In and around South Staffordshire. (1 Viewer)

[Sedgley]

Found myself on the Birmingham Main Line Canal in Coseley again this morning. Three little grebe, one brief sighting but the other two were around for quite some time, mostly near far bank reeds but very active and giving excellent views.

Saw seven goldfinch, as per my last visit. Previously though the birds were in the direct area for some considerable time, this visit was just a fleeting glimpse as they flew overhead. Ony other finch species was chaffinch.

Tits seen were great tit, blue tit and long tailed tit.

Previously saw four species of gull. However on this trip just positively identified black headed gull, and although I did see other birds they were just too far away to identify. Birding can be like that sometimes!

 

[Sedgley]

My wife and youngest daughter did something today that I have never heard of before - Christmas food shopping. I was under the impression that food comes from the pantry, not a place called a supermarket, whatever that is. Anyway they assured me that it doesn't just appear and when they described queues, hustle and bustle and crowded aisles, I decided to give it a miss.

So I reached a compromise. I dropped them off at Morrisons in Bilston, collected them two hours later, and in the meantime went birding! Urban birding is funny, you certainly need a thick skin as you do get some funny looks. It's not for the sensitive person! Parking by Matalan and B&Q, I basically walked the paths of the industrial park and a small section of wasteland opposite. Hardly enough to get get the ornithological juices flowing for many, but better than pushing a trolley up and down past shelves of food any day of the week in my book!

Saw a male sparrowhawk, which was quite close as it flew along a hedge, turned and then flew back. This was on the wasteland the other side of the Black Country Spine Road.

Also on the wasteland were a group of greenfinch, estimated about 12. I did have good views but they were in dense bushes, and only when they flew away did I get a chance to have a rough count.

A couple of lesser black backed gull in amongst the many black headed gull around. One was perched on top of the Mecca bingo hall building, giving an excellent view and the other was at distance on a school playing field.

 

[andy_bloxwich]

Birds i have seen along the Wyrley and Essington canal just north of Bloxwich.Blackbird,Redwing,Magpie,Robin,Great tit,Blue tit,House sparrow,Seagulls,Pigeons,Big black crow things all in large numbers.Other birds include a large group(about 100) of Chaffinch and Yellowhammer,3 Dunnock,1 Jay,1 Greenfinch,small groups of Goldfinch,1 Treecreeper(first one for me),male Sparrowhawk,15 Skylark(another first),about 10 Wren,6 Long tailed tits,a pair of resident Stonechat,1 Swan and a couple of Moorhen.and 1 Heron.and 1 Pied wagtail.

 

[Sedgley]

Was in the area anyway so decided to take advantage of that by having a short walk around a small section of the Wodehouse estate just off the A449 near Wombourne. When I left Sedgley it was a clear day, but just a couple of miles down the road and it was like another world. The fog was so heavy and dense, the atmopshere was cold and depressing.

The stretch of fields/hedges that I walked is never prolific in terms of numbers of birds but today was down to bare bones (as Harry Redknapp would say). I think birds are just like us, when it's warm and the sun is shining they respond accordingly. But when it's not, they are like us too.

In fact only saw 6 species, and the only movement from any of them was when they flew away because I approached! Actually I may as well list them - blackbird, dunnock, robin, jay, wren, great tit.

But there's no such thing as a bad bird day and even if we do get disppointed, then we need to see the big picture. As I pulled away I saw a funeral procession. If we can get out and about then we should be thankful for that, as just the ability to walk around is a privilege that many don't have.

As I parked the car outside the house a grey wagtail flew from the street to a neighbour's roof. That's the first one I've seen from home, so that was nice.

 

[wolfbirder]

Hi sedge

Sorry you day get to see any Grey Partridge at Cuckoo Bank top fields. i was there on Sunday just gone had two possies of them, but only saw them briefly in flight. Pretty disappointed actually - it was quite birdless altho there were about 100 Fieldfare. I had hoped to see SE Owls that often over winter but none were seen.

If you get the chance you must get to Aqualate near newport - just off the A41. December there is a great Starling roost and marsh and willow tits plus commoner passerines from the single comfy hide. I can highly recommend it!

