In and around South Staffordshire. (7 Viewers)

[Sedgley]

September 17 2007

Red Lane, Gospel End Village, Staffordshire

Moorhen. One adult and one juvenile on top pond. Due to difficult viewing access, it's hard to say how many young have been raised. The most I have seen so far is two though, but it's just good to see a successful brood.
Mistle thrush. Single bird in flight. It was a very big mistle thrush, I had to take a second look.
Sparrowhawk. In flight.
Grey wagtail. Two in flight over last field on the right at the bottom of the lane.
Common buzzard. Bird soaring over cornfields beyond the brook.
Possible sighting of a peregrine falcon. It has been a week since I saw the bird in the area, and it just seems unlikely that it would still be around. However, I had a brief glimpse of a bird that was a 'possible'. How I would have liked to have had just a few more seconds to view the bird, but it gathered up pace and flew as if it was focused on prey and in spite of searching the area I drew a blank.

 

[Silver Ether]

Been out a couple of times this week ...

Himley Hall grounds were quite lively with little birds...
Robins, Blue Tits, Wren, Blackbirds A pair of Buzzards flying over.
Crows and Rooks. Magpies. In a large tree by the lake just onto the mound... there were a lot of Green Finches and three Mistle Thrushes ... I did do a double check on them seeing as there were three together ... :t:

Canada Geese and Mallards on the lake.

Also been to Cottwall End Nature Reserve not the animal farm bit Saw a wonderful Buzzard quite low there could see him really clearly and a pair flying high. Black birds and Blue Tits also. Not been here before so as I was daft and forgot my staff I didn't wander far as I dont know know what its like, but will go back in spite of the litter.

And finally today ... Baggeridge .... Down through the meadow where there were rather a lot of Gold Finches a good sized flock. Round to the reed beds and a Kestral took of either from the ground or low from the trees flew along the reeds and sat on a branch poseing for me to get a look to make sure what he was... also saw a good flock of Long Tailed Tits here spotted them again on the concrete road a little time later.
Also in the count were two Wrens some Black Birds, Crows, Magpies, Wood Pigeons a Great Tit. I could hear buzzards but could not pick them up. On Bag Pool there were Mallards and Moorhens

So where shall I go tomorrow|=)|

 

[Sedgley]

September 18 2007

Red Lane, Gospel End Village, Staffordshire

Wood pigeon. Numerous adults and juveniles on fields.
Moorhen. One adult and two juveniles on pond at top of the lane.
Pheasant. Bird calling from beyond the ridge. It isn't a shooting area so birds aren't released.
Common buzzard. Calling bird flew tree at bottom of lane. Two very high birds soaring over lane joined 5 other birds high over the area NW of Sedgley.
Stock dove. At least five birds in trees along Penn Brook at bottom of lane.
Kestrel. Hunting bird over fields beyond Westgate Farm.
Sparrowhawk. Bird high in sky.

 

[Silver Ether]

Well I went of to Garden Land for some craft stuff and it took me ages to get there 8-P
First I got side tracked at the Bratch as I spotted a lot of Blue Tits so pulled into the carpark to watch them and there were mallard with still quite young chicks on the canal. Drove a bit further as far as errrrrrrrrr I know just past the Bell Pub another stop because of a pair of Buzzards also saw a couple of Black Birds and a Robin while there... bit further along the same stretch of road stopped as there was a Crow in the road refuseing to leave his lunch, couple of male Pheasents in the field along with Wood Pigeons a bit further along missed a chicken running around just before the juction by the Fox Pub then another stop within yards because a Sparrowhawk was hovering its self into a frenzy... then dropped ... I didn't see what he had but he did get fed then I was dive bombed by a flock of Long Tailed Tits ...:t: just spotted crows and magies on the return trip ... just as well or I might not have got home in time to do the tea8-P

do I get to count the chicken :-O

 

[Silver Ether]

I had a wander along teh canal by the Navigtion Pub today and saw quite a few Goldfinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits Two pairs of Buzzards flying high ... A single Buzzard with a large Buzzard sitting in a tree. Single Kestral hovering.

 

[Silver Ether]

Baggeridge again my fav... :t:

Big tree by Bag Pool very busy spot, Long Tailed Tits Great Tits, Magpies and Robins. Down by the Reed Beds via the Meadow and several Gold Finches.
A kestral flew low over the beds... also Robin, Great Tits and Blue Tits. Some very noisy Jackdaws on Lydiates Hill... A lot of magpies in the field that can be seen from the hill and more Long Tailed Tits or the same ones ... who can tell?

The same with the Green Woodpecker he/they are very active ...

 

[Sedgley]

September 19 2007

Red Lane, Gospel End Village, Staffordshire

Wood pigeon. Adults and juveniles.
Collared dove. Most seen at one time - 6
House martin. Single birds over fields.
Green woodpecker. Female bird on dead tree alongside Penn Brook at bottom of last field on the right.
Moorhen. Largest group yet on pond at top of lane - 2 adults and 3 juveniles.

 

[Sedgley]

September 20 2007

River Severn, near Upton, Worcestershire

Hobby. Bird flew across M5 motorway between junctions 7 and 8. Second hobby in recent days, both in the same general area.
House martin. Several feeding birds over and around river.
Swallow. Several feeding birds.
Cormorant. One in flight.
Jackdaw. In flight.
Mute swan. Two adults and two juveniles on river.

 

[Sedgley]

September 21 2007

River Severn, near Upton, Worcestershire

Mute swan. Two adults and two juveniles on river.
Grey heron. In flight.
Cormorant. Three in flight.
Stock dove. Two on fields.
Swallow. Several birds.
Lesser black-backed gull. Morning bird perched on the same telegraph pole.

