It doesn't matter where I am, I am always on the lookout for birds, and today having coffee with a fellow church minister at Wetherspoons right in the middle of the shopping complex, I was also watching two pied wagtails feeding on the busy pavement outside.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (September 8)
There are still mallards on the flooded field 'pond' (3 females, 1 male) and they have now been joined by an adult moorhen. Also 2 young juvenile moorhens on the lane pond.
Single lesser black-backed gull in flight, female great spotted woodpecker on a tree. Other birds included: goldfinch, chiffchaff, geenfinch, common buzzard.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (September 7)
The second time in a month that I have seen a hobby along the lane. This bird was in flight over Red Lane Farm before disappearing over the ridge beyond.
The mallards are still on the flooded field 'pond' - this time the number is up to 11 birds. Also a pied wagtail on the field.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (September 6)
Heavy rain flooded the fields and it hasn't taken long for a group of 10 mallards to colonise one 'pond'. They look like they have been there for ever!
Two sightings of single common buzzards, adult and juvenile wood pigeons everywhere. Single lesser black-backed gull in flight, pied wagtail on a field and a female kestrel perched on one of the masts.
The highlight though was a weasel that ran across the lane. This is the closest I have seen one to home and has come with the explosion of rabbits in the area over the last year or so.
Near Yoxall (September 5)
Driving at 5.30am saw a little owl perched on a gate post by the side of the road.
River Dove, Derbyshire (September 4)
Mute swans on the river - 2 adults and 3 juveniles. A kingfisher landed on the tree right next to where I was fishing and gave a great view.
Single great black-backed gull and lesser black-backed gull in flight. Numerous black headed gulls in flight.
Once darkness drew in a tawny owl flew over the field beyond the far bank of the river.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (September 3)
I thought that I'd seen my last swift but today a single migrating bird high in the sky extended the last date sighting. Numerous house martins and swallows around.
The lane pond had a very young juvenile moorhen and 2 adults visible and another juvenile was feeding in the field alongside the small pond mentioned in the last Red Lane blog entry.
Other birds included: collared dove (7 in a tree), stock dove (2 flew from tree), black headed gull (3 birds on bottom field on right), common buzzard.
River Dove, Derbyshire (September 2)
A pair of kingfishers were in the area for some time - chasing each other, perched on branches over river and fishing. Two sightings of single cormorants in flight.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (September 1)
Single common buzzard soaring / flight, also 2 kestrels in flight. A single stock dove in tree alongside bottom field on the right which is a regular haunt for the birds.
The lane pond had 2 adults and 1 juvenile moorhens visible.
The lane pond had 2 adults and 1 juvenile moorhens visible.
Sedgley (August 31)
A juvenile and 2 adult collared doves in the cherry tree in my back garden, which is a favourite haunt of theirs. It's nice to see that a successful breeding has taken place and hopefully I will see another juvenile bird as well.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (August 30)
Although devoid of birds for quite a while, a juvenile moorhen was in the field around one of the ponds that just about qualifies for the title. I guess it is one of the birds that has wandered from the lane pond. Hopefully though it may lead to a re-colonisation but the problem in the past has been eggs going missing as soon as the birds lay. The lane pond had one adult bird visible.
Other birds: greenfinch, swallow, house martin, lesser black-backed gull (2 in flight and 1 on field below Westgate Farm), stock dove (perched in tree alongside Penn Brook), common buzzard (in flight).
Blind Institute / Colton Hills (August 29)
An afternoon walk over local farmland. While watching a couple of lesser black-backed gulls in the sky I saw a very high swift. I haven't ticked one for a few days so it was nice to see summer still hanging on.
Other birds included: wood pigeon (numeous adults and juveniles on fields), common buzard (2 soaring/ flight), kestrel (in flight / hovering).
Bywell near Hexham, Northumberland (August 28)
While my wife and others went shopping at the Metro Centre, I headed north on the A1, across to the A69 and then pulled off, parked up and walked the local lanes.
Highlights weren't birds but a) a rabbit ran across the road being pursued by a weasel b) a hare in a stubble field c) a salmon leaping on the River Tyne.
Birds included: herring gulls (numerous on fields), common buzzard (several including one being mobbed by a carrion crow), lapwing (adult and juveniles on field), mistle thrush (c.10 on ploughed field), kestrel (in flight being mobbed by a carrion crow).
Newastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland (August 27)
Off to the north-east for a couple of days while my youngest daughter's band records an EP in studios in Gateshead.
On the journey on the A1 near Rainton in North Yorkshire c.100 lapwing circling over a field next to the road.
Went for a long walk once in Newcastle, starting at The Quayside and walking downstream so very much an urban / industrial route. Numerous herring gulls, several lesser black-backed gulls as well as black headed gulls and a single great black-backed gull.
Other birds included: cormorants (several including 13 perched on river-side factory roof), kestrel, swallow, mute swan (3 adults and 2 juveniles on river by Millennium Bridge), blackcap (female eating elderberries).
On the evening while walking along the river, four goosander flew overhead above the Millennium Bridge heading upstream.
Kings Bromley (August 26)
Driving home at 2.30 am, a barn owl perched at the side of the road. I stopped the car and had a brief view of it before it flew away.
River Dove, Derbyshire (August 25)
I saw a single great black-backed gull in flight over Rushall on the way there and also another over the Dove. Also a single lesser black-backed gull in flight.
Two kingfisher sightings, likely to be different birds. Numerous swallows in the area. On the river itself a single mute swan and a juvenile moorhen.
Tawny owl calling after dark but not seen.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (August 24)
The last field on the right had 21 black headed gulls on it. A single lesser black-backed gull overhead in flight.
