Withymoor - Amblecote, Stourbridge..... (6 Viewers)

[rollingthunder]

Live Update #3:eek!::eek!::eek!:

Tnx for that Pam but as i do'nt really know where they are i will have to take pot luck - 2 spp that would be nice to get.

I will PM you with my mobile and maybe u could txt me?

Back from an hour down at the Moorings, bit of stuff but nothing to add.

Off at about 12:30 for the rest of the day so no more updates.

I am cycling down the canal to the Bells Mill Pool complex then on to the Stewponey. From there i will have a bimble around the old sand/landfill and then on to Bunkup Wood. A circuit around the edge and down to the pools @ Brake Mill. I shall then return via the fields to the West Hagley bit and over the Golf Course and finish the afternoon with a quick look in on Mary Stevens Park.

I do'nt quite know what the evening holds and i might go back down to Withymoor to have a listen.

The optomist in me says 75 spp but the pessimist says 60 and that might be pushing it as i doubt that i shall click with any waders (probably not even Lapwing) and little in the way of wildfowl - Tufties have been down at WM all week until today!

Laurie:t:

 

[Paul Allan Legge]

Been down Lakeside after work, around 6ish, not much at all. Just pair of Mute Swans, Canada Geese. Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Coots, Mallards and Juv Lesser Black Backed Gull.
Off work tomorrow, so hopefully a mega to turn up. ? .

 

[steve_zodiac]

Things quietening down around Brierley Hill centre the past couple of days. Managed to do St Michaels churchyard and Marsh park today but supervision sent me to Merry Hell first thing.

Walked back along the canal and had Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

Seems to be a lot more Blackbirds around the park this year than in the previous two years.

Blackcaps are still in a few places, but most surprising is the fact that I've had no hirrundines flying over so far this year.

The roofs of Albion works in Moor Street is providing the night time roost of fifty-plus Lesser black back, and a few Herring Gulls.

 

[rollingthunder]

You and me both Steve - the sky around here were remarkably clear of anything ystda - it took me 'till 3 to get a Buzzard.......Talking of which.

I spent the rest of the day following the route outlined taking in the fields that Pam had been to, earlier during the day but i would have probably visited these anyway as they lie close to Bunkers. I did'nt have the energy to make it down to Brake Mill Pools as it was 5:30 which meant beer o'clock......

I did'nt even reach the giddying pessimistic heights of 60 spp which was dissapointing. I think it reflects the time of day that i hit the sites particularly woodland habitat in late afternoon. The thing that hits hardest is just how quiet and unsuitable large areas of the surrounding countryside really is. It's all very tidy, clipped, sown, mown, sprayed and neat. There just is'nt the little pockets of wet and scrub that makes areas just that bit more diverse. That's why it's a breath of fresh air to visit Spain, Portugal and particularly Morocco. I find myself gazing around the sky ystda in the vain hope of a hawking hobby or even some Swifts but instead saw twin-engined jets making their way somewhere a bit more interesting:C

Anyway, the remains of the day.

Stourbridge canal arm -

Pied Wagtail -

Bells Mill Pools -

Jay, Rook, Pheasant, Sparrowhawk and Nuthatch.

Boatyard/Scrapyard -

Raven (displaying pair using a pylon)

House Martin, Linnet and Red Legged Partridge.

Stewponey Landfill -

Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Buzzard.

Turbine Cottage track -

Skylark, Yellowhammer, Lesser Whitethroat (2), Yellow Wagtail (m+f) and 3 Wheatears (1m2f).

Bunkers Wood/West Hagley Fields/Mary Stevens Park -

Nothing new to add from any of these sites.

This makes the grand total of 52 species bearing in mind that it was with one pair of eyes and ears!

The Sand Martin colony @ Bunkers is now nothing more than a memory unfortunately. Swifts are about but nothing ystda. I also do not expect to get Lapwing as all the breeding birds have now gone. I have'nt seen a displaying Lapwing around here for 5 years - that is a sad indictment and where are all the Black Headed Gulls? They ca'nt all be down @ UW waiting to be miss-identified as a Boney

Species that i would have expected to have seen and have seen over the last week or so would have bumped the total into something approaching 70 spp which would have been respectively healthy and are as follows :-

Tufted Duck, BHGull, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Treecreeper, Kestrel, Coal Tit, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and as already mentioned the possibility of Sand Martin and Peewit.

It was all on foot and cycle so at least environmentally friendly even if the environment is not that bird-friendly.

