Redditch

[StarainBoy]

First of the month, so my rather irregular jaunt round the coppice at Walkwood to get the September list going. Dave and I hadn’t gone far into the wood when a loud cronk issued from the canopy.

So, out on the moors, up a bleak hill or on some storm-lashed cliffs, raven would have come to mind immediately. But in Redditch? I caught a black shape flap noisily away above us. It was indisputably a raven.

The call took me back a few days to walking back from Tesco, a route through suburban Redditch, when I also heard a single cronk. I looked up then, saw nothing and dismissed it as a figment but now realise that it too must have come from a raven.

[Mary]

We see them regularly, especially in winter, about 8 miles away from Redditch.

[StarainBoy]

Yup, I've had word from Steve Payne that he gets them at Arrow Valley and Hewell Grange. They'll be scavenging outside McDonald's next!

[Mary]

So long as they're joined by Red Kites!!

[StarainBoy]

Apparently they're down on Bredon Hill, so not far to come.

[Sy V]

I saw a pair whilst ringing at Ipsley Alders about a fortnight ago, too.

[wmtlynx]

Spotted a pair on the grass on Grangers Lane yesterday about 1615 feeding amongst the magpies. Either that or they were extremely well fed carrion crows!

[upstarts1979]

I live in Winyates Green and its surprising what is going over my house during the day, especially at this time of year. This week Hobby, cormorant, Meadow pipits, Grey Wag up to 8 Buzzards at one time and a kestrel. A small movement of Goldcrest and chiffchaffs have also been evident in my garden this week. As for raven I regularly see them during the autumn and winter 6 over my house earlier in the year.
cheers John

[StarainBoy]

I live in Winyates Green and its surprising what is going over my house during the day, especially at this time of year. This week Hobby, cormorant, Meadow pipits, Grey Wag up to 8 Buzzards at one time and a kestrel. A small movement of Goldcrest and chiffchaffs have also been evident in my garden this week. As for raven I regularly see them during the autumn and winter 6 over my house earlier in the year.
cheers John

Like you, I've had hobby and cormorants lately. Also fly-over curlew and skylarks in the past.

[upstarts1979]

Hi Star
I could bore you with some of my fly overs but i wont........Oh I can't resist it
Red Kite , White Fronted goose, Lapwing, Curlew, Skylarks, oh and Hoopoe there are others over the last 22 or so years but I will have to get my old note books out.
If you want to expand I could really bore you with my 'in garden list'
cheers John

[upstarts1979]

at 12.15pm today a pair of raven flew over to the NE. and again at 4pm a single raven flew north

[StarainBoy]

Today was my first record of nuthatch at Arrow Valley Park to bring my score there up to 67. I also logged only my second sighting of tufted duck, which Upton usually delivers for Worcestershire.

Now fully attuned to the phenomenon, I heard one partial burst of a chiffchaff’s song, which is a lot more normal than the full works that have grabbed the country’s attention lately. A grey wagtail broke a five-month drought for what is my favourite species.

[StarainBoy]

Two more ravens just now flying over Walkwood towards Headless Cross - still quite exciting.

[StarainBoy]

Last week I loggged my first Redditch record of herring gull (http://theandygibb.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/16/herring-gull-redditch/) on Walkwood School’s playing field.