Shropshire Birding (5 Viewers)

[Patrick_L]

Hello all,

Hoopoe today at Attingham Hall then flew towards Venus Pool apparently (on pager). I know no more but worth keeping a look out.

 

[pandachris]

Loads of swallows over the Severn by the Shrewsbury show ground yesterday and at least one Hobby. Also some presumed Swifts further away. Didn't have my binoculars because we were there for the "Jestival".

Tonight arounf the junction of Bank Farm Rd and Deepfields a very noisy and active Tawny Owl from at least 20:15 until 20:30.

 

[Spotter]

Saw two juvenile buzzards sitting on the same light standard on the Eastern Primary just after the Town Centre filter lane heading towards Trench Lock

 

[pandachris]

Hundreds (possibly thousands) of swallows over the area around the A49/A53 junction north of Shrewsbury, yesterday at about 15:15-15:30 just ahead of a sharp downpour that I believe have been quite prevalent locally in the week we've been away enjoying the sunshine in Catalunya.

 

[pandachris]

Our best Shropshire bird of 2012 so far yesterday, an Osprey over Venus Pool at about 16:50, pursued by 30+ angry corvids. Also one hirundine (most likely a Sand Martin) high overhead a little later and a Chiffchaff in the bushes by the car park entrance. Another birder told us about a probable Chiffchaff by one of the other hides but this could have been a different bird.

 

[Spotter]

Lucky you. I was at Venus Pool on Sunday past 0800-1300 there were lots of Canada Geese and Greylags, 1 x Lapwing several Widgeon. There was a couple of Pochard in the fishery pool. In the field there were several small flocks of goldfinches but there was one which had about 200 in it, was good to see. Other birds seen Kestrel, Buzzard, Cormorant, Meadow Pipit any many more. Had a really good day

 

[ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY]

Just wondering was the Osprey ringed as the one at Upton Warren that stayed for around 19 days wasn't

 

[Spotter]

Today was the first time I have seen a jay in the garden. I know we have a lot in the Town Park area particularly on the Silkin Way but was a first in my gaden and had a good view for around 10 mins as it was in my neighbours plum tree.

 

[pandachris]

Three Telford Town Centre Jays in the last 24 hours, compared with only one since the middle of May. Two of them were in a location that I've never noted Jays before. Possibly indicating that the huge influx of Jays on the east coast is reaching Shropshire (I saw 170 in two hours at Hunstanton on Saturday morning).

Anyone else seeing more than usual for the time of year?

 

[pandachris]

Hadn't seen your post before I hit 'send' on mine, Spotter. Worth keeping an eye on, I reckon.

@AP - I didn't see a ring on the Osprey but the light wasn't great. We watched it approach from the far side of the pool and decided that it might be an Osprey but it was very close to the hide before we finally cvlinched it, so I was more interested in key ID features. It flew straight through - don't think it was very happy about the crows. Several minutes later a large number of crows flew back across the pool from the direction the Osprey took, so our assumption was that they had chased it for a couple of miles.

 

[Spotter]

Hi Pandachris, are you local to Telford? I live in the Randaly area and am a member of SOS, Shropshire Peregrine Group (recent) and very recently volunteered to carry out the WeBS on Priorslee Lake so hopefully will see a variety of birds in the forthcoming months.

Tony

 

[pandachris]

Shrewsbury, Spotter, but I work in Telford TC. I'll probably see you at Priorslee Lake at some point between now and Xmas as the chance of a less common gull increases.

Interesting report on Shropshire Birds yesterday from not far from you of a flock of 20 Jays, which is something I've never seen in the county.

http://www.shropshirebirds.com/bird_reports.htm

 

[Spotter]

Pandachris, I Was at Priorslee Lake today between 1030-1200 ish. Lots of Coot (102) and Black headed gulls (51), Pochard (18) Great crested grebe (2), Tufties (25) Cormorant (1), Mallard (10), Mute Swan (2). Even had a Jay fly over.

I recently retired and if you want to meet up at Priorslee sometime I am up for it

 

[pandachris]

I usually get down at lunchtimes (if I'm lucky) or very late afternoon on Fridays as the gull numbers increase. Was there several times a week later 2011/early 2012 when the Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were being seen frequently. It will probably be a few weeks before I start to make the effort again but watch out for a fat bloke with a beard and a black Vauxhall Astra.

Yesterday at VP fairly quiet, although lots of passerines and 4 GSWs in the feeding area. 3 or 4 Snipe on the reserve and we thought we heard a Greenshank once but no sign of it so possibly a mistake. Four Jays yesterday including a very unusual sighting of one from my house - certainly less than annual there.

There seems to be a big roost of Pied Wagtails building up at the main Tesco in Shrewsbury. about 150 arrived at once one evening last week at about 18:40 and yesterday about 20+ arrived at 18:15-ish.

 

[Spotter]

Thanks Pandachris, I drive a aluminium coloured Vectra with a yellow ball with a smiley face on the aerial.
Was up Lyth Hill today and thought I saw yellow wagtail, I did see 2 Kestrels, 3 Buzzards and plenty of corvids.
Also at VP saw Teal, Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Widgeon, Coot, Mallard and a first Snipe.

 

[pandachris]

I think the water levels are reducing the number of waders dropping in at VP this year. I noted that it was returning to normal levels but as a consequence there was little mud around the margins.

My ex-wife has just 'phoned me because she saw an Otter on the river Severn in Shrewsbury by Kingsland Bridge about half an hour ago. I still haven't seen an Otter in Shropshire. She's seem mink before and would no the difference - it was also seen by lots of other people so there might be some photos popping up soon.

 

[pandachris]

Quite an interesting one this, given that I've not heard about any others in the area but I was just getting into the car this morning to go to work (north Shrewsbury) having noted Redwings and Goldfinch overhead when a flock of perhaps 30 finches flew over, and all that I could hear were Bramblings. I feel I have 'my ear in' for Bramblings having heard and seen perhaps a dozen small groups whilst standing with the Hunstanton migration watch folk earlier in the month for a couple of mornings. Can't think of anything more common that they could have been.

 

[pandachris]

At least two, probably three Peregrines in the quarry at Haughmond Hill yesterday. We heard but did not see Common Crossbills twice whilst walking the "GeoTrail".

Several quite large mixed flocks of tits etc. and numbers of Siskins building up.

VP quite in the p.m. but a working party was in progress. I had to go back to the car to get me 'scope to identify the wader that could be seen under the trees at the fishing pool end. It turned out to be a large feather stuck to a partially submerged branch/root.

We were quite surprised to see a record in the hide log book of a Hobby on 26th October (I think) but a falcon crossed the pool at the far end yesterdayand didn't half look like a Hobby. Seems a bit late. What would they hunt?

 

[pandachris]

If anyone is reading this this morning and thinking of doing a bit of birding, get out there! I’ve been keeping a record of birds seen on my trip from home (Shrewsbury) to work (Telford) since mid-May. I’ll do a post about them in due course, but today I recorded two ‘new’ species (Grey Wagtail (2 different birds) and Fieldfare) and also my highest single day count of 17 species, beating my previous best by 2 but more interestingly there were almost certainly more birds in total with numerous finch flocks (only Goldfinch definitely identified), lots of gulls, lots of pigeons and so on. It seems possible that there has been an influx of birds into the county, perhaps a consequence of the huge numbers arriving on the east coast last week.

Hopefully someone will be out there looking today.

 

[Spotter]

Hi Pandachris, Thanks for the info, I was at Whixall Moss on Sunday. It was pretty quiet with a few fieldfare, redpolls, redwing, mistle thrush, a couple of stonechat and willow tit. only saw 1 buzzard. Intending to go look at Chelmarsh reservoir for the 1st time, have you been there?