Monday 1^st April 2013

Dry, overcast, no frost but bitterly light-mod easterlies Light Easterlies.

Mid Section of reserve:Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch – Top of Barleyfield 06:45 – 07:15:

Canada Goose – 2 NE 4 SW

Black-headed Gull: 41 SW

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 4 South

Wood Pigeon – 7 North

Meadow Pipit – 2 SW off Barleyfield 4 NE

Redwing – 1 East 3 SW

Starling – 25 SW

Chaffinch – 1 East

Patch Highlights:

Little Grebe - The Summer-plumaged pair were still below Compton Lock, with one uttering its laughing trill call.

Black-headed Gull – 41 still on the pitches by Meccano Bridge

Green Woodpecker – 2 birds calling at same time from Eastern Border of Barleyfield and near the Crossings there. Later a male was in the top of a tree at the South end of The Paddocks calling for over 10 minutes.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – a bird drumming on the eastern border of the Barleyfield.

Meadow Pipit – 1 North off Compton Park Wetlands at dawn. 4 North over Meccano Bridge and 5 over the pitches there later, making a total of 16 for the morning.

Grey Wagtail – the pair were in the overflow channel at prefab weir and later a female was on Compton Park Wetlands.

Redwing – 5 South over Compton.

Mistle Thrush – overcast cold weather meant that only the Great Tits and Dunnocks were really vocal this morning. However the Henwood Ridge/ Newbridge Tennis Club male was singing well.

Goldcrest – an excellent morning with sightings of one by Meccano Bridge, one low in the middle Paddock and presumably the Meccano bird by the smestow at the south end of The Paddocks later.

Coal Tit– one at Compton Lock.

Nuthatch – one singing at Compton Road at dawn by Compton Park.

Treecreeper – after watching one in a Larch by the canal at The Academy, a pair were seen on the same tree between the South end of The Paddocks and Smestow Brook Bridge, continuing the excellent run of sightings here for this species.

Siskin – the pair were again present in tree tops by the South entrance to the Paddocks.

Greenfinch – a pair at the top of The Barleyfield again.

Bullfinch – 4+ at the Barleyfield Crossings, 3+ in the main paddock, with 2 singing there and a pair at the Station Paddock

Census:

Mallard: 21 male and 3 female

Moorhen: 7

Dunnock: 13 birds with 12 singing (groups of 3 at Compton Rough, South of Meccano Bridge and Newbridge)

Great Tit: 11 birds, all vocal.

Total: 36 species

Sunday 31^st March 2013

12:00 Cool, but feeling warmer with bright sunshine and lighter winds

A quick walk to Compton produced:

Stock dove and Male Pied wagtail at Compton Park Wetlands.

2 Meadow pipits North over the Barleyfield.

The pair of grey wagtails were displaying and inspecting potential nest sites together at Compton.

Sunday 31^st March 2013

Cold, Hard Frost, Clear sunny intervals, Light Easterlies.

Mid Section of reserve:Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch – Top of Barleyfield 06:30 – 07:30:

Cormorant – 7 including 3 immature NE

Canada Goose – 4 SW

Wood Pigeon – 73 NE/N

Meadow Pipit – 8 North

Song Thrush – 1 NE

Redwing – 4 SE

Mistle Thrush – 1 East

Blackbird – 1 East

Starling – 49 SW

Chaffinch – 3 East

Brambling – 1 North (Low, calling)

Patch Highlights:

Little Grebe - The Summer-plumaged pair were back below Compton Lock.

Canada Goose – 2 still on the canal at Newbridge tennis Club

Sparrowhawk – 2 females fighting over the Barleyfield

Black-headed Gull -  still double-figures at Compton Park.

Stock Dove – 3 on Compton Park wetlands site.

Green Woodpecker – one calling Eastern Border of Barleyfield.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – birds were drumming at Henwood Ridge west of Prefab weir and in the lower alders.

Redwing – 2+ at Compton Park and c5 on the Railway Walk by Compton Lock at dusk.

Grey Wagtail – a female at Prefab Weir and presumably the male South over Compton Lock just before.

Redwing – c5 at the barleyfield Crossings including one in full song!!!. 3 NW over Meccano Bridge.

Mistle Thrush – 3 birds singing, confirming territories at Compton Hill Drive, Compton Park and between The Tennis Club and Henwood ridge.

Goldcrest – after seeing none around yesterday it was a relief to hear one singing by Compton Lock today. No doubt the prolonged extreme weather will have taken it’s toll on these tiny birds.

Coal Tit– single calling birds just South of Prefab Weir and by the canal at The Academy.

