14/05/2010 - 4.30-6am, pretty quiet in a chilly breeze:

1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Lesser Whitethroats

Quiet on the patch tonight 7.30pm-9.00pm

5 Mallards
1 Grey Heron
1 Moorhen
1 Collared Dove
1 Swift
6 Swallows
1 Pheasant (Male in Newall Green fields)
2 Stock Doves
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Thursday 13th of May 2010 11:09:29 PM

13/05/2010 - 1-2pm

2 (Greenland) Wheatears - in Davenport Green sheep fields, also present yesterday
1 Siskin (very late one over)
1 Black-headed Gull (over)
6 Lapwings
3 Goldcrests (singing)

A pleasant walk in the Sunshine and breeze round the Newall Green fields and Crowland Hill with dog 9.25am-10.30am

Whitethroats
Chiffchaffs
Blackcaps
Swifts (quite a few over today)
1 Swallow
5 Bullfinch
2 Buzzard (displaying)
1 Sparrowhawk (f)
1 Mallard (over)
amongst the commoner species

Several Orange Tips enjoying the Sunshine on Crowland Hill.

That's OK Henry, the way you worded your posting of the Barn Owl, I thought you were trying to steal it off my self-found list for a minute!!!

I've let my niece Lydia have the Willow Tit tonight at Chorlton but this Barn Owl is definately one which is staying on my self-found list!!

Oh yeah, thanks Phil!

Glad I found the Barn Owl yesterday Henry.

I searched the area after driving down the lane and catching a fleeting glimpse of an Owl species and managed to find it hunting nearby in the area where I initially thought it had headed towards.

I was amazed when it turned out to be a Barn Owl!!!



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 09:02:20 AM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 11th of May 2010 09:26:29 AM

10/05/2010 - 4.30am-5am and 9.30-10amish:

1 Barn Owl - my first here in 8 years of birding the area, also my 100th species for the area!
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Lesser Whitethroats

I'd guess the Swifts/House Martins were probably House Martins Ian. Didn't know they nested around there though, will check it out.
Thanks.
Henry.

p.s. Fledged Song Thrushes, Robins and Dunnocks around the garden today.


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 9th of May 2010 03:36:47 PM

today i took my first offical venture out bird watching leaving about 6am with my trusty Jack Russel and camera. I headed for Rowarth Hill and Brooks Drive (Hale section) plenty of noise (dawn chorus) but have yet to learn to distingush and identify certain calls. Any way my list begins

Wood Pigeons
Magpies
Sparrows
Starlings
Robins
Blue Tits
Blackbirds
ChiffChaff (heard)
Longtailed Tits
Dunnock
Bullfinch
Carrion Crow
Jay (heard)
Longtailed Tits
2 Swifts/House Martins (collecting mud at the end of the golf course on Brooks Drive)
An unidentified white bird with a black tail

I did notice about 8am that a lot of the birds disappeared/went quite but the Blackbird population increased :)

Cheers
Ian

09/05/2010 - 4.30-6.30am:

1 Garden Warbler (first of the year here, probably just passing through)
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Buzzard
4 Lapwings
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Stock Doves

Hi Ian,

Welcome to the forum.

The Cormorants over the patch are usually heading in the direction of Cheshire and roosting sites such as Rostherne Mere.

As for Painswick Park, I understand that they are making the lake deeper so it might be worth checking out when the work is complete for one or two new species on there.

The lake as it is at present looks pretty good for waders and might be worth checking out, although obviously this would have to be very early in the morning before the park gets busier.

Cheers

Phil

Phil Owen wrote:

---

7.30pm-8.30pm around the Davenport Green fields only including a good check of the hedgerows:

Just 1 Bullfinch (Male) amongst the usual species - no migrants tonight unfortunately

also:

1 Cormorant (over)
c20 Swallows (the resident 2 pairs were joined by a further passing flock which then flew north)
2 Swifts
2 Pheasants
8 Mallard
2 Moorhen

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 1st of May 2010 12:58:51 AM

---

Just a observation you mention the Cormorant flying over, I heard a report last year that it had taken up perching on Painswick Park Pond not that it will happen this year as they are working on it and there is very little water in it

Regards
Ian

07/05/2010 - continued...

1 Hobby - over, quickly heading N at 5.30pm.

07/05/2010 - 7.00-8.30am -

1 Whinchat - a sparkling male in the Newall Green fields, the 2nd local record, but very mobile around the hedgerows and bramble thickets.

2 Lesser Whitethroats
1 Reed Bunting
3 Cormorants - flew over
4 Stock Doves

05/05/2010 - 3 Lesser Whitethroats (incl 1 fem), the only birds of note seen this morning.

A stroll around with Phil and Lydia Owen this evening was generally quiet but enlivened just before dark by a singing Grasshopper Warbler in the Newall Green fields. It was singing from a different territory from the first sighting nearly a week ago but could be the same bird. Also 9 Swifts over this afternoon.

Evening visit to the patch 6.35pm-8.00pm with kids and Sid Ashton in tow:

7 Swifts (over Newall Green)
5 Swallows (Davenport Green)
7 Mallards
4 Buzzards
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff

Couldn't hang around to listen for the Gropper at dusk due to bad weather moving in.

Newall Green Fields 08.30 - 10.00, Sunny with cloud

Strangely quite on the fields this morning even the Lesser Whitethroat I found wasn't singing as I watched it perched in a small tree, just it's rather thin chi, chi call.

No sign of the patchers, Phil and Henry but the two Swifts that you reported yesterday Phil were still present.

7.30pm-8.30pm around the Davenport Green fields only including a good check of the hedgerows:

Just 1 Bullfinch (Male) amongst the usual species - no migrants tonight unfortunately

also:

1 Cormorant (over)
c20 Swallows (the resident 2 pairs were joined by a further passing flock which then flew north)
2 Swifts
2 Pheasants
8 Mallard
2 Moorhen

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 1st of May 2010 12:58:51 AM

30/04/2010 - 3 Lesser Whitethroats this morning. The new arrival seemed to be very mobile however, in the Davenport Green sheep fields. Otherwise a bit quiet but a winteresque flock of c40 Starlings glided around and haven't paired off yet.

29/04/2010 - Grasshopper Warbler still present and reeling just after first light this morning although more tucked into the shrubbery and undergrowth than yesterday. 6 Mallard chicks still going strong. No sign of Redstart in a brief search.
Forgot to add, 5 Linnets over yesterday evening and 3 Swifts over.
Thanks. Henry.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 29th of April 2010 06:37:57 PM

So glad that the Female Redstart decided to hang around so I could get back on the patch this evening to see it !! (I had just left Henry this morning to get to work when it was located)

Good views of it tonight in the hedgerows and another cracking local bird!!!

Quite a day on the patch!!



-- Edited by Phil Owen on Wednesday 28th of April 2010 09:43:46 PM

Female Redstart still present 7:20pm atleast. On the north side of the large sheep field with ponds in, north of Shay Lane at Davenport Green.

Info thanks top Henry Cook.

28/04/2010 - Quite a morning locally. The miles covered are paying dividend and produced an emphatic first for the patch. A Grasshopper Warbler reeled in the Newall Green fields and showed well to me and Phil Owen a few times at about 7.30am. It's whole body shook in order to shout out it's mechanical song and proclaim territory. It was present in the northern hedge of the large field with the bike loop in it.
Over on the Davenport Green sheep fields a bird flashed up onto a fence that i've been hoping to see in the area all spring. A fiery red tail attached to an grey-brown body identified it instantly as a female Redstart. It was highly mobile and I lost it all too soon as it moved around the quickly greening hedgerows. Also about were:

2 Lesser Whitethroats
3 Moorhens
2 Canada Geese
12 Mallards (no sign of recent clutch of chicks though)
2 Sparrowhawks
5 Lapwings
5 Stock Doves
7 Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit
3 Goldcrests

Tawny Owl called this evening at 8.30pm from Brooks Drive near Shay Lane. They've been so elusive this year that it's going to be a tricky test to prove breeding.
Pretty quiet in the Davenport Green sheep fields this evening with quite a few of the resident and summering species getting on with the task of breeding already.

