Lutley Wedge 27/02/11 2.35pm Cold (6°c) Grey and cloudy.

Highlights of quick check of Wassell Grove Pools today in less than inspiring weather, were (1)m Brambling (my first this year) and a flock of (8+) Siskins feeding in the Alders around the pools (one of the Siskin was carrying a leg-ring). Also seen:- 1 Treecreeper 1 Common Buzzard and 3 Bullfinch.  

Treecreeper 27/2/11

 

'Record shot' of todays Brambling and 'ringed' Siskin 27/2/11

Below is a short sound recording (and sonogram) of a Redwing in full song i was lucky enough to hear at Wassell Grove Pools on 8/2/11, though sadly i missed the best chance to record this singing bird when it was much closer!  I'll be trying to get some better recordings of Redwing song, before they start to depart back to their northern Scandinavian breeding haunts in the coming few weeks.

Redwing song by Lutley Birder

Lutley Wedge 12/02/11 10.50am (10°c) Mild & sunny, scattered cloud. SW wind.

There was more than a hint of early spring in the air on the patch today in the mild and sunny weather conditions. 

A flock of c60 Fieldfares and 6 Redwing were feeding in the fields alongside the track to Wassell Grove Pools, and 14 Skylarks flew over towards Hodge Hill. Nearby at Wassell Grove Pools 4 Redpoll sp flew over >ENE and another 1 Lesser Redpoll and 9 Siskin were in the Alders. 10 Pied Wagtails were in the horse paddock at Grange Farm and 16 Yellowhammer were along Lutley Lane footpath. Also seen of note :- 3+ Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawks. 

Fieldfare 12/2/11

Lutley Wedge 08/02/11 12.55pm (8°c) Sunny, Clear skies and scattered high cloud. Brisk SE Wind

The undoubted highlight today was a superb flock of 50+ Waxwings i found at 2.50pm 'flycatching' from the top of an Ash tree on Brookwillow Rd/Rosemary Rd Halesowen, right on the border of the Lutley Wedge recording area and alongside Lutley Brook.

At Wassell Grove Pools 2 Ravens flew over heading South towards Clent, 10+ Redwings and 5 Fieldfares were in the horse paddocks and a flock of around 60+ Redwings also flew over with some dropping out into the hedgerows, (at least one of the Redwing was heard singing snatches of full song amongst lots of noisy sub-song) Also seen 2 Siskin and 1 Redpoll sp. 

Waxwing  8/2/11

'Off after another fly!' 8/2/11

Halesowen West Midlands 4/2/11 4.00pm

Only just outside of the Lutley Wedge recording area, a flock of 15+ Waxwings were perched on a TV aerial on Witley Avenue/Huntingtree Road briefly late this afternoon.