Nuthatch – one singing by the poplars between Newbridge Tennis Club and The Academy.

Jay – one at Eddy’s Alders

Siskin – Male and Female in conifers and Larches by the canal at The academy.

Greenfinch – displaying male at the top of the Barleyfield and 4 West over Newbridge.

Bullfinch – 5+ at the Barleyfield Crossings

Total: 41 species

Also the male Blackcap (last seen 30/3/13) and a pair of Collared Dove have been visiting Liz’s garden by the canal at Newbridge.

Saturday 30^th March 2013

Afternoon: Cool, sunny intervals, Moderate NE, becoming calm by dusk.

South Section of reserve:Compton Park, Barleyfield then Compton to Castlecroft along canal

Little Grebe - The Summer-plumaged pair had moved to the section by The Dell

Grey Heron – one SW over Wightwick Fields

Canada Goose – 3 on the canal at castlecroft

Mallard – 14 male and 9 female South of Compton Lock

Buzzard – 2 at wightwick Fields

Moorhen – 8 south of Compton Lock

Black-headed Gull -  3 on houses at Castlecroft

Stock Dove – 2 on Compton Park wetlands site

Little Owl – My first for Smestow Valley!!! Flew out of the Oak Tree just East of Castlecroft Canal Bridge, heading low North over the paddocks and hence into the West Midlands!!! This appears to be a different territory to the Pool Hall Bird and was a most welcome addition to my “patch” list.

Grey Wagtail – a male seen at Wightwick Mill Lock headed North towards the Bridgnorth Road Petrol station, suggesting that it may be the same bird that is seen at Prefab weir and Compton. If so, then the pair hold a sizeable territory.

Redwing – 2+ at Compton Park and c5 on the Railway Walk by Compton Lock at dusk.

Mistle Thrush – one at Compton Park and another singing at Wightwick Fields near Castlecroft Bridge

Fieldfare – c95  flew NE over Castlecroft Bridge shortly before dusk. These were probably from the flocks seen feeding in South Staffordshire earlier and presumably were migrating, rather than heading to roost??

Long-tailed Tit – pairs at Compton park, Compton Lock, The Dell, Wightwick Mill Lock and Castlecroft Bridge

Treecreeper – one feeding in the lone Alder by the canal, just South of Wightwick Road Bridge, where one had been seen earlier in the year.

Rook – strangely an immature bird was seen in a canal-side tree just North of Wightwick Road Bridge on the way out, calling by a partly constructed nest and was in exactly the same position on my return later.

Starling – 9 North over wightwick Fields and 20 north over Pool Hall Lane late afternoon.

House Sparrow – small colonies noted at Compton allotments and the canalside houses at Castlecroft

Goldfinch – 4+ at Compton Lock

Bullfinch – male at Compton allotments, 2+ at The Dell and 2+ at Wightwick Lock

 South Staffordshire – Castlecroft canal Bridge to Trescott

Highlights:

Great Crested Grebe – 3 at Pool Hall

Coot – 8+ at Pool Hall

Lapwing – 30+ NE over Trescott

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 195+ North over Trescott to roost in 5 groups.

Skylark – 9 on field just East of Trescott Ford, with 2 rising to sing.

Meadow Pipit – 2+ at the sewage works

Pied Wagtail – 20+ at sewage works, with 8 heading off to the South and located on a ploughed field near Pool Hall later (No White Wagtails amongst them!)

Redwing – 10+ in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields

Fieldfare – c50 in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields and 75+ in fields between trescott Ford and the sewage works.

Starling – c50 in the field just SW of Wightwick Fields

Yellowhammer – just one calling from a hedge by Pool Hall Lane

47 species seen in total today, 43 of which were in Smestow Valley.

Is this a sightings list for Christmas or Easter?????

Saturday 30^th March 2013

Cold, Heavy Frost, Sunny intervals, Moderate NE

Mid-section of reserve:Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Still no let up on the biting winds and it's official - coldest Easter in my life-time....

Grey Heron – 1 West over Barleyfield

Canada Goose –Spring is here, believe it or not and at this time of year pairs drop onto the canals to feed and prospect for nest sites. 2 were on the canal by Newbridge Tennis Club.

Buzzard – 1 around Henwood Ridge, The Barleyfield and Compton Park

Sparrowhawk – male and female over the Barleyfield

Black-headed Gull – 14 over the Barleyfield and Compton Park and a further 30+ circling high over Compton Park – exceptional numbers for late March, when birds have normally left to breeding grounds.

Green Woodpecker – one calling from the Eastern Border of the Barleyfield and 1 NW from Graisley Culvert later.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – a female in the Poplars by Newbridge Tennis Club, one in Poplar South of Meccano Bridge and one drumming from Henwood Ridge opposite Prefab Weir.

