update

Hawthorn wood today had two male blackcap one in full song the other only managing desultory chatter. Also pairs of jays and sparrowhawk and singing chiffchaff at waterbridge.
The stadium had a redpoll and 4 siskin.
The rook estate now has 18 nests.
It was very noticeable how many song thrush were seen some carrying food suggesting mate's incubating.  It will be interesting to see if they are the first to produce young (even in last years cold I found two fully fledged young in a highland glen in mid may!) although one would expect the first visible young to be mallard or even moorhen whose reduction in numbers is probably down to sitting birds.

SUDDENLY SPRING IS SPRUNG AND

MIGRANTS ARE MOVING THROUGH

Long time no post, so a scan of the weeks which marked the end of one of our mildest-ever winters is perhaps in order.  Unlike the freezing winter of 2012/13 there've been no unusual mid-winter visitors to the canals, mixed finch flocks have been few and far between,  gull numbers have been down on playingfields and Dunstall Park, winter thrushes have hardly featured, and garden feeding stations have been unseasonably quiet.  On the quieter, sunnier days, however, there were birds to be found, and as Geoff and Ian have reported, last week's warm winds and sunshine brought the first passage birds back to the valley, at least three weeks earlier than last year when frozen ground and bitter weather stopped migration in its tracks.  Some species are already nesting, bumble bees and butterflies are on the wing, and celandine and coltsfoot are carpeting the canalbanks.  So, just a brief look back on some of the birds seen and heard as winter drew to a close.

Newbridge, Aldersley and Dunstall Park                     

It's the beginning of February, and a Tawny Owl calls from the edge of Newbridge playingfield at around midnight on 6th (one is heard at in the Aldersley stadium/Dunstall Water Bridge area at 10.15 in the morning on March 5th).  At least 20 Siskin chatter communally in trees by the old railway south of Hordern Road throughout the month, alongside a few Redpoll and at least one Bullfinch pair, and the largest Black-headed Gull flock of the winter numbering around 900 birds is on Dunstall Park on February 22nd with 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull.   Two pairs of Raven are seen together over Dunstall Park and Oxley on February 15th, the one pair's aerial display suggesting they may be the valley's nesting birds defending their territory, at least 10 Redwing forage along the canal boundary of the racecourse on February 22nd,  a Treecreeper feeds along a rotting fence by the old railway just north of Tettenhall Road on February 24th  (there is one in Newbridge wood on March 11th), and the month's star bird fishes on the canal just north of Dunstall Water Bridge on February 12th, a handsome male Goosander, very likely the bird seen more than once by Ian at the southern end of the valley in recent weeks.  A Rook pair were building a nest in the oak copse on the edge of the racecourse by the Water Bridge on February 24th, and despite an absence of birds at the site during January's tempestuous weather, by mid-March at least 15 nests have been completed at what is now the valley's only rookery.  At least 20 Jackdaw were seen in the same copse on March 3rd, a Green Woodpecker called from the site on March 15th, and a pair of Grey Wagtail foraged nearby at the Smestow brook culvert entrance by the Water Bridge on March 8th, and Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker have been heard and seen throughout the period in Newbridge wood.  The low chuntering sub-song of a wintering Blackcap came from an ivy-covered tree by the old railway north of Tettenhall Road on March 5th, and a male of the same species which had been a daily visitor to a garden next to Newbridge playingfield since January 6th was last seen on March 9th, a stay of nearly nine weeks.

 

At Dunstall Park lake, duck numbers have fallen, with just a pair of Teal (31 birds were present on January 19th) remaining, and two male and a female Shoveler and a Mallard pair seen on March 18th.  The Gadwall pair present on and off at the lake throughout the late winter were still there on March 16th and a pair of Little Grebe have been heard and occasionally seen in the last few weeks, raising hopes of another nesting attempt (the last successful breeding was 14 years ago).  At least five pairs of Coot are setting up breeding territories, two Moorhen pairs are disputing nesting sites and around six pairs of Canada Geese are in constant and noisy conflict along the shoreline.  Snipe numbers are always difficult to gauge, but at least 20 were counted on the island  on March 16th, around 30 Starling have been bathing at the lake in recent days, a pair of Stock Dove have been drinking there, and a male Reed Bunting was in shoreline bushes on March 18th.  Flocks of c.30 Crow, up to 25 Magpie and a pair of Mistle Thrush have been seen on the central grass area of the racecourse, and a dark-plumaged Buzzard has been seen regularly, either perched or flying low across the Valley Park School end of the site, much to the consternation of the nesting Rooks.