 

[Sedgley]

Hello Wolfbirder, I will get to see them one day. In fact I will keep returning so it will be down to perseverance if nothing else.

Aqualate is on my list of 'to visit' places. Unfortunately there are not enough days in the week to do everything that I want to do, and that's from someone who gets to bird most days, albeit for a short time. I don't know how the once a fortnight birders manage. :h?:

 

[Sedgley]

Just outside Stafford in the vicinity of the River Sow. Saw 30 species so was quite pleased with that in the time I was there.

Two stonechat were in the area, I saw the two first and then a single bird some time later, assuming it was one of the pair of course, otherwise there were 3.

A common buzzard was happily perched in a tree with a number of carrion crow, only when the bird flew off did three crows follow it and mob it until it made the next tree. Funnily enough, later on I saw a female sparrowhawk being mobbed in flight by three crows. To complete the birds of prey I saw a single kestrel, and no, it wasn't being attacked by three crows!

Two lapwing in flight overhead and a single grey wagtail by the river's edge. Also a great view of a pair of mistle thrush as they were eating berries on a bush.

 

[Sedgley]

If I had to declare my local patch then it would have to be Turls Hill, an area of meadows and woodland round the corner from where I live. It's not the sort of place that people would travel to, but it's local and even if only for the convenience factor, is a place I do need to visit more often. If it's a choice between Turls Hill or no birding then there isn't a choice really is there?

Had an hour over there this morning, highlight being four bullfinch (2 male, 2 female) in trees near the allotments. While I was watching them a dog walker came past and asked me what I was looking at, so I gave him my binoculars and he saw for himself. This is the sort of opportunity that we as birders should take hold of whenever possible, a sort of PR thing if you like, but something that will paint a positive image of the pastime that we all love.

Three goldfinch gave good views from the lane, in bushes on the left below the horse paddocks. Also a sparrowhawk flew from the fields on the right into the wooded area on Turls Hill itself.

Later on I was able to view the pied wagtail roost in Dudley Street, Wolverhampton after I came out of the Wolves game. The birds number several hundred and they are happily roosting away next to a whole range of bright Christmas lights, and also today with hundreds of shoppers passing by just a few feet below.

And on the Wolves/birds connection, I was hoping that we were going to roller the canaries today, but unfortunately it was a bit more border-line than that. Oh dear, I'd better get me coat... :eek!:

 

[Sedgley]

After church this morning, had an hour at Turls Hill. It does have the potential to be a good place, but due to its location, even if it had a full-time warden and team, it would still be an uphill battle. That's the problem with places like this that are surrounded by urban areas.

Saw three stock dove on the fields to the right of the lane, towards Tipton Road. Lots of wood pigeon and a pair of collared dove in Turls Street.

Single mistle thrush in trees below the horse paddocks near Queens Road and lots of blackbird everywhere.

All in flight, but saw three species of gull - black headed gull, lesser black backed gull and herring gull.

 

[Sedgley]

After church this morning ( I am the Minister of an Evangelical Church by the way) I was able to visit Turls Hill again for the third day on the trot, prior to lunch being served. It might be Christmas Day, but dogs still need walking, and when out you may as well take your binoculars. Well, that sounds like a good enough excuse to me anyway...

Just a 45 minute walk, down the lane, along the track to the allotments and back again. Saw 20 species, which shows how much is out there when you look, particularly in a place like Turls Hill where I have never seen another birder.

Single common buzzard, perched in a tree in the fields on the right of the lane near the brook. Flew off further into the meadow area as I walked past it. No other birds of prey seen, but whenever I spot a buzzard over there that certainly becomes the highlight.

Pair of mistle thrush in trees in the lane, as well as a pair of song thrush also in the same area. Lots of blackbird everywhere you looked along the hedge lines and a small group of redwing in flight over the meadows.

Lots of tits around, in order of numbers - great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit. Two great tits calling in bushes along the brook at the base of Turls Hill. Very spring-like day and the birds were responding accordingly.

Group of 9 greenfinch in a tree by the brook. Only other finch seen - chaffinch.

Top Christmas present was a Kowa 821 scope, stay-on case, eye-piece and tripod. Didn't take it out today but had a little play in the garden, watching wood pigeons in neighbouring trees. In fact it won't always come out with me but I am looking forward to using it very soon though as I am planning a trip to Cuckoo Bank this week.

