The early birder catches the grebes 

28th November 15         morning              mid section

cloudy,  3-6°c,  1011 mb,  SW-S 13 mph

Whilst I was lazily making my way to site Ian was clocking up the highest little grebe total this winter. Five in all including a new bird still showing much summery plumage. We met on the Barleyfield which apart from distance small flocks of finches and tits was pretty dead. We walked the canal together but could only find four of the grebes, unfortunately the brightly coloured new bird was the one we missed.

Little Grebe	4	S&W Canal
Moorhen	5+ imm	S&W Canal
Robin	1 singing	Newbridge boats
Redwing	2	mid section
Goldcrest	1	1  in tit flock Hanging Grds,
Long Tailed Tit	few	few in tit flock Hanging Grds,
Coal Tit	3+	Newbridge boats feeder
finch flock	c10 over Hanging Grds but too distence to separate,
Chaffinch	1♂ 1♀	Newbridge boats feeder
Greenfinch	few	Newbridge boats feeder
Goldfinch	finch flock Hanging Grds must be mostly Goldfinch,
Bullfinch	1♂ 1♀	Newbridge boats feeder

Redpoll at last

27th November 15            morning               mid section

mostly cloudy,   10°c       1010 mb,     SW 14

Only visit this week turns up some redpoll with a small finch flock in the alders bordering the wetland site. Flock consisted mainly goldfinch of cause but also some siskin, redpoll and bullfinch ( which wasn't associating with flock) very scattered so judging numbers was difficult but they flew around together a couple of times when possible to count. Apart from a lone fieldfare it was very quiet elsewhere.  

 For anyone who may be interested a HOOPOE was found on tuesday at Hickford near Wall Heath and is performing well giving excellent views down to 30m.  http://staffordshirebirding.blogspot.co.uk/ for directions.

Little Grebe	3	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	29	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Fieldfare	1	Graiseley Culvert
finch flock	c20 ( gold c12)(siskin c4)(redpoll c4)   Lower Alders
Chaffinch	1♀	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	c12	Lower Alders
Siskin	c4	Lower Alders
Redpoll	c4	Lower Alders
Bullfinch	2	Lower Alders

Winter birds star on a very wintery day

21st November 15       morning              mid section

sunny but very cold wind,  2°c,   1010 mb,   NW 19 mph,

Another by and large slow and quiet day was saved by a fieldfare in the Barleyfield Annex and a count of 6 siskin and about 8 goldfinch in the alders by the wetland pool which when they lifted off as usual proved to almost double that number.

Little Grebe	1 just N of Meadow View,   1 (dark ) Compton Lock,
Buzzard	1 over	Wetlands
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Robin	1 singing	Meadow View
Fieldfare	1	Annex Barleyfield
Song Thrush	1	Hanging Grds X
Redwing	10+	Annex Barleyfield
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Greenfinch	5	Annex Barleyfield
Goldfinch	2 over Wetlands,  8+ Eddies Alders,  ( mixed flock c20 (GO+SK) flew off,
Siskin	6+ Eddies Alders, ( mixed flock c20 (SK+GO) flew off,
Bullfinch	5	mid section

Are you ready for winter

20th November 15            morning               mid section

partly sunny,  6-7°c,   1008 mb,  SW 5-9 mph.

It was lovely and sunny today if a little chilly in the cold south west wind, but tomorrow the wind is switching to a more northerly direction and it will feel much,much colder. Later in the year ( jan/feb ) when we get a cold snap it often stirs up the bird population and brings us unusual species like goosander and other wild duck ( this is because our canal stays mostly unfrozen due to the warmish water pumped in from the sewage works up steam ).

Anyway back to today. The kingfisher was perched up 70m north of the bridge on the Smestow at Prefabs ( looked to have an all black bill but couldn't be 100% sure due to distance )( if so its a male ) it eventually flew north along the brook. Later seen again from the bridge over Smestow near Meccano flying south. Two little grebe between Compton Lock and the weir ( dark bird and the summery one ) also one near the Tennis Club, seen from Meadow View old bridge, I must have walked past it 10 minutes earlier ( what am I ).

