The swifts are back

8th May 15           mid morning       mid section

high cloud,mild, 11-13°c,  1014mb,  SSE 7-13mph

Yes a week late but the swifts are back, Dave had one in the southern section on monday but the 4 over Tettenhall Ridge this morning are my first locals this year. The garden warbler continues to sing from the Barleyfield Annex along with plenty of other warblers and resident birds but  I suspect our last hope of a willow warbler disappeared with tuesday's bird. Is the grey wagtail found on the Wetland pool the same male as the Smestow Br bird? ( I suspect it is ).

Mallard	3 broods	pr + 3 w/g chicks Newbridge boats,   ♀ + 11 chicks on Smestow, Prefabs,   ♀ + 1 chick MV,
Mallard	16	16 counted along canal ( all but 1 were ♂ ),
Buzzard	2	1 over Tettenhall Ridge,   1 over Newbridge seen from BF,
Moorhen	14 inc 2 nests	2 Wetlands,   14 counted inc 2 nests along canal,
Stock Dove	3	Wetland Fields
Swift	4 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	1♂ 1♀	♀ Smestow Br,  ♂ Wetlands,   later ♂ Smestow Br, ( is this the same ♂? )
Wren	16 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	15 singing	mid section
Blackbird	7 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Meccano Firs
Whitethroat	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Blackcap	12 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	10 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pos family	Shrike Bushes / Eddies Alders
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Jay	1	Eddies Alders
Chaffinch	2 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Top Roses

Smestow Valley bird walk

7th May 15         mid morning         mid section

Mostly cloudy , frequent showers, 9-12°c, 1014mb, SW 6-8mph

Todays annual valley bird walk organised by the rangers  went off well with a small enthusiastic group led by Ian ( chief  ranger ) and myself. We had plenty of bird song ( we even saw some of them ) , the highlight was a singing lesser whitethroat in the Blackthorn of the Hanging Grds, Barleyfield but we couldn't locate it. No sign of the garden warbler in the Annex at the top south west of the Barleyfield but thats not surprising with the current weather.

Mallard		♀ with 1 chick  Meadow View,
Buzzard	pair over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	wetlands
Stock Dove	4	wetland Fields
House Martin	7	mid section
Grey Wagtail	1♀	Smestow Bridge
Wren	song	mid section
Dunnock	song	mid section
Robin	song	mid section
Blackbird	song	mid section
Song Thrush	song	mid section
Lesser Whitethroat	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	3 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	song	mid section
Goldcrest	2 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair + 1	mid section
Great Tit	song	mid section
Jay	1	Meccano Br
Chaffinch	2 singing	mid section

Hope the valley is good enough for the latest willow warbler

5th May 15        mid morning         mid section

Blustery but mild after o/night rain,occ drizzle with gusts 40mph,  12°c,  984-990mb,  SW 20-40mph.

Another willow warbler was the only change today. Most birds are keeping their heads down in the strong winds but a few brave individuals still managed a note or two to reveal their presence.

           All our willow warblers this spring proved to be just passing through so let hope this one sticks and continues to deliver its ( sound of  summer ) song.

Mallard	♀ + brood 7 ( 9 on Sunday) Meadow View
Stock Dove	2	Wetland Fields
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	8 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	3 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Whitethroat	2 singing	Barleyfield
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Blackcap	5 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Wetlands
Great Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock ( behind ststion )
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Meadow View
Goldfinch	2 ( 1 singing )	Meadow View
Bullfinch	1♂	Hanging Grds ( lower western border of Barleyfield )

Cuckoo      Cuckoo     Cuckoo

4th May 15        mid + part of south section       early morning

sunny & warm,  8-12°c,  1010mb,   SW 10mph

A trip with Ian from Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock was rewarded with a cuckoo calling from Tettenhall Ridge, we scanned the ridge from the old Meccano Br with no success. Cuckoo is much less than annual in the valley the last one as I recall was in May 2013. The garden warbler still singing and showing well, the coot was relocated south of Compton Rd and the grey wagtail still on the Smestow near Meccano Br.

Stock Dove	3	wetland Fields
Cuckoo	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	S of Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1 singing	Smestow Bridge
Blackbird	6 singing	Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock,
Song Thrush	1 singing	Meadow View
Mistle Thrush	3 ( 1 singing)	Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock,
Whitethroat	4 singing	Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock,
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Blackcap	10 singing	Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock,
Chiffchaff	7 singing	Tettenhall Rd to Wightwick Mill Lock,
Long Tailed Tit	pr + 2	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	1 singing	Wightwick Mill Lock
Goldfinch	2	Meadow View

First swift of spring

May 4th

First swift this spring, flying north over Turner's Field, presumably passing through.

Vole swimming by the overhang from the towpath, in the canal opposite Dell Field.

Its turned out nice again

3rd May 15           late morning             mid section

cloudy & mild after rain,  11-16°c,  992mb,  S 8 - SW 15

A visit to Belvide Res was on the cards when we woke up to a rainy morning and southerly winds.     ( just the weather for goodies to turn up) ( as it happens black terns are now everywhere ) Yes including Belvide, but it started to clear about 9 o'clock so it was back on for the valley. You never know something could drop in, as Ian said recently "don't get fooled again" but I did.
       The best I could muster was another garden warbler ( or has it been hiding ) in the same bushes as the one on 23rd April. Nothing new and the regulars down on numbers too. Though I didn't have time to cover the southern section of the canal including Compton Lock, where we usually get good numbers.

Grey Wagtail	pair	Smestow Bridge
Wren	7 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Mistle Thrush	2	Wetland Fields
Whitethroat	3 singing	Barleyfield
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex  (singing & s/well),
Blackcap	8 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair	Graisley Culvert (barleyfield)
Great Tit	5 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 (3 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Barleyfield Top Roses
Goldfinch	2	Meadow View

The May blossom is appearing but it feels like March

2nd May 15             mid morning              mid section

Overcast,cold,  5-7°c,  1011mb,  ESE  13mph

The cold easterly is unpleasant but it may have gifted us a few passing migrants.Blackcaps and whitethroats are more evident and a flyover lapwing is new for the year in this part of the valley.

Mallard		No sign of any brood
Moorhen		pr building nest Prefabs area
Lapwing	1 >> over NE	Barleyfield
Stock Dove	1 >> over N	Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackbird	3 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	4 (1 singing)	mid section
Whitethroat	4 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	14 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Jay	2	mid section
Jackdor	10+	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	2 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Meadow View
Goldfinch	2	Meadow View

A new month a new bird for the year

1st May 15            mid morning     mid section

mostly sunny,  5-9°c,  1011mb,  ENE 13-19mph

The highlight today was a singing lesser whitethroat in the blackthorn on the lower western border

of the Barleyfield along with 2 common whitethroat near by both singing,also the now resident  

whitethroat in the top SW corner. Otherwise a disappointingly quiet morning,maybe the cold NE wind is not to their liking.

Mallard	♀ + br 3 (was 11)	Staffs & Worc just N of Tettenhall Rd Br,
Buzzard	1 over	Compton Field
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Grey Wagtail	1 ♀	Smestow Bridge
Wren	9 singing	mid section
Dunnock	7 singing	mid section
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	3 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Lesser Whitethroat	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	3+ singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	7 ( 6 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	4 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2	Barleyfield
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section

Mid Section

29th April 15                                    mid morning

Partly cloudy,sunny spells after o/night rain, 6-9°c,  1010mb,  WSW 9-13mph

Mallard pr + brood 6 pr with brood of 8 (was 11) Grey Wagtail 1♀ Smestow Bridge Wren 11 singing mid section Dunnock 5 singing mid section Robin 13 singing mid section Blackbird 6 singing mid section Song Thrush 1 singing Station Paddock Blackcap 14(10 singing) mid section Chiffchaff 9 ( 8 singing) mid section Long Tailed Tit 2 pair mid section Great Tit 2 singing mid section Jay 1 >> N over Barleyfield Chaffinch 4 singing mid section
_______________________________________________________________________________ Mid Section 28 April 15                                      early morning Sunny but cold, 3°c,  1014mb,  SW 9mph. Grey Heron 1flew  W over Barleyfield Mallard pr+ brood 8   Meadow View, (was 11) Coot 1 S&W Canal Stock Dove 2 Wetlands Field Grey Wagtail 1♀ Smestow Bridge Wren 10 singing mid section Dunnock 4 singing mid section Robin 5 singing mid section Blackbird 1 singing Meccano Firs Song Thrush 3 singing mid section Whitethroat 2 singing Barleyfield Blackcap 9 singing mid section Chiffchaff 6 (5 singing) mid section Long Tailed Tit 2 pr + 1 mid section Great Tit 3 singing mid section Chaffinch pr+3 singing mid section Greenfinch 1 singing Meadow View Goldfinch 1 The Paddock

The first Mallard brood but thats as good as it gets

26th April 15            mid section             mid morning

bright & sunny but chilly, 5-9°c,  1010mb,    NW 7-13mph

The first brood of 11 newly fledged mallard chicks greeted me on arrival between the 2 Tettenhall bridges, chiffchaff,chaffinch and blackbird singing I knew I was in for a pleasant morning even if the birds didn't perform.

Mallard	brood 11	Staffs & Worc
Sparrowhawk	1♀ soaring	1♀ with extensive white to undertail + rump & sides of upper tail soaring over Compton area,
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Stock Dove	2	Wetlands Field
Grey Wagtail	pair	Smestow Bridge
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Blackbird	4 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Blackcap	9 (8 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	9 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	pair	Meccano Br
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Jay	1 >> SW over	Station Paddock
Chaffinch	4 singing	mid section

A change of weather but not birds

25th April 15                mid section              mid morning

partly cloudy,mild 10°c 12°c,  1003mb,  SW11-14mph.

Hard work birding today, only intermittent song so patience needed. The pareteet seen again in the same tree as yesterday but still only 1 whitethroat and the willow warblers gone missing again. Otherwise a re-run  of yesterday.

