Lutley Wedge 31/03/12 (7°c/11°c) Overcast, drizzle am. Light (N/NE) breeze F1/2

"Drizzle delivers"

A cold front moved slowly south over the UK overnight, replacing largely clear skies with thickening low cloud and drizzle, and bringing a small fall of night migrants on the patch this morning.  

1 Willow Warbler (The first this spring, and new earliest arrival date at Lutley Wedge)

2 ♂ Wheatear

5 Lapwing (in then➝SSE)

1 Swallow

1 Blackcap

Willow Warbler 31/3/12 

Wheatears and Lapwing 31/3/12

Lutley Wedge 30/03/12 (7°c/13°c) Cool and overcast. Wind (NW) F2

(2) Golden Plover flew over at Wassell Grove Pools, and slightly better numbers of Meadow Pipits were on the move, but otherwise fairly quiet. Still a few late winter thrushes around with a flock of 30+ Redwing dropping in and 34 Fieldfare heading North. 

2 Golden Plover ➝WSW

2 Swallow

3 Chiffchaff

47 Meadow Pipit (29➝N/NW) (9➝N/NE) (3➝S/SE)

53 Redwing  (5➝NE) (12➝NW) (36 in)

34 Fieldfare ➝NW

2 Siskin ➝W

1 Reed Bunting 

Golden Plover 30/3/12 

Lutley Wedge 29/03/12

sightings via (SLC)..
2 Swallow 
3♂ Blackcap
7+ Chiffchaff
17 Meadow Pipit 
16 Redpoll sp ➝N
6 Raven

Lutley Wedge 28/03/12 (4°c/21°c!) Sunny, clear. Wind Calm/Var

"As you were, bar the goose"

1 Greylag Goose➝ESE

1 Swallow

2♂ Blackcap

6+ Chiffchaff

8 Meadow Pipit➝N

9 Redwing (8➝SSW)

4 Fieldfare (in)

3 Grey Heron

♂ Blackcap and Greylag Goose 28/3/12

Lutley Wedge 27/03/12 (3°c/19°c) Sunny, clear. Light (E) breeze F1

"High finch action"

Highlights included the first (2) ♂ Blackcaps on the patch this spring at Wassell Grove pools, and a challenging flock of (4) probable Crossbill that flew over very high North. Sadly the birds were just too high to pick up any diagnostic flight calls, but the jizz and the few snatched record shots I managed look good for Crossbill. 

4 (prob) Common Crossbill➝N

1 Lapwing➝NW

1 Cormorant➝W

12 Fieldfare (11➝N) (1 in)

5 Redwing

2 Redpoll sp

1 Siskin➝NNE

1 Swallow

2 Blackcap

7+ Chiffchaff

7 Raven➝N

Massively cropped and at extreme altitude! Probable 'cone muncher' North 

27/3/12

Raven 27/3/12 one of the flock of 7 on the move!

Lutley Wedge 26/03/12 (3°c/19°c) Sunny, clear skies. Light (E/ESE) breeze F1/2

A fall of (5) Wheatears (4♂1♀)  on the patch today, also (1) ♂ White Wagtail that dropped in briefly with a Pied Wagtail at Wassell Grove before flying off to the NE.  

Also:-

1 ♂Swallow

5+ Chiffchaff

38 Fieldfare ➝W

5 Redpoll sp ➝NW

1 Raven

Wheatear 26/3/12

Lutley Wedge 25/03/12 (7°c/18°c) Warm and sunny with patchy high cloud. Light (E) Breeze F1/2

(2) Lapwing flew South early a.m, at least (12) Chiffchaff were singing around the patch. 

Also:-

1 ♂ Swallow

34 Meadow Pipit (14➝N) (20 in)

1 alba Wagtail ➝N

16 Fieldfare ➝N

5 Redwing 

5 Siskin ➝N

2 Redpoll sp ➝E

Chiffchaff 25/3/12

Lutley Wedge 24/03/12 (19°c!) Early mist/fog then sunny, clear skies. Wind (Light Var➝ E) F1/2

The first (2) ♂ Wheatears this spring, were at Wassell Grove and near Foxcote House farm. Also seen (12) Chiffchaff, (1) ♂ Swallow.

♂ Wheatear Lutley Wedge 24/3/12

Lutley Wedge 23/03/12 (8°c/18°c) Mist, fog and low cloud clearing later am. Wind (Var E/SE) F1/2)

Extensive fog and low cloud not suprisingly put a block on visible migration early am though a handful of Meadow Pipits pressed on even through the murk first thing, and a flock of 60 were grounded. A flock of 8 Redpoll flew SE and there was a noticable increase in Chiffchaff around the patch but it  was otherwise quiet.

1 ♂ Swallow 

8 Chiffchaff (5 new)

76 Meadow Pipit (16➝N/NE) (60 in)

9 Redpoll sp (8➝SE) (1➝SW)

6 Siskin (3➝SE) (3 in)

20 Redwing (14➝WSW) (2➝NW) (4 in)

Swallow and Redpoll 23/3/12

 ♂ Swallow Wassell Grove 23/3/12

Lutley Wedge 22/03/12 (16°c) Sunny. Wind E/NE F3/4

1 ♂ Swallow (Wassell Grove Business Centre) (SLC)
2 Fieldfare
15 Meadow Pipit (2➝N) 
4+ Chiffchaff 
2 Redpoll sp 

Lutley Wedge 21/03/12 (11°c) Overcast. Wind (Var/SE F1)

1 ♂ Swallow (Wassell Grove Pools/Business Centre)
2 Chiffchaff
8+ Meadow Pipit (1➝N)
2 Redpoll sp ➝N
3 Siskin

Lutley Wedge 20/03/12 (6°c) Broken cloud, warm sunny spells. Wind (SW-WSW) F2/3

A Crossbill flew SSW over Foxcote Pond at 10.50am but it was otherwise very quiet migration wise, with only a couple of new Chiffchaff and virtually no vis mig other than a handful of Meadow Pipits, most of which passed very high overhead.

1 Common Crossbill ➝SSW

6 Meadow Pipit ➝N

4 Chiffchaff (2 new)

28 Redwing

1 Fieldfare

5 Siskin

1 Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll 20/3/12

Lutley Wedge 19/03/12 (1°c/12°c) Sunny, clear skies. O/night frost -1°c

1 Swallow (Wassell Grove Business Centre)

3 Chiffchaff (1 new in)

43 Meadow Pipit (40+ Wassell Grove) (3➝N)

1 Fieldfare

25 Redwing (Wassell Grove Pools)

2 Siskin

1 Redpoll sp 

Chiffchaff 19/3/12 

Lutley Wedge 18/3/12 (3°c) Overcast, low cloud. Rain/sleet showers later am. Wind (N/NE) F1-F3

1 Swallow still present at Wassell Grove Business Centre a.m (PC)
2 Chiffchaff (Wassell Grove Pools, Foxcote Pond)
105 Redwing (Wassell Grove Pools)
1 Song Thrush ➝NE
44 Meadow Pipit (20➝N/NW) (10➝WNW) (2➝NE) (12 in)
28 Siskin (2➝NE) (1➝WSW) (25+ Wassell Grove Pools)
3 Redpoll sp (1➝NE) (2➝SE)

 Redwing Song (Wassell Grove Pools 10/3/12) 

Lutley Wedge 17/3/12 (7°c/13°c) Bright, broken high cloud clearing. Sunny spells later. Light F1 (SW) breeze

A brilliant morning on the local patch. A Red Kite came in low from the east at Wassell Grove Pools at 08.10am circling over the pools before drifting off WNW, and an incredibly early Swallow flew over, and was later relocated nearby at Wassell Grove Business Centre. This is the earliest ever Swallow arrival at Lutley Wedge, seven days earlier than in 2010/11 and the first in Worcestershire this spring. 3 Lapwing flew through heading E/SE and several high Starling packs flew east along with a flock of (28) Fieldfare. 

1 Red Kite ➝W/NW

1 Swallow (in)

3 Lapwing ➝ESE

16 Meadow Pipit (14➝N/NW) (1➝NE) (1➝SE)

29 Fieldfare (28➝E) (1 in)

93 Redwing (9➝NE) (84 in)

1 Song Thrush ➝N

113 Starling ➝E

25 Siskin (9➝S/SW) (16 in)

5 Redpoll sp (1➝N) (3➝SW)

8 Pied Wagtail

12 Lesser B.B Gull ➝N

7 B.H Gull ➝SSE

Red Kite Wassell Grove Pools 17/3/12

Incoming.......

♂ Swallow Wassell Grove 17/3/12

 Lapwing 17/3/12

Lutley Wedge 16/03/12 (7°c) Cool, grey and overcast. Wind (SW) F2

"Zilpzalp, new in"
(2) Chiffchaff today, at Foxcote Pond and Lutley Brook (SLC) (the first this spring and the same arrival date as in 2011). Pretty poor vis mig wise in a brisk and cool SW breeze, with two flocks of Fieldfare heading North, a single Lapwing over, two Reed Bunting and small numbers of Meadow Pipit.
2 Chiffchaff
1 Lapwing (in➝ESE)
17 Meadow Pipit (10➝N/NW) (7➝W/SW)
33 Fieldfare ➝N
32 Redwing 
2 Reed Bunting (1➝W) (1➝NNW)
13 Siskin
3 Redpoll sp
5 Black-headed Gull ➝SE
5 Lesser Black-backed Gull➝W/SW

Chiffchaff 16/3/12

Chiffchaff sound recording and sonogram Lutley Wedge 16/3/12

Lutley Wedge 15/03/12 (7°c) Cold, overcast poor vis mist and fog. Wind F1/2 (SW)