Little Grebe	2 ( dark + s/p ) Prefabs,   1 Tennis Courts,
Moorhen	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Tennis Courts,
Kingfisher	1♂ ? Prefabs  smestow brook flew N,  later 1 flying S along smestow at Smestow bridge, prob same bird,
Robin	1 singing	Graiseley Culvert
Song Thrush	3 ( 1 singing )	Barleyfield
Redwing	5+	Barleyfield

fieldfare

Failed to retrieve a saved draft hiliting 3 groups of fieldfare flying south on Wednesday, not much else happening so will append sitings to a weekend post.

Anything about?  just another kingfisher

16th November 15              morning                  mid section

cloudy,  9-10°c,  1007 mb,  SW 9-10 mph

Same time, same place, same bird, Yes Meadow View Bridge, my first glance down the canal and a kingfisher flying towards me, it carried on under the bridge north to the moored boats and disappeared behind them. Same time, same place, same birds, Yes the same two little grebe by Meccano bridge, later the summer plumaged grebe was again just south of  the weir, that's where the similarities ended. Two nuthatch together in the Barleyfield Annex along with about 20 redwing and a few finches was the best of the rest. That is unless Angus knows better? I met him arriving as I was leaving.

Little Grebe	3	2 (dark) Meccano Br,  1 (s/p) Prefabs,
Moorhen	1 imm ♂	S&W Compton
Black Headed Gull	30	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 flew N under Meadow View bridge,
Robin	1 singing	Compton Rough
Redwing	c20	Annex Barleyfield
Nuthatch	2	2 together Annex Barleyfield
Chaffinch	2♀	Annex Barleyfield
Greenfinch	few	Annex Barleyfield
Bullfinch	4♂ 1♀	mid section

Kingfisher,   Grey Wagtail,   Little Grebe

14th November 15           morning             mid section

o/cast,dull,  7-8°c,  1023mb,  SW 9-S 8 mph

Forecast rain held off long enough to get some birding done. I seemed to have flushed a kingfisher from just below the old bridge on Meadow View as I arrived on site, which flew off towards the brook in Station Paddock , also seen from here a little grebe to the north by the boats, probably the pale bird, two more seen by Meccano Br both darkish birds and another the now fast fading summer plumaged bird at the weir.  A grey wagtail on brook by Smestow Bridge makes a full pack of our water birds. 

Little Grebe	4	1 (s/p)+2 (dark w/p)+ 1 (pale poss 1cy)
Moorhen	3 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	13	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 flushed from below bridge-flew off twds Smestow Station Paddock,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	calls	Railway walk Annex Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Bridge
Wren	1 singing	The Paddock
Dunnock	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Redwing	c25	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	calls	Meadow View
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge boats feeders
Nuthatch	2 calling	Newbridge Wood
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	c5	mid section
Greenfinch	c15	mid section
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

Winter visitors out of the gloom

9th November 15           morning              mid section

gloomy,  11-12°c,  1017mb,   SSW 17 mph

A little grebe north of Tettenhall Rd to start the day and probably the same one had moved south later on return. Met Ian in the Paddocks. The Barleyfield produced ten or so fieldfare and a few redwing and a small group of finches in alders above Meccano Br proved to be goldfinch,chaffinch,bullfinch and three or four siskin. Otherwise very quiet in very gloomy and breezy conditions.

Little Grebe	1 (dark w/p )	Meadow View
Fieldfare	c10	Barleyfield
Redwing	9+	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1♀	Meccano Br
Goldfinch	1	Meccano Br
Siskin	3+	Meccano Br
Bullfinch	1♂	Meccano Br

weekend review

We have said many times that timing is critical to what we see and yesterday was another example.  Fortunately I went over at midday just as it was brightening up and the birds seemed to be having a late morning first feed of the day after the rain.
So although nothing unusual many birds were around the old bridge mainly the four members of the tit family in quite a tight flock but also several blackbirds robin and dunnock.
as I moved towards the top of the paddock a looser flock included goldcrest, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker and more tits.
The field was less busy presumably due to the windy conditions and only 1 redwing. Back into the valley and a different grey wagtail at the water bridge (not the smestow one which has been absent on last 2 visits) female sparrowhawk and a kingfisher going thru the tunnel on the old road.
Today was very different although there were plenty of redwing scattered about and the gull flock on the sports field included 4 herring and 7 lesser black backs.
Finally 2 bits of unusual behaviour a great tit doing a goldcrest like hover flight and a bullfinch feeding upside down ala crossbill on rowan berries.