 

[Sedgley]

September 22 2007

Sheepwash Nature Reserve, Tipton

Black headed gull. Several.
Mute swan. Two adults and two juveniles on pool.
Moorhen. Numerous adults and juveniles.
Little grebe. Several on lake.
Great crested grebe. Adults and juveniles on lake.
Cormorant. Three on island on lake.
Lesser black-backed gull. Two adults and one juvenile.
Ruddy duck. Male on lake.

 

[Sedgley]

September 23 2007

Red Lane, Gospel End Village

Lesser black-backed gull. One in flight.
Starling. About thirty noisy birds on the mast.
Moorhen. One adult and one juvenile seen on lane pond.
Collared dove. One bird in flight.
Black headed gull. Three in flight.

 

[Sedgley]

September 24 2007

Staffs/Worcs Canal near Wombourne

Mallard. One female on canal.
Kingfisher. Three sightings, could have been same bird. One sighting of a calling bird perched about twelve feet above the water on a branch.
Moorhen. Two on pool next to canal, one on the canal itself.
Wood pigeon. Several.
Black headed gull. Several battling strong wind.

 

[Sedgley]

September 25 2007

Sedgley Beacon

Common buzzard. Three birds flying in a NW direction. Two other sightings of single birds, also in flight.
Lesser black-backed gull. In flight.
Swallow. Single bird.
Meadow pipit. Very active and flighty group of passage birds in rough grass on the plateau and along the sides. Counted at least twenty two birds but probably more.
Kestrel. Bird hovering.
Goldfinch. One in flight near tower.

 

[Sedgley]

September 26 2007

River Severn, near Upton, Worcestershire

Mute swan. Two sightings on river - a pair and a single bird.
Raven. Single bird soaring over wood.
Common buzzard. Several single sightings, group of five soaring over wood.
Grey heron. In field.
Swallow. Several.
Jay. Calling bird landed briefly in tree before flying off again.
Great spotted woodpecker. Flew to tree.
Little owl. Three calling birds passed through at 10pm, and in spite of being able to use binoculars (full moon and cloudless sky) I was unable to see them.

 

[savwaves]

A large bird of prey was soaring very high above Himley this morning, getting mobbed by Jackdaws. It was only a silhouette. I first thought it may be a Goshawk but it seemed to have a slick flight and a distinct lack of 'fingers' on the tips of fairly slim wings, which suggested Peregrine. The tail was clearly longer than Buzzard but perhaps not long enough for Goshawk.

 

[Silver Ether]

oh exciting saveswaves... Isaw a lovely collection of thrush over there the other week.

I have an announcement to make .... drum roll......

HE'S BACK... well I say he could be a lass... the Golden Tawny is back in the broken tree at Baggeridge ... I saw him there this morning after hunting all over Lydiates Hill for the tawny I have heard the last few days... but no luck heard him while I was watching the golden one fluffed up like a ball...

Also spotted a very active Green Woodpecker on the Concrete road area.
Chaffinches, Long Tailed Tits, Robins. Blue and Great Tits all over. Blackbirds and Wrens by the Sparrow Copse.
Moor Hens, Coots and Mallards on Bag pool. Heron round at the Reed beds.
A Pair of fantastic Buzzard over by the Wode house estate.
Played chase along the farm track with a Jay A goodly number of Crows, Magpies and Wood Pigeons
Several Mistle Thrush in the field by the farm track with horses in. Starlings too. oh and a female Pheasent in the harvested field at theCrossroads that lead to Wombourne. Seen these yesterday and today
Sunday was 18 count and today Monday 14 count :t:

 

[Sedgley]

September 27 2007

River Severn, near Upton, Worcestershire

Mute swan. Two adults and two juveniles on river.
Cormorant. Two in flight.
Lesser black-backed gull. Several birds including the one that lands on the same telegraph pole every morning.
Great spotted woodpecker. Flew overhead calling.
Rook. Two birds in flight.
Linnet. Three calling birds in flight.
Common buzzard. Five soaring birds over nearby wood.

 

[Sedgley]

September 28 2007

Sedgley Beacon

Wood pigeon. Adults and juveniles.
Greenfinch. Flock of c.12 birds in bushes by tower. Several juveniles in area beyond reservoir.
Goldfinch. Flock of c.20 in scrub area beyond reservoir.
Meadow pipit. Three flighty birds in rough grass on plateau.
Chiffchaff. Two feeding birds in bushes on side of reservoir.
Redwing. First birds of the autumn, several groups passing overhead, flocks of c.30, c.25, c.25 and c.15. In addition a flock of c.15 birds landed to feed on red berries.
Jay. Two birds in trees.
Bullfinch. Excellent views of a pair of birds feeding in bushes beyond reservoir.
Linnet. Par in bushes beyond reservoir.

 

[savwaves]

Silver Ether - I saw a small group of Redwing at Himley last weekend.
I am led to believe that Song and Mistle Thrush don't form flocks, so have a good look next time you see a group - this is the perfect time for Redwing passage. Two years ago I saw around 30 on the grass near the main entrance!
Good news on the Tawny!

 

[Sedgley]

September 29 2007

Sedgley Beacon

Black headed gull. Several in flight.
Meadow pipit. Four flighty birds in rough grass on the plateau.
Goldfinch. Flock of c.25 adults and juveniles in the scrub area beyond the reservoir.
Bullfinch. Male in scrub area.
Greenfinch. Flock of c.30 by the tower.
Kestrel. First seen in flight, later hovering.
Redwing. Two in bushes.
Swallow. Three passing through.