Coney Meadow and Adjoining Areas (9 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

My first visit to Coney meadows with Dave today. The Reed bed is well impressive, bigger than all of upton's put together.
The whole area has a lot of potential and a wide range of habo for all sorts of species to appear. I am sure I will back for some more.
B John
Water rail at least 4 calling. Raven, coal tit, treecreeper, plenty of goldcrests, redwing, fieldfare, mistle thrush. Also of note linnet 10, mipit 4,

 

[Birder Gladys]

good weekend for sighting,Birds to note...
2 Kingfisher,Goldcrest,Nuthatch,Coldtit,flying over Cormorant,large quantities Redwing,Starlings and Pied Wagtails,Green woodys loving what the cows are disturbing.only bird new for nov count Collard dove
didn't note House sparrow,herring gull midweek.

 

[Woodchat]

Managed a brief stroll around this afternoon - pleasantly sunny at times. The highlight was a nice male Yellowhammer perched in the hedge bordering the setaside strip with Chaffinches and Reed Buntings. Two further Yellowhammers flew over calling. Also seen were Grey Wagtails (3), Ravens (2), Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Goldcrests (3+), Bullfinch, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays, lots of Fieldfares and Redwings, Mistle Thrushes (4+). Coal Tit and Nuthatch heard only.

 

[Woodchat]

Highlights from this afternoon were a male Blackcap, a flyover Siskin, Snipe and Water rails heard. Most of yesterdays species seen.

 

[Phil Andrews]

I see "eagle-eyed" Woodchat and his glow-worm discovery made it onto page 4 of the Trust magazine (issue #128)

 

[Woodchat]

This report via Worcs Birding and text from Wayne D late morning:

"Westwood Pool: 3 Crossbills circled over car park calling then flew south towards Coney Meadow (Wayne Dutton)"

Had a brief walk-around this afternoon but no sign (it was always going to be a long shot).

However, one Siskin with Goldfinches and hundreds of Chaffinches and Winter Thrushes. Three Common Snipes seen on Monday.

 

[Woodchat]

A flyover Skylark yesterday took the November total to just 56 species - possibly reflecting the reduced level of coverage over the past weeks. Still, this was better than the October tally (just 48 species) - which was a virtual wipe-out for me.

Several Water Rails calling from the reedbed and a Sparrowhawk hunting over the reeds as the Starlings and Pied Wagtails dropped in to roost. A Snipe circled around also.

 

[Birder Gladys]

enjoyable afternoon yesterday,good to see you back out and about Woodchat

 

[Woodchat]

Two Little Egrets flew over Coney towards Westwood.

 

[Woodchat]

Wayne D texted back soon after to say the Little Egrets did drop into Westwood. This is the first multiple record of this species for my patch. Other birds this afternoon included one Yellowhammer, one Snipe, 2 Ravens, 2 Mistle Thrushes, three Meadow Pipits, Grey Heron, approx 300 Canada Geese over with a couple of white domestic geese mixed in, 3 Water Rails calling a few Reed Buntings and Pied Wagtails, Kingfisher, Goldcrests, Buzzard, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Great Spot and Green Woodpeckers.

The Starling roost was far in excess of 1000 - they arrived in several flocks containing up to 300 birds then dropped in the reedbed before moving about by flying low over the reeds - possibly in response to a Sparrowhawk that was lurking about.

The Shetland cattle seem to have been removed - a couple of weeks before they were scheduled. Not sure why.

 

[Woodchat]

Additional species seen today:

2 Coots and 1 Cormorant on the fishing pool at Porter's Mill, a Mute Swan on the canal plus House Sparrows near the lock-keepers house and a female Kestrel on the wires over the horse paddocks. 1 Redpoll over Coney and a couple of Stock Doves seen.

A decent-sized Starling roost again this evening.

 

[Birder Gladys]

some amazing skies over coney tonight,birds and clouds.just to add to woodchat count .Greenfinch and a snipe flew out 10 mins after you left,also the white duck and mallard took to the air soon after.
heres some pics from tonight.

 

[Birder Gladys]

three more pics,these are not all the same flock these are just some of the larger ones.

 

[Woodchat]

three more pics,these are not all the same flock these are just some of the larger ones.

Given that your middle photo shows more than 1100 Starlings, then my estimate of the size of the roost is way too low. There were probably 3 or 4 times this many in total - so I wouldn't be surprised if the total size of the roost is currently closer to 5000 birds. :t:

 

[Birder Gladys]

A top quality show put on by the murmurations of 000s of starlings tonight for 30mins 15.40 to 16.10.

 

[Birder Gladys]

few more pics
1 large tree split just pass the bridge
2 more of the show, had to video it in the end
3 ducks tried to match it

 

[Birder Gladys]

just a quick 45mins today 15.45 to16.30
goldcrest in a bush close to the gate,Grey Heron flew down salwarpe,small kestrel? giving a raven a hard time for 15mins and starlings putting on another show which included sparrowhark trying its luck several times once only 20ft away from the screen.

 

[Woodchat]

The Starlings produced another spectacle this evening with several thousand present - getting splattered with their droppings wasn't so much fun though!8-P

A Sparrowhawk tried its luck again.

Three Yellowhammers flew over earlier (one yesterday) and a Snipe flew out of the reedbed. Several Water Rails calling. Ravens, Buzzards, Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Coal Tits - otherwise pretty quiet.

 

[Birder Gladys]

just a quick walk today
1.fallen tree over tow path
2&3 flood water
4 large gull

 

[Woodchat]

A Green Sandpiper flew from the New Mill area towards Ladywood sewage works late morning. A Yellowhammer flew over Coney calling and it or another was in the hedge bordering the setaside strip. Other birds seen today included 5 Snipes flushed from the waterlogged field by New Mill farm, 6+ Siskins, a few Redpolls (good views of 3 Lesser Redpolls yesterday), 2 Ravens, 2 Canada Geese and a few Meadow Pipits over.