Didn't see Ian but we seem to have had a similar day

3rd November 15            morning              mid section

O/cast & gloomy,  8-9°c,  1016mb,  SSE 5-S 2 mph

As Ian found, most of the action was up the top of Barleyfield. Redwing, more blackbirds than usual, more song thrush than usual, plus 9 greenfinch. Elsewhere I had 3 fleeting glimpses of the kingfisher on the Smestow off the Prefab bridge and the feeders by the boats at Newbridge wharf produced coal tit x3 plus more greenfinch and three bullfinch. Two little grebe off Meadow View early and probably the same two north of Meccano on the homeward journey. ( none of which was the summer plumage bird ). So if Ian had the s/p individual that's three today.

Little Grebe	2 ( 1 just N + 1 S ) Meadow View,  later same 2 Meccano Br,
Moorhen	5 imm	S&W Canal
Kingfisher	1	1 fleeting views Prefabs smestow,
Wren	1 singing	Compton Rough
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackbird	6\8	Annex Barleyfield
Song Thrush	4\6	Annex Barleyfield
Redwing	c20	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	3+	Newbride boats feeders
Chaffinch	1♂+	Newbride boats feeders
Greenfinch	15+	9 Top Roses,   few NBb feeder,
Bullfinch	2♂ 1♀	Newbride boats feeders

Out of the gloom

Geoff and I were completely unaware of each others presence on sunday, but he did better than me.
All I can add is a flock of about 15 siskin on the eastern side of the field and a probable redpoll in the hole which with lack of visibility couldn't be nailed. fortunately the siskins were quite vocal.
Undeterred, or some might sat foolishly I ventured into the fog on Monday but only picked up the 3 little grebe and 2 grey wagtail squabbling at the prefab weir. Also a jay squabbling with the female sparrowhawk.
Today was a little brighter but the overall light was gloomy and not conducive to identification.
Two of the little grebe had been sticking to each other like glue but I could only find one, the third bird which had retained more summer plumage was still there. The brighter grey wagtail flew north from Compton lock.
Otherwise it was about thrushes, even a few bars from both song thrush and blackbird but it was a scattering of Redwing which seem to have taken up residence and particularly favour the top of the field. Two goldcrest showed briefly in the paddock and green woodpecker and nuthatch called.

Fog fog fog then kingfisher kingfisher

1st November 15     morning            mid section

foggy, sun appearing 10:15 ish,  10-11°c, 1028mb, N 3-SE 2 

A late start due to fog was the right decision. Apart from a few robin's singing the first hour was a right off, Visibility down to 100m, birding visibility 30m.  Paddock and Barleyfield nothing seen or heard. The sun appeared as I reached Compton Lock and as if by magic a loud and continuous call alerted me to two kingfishers flying north past me towards Prefab weir where they disappeared. One of them was seen later on the Smestow. All three little grebe were together here and at the Prefab bridge a nuthatch and bullfinch in the bushes and two parties of canada geese flew over heading for West Park. A grey wagtail on the Smestow behind the station cafe rounded off an unusual day.

