Victoria Park, Tipton (November 28)

I enjoy urban birding and as I was in Tipton I decided to spend an hour walking around Victoria Park. It's just round the corner from my church and so always willing to make the most of every opportunity, if you're in the Black Country and want to attend a carol service, it would be great to see you at Tipton Family Church on December 21. Check out the website for details @ www.tiptonfamilychurch.org

Anyway, the birding...Numeous Canada goose c.75 grazing on the field alone, plus birds on and around the pool. Also numerous black headed gull, several lesser black-backed gull and a single great black-backed gull high in the sky above in flight.

The pool had mallard, coot, moorhen and tufted duck on it. Other birds seen included: magpie (numerous), chaffinch, long tailed tit, song thrush, greenfinch, sparrowhawk (female passed overhead in direct flight).

River Dove, Derbyshire (November 27)

Numerous fieldfare and redwing, both in several flocks seen during day numbering 100's of birds in total.
Single kingfisher and single common buzzard.
Several black headed gull and lesser black-backed gull (c.12 in flight).

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (November 26)

A very enjoyable walk along one of my regular haunts. A male and female pheasant feeding in a field by Westgate Farm, the female was still showing on the return journey.

The field alongside the lane pond had 2 adult and 2 juvenile moorhen feeding on it.

A grey wagtail and a pied wagtail feeding in a field by Red Lane Farm, a single pied wagtail seen later on a field further down the lane.

Trees alongside Penn Brook had 2 goldcrest feeding in them.

Other birds seen included: lesser black-backed gull (several in flight), redwing (several in hedgerow near Red Lane Farm), kestrel (female perched), jackdaw (several), house sparrow (2 males in bushes by water works entrance).

Gospel End Common (November 25)

A cold and frosty morning as you can see from the video here...http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhqgmEuN-U

A small flock of 5 redpoll feeding high in trees in woodland adjoining the common. Several long tailed tit, great tit and blue tit and a single coal tit. Several sightings of nuthatch.

The fields around the woodland had a green woodpecker and a mistle thrush feeding. Single common buzzard in flight.

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (November 24)

Another cold day, but at least it was dry. The lane pond again had a grey heron on it and 2 adult and 1 juvenile moorhen. Several house sparrow (male and female) in the trees and bushes around the pond, some bathing.

Just one bird of prey, a kestrel being mobbed in flight by a carrion crow.

Other birds included: magpie (numerous and very vocal), stock dove (2 birds on last field on the right), rook (single bird in flight), jay (in bushes along Penn Brook), grey wagtail (in flight near Red Lane Farm).

Sedgley (November 23)

Terrible conditions today, yet in spit of that a robin sang well into dusk in the back yard. Several black headed gull in the area and a single magpie in flight across the garden.

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (November 22)

Single mistle thrush on field by Westgate Farm, also a male pheasant in a field by the farm. The closest place where birds are let up for shooting is the Wodehouse estate so it's always encouraging to see birds so far away, particularly as pheasants are not good flyers. I do see the occasional bird in the area but no sign of young birds as of yet.

Flock of c.25 redwing in flight. Also in flight several black headed gull and 2 common buzzard.

The lane pond had 2 moorhen and a grey heron on it. A grey heron was also spotted in the last field on the right.

Other birds included: stock dove (2), kestrel, goldfinch, pied wagtail (2).

Check out a video here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9t3KNtbdHb0

Staffs/Worcs Canal (November 21)

Birds seen included: jackdaw, goldfinch, kingfisher, robin, great tit.

Check out this video of a friendly robin: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=39HiGE1F_N4

Staffs/Worcs Canal (November 20)

Single great spotted woodpecker, c.25 goldfinch. Other birds included long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, greenfinch.

Priory Park, Dudley (November 19)

While my wife and eldest daughter went to Dudley, I walked the park for an hour. Several sightings of coal tit - most seen at one time 2 birds.

Single nuthatch - 3 sightings. Other birds on site included: greenfinch, goldfinch, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit.

In flight - single kestrel, 2 calling jackdaw, 3 lesser black-backed gull, 3 herring gull, single black headed gull.

Staffs/Worcs Canal (November 18)

On the canal itself - 2 mute swan, moorhen, mallard. Several jackdaw on field.

Sedgley (November 17)

Lots of activity in the back garden today. The house sparrow were regular visitors both male and female birds. A couple of starling paid a brief visit to the bird table. Single robin, collared dove, blue tit and wren. A male and female blackbird and 3 dunnock.

Sedgley (November 16)

A single collared dove in the garden and a single carrion crow on nearby roof.

River Severn, Shropshire (November 15)

Flooded fields alongside the river had 16 mute swan on them plus numerous black headed gull, lots of lesser black-backed gull and several herring gull and great black-backed gull.

In flight - 1 male goosander and 4 female birds.

Sedgley (November 11)

Several black headed gull visible from the garden plus a single lesser black-backed gull.

Sedgley (November 10)

Several starling on the bird table at home along with the regular house sparrow (male and female). Three dunnock feeding on the ground.

Near Stafford (October 24)

First siskin of the autumn, several birds feeding in alders. Several sightings of common buzzard soaring. Four sightings of single kingfisher on River Sow.

Two raven in flight and a single goosander followed some time later by five birds all in flight. Several teal on a water meadow and c.20 fieldfare in flight.

Sedgley (October 23)

Around 30 starling in a flock in the area around my home. Two great tit, one seen entering nest box.

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (October 22)

Three separate sightings of jay. Flock of c.20 fieldfare in flight. Single stock dove on bottom field on right. Other birds included: chaffinch, moorhen, greenfinch.

Sedgley (October 21)

The feeding station at home is coming on well. Today had five collared dove feeding on the ground, several male and female house sparrow and a great tit has made itself at home in the nesting box on the cherry tree.

Birmingham Main Line Canal, Coseley (October 20)

On the canal itself - coot, mallard, moorhen. Several black headed gull in area and a lesser black-backed gull in flight. Three goldfinch in bushes.