Tuesday 21st February

Well, Spring is certainly on it's way, if not here already.  The cacophony of bird song as you walk through the park is fantastic, with the Robin's, Great and Blue Tits, and Blackbirds seeming to be at the higher decibel range followed closely by the finches.

Just the usuals were around today but seen in greater number as all species seemed to be flying around chasing their potential mates.  I could have spent ages out in the park just listening to the avian orchestra.  The highlight of my walk was watching an adult Swan chasing one of the signets around the pond in quite a threatening manner.  Let's hope that last years signets soon move on so that their parents can concentrate on getting the next generation on the way.

I also did see over a dozen Goldfinches today and over 20 Redwing flying around with the Starlings.

Thursday 16th February

Half term and the sunny weather (although cold) brought out the families and therefore the birds up the top end of the park were keeping themselves to themselves.

Just on the edge of the park saw a flock of Long Tailed Tits chasing each other as they do from tree to tree being watched, and probably voacally being moved on by a couple of Great Tits.

The main path through the park only held Starlings in their usual trees near the Newton Road end and the usual scattered BHG's and Crows on the football fields. Down the path on the Newton Road side I spotted a Nuthatch and Goldfinches in the back gardens before I stopped and sat on the bench where I observed quite a gathering of birds at the top of the path through the woodland walk.  There were 2 x Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinches, a Blackbird and a Song Thrush.

Through the woods themselves I paused to watch a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Robin singing away before carrying on to the ponds.  The usual suspects were on the water with a suprising count of 6 x male Shoveler and 1 x female Shoveler along with 3 x pairs of Gadwall.

Near the back of the houses on the Grove Vale estate I saw a pair of Mistle Thrushes again (could these have been the ones I saw earlier), Redwing, Blackbirds and another flock of Long Tailed Tits were also seen.

Sandwell Valley and Norfolk February 2012

Since my last blog I've done quite a few trips around Sandwell Valley, in particular Priory Woods and the fields off Salters Lane.

Off Salters Lane last week I saw 123+ (yes, I counted them) mixed Fieldfare and Redwing in a field as well as 3 x Green Woodpeckers down the Valley.

In Priory Woods;  2 x Treecreepers, a Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, and Great Spotted Woodpecker were spotted all in the same day.  To top it all, Marsh and Willow Tits were happily busy feasting of the feeding Station at the old Visitors Cente at the RSPB whilst dodging Bullfinches.

Last Saturday brought on a Trip to Norfolk where over 70 species were see.  You can read about this:

http://ixerbirding.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-folk-like-norfolk-part-1-rspb.html

http://ixerbirding.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-folk-like-norfolk-part-2-salthouse.html

Weekend 4th & 5th February

As we know, the snow arrived on Saturday afternoon.  It was just about the time I was in Red House Park that the first white flakes were seen, and when I got home it was beginning to properly snow, although it didn't deter a Redwing in the tree outside my lounge window keeping vigil over the gardens.

A lady walking through the park noticed I was looking at the birds (I guess binoculars around my neck were a bit of a giveaway too), and asked to identify a bird she had seen.  It turned out to be a Redwing, and about 20 meters later a few were seen in the hedgerow at the back of the Newton Road gardens.  I did try to take a photo, but it didn't come out very well on my on my phone.

My first sighting on Sunday was a male Bullfinch along with a glancing view of a Chaffinch on the edge of the park.  Although the park was quite busy with people enjoying the snow I still managed to spot nearly the same as I usually do.  The best tick of the day was a Nuthatch near the Newton Road end in a tree the Starlings usually occupy.  It was quite high up and I nearly managed to strain my neck, but the views were brilliant as it stood out against the wet, dark bark of the tree.  A Redwing and Song Thrush were rummaging through the leaf litter at the top of the Woodland Walk path, and Wrens aren't so shy as they have been it seems as a few were seen in the Woodland Walk area.  Blackbirds were all around the park along with Great Tits and Blue Tits and Long tailed Tits were seen in the lower areas of the Park.

I didn't manage to see a single Starling on Sunday, so I don't know what happened there.  Perhaps they found better feeding elsewhere with the weather turning.

Along with the regular water birds, a lone Herring Gull was seen Saturday on the ponds, although on Sunday did bring out a pair of Gadwall.  The BHG's were skating over the ice in a competition to be fed as people throwing bread to the ducks, with about just enough water (that hadn't frozen) to accommodate everyone.

The best thing about the weekend sightings were 8 Redwings, 1 x Mistle Thrush , 1 x Fieldfare as well as Blackbirds in the tree outside my lounge window on Saturday and 8 x Redwings and 4 x Fieldfare on Sunday.