Skylark – One North over Compton Park early on.

Meadow Pipit – singles North over Compton Park and over the Barleyfield.

Grey Wagtail – one seen heading West over The Paddocks

Redwing – 7 seen heading North over the Railway Walk. A further c10 were around the Barleyfield for a while, before also heading North over the Lower Alders.

Mistle Thrush – One singing at Compton Hill Drive SW of the Barleyfield. Another was heard from Prefab Weir singing on Henwood Ridge. Surprisingly, it appears that this is the bird that has been singing from the Poplars by Newbridge Tennis Club, as it was seen flying between the two sites and singing at both, suggesting a large territory.

Coal Tit – singles at Compton Lock and The Academy by the canal.

Chaffinch – pairs at Compton Park (with a singing male), Compton lock and the south end of The Paddocks.

Goldfinch – 2+ at Compton Lock and 3 at Newbridge.

Greenfinch – one over Compton Rough and two singing at the top of the Barleyfield.

Siskin – 2 NW out of Eddy’s Alders and perhaps the same pair at The Academy by the canal. One over Newbridge and another SE over the top of the barleyfield.

Bullfinch – 2+ at The Crossings and 2+ in the main paddock.

Census:

Mallard: 9 male and 5 female

Moorhen: 7

Dunnock: 12 (10 singing)

Song Thrush: 4 (singing at Top of Barleyfield and at Newbridge)

Long-tailed tit: 8 (pairs at Compton Lock, Newbridge, The Crossings and top of Barleyfield)

Great Tit: 16

Total species: 36

Spring VisMig

In recent years I have spent several autumn mornings stood on Castlecroft Bridge on the Staffs & Worcs Canal. At several coastal and inland locations across Britain and Europe, birders are monitoring visible migration - I happen to do so in Smestow Valley. Further details at www.vismig.org.

Birds fly across or are funnelled through the valley, reaching maximum numbers during the first hour or so after dawn. The migration urge is strong and birds move in most weathers, though not in persistent rain, whilst fog certainly tests one's knowledge of calls!

Some VisMigs are quiet, but on other occasions it is very rewarding, wishing the last Swallows safe passage to southern Africa, listening and watching for the first Fieldfares and Redwings to arrive or standing in awe and trying desparately to count wave after wave of Wood Pigeons each in their hundreds.

The extra special days are far less regular, but they do make up for the quiet sessions and are just reward for the time spent - more than 51 hours over 35 days in 2011. Highlights include juvenile Marsh Harrier last year that was almost certainly the same bird seen flying through Lutley Wedge some 30 minutes earlier, ringtail Hen Harrier in 2011, occasional Crossbills (once a flock of 14 birds) and frequent Bramblings.

Today, I did my first ever spring VisMig, which was long overdue. It was a good start, for as soon as I reached the bridge, two Brambling flew southeastwards, calling. Totals of other species were as follows:

Chaffinch        12 SE & 1 N
Fieldfare         1 W
Redwing         4 N
Meadow Pipit 15 N
Pied Wagtail   7 SW & 3 NE
Wood Pigeon  31 SW & 46 NE
Stock Dove     5 W
Starling           13 SW

Also noted were a single Raven flying southwards, singing Skylark and Yellowhammer, a female Kestrel and single Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers.

Counts were not as high as in autumn, but whether that is typical or down to the current weather, time will tell.

Waxwings - 29th March 2013



Living in Hambrook Close, Dunstall Park, for over 25 years we have had a Rowan tree in our front garden in the hope of one day having Waxwings, but the Starlings and thrushes have always eaten the berries long before they even get close. However, imagine my surprise when I looked out of the kitchen window today and five Waxwings were perched in the bushes in the back garden feeding on rose hips instead! They flew to a neighbour's tree to perch for a few minutes before return to feed a couple of times. After about ten minutes at 12.45pm they headed off towards Dunstall Park.



BlackBerry image just about showing two birds.

Five Waxwings perched in neighbour's tree viewed from my kitchen window.

wed  27 March 2013           mid afternoon  16:00  -  17:00

                          The Paddocks & Barleyfield           

Still searching for the elusive migrants. A quick walk round produced nothing of note,perhaps its a blessing the chiffchaffs and blackcaps have not made it yet. A post on the devon bird forum ( where there's no snow ) shows there struggling to to find insects even in the slightly better conditions down there.