"Grim, clagged in and dead"
40+ Redwing and 1 Fieldfare (Wassell Grove Pools)
7 Meadow Pipit
4 Siskin
20+ Chaffinch
6 Lesser Redpoll (PC,SLC)

♂ Lesser Redpoll 15/3/12

Lutley Wedge 14/03/12 (6°c) Overcast/mist and low cloud. Wind light F1 (S/SSE)

"Grey weather is the Anser"

1 Greylag Goose over Wassell Grove Pools at 08.30am heading WSW.

8 Meadow Pipit (5➝SE) (3➝SW)

37 Redwing

3 Skylark ➝N

25 Siskin (10➝S) (15 in)

3 Redpoll sp ➝S/SE

2 Herring Gull ➝W

2 Grey Heron ➝W

Greylag Goose and Siskin 14/3/12

14/3/12

Several Grey Plover heard calling as they flew over my garden in Halesowen at 8.10pm! 

Lutley Wedge 13/03/12 (10°c) Cool, grey and overcast with mist and low cloud.

65+ Meadow Pipit (nr Wassell Grove)
73 Redwing (30 Wassell Grove Pools, 43 Lutley Brook)
18 Fieldfare  
(CR/SLC)

Lutley Wedge 11/03/12 (8°c/16°c) Overcast start, clearing later am. Wind (NW) F1/2

"Starling on the move"
Fairly quiet this morning but with some limited vis mig on offer. A trickle of Meadow Pipit were heading North into the light NW headwind and also several packs of Starling moved through to the East including one flock of (170). The rest of the watch was made up of the usual early March suspects.  
Visible Migration:-
23 Meadow Pipit ➝N/NE
3 alba Wagtail ➝N
3 Skylark ➝N
32 Siskin (15➝N)
2 Redpoll sp ➝N
226 Starling ➝E
1 Grey Heron ➝NE
1 Herring Gull ➝NNW
3 L.B.B Gull ➝NNW


51 Redwing + 7 Fieldfare (Wassell Grove Pools)

Lutley Wedge 10/03/12 (7°c/15°c) Sunny, broken high cloud (clouding over later am) Wind (SW-WNW) F1/3

"Finches feature"

A flock of (5) Common Crossbill flew high over Wassell Grove heading North at 10.20am, and a Peregrine and Lapwing flew over at Wassell Grove Pools.

Visible Migration:-

5 Common Crossbill ➝N

1 Peregrine ➝NE

1 Lapwing ➝WNW

57 Siskin (46➝W/NW) (6➝N) (3➝S)

3 Redpoll sp (2➝S)

17 Meadow Pipit (1➝N)

130 Redwing + 1 Fieldfare (Wassell Grove Pools) (several Redwing heard singing, and lots of noisy sub-song from the flock around the pools, see 18/3/12)

30 Linnet

Common Crossbill and Lapwing 10/3/12

Lutley Wedge 09/03/12

130 Redwing (70 Wassell Grove Pools, 60 Lutley Brook) 
20 Fieldfare (Wassell Grove Pools) 
7+ Siskin (Wassell Grove Pools)
10 Meadow Pipits
1 Raven


sightings (SLC)

Lutley Wedge 08/03/12 (10°c) Sunny spells, scattered cloud. Breezy W/SW F2/3

(1)♀ Stonechat near Foxcote farm, and (35) Meadow Pipit. Just (1)♂ Siskin at Wassell Grove Pools  (CR). 
(17) Pied Wagtail, (2) Meadow Pipit Top Footpath (SLC). 

Lutley Wedge 06/03/12 (3°c-11°c) Early Fog and mist clearing to sun and mostly clear skies. (SW) breeze F1/2

(50+) Meadow Pipit again near Wassell Grove and (3) Siskin. A mixed flock of (60) Redwing and (16) Fieldfare were in the horse paddocks at Wassell Grove Pools, whilst the only sign of any vis mig was a single Meadow Pipit over high ➝NW. 

Lutley Wedge 02/03/12 (11°c) Bright, sunny spells, broken high cloud. (SE) Breeze F2

The good run of Stonechat records continues with (1)♂ Stonechat this morning near Foxcote House Farm. The flock of (50+) Meadow Pipit were still near Wassell Grove. A mixed flock of (40) Linnet and (40) Chaffinch were near Foxcote Pond.

♂ Stonechat and Meadow Pipit Lutley Wedge 2/3/12

 'both classic early March movers'

Lutley Wedge 01/03/12 (13°c) Warm, sunny, scattered high cloud. Light breeze (W/SW) F2

The first day of March and spring migration got underway in fine style, with a ♀ Stonechat near Foxcote House Farm (CR) and an obvious arrival of (60) Meadow Pipits near Wassell Grove (SLC). There was a complete dearth of winter thrushes on the patch with just a single Redwing at Wassell Grove pools, along with (5) Siskin.

♀ Stonechat 1/3/12