Mallard	2♂	Wetlands
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Ring Necked Parrakeet	1	1 again feeding on conker tree buds  at the bottom
		of Hoopoe grd  Mb, ( Ian will know where I mean)
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackbird	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Whitethroat	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Blackcap	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	8 singing	mid section
Goldcrest	1 singing	Smestow Bridge
Long Tailed Tit	1 pr + 1	mid section
Coal Tit	1	Meccano Br
Great Tit	song	mid section
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Barleyfield Central Scrub
Goldfinch	2	Meadow View
Bullfinch	3	Annex Barleyfield

           

 09:00 -mid section       24th April 15      12:00

The end of a quieter week with most of our migrants now settling down to breeding duty's, coupled with the trees and bushes beginning to leaf up giving them plenty of cover.

                The willow warbler near the Wetland pool was singing again but no sign of yesterdays garden warbler. Good to have the parrakeet after an absence of a few weeks and the grey wag continues to be found on the brook by Meccano bridge.

Mallard	1♂	Wetlands. (think the female is on a nest)
Sparrowhawk		1♀ circling & drifting NE from Compton playing field to Newbridge area,
Buzzard		1 quartering Barleyfield,    prob same flew to Tettenhall Ridge  from Compton area,
Moorhen	1	Compton Wetlands
Ring Necked Parrakeet	1	Meccano Br
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	1♀	Smestow Bridge
Wren	12 singing	mid section
Dunnock	7 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackbird	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Meccano Br
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Whitethroat	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Blackcap	12(11 singing)	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Willow Warbler	1 singing	Eddies Alders
Long Tailed Tit	2 pr + 1	mid section
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	4 ( 3 singing)	mid section
Greenfinch	2 singing	mid section

mid section                23rd April

Mallard	1♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	3	Valley
Stock Dove	1 singing	Lower Alders
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	1 imm ♂	Smestow Bridge
Wren	12 singing	Valley
Dunnock	5 singing	Valley
Robin	7 singing	Valley
Blackbird	5 singing	Valley
Song Thrush	1 singing	Meccano Br
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Top Birches
Whitethroat	1 singing	Shrike Bushes
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield
Blackcap	11 (10 singing)	Valley
Chiffchaff	7 singing	Valley
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	Barleyfield
Great Tit	song	Valley
Chaffinch	3 singing	Valley
Greenfinch	2 singing	Valley

mid section               22nd April

Kestrel	1♂ over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	1 >> N over	Meccano Br
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	10 singing	Valley
Dunnock	4 singing	Valley
Robin	10 singing	Valley
Blackbird	9 singing	Valley
Song Thrush	4 singing	Valley
Whitethroat	1 singing	Top Roses
Blackcap	9 singing	Valley
Chiffchaff	9 singing	Valley
Goldcrest	1 singing	Smestow Bridge
Long Tailed Tit	2 pr + 1	Valley
Great Tit	song	Valley
Treecreeper	2 singing	Valley
Chaffinch	4 singing	Valley
Greenfinch	2 singing	Valley
Goldfinch	3	Valley
Bullfinch	1♂	Annex Barleyfield

northern section

a wander to town along the canals this morning produced my first house martin (+2 awallows over the lupin field/
Prospects for grasshopper warbler and breeding whitethroat look bleak this year because of the adjacent building work at site of carriage depot.
so only blackcap 8 and chiffchaff 5 all singers.
lots of thrush activity as in food carrying to nest where young may well have hatched plus some song.

post script

Ian had no luck with sedge this morning by the pool-tempted to call it a puddle.
I also had singing whitethroat and the male grey wag.
But no willow warblers after a week where they were present at station/pond/meccano
5/6 birds in total??
also had two presumed male grey wag on Saturday on smestow at wightwick both had white eye stripes but no black bibs // passage birds.??
also a swallow early today on the same track as ydays

At last the Compton Wetlands produce.

The first Whitethroats of the year.

And a first for the Valley.

A fleeting glimps of a bird at the wetlands yesterday morning by Ian and myself was eventually confirmed later that evening as a sedge warbler, probably a female as it was not singing. Also present in the area was singing blackcaps,chiffchaffs and willow warbler. A swallow passed over the Barleyfield and a female grey wagtail was back by the bridge over the Smestow after being absent for the previous 3 days.

                                  Also of note yesterday

8 singing       chiffchaff

9 singing       blackcap

1                    treecreeper

2 singing       goldcrest

                                 Today   21 April

I was surprised to find a female whitethroat feeding on the blossom of a tree behind the station cafe, can't recall ever having one in this area before. However 1 singing on the Barleyfield was a welcome sight. I think these are the first whitethroat in the Valley this year.

                                  No sign of the sedge warbler this morning, unless Ian had it earlier.

                               Also of note today

10 singing      chiffchaff

12 singing      blackcap

17 singing      wren

5   singing      dunnock

6   singing      robin  only?

3   singing      chaffinch

5   singing      song thrush

6   singing      blackbird

1   singing      coal tit

1   singing      goldcrest

1 female         sparrowhawk

1                     buzzard

1                     jay

pair mallard the female sat on nest at the wetland site.

The Wolves legend Steve Bull seen and heard walking his dog over the Barleyfield was a Valley tick for me. He was in full summer plumage but left the area to the east before I had chance to put the word out.