Sunday February 9

A blustery grey start, becoming generally brighter by midday. Dave and I decided to vary our route by heading along the road towards Bannams Wood.

Before we got there we came across the Yellowhammer field again, and counting revealed at least 75. Later on we came across another 52 birds a field away, but we couldn't be sure that they were different birds so we opted to stick to the first count, itself another site record for us.

Dave gained two year-ticks, Mistle Thrush and Marsh Tit, and we finally got a year tick we both needed, Treecreeper, in the woodland edge. Turning to head back down to the pool we counted at least 50 Chaffinches and  Brambling in the hedgerow along with our seventh Bullfinch of the day.

The pool and flashes were all well flooded, and after noticing a couple of Coot on the former, we were surprised by three Tufted Ducks which flew up with Mallards. The flashes looked busy. About 100 Mallard obviously knew that the shooting season had ended, and with them we spotted three Wigeon, one an adult male, and nine Teal.

38. Teal

drake Wigeon

Another year-tick was available, although we almost forgot that we hadn't seen one here yet this year. A pair of Canada Geese were standing at the back of the flash near a well hidden Green Sandpiper and five Snipe.

39. Canada Goose

A large flock of Jackdaws, about 200, and a similar number of Starlings made the whole area look full of birds. A Peregrine then flew past, but only Dave spotted it. He shouted, but I had been fiddling with the camera and failed to get onto it.

So I ended the day with a year-list of 63 (two behind Dave). Actually, the day wasn't quite over because we then noticed a large flock of Stock Doves flying out of the wood. We agreed a count of 100, which is another site record.

Finally, I thought I'd put in a photograph of a fungus we saw at the roadside below Bannams Wood.

Until I find out what its actually called I am naming it Burnt Bun Fungus, (I won't say what Lyn decided to name it in case anyone of a delicate disposition is reading this blog).

PS After a bit of Internet research I've come up with a possible identification. If correct, then my made up name was actually not a bad one. Its actual name is King Alfred's Cakes, latin name Daldinia concentrica.

Sunday February 2

At last the rain has abated and the sun has come out. Even before I got to where I park I noticed a bird which would become part of today's story. At least 50 buntings, all Yellowhammers as far as I could see, flew from the hedgerow between Bannams Wood and Morton Bagot hamlet.

Once Dave arrived we relocated them in the hedgerows around the paddocks, and eventually counted 67 (a new record count here for me) along with about 20 Reed Buntings. I suspect there were actually more Yellowhammers than we actually logged.

Yellowhammer

There seemed to be a lot of birds around generally, and we hadn't gone too far before I added a photo-tick, as a male Bullfinch showed well.

35. Bullfinch

As we approached the flashes we counted 159 Black-headed Gulls and 135 Lapwings flying about. Dave was a little ahead of me, and saw a Green Sandpiper there, but it had disappeared by the time I caught him up.

Just past the flash I looked across at the channel behind the hedge and located our only year tick of the day. Two Wigeon were swimming with the Mallards. Still no Teal though.

36. Wigeon

The views weren't great and the birds were partially obscured by the hedge, but they were worth a record shot.

Further on we saw one of 50 Linnets perched nicely on a tree above us, and Dave gripped me off again by seeing a Brambling which I missed out on.

Linnet

Later on, I drove to the south end and noticed a whole row of Linnets on the wires. This gave me an idea. Normally counting these Linnets involves counts like; 96, 97, 98, oh bugger...as they all fly off. So why not photograph them all, and count them later.

A flock of 176 Linnets

I'm really loving this camera.

Dave had gone by now, but I was not quite finished. Time to add another easy photo tick.

37. Jackdaw

They all count.

Friday January 31

Well the weekend is nearly upon us and as I reflect on another week of inactivity (birding wise), I can at least celebrate the triumphs of others.

Not least, Sam Clement, my former work colleague who has made the stunning discovery of a Yellow-browed Warbler in the unlikely setting of Uffmore Wood near Halesowen. She even managed to photograph it.

Closer to home, Mike has visited Morton Bagot today. He duly year-ticked the two Jack Snipe, but reported that the dearth of ducks continues. He then went to his own patch and added four more year-ticks, another Jack Snipe, some Tufted Ducks, Marsh Tit and Bullfinch.

The game is on.

Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler twitch

By early afternoon I could stand it no longer. Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler would be not only a West Mids tick, but a British tick too.

The sun came out, I got some of the furniture moving done and paint bought from B & Q for the decorating due to start next week (not by me of course, Dave the decorator will be coming to our aid). Time to head for Coleshill.

The actual destination was Hams Hall, and I joined a small crowd hoping to see the bird.