 

Elsewhere, at least one Jay has been seen and heard by the old railway at Aldersley stadium, eleven Greenfinch were in bushes by Newbridge canal wharf on February 10th, and single Goldcrest were by the towpath at Aldersley stadium on February 7th, in Newbridge wood on February 10th and by Newbridge playingfield on March 3rd in a conifer where the species nested two years ago.  Goldfinch sang at Dunstall Park, in Newbridge wood, the hawthorn wood north of Hordern Road, the Water Bridge and by Newbridge playingfield, Coal Tit were heard at Tettenhall Road bridge, by Newbridge playingfield and by the old railway south of Aldersley stadium, and Long-tailed Tit pairs fed in gardens and along the old railway anywhere from Newbridge to Oxley.  Song Thrush, Robin, Chaffinch, Wren and Dunnock were in voice all along the valley, with garden visitors including Wood Pigeon, Blackbird and Collared Dove.  

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

what a difference a year makes

Cannot help but reflect back on this time last year when any migrant foolish enough to arrive would be lucky to survive and we witnessed warblers feeding on the ground.
Today in the north of the valley there were three singing chiffchaff somewhat incongruously accompanied by a singing Redwing in hawthorn wood.
A little further north adjacent to the rifle range another warbler but this time the pale legs more attenuated form and longer supercilium indicated a Willow Warbler which fed extremely actively.
Postscript to yesterday was displaying lapwing and calling skylark at the southern end of the valley beyond castlecroft bridge.
Postscript to today was 3 buzzards soaring over my house in crowther rd.

update

Review of wintering species.
Little Grebe; they now seem to have left the canal, last sighting I had was 3 on 7th March
Fieldfare; none today flock of around 50 on farmland beyond pool hall last Saturday
Redwing small groups of 5/6 along valley up to yesterday
Goosander still in first few days of March possibly commuting between Poolhall and fishery off Wergs Hall lane.
Siskin; still the little group on Smestow behind coach depot.

Other news

Rooks; after a late start (often return to rookeries late January) our Rookery just north of water bridge has 15 nests twice as many as previously perhaps reflecting better survival rates in mild winter.
Finches; Goldfinches seem to be much the most numerous of this family in the valley. It is normal to encounter 50+ whilst Chaffinch seem scarce although did encounter flock of 150 on fields with above mentioned Fieldfare.
Goldcrest; several singing birds along railway line.
Buzzard; many sightings including 5 along tettenhall ridge
Chiffchaff; as per Geoff posting 2 singing either side barleyfield this morning

and finally again this morning a sand martin catching insects over the training pitches

first and last

It is that time of year when birders eagerly seek out spring arrivals and also note the last sighting of winter visitors.  So in response to Geoff's post all I can offer is that I have not yet heard a singing Chiffchaff in the valley (nor in a days birding today in Wyre forest).  But on 27th Feb I did see a Chiffy fly across Lloyd St and dive into the hedge just beyond the Summerhouse Pub. No I hadn't been in.  It was followed by a male Blackcap which then showed well in the adjacent tree.
With Blackcaps it is generally assumed that our wintering birds are different to our summer visitors but I am not sure if the same can be said for chiffchaff.
Otherwise a calling Tawny Owl daytime last week nightime mid Feb,.

First migrants of spring, but are they coming or going

sun 9th march 2014                                 early morning                              mid section         

warm and sunny 1st spring morning

On arrival at the top of the Barleyfield I could hear the chiff - chaff song of a chiffchaff coming from the birch plantation, but is this a very early spring migrant or one of the growing number of British wintering chiffchaffs on its way to Northern Europe. If its the former its 5 to 10 days earlier that usual, another Chiffchaff was singing on the western border of the Barleyfield near the old oak tree, of note there was one at Belvide Reservoir yesterday and it will be interesting to see if Angus or Ian have any today.

 At last the muddy paths seem to be drying out.

Other birds of note included 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, the local pair of Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 8+ Redwing, 2 Siskin, a bright male Lesser Redpoll, the Coot is still present just south of Tettenhall Rd, the usual singing birds Wren,Dunnock,Robin,Chaffinch and Blue / Great Tits,                

Water Vole

1st March 2014                midday               mid section

Not the best time for birding,around midday,but i'll give it a go.

