Smestow Valley Birding

 Rain this morning prevented me from doing the valley, so I ended up at Belvide Reservoir , where I found a singing blackcap. But this evening in sunny and warm conditions I found a another singing blackcap, albeit only briefly. Ian saw a male near Compton lock on tuesday but not singing.

Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> SW over	The Paddock
Blackbird	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1 singing	The Paddock
Chiffchaff	3 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Station Paddock
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section

 A mini version of yesterday. Missing six species and numbers down, all I suspect down to the lack of sunshine.

Little Grebe	2	both approaching s/p  Squash Club,
Canada Goose	5 over NE	mid section
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	5 & 37	5 Compton Field,  37 Compton Park,
Stock Dove	1 singing	Lower Alders
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming	Lower Alders
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	4 singing	mid section
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Lower Alders
Long Tailed Tit	2	Shrike Bushes
Coal Tit	calls	Top Birches
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 (1 singing)	mid section
Greenfinch	1 singing	Top Roses

Good to be back after a week off. Nothing particularly outstanding but a good mix of species, the best being three goosander over Compton Lock. The ground is much drier ( until it rains again I suppose??). Plants in flower, daffs,snowdrops,lesser celandine and  lesser periwinkle. 

Little Grebe	3	S&W canal
Goosander	3 flew N over Compton Lock then flew back S,
Buzzard	2	mid section
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	21	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	1	Compton Field
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Top Roses
Wren	1 singing	Smestow Bridge
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	14 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	4 singing	mid section
Coal Tit	2+	Newbride Wharf feeders
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	3	mid section
Chaffinch	1 singing	The Paddock
Greenfinch	7	Top Roses

  A kingfisher at the Prefabs was a first for the year and good to see it's still around. Met Ian at Compton Lock and continued to the Barleyfield where we had a great spotted woodpecker drumming in the Annex and a goldcrest in trees there also about ten redwing around the Wetland area. A chaffinch singing along Railway Walk past the Paddocks is very early along with several great tit and plenty of robins singing. A ring neck parakeet seen and heard flying south over Station Paddock and maybe the same bird later heard calling further north in Newbridge wood. Another great spot a male seen in trees at Double Pennant and a total of five little grebe including the two summery birds rounded off a decent mornings birding.

Little Grebe	5	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1 imm ♂	Meadow View
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 flew S over Station Paddock,  poss same calling Newbridge wood,
Kingfisher	1 flushed from Graiseley Brook Prefabs,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming Barleyfield  Annex,   1♂ Double Pennant,
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Smestow Meadow
Redwing	c10	Wetlands
Goldcrest	1	1 exit Barleyfield Annex to railway,
Long Tailed Tit	c10	Smestow Aldersley Stadium
Coal Tit	2	Newbridge Wharf feeder
Great Tit	5 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	5 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Greenfinch	7+ 5	mid section
Bullfinch		mid section

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

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

 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,

Two warbler species, chiffchaff  one in bushes near Meccano Br and blackcap 1♀ in Hanging Grds northern end and a male by the Barleyfield crossings in elder bushes. Again numerous sightings of jay around the Barleyfield probably involving 2-3 birds and one calling by the station. Two green woodpecker flying and calling in the Hanging Grds, one flew across field to Wetland Alders. A nuthatch calling from the eastern border of Barleyfield was unusual. A grey wagtail foraging in the brook by the bridge at Prefabs and a little grebe by the Meccano bridge.

Little Grebe	1	1 nr s/p  Meccano Br,
Moorhen	2 imm	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Meccano Br,
Green Woodpecker	2	Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	1	1 ad wt  Prefabs on smestow,
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	15 singing	mid section
Blackcap	1♂ 1♀	1♀ Hanging Grds,  1♂ Hanging Grds X,
Chiffchaff	1	Meccano Grds
Nuthatch	calls	Barleyfield Eastern Border
Jay	4+	mid section
Chaffinch	2 >> E over	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	5	Barleyfield
Red Admiral	1	Meadow View
Speckled Wood	2	1 Barleyfield,  1 Prefab Weir

Severn chiffchaff but most other migrants seem to have cleared out, just 2 calling blackcap no whitethroat and no sign of yesterday's  spotted flycatcher or lesser whitethroat.

