In and around Sedgley (1 Viewer)

[Sedgley]

Had a four hour session on Kinver Edge in Staffordshire. The Edge and the surrounding woods were quiet but I also walked the lanes in the area and they produced the goods. Saw 31 species, and with nothing particularly unusual, it just shows how many birds are around. No water birds were included and apart from fieldfare and redwing, all were resident birds.

Saw a green woodpecker and great spotted woodpecker, which are always nice to see, regardless of how many you have seen before. At one stage I thought I had completed the trio of British 'peckers, but alas it wasn't to be.

Highlight was a group of 12 red legged partridges feeding in a stubble field. I watched them for quite a while, lovely birds.

Very cold day, but well worth it.

 

[florall]

Did you see no water birds there because there is no water? Sorry, don't know the area, so this might seem like a silly question. I envy you your red legged partidges - I would love to see them on my local patch, but doubt if I will. I've yet to see a redwing there too, but will hopefully remedy that this winter.

Thanks for your account.

 

[Sedgley]

Yes, no water at all. That was the point I was making - no water and only two winter visitors, yet still ticked 31 species, which shows how many different birds are out there to be spotted on any one 'ordinary' day.

I'm sure you will see a redwing this winter, they're very common and well distributed. All the best!

 

[Sedgley]

Had a 3 hour session this afternoon up to sunset. Parked near the village of Gospel End in Staffordshire and walked the nearby fields, briefly touching Baggeridge Country Park and a more extensive walk across Penn Common.

Ticked 31 species including a female green woodpecker and a female great spotted woodpecker. Saw two of the latter, although I suspect it may have been the same bird.

Three birds of prey seen - buzzard, kestrel and sparrowhawk. The latter had something in its claws but I wasn't able to identify what exactly.

No particularly large groups of birds - 5 greenfinches, 2 goldfinches, 6 long tailed tits.

Very enjoyable though. Don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoy being out after snow has fallen.

I do have a question though, if anyone could help me. (I will also post on a separate thread). I spotted a bird that I am pretty sure was a greenshank. However it seems pretty late in the year for Staffordshire. Any thoughts? I guess what I am really hoping for is someone to say that they saw one today as well!

 

[Sedgley]

Another short session based around Gospel End Village in Staffordshire, although did move onto the fringes of Baggeride Country Park. Very cold but at least it was dry and so I can live with that.

A couple of large flocks of linnets feeding on stubble fields. The first was c.200 birds, with a few chaffinches in with them, perhaps a ration of 10:1. The second flock was c.220 birds. Also a flock of c.50 chaffinches feeding on stubble fields, but as with the second group of linnets, didn't spot any other species amongst them.

Lots of redwings, mostly in smaller groups, the largest flock being about 80 birds. Not so many fieldfares though, most seen at one time - 3. At one time a small mixed group was disturbed by a fox passing through the field.

Lots of magpies, largest group was 14 birds, all perched in a tree.

Other birds logged included male bullfinch, female goldcrest, female green woodpecker and a single treecreeper. I like to tick 30 species every time I go out and with darkness descending fast and just 20 yards from the car with only 28, I didn't think I would make it. But on the small pond in the corner of the field were a pair of mallards and a moorhen.

 

[John N]

Small flock of Siskin over Baggeridge this morning, and six Bullfinch.. Where did see Greenshank?

 

[Sedgley]

Where did see Greenshank?

Right at the bottom of Penn Common as you cross the stream into Red Lane. The bird flew round in a wide circle. I started a thread on the bird identification category after advice. It certainly seems it was possible that it was a greenshank. You haven't seen one have you John?

 

[John N]

You haven't seen one have you John?

Unfortunately no.It is late, but certainly possible. I have seen Kingfisher in the exact spot you are talking about,also in the summer I saw snipe by the small pool at the top end of red lane in the field by the farm. Also in the past I have seen Merlin flying down the middle of red lane about 4ft above the tarmac. Good luck John.

 

[Sedgley]

I have been down Red Lane again today. (A report will be following shortly). There was a grey heron the pool at the top, plus the resident moorhen. Recently there has been 1/2 pair of mallards on there, certainly in the afternoon.