Laurie:t:

May the 4th be with you.

 

[rollingthunder]

Sun 4th May........

No change down at Wittermore or Stevens Park but a singing Willow Warbler in the trees next to the Car Park was notable.

Managed a bit of arm-twisting from a couple of friends of the Bride (it does'nt take a lot, they like a B ) to engineer a ride over to 'Stretch' country so over to Grimmers it was.

A very pleasant 2 1/2 hours for everybody, me birding and the other 3 boozing altho i managed a couple of Bathams to finish with.

56 spp seen inc 7 spp of Warbler (no LesserThroat) and 4 spp of wader (no Barwit:C) just the sounds of purring Turtle Dove and calling Cuckoo was all that was needed and the thwack of leather on Willow from a distant game of cricket to complete the scenario.

I had both Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat singing by a Phragmites bed and if i half-closed my eyes it could have been Moustached, Great Reed and Sardinian Warbler - which it will be in 6 weeks time in the Balearics|8)|.......

Another decent day today, get out there!

Laurie:t:

 

[steve_zodiac]

Day off today so no birding Brierley Hill, instead it was my other regular patch, Belvide.

Urban birding yesterday in Brierley Hill was reasonably quiet, just the usual Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldfinches and Mistle Thrushes.

Several Coots and Moorhens nesting along the canal between the Delph and Brettell Lane bridge.

Note: When the Grasshopper Warbler was singing in Venture Way, Brierley Hill I put the news to RareBird Alert but it wasn't put out. Instead I had a text message from RBA telling me that Grasshopper Warbler is no longer considered for inclusion in the news unless in unusual circumstances! I'd say a town centre in the Black Country next to a busy dual carriageway is unusual circumstances, but apparently not.
I find RBA's stance rather unusual when you consider they always include Cranes that are sighted around Horsey mill in Norfolk. The Cranes have been breeding within a mile of Horsey mill for the past twenty-odd years and you are virtually guaranteed seeing them in surrounding fields 365 days of the year.
It isn't the first time I've had disagreements with Rare Bird Alert, and for that reason I won't be phoning any more news to their hotline. In future it will go to Birdguides.

 

[rollingthunder]

They certainly stick them on Birdguides -You need to be dedicated (to at least keeping up with the info) to justify the cost imo. BG and the Internet gives enuff info to twitch.....As you say, a Gropper in the land of the salad-dodgers is a poor mans Savi's

Had a bimble around, nothing new, i am constantly surprised at just how little is flying about - there does seem to be rather a lot of Whitethroats in suitable habitat. Interestingly all the sites that i have had Lesser Whitethroat singing over the last week now have none (vocally anyway).

A mate at some fishing pools over @ Mustow Green had a calling Cuckoo for a couple of hours ystda.

Well, International Dawn Chorus Day came and went and i did'nt see much advertised - Sunday just gone if, like me, you were blissfully unaware. I visited the website.

http://www.idcd.info/

A quick glance on the right-hand side for associated events revealed a gathering @ Sariyer at the Black Sea end of the Bosphorus. I visited there several Springs ago and would thoroughly reccomend it (22 spp of raptor:eek!. Also, bringing a tear to the eye, was a meet @ Sydenham Hill Wood which was where i did my formative birding at 13 years old. I remember listening to some records from Forest Hill library and trying to identify bird calls and song. Great Tit is still as annoying now as it was then. I used to send notes to the local council and the RSPB and it's now a Nature Reserve!

Whilst on the subject - Ralph Vaughn Williams' 'Lark Ascending' was voted best classic thingy on Classic FM. An early morning Skylark over the West Hagley Fields can still bring up the hairs on the back of my neck.....In a birding world increasingly dominated by digital analysis and feather DNA it's nice to put the old headphones on and close your eyes to appreciate birdsong and mans interpretation of it?

Enjoy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWwBh0dzgi4

And one with the inspirational poem narrative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKg1-VuEO54

Here's the story and inspiration behind this beautiful and evocative piece of music from one of Englands greatest composers.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/20...-the-lark-ascending-favourite-classical-music

And of course, the critter itself.

http://www.xeno-canto.org/161524

And finally - luks like the Boney relocated to Slimbridge:C

Laurie:t:

Below - RareBirdAlert.

 

[rollingthunder]

It's official - Summer's here!

Yes, it's finally here and all that is needed is 5 days of heavy rain and showers to confirm. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2636769 All i needed was the arrival of the first Swift and an individual hawking for insects over the dunghill that is Stourbridge ystda was good enough for me. Another bird over Withymoor 15 minutes later confirmed that there is at least one pair that might breed in the UK this year.....

