Patch Migrants

11/08/13

A momentous discovery in patch terms, i was very happy to find an adult SPOTTED FLYCATCHER flycatching off one of the hedges wedged between Lickhill and the riverside fields, a likely location for migrants on patch. I enjoyed a good period watching it, being my first patch SpotFly for around 5 years! The last record being of a juvenile around the same time of year.

However, been stationary at this one spot paid extra dividends when not long after the discovery of the Flycatcher i spotted a large raptor flying up from the south, towards me. As it got closer the long winged look got me immediately interested, and as it circled to the right flicked its wing up, revealing a long and forked tail.

RED KITE!

Not the patch rarity that is SpotFly, but a great bird to see, and one i always love to see on patch, usually on a yearly basis. I got a few minutes viewing before it circled off, and flew back south.

It was also great to catch up with a stunning singing Marsh Tit at a regular patch area, and i managed to get some stunning views as it fed around the Willows.

 15 Mandarins were still present along the river, of which 7 were drakes of varying ages (Juvenile males can be separated from females).

(One of the juvenile drake Mandarin Ducks)

 An impressive 25+ Chiffchaff were counted, but only 2 Willow Warbler and a single Whitethroat.

MB

MIGRANTS!

19/04/13

Its been a slog, but by today it really felt as if summer was in the air! Birding in a T-shirt, and with many summer migrants, it was just so great to be out!

With it being a Friday we were somewhat limited time wise, but as we were heading past Shenstone on our way to the Grimley Pits we decided to drop in for a quick look at the Redstart hedge.

And guess what!

REDSTART!

And nothing less than a stunning adult male Redstart!

Stunner!

Moving onwards we next dropped into the 'flash' floods at holt, which proved to be quite eventful!

We had dropped in looking for Yellow Wagtail, and i was incredibly happy to pick up 4 of these stunning bright yellow characters, 3 of which were males!

One of my favorite summer migrants, i love to catch up with them, and it is always a happy moment when you do finally catch up with them for the first time in the year. However, i was also shocked by the sheer number of 'alba' type Wagtails that were present, with around 30, of which most seemed to be of the continental 'White' Wagtail variety.

A single Ringed Plover also happened to be my first of the year as it fed on the flooded ground.

Moving on ward to Camp lane, we stopped at the north end so we could scan the edges well. The earlier reported flock of 10 Ringed Plover, yes 10! was still present, and at one point i had all 10 in the scope at the same time. As you would expect, the muddy edges at Grimley was looking superb for waders, and it continues to prove good!

3 Common Sandpiper were also very mobile around the north end, and 2 Redshank were feeding on the 'middle section'.

My first Common Whitethroat of the year, a male, was showing in the hedge between the road and the pool.

It was only when i scanned the far fields did i start to think we were in the middle of something special! A flock of 100+ Wagtails was feeding in the fields on east side, of which around half were of the White Wagtail variety! 50 White Wagtails!!

Obviously Wagtail movement had been very strong today, and it just so happened large numbers had dropped into the fields to feed. 9 Yellow Wagtail were feeding within the flock, and the rest were made of Pied Wagtails, but a flock of 100+ wagtails moving its way along the field is something!

All in all, a nice couple of hours!

MB

Patch Birding

11/05/12
A friday evening visit to the patch was rewarded by stunning views of a drake MANDARIN perched on the riverbank at blackstone, showing well.

Also at Blackstone, was a singing male Sedge Warbler, 2 Kingfishers, 4 Garden Warblers, a single Reed Bunting and many Whitethoat
MB

Migration!

6/05/12

I manadged to get in a little bit of sneaky twitching to Upton Warren at 9:20 PM in almost darkness to see the LITTLE GULL, which has taken up tempory residence there, i did manadge to get some video footage, however, my SD Card corrupted and i lost all footage from the Gull (and the remainder of this post) and all the footage from a non-birding visit to London, A timely reminder to back up anything taken ASAP rather than having to wait because of revision.
Luckily, i manadged to recover most of the photos from the memory card!

7/05/12
A early walk along the patch was moderatly rewarding, Whitethroats are now back in huge numbers and birds seemed to be calling from every suitable bit of habitat along the walk. There seemingly more common this summer, (As are Swift and Willow Warbler, Sudgestions?). A Garden Warbler was showing form the Garden, and a further 3 were located around the patch.
A Pait of GOOSANDER were showing along the river.