 

[Sedgley]

Short afternoon session up to dark. Very cold again, but dry. And by the time I walked from Gospel End Village all the way to the outskirts of Wolverhampton and back, even the cold was no problem. What better way to keep fit than to be out birding. I feel like I have walked miles. Actually I have.

Logged 30 species, many of the usual suspects which rarely get mentions in despatches but are just as important as the others really. Wren, robin, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, starling - they all got a tick today.

Saw several bullfinches, one pair, two individual females, and three males together. Pretty common birds but I still find them riveting. I can watch them for as long as they stay visible. And I think the call of the bird is brilliant! Perhaps my favourite bird, certainly at the moment, although I do change quite often on that score.

On Penn Common spotted a pair of yellowhammers. Again, very pretty birds and always a pleasure to encounter. Finch-wise, apart from the bullfinch, just a single goldfinch and several small groups of greenfinches. Oh, and the ever reliable chaffinch, they pop up everywhere.

Came across a couple or so small ponds and one larger pool. Nothing out of the ordinary with the water birds ticked - one grey heron, maximum of 6 moorhen at any one time and 13 mallards, again maximum at one time.

Largest group of magpies was 22 birds. Also spotted carrion crow, jay and jackdaw.

 

[John N]

Nice report. Keep them coming.Anything over the 7 corn fields?

 

[Sedgley]

Thanks John, I will do.

I didn't walk across the cornfields. At the bottom of the lane I went across the Common and as far as the A449. That was the area of Wolverhampton I was referring to, hence the comment about walking miles.

Do you see much in the cornfields area?

 

[Tim Hall]

Grew up in Wall Heath, and still visit Himley/ Baggeridge occasionally when visiting parents. The alders near the small pools there used to be reliable for Redpoll in winter, are they still around? Always enjoy a good blow over Kinver Edge. In 2001, when my birding had been curtailed by Foot and Mouth and moving house, saw my only Crossbills of the year on Dec 30th, in flight along the Edge.

 

[John N]

Hi,Sedgley,I havn't been over the 7 cornfields lately,and have only heard reports about the birds you are seeing.


Tim.The Alders by the small pools are still a favourite with both Redpoll and Siskin and Lesser spotted Woodpeckers are seen at Baggeridge, especially in Spring.

 

[Tim Hall]

Good news. Saw my 1st Lesser pecker in my parents apple tree in Wall Heath, Boxing Day 1996, I think. It was during a very cold spell. We realised that there was a small population in the area, but have never tracked one down in the woods there (yet!).

 

[Sedgley]

Tim, the last time I visited Cardiff was to see Wolves win the play-off final and make the Premiership. :-O

The Baggeridge / Himley area is a nice one to walk through. Gets a bit busy in the summer, but even then a slight detour from the well worn paths and you are in peace and quiet.

John, I saw a lesser spotted woodpecker earlier in the year in Whites Wood. Do you go that far when you visit Baggeridge? It's quite good for tits and a walk through there usually throws up 4 species.

 

[John N]

Tim, the last time I visited Cardiff was to see Wolves win the play-off final and make the Premiership. :-O

Those were the days. Hope we will be going to cardiff again. When I go to Baggeridge I nearly always walk through Whites Wood,past the pools and right down the side of Himley golf course. You can sometimes here Tawnys in the wood even in daylight and often see Kingfisher on Spring pool.

 

[Tim Hall]

My mother makes a speciality of being the only one in any group to miss that kingfisher!

 

[Sedgley]

Those were the days. Hope we will be going to cardiff again. When I go to Baggeridge I nearly always walk through Whites Wood,past the pools and right down the side of Himley golf course. You can sometimes here Tawnys in the wood even in daylight and often see Kingfisher on Spring pool.

Well, that's exactly the way I go too! Fancy that! In fact I did that route today while my wife was visiting her parents who live on the Straits estate. A report will follow, just got some other things to do first.

 

[Sedgley]

My mother makes a speciality of being the only one in any group to miss that kingfisher!

I missed it today. :storm: