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

Winter song and siskin flock

14th December 15          morning             mid section

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

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

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

Another quiet day

13th August 15           morning                 mid section

O/cast,   15-17°c,   1018mb,   ENE 10-NE 11 mph

12 mistle thrush on Wetlands field which were unwittingly flushed twice by people going about their enjoyment of the valley, relocated to the nearby Compton playing field. This will not be much of a problem for them at this time of year when there's plenty of food and plenty of daylight hours to find it,but in the middle of a cold spell in the depths of winter it could be the difference between life and death, or the birds or any other wildlife would have to move on.

Anyways there's not much going on today no butterflies or dragonflies and not many birds, the flowers are mostly going over to seed,so home for a cuppa.

Mallard	1 brood	♀ + 2      4 to 6 wk old juv  below Compton Lock,
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	few	Staffs & Wocs
Black Headed Gull	19	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Wren	1 singing	Station Paddock
Robin	1 singing	Station Paddock
Mistle Thrush	12	Wetlands Field flushed to Compton playing field
Blackcap	3+	3-4 birds?  moving S along Western Border ( at least 1 a BC ),  2♀ type SB e,
Chiffchaff	calls	Lower Alders
Goldfinch	calls	Compton Roost ( roost bushes )
Bullfinch	2	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

Dont call me if your gonna hide

21st June 15            morning               mid section

cloudy,occ sunshine,  12°c,  1016mb,   W 11mph

The only sighting (except I didn't see anything) was a ring necked parakeet that flew over the Paddock calling, I looked up and all round but couldn't locate it. A large bright green exotic bird with long wings and even longer tail, flying around  looking like nothing else up there, but I couldn't find it ( time to hang me bins up me thinks ) (no wonder I can't find a skulking night heron at Sankeys pool).

                 Paid a trip Belvide Reservoir this afternoon and guess what? yes that was dead too. Must be the time of the year.

Mallard	1 brood	1♀ + 8 juv (WL9) Meadow View,
Moorhen	1 juv	Prefab Weir
Ring Necked Parakeet	calls	The Paddock
Wren	8 singing	mid section
Dunnock	1 singing	Station Paddock
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Blackbird	10 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Blackcap	9 (8 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	Central Scrub
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section