In and around South Staffordshire. (1 Viewer)

[Silver Ether]

Just been having a tidy round in the garden and down the drive ... we seem to get every bit of litter going.:C

but had a good time with a Buzzard flying over the Wrens Nest, flock of Long Tailed Tits flew across the bottom of the garden. Blue Tits on the feeder. Collared doves and House Sparrows on the bird table. Starlings on chimmney a few doors away. Black Birds on the grass and Crows on the tower of silence ... its what my fella calls the carport roof where I throw food for the Crows. He saw the Wrens Nest Perigrine this morning from the fromt room window. :t:

 

[Sedgley]

At Baggeridge this afternoon, no sign of the waxwings though.

Peregrine on the chimney at the brickworks, here is a video of it: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZrdLgcCxs&feature=channel_page

Also a raven in flight. The bird was high in the sky beyond the perimeter of the country park. It was flying from the Red lane to Straits area and looked to be keeping its height so wasn't intending to drop down for the time I saw it.

 

[John N]

Great video of the Peregrine Sedgley,it was a pity you didn't get one of the waxwings, they were so close but this was the only shot I managed to get.

 

[Sedgley]

Excellent photograph John. I did see the apples though but no waxwing.

Maybe they will return, it was very busy today.

 

[Silver Ether]

Well I didn't see waxwings or perigrine:-C But we did see a wonderful Tree Creeper, 3 fab Common Buzzards and we heard a Raven

Nice photo John ...:t:

 

[Sedgley]

I went back to the Kinver area and the raven are still there. I know they are not rare birds but I'm always cautious about naming exact spots when it comes to potential breeding sites. It's best to be careful I think.

 

[Silver Ether]

I went back to the Kinver area and the raven are still there. I know they are not rare birds but I'm always cautious about naming exact spots when it comes to potential breeding sites. It's best to be careful I think.

I agree.. and while it may not be rare now , it always could become rare.

 

[Silver Ether]

High Gate Common... a fair number of Stone Chats, also lots of
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches. Some massive Crows , they were Crows I thought at first they could be ravens. Wrens and Robins... a possible sighting of a Red Poll but not 100%. We also saw the most magnificent Common Buzzard in a tree at the road side and would you belive it a big lorry behind me so I couldn't stop... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:C

Then took the kids to the Baggeridge play area :-O I had alternative reasons. I watched for the waxwing for 45 mins .... it was cold brrr. I saw a lot of Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Green Finch, Gold Finch, Chaffinches but no waxwings.. Something spooked a large flock of Black Headed Gulls towards the chimmny stack but not able to pick up on anything.
But I did see m/f two Bullfinch and thats great not seen any for ages.:t:

 

[Sedgley]

A very happy 2009 to everyone. Started the year off with a visit to Baggeridge Country Park. I've done a video which you can view via the video playlist in my signature.

Highlights were:
greenfinch flock of c.20
green woodpecker feeding on brickworks chimney about 2/3 of the way up
tawny owl in Whites Wood
little grebe on Spring Pool
Siskin flock of c.30
kingfisher catching a small silver fish from the Upper Wishing Pool

Didn't count my birds last year, intend to in 2009. So that's 29 to start me off.

 

[Silver Ether]

Gosh Sedgley we must have been by passing each other as I was there arounf the same time.

I started of at Bag Pool with my fella and we saw Robins and Goldfinch he went back to the Bongo while I headed for Whites Wood spotting a Kestral on the concrete road, several Black Bird, Nuthatches, Blue Tits, Green Finches and a Wren The Tawny was in residence too. The only things on the pools for me were Black Headed Gulls, Mallards and Coots.

So with all the regulars added in I got 18 today.

I did start of well with my super bird list book last January but sort of got lost around August, up till then I had 95 different types with the Scottish hols giving me 12 new ones but after then ... not sure how I got tangled in the wood maybe the forageing got in the way :-O so will try harder this year ...

GOOD NEW YEAR ALLB

 

[Sedgley]

Short walk along the Staffs/Worcs canal from Stewponey to the Stour confluence with Smestow Brook.

Lesser spotted woodpecker - single bird in flight. Well pleased with that one.
Great spotted woodpecker - male on tree.
Green woodpecker - 3 sightings of single bird.
Coal tit - in tree.
Goldcrest - several sightings of single bird.

 

[Silver Ether]

Well that was quite a wander ... we headed of for Himley this morning.
On the lake were Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Coots, Black Headed Gulls.

In the woods we saw Blue Tits, Great Tits, Rooks, Jackdaws. Two Common Buzzard over head. Robins and Long Tailed Tits, best sighting was a
Song Thrush by the Hall.

After picnic the boys wanted to go to play area at Baggeridge .. fine by me o
went along the Wombourne road to the island and as we turned towards Baggers I saw a Common Buzzared in the field on the left was able to pull over and have a good look then we saw Field Fairs 30+:t:Onto Baggeridge.

And all the usual litter critters and some Siskin mixed with the Green finches... and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker by the play area.
So 21 today:t:

 

[Sedgley]

Baggeridge Country Park today. Birds seen included: siskin, bullfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, kestrel, lesser black-backed gull (in flight 5,1), little grebe (Spring Pool), tawny owl (Whites Wood), mistle thrush.

Total for the year - 38, total for Baggeridge - 37. I'm taking Baggeridge as my main patch this year and hoping to crack the 100. Would be interesting to see how others are getting on, not to compete but to compare.

John, here's the direct link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OcqHh8AA0QU&feature=channel_page

And if anyone is on facebook, add me. Type in Stewart Bloor.

 

[Silver Ether]

Looks like we shall be bumping into each other ...

I can be a friend on Face Book ... even though I only pop in now and then.

Looks like we got a bird watching gang ...:-O

 

[Roger P]

Staffs Worcs Canal

This is my local spot Sedgley - I'm pleased to have seen one lesser spot in the last 14 years - so well done, I'm quite (actually extremely!!) envious.

Does anybody know what organisation has put up the bat boxes along the canal?

Roger

 

[Sedgley]

I've also walked along the area a fair few times and I've always thought it was good for a lsw, but never seen one until now. I was really pleased and still am with the sighting.

There is a dead (and partially eaten) deer between the canal and the Stour. I'm not much into deer but I think it's either a muntjac (most likely) or a Chinese water deer (not likely). It's not easily recognisable as a fox or rats (or boh) have been having a feast, and probably magpies and carrion crows as well.

Baggeridge Country Park - up to 39 with song thrush and redwing, both seen on Lydiates Hill. Usual tawny roost empty but did find a bird in a holly tree that looked very much the same bird.

 

[Sedgley]

Baggeridge list up to 43 with starling and house sparrow added - amazing how common birds can be so elusive at times. Also added a single great black-backed gul in flight and lapwing - 4 birds in flight over the Bag Pool and later on a single bird in flight over Whites Wood.

 

[Silver Ether]

Baggeridge today a looooong walk and it was great if a little quiet on the bird front. I spotted 20 different types and two new for the year count bringing me to 27.

The one spotted new was the Little Grebe on Lower Wishing Pool. I saw two Nuthatches on the farm track where the friendly Robin is not seen them there before. There werea also several sightings of Wrens along here and the Wode House track. A fair number of Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits Good flock of Gold Finches and Siskin at Bag Pool. Tawny was in his usual tree.

 

[Sedgley]

A little grebe on the lower wishing pool? What was it doing, ice skating? :t:

 

[John N]

Only 25 birds seen at Baggeridge this year so far,but I have not been down to the pools that are not iced over yet so I have no Baggeridge water birds . Plus I missed Lapwing today by about 2 minutes. Will have to try harder.:C