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

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

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

grey geese and treecreeper

21st December 15           morning            mid section

cloudy, cold,  6-9°c,  1009 mb,  S  12-23 mph

Mid winter's day, the shortest day of the year and at least it was cold compared to recent mornings. Met Ian on the Barleyfield who had just had a cormorant flyover the Wetlands. Whilst stood in the middle of Barleyfield a stock dove landed not far away and 4 grey geese flew over to the north but to distance to identify down to species. We later had six little grebe on the canal, a treecreeper and about ten siskin by Double Pennant.

Little Grebe	6	S&W canal
Mute Swan	2	S&W canal Double Pennant,
Grey Geese	4 flying NE over Wolves Academy twds West Park, too far away to ID species,
Moorhen	1 imm	Prefab weir,
Stock Dove	1	Barleyfield
Wren	1 singing	Lower Alders
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	1	Compton Lock
Long Tailed Tit	few	Double Pennant
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge Boat feeder
Treecreeper	1	Double Pennant
Chaffinch	1♀	Newbridge boats feeder
Goldfinch	2	Wetlands
Siskin	10+	Double Pennant
Bullfinch	2	mid section

Hour vizmig produces 169 redwing

18th October 15          morning                 mid section

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

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

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

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

Steady as you go

3rd October 15            morning             mid section

low cloud,chilly,  7-8°c,   1017mb   SW 3-N 4 mph

A chiffchaff with the tit flock in the Paddocks was the only warbler of the day. Another kingfisher sighting again the same general area eventually flew north under the two Tettenhall Rd bridges and disappeared behind the moored boats at Newbridge boat yard. This was a female, it would be interesting to know the sex of the dark bird? The Barleyfield wasn't exactly jumping with birds but a steady stream gradually filled my notebook. Only one little grebe seen today and I saw it from Meadow View bridge, having just walked the towpath, I obviously missed it, Wonder how many more were hiding in the canal side vegetation.

Little Grebe	1	S&W Canal  near tennis club
Moorhen	2 imm	1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br,
Stock Dove	4 >> SW over	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	S&W Canal near Squash Club
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E over	Barleyfield
Wren	1	Compton Rough
Robin	20 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2	Annex Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	1	The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	c6	The Paddock
Nuthatch	calls	Tennis Courts
Jay	c4	Barleyfield
Goldfinch	9	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	2	mid section

10 mistle thrush but 10 x as many swallows

15th September 15            morning                 mid section

cloudy becoming partly sunny, 10-15°c, 994mb, W 6-W 9 mph

As well as grilling trees and bushes us birders always have our eyes skyward for the odd bird of prey or anything else that flies over, well this morning standing on the walkway over the Wetland I noticed a couple of swallows going over, the bins focused on them to make sure of the ID and there were more, 5 no 10 even more, now need to make sure they're all swallows ( could be house martins too ). No white rumps and flight characteristics are all swallow but there are many more a good distance away over towards Paget Rd, Must be at least 100 a good number in one group for the Valley. They had all disappeared with in 10 minutes. Back down to earth and 10 mistle thrush with 11 starling on the field, a further 10 or so starling joined them before being flushed by a dog walker.

Stock Dove	1 >> S over	Valley
Swallow	100+	100+ mostly to the E of Wetlands,
Pied Wagtail	4	Compton Field
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1	The Paddock
Mistle Thrush	10	wetlands Field
Blackcap	2+	Hanging Grds
Jay	2	Barleyfield
Jackdaw	odds over	Barleyfield
Starling	c20	11 Wetlands field  joined by about another 10,
Goldfinch	5 over	Wetlands
Bullfinch	1 imm	Annex Barleyfield

Another very quiet morning

23rd July 15          morning                mid section

cloudy,  12-14°c,   1017mb,   SW 4-7 mph

Roll on the autumn, next to nothing showing or singing today and definitely nothing unusual .

Good to see the moorhen brood near the Prefabs still intact.