             Coot is not considered a winter visitor but its the nearest I can muster today as any sort of seasonal interloper.One was on the canal at Newbridge, possibly the one thats spent most of the last few months further north near the Wildlife Centre at Hordern Rd.

        Plenty of singing birds encountered including Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Wren,Dunnock,Robin and Blue and Great Tits. A Great Spotted Woodpecker  was drumming on the Barleyfield but strangely no thrushes were vocal.Three  Buzzard soaring over Tettenhall Ridge with a pair very high and another much lower.

   The highlight of the day tho was undoubtedly

 a very obliging

 Water Vole eating the vegetation opposite the moored boats just north of Tettenhall Rd bridge.

Apologies for poor quality only had phone available

"Schools out to learn about Wolverhampton's Woodlands"

Visitor's to the Barleyfield will be aware that The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country has got together with students from S. Peter's Collegiate School and St. Edmund's Catholic Academy to work on a woodland management project there.

The full article can be found on The Wildlife Trust site here. 

This schools project will be running until 18th March 2014. Further information, including details regarding the Birmingham & Black Country Nature Improvement Area can be found here.

If you have spare time and would be interested in learning new skills, whilst enjoying the great outdoors and helping preserve the environment, you can find out how to volunteer for the Wildlife Trust here.

Saturday morning walk

Newbridge to Wightwick mill along railway and back on canal.
Winter visitors still around, 5 redwing on the football pitch, siskin and redpoll with the finch flock by the new pool, and 3 little grebe still on canal.
But lots of signs of spring, 2 Coots on canal eyeing up nesting sight, singing goldcrest, dunnock, wren and song thrush, 2 drumming great spots but no nuthatch.
also 2 greylags flying SE across barleyfield

Just a brief update to say that I am back, and starting to get up and running again!

I have had a prolonged period of illness which has hampered me from getting out and about, since my last update. This has also meant that I have been juggling commitments, and subsequently, this site needs some TLC!!

I will be taking the blog offline on Sunday for quite a bit of updating and maintenance.

A rather slimmer version of Chris will be seen around the patch next week as things return to the norm. I shall look forward to catching up with you all and getting back in tune with the valley!!

Thank you.

Chris.

newbridge to pool hall

this afternoon did the above along canal towpath and return same way.

Little grebe 3 on canal
great crested grebe pair back at pool hall
goosander male circled pool and later fished canal between Compton and wightwick
tufted duck 20+ on pool
coot 1 on canal by reeds nest prospecting??
water rail came either out of overhang or drainage duck at bottom of smestow school field flew cross canal into sluice system
stock dove 23 on farm fields
(also fieldfare but no redwing have they gone??)
also at field was finch flock of 20-25 which were mainly goldfinches but unfortunately flew off b4 could check all
kingfisher wightwick mill
grey wagtail compton

more song

After Angus's report of singing Blackcap I also had a male in song on Saturday gone approximately 500 yards southwest of his garden.  This raises the obvious question of whether it is the same bird?
The bird I heard and briefly saw was opposite the MS centre on the canal and was giving the usual subsong which I have heard many times in early Autumn and sometimes in early Spring.  One suspects this is from wintering birds and is in marked contrast to the full song belted out by newly arrived migrants from late March.
Other songsters just north of the valley in the field West of the JLR site were several Skylarks one of which despite the strong wind was 50 feet up and in contrast a ground hugging Song Thrush despite the availability of perches. (also 25-30 Meadow Pipits)
Otherwise a small dark Buzzard seems to have a winter territory within the triangle formed by Aldersley, Codsall rds and Lowlands Ave close to albert tennis club.  I saw what I think same bird battling the wind over the canal today.  Also today a circling redhead Goosander and goldcrest near station.

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.   

   

    

,

         

    

Roosts in Valley

Given the dearth of bird movements in desperation for something to report here is a bit on daily movements of corvids.
The black members of the family seem to be quite flexible in their choice of roosting place.  It seems to vary dependent on the use of the racecourse and aldersley stadium.
The number of birds is around 400 most obviously Jackdaws which are the most vocal but including Crows and Rooks.  Site choices are Aldersley canal junction, the racecourse by the pool, the stadium poplars or the water bridge copse.
The Magpies are more picky always choosing the trees and bushes around Oxley bank, height varying a bit with wind strength but generally lower than their monochrome cousins.  A few days ago I went down about half four and counted 81 already there and then another 50 arriving singly from the West over the canal.  returning to the roost I counted 133 which must be an underestimate because they arrive from all directions.  Yesterday noted 15 in a pre-roost by Water bridge, where there were two contrasting Little Grebes one in full summer plumage the other still in full winter.  Wonder if it has anything to do with age of the bird?
Finally I found the finch flock(50ish) which usually graces the stadium just north of Autherley junction; mainly chaffinch , goldfinch and lesser redpoll with at least one siskin.

update

Not a lot to report with the continuing mild weather.
The cold night just over a week ago did produce the sight of four Little Grebes huddled together by the boats at the Wildside Centre, perhaps will be same tonight.
Song Thrushs are singing and Nuthatchs calling with some Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.
Redwings seem to be moving into the fields having gorged on the berries and are now joining Fieldfare.
So we are not seeing displaced birds and neither do we seem to be getting Redpoll and Siskin. In the surrounding farmland Yellowhammer and the 2 Partridges are conspicuous by their absence. is this also due to a poor breeding season caused by last years late spring?
Finally a belated record from last year which I initially hesitated to put up was an immature/female Merlin on 17th November at 3pm. As often happens with this species it was a one day wonder being seen flying from the bottom of the Lupin field towards barnhurst sewage works. (I saw an adult male at Featherstone last Saturday).

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 . . .

 

 

Barleyfield

sat 4 jan 2014             mid section         early morning

Just a quicky

Early morning around the mid  section  did't produce much, but as I sat on the seat at the top of Barleyfield I pick up a small Phylloscopus warbler in the Blackthorn near the top SW exit leading to the railway track. It quickly disappeared and after 45 mins it could't be relocated. It was probably a common chiffchaff but with plenty of siberian chiffchaffs around just now its worth keeping an eye out for if anyone visits the Barleyfield.

December update

Firstly a Happy New Year to all our readers (if we have any).
Just a few notes for December which as others have commented seems to have been pretty quiet.
Gadwall: If we do get a cold snap then well worth looking out for them on the main canal which presumably due to the influence of the sewage works doesn't freeze between Oxley and Castlecroft.
Reason I say this is 2 males were at Pool Hall and 10 birds at Pendeford mill just before Xmas
Little Grebe: Still with us on canal but quite mobile and very much favouring the middle of valley
Kingfisher: Again still with us but probably not if we get cold snap, favouring the Meccano area.
Redwing/Fieldfare: These along with other members of the Thrush family are the subject of a survey by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) now in its 2nd year.  Not sure if anyone in the valley is submitting records which anyone can do.  My impression is we have lots of groups of Redwing which are feasting in gardens on berries whilst fieldfare are more likely to be encountered on the edges of the conurbation feeding in fields in bigger groups.
Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Nuthatch:  All three seem quite prominent and enjoying good food supplies.
Reed Bunting: A bird on the western boundary of the barleyfield was a surprise on Xmas morning.

Finally star of the month was a Water vole. 2 sightings around Hordern Rd bridge including one obliging animal which crawled out of the canal and crossed the towpath a few yards in front of me!!

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.








   
 


         


        
 

Proposed development at rear of "The Cedars", Compton Road - Update

Apologies to everyone. I have had a bit of leave and just getting back into the driving seat, so to speak!!

The "Exhibition" for the above development has quickly transformed into a planning application.

You can find the application by searching for 13/01181/FUL at the following link:

http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/article/2132/Planning-applications

If you wish to comment about the proposed application, you have to do so by 24th December 2013.

If you are unfamiliar with the council planning site, click on the tabs to view the map and make a comment.

You will see from the map that this proposal covers land which is, again, right alongside the Eastern Border of the Barleyfield - a site that provides immense pleasure and biodiversity for all to enjoy.

We have been concerned about increased disturbance in an area that still records Willow Tit, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer, and hosts a wide range of habitats and species. The Eastern border provides shelter for a variety of breeding species as well as significant flocks of Winter feeders.

Wolverhampton Council, recently helped by providing additional areas of uncut grass to help as buffers. Geoff and I both hold records to show that these measures have helped wildlife, so it is sad that this important area is having to endure more challenges.

If you have strong views, please get involved.

Thank you.

P.S. I will be back on the patch soon, and I am looking to organize a "Winter sounds" walk - a fun tour of the mid-section giving an opportunity to learn common bird calls and song, before it all get's beautifully noisy but complicated in the Spring!!

Anyone interested, please email me and once numbers have built, I will plan a convenient date with you all.