Smestow Valley Birding

 A treecreeper in Hanging Grds ( lower western border ) means I've had TC in all three of Barleyfield's wooded borders in the last few weeks. Plenty of song in the warm sunshine, including eight singing chiffchaff and a singing nuthatch. But no sign of any blackcap today. Should be here before the weekend is over.                                                                                                                                       A walk around yesterday afternoon found nine singing blackbirds.

Buzzard	1 over	Valley
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Annex Barleyfield
Wren	15 singing	mid section
Dunnock	6 singing	mid section
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Blackbird	3 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	5 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	9 ( 8 singing)	mid section
Goldcrest	pair + 1	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pair	hanging Grds
Coal Tit	1 singing	Top Birches
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	2 (1 singing)	Annex Barleyfield
Treecreeper	1	Hanging Grds
Chaffinch	1 singing	Station Paddock
Greenfinch	2 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	2	Station Paddock
Bullfinch	pair	Hanging Grds

The male grey wagtail was on the towpath by Meadow View bridge but no sign of the female there or on the Smestow. A green woodpecker calling, not from Tettenhall Ridge as is normal but from somewhere near the Tennis Club or Wolves training pitches.Still three little grebe including the bird below Compton Lock, all in or very near summer plumage. A female sparrowhawk checking out the Barleyfield and adjoining playing field and the kingfisher seen by the weir were good to have, and the male pied wagtail on the grass east of the Wetlands still in splendid plumage. Singing coal tit at Meadow View finished a day that started in dull, cold conditions, in warm sunshine.

Little Grebe	1 s/p below Com Lock,  1 s/p Meccano Br,  1 nr s/p Sq Club,
Sparrowhawk	1♀ low over	Barleyfield
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	Prefab Weir
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tennis Courts
Grey Wagtail	1♂	Meadow View
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	13 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	1 singing	Tennis Courts
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	mid section
Coal Tit	1 singing	Meadow View
Great Tit	6 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	3+	2 Meadow View,  c Compton Rough,
Bullfinch	2	Barleyfield

Plenty of bird song this morning in the sunshine, including a solitary stock dove in the old and defunct reedbed. Little grebe numbers seem to be falling off ( although I haven't checked the north end for a while ). Just three today, two winter plumaged birds by Meccano Bridge early on and on the return journey a w/p still at Meccano, a bird showing signs of summer plumage by the Tennis Courts and the other w/p bird now by Newbridge Wharf.

Little Grebe	3	S&W canal
Stock Dove	1 singing	Graiseley Reedbed
Wren	3 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	17 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	6 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	4+	Barleyfield
Great Tit	7 singing	mid section
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	3	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch	3♂ 3♀	Barleyfield

A trip to Pool Hall and area with Ian was mostly quiet but did give us a good size flock of fieldfare, redwing and starling on fields between Perton Mill farm and the sewage works numbering at least 300 birds. They were eventually flushed by a predator which we couldn't find ( probably a high over flying  peregrine  as we would have seen anything else ). Pool Hall pool was poor with just 5 tufted duck and a few coot and moorhen. A single shoveler flying over fields was maybe heading to Pool Hall. Two lesser redpoll (a scarce species this year ) was found on Wightwick Fields. 

Grey Heron	3	SE fields
Mute Swan	1 flew E over	Wightwick Fields
Canada Goose	1	Pool Hall
Mallard	2 over	Smestow Fields
Shoveler	1 flew SW over	Smestow Fields
Tufted Duck	3♂ 2♀	Pool Hall
Buzzard	2	Wightwick Fields
Moorhen	1	Pool Hall
Coot	2	Pool Hall
Black Headed Gull	14	Pool Hall
Wood Pigeon	100+ flock	Eastern Fields
Robin	song	Pool Hall area
Fieldfare	c100	Perton Mill Fields
Redwing	c100	Perton Mill Fields
Long Tailed Tit	5+	Wightwick Fields
Starling	100+	Perton Mill Fields
Greenfinch	10+	Wightwick Fields
Goldfinch	2+	Wightwick Fields
Redpoll	2	Wightwick Fields

  A barmy 12 degrees in a warm southerly breeze and it feels more like late autumn or early spring than mid winter. Which is probably the reason we have the same bird species day after day. We need some proper winter frost preferably with plenty of sunshine to move the birds around. The small finch flock flew around the Wetland site this morning but didn't settle, so I presume its the usual siskins with a few goldfinch. The usual three little grebe. A count of the mallard (19♂ 8♀) and moorhen (17 inc 3 imm) just to change my routine.

