Tues 30th Nov - Shenstone & Waxwings (yet again)

At Captains Pool today there were c.20 Siskin (the first this winter) and c.20 Goldfinch feeding in an alder on North side of pool near boathouse. Also a single Grey Heron in an adjacent alder. A small tit flock passed through. As well as the usual Blue Tits and Great Tits, the flock also included a Coal Tit, 7 Long-tailed Tits and a Goldcrest. The pool itself was mainly frozen over except for an area kept ice free by circling Mallards. In total there was the c.70 resident Mallards, 1 Canada Goose and the single drake Shoveler. 15 Black-headed Gulls were also present (TS all sightings).

Due to the conditions on a number of the lanes around the patch I decided to just visit Stanklyn Lane (its on the flat and is the most well used). I parked up and started by walking the beet field. Here I had c.80 Linnets, 55 Skylarks, 4 Meadow Pipits and 1 Pied Wagtail. A single Lapwing flew over heading West. Along the edge of footpath between the beet field and the small field (carrot field as I call it....well the farmer grew carrots there last year and I have to give these places names!) there were c.20 Chaffinch feeding on the ground with 3 Yellowhammers (2♂). At the back of the carrot field was a large mixed finch flock containing many Chaffinches, Greenfinches, 40+ Linnets, 10 Goldfinches and a single ♀ Brambling. 4 Redwings were in the Hawthorns along Stanklyn Lane.

Yellowhammer & Chaffinches - 30th Nov 2010:

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Just a brief update on the Waxwings in Kidderminster. This morning there were 4 Waxwings feeding between the Wood Street back gardens and Perrett Walk. On returning from the patch, this number had increased to 8 Waxwings which were present until 1:50 pm when they flew off towards the Bewdley Road. I was unable to re-locate them after.

Monday 29th November 2010 - Shenstone

Only had time for a quick whistle stop visit to the patch today and concentrated my efforts on Witch Lane, Stanklyn Lane and Captains Pool.

I started at Witch Lane where 2 Kestrels (1♂ & 1♀) and 11 Black-headed Gulls were seen. Not a single Lapwing was present today.

From Witch Lane I headed down to Stanklyn Lane. 4 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings and 6 Blackbirds were in the Hawthorns by the paddocks. c.60 Linnets and 27 Skylarks were seen at the beet field and c.80 Meadow Pipits flew up out the field opposite.

Captains Pool was almost frozen with a small area being kept free by c.60 Mallards busy circling around. Also in the free water were a Mute Swan and a drake Shoveller. 11 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Moorhens were seen on the ice.

Sunday 28th November 2010 - Shenstone

A fairly quiet day around the patch today. The temperature had dropped quite substantially and although it was sunny with clear skies, there was still large areas of ground frost.

In the morning, there were c.40 Linnets and small numbers of Chaffinch and Greenfinch perched in the tree in the middle of Stanklyn Lane beet field. Also, a Common Buzzard was seen over being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows (MP).

On the afternoon, I started my tour of the patch at Witch Lane where there were now only 10 Lapwings present. Also seen in this area were 6 Skylarks, 7 Long-tailed Tits and a Mistle Thrush.

The only birds of note at the Back Lane/Butts Lane triangle were a Common Buzzard and a single Fieldfare. Heath lane was equally as devoid of birds so it was quickly on to Stanklyn Lane beet field. As well as the c.40 Linnets that were still present, I also had 23 Skylarks and c.40 Starlings (which were looking rather resplendent perched out in the afternoon sun - see photo below).

My final stop of the day was Stanklyn Lane paddocks where a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard were present. The small field adjacent to the public footpath (opposite junction with Heath Lane) contained 17 Meadow Pipits and a further 20 Linnets. Whilst scanning this area I had a flock of 32 Golden Plover fly over heading West. Interestingly enough fellow local patch birder Craig Round had, presumably, the same flock fly over his patch (Lutley) heading SW only a matter of 10-15 minutes before. Lutley is about 12 miles away from my patch and this is an interesting correlation between the 2 sites. For more information/sighting details for Lutley check out Craig's blog at the following Link: http://lutleybirder.blogspot.com/

Starling - 28th November 2010:

Saturday 27th November 2010 - Waxwing (again!)

Unfortunately today I was unable to get around the patch as my other half had the motor to go with the in-laws to see the niece's ballet performance...needless to say I decided to opt out of said event.

Whilst popping out into the back garden, just after mid-day, I noticed that a single Waxwing was feeding on the Rowan 2 doors down. I set up my scope and took a few photos. This handsome chappy was very photogenic and a lot less flighty than the flock earlier in the week. It stayed in the gardens till about 1:30 pm and later relocated to the nearby Perrett Walk.

What a result..much better than a spending the afternoon watching a load of kids prancing about on stage! All I need now is to pick one up on patch...this week, surely!

Waxwing - Kidderminster, 27th November 2010:

Thursday 25th Nov 2010 - Shenstone & Lower Bittell

This morning I finally got back around the patch (it seems like a lifetime ago but its only been since Saturday!)

I started at the Butts Lane/Back Lane triangle where 3 Common Buzzards were up on arrival. After a short while a ♀ Kestrel went over the large stubble field at the top of back lane and this put up c.40 Skylarks. As expected, there were no Waxwings on the Pyracantha hedge here...in fact it was performing as good as usual with just a pair of Wood Pigeons perched on top. A flock of 18 Redwing flew over heading West.

From the triangle I headed across the A450 and onto Witch Lane. The ploughed field only contained 51 Lapwings today but much to my joy there were 2 Golden Plover with them. Also in this field were 8 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Herring Gull and c.100 Starlings. The stubble field opposite the old grain store contained 20 Stock Doves.

I finished my visit today at a very quiet Captains Pool. The only birds of note here were a 2 Shoveller (1 drake).

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From Shenstone I headed 12 miles across Worcestershire to Lower Bittel Reservoir to try and see the ♀ Red-breasted Merganser that had been present since yesterday (a county tick for me). On arrival I scanned Lower Bittell and picked up the bird with 3 ♀ Goosander. It was a result but a bit unsatisfying as the bird was fairly distant and the light wasn't great. I decided to wait and see if it came closer and after about 30 minutes it flew over with 6 ♀ Goosander and landed on the smaller Mill Shrub pool on the other side of the road...my patience was rewarded and much better views gained.

All I need now is to get one on the patch at Captains Pool. Not outside the realms of possibility as fellow local birder (TS) recorded one there a number of years ago.

Red-Breasted Merganser (right) with Goosander - Mill Shrub Pool:

Red-breasted Merganser - Mill Shrub Pool: