In and around South Staffordshire. (1 Viewer)

[John N]

Here's a video from Red Lane: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EgVWZphCWxo&feature=channel_page

The pair of bullfinch still there by the pond. The bottom field on the right had 6 meadow pipit and 2 mistle thrush on it. Beyond the brook, 4 stock dove in flight.

Enjoyed the video. Especially after all the hardships you went through to capture it.Wives don't understand do they? I am certain I had flu on Monday but luckily it cleared up for Tuesdays football match.Only saw the usual birds at Baggeridge today when most of the action seemed to be near the feeding station. No sign of the Peregrine this morning.

 

[Silver Ether]

Enjoyed the video. Especially after all the hardships you went through to capture it.Wives don't understand do they? I am certain I had flu on Monday but luckily it cleared up for Tuesdays football match.Only saw the usual birds at Baggeridge today when most of the action seemed to be near the feeding station. No sign of the Peregrine this morning.

What ... not the one day flu.... thats bad... poor wife having to put up with that to put
:eek!::eek!:
My outing today was Saltwells and managed to plant the snow drops I been trying to plant for the last month.
So what did I see? a fantastic pair of Jays near the car park they go into someones garden... I have a question ... They weren't making the sqwaking sounds I assosiate with Jays ... the sound was much more melodic so googled and all I can find is the sqwaking sound ... did I imagine it or perhaps my fairy ears were switched on. Also a good number of Great Tits and Long Tailed Tits, few Chaffinches. Couple of Robins. Lots of Magpies but not so many Crows. A Heron that was into hide and seek, everytime I got close he was of leaving me alone with the prehistoric call in the air. He must have been taking to a Green Woodpecker that just kept out of camera reach nearly all the time I was there. A flock of brown things ... shrugs could have been anything :-O Stonchat was heard but not seen as was a Common Buzzard.

Fingers crossed for Baggeridge tomorrow.

 

[Sedgley]

Had a walk around Fens Pool today. Most of the pool was frozen but a male goldeneye and male shoveler were on the open bit. Lots of gulls on the ice - mostly black headed gull, but also several lesser black-backed gull and the odd herring gull.

First birding session due to the flu for 10 days. And it was the real thing this time - and I lost 11lb to prove it. :eek!:

 

[Silver Ether]

Now you see John thats what you call flu ... I hope your running on all cylindars soon Sedgley

I have had two Coal Tits and a Wren in the garden today as well as the regulars, the coal tits are getting more regular ...

 

[John N]

Quick walk over Baggeridge today, It was very icy and again only the usual birds on and by the feeding station . 2 Raven fled across the carpark.

 

[Silver Ether]

Sunday I was at High Gate Common... A pair of Jays, flock of Chaffinches a lovely Mistle ThrushRobins, a lot of Black Birds in a group ... A good flock of Long Tailed Tits20ish. and a Wren.

Coupleof Pied Wagtails by the Sedgley Co-op

Baggeridge today , flushed a Kestral at the top of Jacobs Ladder. Blue Tits by the Upper Wishing Pool. roound by the reed beds toward Bag Pool Long Tailed Tits and Chaffinches The usual on Bag Pool but in the cleared area I watched a Grey Wagtail for ages dipping in and out the stream there... so dainty.
Standing chatting on the car park a Kestral was pointed out as he hovered looking for a morning snack...

Off Topic but does anyone know any ghost tales about High Gate or any deaths that have happened there please. Should have asked this morning but I was in a bit of a rush

 

[John N]

Did not see any unusual birds at Baggeridge today,but I did see 2 BirdForum members Silver Ether and later on Sedgley. So in the end I had a very enjoyable morning.

 

[Silver Ether]

Did not see any unusual birds at Baggeridge today,but I did see 2 BirdForum members Silver Ether and later on Sedgley. So in the end I had a very enjoyable morning.

We always have a lovely time at Baggeridge ... it's like a mini hoilday
:-O

 

[Sedgley]

Baggeridge - tawny owl, nuthatch in Whites wood, siskin, goldfinch, greenfinch by visitor's centre, 4 mistle thrush on field alongside miners path.

