Smestow Valley Birding

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 brighter day than of late ( that's the weather not the birding ) and a good start with three little grebe from the old bridge on Meadow View and a robin singing, but the star was a calling parakeet in the large trees by the corner, it eventually flew and perched in the canal side trees of Station Paddock and then back again. It was still calling when I left for the Paddocks where I had it again, it left the area to the south. Two male pied wagtail by the Wetland pool and two redwing which flew from the Barleyfield Annex to Lower Alders and a female great spotted woodpecker flew to the trees between the prefabs and canal before going over Compton Rough to the railway trees were as good as it got today.

Little Grebe	4	S&W canal
Ring Necked Parakeet	1	Meadow View
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1♀	Prefabs
Pied Wagtail	2♂	Wetland Field
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Redwing	2	Barleyfield
Long Tailed Tit	few	Lower Alders
Great Tit	1 singing	The Paddock

Much of a muchness today,the only note-worthy news is the Wetland mallard's were found to have 9 chicks. Most birds tend to lay one egg a day and as far as I know this includes ducks, I first found the female on a nest 21st April so she must have just started brooding  ( mallards start brooding when they have laid the last egg ) ,because if they incubate for 28 days on average ( do the maths ) the young should be out & about just about now,so that ok then. 

Don't all dash down with your loaf of bread though,if you must? take mealworms or something more nutritious from the pet shop. Have a good bank holiday weekend.

Mallard	pr + 9 chk	Wetlands
Buzzard	1 over	Barleyfield
Swift	4+ over	Barleyfield
Swallow	1 over	Barleyfield
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Blackbird	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Barleyfield Annex
Blackcap	9 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	10 singing	mid section
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Jackdaw	few	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	6 singing	mid section

Mallard was the first to bring new avian life to the valley this year as usual, a brood of 11 chicks were found on 26th April being the first. Since then several mallard broods have been seen along the canal, about the same time long tail tits were noted taking food to a nest near the Graisley brook culvert and the grey wagtail was first found sitting on eggs. Many species have since been seen carrying food. The long tail tits at Graisley culvert seem to have fledged and were found near by on 8th May. Grey wagtails were first found feeding young on 7th May and if all goes well should fledge towards the end of this coming week, there filling the nest to over-flowing at the moment.

Buzzard	1 to the north	Barleyfield
Moorhen	2	Wetlands
Swift	1	Newbridge
Hirundides	3-4 to the N	Barleyfield
Grey Wagtail	pr feed yng	Smestow Bridge
Wren	13 singing	mid section
Dunnock	3 singing	mid section
Robin	14 singing	mid section
Blackbird	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	2 singing	Barleyfield
Blackcap	7 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	5 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	pr + 4+ imm	pr feeding 4+ imm  Barleyfield Annex,
Great Tit	song	mid section
Jay	1	Annex Barleyfield
Jackdaw	10	Barleyfield
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	3	Barleyfield
Bullfinch	pair	Annex Barleyfield

The thrushes were more vocal today but as is to be expected there is less warblers singing as they have breeding duties to perform. No sign of the garden warbler this morning, but whitethroat  numbers are back to usual. 

Buzzard	1♂ hunting over	Barleyfield,
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Swift	8 over	mid section
Grey Wagtail	pr feed yng	Smestow Bridge
Wren	11 singing	mid section
Dunnock	5 singing	mid section
Robin	10 singing	mid section
Blackbird	7 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1 singing	Shrike Bushes, maybe same? Hanging Grds, ( Ian had one in the Paddocks )
Garden Warbler	1 singing	Annex Barleyfield, ( Ian had 2 earlier )
Blackcap	10 singing	mid section
Chiffchaff	7 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2 family party	Barleyfield
Great Tit	3 singing	mid section
Chaffinch	3 singing	mid section
Goldfinch	2 (1 singing)	Wetlands
Bullfinch	pair	Annex Barleyfield

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

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 )

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

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

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