Smestow Valley Birding

  Looks like I will have to kick myself out of bed earlier now there's a dawn chorus starting to happen. At least three little grebe, one summer plumage, early morning heading north by Meadow View, another between Prefab weir and Meccano, seen from Compton Rough,  which we couldn't find fifteen minutes later on return from Compton Lock. Another two by the Squash Club ( 1 s/p + 1 partial s/p ) but can't be sure one of these wasn't a recount. A kingfisher near the grebes which eventually flew towards the Smestow in the Paddocks.

Little Grebe	1 s/p MV, (return) 1 N of weir,  2 ( 1 s/p + 1 p/s/p ) SqC,
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Kingfisher	1	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 drumming    Aspine Way area ( heard from canal )
Wren	11 + singing	min section
Dunnock	4+ singing	min section
Robin	10+ singing	min section
Song Thrush	3 singing	Barleyfield
Mistle Thrush	2	Compton Field
Goldcrest	pair	Top Birches
Long Tailed Tit	2 pair	min section
Great Tit	4+ singing	min section
Chaffinch	2 singing	min section
Greenfinch	3	min section
Bullfinch	1♀	Annex Barleyfield

 Good numbers of blackbirds still in evidence, probably passage birds, 9 black headed gulls on Compton Playing Fields and 4 little grebe on the canal at Newbridge still. The grebes may also be passing through. We cant tell whether they are different individuals or the same birds acquiring breeding plumage or indeed a mixture of the two scenarios. No sign of any summer migrants yet, the northerly winds of the last two weeks seem to be holding them up. 

Little Grebe	4	S&W canal
Mute Swan	1	S&W Canal near Meadow View,
Mallard	3♂	Wetlands
Buzzard	1	over Prefabs
Moorhen	1	Wetlands
Black Headed Gull	9	Compton Field
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1	Compton Lock
Grey Wagtail	1	Station Paddock
Wren	4 singing	mid section
Dunnock	8 singing	mid section
Robin	5 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Mistle Thrush	2 singing	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	1	Meadow View
Coal Tit	1	Newbridge feeder
Great Tit	4 singing	mid section
Jackdaw	odds over	mid section
Chaffinch	2 singing	The Paddock
Goldfinch	2	Wetlands

 Met Ian on arrival at Meadow View, Fishermen on canal so we did the Paddocks. A pair of coal tit was found in the main paddock but little else, a splendid male pied  wagtail in breeding plumage was on the field to the east of our Wetland pool. Another coal tit this one singing from the eastern border of Barleyfield. We headed south to Wightwick Mill Lock and back along the canal without seeing much until we checked the Smestow behind the prefabs, where we were treated to a pair of grey wagtail feeding on the edges of the brook, Little grebe ended the day back at Meadow View.

Little Grebe	1+	S&W Canal
Green Woodpecker	calls	Compton Rough
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> over	Sandfields
Grey Wagtail	pair	pair Smestow Prefabs,
Pied Wagtail	1♂	Wetland Field
Wren	song	mid section
Dunnock	song	mid section
Robin	song	mid section
Song Thrush	song	mid section
Long Tailed Tit	2	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	pr Paddocks + 1 singing Eastern Border Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1 over	Wetland Field
Greenfinch	1 singing	Compton Allotments
Bullfinch	3♀	Annex Barleyfield

Again the Barleyfield and canal was pretty quiet, with more seen between Tettenhall and Hordern Rds. The slushy mud was mostly frozen and hazy sunshine took the chill of the very low temperature. Just two little grebe on canal one either side of Prefab weir, coal tits on the feeders at Newbridge boats and Double Pennants and two nuthatch at the latter. The Smestow near Hawthorn Wood produced a bright grey wagtail and four teal which were flushed from behind gardens in Aldersley Rd.

Little Grebe	2	S&W Compton
Teal	4 flushed from Smestow Hawthorn Wood / Aldersley Rd,
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Grey Wagtail	1	Smestow/H Wood
Robin	9 singing	mid section
Song Thrush	1 singing	Meadow View
Coal Tit	1 Newbridge boats feeder + 1 Double Pennant feeder
Great Tit	2 singing	mid section
Nuthatch	2	Double Pennant
Jay	1	Hills Coaches
Chaffinch	1+	Newbridge boats feeder
Greenfinch	7 top Barleyfield,  few Newbridge boats feeders.
Goldfinch	3	Eddies Alders
Bullfinch	calls	Barleyfield

The holy trinity of wren,dunnock and robin all in song greeted me at Meadow View, a trio that's been rare this year here, at least all singing. Also the pale little grebe swimming south under the old bridge, this one was picked up on the return journey at Meccano Bridge. The Barleyfield came back to life today after a few weeks of  hibernation, a redwing flew to the Alder plantation bordering the Wetlands pool ( Lower Alders ) to join a chaffinch, three siskin and two lesser redpoll, also here a moorhen feeding amongst the bullrushes. Another redwing at the top of the field with two greenfinch and in the nearby Annex four male and three female bullfinch a redwing and a single jay. The summery little grebe was back near the Prefabs weir and a winter plumaged grebe near the Tennis Courts. The garden feeders just south of Meadow View and the feeders by the moored boats at Newbridge boat yard was alive with coal tits ( hard to count as they continually fly in and out ).

Little Grebe	3	1 s/p ,  1 pale, 1 w/p,
Moorhen	1 Wetland, 1 imm Prefab weir,  1 imm Meccano Br,  3 imm Newbridge Boats,
Green Woodpecker	calls  prob Tettenhall  Ridge, heard from BF,
Wren	1 singing	Meadow View
Dunnock	1 singing	Meadow View
Robin	6 singing	mid section
Redwing	3	Barleyfield
Coal Tit	1+ Newbridge feeder,      4+ Newbridge Boats feeder,
Jay	1	Annex Barleyfield
Chaffinch	1♂ 4♀	mid section
Greenfinch	7+	mid section
Goldfinch	1	Compton Rough
Siskin	3	Lower Alders
Redpoll	2	Lower Alders
Bullfinch	12	mid section

  Very quiet again, just one little grebe sums the day up. Although some species not encountered for a while including a calling green woodpecker,the buzzard and a couple of redwing. The finch flock flew around the Wetland just once and disappeared over Lower Alders, probably mostly goldfinch but you never know.

Little Grebe	1 w/p	S&W Canal  tennis court
Buzzard	1 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Moorhen	few including 4 imm	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	17	Compton Field
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Robin	4 singing	mid section
Redwing	2	Annex Barleyfield
Coal Tit	2+	Newbridge boats feeders
finch flock	c15	Wetlands
Bullfinch	1♂ 2♀	mid section

 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

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

The warblers are on the move as can be seen by the wildly fluctuating numbers,with blackcap predominating today but whitethroat yesterday and chiffchaff up and down, willow warbler one day but not the next. Also an increase in sightings of kingfisher,nuthatch and woodpeckers which are local breeding birds but always reappear as autumn takes hold.

Butterflies put in a good show  today, small copper probably the star.

Mallard	few	S&W Canal
Buzzard	2	1 moulting ad over Valley,   1 moulting ad >> N to the W of Meadow View
Moorhen	few	S&W Canal
Black Headed Gull	1 over	Barleyfield
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Kingfisher	1 flew N along Smestow, Station Paddock,  10 mins later prob same flying N under Meadow View bridges,
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1 >> E to	Central Scrub
Pied Wagtail	4	Compton Field
Wren	1 singing	The Paddock
Robin	3 singing	mid section
Whitethroat	1	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	5	mid section
Chiffchaff	1	Hanging Grds
Long Tailed Tit	few	The Paddock
Coal Tit	2	The Paddock
Nuthatch	1	The Paddock
Jay	calls	Hanging Grds
Greenfinch	2	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	1	The Paddock
Bullfinch	pair	Hanging Grds
Peacock	2	Barleyfield
Essex Skipper	1	Barleyfield
Common Blue	3	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	plenty	Barleyfield
Gatekeeper	1+	Barleyfield
Holly Blue	2	Barleyfield  & Wetlands
Small White	few	Barleyfield
Small Copper	1	Barleyfield

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 good day for butterflies but not birds.All the bird song has now dwindled to nothing and still waiting for the robins to begin their autumn song, ( Ian had a couple of robins singing in the week.) Autumn passage should begin in earnest soon, the few summer visitors were seeing now could be passing through ( the willow warblers I had last week were almost certainly passage birds ) or could be local breeding birds with their young, we just don't know.

Local birds like tits and goldfinches are beginning to form flocks.

Black Headed Gull	50+	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Ring Necked Parakeet	calls	Barleyfield
Green Woodpecker	calls	Barleyfield, the Paddock
Whitethroat	2	Shrike Bushes
Blackcap	3	mid section
Chiffchaff	6	mid section
Goldfinch	c10	Shrike Bushes
Bullfinch                    Butterflies	3+	mid section
Peacock	1	Barleyfield
Small Skipper	plenty	Barleyfield
Essex Skipper	2+	Barleyfield
Comma	1	Barleyfield
Meadow Brown	plenty	Barleyfield
Gatekeeper	2	Barleyfield
Ringlet	2	Barleyfield
Small White	few	Barleyfield

Only one singing bird (song thrush ) today, but  more activity than the last few days with family parties of whitethroat,blackcap and chaffinch. Nothing unusual yet but it's early days for autumn passage.

The parakeet was heard calling from the fir trees near Meccano bridge and then it arched north over Compton field almost following the line of the canal. Our parakeets spent most of last winter in and around West Park defending a tree with a possible nest hole which was blown down in storms around January. They were not seen again until Ian had them flying over Crowther Rd on 22nd Jan, but for the last two weeks local birders have reported them back at the park again, I had one today and one last saturday so are they the same pair or have we got more??

Mallard	1♀	Wetlands
Moorhen	2 broods	1+1 imm  Wetlands,   1+1 imm  Meadow View,
Black Headed Gull	15 ( 1 juv )	Compton Field
Lesser Black Backed Gull	odds over	mid section
Ring Necked Parakeet	1 over	1 calling then flew  N across Compton playing field,
Swift	2 over	Tettenhall Ridge
Green Woodpecker	calls	Tettenhall Ridge
Swallow	1 over	Compton Field
House Martin	30+ over	Barleyfield
Song Thrush	1 singing	Hanging Grds
Whitethroat	4 (family)	Hanging Grds
Blackcap	3+ ( family )	Hanging Grds
Chiffchaff	calls	Station Paddock,   Graiseley Culvert,
Long Tailed Tit	calls	Hanging Grds
Jay	1 >> to	Lower Alders
Chaffinch	3♂ 1♀ 2 juv	1♂ Meccano Grds,  2♂+1♀+2 juv ( family ) Hanging Grds
Greenfinch	4	Hanging Grds
Goldfinch	calls	Hanging Grds
Bullfinch	calls	Hanging Grds