Sedgley (October 19)

Back garden birding. Single great tit, collared dove, blackbird and robin. Several house sparrow, male and female.

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (October 18)

The bottom field on the right had 17 rook on it. Several noisy jackdaw in trees alongside Penn Brook. Two jay in flight and carrion crow. Heard a pheasant calling from land between Westgate Farm and single great black-backed gull in flight.

Sedgley (October 17)

No matter how short the time I spend in the back garden, a robin is usually one of the ticks and singing today. Also had 3 great tit for the first time and I suspected that there was an 'intruder' when I noticed one bird behaving very aggressively towards another. Other birds included: blue tit (2), blackbird (male), collared dove.

Near Stafford (October 16)

In the Stafford area so taking advantage of that, along went my binoculars. Regular sightings of raven, soaring high in the sky - and I just love their call as well. Most birds seen at one time was three, although could only capture two in the frame.

Several goosander sightings (most seen - 6 in flight) including a feeding female on the River Sow.

Two separate sightings of a pergerine falcon in flight, both about 30 seconds each as it flew across a lovely clear blue sky. Too quick to get a photograph though.

A single snipe flushed from a wet meadow. Other bids included; grey wagtail, kingfisher, goldfinch (flock of c.25 birds), lesser black-backed gull (c.9 in flight).

Sedgley (October 15)

The building behind the garden had a pied wagtail on it. The flock of starling in the area is now c.50 and c.12 black headed gull also around. Just a single great tit visiting the seed feeder.

Sedgley (October 14)

The collared dove are consistent visitors to the back garden and the only birds that regularly use the water bowl. Single great tit, robin and a male blackbird also visited today.

Red Lane, Gospel End Village (October 13)

A very active willow warbler in trees around Red Lane Farm. Saw it on the way down and the way back. Typical autumn / winter Red lane with lots of finches around, chaffinch, greenfinch (largest group c.6), goldfinch (largest group c.12).

Other birds included: collared dove (2), mistle thrush (another seasonal Red lane bird), stock dove and two green woodpecker.

Sedgley (October 12)

The great tit is a daily visitor to the back garden, usually two birds but today in a brief watching spell, just seen the one bird. Great news is that the coal tit was back again, making several quick visits to the feeder. Also a blue tit, dunnock, wren and blackbird in the garden.

River Severn, Worcestershire (October 11)

A couple of distant kestrel hovering against the backdrop of a sunrise and if you look closely above you can make out one of the birds. I also captured one on video that you can check out here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=clJp4ecfscg

Lots of noisy Canada goose (c.100) in flight at dawn and a single cormorant also in flight.

River Severn, Worcestershire (October 10)

A fishing trip to the lower Severn near Upton. A tawny owl flew from an English oak about 20 metres away in darkness and at dusk I had a brief glimpse through trees of what I am certain was a barn owl, but it was such a limited view that I couldn't be 100% and so it didn't get ticked.

Other birds included jackdaw (numerous), grey heron, stock dove (c.12 on ploughed field), kingfisher (single sighting).

Sedgley (October 9)

Everything is relative of course, but it's very exciting news that a coal tit has been visiting the garden regularly today, spending time at both the seed feeder and nuts. Also great tit, collared dove and robin.

Staffs/Worcs Canal, Dimmingsdale (October 8)

A short walk along the canal with Twinkle my Bedlington Terrier. Several sightings of common buzzard soaring in the sky, several black headed gull in flight and a couple of jackdaw calling in flight.

Water-based birds included mallard, grey heron, mute swan.

Sedgley (October 7)

It doesn't take long for the grey squirrel to move in on a free feast and today I had one visit the feeding station. Twinkle my Bedlington Terrier was on to it in a flash though and as she is a regular in the garden I'm hoping that she will be at least some sort of deterrent, just as she is for the local cats.

Bird-wise, single blue tit, dunnock, robin and collared dove. Several starling and black headed gull in the area.

Sedgley (October 6)

More tales from my backyard! A total of 14 species seen today which may not be much when I'm out and about but from my normally barren garden, that's pretty impressive. The feeding station is working!

Highlight was a male blackcap. Just a brief glimpse of the bird in the hedge but enough to give a positive id. It brought back memories of an overwintering bird from a couple of years ago, so if that will happen this year, that would be brilliant.

Also a female chaffinch, another bird that I don't see at all in the garden. Just a brief visit, but hopefully she will be back. The house sparrow (both male and female - pictured) are now part of the furniture and as I love all birds I'm more than happy to see those.

Other birds included: black headed gull (resident during the autumn and winter in the area), collared dove (2), great tit (single), blue tit (single).

Sedgley (October 5)

A robin visited the feeding station in the back yard today as well as a single wood pigeon and several house sparrow (male and female). Also 2 great tit as well, which was encouraging. The birds are beginning to come along regularly now.

River Severn, Worcestershire (October 4)

Several tawny owl heard in immediate area and distance in early hours, but not seen. Pair of great spotted woodpecker in common alder tree, also female in same earlier. Several meadow pipit in the area, in flight and on ploughed field.

A common sandpiper landed on the edge of the river where I was, as soon as it saw me, off it went. Gulls in flight - great black-backed gull, black headed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull.

Video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mtzH7i_jGB4

River Severn, Worcestershire (October 3)

Female great spotted woodpecker in a common alder tree, stayed there for some time and I was able to get some good video footage of it. Two sightings of cormorant in flight (3 birds and 2 birds). Three sightings of single kingfisher.

Pied wagtail on ploughed field (c.12 birds), meadow pipit also on field (2), great black-backed gull (3 in flight).

Sedgley (October 2)

My feeding station has had 2 great tit visit as well as the usual several house sparrow. Several black headed gull in the area.

Near Stafford (October 1)

Taking advantage of being in the area by doing some birding, including a short section of the River Sow. Birds on the river were mute swan and moorhen, with mallard, cormorant (1st year bird) and grey heron in flight.

Lots of starling around with largest flock c.250 birds (pictured). A flock of c.16 lapwing passed through. Other birds included jackdaw (c.20 on fields), common buzzard, grey wagtail (single bird and then a pair, in flight), goldfinch.