Mallard	pair	Wetlands
Buzzard	2 over	2 ( 1 displaying )  over Valley,
Moorhen	1+1 juv PFw,  1 nr f/grown imm Meccano Br,  1 f/grown imm Tennis Courts,
Pied Wagtail	1	Compton Field
Wren	1 singing	Graiseley Culvert,
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackcap	2 calling	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	6 ( 1 singing )	mid section
Goldcrest	1	The Paddock with mix flock,
Long Tailed Tit	c6	c6 Paddocks,  prob same Hanging Grds,
Jay	1 >> N over	Hanging Grds
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Starling	16	Compton Field
Chaffinch	1♀	Meccano Grds
Greenfinch	calls	Central Scrub
Goldfinch	14	Meccano Grds
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield

I haven't seen a warbler this morning, just 2 chiffchaff calling on the Barleyfield. On the positive side what looked good for a young buzzard was over Tettenhall Ridge with a moulting adult for a few minutes, if so it proves a successful breeding season. A female grey wagtail was on the Graiseley brook by the Prefabs and the moorhen chick still nearby on the weir.

Buzzard	2 over	1 ad + 1 imm over Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1 brood	pr + 1 chk Prefab weir,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Grey Wagtail	1♀	1 ♀ Prefabs ( Graiseley brook ),
Pied Wagtail	15	Compton Field
Wren	1 singing	Meccano Grds
Robin	8 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	2 calling	Barleyfield
Jay	calls	Hanging Grds X
Jackdaw	odds over	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1♂ 1♀	The Paddock
Goldfinch	2 imm	Compton Field
Bullfinch	3	Barleyfield

Nothing special  but a reasonable selection of common birds with warblers, finches and birds of prey.

Sparrowhawk	2♀ circling over Valley,  1♀ mobbing Buzzard to the S of Barleyfield,
Buzzard	1 fully winged bird circling S of Barleyfield mobbed by Sparrowhawk, drifted N over Barleyfield then back S and away W,
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
House Martin	5 >> N over	Compton Field
Pied Wagtail	10	Compton Field
Robin	3 singing	Paddocks
Whitethroat	3	Barleyfield
Blackcap	4	mid section
Chiffchaff	7	mid section
Willow Warbler	2 ( 1 singing )	1 imm + 1 singing The Paddock
Long Tailed Tit	few	The Paddock
Chaffinch	2	Shrike Bushes
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	few	Graiseley Culvert
Bullfinch	4 inc imms	The Paddock

A family of chiffchaff in the Shrike Bushes is possibly the last sign of summer and the breeding season for our migrants and a lonely swift heading south west over the Barleyfield is definitely on its way to Africa. A frustrating time of year for us birders when many of our breeding birds have left us but we are still anticipating the arrival of birds travelling south and stopping over in the valley to rest and feed before moving on. 

Buzzard	1 ad  SE over	1 moulting ad flew SE over Barleyfield,
Black Headed Gull	7	Compton Field
Swift	1 >> S over	Barleyfield
Green Woodpecker	calls	Barleyfield
House Martin	c10 over	feeding high over Barleyfield
Pied Wagtail	2	Compton Field
Robin	1 singing	The Paddock
Whitethroat	4	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	3	mid section
Chiffchaff	3 ( 2 juv )	Shrike Bushes
Jay	1	1 flew E across rail tr into Hanging Grds,
Chaffinch	3+	Graiseley Reedbed
Greenfinch	1	Meadow View
Bullfinch	4 ( 2 imm )	Barleyfield
Peacock	1	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	few	Barleyfield
White sp	few	Barleyfield

A beautiful sunny start with blue sky at the top of the Barleyfield but thick mist down the hill. The early start just about paid off with a little more action on the warbler front but it's still very quiet. Blackcap and whitethroat were seen regularly in the western border but counting was difficult due to them moving up and down the hedges (  counting same bird numerous times  ) , most whitethroats together = 3, most blackcaps together = 3 but blackcaps covered a longer stretch of the hedgerow, no chiffchaff was a surprise. No early morning movement overhead to speak of ( pigeons, corvids or gulls ) was also a surprise.