Lutley Wedge 31/03/11 08.00am (11°c) Grey and overcast with early rain and drizzle. Windy (S)➝(SW) F4

A Sand Martin flew over at Wassell Grove Pools this morning, the first on the patch this spring and (1♂1♀) Blackcaps were new arrivals. Otherwise vis mig was quiet in the strong and blustery SW wind with a Swallow flying north with 3 Meadow Pipits and a single Brambling.

Other grounded migrants included (1) Redpoll sp at Wassell Grove Pools and (1) ♂Wheatear along the Top Footpath (S.L.C).

1 Sand Martin ➝N

2 Swallow (1➝N)

1 Wheatear 

13 Meadow Pipit ➝N

1 Brambling ➝W

1 Redpoll sp (in)

3 Chiffchaff

2 Blackcap

♂ Wheatear Top Footpath 31/3/11

Lutley Wedge 30/03/11 07.50am (9°c) Cool, grey and overcast, rain later. Wind S/SW F3

A good movement of Fieldfare this morning and the first Blackcap of the spring (S.L.C), but otherwise remains pretty quiet migration wise. 

Visible Migration :-

157 Fieldfare (85➝N) (70➝WNW) (2 in)

3 Redwing ➝N

14 Meadow Pipit ➝N

2 Redpoll sp ➝WSW

2 Siskin ➝N

1 Herring Gull ➝SE

3 L.B.B Gull ➝NE

Fieldfares heading North Wassell Grove Pools 30/3/11

Lutley Wedge 28/03/11 11.00am (8°c) Early fog clearing. Wind (E) F 0/1

Thick fog this morning ruined any chances of some vis mig early on, and a late morning visit after the fog had lifted failed to find much if anything in the way of grounded migrants. All in all quiet!

33 Meadow Pipits (2 ➝N) (31 grounded)

1 Swallow (Wassell Grove Pools)

1 Redwing (Wassell Grove Pools)

3 Chiffchaff

Lutley Wedge 27/03/11 08.50am (BST) (5°c) Cold grey and overcast. Wind (E) F2

'All about Pipits.....Until the big Milvus!'

With a big improvement in visibility today after yesterdays disappointing migration non-event due to the thick murk, it was good to see birds were on the move again in numbers even if it mainly involved Meadow Pipits. At least (134) flew through and several flocks were grounded by the heavily overcast skies, but the undoubted highlight was a superb Red Kite which flew over at Wassell Grove Pools heading SW at 10.52am.

Also at Wassell Grove Pools:- 1 Swallow, 2+ Chiffchaff.

Visible Migration:-

1 Red Kite ➝SW

208 Meadow Pipit (82➝N/NW) (51➝NE) (1➝S) (74 grounded)

13 Redpoll sp (10➝N) (2➝SE)

14 Redwing ➝SE

Red Kite Wassell Grove Pools 27/3/11

Lutley Wedge 26/03/11 07.15am (6°c) Cold grey and misty (poor visibility). Wind (NE) F2

Back to winter birding this morning in the cold and misty weather conditions! There was very little visible migration other than a handful of Meadow Pipits that struggled through the murk, and signs of departing winter visitors with Siskins and Fieldfares heading back North. 

Wassell Grove Pools/Visible Migration :-

13 Meadow Pipit ➝N/NE

30 Fieldfare ➝N

14 Siskin ➝NE

Also seen :- 

7 Redwing

4 Chiffchaff

2 Lesser Redpoll (Lutley Brook S.L.C)

Lutley Wedge 25/03/11 07.30am (5°c) Sun and patchy high cloud. V.light breeze E/SE F1

A small fall of (3) Wheatears this morning (1♀ Wassell Grove Pools) (1♂1♀ near Foxcote). Interestingly the ♀ Wheatear in the horse paddock at Wassell Grove Pools, was seen collecting a beak full of horse hair off the ground, obviously the urge to begin nest building is strong! (1)♂ Swallow again at Wassell Grove Pools  and nearby at the Business Centre, whilst

(40+) Meadow Pipits were still near Wassell Grove, and (4) Chiffchaffs were singing at various locations around the patch.

Visible Migration :-

2 Lapwing (1➝SW) (1 ➝SE)

8 Brambling ➝SE

3 Redpoll sp (2➝N)

3 Goldfinch ➝NE

7 Fieldfare ➝SW

26+ Meadow Pipit➝N

2 alba Wagtail (1➝N) (1➝SW)

2 B.H.Gull ➝N

♂ Wheatear 25/3/11

Lutley Wedge 24/03/11 07.50am (7°c) Fine and sunny, clear skies. Patchy early mist (E/SE) F1

A classic day on the patch of departing winter visitors and newly arriving spring migrants. The first (1) ♂ Swallow this year was at Wassell Grove Pools early this morning (a new earliest arrival date at Lutley) and a superb flock of (11) Waxwings dropped in at 09.47am before flying off➝ WSW.  

Visible Migration/migrant totals:-

1 Swallow

3 Chiffchaff

11 Waxwing ➝WSW

31 Fieldfare ➝N/NE

13 Redwing (12➝N)

2 Redpoll sp ➝SSE

15+ Meadow Pipit ➝N

Waxwing and ♂ Swallow Wassell Grove/Pools 24/3/11

Lutley Wedge 24/03/11

Sound recording and sonogram of ♂ Swallow at Wassell Grove 24/3/11

Lutley Wedge 23/03/11 07.40am (6°c) Sun and clear skies. (E) F1

Another patch year tick this morning, (1)♀ Goosander was at Wassell Grove Pools at 07.40am before flying off high to the ESE. (3+) Chiffchaff were singing at different locations around the patch. 

Visible Migration :-

1 Goosander ➝ENE

3 Redpoll sp (2➝N) (1➝ESE)

1 Siskin ➝W

1 Goldfinch ➝N

1 Brambling ➝SW

11 Fieldfare (10➝N)

6 Meadow Pipit ➝N (A flock of 45+ Meadow Pipit were also near Wassell Grove)

2 Skylark ➝WSW

24 Starling ➝E

♀ Goosander and Siskin Wassell Grove Pools 23/3/11

Lutley Wedge 22/03/11 11.30am (15°c) Warm, Sun and scattered cloud. Light (NW) breeze F1

A quick late morning visit to Wassell Grove Pools. (2) Chiffchaffs were singing and there was some late 'vis mig' with small numbers of Meadow Pipits going over, possibly the tail end of a larger movement from earlier this morning.

Visible Migration 11.30-12.30 :-

25 Meadow Pipit ➝N (including a flock of 12)

Also (35+) Meadow Pipit were 'off passage' in a field near Wassell Grove. 

Meadow Pipit heading North 22/3/11

Lutley Wedge 21/03/11 07.50am (9°c) Grey and overcast with patchy mist/low cloud. Wind (SW) F2

The overcast and slightly murky conditions grounded (1)♂ Wheatear near the entrance track to Wassell Grove Pools, briefly at 08.00am (the first on the patch this spring), and (20+) Meadow Pipits were seen nearby. 

At Wassell Grove Pools, still only (1) Chiffchaff singing.

Visible Migration :-

8 Siskin (7➝N) (1➝WNW)

2 Redpoll sp ➝N

5 Meadow Pipit ➝N

1 alba Wagtail ➝NE

1 Herring Gull ➝E

♂ Wheatear Wassell Grove 21/3/11

Chiffchaff Wassell Grove Pools 21/3/11

Lutley Wedge 20/03/11 07.50am (5°c) Cold, cloudy and overcast start, brighter later a.m. Wind SW/S F2

Visible migration this morning included the first 3 Cormorants of the spring on the move. 2 Lapwing flew through and there was a slight increase in numbers of Meadow Pipit going over, though after an initial flurry of Pipit passage early doors including an impressive flock of 29 heading North, passage slowed dramatically and stopped soon after.
The only obvious new grounded migrant today was (1) ♀Stonechat near Wassell Grove (the 2nd this spring) though still no sign of any passage Wheatear yet. (1) Chiffchaff, (21) Redwing and (5) Fieldfare were around Wassell Grove Pools.
Visible Migration :-
37 Meadow Pipit ➝N
3 Cormorant ➝NW
2 Lapwing ➝SE
6 Siskin ➝E/SE
3 Goldfinch ➝NE
16 Starling ➝E
3 Herring Gull ➝E/NE
1 B.H.Gull ➝W/SW
3 Grey Heron (2➝WNW) (1➝SE)

♀ Stonechat Wassell Grove and Cormorants 20/3/11

Chiffchaff Wassell Grove Pools 20/3/11

 (sound recording/sonogram from this bird below...)

Chiffchaff Sonogram 20/3/11

Lutley Wedge 19/03/11 08.50am Sunny, clear skies Light (S) wind

1 Chiffchaff this morning at Wassell Grove Pools also 9 Redwing.

Visible Migration :-

22 Meadow Pipit ➝N

1 alba Wagtail ➝NNW

6 Siskin (4➝N/NW) (1➝NE) (1➝S)

Also seen :- (10+) Fieldfare, (30+) Meadow Pipit and (1) Goldcrest.
(1)♀Brambling (Lutley Brook) (P.Clement)
(1) Small Tortoiseshell butterfly 

Redwing 19/3/11

Lutley Wedge 18/03/11 08.20am (4°c) Grey cloudy and overcast. Wind Light (N)

There was an influx of (184+) Redwing today including at least (177) at Wassell Grove Pools, whilst visible migration consisted of small numbers of flyover Meadow Pipit, Redpoll, Siskin, a single alba Wagtail and (2) Lapwing. Also seen :-(2) Chiffchaffs along Lutley Brook and (8) Fieldfare.

Visible Migration 08.20-10.20am:-

2 Lapwing ➝NW

12 Meadow Pipit ➝N

1 alba Wagtail ➝N

6 Redpoll sp (2➝N) (4➝SW)

5 Siskin (2➝NE)

2 Grey Heron➝SE

Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipit 18/3/11

Lapwing and Redpoll 18/3/11

Lutley Wedge 17/03/11 12.10pm (12°c) Warm, Sun and scattered cloud. Light (NW) wind

(3)♂ Chiffchaffs today (Hodge Hill/Top Footpath/Lutley Brook)

Also seen :-

2 Raven (Wassell Grove Pools)

25+ Meadow Pipit (5➝North)

16 Fieldfare

2 Redwing

3 Siskin

1 Lesser Redpoll (Lutley Brook) (S.L.C)

5 Common Buzzard

Chiffchaff 17/3/11

Lutley Wedge 16/03/11

1 Chiffchaff (Top Footpath) the first this spring. (S.L.C)
1 Woodcock (Wassell Grove Pools) (S.L.C)
70+ Fieldfare (Wassell Grove Pools) (S.L.C)
10+ Redwing


1 Marsh Tit (S.L.C) The first record for Lutley Wedge.

Lutley Wedge 13/03/11 09.50am (5°c) Cool and cloudy, early rain a.m clearing. (W) wind

A flock of 32 Meadow Pipits were near Wassell Grove Pools, with 60+ Redwing and 47 Fieldfare nearby. 

Lutley Wedge 12/03/11 08.00am (6°c) Grey and overcast start. S/SE Breeze F2

Highlights today were the first migrant ♂ Stonechat this spring in horse paddocks near Wassell Grove Pools, and a flock of (13) Golden Plover which flew over at 08.09am.

Also seen:- (18) Redwing, (30) Fieldfare, (1) Herring Gull, (4) Common Buzzard.

Visible Migration Wassell Grove Pools 08.00-0930 :-

13 Golden Plover ➝NE 

8 Siskin (5➝N) 

2 Goldfinch ➝ENE

5 Meadow Pipit (4➝N/NW) (1➝S)

1 Grey Heron ➝SE

19 Black-headed Gull (18 ➝WNW) (1➝SSW)  

1 Herring Gull ➝SW

♂ Stonechat 12/3/11

Lutley Wedge 11/03/11 08.00am (3°c) Cold, Sunny, Broken high cloud, breezy SW F3

More patch year ticks today, 2 Red-legged Partridge and the first Lapwing of the spring.  Also a flock of 85 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare were feeding in the horse paddocks at Wassell Grove Pools and there was a trickle of 'vis mig' with 5 Meadow Pipit flying ➝North.

Approx 20 Meadow Pipits were also near Wassell Grove including at least 3♂ displaying.

Also seen:- 1 Siskin, 7 Skylark, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Common Buzzard.  

Visible Migration 08.25-09.25am:-

1 Lapwing➝S/SE

5 Meadow Pipit➝N

1 Redpoll sp➝W/SW

Displaying ♂ Meadow Pipit 11/3/11

Lutley Wedge 08/03/11 1.00pm (9°c) Sunny, clear skies. Breezy SW

Signs today that Meadow Pipit passage is finally getting underway. A flock of (23) Meadow Pipits were newly arrived in a field near Wassell Grove, and the first birds were seen on territory singing and 'display flighting'. 

Also seen :-

3 Siskin (1 ➝E/SE)

4 Skylark

7 Redwing (Wassell Grove Pools)

1 Goldcrest

3 Common Buzzard

Meadow Pipit and ♀ Siskin 8/3/11

Lutley Wedge 07/03/11 12.20pm (8°c) Sunny, clear skies. Light E/SE Breeze

Two patch 'year ticks' today. A single Meadow Pipit was in a field near Wassell Grove (first sighting since late November last year) and a superb ♂ Peregrine. The Peregrine was first picked up some distance away soaring over the Top Footpath, before circling high over Wassell Grove Pools on a thermal with (4) Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk!

Also seen:- 

(2) ♂♀ Teal (still present at Wassell Grove Pools)

(4) Siskin (2➝North)

(1) Skylark

♂Peregrine and Meadow Pipit 7/3/11

♀ Teal Wassell Grove Pools 7/3/11

Lutley Wedge 04/03/11 2.40pm Cold (5°c) Sunny, clear skies and patchy cloud. Cold NE wind

Finally some signs today that things are beginning to move! I found (1♂1♀) Eurasian Teal at Wassell Grove Pools this afternoon, the first sighting at Lutley Wedge for 9 years! These birds represent only the 3rd record for the local patch with the only two previous records of Teal being (1♀ 21/12/00 and 1♂ 10/3/02). 

According to the books (BTO Migration Atlas/New Birds of the West Mids) spring migration of Teal from Britain & Ireland to northern European breeding grounds begins in late February, with numbers wintering in the Midlands typically reaching a peak in December then declining until few are left by April. 

Also seen at Wassell Grove Pools :- 1 Redpoll sp, 2+ Siskin, 1 Common Buzzard. approx 160 Black-headed Gulls flew over >East probably heading for roost at Bartley Reservoir.  

♂♀ Teal Wassell Grove Pools 4/3/11

Lutley Wedge 3.00pm Cold (5°c) Sunny, clear skies. Cold NE wind

Things remain pretty quiet bird-wise at the moment, with no obvious signs on the patch of any spring migration getting underway. I checked my usual site for Meadow Pipits to see if any were back on territory to no avail, though they should be returning soon as i had birds displaying on the 9th March last year. Both Meadow Pipit and Stonechat should start to move North through the patch hopefully in the next week or so, and are normally the first signs of Spring migration here.

A quick check of Wassell Grove Pools was also quiet with only (1) Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin and  3 Redwing seen along with a couple of soaring Common Buzzard, amongst the usual suspects.

Common Buzzard 2/3/11