Meanwhile, Withymoor held 5 Tufties (3m2f, where were you on Saturday?), Blackcap, Chiffchaff and no less than 3 x singing Willow Warblers. A 2nd Summer LBB was picked up loitering with some adults.

A cycle ride over to Turbine Cottage (track) @ Whittington in the afternoon confirmed that the 3 Wheatears (1m2f) were still present - feeding in the field with the mole-hills as were the male and female Yellow Wagtails still in the hedge by the pools on the track. Other migrants noted were Swallows, several Whitethroats and a LesserThroat.

Make the most of what is left of today. The only good thing is that it will probably ground even more waders up at Muddleton but will probably flood out the breeding Black Terns (if only they knew about the 4-day rule).

And finally - Julian Lloyd-Webber is to retire due to a chronic neck condition that has led to a gradual loss of strength in his right arm. That's bad news for binocular users and a heads-up for w@nkers everywhere! Altho the two are not synonymous i am sure we all know somebody? I mean, how are we going to survive without 50 live performances of 'The Dying Swan' each year? I did'nt rate him, personally, but i'm sure that achieving fame and fortune and the first public license for a busker on the London Underground had nothing to do with the fact that his father was an organist/composer and his brother has written some stuff?

Why all this? - well the live Mute Swans down at Wittermore are now on 4 eggs and the potential of the first brood for 5 years is imminent. The male arrived as a dusky sub-adult 2 years ago and has finally been accepted by the pinioned female. It's like being a dad all over again.

Below - Dying Swan and new ones (hopefully).

Laurie:t:

 

[Paul Allan Legge]

Had wonder over Camp Lane Pits Grimley this morning with Ben ( My faithfull companion who is a dog ) . Feeding by water's edge on main pool were 3 Dunlin , Ring Plover + Common Sandpiper. ( On Worcester Birding was noted large fall of Dunlin , double figure's at Ripple Pits , Upton Warren , Clifton Pits. Num Little Ringed Plovers. Over Water was full off Sand & House Martins , Swifts , Swallows. ( Had 10 Swifts over house on Tuesday Morning. ) . Stunning male Yellow Wagtail . Num Sedge Warblers calling all around Pool. Lucky, on way home heavy rain.

 

[rollingthunder]

Maybe you should have stopped for the heavy rain Paul

Just back from an 'ungodly hour' visit to Withymoor (0545-0630). Water levels are'nt too bad but they will rise like the flood waters of the Nile over the next few days, it's a good job that all nests are high and dry.

The reason for the early visit (pre dog-walkers etc) was to try and 'jam' in on ystdas influx of Dunlin which appeared to be grounded all over the Midlands, double figures in places and possibly triple up @ Muddleton. It's good to see waders both in some numbers and a superb range at what will be the premier birding spot in the region i predict, and said so on a number of occasions. The fluctuating water levels and EA edicts possibly means that breeding waders might have to play second fiddle to passage but only time will tell - in an ideal world there should be suitable conditions for both.

Needless to say, the early visit was just an exercise in 'windmill tilting' but you have to make the effort to try and put the place on the map. It was intitially also very quiet, so quiet in fact that i could just about make out PAL's sonorous snoring in the distance.

Tufties remain at 4m2f and the embankment held singing Blackcap, Chiffchaff and the first Whitethroat i have seen down there this Spring high on a Birch.

Elsewhere - if you are fortunate enough to find what you suspect is a Bonelli's Warbler tread carefully or keep it to yourself:eek!:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=281964

Laurie:t:

 

[steve_zodiac]

Is it me or are Whitethroats thin on the ground this year. Ive only had two.....one along the canal above the Merry Hill centre, and one at Belvide.

 

[rollingthunder]

I have found the contrary Steve. Had my first down at the Golden Puddle ystda but have been seeing and hearing them for a good couple of weeks now. In the areas that i regularly visit with suitable habitat i have found or get the impression that they have been more evident than at any time for at least 5 years.

I am off to Aberystwyth for a long weekend today so i will post what i see here, it wo'nt be relevant to this thread and it's bound to annoy somebody so it has to be done. It's forcast rainy but i should get a decent amount of birding in i'm taking the Brompton so a coastal ride to Borth/Ynslas is in order - i worked there on Marram Grass planting schemes in the late '70's and have'nt been back since. I can spend some rainy downtime checking the racial purity of my SubAlpine Warbler:eek!: records, that should be fun.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=282200

The subject of Malta came up in the House of Commons ystda, it was only mentioned not debated and was glossed over as the EU was deemed the place for enforcement of such rulings - yeh right!

Laurie:t:

Below - SubAlp, 'you 'aint seen me - rite?

 

[Pam_m]

I have received informative replies from Phil Bennion MEP and Anthea Mcintyre MEP with regards Malta. I will not elaborate as I am sure that locals and folk not so local reading this thread would also have written to their MEP regarding the hunting on Malta, at least I would hope they have!||

Enjoy your trip to Wales Laurie. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit in 2011 to Ynslas and Cors Fochno (Borth Bog, permit only )!

Mark Williams could be your twin Laurie...you must have been separated at birth!o

A photo attached of a couple of visitors in my garden yesterday.

 

[rollingthunder]

He lives in Chaddesley, i have seen him drinking in the Bathams and had a chat with him in their pub in Stourbridge:eek!: Unlikely to bump into him this weekend as we've been seperated since Borth

Laurie:t:

 

[steve_zodiac]

Brierley Hill this morning, at 8am, Lesser Whitethroat singing in trees at the back of the Moor centre car park. Another bird was singing nearby in St Michaels churchyard.

 

[rollingthunder]

I did'nt realise Aberywstwth had a monsoon season?

Arrived on Friday to a moderate breeze and sunny cloud turning on Saturday to heavy rain and showers and the wind increasing to yesterdays dry conditions but very strong (50mph+) winds. Today the wind is a much more benign 10 mph and dry.

Needless to say the birding has been cr@p - not the reason for the visit but i only came along for the ride (free travel, hotel and no permit) as the brides' mum, who sponsored the visit has back trouble and had pre-paid everything. Aber has certainly changed since my last visit in 1974. It still has a good tourist season but the economy must be driven by the huge student campus up on the hill. This is evidenced by the diverse range of food outlets serving good quality scoff from all round the World. The Welsh are obviously in residence but the range of skin tones leaves one in no doubt that there are other reasons for these transient visitors and it's certainly not the weather, well not this weekend anyway.......

I spoke to one or two people in the pubs and on the buses and they were invariably of a certain age and generally retired Midlanders. I complemented the range of beers only to be told that 'yo cor get Bonks' Bitter lyke you yoost to' (thank the lord for that)- The WetherspoonsB served good grub and good ale and at proper price and was my favourite of the weekend. We indulged in a very tasty Moroccan meal at Le Casablanca to remind us of warmer climes and better birds.

A bus and bike ride down to the Borth area and Ynslas Dunes was the highlight of the weekend. I worked on the sand dunes a number of times in the 70's and have many happy memories and some superb botanising (where are those field notes!). The boardwalk i built has been replaced, the interpretation centre was'nt even there then and the staff were'nt even born! I spent a few hours bimbling about, between the showers, nothing much to show for it conditions were too inclement. Birdwise It's a very poor list with waders virtually non-existant (you have to go to Muddleton for those). A couple of Whimbrel on the rocks and several groups of Oystercatchers which appeared to be first-Summer birds still retaining their Winter collar and Brownish mantles. I hav'nt managed to click with either the Iceland Gull or the Long-Tailed Duck:C that have been more or less resident. The sea, apart from some Gannets, has been decidedly uncooperative. Mind you staring into the wind has been painful and the objective lens' on the 'bins soon get the salt-laden moisture on them - not conducive. I've not even got the 'scope out - a bad sign.

Feathered highlights have been 2 Little Egrets (are they classed as highlights these days?) on the Dovey, nice male Peregrine hunting around the cliffs and displaying Ravens one of which had virtually no tail making the wings look way out of proportion and got the pulse racing....could it be?............ A last look this morning produced a couple of Shags, Common Gull and a handful of Common Terns attempting to fish off of the Pier.

Below a montage of Brommie, Thrift, some geological folding and tilting and an overcast Aber. Oh, managed to catch a few minutes of the Euro SingFest in a pub - has'nt Cheryl Cole changed?

Laurie:t:

 

[rollingthunder]

Finally - back in the land of nowt.

