In and around South Staffordshire. (6 Viewers)

[Linwolf]

Hi Sedgley,

I often read your posts with interest, so thanks for all your info.

I would really like to see if I could spot the Tawny Owl. You mention Whites Wood and the cavity tree. Could you explain where this is in relation to the main car park. I know Baggeridge a bit but I'm not familiar with the place names in the park.

Also what would be the best time to spot him?

Many thanks.

 

[Sedgley]

March 22 2007

A fishing session on the Staffs/Worcs Canal near Wombourne. The area I set up in was not particularly good for birding as it had very limited views, so when I reached 26 I was pleasantly surprised. It just goes to show what is around when we look.

A couple of kingfisher sightings, one had a small fish in its beak and flew to an overhanging tree branch, where it stayed for a few seconds. Only other water birds on the canal were mallard and moorhen, although a grey heron did fly overhead at one point.

Two flocks of fieldfare flew overhead, numbering c.10 and c.15. Also saw blackbird, song thrush.

Had a pair of robin in the hedgerow behind me, and I kept feeding them maggots. When I wasn't as regular as they liked, they came and helped themselves. This is common practice when you are out fishing, robins have certainly latched on to men sitting by the side of water knowing that it means easy food.

Other birds seen included: goldcrest, common buzzard, jay, stock dove.

Linwolf, thanks for your kind words. I have sent you a pm, with directions etc.

 

[Silver Ether]

Well my local patch wa very local today ... the garden ... I was housebound...
Nevermind while outside repotting herbs I spotted two Greenfinches and I am delighted as they have not been around for a couple of years, we used to get a lot. A Crow came down for some pieces of chicken of the roof. spotted Robins and 1 Wren three Cock Blackbirds and two Lady Blackbirds and I think a teenager ... one of last years.. Magpies and Gulls A Heron flew over .. Great Tits in the tree next door. Blue Tits looking at our nest box. Collored doves and bleddy wood pigeons...grrr and some lovey cheeky Sparrows .. about 7.
I could hear starlings but not seen and I could here birds of prey but thats cheating as a neighbour keeps them ... I believe ...
So not bad .... :hippy: considering I live in quite a noisy up area ...

 

[Sedgley]

March 23 2007

Visited Himley Plantation this morning for a couple of hours walk around the Woodland Trust site near the village of Himley in South Staffordshire.

Lots of woodpeckers drumming, and saw both great spotted woodpecker and green woodpecker. Also two sightings each of treecreeper and nuthatch.

Not in the wood itself, but in a hedge in an adjacent field saw a yellowhammer. It's my first of the year, which I find amazing really considering how common they are. But if I haven't seen one, then I haven't seen one. Until today that is, which takes me to 84.

Tit species seen: blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, coal tit. There was even a male mallard on the pool/swamp area in the wood, which was looking quite lost in the murky, muddy waters.

Other birds seen included: jay, mistle thrush, common buzzard.

 

[Sedgley]

March 24 2007

An afternoon on the Staffs/Worcs Canal near Wombourne in South Staffordshire. The recent long tailed tit's nest that I discovered being constructed is now complete but no sign of activity around the nest.

A pair of mute swan recently seen nest building are still in the area, and the female is now sitting the nest. And on the subject of nest building, saw a long tailed tit with materials in its beak.

A skylark was singing high in the sky in adjacent fields and lots of other bird song to be heard including a brief chiffchaff, although I didn't see the bird.

 

[Linwolf]

Thanks for the directions they were spot on. Went down on Saturday afternoon and there he was sitting in the tree. Had a great view, many thanks.

Would he (I'm assuming 'he' of course) use this roost more or less permanently or would this pattern change when he is helping raising young?

Cheers.

 

[John N]

Only had time for a quick trip to Baggeridge this morning. However I had a perfect view of the Grey phase Tawny owl in Lydiates. It was in the same place as it was last year in what I call the front of the tree. There were the usual species of tits in Whites wood including the now regular Marsh tit. The Tawny in the cavity had gone AWOL, but a Nuthatch was busily mudding up a hole in a nearby tree. It made my morning when I was returning to the main car park when I had very good views of a female Lesser spotted Woodpecker behind the substation.

Glad you saw the owl yesterday linwolf.

 

[Silver Ether]

Not long got back from Baggeridge grrrrrrrrr swearing Kids folks throwing litter in the undergrowth just after I had picked a lot up ,,, and he had just passed a bin .... breathe... and chill I saw 19 different species today and they included the Marsh Tit I think Yellow Wagtails down by the pools. Greater Spotted Woodpeckers two of them in Whites Wood the Tawny was there then ....:t: not bad... but still no Lydiats birds ... I must be blind ...
oh is it my imagination, does it look like the trees and ivy is being pulled about round there as I could not get up the path that I usually use?

oooh nearly forgot ... Blue Tits nesting in the box in the little memory garden above the bench ... sat ages watching them take building materials in. Also Canada Goose sitting on a nest on pool at the bottom of Jacobs Steps can see if there are eggs there or is she is just sitting building the nest around her.

 

[Sedgley]

March 25 2007

An afternoon walk down Red Lane, then on to Penn Common, returning back to the car via the fields below Gospel End Village. It's a walk I have done many times, although not that much this year. Ticked 22 species.

A pair of moorhen on the top pond, along with a pair of mallard feeding in the margins.

Lots of wood pigeon around, and 3 sightings of stock dove - a pair and 2 single birds. I usually see them at the bottom of the lane near the Common, but there was a bird right at the top of the lane today.

A pair of goldfinch in a tree on the Common, including one bird singing. Only other finch seen was chaffinch. A male pheasant on the ridge near Red Lane Farm and a male yellowhammer in a tree on the Common.

Glad you saw the owl Linwolf. As for how long it will be there, it's difficult to say. Enjoy it while you can.

John, I told you that you were a lsw magnet. I need to follow you around, it's the one resident bird that eludes me over Baggeridge.

Silver Ether, are you sure that you're looking in the right tree on Lydiates Hill? Have you seen the stick on the path? If so, keep searching, it is there more often than not, and the last time I saw it, it was an even better view than previously. Regarding the wagtails - not questioning your id, but just clarifying, were they yellow wagtails or grey wagtails?

 

[Silver Ether]

coooeeee at last I have seen the Lydiates Tawny with the help of Sedgley ... we met today ... and now he will see how slow I am a spotting creatures... (o)< I went down to the pools after leaving you Sedgley and saw the grey wagtails and sat studying for a while and definatily saw a yellow one yesterday...
I have had a brill day went to the Bratch, Worfield, Badger and back to Baggeridege .. the most fantastic thing I saw were Hares ... five of them all chasing around in a field ... fantastic...
Ticked 23 different species altogether that includes the Tawny with help and a treecreeper thanks Sedgley ... also got Yellow hammers and a Shovler that are new to me ... oh can anyone tell me what the proper name of the Jemima Puddle ducks are and the male ...

 

[Sedgley]

March 26 2007

A late morning walk around Whites Wood / Baggeridge, that because of the nice weather, meant I stayed out longer than I intended to. I was thinking about miss spent youth, and thought that in my case it has extended well into adult life as well. If I add up all the time I spend doing birding and fishing alone, and just make the minimum wage, I could have retired to the Bahamas by now.

The grey plumage tawny owl is still there in the Lydiates Hill tree, but the Whites Wood cavity tree bird was missing. I walked past twice, with a couple of hours in between, and it was absent on both occasions.

Numerous chiffchaff singing in Whites Wood and elsewhere. A pair of grey wagtail in the area between the waterfall and the reed bed at the head of the Island Pool. I spent some time watching them, but no sight of the water rail, which I haven't seen for some time now.

Female bullfinch calling in Whites Wood, other birds seen included: stock dove, redwing, coal tit, mistle thrush, treecreeper.

PS. Nice to meet you too Siver Ether. The resident ducks are mallard. Where was the shoveler?

 

[Silver Ether]

oops sorry ... I did say I had been about today it was at ... Worfield ... I have a picture but not good enough to post...

 

[Sedgley]

March 27 2007

Took my eldest daughter to work this morning in Tipton and so decided to visit Sheepwash Nature Reserve while I was there. It was very foggy and visibility wasn't that good, but I was glad that I went.

Saw a first winter kittiwake so was really pleased with that, which take me to 85 local birds so far this year. And I was nearly put off by the fog and didn't go!

The bird was on the exposed sandbanks by the edge of the main pool in the corner by the low island and the River Tame at 9.15 am. It was with 5 black headed gull, but then entered the water (flew very briefly) and spent the rest of my time there on the surface of the pool. I watched it for 30 minutes and as I was leaving (10.30 am) it was still there on the surface.

A single sand martin feeding over the pool, first seen at 9.10 am. Also a single kingfisher in flight across the water. A total of 6 goosander (5 females, 1 male) were on the pool and a solitary female ruddy duck.

Other birds seen ncluded: reed bunting, grey wagtail, male bullfinch, herring gull, chiffchaff.

 

[Silver Ether]

:hi:
I had a bonus walk at Baggeridge as the tot I was looking after today didn`t come as poorly ... poor mite ... Still on the bright side I got to see a Mistle Thrush, twice, a lone Jay twice then a pair. Grey wagtails again. :bounce: Lydiates. Grey Tawny and the Tawny in Whites Wood was there .. looking rather regal too. Lots of the little regulars and the Longtailed Tits

I did get an unusual start... I had just left the car and was walking round by the arena sorting out all the bits in my pockets, getting like a 10 year old lad ... when a Common Buzzard took off being chased by a Carrian Crow how come the camera strap always get tangled when you least want it to ... Oh well :hippy:

 

[Silver Ether]

:bounce: Littleun and I walked from the Stew Pony to Prestwood Bridge this morning and not bad considering the pushchair wheels make a noise ...

Spotted a Nuthatch shouting and that was before we got to the tow path...
As soon as we were onto the path we spotted a Mistle Thrush appeared and we saw her several times. lots of Blue/Great Tits. Robins seemed to be every where. A couple of Wrens put in darting apperences. The Mallards and Canada Geese as usual ...A lovely Heron flying and in the water... Two pairs of Common Buzzard and a couple of Long Tailed Tits ...


A few new pics ... if you got nothing to do
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90981495@N00/

 

[Sedgley]

March 28 2007

The first day of a fishing trip to a Staffordshire gravel pit. Arrived late in the afternoon so limited birding.

The water birds have been mostly the common resident species on my two previous visits this year, but two male shoveler arrived at 5.15 pm. Half an hour later a male goldeneye appeared on the pit. It was very active, moving around and diving, and remained until dark at least. And to complete the ducks, a male gadwall was seen briefly on an adjacent gravel pit.

The oystercatcher (2 birds) were also seen later on in the day. They are very noisy and so even if I don't see them I certainly hear them. Other birds seen included: sand martin c.8, kingfisher, reed bunting, grey heron.

 

[Sedgley]

March 29 2007

A full day on the Staffordshire gravel pit, in fact the complete 24 hour period from midnight to midnight.

The morning started with c.15 sand martin, this grew to c.30, then c.40 and finally by evening c.80 birds. They are certainly here in numbers now.

The male goldeneye was still on the pit at first light and stayed all day. The oystercatcher were frequent visitors to the islands, most seen at one time were 3 birds. They were calling well up to midnight.

Where I had previously seen a pair of willow tits excavating a nest site there is now a magpie nest just a couple of feet above the tree stump. I wasn't there to witness what happened but it's highly likely that the magpie intrusion deterred the tits.

Other birds seen included: chiffchaff, pair of bullfinch, reed bunting, great crested grebe.

 

[Sedgley]

March 30 2007

Final day on the Staffordshire gravel pit, in fact left by mid-morning so just a short birding opportunity.

Lots of canada goose on the pit, they are resident in numbers, today a pair of grey lag goose were around. Also saw a little grebe, way out in open water as it was making its way from an island to a red bed. I don't see many little grebe on the water, but they are there and occasionally one presents itself.

The conditions were damp and the c.30 sand martin were very low over the water feeding. I had previously noticed a sickly looking black headed gull on an island. The carcass is now being eaten by carrion crow.

Other bids seen included: reed bunting, cormorant, goldcrest, bullfinch.

 

[Sedgley]

March 31 2007

A couple or so free hours this morning so decided to visit Cuckoo Bank near Burntwood, Staffordshire. With just two hours in the field, I concentrated on the top section.

I went specifically to see if I could see my first grey partridge of the year, and I wasn't disappointed as within 10 minutes of being there, a pair of birds were flushed from the first crop field. That took me to 86 for the year.

And 20 minutes later I was up to 87 when I added golden plover. I had noticed a group of about 20 birds land in the second field, so I edged along to get a better look. Well, better look I did, and not only quality but quantity too, as there were large numbers. It was difficult to count due to crops in the field, but when they rose I did a quick estimate of c.250 before the disappeared over the ridge.

There were skylark everywhere - on posts, in fields, singing in the air. I don't think that there was ever a single second when a bird wasn't singing. Absolutely brilliant and I loved it.

Other birds seen included: lapwing, meadow pipit, jay.

 

[Silver Ether]

April 1 and the a pair of Jays and Greater Spotted Woodpecker had fun with me I went to Himley Plantation for a couple of hours. I went in via the railway track at the back of Sandiacre Garden Centre...
There were quite a few manic dogs with their owners about and one I found quite aggressive ... the dog that is. :eek!:
Any hoooo I saw the usual Robins, Great Tits ,Blackbirdsetc. I was struck by the fact that not many Blue Tits seemed to be around...

But I did have a great time watching a pair of Jays. They were very lively and for a change I was able to see them sitting still for a while... My binocculars skills seem to be improvingThey are really lovely birds, the blue is very pleasing.

Also spotted a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and was able to watch him for a while even though I did have to do a lot of following. He wasn`t drumming at the time I was watching him but I did hear him when I was back up by the car.

I intend to walk from the Stew Pony to Kinver tomorrow not walked along there before ... is there anything that I should watch out for? ...