A single stock dove on same field as gulls. Just a juvenile moorhen on the lane pond, but it's just a visibility issue as to what I see there at this time of the year.
Other birds included: wood pigeon (adults and juveniles), greenfinch (adults and juveniles), grey wagtail (in flight), great spotted woodpecker (in flight), mallard (female in flight).
Wolverhampton (August 23)
Two swifts heading in a southerly direction over the Whitmore Reans area of Wolverhampton.
Whites Wood, Baggeridge Country Park (August 22)
A short walk around the wood, which was very quiet. Highlight, without any doubt, was a lesser spotted woodpecker. The bird was in flight, from the direction of the visitors' centre, flying into Lydiates Hill.
Other birds included: collared dove, great tit, long tailed tit. I did say it was quiet!
River Dove, Derbyshire (August 21)
A couple of female goosander in flight downstream. A while later two birds that I was unable to sex flew past the opposite way, so likely to be the same ones. Three individual kingfisher sightings, all of birds flying low on the river and downstream.
Other birds included: swift (several), black headed gull (numerous - one flock had c.100 birds), chiffchaff, great black-backed gull (3 distant birds soaring/in flight), lesser black-backed gull.
Staffs/Worcs Canal (August 20)
Following the sighting of the barn owl the other day, tonight I went on an after-dark walk around the area. Having a dog means I can kill two birds with one stone, so I get to bird and she gets her walk.
I covered about two miles but not even a sound never mind sight from an owl. Until I was right back at the car that is and a group of noisy tawny owls were heard (but not seen) across fields. So at least I had something to write about.
Sedgley (August 19)
This is the time of the year when I keep more than a casual eye on swifts. We have a reasonable visit every summer from the birds in the area where I live but they have been missing recently. So today I went on a local walk specifically to see if they have all gone. I saw just the one bird. Back at home a single lesser-black backed gull was circling over the house.
Staffs/Worcs Canal (August 17)
A late fishing session, it was almost dark by the time I got there so didn't get chance to do any birding as such. A barn owl flew across my path though so that more than rescued the situation. I have seen them a little further down the canal already this year.
Heard tawny owl but didn't see them even though they were in the immediate area.
Black Country pool (August 16)
An eel fishing session on a Black Country pool. Arrived late so it was practically dark and combined with the atrocious weather meant that I didn't get to see much at all.
A couple of lesser black-backed gulls flew overhead, a grey heron fished the margins well into dark and mallard and moorhen were on the water.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (August 15)
After yesterday's hobby, there was only one place I was heading today. Didn't see the bird though.
The lane pond had moorhen visible (2 adults, 2 chicks, 1 juvenile). On the return walk along the lane a chick and a juvenile were feeding on the field alongside the pond. The juvenile was 20 metres away from the water, the chick much closer.
Other birds seen included: swallow, long tailed tit (several juveniles), swift, stock dove (in flight over last meadow on right), common buzzard (4 calling birds in flight / soaring), house martin, greenfinch (adults, juveniles).
The lane pond had moorhen visible (2 adults, 2 chicks, 1 juvenile). On the return walk along the lane a chick and a juvenile were feeding on the field alongside the pond. The juvenile was 20 metres away from the water, the chick much closer.
Other birds seen included: swallow, long tailed tit (several juveniles), swift, stock dove (in flight over last meadow on right), common buzzard (4 calling birds in flight / soaring), house martin, greenfinch (adults, juveniles).
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (August 14)
A late evening session. Red Lane is not a birding hotspot, in fact in years I have only ever seen two people walking down down there with binoculars. So when I see something special it makes it all the more exciting.
Hence tonight when I saw a hobby fly right in front of me I was really thrilled. Walking down the lane the bird flew from right to left just below Westgate Farm and then over the fields diappearing beyond the ridge. The bird flew directly into the sun for much of the 20 seconds that I got to see it, but I had a good enough view.
Other birds included: moorhen (adult, juvenile and chick on the pond), goldfinch (5 adults and juveniles), kestrel (female), house martin, swift, swallow.
Hence tonight when I saw a hobby fly right in front of me I was really thrilled. Walking down the lane the bird flew from right to left just below Westgate Farm and then over the fields diappearing beyond the ridge. The bird flew directly into the sun for much of the 20 seconds that I got to see it, but I had a good enough view.
Other birds included: moorhen (adult, juvenile and chick on the pond), goldfinch (5 adults and juveniles), kestrel (female), house martin, swift, swallow.
Dudley Canal (August 13)
Out on a fishing session, the weather was so bad that by the time I arrived to fish at 8.00pm it was practically dark. Consequently the bird list was low with those seen including: mallard (female), moorhen, dunnock. Heard tawny owl once dark but didn't get to see the bird.
Penn Common (August 12)
A short walk around the pond area of Penn Common. It did coincide with some sharp showers but if we only went birding in good weather we wouldn't be out that often.
A whitethroat was gathering insects and dropping into a low bush that was a likely nest site. A little further ahead in the nesting scale was a male blackcap and 2 juveniles in a dense hawthorn bush. There may have been more birds, but that's all I could see.
A flock of c.100 starling around the pond. In the field system beyond the common a scan with the binoculars revealed a distant red-legged partridge.
Red Lane, Gospel End Village (August 11)
Another short visit to Red Lane. On the pond saw 2 moorhen adults and 2 chicks. There are often house sparrows in the area as well, today saw a male and a female. There is one bush in particular that, if they are about, that's where they will be found. And that's where I saw them.
Several goldfinches about, both adults and juveniles. Lots of swallows including birds perched in trees (see picture above). Other birds included stock dove (2 birds in flight over last field on right), willow warbler (adult calling) and swift.
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