailed Tit	2	Shrike Bushes
Coal Tit	calls	Top Birches
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 (1 singing)	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Top Roses

Standard fayre for February

25th February 16            morning                mid section

cold but sunny,  2-4°c,  1017 mb,  NNW 5-N 8 mph

A lovely sunny day with plenty of birds around although nothing special on view, all pretty normal for this time of year. Just one little grebe today, it's a little early for their departure so maybe they're north of my area. Two pair of coal tit in the Eastern Border of Barleyfield with both of the males singing, two siskin in the birch plantation at the top and a lone goldcrest there.

Little Grebe	1 w/p	S&W Canal
Mallard	pair	Wetland
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Black Headed Gull	10+	Wetland Field
Stock Dove	1 singing	Prefabs
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Compton Rough
Wren	6 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	1	Barleyfield Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair + 1	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2 pair	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	Barleyfield Annex
Jay	1	Barleyfield Top Birches
Chaffinch	1♀	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Greenfinch	1 singing	Prefabs
Siskin	2	Barleyfield Top Birches
Bullfinch	2 pair + 1♂	Barleyfield

Goldcrest and Treecreeper chasing overhead whilst tree felling on Barleyfield

22nd February 16              morning                mid section    

partly sunny,  6-7°c,  1008 mb,  W 8-11 mph.  

 The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust are continuing their management plans on the Barleyfield, so today I turned up to help out. They are thinning out the birch trees at the top and planting a greater variety of native tree and understory species like hazel and also ground plants such as primrose. Having a well earned tea break, we were treated to a display of three goldcrest chasing each other around and doing what comes naturally at this time of year, a treecreeper dashing from tree to tree and a pair of long tail tit quietly feeding above our heads. All in all a good way to spend a few hours. I'll be back next time two weeks today and would encourage anybody with some spare time to join us. It's great fun.

Little Grebe	4	S&W Canal
Mallard	pair	Wetland
Buzzard	pair	over Prefabs
Black Headed Gull	14	Wetland Field
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Top Barleyfield Birches
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	11 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 (3 singing)	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 (1 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	1+ Station Paddock,  pr + 1 chasing top Barrleyfield,
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Compton Rough
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	1	Barleyfield Annex
Treecreeper	1	Top Barleyfield Birches
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Goldfinch	2	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	pr + 1♂	mid section

Singing in the sunshine

11th February 16,    morning            mid section

mostly sunny,   2-7°c,  1004 mb,  S 4-SSW 4 mph

Plenty of bird song this morning in the sunshine, including a solitary stock dove in the old and defunct reedbed. Little grebe numbers seem to be falling off ( although I haven't checked the north end for a while ). Just three today, two winter plumaged birds by Meccano Bridge early on and on the return journey a w/p still at Meccano, a bird showing signs of summer plumage by the Tennis Courts and the other w/p bird now by Newbridge Wharf.

Little Grebe	3	S&W canal
Stock Dove	1 singing	Graiseley Reedbed
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	17 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	6 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	4+	Barleyfield
Great Tit	7 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	3	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	3♂ 3♀	Barleyfield