Coney Meadow and Adjoining Areas (11 Viewers)

[Woodchat]

A quick walk-around at dusk yesterday evening:

A pair of Gadwall flew over Coney towards Westwood
3 Cuckoos showing well
3 Ravens
Lots of Swifts over
A few Reed Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Song thrushes, Blackbirds and Reed Buntings singing but generally quiet in the cool, windy conditions.
1 Canada Goose

 

[Woodchat]

Fairly quiet again this evening:

Water Rail
Grey Heron
Sand Martin
Green Woodpecker
Swallows
Sparrowhawk
Cuckoos (3)
Common Whitethroats (3)
House Martin
Swifts
Reed Warblers
Reed Buntings
Pheasant
Chiffchaffs
Blackcap
Buzzard
Swifts (20+)
Black-headed, Herring and LBB Gulls

Pipistrelle

 

[Woodchat]

Coney Meadow Appeal

Following the recent suspected arson attack and the complete vandalism of the nearby picnic bench, the Canal and River Trust (charity) have launched an appeal to help restore the site and prevent further incidents. Please see link below:

http://support.canalrivertrust.org.uk/index.php?cID=804

Thanks in advance for any support. :t:

 

[Birder Gladys]

An interesting early evening walk, a lot going on,large females sparrowhawk and buzzard hunting and a lot of feeding going on swallows,swifts and a grey wag

 

[Woodchat]

A Grasshopper Warbler was singing this evening near Mildenham Mill - heard from Egg Lane.

3 Yellowhammers and a Little Owl along Jacob's Ladder.

7 Grey Herons Porter's Mill (good count for the patch).

2 Coots on Tapenhall fishing pool.

2 Lesser Whitethroats at Copcut Rise this afternoon.

Fledged juv Nuthatches being fed by parents in Salwarpe churchyard.

Five fledged juv Swallows around Porter's Mill / Tapenhall.

Cuckoos widespread (3+ Coney, including hepatic phase yesterday, 2+ Porter's Mill, 2 Ladywood)

Also, this weekend: 1 Willow Warbler, 2+ Grey Wagtails, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtails, Stock Doves, Common Whitethroats, House Sparrows, Starlings, Reed Buntings, Long-tailed Tits, Skylarks, Sand Martin, House Martins, Kestrels, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Jays, 2 Mistle Thrushes, Ravens, Swifts, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Insects: Common Blue, Large Skipper, Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood and White Butterflies, lots of Beautiful Demoiselles, 1 Banded Demoiselle, several Azure and 1 Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Common Spotted Orchids (5 plants) are just starting to bloom in Coney Meadow - this is the first year I have noted them in this particular spot.

 

[Woodchat]

A Hobby flew over Porter's Mill yesterday afternoon.

 

[Woodchat]

This evening:

Meadow Brown butterfly and Hornet new for the year.

2 Cuckoos (inc. hepatic phase female)
Water Rail
2 Whitethroats
Reed Warblers
Swifts
4 Swallows
Reed Buntings
Stock Doves
Bullfinch

 

[Woodchat]

Another fairly quiet weekend:

Gadwall Porter's Mill
Juvenile Grey Wagtail at Salwarpe plus adults
Juvenile Nuthatch Salwarpe
Cuckoos
Kingfisher
Lesser Whitethroat Copcut
Common Whitethroats
Sedge Warblers
Reed Warblers
Water Rail
2 sand Martins Tapenhall plus many House Martins and Swallows
Numerous Swifts
3 Ravens
Bullfinches
Reed buntings
Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks
Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps
Goldcrests, etc.

Common Blue, Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies, Blue-tailed and Azure Damsels.

 

[Birder Gladys]

enjoyable evening finishing with the Tawny Owl fledglings being fed by adult.

 

[Woodchat]

Short (roughly) circular walk from 05:50 to 07:00 this morning:

Willow Warbler still singing Gorsey Bank
3 Cuckoos (1 male, 1 female Coney, 1 male Ladywood)
2 Lesser Whitethroats (Chawson Lane)
5 Common Whitethroats (Gorsey, Coney, Chawson La)
2 Coal Tits (west of Salwarpe)
Sedge Warblers (2 Coney)
Reed Warbler (several Coney + along canal)
Grey Wagtails (2 over Coney, 2 Salwarpe bridge including fledged juv)
Kingfisher (along river by Mill Cottage)
Swifts (40+ over Westwood plus smaller numbers widespread)
Swallows (2 Ladywood plus 1 over Droitwich)
Blackcaps widespread
Chiffchaffs - several singing
Reed Buntings along canal and in Coney
Jays

All pretty much standard fare for the patch but great to be out in the early morning sunshine (getting quite hot by the time I finished)

 

[Woodchat]

Pic of one of the Common Spotted Orchids in Coney Meadow - taken this morning.

 

[Woodchat]

A Hobby over Tapenhall, Porter's Mill yesterday morning.

A Painted Lady butterfly in Coney Meadow - a large influx of these has been predicted this year.

Also, Lesser Whitethroat near Salwarpe amongst the usual stuff.

 

[Woodchat]

A juvenile Sedge Warbler was nice to see yesterday evening - especially since much of their breeding habitat was damaged in the fire earlier this year.
A male Willow Warbler still singing and holding territory on Gorsey Bank.
A female Cuckoo seen briefly.
1 Kestrel.
1 Grey Heron.

 

[Birder Gladys]

these pics from tonight (you stand there and I will take your photo)

 

[Birder Gladys]

CAN NOT believe it took a photo of this tree, looked like a dark patch Little Owl size in the centre it ! looked close at the photo and there seems to be 2 Little Owls on a branch to the left looking at me.

 

[Woodchat]

CAN NOT believe it took a photo of this tree, looked like a dark patch Little Owl size in the centre it ! looked close at the photo and there seems to be 2 Little Owls on a branch to the left looking at me.

Yes - looks like the usual place they hang out - well done.

Two Little Egrets this morning at 05:40 perched in the dead trees at the back of Coney Meadow. They then flew off in the direction of Westwood.

Cuckoo calling
Willow Warbler singing
Lesser Whitethroat singing
Common Whitethroats (5+, including at least 2 juvs)
Sedge Warblers (2 juveniles plus 2 adults)
Reed Warblers
Coal Tits (2)
Nuthatches (3)
Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Mistle Thrush, Reed Buntings, Skylark, Bullfinch.

2 Latticed Heath moths.

 

[Woodchat]

So far this weekend:

Little Owl showing well near Ladywood yesterday morning
Cormorant flew over towards Westwood
Cuckoos, Grey Wagtails, Willow Warbler, juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, juvenile Goldfinches, juvenile Goldcrests, Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, lots of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins, Kingfisher, Linnets, Skylarks, Grey Heron, Mistle Thrushes, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, 2 Bullfinches.

Insects included many Ringlets, Marbled Whites (10+), Large Skippers, Meadow Browns, Painted Ladies (3), Small Tortoiseshells, Speckled Woods, Ghost Moth, Scarlet Tiger Moth (Picture below), Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles, Brown Hawker and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

The Pyramidal Orchids (pic below) are now blooming in the plantation west of Salwarpe village. Even though they are in an atypical habitat (closed-canopy woodland), they appear to be thriving and I've counted 26 individual plants so far this year.

 

[Triturus]

Also on way to plantation woodland is a set of steps down to stream that is culverted beneath canal. Spotted a recent otter spraint here last week. I had one last year too.

Potentially a commuting route for otters from River up to fish ponds at Middleton Grange half a mile upstream to the east.

Have not posted picture as it can't quite compete with the orchid. ;-)

 

[Woodchat]

A Hobby flew in this evening pursuing the pre-roosting Swallows.

50+ Swallows roosted plus 1 Sand Martin.

A Brown Rat was swimming in the canal between Salwarpe and Ladywood - occasionally climbing the reedstems.

1 Emperor Dragonfly.

Excellent very close, prolonged views of 2 Badgers yesterday evening on Gorsey Bank.

 

[Triturus]

Woodchat

Any sign of the glowworms ?

We recorded them in Neath, South Wales last night whilst doing bat surveys.

It may be much warmer over there though, it is overseas after all!

Triturus