Little Grebe	3 ( 1 s/p + 1 dark w/p + 1 light w/p ) Prefabs,
Canada Goose	c50 ( in 2 groups ) flew NE over PF,
Kingfisher	2 flying N Compton Lock-Prefabs weir,  1 Prefabs  (Smestow)
Grey Wagtail	1	1 Smestow Station Paddock,
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	1	Prefabs
Bullfinch	1	Prefabs

A winter fare

31st October 15          morning               mid section

murky,   11-13°c,  1019mb,  SSE 9-7 mph

A good start with grey wagtail and 3 little grebe off Meadow View bridge and a few redwing over the Paddocks. Barleyfield was quiet until we got to the top where we had more redwing, greenfinch, goldfinch and a ♂ sparrowhawk, the sparrowhawk reappeared over the Wetlands  and we had a ♀ over the valley later. The Wetlands also held more goldfinch and chaffinch. A great spotted woodpecker (probably ♀) perched high in trees between Hanging Grds and the railway walk and the Barleyfield was done. The canal produced six immature moorhen, more than we have seen for a long time but 3 of them were just north of the Tettenhall Rd so not officially the mid section. Also at the feeders here by the moored boats we had a coal tit, loads of greenfinch and another great spotted woodpecker a male this time. A smart grey wagtail on the Smestow at the Prefab bridge brings at least 3 different individuals on the patch. Two here ( prefabs ) and another well marked bird on the Smestow by St Michael's school.

Little Grebe	3 ( 1 S + 2 N ) MV, later  2 Tennis Courts,
Canada Goose	c50 over Barleyfield in 3 groups
Sparrowhawk	1♂ over Top Roses,  again Wetlands,  1♀ over Valley,
Moorhen	6 imm (1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br, 1 imm Meadow View, 3 imm Newbridge boats,).
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀ Hanging Grds,  1♂ Newbridge boats feeders,
Grey Wagtail	1 Meadow View,  1 v/bright Prefabs Smestow,
Wren	1 singing	Lower Alders
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5+	mid section
Redwing	c45	mid section
Coal Tit	1	Newbridge boats feeders
Chaffinch	2+ Wetlands, 2+ Newbridge boats feeders,
Greenfinch	c10 Top Roses,  c10 Newbridge boats feeders,
Goldfinch	10+	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	2	Shrike Bushes

What a difference a few minutes make 

25th October 15         morning                 mid section

partly sunny,  5-8°c,  1024mb,   S 3-6 mph

 The Paddocks was quiet and the Barleyfield seemed the same but I met Ian and was surprised to find he had had some decent stuff at the top of the Barleyfield. We headed back up top but all was quiet now. We had two of the grebes on canal by the Prefabs and both green and great spotted woodpeckers back towards Meadow View.  A stroll along the Smestow by St Michael.s sch produced a very smart winter plumaged grey wagtail.

Little Grebe	2 ( 1 s/p + 1 w/p )  Prefabs,
Green Woodpecker	calls	Station Paddock
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♂	Meadow View
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow Meadow
Wren	1 singing	Graiseley Cnr
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	3 over	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

right place right time

I was about half an hour in front of Geoff this morning and had quite a decent mornings birding.
best spot was top of barleyfield at 8.30 but it quietened down after we joined forces.
To be fair my walk through the paddock was quiet but things got better at the wetland where I flushed a reed bunting and a flock of 25 goldfinch.  Up to the top of the field and reasonable numbers of thrushes. small groups of redwing 2 mistle thrush, plenty of blackbirds (numbers supplemented ny Scandinavian birds) and a flock of 15 which may have been fieldfare.
On to the path from top of field to railway and a male blackcap feeding on the last of the elderberries, a possible chiffchaff flew but could not ne relocated to confirm and a single siskin showed well at top of a hawthorn bush, (later saw a small flock I suspect were this species of 5 birds).
otherwise usual 2 little grebe but by spill weir, a well marked grey wagtail on the smestow, calling green woodpecker and feeding male great spotted and 5 bullfinches seen with several more calling.

The one that got away

22nd October 15              morning                mid section

cloudy start, sunny later,  11-12°c,   1013mb,  WNW 14 mph

 Walking through the Paddocks a calling nuthatch caused me to look up to find a bird just dropping onto the top of a fir tree on the other side of the canal where it joined another bird ( ahh two nuthatch thought I, but no, the light was poor so only grey  silhouettes were visible but they were surely not nuthatch. The stubby bill put pay to that, so what were they? They looked quite big and acrobatic feeding on the small cones. I then found another lower down the tree where viewing conditions were a little better and this one was mostly green and eventually shown two light wing bars. After a few minutes all three flew a short distance to another tree and disappeared. I didn't relocate them again. So what were they??  Probably finches, but not green, not chaffinch, not common crossbill and too small for siskin.