Weekend Park Sightings:

            Saturday                                        Sunday

• Song Thrush                                    Bullfinch              
• Long Tailed Tit                                 Blackbird
• Blue Tit                                            Robin
• Great Tit                                          Chaffinch
• Goldfinch                                         Blue Tit
• Chaffinch                                         Great Tit
• Jackdaw                                          Long Tailed Tit
• Blackbird                                         Jackdaw
• Crow                                               BHG
• BHG                                                Crow
• Starling                                           Nuthatch
• Wren                                               House Sparrow
• Canada Goose                               Wren
• Mute Swan                                     Canada Goose  
• Mallard                                           Mallard  
• Moorhen                                         Coot
• Coot                                               Moorhen
• Dunnock                                         Gadwall
• Pigeon                                            Magpie
• Magpie                                           Redwing
• Robin
• Herring Gull
• Redwing          

Thursday 2nd February

My walk around the park took me anticlockwise starting near the car park and heading for the pools.  The weather was quite cold with the slight breeze adding to the chill so I didn't really want to hang around much if I could help it. 

The first sightings of the day were House Sparrows fleeting between the park and the houses opposite along with Great Tits. A single Goldfinch and Greenfinch were spotted in the top of the tall trees on the mound near the car park, and a couple of Long Tailed Tits.

The route I took to the ponds was heavily flanked by squirrels who seemed to be out in their droves today.  At the very grown over overflow between the pools I nearly bumped into a Wren dancing around in the bramble and leaf litter where it soon disappeared.  Near the tunnels, apart from a seemingly large amount of Great Tits, I managed to spot a few Chaffinches.  

The ponds had more of a variety of species today.  Although still quite frozen apart from a small open area of water where alongside the usual Swans, Canada Geese, Moorhens, Coots, BHG's, there were 4 x pairs of Gadwall and a male Shoveler.  Blackbirds pairing off were quite common today and the woodland walk would have probably provided a Woodpecker (as it could be heard along with a Robin somewhere).  This was not to be as it seemed to be the afternoon walk time for owners and their dogs, (or is that dogs and their owners?), which unfortunately tend to scare the birds away, giving me only a glancing view of a Robin as it flew off to safer surroundings and a possible Redwing.

The back gardens along the Newton Road seemed to be quiet apart from the occasional Blue Tit, Great Tit, and Goldfinch.  At the top of the path I couldn't see or hear a single Starling.  The playing field only boasted a few Pigeons, Magpies, Crows and 6 x Jackdaws with a couple of Dunnock near the rose beds.

End of last year sightings

When I started recording my sightings last year, little did I expect to find such a varied amount of species in my local park.

I've seen 3 x Rose Ringed Parakeets (previously Ring Necked Parakeets) just before Christamas near the ponds.  I've spotted them down Sandwell Valley and think they may have come from there just stretching their wings for the day.

Sightings for the end of last year are: Mistle, Song Thrushes and Redwings are quite regular in the winter months.  Starlings can be seen in the trees near the Newton Road end along with House Sparrows as you take the path running adjacent to the back gardens over that side.  When you get half way down and near the woodland walk area as I call it, you may be lucky enough to see a Nuthatch, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.  Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been sighted in the woodland walk area.  When you get to the ponds, the sightings I have listed are as follows:

• Mute Swan
• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Coot
• Moorhen
• Shoveler
• Grey Heron
• Cormorant
• Lesser Black Back Gull
• Herring Gull
• Black Headed Gull
• Wigeon
• Gadwall
• Pochard
• Tufted Duck

Other species you are likely to see are the 3 finches as I refer to them (Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch), Chaffinch x 38 24/12/2011.  Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long Tailed Tits are to be seen anywhere within the park, along with Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds, Dunnocks.

Jackdaws can be seen in the trees at Redhouse itself and of course you are always going to get Magpies, Carrion Crows and Pigeons - Wood and Feral.

Birds of Prey can sometimes be seen over the park to include: Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine Falcon.

Wednesday 1st February

A sunny afternoon and blue skys were welcome on my afternoon walk around the park.

The squirrels were particularly active and there seemed to be Blackbirds everywhere. Starting my walk near the bench just down the hill from the car park, I was welcomed by Long Tailed Tits, a Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a Nuthatch.  Jackdaws were amongst the chimney pots on the house, but only about half a dozen of them.  The cold weather must have got the better of some birds as I didn't see much along the main path towards Newton Road apart from BHG's, a few Crows, a dozen or so Starlings, and a single Redwing.

Down the path towards the ponds I could hear a lot of Goldfinches chattering but couldn't see them.  Along the woodland walk I decided to stop for 5 minutes and managed to spot Blackbirds, a Robin, a Chaffinch, Great Tits and Blue Tits, moe Long Tailed Tits and another Redwing.  It is suprising what you can find when you just stop, look and listen.

The ponds were quiet apart from the usual Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, more BHG's and Coots who were being fed either side of the Island pond by people getting rid if their crusts.

The Blackbird count was 12+ and the usual Magpies and Pigeons were around also. 

Spring is definitely early this year.