River Exe and Canal at Countess Weir

 A qiuck walk along the toepath towards the DWT Sludge Beds reserve lunch time produced large numbers of Chiffchaffs right along the banks of both river and canal searching for insects. A couple of Sand Martins struggling to find any fly life along the canal. The one in the photo landed on a branch quite close to me it looked very weak, cold, wet, and hungry. Earlier an Angler had netted out a Sandmartin which had landed in the canal. The bird later died. Needs to warm up soon!! Insect feeders are struggling.

First Wader For New Wetland!!

Sunday 24th March 2011

Compton Park Wetlands: 18:15 to 18:50 freezing conditions after heavy snow, stiff Easterlies.

I was on my way to Compton for a quick shopping trip, cutting through the valley for peace and scenery on the way.

As I marched along the bank by the fenced off new wetlands area alongside the birch coppice, I noticed a small, quite streamlined, short-billed,stiff-winged bird heading straight towards me from the main pool.

As it approched the head pattern became clear, as did the lack of any white in its wing - Little Ringed Plover!!!!!

The bird eventually took notice of my prescence and circled back over the waterlogged ground just East of the wetland, travelling over the tennis courts, before settling, to my surprise on the bank behind me. It was obviously attracted to the muddy ground that had been stirred up by walkers.

I turned and slowly advanced towards where the bird was picking, and was amazed to be able to get to within 20 feet of it before it started to scurry off. This brought back fond memories of my days exploring the old open-cast mining mounds at Norton Canes when I was young. The only difference was the snow!!!!

This is a Summer visitor to Britain, and what a shock it must have had when it hit our shores!!!!

I watched the bird till dusk as it moved frequently between the bank, the puddles and the pool itself. A most intimate and prolonged encounter with an enchanting little wader. Thanks for this has to go to The Wildlife Trust - it was their well produced objections and proposals, with the support of local enthusiasts that brought the wetland to our valley. Given the weather conditions, this little migrant was no doubt very tired and hungry. Areas such as has been created at Compton Park provide vital stop-off points for our long-distance travelling troop of birds.

The fact that this new addition to our local habitats lies adjacent to the line of the valley, offers opportunities to see other exciting wetland birds, as they use the corridor to navigate, albeit that they will have so much more disturbance, once the security fencing is removed. Still, an early morning or late evening encounter with such species, while they refuel is still much much better than nothing!!!!

P.S: I visited at 05:50 this morning to try and get pictures, but to my disappointment, the Plover had already moved on. Also there is a link on the blog to the representation made by the Wildlife Trust, in response to the proposed development of Compton Park in 2011.

chiffy

Well Angus there was actually a Chiffchaff within sight of barleyfield at 11am today.  It flew low over the canal and very much hugged the ground and sayed silent.  Well would you sing from the top of a tree in this weather.
Otherwise very little to report.
11 Greenfinches at Newbridge wharf was my best count in the valley for a while on 19th Mar.
c40 Redwings were flying around over rececourse on 22nd.
The little group of Siskin around the Smestow at back of double pennant have remained all month.
Otherwise only a Skylark over the Water Bridge on the 17th.

I had been avidly watching Toads being very active in my garden pond (Newbridge) at the beginning of the month counting up to 29 individuals engaging in mating and producing toad spawn.  The book said hatch in a week! Dont think so I now have masses of frozen spawn wonder whether it is in suspended animation which would seem plausible given they are amphibians.

The birds Went Two By Two!!!!

Thursday 21st March 2013

Mid-afternoon: quick stroll across Compton Park, and to Compton Village and back:

Cormorant: 2 South over the Railway Walk at Compton village.
Stock Dove: 2 flew up off the Compton Park Wetlands site.
Pied Wagtail: It looks like our regular pair are back and the 2 of them were feeding around the pools of standing water just East of the Compton Park Wetlands site.
Redwing: 2 at Compton Park by the housing development (last year there were dozens of Fieldfare and over 100 Redwing around Compton Park!!)
Mistle Thrush: a pair were feeding with the Redwings.

Buzzard: ....... no, not two, but the one that was hovering on the stiff Easterlies over a traditional nest site, raised hopes that "number 2" might be appearing soon!!!

Thursday 21st March
Dry, light frost, sunny periods, moderate easterlies, daytime temp 4C

Skywatch from North end of Barleyfield 06:00- 07:00 then
Mid-section of reserve - Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch:
Canada Goose 6 West and 1 NE
Black-headed Gull 15 SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull 14 SW
Meadow Pipit 2 N
Starling 160 SW (largest group of 90, peaked at 06:20)
Chaffinch 5 E

Mid-section highlights:
Buzzard - one flew into the college ground trees on the ridge from the South early
Sparrowhawk - usually the best time to watch birds of prey is later on in the day, when the air is warmer. However, this morning I was treated to 3 birds displaying high overhead from 6:10am!! The poor light conditions and varying heights of the birds made it hard to be sure of their sex, (i felt that it was 2 females and a male) but they took turns in performing displays involving undulating, rapid climbs and closed wing dives.
Gulls: 26 Black-headed Gulls, 3 adult and a 1st Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 adult Herring Gulls were on the playing field by the Wolves Academy.
Green Woodpecker - one was calling early from the Eastern Border and then a female spent over half an hour in an Alder at the North East corner of the Barleyfield.
Grey Wagtail- it appears we now have a settled pair, and they were noted again today around and over the Compton Park wetland site.
Goldcrest- these beautiful little birds are becoming more obvious and its so good to see them after such a harsh Winter. One was near Compton Lock.
Magpie - the Compton Park Winter roost is still forming and 25 late risers were noted around Compton Park.
Carrion Crow - Its amazing how the corvids on Henwood ridge, appear to vary daily. Some days you see just Jackdaws. This morning c15 Carrion Crows were flying around the ridge above the college.
Starlings - 2 birds were singing at their Newbridge breeding stronghold. The modern DIY culture and plastic soffets and fascia boards, fitted to properties offer no nesting opportunities, but it seems that there are still enough older properties around the village, to allow you to see these birds throughout the Spring and Summer on the roofs and t.v. aerials across the canal.
Siskin - 2 went South over Meccano Bridge, and a rowdy individual was calling as it circled over Newbridge canal bridges and houses later.

Census:
Mallard: 18 male and 4 female
Moorhen: 7
Dunnock: 10 singing: Graisley Culvert, Compton "Rough" (3), Prefab Weir, South of Meccano Bridge (2), The Academy, The Paddocks (2)
Song Thrush: singing bird numbers well down on last month: 1 at the annex of the Barleyfield and one in the Paddock.
Great Tit: 4 pairs: Compton Lock, Station Paddock, the main Paddock and Graisley Culvert
Long-tailed Tit: a good showing this morning: Graisley Culvert (2), the Barleyfield Crossings (2), Compton "Rough" (3), Meccano Bridge (4), Newbridge (2).

Total: 32 species

FRIDAY 22nd MARCH 2013

Newbridge, Smestow Valley

What a wally!  Migrants muddle is all mine  . . . 

 Oh dear!  I often don't, as my friends and family gently remind me, know what day it is.  Now, it seems, I'm not even aware of what year it is.  One thing's for certain, I didn't pay enough attention when reading Chris' last posting.   His references to warblers arriving at the Compton barleyfield involved records for March 2012, and not for this year.  He showed how last weekend's dearth of birds at the site was in stark contrast to the number of migrants recorded there on the same date 12 months earlier.  Chiffchaffs and other long-distance travellers have been held up in 2013 by adverse weather, and  looking out now at snow falling across the playingfield I doubt if few, if any, have reached us yet.  So, apologies to Chris for my error, and solidarity with the tiny birds battling their way towards us.  Heads down, and keep on flying . . .

TUESDAY 19th MARCH 2013

Dunstall Park

Cold, dull, damp, light SE wind, 10.30 to 11.45am.

Flick, flick, flick, it's gone, gone, gone

Well, the first migrants are in, cf. Chris' warbler posting yesterday for the Compton barleyfield.  I couldn't locate any on the same morning at the northern end of the valley (trees along the old railway track from Newbridge to Aldersley are always a good bet), but maybe some joy today at Dunstall Park, despite a return to cold, grey weather.  Still bitter out on the middle of the racecourse, no gulls or corvids on the central grass, so hunch the shoulders and head for the lake.  On the way, check for migrants along the service track and drainage ditches, but nothing,  just a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls lifting off from a floodlight pylon and two adult Black-headed Gulls circling and leaving towards the city.  The honking of Canada Geese tells me they're already contesting nest areas around the lake and on the island, and sure enough, pairs are running at each other, necks forward, while others are content to graze or sit quietly on the water.  It seems the Mute Swan pair are still happy after a stay of some weeks,  Teal numbers are down to three adults and a female, two male Mallard chase a female across the top of the grass bank, and the Gadwall pair preen and rest on the base of the island, still here after a stay of over two months.  A closer check reveals that another pair of this attractive species (the male's plumage of black, subtle greys and soft browns puts him up with best of the breeding ducks) are feeding along the northern shoreline.  After a few minutes they move out on to the middle of the lake, and are immediately attacked by the "resident" male, the three birds circling the site before landing, the aggressor joining his mate and the two pairs then keeping a wary distance from each other.  This species was first known to breed in the West Midlands in 1970 at Belvide reservoir near Brewood, birds have nested there annually since the mid-1980s, and although they're still a scarce nester regionally, that site isn't too far away.  There's now much more cover for them at Dunstall Park lake, so who knows . . ? 

Enough of this, back to reality, a brief glimpse of a Little Grebe, now nearly in full summer plumage, keeping close to the vegetation, four immature Coot grazing on the banks (that's their place in the pecking order, it seems, the adults now nest-building, aggro levels lessening), a male Moorhen fussing along the shore (a pair are already sitting on a nest, snugly set on top of a lopped tree stump just out into the canal on the western edge of the racecourse),  a male House Sparrow calling from lakeside vegetation (one of a breeding population from the nearby Farndale housing estate), and four Snipe, motionless and beautifully camouflaged on the island, their numbers falling as winter ends.  That's it, time to go, the warmth of the hotel reception area beckons, so turn to leave, a last look, and suddenly a small light-brown shape flicks its way low across the water, stiff  bowed wings angled downwards, shallow beats, and the briefest of glimpses as it disappears below the eye line, no doubt about it, my first Common Sandpiper for the year, straightaway doing what its species does so well, and that's vanishing.  Look along the immediate shoreline and the concrete overflow apron, no sign, check the open culvert for the Smestow brook, there's no trace of it here, so walk round the lake once more, nothing, the bird has simply disappeared.  Hard to say whether this was a wintering bird (if it was, the first seasonal record for the valley), or a passage individual.  Certainly it's early for a regional migration record, and would be the earliest sighting for passage along the valley (one was at the lake from 2/4 to 6/4/2000).  Birds usually begin to pass through around the middle of April, and have been seen annually since the racecourse lake was created in the early 1990s.  Prior to that, irregular sightings were restricted to the canals or Smestow brook.  (This bird didn't call, but had it done so, I would have had no excuse if I hadn't recognised it.  Its sharp, thin, fluting notes led to its old Lancashire nickname  Dickie-di-dee.    Honestly).   

One way or the other, it's a good record which warmed the day, and another sign that things are at last beginning to move.  Had an e-mail from a friend in central France on Saturday with pictures of an Osprey catching fish in the Loire.  They're coming!  In a few weeks time, we'd best be checking every big brown gull . . .

NB  Dunstall Park is a restricted commmercial site.  Access is strictly controlled.

Monday 18th March 2013.

Clear, cold, heavy frost, light Easterlies.

Skywatch: North end of Barleyfield 06:00-07:00

Canada Goose: 6 SW

Goosander: female low South over Meccano Bridge at 07:00

Black-headed Gull - 17 SW

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 7 South

Woodpigeon - 40+ in ones and twos heading East

Meadow Pipit - 4 North

Other sightings:

Sparrowhawk - female low West over Barleyfield.

Grey Wagtail - one Sw ex Compton Park Wetlands.

Nuthatch - one calling from Compton Road.

Siskin - 2 over Eddys Alders early on possibly the same two heading out North from there later

Goldfinch - 9 over Eddys Alders.

On this day 2012 - mid-section:

day time temperatures were starting to rise from 11C to 16C by 19th March.

A Tawny Owl was calling from the junction of Compton Road and Richmond Road - sadly the Compton Park Housing Development has put an end to such encounters here.

2 Chiffchaff were singing and 3+ Blackcaps were also around. This year the cold weather has held up migration, with very few migrants in the Country still.

7 Redpoll flew over Meccano Bridge. Numbers exceeded 30 last Spring. This year none have been recorded during late Winter.

25 Siskin were at Eddys Alders.

Sunday 17th March 2013

Dry, sunny, calm light SW

Dusk watch: 18:00 - 19:00 Top of Barleyfield 

The high number of Starlings counted this morning prompted me to do a dusk watch to see if they were local birds travelling to and from feeding sites. However not a single bird was seen during the watch.

Mallard - 5 SW and 10+ into Compton Park wetland to roost.

Grey Heron - 1 SW over valley.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 23 in V formation NW.

Jackdaw - 100 South and 13 North

Other sightings:

Woodpigeon - 50+ on Compton Park

Goldfinch and Greenfinch singing by new housing development

Grey Wagtail - 1 North from Graisley culvert.

Green Woodpecker - calling Eastern Border.

Song Thrush -birds singing till dark at top of Barleyfield, the Crossings and Meccano Bridge.

Bullfinch - 4+ at the Barleyfield Crossings.