Finally, I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas. And don't forget the REAL meaning of the festive season...

 

[Sedgley]

Fourth day on the trot that I've been to Turls Hill, although today was not by choie as it was a car that failed to start that brought me back this time. However, I'm certainly not complaining and even the 45 minutes I had were very enjoyable.

Highlight was a pair of common buzzard. I saw a single bird first, flying low from Tipton Road meadows into the wooded hill. On the return leg from the allotments, the bird (sure it was the same one) flew across the brook and landed in a tree below the horse paddocks towards Queens Road. There was also another bird calling in that area and a quick scan of the binoculars located that, and so seeing the pair today was great.

Three bullfinches seen (one male, two females) in the enclosed area by the allotments, feeding in low trees. Five goldfinch in tall trees in the lane. Only other finch was chaffinch.

One green woodpecker (not able to sex) flew from a tree in the lane in the direction of the horse paddocks. Briefly heard a woodpecker drumming on the wooded hill.

Very spring-like today, a pair of wren chasing each other round mating fashion at the top of the lane and the same with a pair of mistle thrush near the brook.

 

[Sedgley]

Still had car problems today, but it looks like it was just a battery and so got that sorted early on. It still means that my trip to Cuckoo Bank this week is doubtful though as it's set me back a couple of days, but managed to visit the more local Wodehouse/Baggeridge walk that I do quite often. First time out with my new toy as well - a Kowa 821 scope that I had for Christmas.

Just the one group of red legged partridge, consisting of nine birds. They were in the field beyond the ruins on the Penn side as you approach the ridge part of the walk. There are some lovely undulating fields in the area, unfortunately the birds were just beyond sight in a dip for most of the time I observed them, often just heads sticking up.

The walk is also good for mistle thrush, saw several birds today. Had extended views of three feeding in one of the fields that slopes down from the ridge. I managed to get a nice little spot in the copse and observe the birds for some time. This is where a scope comes into its own, as the birds were at some distance and with just binoculars I would have identified them as mistle thrushes but that would have been it, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy them as I did.

Several chaffinch all along the walk, with two linnet in with a group of c.12 near the A449 end of the path. No other finches seen.

Just the one common buzzard, a bird perched on a fence post towards the Wodehouse itself. Again, thanks to the scope I was able to appreciate the bird a lot more than with just binoculars. The scope will certainly make a massive difference to my birding that's for sure. And as I enjoy watching all birds, regardless of rarity value, then it will certainly do the job that I want it to.

 

[savwaves]

I have been without internet for a whole month, it's great getting back on-line to read all of your local reports!
Saw my first ever fieldfare today at Baggeridge, although the experience was ruined a bit when I stepped back instantly to get a better view and stood in dog mess.
Has anyone heard of any recent sightings of goshawks at Baggeridge? I know that a couple were seen last winter. Last week I saw a large hawk hunting near Bag Pool and I first thought it was a buzzard, but then noticed the long barred tail that sparrowhawks have. I had great views as it soared with straight wings towards the toposcope hill and screeched loudly.

 

[John N]

Hi Savwaves. Saw what could have bee male Goshawk yesterday over Baggeridge. Did not get a good look as I caught sight of it as it fled behind trees in Whites wood.Only thing that I can say for certain was Buzzard size with a long tail.

 

[Sedgley]

As well as birding I'm also a very keen angler and for the last couple of days (I did say 'very keen') I have been pitched up on the banks of the River Severn near Tewkesbury. Due to the type of angling that I do, which is targeting specimen sized fish, I usually have a lot of time on my hands waiting for bites, which is where the binoculars come in very handy! You could say that it is a case of 'killing two birds with one stone' whereby I get to do the two hobbies in my life that I have a passion for at the same time.

First day had a male sparrowhawk land in the tree opposite. They have super sharp vision though and the slightest move from me and it's off. Numbers of fieldfare in the area, all in flight.

As it got dark, for the first 2.5 hours was entertained by some very noisy barn owl in fields on the opposite side of the river. There were at least three birds, but even though I heard them I never saw them. The same with tawny owl, which I heard from a number of directions, at least two birds.

Day two was very wet and windy, with most birds that were flying anywhere other than with the wind almost on an impossible journey. It was sometimes a case of one wingbeat forward, two wingbeats back.

Had three lapwing high in the sky overhead, and lots of fieldfare in flight. Also a common buzzard that was really struggling to make headway.

Well done savwaves on your fieldfare and probable goshawk.

 

[Sedgley]

Went for a walk down the familiar Red Lane/Penn Common/Valley below Gospel End Village route at lunchtime today. It's a circular walk and one that I enjoy, hence the reason I do it so often. And that (enjoyment) has to be the most important factor when going birding.

Haven't seen many redpoll so far this winter but did so today. I was actually watching a group of 8 goldfinch in trees below the water works when I noticed at least one redpoll in the same area. I say 'at least' because they weren't there long, but certainly not more than a couple of birds that's for sure.

Lots of starling around, biggest flock was 66 birds feeding on fields near Westgate Farm. Also lots of fieldfare and redwing but not in large groups, more like a steady trickle of flocks in the 12-15 number.

Just one mistle thrush, in trees below the water works and also just a single common buzzard. It was initially on the ground in the last field on the right down Red Lane, then flying into a low tree where it remained for some minutes.

 

[Sedgley]

My final session of the year and with just limited time after church before it got dark, I visited Turls Hill which is around the corner. My recent reports from there have included buzzards, flocks of finches, mistle thrushes and woodpeckers. Well today I was thinking if someone had followed up on those reports and actually went along, they would think I had been making it all up.

The bids were very much in short supply. No buzzards at all, not even a distant one calling. The only finches were a few chaffinch. No mistle thrush, just a few blackbird along the hedge lines. Struggled to make 12 species, but do you know what? I still enjoyed being out there, and here's to another year of birding around the corner. My target is to have a blog entry for every day of the year! See you in 2007, and may you have a great New Year.

 

[John N]

Managed one final trip of 2006 today to Baggeridge.I saw Blue,Great.Coal and long tailed tits . There was a mixed flock of about 40 birds feeding on the alders near the Bagpool,which included Goldfinches, Redpoll and Siskin. The rest of the sightings included Black headed gulls,Moorhen ,Coot, Mallard and a Tawny Owl. I did not see many different species but like Stewart says,"I enjoyed it,I was out there" See you all in 2007 and wishing you all a Happy and Healthy new year.

 

[Sedgley]

January 1 2007

One of the advantages of being a non-drinker (no January 1 hangover for me!) is that I was up bright and early this morning to go fishing on the canal network in the Tipton area. And of course along go my binoculars too. It's always a challenge to see how many species you can spot while sitting in one place for an hour. I managed 21, so it just shows what's out there if you look hard enough.

Lots of black headed gull, as is usual on and around the Black Country canal system. A local factory roof was a popular spot for resting birds, 37 were the most seen at one time. A couple of lesser black-backed gull and a single common gull - all in flight overhead.

On the canal itself were the usual suspects - coot, moorhen, mallard, mute swan (2) and canada goose (7).

This afternoon went to see Wolves beat Barnsley, and combined with our friends from the down the road and their result at Southend, I left Molineux a very happy man. Walked back through Dudley Street, Wolverhampton to see the pied wagtail roost.

Walking from Molineux, the first three trees were packed with birds, with the fourth one having just a few. It's difficult to count, as the Christmas lights are still on in the trees (it looks odd seeing all those birds next to brightly coloured bulbs) but I did a guesstimate at 1,000 birds, which is the most I have seen there to date.

The other trees, working down Dudley Street, were all empty apart from the very last one (by Primark) which had a solitary wood pigeon in it.

 

[savwaves]

I stayed over for a party in Birmingham last night so decided to start the new year with a visit to the WMBC reserve Ladywalk (at Hams Hall Distribution Park).
This was my first visit and was well worth the effort as I got my first ever sighting of a water rail. Also present were reed buntings, marsh (or willow) tits, shovelers, wigeon, great spotted woodpeckers, cormorants.
On the way home there was a huge flock of black headed gulls above Spaghetti Junction which must have numbered a thousand birds.
Good to hear that redpoll are showing at Baggeridge, I will have to keep checking - they avoided me all last winter.