After about 15 minutes it duly obliged. Unfortunately I had made the tactical error of leaving my scope behind, so the views were sufficient only to confirm that I was looking at a Yellow-browed Warbler, though a dullish plumaged one.

On the other hand the call was very interesting. It was definitely Yellow-browed-like, but seemed slower, more deliberate, lacking the upward inflection of the second syllable. It reminded me of a slurred Pied Wagtail call. They are reputed to make a Sparrow-like call too, but I didn't hear that while I was there.

Sadly it never came close enough, nor remained still enough for me to get a shot of it. When I got home it was straight to the bird videos and I was relieved to hear the call notes in the Paul Doherty Warbler video was spot on for the calls I heard.

This was my 435th British tick (but my first since 2008), and my West Mids list stands at 293. I know you don't care, but it keeps me smug  content.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Its that time of year again.

I did my hour in pouring rain and strong wind, so was pleasantly surprised to do better than last year.

I saw:

2 Blackbirds
1 Blue Tit
1 Coal Tit
1 Dunnock
5 House Sparrows
1 Woodpigeon
1 Blackcap

The female Blackcap was the star bird, but was annoyingly camera shy. You'll just have to imagine that the fat ball feeder wasn't in the way.

Mike rang to say he got great views of the Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday.

Saturday 25 January

With a forecast for appalling weather for tomorrow morning I switched to Saturday for a change.

This morning the weather was OK, mostly cloudy with a few sunny spells. Water levels higher than ever, and bird numbers a bit depressed. The mild conditions were encouraging Song Thrushes to sing, and more unusually this Redwing was also singing away

When I reached the pool I finally got a year tick as a Green Sandpiper was flying around calling, although I failed to actually see it.

The flashes were a let down again, just 10 visible Snipe and four Black-headed Gulls. However, as I needed them for the photo list I decided to add one as it took off.

33. Black-headed Gull

After failing to find any Owls at the various stake outs I couldn't resist photographing a hedge full of Linnets.

The cunning plan was to walk up to the road and back beneath Bannams Wood to try to get some of the missing woodland birds. On the way, a Fieldfare posed nicely.

One bird which was proving strangely hard to photograph was Blackbird. They are much less tame out here in the countryside, but I wanted to get one on the list so I'm afraid the best I could do was this female.

34. Blackbird

The hoped for woodland birds largely failed to play ball, although I did add another unseen bird to the list, this time a calling Marsh Tit.

Finally I resorted to looking for signs of spring and noticed these Snowdrops under a hedge.

Shortly afterwards, Mike pulled up and we compared notes. He had added Mute Swan and Jay at his patch (plus Black Swan which I told him he couldn't count). He was on his way to Coleshill where a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler had been found. I am tempted, but it will have to wait for another weekend.

Sunday January 19

A beautiful sunny day. Dave couldn't make it, and there was no sign of Jon. This meant a photography day.

The only year tick I gained today was a Mistle Thrush which I could hear singing from Netherstead Farm.

So, to business. After ignoring 160 Linnets which were twittering from the copse, my first target was a female Greenfinch which sat up nicely on a hedge.

19. Greenfinch

Shortly afterwards I heard a Lesser Redpoll, but didn't see much worth recording until I got to the line of trees leading to the pool. Here I finally got some shots of Pheasant.

20. Pheasant

One bird which has been eluding me so far, common though they are, is Dunnock. So although it was distant I decided to add one which perched up on the hedge behind the pool.

21. Dunnock

The flashes contained several Lesser Black-backed Gulls, but predictably they flew off before I could get close enough to add them. About 80 Lapwings and a handful of Snipe was all I could muster. Still no ducks.

Back at Netherstead, the Mistle Thrush had stopped singing, but was now visible.

22. Mistle Thrush

The garden and feeders there also gave me some easy photo ticks.

23. Pied Wagtail

24. Collared Dove

25. Blue Tit

At this point I decided to take to my mobile hide, and drive down to the south end. Here I was greeted by the sight of 300 Linnets on the wires.

Some of the Linnets

Also a few more photo ticks.

26. Chaffinch

27. Meadow Pipit

28. Goldfinch

29. Song Thrush

I finally decided to leave, but further opportunities were in store. Driving past Bannams Wood I noticed a Raven heading for the pylon. I then played a protracted game of hide and seek with it, as it kept disappearing behind girders. In the end, this was my best effort.

30. Raven

And that was that...until the evening. Lyn and I were driving back from shopping in Alcester, going the country route. As we drove through the hamlet of Morton Bagot I decided I really ought to get Woodpigeon on the list.

31. Woodpigeon

Then, driving past Bannam's Wood I noticed a creature at the side of the road. This turned out to be a Buzzard feeding on something. The shot is taken through the car windscreen, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

32. Buzzard

A nice end to the day.