Little Grebe	3	S&W Canal
Mallard	19♂ 8♀  counted btw Compton Rd - Tettenhall Rd,
Buzzard	1 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	17 (inc 3 imm) counted btw Compton Rd - Tettenhall Rd,
Black Headed Gull	30	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	1	Compton Field
Wren	2 singing	Barleyfield
Robin	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 ( 1 singing)	mid section
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
finch flock	c25 flew around WL before leaving to NW, prob same as mon/tue ie SK & GO,
Chaffinch	1♀	Eddies Alders
Goldfinch	prob few in with SK flock  WL,
Siskin	prob making up most of flock c25 WL,

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

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

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

 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

 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,

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

Up until 2010 reed bunting was a regular breeding bird on the Barleyfield, indeed that year i'm sure  the pair had two successful broods. I still miss the repetitive song every spring when sitting on the seat at the top of the meadow. From there I could hear many singing birds in april including reed bunts and willow warbler, another species which didn't breed this summer for the first time.

A calling parakeet above the Paddocks, two chiffchaff still hanging on and still two little grebe by Meccano Br were other highlights.

Little Grebe	2	2 Meccano Br
Moorhen	1 Wetlands,  17 counted Compton Rd - Tettenhall Rd,
Ring Necked Parakeet	calls	The Paddock
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E over	Barleyfield
Wren	2 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	2	c Paddock,  1 in bullrushes  Wetlands,
Coal Tit	1	The Paddock
Jay	2	mid section
Greenfinch	calls	Annex Barleyfield
Goldfinch	4	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	calls	graiseley Cnr
Reed Bunting	1	Central Scrub
Speckled Wood	1	Prefabs

Three sightings of chiffchaff in the Paddocks this morning was probably the same bird but two together in Meccano Grds makes three, then another in the Hanging Grds and later, it or another was found feeding and heading towards the Barleyfield crossings. So at least 4 and possibly more chiffchaff today, but no other warbler species present. 

Buzzard	1 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	1 imm Prefab weir,   1 imm Meccano Br,   1 imm Wolves Firs,
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> N over	The Paddock
Grey Wagtail	1 flew W over top BF,  1 on Smestow Prefabs,
Wren	2 singing	Barleyfield
Robin	17 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	3 sighting, poss same bird Paddocks,  2 Meccano Grds,  1+ Hanging Grds,  later 1 HG moving twds crossings,
Long Tailed Tit	c10	mid section
Nuthatch	1	The Paddock
Jay	6 sightings	mid section
Goldfinch	1	Shrike Bushes

Firstly the squirrel has disappeared probably taken by a fox or badger.

My best flock of goldfinch this winter was over the Barleyfield top south west corner briefly before flying off towards the top eastern side. Otherwise very quiet with two male and two female blackcap popping up regularly throughout the Hanging Gardens. Four jay heading to the alder wood ( Lower Alders ) alongside the Wetlands and two calling chiffchaff the only other interest on the Barleyfield. Elsewhere 3 separate 1st winter moorhen along the canal.

Moorhen 3 1st wt S&W Canal Black Headed Gull odds over Barleyfield Robin 14 singing mid section Blackcap 2♂ 2♀ Hanging Grds Chiffchaff 2 calling Barleyfield Jay 4 Barleyfield Jackdaw odds over Barleyfield Goldfinch c40 suddenly appeared over top SW cnr Barleyfield  before flying twds the SE of Barleyfield,

An immature buzzard over the north west Barleyfield is proof of successful breeding this year, the other two seen today were both adults still in various stages of moult. A good show of chiffchaff for this time of year with  whitethroat and blackcap in smaller numbers. We may not have them for much longer.

Buzzard	1 imm over Barleyfield Annex,   1 ad over Barleyfield,   1 tatty adult over Compton Rough,
Moorhen	1 imm	Wetlands
Herring Gull	1	St Edmonds Sch
Swallow	10 >> SW over	Barleyfield
Wren	1 singing	Graiseley Cnr
Robin	12 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	2	Barleyfield
Chiffchaff	6	4 together Paddocks
Long Tailed Tit	few	mid section
Nuthatch	calls	Meccano Br
Jay	calls	Top Roses
Greenfinch	3	Top Roses
Goldfinch	6	Meccano Grds
Bullfinch	2	Annex Barleyfield