Withymoor - Amblecote, Stourbridge..... (1 Viewer)

steve_zodiac · Jun 20, 2013

Back to work after three days off, to the splendours of Brierley Hill, and my usual stroll along the canal between Level Street and Brettell Lane and back.

3 broods of Coot, 15 juveniles coming on strong.
2 broods of Moorhen, only 5 juveniles seen today.
Single Grey Heron beside Delph locks.
4 Swifts, single Swallow and 2 House Martins flew over.
At least six singing Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Bullfinches by Anchor Hill bridge

keithr · Jun 20, 2013

GoldenI said:
the internet can be such a useful resource. pity your blog doesnt contribute to that. why link to it because it is offensive and not relevant to birding in any shape or form :C

Doh........It's an insight into bird behaviour...I keep foreign birds in aviaries and they can be docile all year until it comes to breeding season and then it's everyone to their selves.

I witnessed something similar yesterday at a reserve in Wales with a pair of Great Tits getting it in the neck from a Pair of Pied Flycatchers for getting too close to there patch (near the nest box)...helped out by some single Fly's that also kept bringing food to the box despite them getting "told off".
I couldn't work out what was going on -so many birds attending to one box...wonder if they were from a previous brood????

As said you were warned so please learn from this rather than decrying it.
Keith :t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 20, 2013

Its the longest day tomorrow......then the dark nights start creeping back in. But just when you thought the winter was a distant memory..........both Whooper Swan and Fieldfare have been reported flying over Spurn point during the last couple of days :eek!:

GoldenI · Jun 21, 2013

keithr said:
Doh........It's an insight into bird behaviour...I keep foreign birds in aviaries and they can be docile all year until it comes to breeding season and then it's everyone to their selves.

I witnessed something similar yesterday at a reserve in Wales with a pair of Great Tits getting it in the neck from a Pair of Pied Flycatchers for getting too close to there patch (near the nest box)...helped out by some single Fly's that also kept bringing food to the box despite them getting "told off".
I couldn't work out what was going on -so many birds attending to one box...wonder if they were from a previous brood????

As said you were warned so please learn from this rather than decrying it.
Keith :t:

Keith. you are at cross purposes. i was not talking about this thread but a link to blog contained in it. the link has been taken out by the moderators due to its offensive nature. thnaks.

rollingthunder · Jun 21, 2013

Steve - is it me or are Blackcaps either unmated or singing longer?

Still several birds in song round here ystda with a couple of Chiffchaffs down on the Industrial Estate (River Rooms).

Withymoor - Coots still on eggs (2 pairs), the 2 imm Herons still present.

Mary Stevens Park - a couple of adult LBB's, single 1sum BHGull and no less than 3 Grey Herons, an imm that has been feeding there for a while now plus an adult with what looked like a Juv bird in one of the low trees.

With future digiscoping in mind, i shall wait to get an iphone 4s at 'the right price' 2 links below to various aspects of technology and modern birding. Aldi have camera 'traps' on sale for about 80 quid, OK a bit specialised but this one snapped an unexpected guest.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-22447693

I would think most people would have mixed feelings about using tape lures? I personally do not approve except where it is absolutely vital for scientific purposes. If you wish to see Nightjar, Corncrake or Quail then be patient, exercise some control and rely on 'fieldcraft' if such a thing exists with a large % of todays birders? I rarely twitch these days (but am open to offers) but when i do i am amazed at how little note-taking seems to take place altho i suspect that plenty is being recorded thru modern technology.

http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/bird-apps-warning

GPS tagging is revealing all sorts of info and is providing a real insight into bird movement yielding much more than tens of thousands of ringed birds. One mid-Wales blog uses lamps to 'dazzle' Woodcock in order to ring them, what is the effect on these birds viz-a-viz the likelihood of any valid information that is recoverable?

Likewise 'lamping' for Owls:C

Laurie:t:

rollingthunder · Jun 21, 2013

I have had 'Photoshopped' images and posts removed by BF mods so moaning about a link is nothing new. The stuff that i blog about is not illegal, it might not be to your taste but as i have already stated that is 'your' opinion - there are plenty of twee birdy websites to keep you occupied..........

Who watches the watchers?

Laurie:t:

keithr · Jun 21, 2013

GoldenI said:
Keith. you are at cross purposes. i was not talking about this thread but a link to blog contained in it. the link has been taken out by the moderators due to its offensive nature. thnaks.

