Shenstone Birder: February 2021

Saturday 30th January 2021

I started today's visit by checking out the model aircraft field which is currently being used for grazing sheep. It was absolutely alive with birds both on the ground and along the hedgerow with large numbers of Redwings, Fieldfares and Starlings present as well as 2 Corn Buntings and c.100 Linnets.

Corn Buntings, Linnets & Redwings at Heath Lane - 30th January 2021

After a while everything went up in the air and quickly cleared out as a female Merlin went through low heading towards Stanklyn Lane. I quickly headed down to Stanklyn where a picked up the Merlin again briefly before it flew over the lane and headed towards Spennells.

Still present at Stanklyn was the huge Linnet flock that today numbered around c.1200 Linnets. This number is varying from day to day with the flock splitting at times into smaller flocks and can number anywhere between 500 to 2500 Linnets. This could perhaps corelate with why there is sometimes a flock of c.1000 Linnets a couple of miles up the road at Podmore/Elmley Lovett and similar at Woodrow.

(Partial) Linnet Flock at Stanklyn Fields - 30th January 2021

Across the lane at Stanklyn Paddocks a single Mistle Thrush was of note.

Mistle Thrush at Stanklyn Paddocks - 30th January 2021

Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January 2021

Wednesday 27th January 2021 - Spennells Valley NR

I started my ramblings today at Spennells Valley Nature Reserve in Kidderminster. It was actually pretty quiet on the wildlife front although I did pick up on a Nuthatch singing away from a tree top along Hoo Brook. By the looks of him, all wet and bedraggled, I think he had not long took a dip to have a wash.

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Also of interest along the brook was a rather nice clump of Snowdrops that I hadn't noticed previously.

Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)

Wednesday 27th January 2021 - Stone

From the reserve I headed over to check the fields at Stone. At Heath Lane I observed a good mix of birds with highlights being: 6 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Meadow Pipits, 19 Pied Wagtail, 1 Skylark and around 100 Linnets.

Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret)

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

A Common Buzzard was also present perched up along the hedgerow.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Thursday 28th January 2021 - Greatfield Road Allotments

Whilst working at my allotment today I saw my first Pine Ladybird of the year. This diminutive beetle was warming up in the sunshine. Better still it was a site first for me taking my total ladybird species for the plot up to 9 alongside Adonis, 2-spot, 7-spot, 14-spot, 16-spot, 22-spot, 24-spot & Harlequin. The more ladybirds I have on the plot the better as they really are are nature's pest control as they are voracious predators of aphids.

Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus)

Friday 22nd January 2021

Today was a mild & sunny day with lovely clear blue skies, so I started my walk by checking out Captain's Pool. Sadly it was virtually empty of birds but for the regular Mallards and Moorhens.

At the fields there were still at least 1000 Linnets present and around 300 Chaffinch. Whilst scanning through some of the Linnets that were perched up in tress along the field's edge I also picked up a single Brambling amongst them.

Linnets (Linaria cannabina)

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) with Linnets

Along the wooded edge of the field I also recorded my first Ladybird of the year when I found a 7-spot Ladybird basking on a leaf in the sunshine.

7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Also at the wooded edge I found two more fungi species for my site list, Yellow Brain and Common Jellyspot.

Yellow Brain (Tremella mesenterica)

Common Jellyspot (Dacrymyces stillatus)

Monday 18th to Thursday 21st January 2021

Monday 18th January 2021 - Captains Pool & Spennells Valley NR

At Captain's Pool an adult Mute Swan was still present. The previous day there had been an adult and a 1st winter Mute Swan present (as per Spennells Pensioner). A Grey Wagtail was present along the dam.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - 18th January 2021

Nearby along the footpath at the edge of Spenells Valley Nature Reserve a single Brambling was present with approximately 40 Chaffinch. A nice group of young Jelly Ear fungus was also recorded in this area.

Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) - 18th January 2021

Thursday 21st January 2021 - Greatfield Road Allotments

Today, on visiting my allotment plot I was greeted by the sight of 11 Redwings that were feeding down on the ground there. On my arrival they flew up to a nearby tree and perched lovely in the sunshine to allow for a couple of photos.

Redwings (Turdus iliacus) - 21st January 2021

Thursday 21st January 2021 - Stanklyn Wood

From my allotment I headed over to Stanklyn Lane to undertake a walk. I decided to walkalong the lane at the edge of Stanklyn Wood to see what may be of interest. During the walk I discovered two types of fungi; Witches' Butter and Hairy Curtain Crust and was pleased to see a few groups of Snowdrop starting to flower.

Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa) - 21st January 2021