Mallard	few	Staffs & Wocs
Moorhen	2 broods	1+2 full grown juv Wetlands,  1+4 well grown juv Perfabs,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Stock Dove	1	Wetland Fields
House Martin	3 over	Meadow View
Wren	1 singing	Station Paddock
Dunnock	2 singing	Station Paddock
Song Thrush	1 singing	Station Paddock
Whitethroat	calls	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	1 singing	Compton Rough
Chiffchaff	3 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Chaffinch	2	Top Roses
Greenfinch	3 (2 singing)	mid section
Goldfinch	5 ( 1 singing )	mid section

Our pool needs some fish

14th July 15           early morning               mid section

O/cast occ shower,  14°c,   1015mb,     N 2-NNW 3 mph

Ian had a kingfisher on the Wetland site on saturday and I had one seemingly fishing today ( don't think there's any fish though ) so it's found our pool. It would be good if we could stock it with some small fish.

    The weather played its part this morning, not the best, so I was not surprised that not much was going on with the locals but something a little more special may be forced to seek shelter from the rain of the last couple of days. Unfortunately it no such luck.

Mallard	1 brood	♀+ 3 small chicks on brook  Smestow Bridge,
Moorhen	1 brood	1+ 2 juv  Wetlands,
Black Headed Gull	4 over	Wetlands
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Stock Dove	3	2 >> N over Shrike Bushes,   1 Wetlands,
Swift	odds over	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1	1♂ Wetlands  fishing ? Off walkway 08:05,
House Martin	1	Barleyfield
Wren	5 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Blackbird	3 singing	Barleyfield
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	1 imm	Wetlands Field
Whitethroat	3	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	8 (4 singing )	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	5 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	1♂	Shrike Bushes
Greenfinch	3 ( 1 singing )	Top Roses
Goldfinch	5 (2 singing )	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	5	mid section
Meadow Brown	2	Barleyfield
Ringlet	few	Barleyfield

None stop birdin with butterflies 

11th July 15           early morning              mid section

mostly sunny & warm,  14-17°c,  1015mb,  SW 4-7 mph

A walk round with Ian, at times there were too many birds to get to grips with. Not sure how many whitethroats we had together in the Shrike Bushes, how many goldfinches at top of Barleyfield or goldcrests near the Paddocks.Not much going on at the pool, just 1 adult and two juvenile moorhens and a few small damselflies ( common blue and blue tailed ) but when we reached the top of the Barleyfield there was an explosion of small birds buzzing around, all common but all need going through just in case! Probably about 14 goldfinches scattered around the mid section and two different parties of goldcrest near the Paddocks, at least 3 including 2 juveniles in the firs near Smestow bridge and then 2 adults halfway along the Paddocks by the railway walk.

Grey Heron	1 >> W over	Barleyfield
Mallard	1 brood	♀+ 2 chks  Meadow View,
Moorhen	1 brood	1 + 2 juv  Wetlands,
Black Headed Gull	21 ( 1 imm )	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Stock Dove	1 >> E to	Wetlands
Swift	10+ over	Barleyfield
House Martin	3+ over	Barleyfield
Wren	8 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Blackbird	1 singing	The Paddock
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	2 singing	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	6 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	4 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	5	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	Smestow Bridge
Greenfinch	3+	Top Roses
Goldfinch	3 singing	mid section
Bullfinch	2 pair	Barleyfield
Small Tortoiseshell	few	Barleyfield
Large skipper	1	Barleyfield
Comma	2	Barleyfield
Speckled Wood	1	Station Paddock
Meadow Brown	3+	Barleyfield
Ringlet	plenty	Barleyfield
Small White	1	Barleyfield

Another quiet morning

29th June 15           morning                  mid section

mostly cloudy,warm,  15-18°c,  1021mb,  W 4-WSW 8 mph

I've cut my visits down over the last week or so, trying to get down every other day but also taking the weather into account. Sunshine after overnight rain is usually best but as long as it's sunny that's o/k. Got it a bit wrong this morning, the forecast was for more sun. Lets see what the predicted heatwave over the next week will have in store.
              The only bird of note today was the pied wagtail on Compton Playing Field, it looked like a juvenile and if so its proof of local breeding. This happens every year, we pick up the odd adult during late spring and about this time of year a family party are found. Where they breed is a mystery.

Grey Heron	1	1 on tow path south of Meccano  Br,
Mallard	1 brood	1♀ Wetlands,   ♀ + 8 w/grown imm MV
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1 imm Meadow View, 1 Wetlands,   pr+4 imm Prefabs, 1+1 imm Prefab weir
Stock Dove	1	Wetlands
Swift	odds over	Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	1♀ type	Compton Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	1 juv + 1 singing	1 juv Hanging Grds, 1 singing Squash Club
Blackbird	8 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	3	Compton Field
Whitethroat	1	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	8 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	The Paddock
Jay	1 flew W over	Barleyfield
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Greenfinch	2 singing	Barleyfield

Juvenile Treecreeper on Barleyfield

27th June 15          morning              mid section

sunny & warm,  15-18°c,  1018mb,  WSW 6-W 11 mph

A much better day than of late, with more singing and more youngsters showing in the warm sunshine and lighter winds. The highlight was a juvenile treecreeper basking in sunshine on a dead elder branch in the Hanging Grds, near by a male blackcap was feeding juveniles and what looked like a young jay flew across the Barleyfield. I met Ian earlier who had seen a garden warbler not very far away by the canal ( more from Ian later maybe ). Maybe from the Barleyfield family. The moorhen family at the Wetlands have increased to four youngsters with two adults. ( more on that at a later date ).

Mallard	1 brood	♀+ 8 imm Meadow View
Moorhen	pr + 4 chk Wetlands,  1+4 w/grown juv Prefabs, 1+1 imm Prefab weir,
Stock Dove	1	Wetlands
Swift	present	8+ over Barleyfield,
House Martin	2+	2+ over Barleyfield,
Grey Wagtail	1	Compton Lock
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	2 singing	mid section
Robin	present	mid section
Blackbird	8 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	3 (2 singing)	Barleyfield
Blackcap	14 (10 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Treecreeper	1 juv	Hanging Grds
Jay	1 imm > E	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	1	Graiseley Culvert
Bullfinch	pair	Graiseley Culvert

Move along their,nothing to see here

19th June 15          morning                mid section

cloudy,  11-13°c,   1023mb,     NW 8-11mph,

Very quiet today. great spotted woodpecker and grey wagtail the only species of note, no butterfly and not many insects to speak of. It's another two layer day in flaming june so that's why I supose.
          A mallard brood of 8 well grown juveniles near Tettenhall Rd bridges  may be the Wetland 9 ( one missing in action ).

Mallard	1 brood	♀+ 8 w/grwn juv ( WL9?)  Newbridge boats - Meadow View,
Moorhen	2 broods	1+2 chk Prefabs,  1 w?grwn juv Prefab weir,
Stock Dove	2	Wetland Fields
Swift	odds over	mid section
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2 (1♀) flew to tree in Paddocks, later pair flew across canal  to tree Meccano Br,
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	1 singing	Wetlands,
Robin	2 singing	mid section
Blackbird	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	3 singing	Shrike Bushes, 2 Compton Rough,
Blackcap	9 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Coal Tit	2	Meadow View
Jay	1	Top Barleyfield Roses
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2	Top Barleyfield Roses

It's all about breeding

14th June 15          morning             mid section

partly cloudy, 12-13°c,  1013mb,   NE 11- NNE 8 mph

No not us, the breeding birds ( and animals and insects and plants ) at this time of year. Trying to work out what species we have, how many, were they are, how successful with their nests their young and counting family's can be frustratingly mind boggling.
              The mallard family with 9 chicks from the Wetlands was easy we have tracked them from fledging, to relocating to the canal and they are still around and intact. The other brood of 3 chicks have proved recently to be much more puzzling. All was straight forward until last wednesday when 2 ad ♂ & 1 ad ♀ were all that I found ( maybe their in the reedmace)( that was my thought ) but on friday, I could find only 2 of the young,(no sign of the duck). Today down to just one duckling, Did the mother try leading her family down to the canal, there was a female with 1 chick there on wednesday, or have they been predated. who knows? and that's just the highly visible ducks, when it comes to keeping tabs on the much less obliging warblers and other small passerines it gets even more difficult.

Mallard	only 1 chk Wetlands,  ♀+4 chk S of Meccano Br,  ♀+1 chk Squash Club,
Buzzard	1 over	Wetlands
Moorhen	1+3 chk (lost 1) Prefabs,  1 w/grown juv Prefab weir,  1+1 chk Meccano Br,
Stock Dove	2 >> N over	Barleyfield
Swift	few	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1 >> N	Meccano Br
Pied Wagtail	1	Wetlands Field
Wren	10 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	Barleyfield
Robin	8 singing	mid section
Blackbird	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1+	Wetlands Field
Whitethroat	2 singing	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	10 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	11+	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	3 singing	The Paddock