Thusday 28th October 2010 - Shenstone

After saying yesterday that there was no sign of any Redwings or Fieldfares through over the patch, I had a fair few over during today's visit.

I checked out the area around Butts Lane/Back Lane first. This area of the patch was relatively quiet at first glance other than the 120+ Wood Pigeons feeding in the stubble. After a little while I had 2 Skylarks (one was up singing), 1 Jay and a fly over Pied Wagtail & Meadow Pipit.

For something a bit different I decided to walk the periphery of Stanklyn Woods. Its private land so I can only skirt 2 sides along which the lane runs. Here I picked up a Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Tree Creeper. I also saw a Marsh Tit in a tit flock alongside Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. Picking up Marsh Tit was quite pleasing as they are not exactly thick on the ground around the patch. Also on this section of the patch I had a flock of 13 Redwings fly over heading NW.

Whilst walking further along Stanklyn Lane towards the paddocks I had a mixed thrush flock of c.150 Redwing and 20 Fieldfare over heading W. About fifteen minutes or so later a flock of 33 Fieldfare flew over, also heading W. The paddocks themselves were quiet with only 3 Mistle Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker present. Also seen over Stanklyn Lane were a Common Buzzard and a Jay.

Heath Lane model aircraft field had 9 Skylarks over heading W and a Kestrel was seen hovering at the rear of the field. On the wires next to the paddock were c.70 Linnets and a Mistle Thrush. A flock of 12 Fieldfares flew over heading NW.

Witch Lane was unusually quiet with the only birds of note being 2 Grey Herons and c.60 Wood Pigeons in one of the fields and 2 Common Buzzards down on the deck in a ploughed field eating worms. Yes they really do, its probably why Buzzards are so successful and spreading so rapidly...they are adaptable when it comes to feeding habits and food types.

There were still a few insects to be seen today, especially with the Ivy flowers attracting good numbers of Wasps and small numbers of Bees. The highlight in terms of insects today though was a single Migrant Hawker Dragonfly seen zipping about at the edge of Stanklyn Wood. I only wish the little beggar would have landed so I could have got some photos. Not that it mattered as it had been quite an enjoyable visit today.