I recieved news that the LITTLE GULL  was still at Upton Warren, and that a BLUE-HEADED (Type) WAGTAIL had been seen. Firstly, we looked for the Wagtail, which was still showing on the at the Moors Pool, however, it had now moved onto the Broadmeadow Pool, and was increasingly hard to see (And photograph), But i tried!
Im actually quite supprised how these came out considering the distance.

Also showing here was 2 additional male YELLOW WAGTAIL's.
I have to admit, Both the 'Flava' wagtail ssp were very good looking, and was worth the effort to see even if one of them can't be classed as a species, It all add's to our knowledge!

The Blue-headed type worryingly showed a pale(ish) head, which could possibly indicate a hybrid (Channel Wag) or possibly even a backcross bird, Flava x Flavissima x Flava, however, this ID is not clear cut as it showed a mix range of features between both Ssp. Despite this, a very good looking Hybrid!

As mentioned however, the main reason for the visit was to see the LITTLE GULL, and it was still showing. However, the Bird rarely landed, and was therefore a pain in the arse to photograph!
However, as is the typical MB mentality, I tried!

Yes, in an hour or so, thats the best i manadged! Laughable, but tbh, my main focus when out birding is birding. A recognisable photo is good enought for me!

At 4:03 pm, This brute of a Great-Black Backed Gull dropped in, however, after incessant mobbing for a few minuites, it had left by 4:06

MB

Patch and some dirty twitching

22/08/10
Blackstone lake(general area)
huge numbers of warblers and tit's around in the blackstone vally ( you really have to visit the site to understand)
i was on a very very high expectation for a redstart but despite nearly 3 hours not one appered, buts its not all bad, now the breeding season has ended i can say the at least 1 pair of MARSH TITS bred in an undisclosed site near to blackstone raising (fledging 6 chicks(pos 2 broods????)), the first time a pair have attempted to breed on the patch.
the entire family was feeding in the hawthorn/willow and ferns on the east bank of the lake in glorious sunshine, a true triumph and a very nice reward for patch birding.
the usual site motto applied, loads and loads of warblers :
20c Willow warbler (many juv)
15c Chifchaff (age uncertain)
5 LESSER WHITETHROAT
4 GARDEN WARBLER
2 whitetroat (FEM)
6 blackcap ( 1 m)
1 reed warbler ( in a hawthorn???? who knew??????)
8 Goldcrest (largest flock this year after that harsh winter)
but i must say not even a spot fly or redstart, unbelievable, oh well, i enjoy my common birds sometimes when im in the mood


Later that evening:
titterstone clee hill
news of a wryneck up here was forgotton untill the evening when i reallised it wasent that far away, errrrr, yeah thats about as exited as im gonna get, cause it was a big huge, mega DIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPP, 2 hours in strong freezing wind, on a barren hilltop with only 1 juv wheatear, 2 ravern, 3 linnet and 4 meadow pipit to keep you company, birdwise that is, i was up here with my dad...........
yeah, nothing more to say
MB

MB

my family

28/06/09

local patch.after on the privious friday finding a family of whitethroat in the nettley area where the nightingale was(another namedropper)

the nightingale area

i decided to come back on sunday to get some shots.i couldent take my bins(as the strap broke at upton the day before and the bins crasshed onto the bourdwalk and broke something internilaly,so now i have no bins,my dad has an identical pair that i might 'borrow').so i took my scope and headed up river.i had no intention to lug my scope up to blackstone so i just stayed watching one of my favorite warblers.i put my scope down in the grass and heard one of the whitethroats calling.(i counted 1 adult male and 2 young on friday)not long after i picked up one of the juvaniles right at the bottom of the bush.i got my scope onto it and got a few decent shots

the male was initially wary of me being there but after about 5 mins he resumed his fartherly duties.he eventually gave superb out in the open views at the end of a branch.

overall i counted 6 whitethroats(pair and 4 young)after getting decent views of all the juvaniles/female birds i was able to single the adult female out by the lack of a gape as well as a few other small fetures.but apart from this family there was little else around apart from a lesser whitethroat(still holding teritory on moorhall meadow) and 4 garden warbler and 2 coal tits on feeders.my other focous was to see some insects the ones i identified were:

2 small tortoiseshell

3 ringlet

20c meadow brown

1 red admiral

1 peacock

20c small coppers

10c speckled woods

and this unidentified moth(or butterfly)

didnt do much exploring over the patch this weekend and just concintrated in a few areas.back to normal next week.

MB