Quick visit this evening to the Newall Green fields only, amongst the usuals were:

1 Lesser Whitethroat (heard calling distantly at 8.10pm in corner of field North of Bluebell Wood and eventually located on Crowland Hill)

Blackcaps
Chiffchaffs
Whitethroats
1 Jackdaw
3 Mallard
5 Swallows
1 Goldcrest
4 Song Thrushes
2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
1 Lesser-Black Backed Gull

Also, lots of Greenfinches heading in the direction of the Airport at dusk.

Walk round 10.45am-12.45pm:

A lot busier round the patch with lots of birds about, amongst the usual stuff were:

1 Lesser Whitethroat (Newall Green fields in usual place)
3 Willow Warblers (Newall Green fields, first ones on here for over a week now )
Common Whitethroats (Loads about in Newall Green fields)
Blackcaps (1 in sheep fields and loads in Newall Green fields)
Chiffchaffs (Davenport Green and Newall Green fields)
6 Swallows (5 in Sheep fields, 1 in Newall Green fields)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
5 Meadow Pipits
2 Pheasant
1 Moorhen
3 Stock Doves (2 Davenport Green, 1 Newall Green fields)
1 Goldcrest
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Canada Geese
3 Mistle Thrush
3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls (2 in pristine condition in the sheep fields)
3 Lapwing (displaying over Sheep fields)
1 Grey Heron
2 Mallard

Also, 1 Speckled Wood Butterfly over the Lane.

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 26th of April 2010 01:47:30 PM

Afternoon walk round the patch with Sid Ashton trying to locate the Lesser Whitethroats.

No luck on this occasion unfortunately, however the weather wasn't being particularly kind to us.

Amongst the usual stuff were:

Several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats (No Willow Warblers about again which I do find strange??)

2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
1 Lapwing
2 Grey Heron
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
9 Mallard
2 Stock Dove
3 Swallow

We also had good 'scope views of a lone Male Northern Wheatear in the Sheep fields.

Great to meet you again Sid and really enjoyed your company.








-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 25th of April 2010 07:23:49 PM

Walk round the whole patch 7.30am-11.30am:-

2 Lesser Whitethroat in Newall Green fields
Lots of Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff about now.
Cormorant (over)
2 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
3 Bullfinch
4 Swallows
Also, nice to see a pair of Mallard with 6 Ducklings on the long pond.

Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, White and an unconfirmed Brown Butterfly seen.

A bit off-patch but near Hale Barns this afternoon were a couple of Muscovy Ducks stood by a marl pit just sw of junction 6 of the M56. Coming to a pond near you soon!

23/04/2010 - 1 Linnet hanging around the sheep fields this morning. Viz-mig picked up from recent days with ... a single Swallow! Lesser Whiteys still belting out their terminal rattle.

Lesser Whitethroat in the hawthorns in the Newall Green field showing very well 17.40

Walk round the Newall Green fields 6.45pm-8.00pm, amongst others:

1 Meadow Pipit
1 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
3 Bullfinch
1 Chiffchaff

Also at 7.45pm, I managed to find 1 silent Lesser Whitethroat flitting around in one of the bushes. My niece was really pleased with another lifer!!

21/04/2010 - 7-9am and 12-1.30pm (with Sid Ashton):

2+ Tree Pipits (seen first thing but not confirmed till the afternoon, showed well in grassy field just west of Newall Green ridge - Grid Ref - SJ806868)
2 Lesser Whitethroats (males)
4 Canada Geese (paired off now it seems after weeks of fighting!)
Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat (most of the Willow Warblers have cleared off)

20/04/2010 -

2 Lesser Whitethroats (bit tricky to hear in blustery conditions but one showed well by Newall Green ridge)
6 Swallows
1 Linnet
c50 Carrion Crows
4 Lapwings

Just to add to Henry's posting, 1 Lesser Whitethroat was still singing away as I crossed Newall Green fields at 10.45am.

19/04/2010 - 7.00-10.30am in the Newall Green + Davenport Green fields with Phil Owen. As we enter the peak migration period now it was with excitement that we hit the fields this morning especially after overnight drizzle and low cloud. Out of 42 species seen notable sightings included:

2 Lesser Whitethroats (singing males in the Newall Green fields)
13 Wheatears (4+ Greenland race birds. One confused us by perching up in a mature tree!)
1 Whitethroat
8 Willow Warblers (fall overnight)
6 Chiffchaffs
10+ Blackcaps
5 Swallows
3+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
12 Meadow Pipits (generally poor numbers bolstered by a flock of 10 which move through quickly)
1 Goldcrest
6 Canada Geese
3 Lapwings
3 Kestrels
3 Mistle Thrushes

An extensive search of the Newall Green fields 7.15am-9.15am

1 Sand Martin (over) A patch first, easily identified by close views overhead
2 Swallows
Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Chffchaff
Blackcap
Bullfinch
Mallard
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk

No probs Rob. A shame it vanished so soon but i'll be out later for another look to try and relocate it.

Great morning on the patch and for once the return of the Lesser Whitethroats was outdone by the superb male Ring Ouzel. Also about were:

2 Swallows
6 Chiffchaffs
10+ Blackcaps
2 Common Whitethroats
1 Willow Warbler (making it a 5 warbler morning)
5 Canada Geese
1 Grey Heron
1 Cormorant (over)
2 Kestrels
8 Stock Doves
1 Pied/White Wagtail
3 Meadow Pipits

No sign of RO later on but possibly still in area, a big thumbs up to Henry for the message.

Male Ring Ouzel, Davenport Green in a sheep field off Buttery House Lane and showing well.

Also Lesser Whitethroat.

Info thanks to Henry Cook

Evening walk with the family 6.45pm-8.15pm

5 Lapwings
2 Stock Dove
3 Swallows
3 Mallard
1 Cormorant
10 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls (over)
Lots of Corvids (Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw) feeding on the Sheep fields
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Buzzard
amongst others.

16/04/2010 - Bit of a buzz in the air this morning with the whitethroats back in the area now, what next?!

2 Common Whitethroats (back in the Newall Green fields)
9 Blackcaps (a couple of females arrived now)
7 Chiffchaffs
2 Swallows
1 Skylark (over)
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Grey Heron
5 Canada Geese (the 2 now resident birds chased off a pack of 3)
2 Moorhens

No migrants for the next few days for you Henry. Clear skies are fine its the wind direction that's the problem. May have to wait until weekend and that's if your lucky.

cheers
jason

13/04/2010 - Virtually no viz-mig today probably down to these clear skies. All migrants seem to be powering on quickly to their breeding grounds at too high an altitude to see.

1 Common Snipe
5 Lapwings
1 Cormorant (over)
1 Grey Heron (flew around with a pair of frogs legs hanging out of its mouth!)
5 Stock Doves
2 Redwings (singing their beautifully varied song)
1 Swallow
7 Chiffchaffs
6 Blackcaps

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 13th of April 2010 08:51:29 AM

30 Mins stroll round the Newall Green fields 8.30am-9.00am

Plenty of Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
1 Swallow
1 Fox

Quick visit with dog 6.45pm-7.15pm around Newall Green fields produced:-

3 Chiffchaff
3 Bullfinch
2 Jays
2 Mallard
1 Blackcap
1 Moorhen
amongst others

08/04/2010 - As expected the clear skies overnight meant that all the Wheatears departed with haste. The patch was left with:

2 Blackcaps
1 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaffs
3 Swallows (2 back on territory)
2 Kestrels
5 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron (not a local bird but another bird flying over quite high up, possibly migrating a bit)
2 Lapwings
3 Meadow Pipits
6 Stock Doves
2 Redwings

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 8th of April 2010 09:05:06 AM

Walk round 6.15pm-7.00pm with Henry Cook:-

9 Wheatear (7 Male, 2 Female)
2 Chiffchaff
4 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Common Snipe