Penn Common - 4 bullfinch, mistle thrush, coal tit, fieldfare, goldfinch, pied wagtail, house sparrow.

 

[Silver Ether]

Wrensnest yesterday afternoon ,,, ew was it muddy. Saw usual type of small birds Tits, Robins Blackies. and I saw what I hoped for if it was only a swift veiw of a Perigrine. Seen him a few times now. I saw him the afternoon before too from the front room window creating terror.

 

[Sedgley]

Baggeridge Country Park today - did a video which you can watch here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sZVZJQij5oQ&feature=channel_page

Birds seen included the tawny owl in Whites Wood, nuthatch, greenfinch, bullfinch, goldfinch, coal tit and a herring gull in flight.

Heard a raven call when I was by the Spring pool but didn't get to see it.

 

[Silver Ether]

That was lovely Sedgley:t:

I went for a really good walk yesterday round Baggeridge, from the carpark I headed up the drive towards Gospel End Common. I saw bedfore even getting as far as the overspill parking ... a Gold Crest and a Tree CreeperSeveral Blue Tits in the are as well as Black Birds.
The common was very quite only spotted a single RobinAlong the farm track Crows, Magpies, Pied Wagtail x2, Chaffiches x 6, Great Tits x 2. A Common Buzzard was flying around in the field on the left.

The very friendly little Robin was very hungry as I had him in my hand for ages...

Flock of Long Tailed Titsas I approached the juction to turn into the Wode House track, before turning I saw the buzzard again but this time it was 2 Common Buzzard causing mayhem being mobbed by crows, maggies and wood pigeons.
Wode House track was very quite apart from a single Wren and the calling from the buzzards.
Turning towards Spring Pool I saw the Grey Wagtail and several Chaffinches and the usual water birds including the Heron

Turned towards Whites Wood via the Burning Field... Nuthatches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Coal Tit and the wonderful Tawny in the wood

 

[Sedgley]

Out of our area unfortunately, but had a close encounter with a merlin. It flew within a metre of me as I sat on the banks of the River Dove in Derbyshire fishing. Brilliant!

Thanks SE, appreciated.

 

[Silver Ether]

Monday went over to Baggeridge the usual we fellas and a Heron on Spring Pool..
Saltwells on Tuesday Green Woodpecker, robins and assorted tits, nice flock of Chaffinches and a Heron there too.
In and around Bridgnorth today Mallareds, Manderine, Grey Lag Geese. Black Headed Gulls and an assortment of nameless ducks all the bridge ... On the way in a wonderful Kestral flew across in front of us. spotted 3 Common Buzzareds in different places. Quite a few Phesent around ... don't they know they should hide at this time of yearFlock of Rooks 20ish and some Jackdaws
Hope your all having fun and I like the new blue :t:

 

[Silver Ether]

Cannock Chase... Lea Valley Pit area. A couple of Blue Tits and a few Chaffinches with the mighty Crows and a couple of Jays single Yellow Hammer... but on the way there passing a field near an Island that had signs for Lollies Farm on it there was a large flock of mixed Red Wing and Field Fairs with a couple of Mistle Thrush ...

 

[Sedgley]

Spent some time observing a pair of raven in the Kinver area. They could well be pairing up for the breeding season so will definitely be back to follow their progress, which will hopefully be positive.

 

[Silver Ether]

ok not Stafforshire but ... On the return journey from Birmingham airport on the M42 Solihull area I spotted two Red Kites ...

 

[savwaves]

Had a great hour & half birding on my bike this afternoon from Penn to Seisdon & back.
A flock of 15 Fieldfare in a field near Lower Penn, a mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing on route to Trysull with 7 Lapwing in the next field.
Also 2 sitting Buzzard, a hunting Kestrel, 2 standing Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Great Tit.
Winter wonderland!

 

[Sedgley]

Went over Turls Hill for the first time in ages. Single common buzzard, goldcrest and a single stock dove in with 70 wood pigeon, so it pays to scan all flocks of birds.
A single lesser black-backed gull in flight and bullfinch, goldfinch, greenfinch.

 

[John N]

3 Waxwing feeding on apples by the model railway at Baggeridge country park at 1o-45am.