The train back was in glorious sunshine, pleasant but uneventful. Noted on the Dovey were Mute Swan, Mallard and several male Goosander bringing my trip list to the grand total of 42 spp. A second (yes, only 2 seen) subadult Red Kite was noted. A characteristic feature of these Western hills are the 'hanging' Oakwoods. The dominant spp is Sessile Oak. These woods grow on wet, acidic soils with little nutrients and often reach a canopy of only 3-5 metres with 7 being considered tall - Bonsai Oak woodland!. I carried out a number of surveys in this sort of woodland and they can be pretty birdless in quite large areas. OK you have a range of species including several ground-nesting warblers with Wood being relatively common but as the trees do not develop large branches and trunks it's the cavities that are missing and supplementary fixing of a range of nestboxes boosted the Pied Flys and Redstarts noticeably so that's what we did. In fact bungs had to be put in the holes over the Winter to stop Great Tits taking them over before the sub-saharan migrants arrive!

A cursory visit down to Withymoor only produced Blackcap and Chiffchaff. The Mute Swan is still incubating with the male decidedly territorial. The remaining Canade Geese now group together for protection and as soon as one of my Staffies goes to the edge to drink he's paddling furiously over. There is, however, a new 'addition' to the pool in the form of a..............floating platform:eek!:. I mentioned that it would benefit from one of these to Keith and his wife who take more than a passing interest in feeding the residents and litter-picking etc. I did say i might get around to making one (famous last words). Well, it's here - made to a good spec and from treated decking. It has a lip to stop any eggs rolling off and should prove useful for any passing terns or possibly waders? It will hopeful 'weather' as it has already been dubbed the Snooker Table (PAL). My only comments would be that square things look out of place i would rather have an oblong shape and a round rail about a metre high along one side would also give additional perching for passage birds but this can maybe added later.

Elsewhere there is a Great Reed Warbler down @ Slimmers - they're noisy buggers, if i open the kitchen window i could probably here it from here! I missed the last local bird @ Grimmers as i was abroad but caught up with one in Derbyshire a couple of years ago, my only UK sighting but i should catch up with loads in Majorca shortly.

Talking of the WWT and management I worked at a number of WWT reserves such as Ouse Washes and principally Martin Mere in Lancashire. I had the great privelige to meet Peter Scott on a number of visits there - i remember a rather prune-faced and unassuming chap who was more interested in what motivated the volunteers to spend their time working and what sparked the interest in birds and conservation (a good listener). The long-time curator at MM was a lovely lady named Janet Kear (Dr) and i worked closely with her on the creation of a number of islands for breeding LRP's and wintering waders such as Ruff. Due to my passion for birds they said i could visit the WWT reserves anytime i wanted for free, i only had to mention them and the work and that was my pass. Funnily enough i had the same arrangement at the WMBC's reserve near Droitwich.....

Unfortunately all 3 of the individuals concerned have now passed away - it was nice to have met them through the shared interest of birds and conservation.

For the newbies here are a couple of links to Janet Kear (think Ne-Ne and Flamingo's).

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2004/dec/06/obituaries.guardianobituaries

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flamingos-Poyser-Monographs-Janet-Kear/dp/140813750X

High pressure from today so warmer, dryer and............nicer

Below - the Snooker Table @ Withymoor (No Permit No Birds).

Laurie:t:

 

[steve_zodiac]

A large bird of prey has just flown over Delph Road, Brierley Hill, heading towards Amblecote. I didnt see it but a man and a woman stopped me and asked me ifI'd seen it. They said it had straps and bells attached to its legs. Something for you to look out for.

 

[Paul Allan Legge]

Nice walk round lakeside pool, then up to the Waterfront , along canal , in glorious sunshine.
Only thing missing was good birds. 1st time in ages no Tufted Ducks on pool. 2Herons , Pair of Mute Swans.
Another heron up canal by locks, num calling Willow Warblers, ChiffChaffs, Blackcaps , also Lesser Whitethroat calling nr Waterfront. Also good to see plenty of Coot & Moorhen chicks.
Off again tomorrow, hopefully better luck or maybe a game of snooker with Laurie.!

 

[steve_zodiac]

Nice walk round lakeside pool, then up to the Waterfront , along canal , in glorious sunshine.
Only thing missing was good birds. 1st time in ages no Tufted Ducks on pool. 2Herons , Pair of Mute Swans.
Another heron up canal by locks, num calling Willow Warblers, ChiffChaffs, Blackcaps , also Lesser Whitethroat calling nr Waterfront. Also good to see plenty of Coot & Moorhen chicks.
Off again tomorrow, hopefully better luck or maybe a game of snooker with Laurie.!

Hissing Canada geese with three chicks near Anchor Hill bridge as well :eek!: