3rd & 4th November 2013 - Shenstone

Sunday 3rd November:
Today, I arrived on the patch mid afternoon and decided to undertake a walk around the 'beet field'.  This proved rather successful as I picked up a flock of 8 Corn Buntings feeding there.  This was the first sign of them starting to flock together for the winter.  Also of note during the walk were 12 Linnet, 7 Meadow Pipits, 1 Yellowhammer and a Common Buzzard.
 
Heath Lane was relatively quiet but for a charm of 23 Goldfinch perched up on the wires above the paddock.  A single Mistle Thrush and a Common Buzzard were also observed.
 
Witch Lane was fairly productive with 13 Fieldfare over heading South and a Cormorant & Grey Heron also over.  A 2nd Grey Heron was sat in the field at the rear of the fishery.  A Kestrel, a Common Buzzard and a Jay were also noted.

Elsewhere on the patch...a drake Shoveler was present on Captains Pool (TS).
 
Corn Buntings - 3rd November 2013

Monday 4th November:
I only had time for a brief visit to the patch today, so only concentrated on a couple of areas.

At the top of Witch Lane (near the junction with the A450) there was a White Saddle fungus growing. This was the first time I had noted this species at Shenstone. 

 Further along the lane a covey of 4 Red-legged Partridge were noted and a Grey Heron was again sat in the field behind the fisheries.

Along Butts lane I discovered my 2nd new fungi for the patch when I came a cross 4 fruiting bodies of Boletus cisalpinus near Eastfields Farm.  The only birds of note here were a ♂ Kestrel, a Common Buzzard and a single Pied Wagtail.

Boletus cisalpinus