Little Grebe	1 w/p Squash Club + 2 ( 1 s/p + 1 dark w/p )  Wolves Firs,
Sparrowhawk	1♀/imm	The Paddock
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Robin	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	The Paddock
Chaffinch	1	Meccano Grds
Goldfinch	c20	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	pair	Meccano Grds
finch sp	3 Wolves Firs, looks big & bulky,mostly green,stubby bill,with 2 light wing bars (ie Chaffinch) feeding on small cones at top of fir tree,

What ever happened to the redwing flocks

19th October 15           early morning             mid section

dull & o/cast,  8-11°c,  1025mb,  N 4 mph

Under very similar weather conditions as the last few days, when good numbers of migrating thrushes have been piling through the country, this morning just 13 redwing flew east over the Barleyfield. Yesterday 169 were logged? There's no logic in birding.

Generally quiet again. Kingfisher,grey heron,nuthatch and the two usual little grebe the only species of interest.

Little Grebe	2	2 ( 1 s/p + 1 dark w/p ) MS centre,
Grey Heron	1 came in from E went down into Newbridge grds , later left W over Station Paddock,
Mallard	few	S&W Canal
Moorhen	2 imm	1 imm  Prefab weir,  1 imm just N Meccano Br,
Wood Pigeon	68	Compton Field
Kingfisher	1 flew from canal to Paddocks (Smestow), later same flew under Tettenhall Brs,
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Redwing	13 > E over	Barleyfield
Nuthatch	calls	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	1+	Top Roses
Bullfinch	calls	Meccano Grds

Hour vizmig produces 169 redwing

18th October 15          morning                 mid section

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

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

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

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

A late start, but turned out fine

17th October 15          late morning            mid section

cloudy,  10-11°c,  1024mb,  NW 4-N 8 mph

You've heard of the early bird catches the worm, well the late birder didn't do too bad today. As expected it was generally quiet in the trees and bushes but the canal waterbirds saved the day. Good to get the dark winged kingfisher perched up reasonably close, enough to see the bill which looked all black, making it a male. So we have two individuals because I had a female in the same place not long ago. Still two little grebe again in the area of the MS centre and flying over the MS building, a grey wagtail calling.

Little Grebe                                         2 (1 s/p + 1 w/p )  MS centre

Buzzard	1 adult over	Barleyfield
Kingfisher	1 by tennis club flew twds Smestow at Paddocks,  later same around boats MS centre when seen to be ♂ dark bird,
Grey Wagtail	1	1 calling over MS centre,
Wren	2 singing	Wetlands
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Redwing	7	5 flying S along V,   2 over Top Roses Barleyfield,
Nuthatch	calls	Tennis Courts
Jay	1	Barleyfield

A hard slog for little reward

16th October 15            morning               mid section

dull & o/cast,   10-11 °c,   1024mb,   N 7-9 mph

Just one grebe, a summer plumaged bird with the mallards by the MS centre on arrival at the old Tettenhall Br, On the way back probably the same s/p bird was by Meccano bridge and another bird in winter plumage was just south of said bridge, A flock of about 40 redwing headed over Barleyfield to the northwest again, shortly after another 12 followed. Two calling nuthatch in the trees alongside the Smestow and behind the prefabs and a grey wagtail on the brook farther north by small Prefab bridge.

Little Grebe	2 (1s/p 1 w/p)	S&W Canal
Mallard	21♂   10♀	S&W Canal
Moorhen	2 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	19	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Grey Wagtail	1	prefabs
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Redwing	c52	c40 + 12 flew NW over Barleyfield,
Mistle Thrush	1	Wolves Firs
Nuthatch	2	Prefabs
Jay	1	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	2+	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	calls	Graiseley Cnr