Sunday 17th March 2013
Cold, dry, partial high cloud, clearing, light frost, light Southerlies
Skywatch from North end of Barleyfield 06:00- 07:00 then
Mid-section of reserve - Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Skywatch:
Canada Goose - 3 SW and 1 NE
Black-headed Gull - 13 SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 24 SW
Grey Wagtail - 1 high SE
Redwing - 5 East
Starling - 297 SW ( largest group of 130) peaked at 06:30
Chaffinch - 6 East

Patch Highlights:
Little Grebe - Summer plumaged pair still below Compton Lock and another lone individual just North of Prefab Weir.
Black-headed Gull - 55 on the upper pitches by Meccano Bridge - an exceptional count for this time of year as most birds have usually left for their breeding grounds by now.
Sparrowhawk - male West over Prefabs.
Green Woodpecker - birds calling from Henwood Road and the Barleyfield Annex.
Great Spotted woodpecker - Excellent showing with one chattering at the South end of the Paddock. Later a pair were seen in the lower Alders, whilst one called from the crossings. The two flew into Compton Park, where they were seen in a tree disputing with another bird that left towards S. Peters. Reasonable to assume that there are at least 4 birds in the area, possibly holding 3 territories.
Grey Wagtail -Pair at Compton Lock, raising hopes of local breeding.
Redwing - 1 East off the Barleyfield Crossings and 10+ at Compton Park - a significant count this year and no Fieldfare around or migrating over at all.
Goldcrest - 1 singing by Compton Lock and 1 at Meccano Bridge.
Long-tailed Tit - sparse with just 3 noted at the top of the Barleyfield.
Nuthatch - one calling in traditional spot between the Tennis Club and the Academy.
Jay - 1st mid-section bird of the year making a repeated heron like call in the middle of the Paddocks.
Linnet - one over the Paddock.
Bullfinch - singing males at the Tennis Club and top of The Barleyfield.
Finch Flock - Lower Alders holding 20+ Chaffinch, 5+ Goldfinch and 2+ Siskin.

Census:
Mallard - 17 male and 7 female
Moorhen - 12
Song Thrush - 5 (4 singing at Barleyfield Annex, South of Meccano Bridge, Newbridge and the Eastern border of Barleyfield)
Great Tit - 7 pairs

Total: 35 species.

Saturday 16th March 2013
Heavy overnight rain ceased at 07:00 and started again at 09:00
Mid-section of reserve - Compton to Newbridge including Barleyfield and Compton Park

Little Grebe- Summer plumaged pair still below Compton Lock.
Black-headed Gull - these are usually gone by now but there was still 27 on Compton Park and 4 SW over the Barleyfield.
Green Woodpecker - 1 was calling from Compton Park early and one lifted from the North end of the Barleyfield later, heading towards Compton Park.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - a pair were feeding together in a canal side tree at the SW corner of the academy.
Grey Wagtail - a female was at Compton Lock and 2 flew East from Graisley Culvert later.
Redwing - 3 on Compton Park
Goldcrest - 2 chasing each other at Meccano Bridge and 1 singing at The Academy canal side.
Coal Tit - 1+ in canal side trees at the NW end of the Academy.
Long-tailed Tit - pairs at Prefab weir, Meccano Bridge and the Tennis Club.
Treecreeper - once again seen in the alders just North of Meccano Bridge
Carrion Crow - pair nest building just North of Meccano Bridge.
Siskin - male singing in canal side fir tree at SW corner of The Academy and 2 over the Paddocks later.
Bullfinch - 5+ at The Barleyfield Crossings.

Census:
Mallard -19 male and 5 female.
Moorhen - 10
Dunnock - 14 (4 singing)
Song Thrush - 4 singing - The Annex, The Crossings, The academy, Newbridge.
Great Tit - 4 pairs

Total 33 species

catch up from early feb

Havent been able to post for a while so this is just brief highlights of last six weeks which havent already been posted.
2 Raven over Newbridge 9th Feb and calling bird same place on 19th
Kingfisher and Great Tit imitating Marsh Tit at Wightwick Mill Lock on 11th Feb (note this is exactly where I saw my last Marsh Tit in the valley
Peregrine over Oxley bank on 18th Feb
also 4 Jays together at Aldersley
5+ Siskin on 20th Feb where old railway goes over Smestow near Hordern Rd and then regular sightings well into March of presumably the same group in the same vicinity. (on 23rd at Aldersley junction 5 more may have been different)
Also on 20th feb 5 Goldcrest in the Hawthorn wood to Aldersley junction
And then we went into a sterile period as the cold returned and only today have noted increased activity including Rooks at Water Bridge copse.

THURSDAY 14th MARCH 2013

Pool Hall to Newbridge, canal and Smestow brook via Wightwick and Compton.

Bright, cold, calm, dry, overnight frost, 10.30 - 13.00.

Blue sky, white birds, brown earth . . . 

The freezing wind has died, the sun is up and despite that deathly high-pressure calm there's a

chance something might just stir, after days of  bitter grey weather.  We're halfway through March, the month of movement, and migration has started.  Although our long-distance visitors are still at least a week away, resident birds are already singing, pairing up and defending nesting territories all along the valley and in the open countryside beyond.  The bridleway by Pool Hall is alternately dry-rutted and slushly as the sun penetrates the low canalside hedge.  Out on the dam lake a narrow ice-free tongue of water supports a pair of Great Crested Grebe preening and resting, close to their diminutive toy cousin, a fluffy summer-plumaged Little Grebe, bobbing close to the shore.  A pair of Tufted Duck float quietly, even the 14 or so Coot seem indolent, waiting for the thaw, too close together for the moment to be their aggressive selves.  A male Reed Bunting sings from a canalside hedge south of the lakes, and along the towpath from Mopps Farm Bridge the sound of Skylarks trickles from a bright sky.  A flock of c.30 Linnet swirl from a canalside tree, their thin notes contrasting with a male Yellowhammmer singing from the rough margins of root-crop fields now stripped by sheep.  The animals have gone, but the ground between the canal and the Smestow brook is black-dotted with hundreds of Jackdaw, Rook and Crow,  probing the soil that for weeks has been ice-bound and barred to them.  Suddenly they rise, raucous, a large brown shape glides in and scatters them, wing-tips raised, and settles, standing awkwardly, shuffling and turning.  The Buzzard is not in its element, the corvids seem to know this, closing in, there's danger, hop in and back, not too close, don't let it settle, and minutes later the interloper has had enough, rises and flaps lazily away, a black crowd escorting it.  The foragers have done the business and return to feeding.

High above them the sun lights up the underwing patterns of circling raptors, at first two, then three, then six, their mewing calls clear across the southern end of the valley, the birds funnelling upwards, drifting apart then coming together, floating in the late-morning thermals above Castlecroft and Radford Lane, each flight a statement of intent or union.  This is the March "meet" of the Smestow Valley resident Buzzards and of their neighbours, this time eventually nine, possibly more, birds taking advantage of a clear and calm day to re-establish their positions in the local raptor hierarchy.  Established pairs defend their territories as other birds try to establish new ones, mature adults resisting the challenge of younger interlopers, some of which will have been born locally.  Fifteen or so minutes later and they're starting to drift away, the resident pairs descending to circle over their nest areas, talon-dangling or display-flying in extravagent roller-coaster plunges, the others angling away towards the city or South Staffordshire.  Twenty years ago the sight of a Buzzard over the Smestow Valley was worth a phone call.  Now you can close your eyes and be in Wales as they perform above you.  This beautiful bird is the most commonly reported raptor locally.  How wonderful is that!!

Onwards towards Wightwick, and a pause for breath on Castlecroft canal bridge.  There's a flurry of movement beyond Pool Hall lane, birds rising just above the hedge line, then falling from sight.  This undulating wave is a flock of around 100 Black-headed Gulls, twisting and turning as they follow a tractor ploughing a long field just beyond the track, a traditional rural scene now enacted on the fringe of the city, the pristine white adult gulls fluttering, swirling, hovering and dipping, back-lit by the light as they drop on to the glistening folds of freshly-turned earth.  Then it's over, the gleaming blades lift and the machine grinds away down the lane, the birds settling for a final feed.  Surprisingly, at least six Buzzards fly away from the far edges of the field as the tractor departs.  Were they worm-hunting too?  Were they some of the birds performing above the area some 20 minutes previously? Who knows, but one thing's for sure.  It's lunchtime, and the the Great Bird Lull is nigh. 

Nothing much along the Smestow, just as quiet along the canal to Compton, and so to the barleyfield, where a group of school pupils are sitting by the old oak on the slopes of "sledge hill", on a birdwatching mission looking out towards Newbridge, Dunstall Park and, invisible today, Cannock Chase.  Their teacher tells me they've already seen a male Bullfinch, Woodpigeons, and other species, and we're in luck, for suddenly a male Sparrowhawk circles above us, joined by presumably its mate, and a couple of Stock Dove land on the barleyfield.  Dinner calls, so it's goodbye, and off down to the Meccano Bridge, to see a Mistle Thrush on the Compton Park playingfields, and two summer-plumaged Little Grebe on the canal.  Four Mallard fly in, a feet-first male landing slap bang on top of one of the grebes, which crash-dives to escape, emerging cautiously and closer to the bank.  Have these ducks no manners . . ?