Thanks...I can get the wrong end of a one ended thing.....:-O

Keith :t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 21, 2013

Yes, the Blackcaps are still singing like there's no tomorrow. There was one along the Nine Locks this morning, one along the canal between Delph Road and Anchor Hill bridge, and two more in trees on the Withyymore side of the canal between Anchor Hill bridge and Brettell Lane. Not much else though this morning.

steve_zodiac · Jun 22, 2013

Walk along the canal from Level Street to Buckpool and back this morning.

A Grey Wagtail carrying food to nest site at the canal junction by the Stourbridge locks.

Only one juvenile Canada goose with the regular group at the same junction.

Five Moorhen broods

Eight Coot broods, plus two birds still on nests.

Three Mallard broods, but only 2-3 chicks in each one.

Seven singing Blackcaps

Plus single Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Grey Heron. A few Swifts; family parties of Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits.

Emma · Jun 22, 2013

Highlight of my shopping trip this morning.....Red Kite over Stourbridge High Street at 11:10 heading West!

rollingthunder · Jun 23, 2013

Wow - all part of the shopping 'experience', nice record.

Sat 22nd June......

A brief cycle thru Withymoor late afternoon yeilded nothing of note altho the Coot still sitting on the high nest was stooped on and 'low-passed' several times by a passing Carrion Crow. No doubt trying to scare it off its nest?

Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing here and there.

Mary Stevens Park 1700

LBB Gull - single adult and 3 2Sum-types.
BH Gull - 4 1Sum birds.
Single imm Grey Heron

With stuff well into the breeding season it's hard to believe that there are @rseholes like this about:C Ca65 nests, every egg taken and they are 2/3 incubated!!! - just what do you do with scumbags like this?

http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/C...xtinction_after_egg_theft.aspx?s_id=794459665

Answers on a postcard please.........

Eyes peeled for a decent view of this, today's the optimum day - 15% nearer and 30% brighter. For some reason it is perceived to be best veiwed just as it rises above the horizon..........Best of luck:t:

Laurie:t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 23, 2013

Quiet along the canal today between the Delph locks and Brettell Lane. A new brood of Mallards has appeared, ten chicks in total. And a Sparrowhawk flew over the locks carrying prey.

rollingthunder · Jun 24, 2013

High pressure returning, drier, winds dropping to non-existant - should be better for the rest of the week it will be interesting to see how much stuff is still singing?

Laurie:t:

rollingthunder · Jun 25, 2013

Mon 24th June......

Withymoor ca1600

Quiet, as expected, migrants limited to a couple of Blackcaps singing on the embankment section. Still 10 well-grown Mallard chicks and the Coot on the raised nest now has a family to feed. I could just make out some little Red heads bobbing about in the nest.

3 Grey Herons were present including an adult and an imm and prob a Juv and so could be the trio i saw at MSPark the other day?

An adult Herring Gull on the way back had a 'dangly' foot and so is probably the indvidual that i noted several weeks ago.

Some years ago British Birds used to produce a report on scarce migrants. For whatever reason this was discontinued. Now if you live in Norfolk or any coastal county, particularly with a Southern bias you might not have been too bothered. Stuck here in The Bird Denuded Triangle a species that is considered a scarce migrant is a mega particularly if you are the lucky finder. On a more serious note i found it a good read and has value as a 'trend-setting' report.

It is about to make a welcome return.........

http://www.bbrc.org.uk/777

Laurie:t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 25, 2013

Last day at work till Saturday, so managed a walk down the canal between the Delph and Brettell Lane.

A few more Swifts about, there have been quite a few over the last five days, more than in previous weeks.

Singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat.

There also seems to be a lot more Blackbirds about this year than at any time in the past.

Right, three days off now to go birding further afield o

rollingthunder · Jun 26, 2013

Tue 25th June.....

Withymoor ca0830

An hour or so boot about, notable were more Swifts with a few House Martins hawking above the embankment. Several singing Blackcaps en-route, nothing else of note apart from 3 Grey Herons including an adult.

Mary Stevens Park ca1600

Half a dozen BHGulls including 2 Summer adults and a solitary adult LBB.

West Hagley Fields ca1630

Swallows on the wires down County Lane including a number of recently fledged juveniles. The 'flash' in the lower field has now been filled in as the pipework is nearing completion, bare ground is being utilised by Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Linnets. Ca 80 Wood Pigeons feeding on the new playing fields, a nice mix of bright adults and young birds - duller and with no neck 'flash'.

I was both surprised and pleased to hear the distinct 'jangling' of a male Corn Bunting singing from the cables. This is the first bird that i, personally, have recorded in well over 2 years locally. 5 years ago i used to record this species throughout the year but not recently.

Bird of the day, following hard on the heels of the Suffolk Pacific Swift is the White-Throated Needletail:eek!::eek!::eek!: on Harris. Another mid-Summer 'mega' and another Apus:eek!: Quite how many observers it thrills remains to be seen if it itself is seen today? Most European records are May-June and this will be the 9th record for Britain, if accepted.

Eyes peeled as there are inland records including Blithfield, no less than 4 widespread sightings in 1991 from Shetland to Kent - all presumed to be the same bird. No mistaking this hulking sickle of a bird, same size as Alpine Swift and apparantly holds the world record for the fastest species in a 'flapping' flight.......You have been warned

Below - 'bird of the day' and a WTN.

Laurie:t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 27, 2013

rollingthunder said:
Tue 25th June.....

Withymoor ca0830

An hour or so boot about, notable were more Swifts with a few House Martins hawking above the embankment. Several singing Blackcaps en-route, nothing else of note apart from 3 Grey Herons including an adult.

Mary Stevens Park ca1600

Half a dozen BHGulls including 2 Summer adults and a solitary adult LBB.

West Hagley Fields ca1630

Swallows on the wires down County Lane including a number of recently fledged juveniles. The 'flash' in the lower field has now been filled in as the pipework is nearing completion, bare ground is being utilised by Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Linnets. Ca 80 Wood Pigeons feeding on the new playing fields, a nice mix of bright adults and young birds - duller and with no neck 'flash'.

I was both surprised and pleased to hear the distinct 'jangling' of a male Corn Bunting singing from the cables. This is the first bird that i, personally, have recorded in well over 2 years locally. 5 years ago i used to record this species throughout the year but not recently.

Bird of the day, following hard on the heels of the Suffolk Pacific Swift is the White-Throated Needletail:eek!::eek!::eek!: on Harris. Another mid-Summer 'mega' and another Apus:eek!: Quite how many observers it thrills remains to be seen if it itself is seen today? Most European records are May-June and this will be the 9th record for Britain, if accepted.

Eyes peeled as there are inland records including Blithfield, no less than 4 widespread sightings in 1991 from Shetland to Kent - all presumed to be the same bird. No mistaking this hulking sickle of a bird, same size as Alpine Swift and apparantly holds the world record for the fastest species in a 'flapping' flight.......You have been warned

Below - 'bird of the day' and a WTN.

Laurie:t:

Sickening that that fantastic bird flew all this way......performed for a small number of birders.......then got killed by a sodden wind turbine. Some great video footage of the bird in the Rare Birds section.

rollingthunder · Jun 27, 2013

Yes Steve, an ignomious end - on the plus side i can stop scanning the skies now! You were'nt about to 'grab your coat' were you?

Wed Jun 26th.......

Withymoor ca1230

A pleasant hour so so, Blackcaps on the way and parties of Swifts over the embankment and pool. No less than 4 Grey Herons feeding around the edge, a single adult and 2 juv-types and one that looked possibly a 2nd Summer bird. Interestingly the 3 non-adults were feeding, in a line, adjacent to the outflow, along the muddy edge. The water is now at it's lowest level due to my removal of detritus and debris almost on a daily basis. This has had a marked effect on the opening up of more edge - whether it brings down and holds any passage waders remains to be seen.

I have also acquired some nice planks which i will make into bird boxes over the Autumn and erect around the pool in suitable trees. They will be numbered accordingly, placed out of reach but viewable.

Reed Warbler:eek!: - surprise of the day was a single male singing in the central 'clumb' of vegetation and tall trees with a Blackcap adjacent. Whether this is a late bird or a failed breeder who knows? All the same it was a nice, unexpected, find.

West Hagley Fields

A couple of Whitethroats, one male particularly showy song flight and a Chiffchaff whilst cycling thru the Golf Course.

The White-Throated Needletail :eek!:delighted a few dozen observers before it met its' match in probably the slowest-moving object in the area, namely a wind-turbine! Not before some cracking shots and vid footage was obtained.

Link below to Dan Pointons vid and Josh Jones' cracking photos (note Joshs' header, he's done well for rare Swifts of late!).

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153018699065157

http://joshrjones.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/white-throated-needletail.html

Locally, a Black Stork has been wandering around the Forest of Dean, it's not that far from the FOD to the......BDT - still need it for Britain altho i have a self-found White Stork that needs company on the list.

Laurie:t:

steve_zodiac · Jun 27, 2013

lol No, though I am heading that way on August 9th. Doing Bartley later, then up for the Melodious Warbler tomorrow.

rollingthunder · Jun 27, 2013

Is MW a UK tick? Or just a mooch as you are off for a few days?

Laurie:t:

Withymoor - Amblecote, Stourbridge..... (1 Viewer)

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