Paid a short visit to RSPB Sandwell Valley this afternoon. The alterations started at the end of January are still ongoing, a much larger carpark is still to be completed and the garden area is still under construction. It will certainly be a benefit when all alterations and refurbishments are complete. On the lake were Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, G C Grebe, Little Grebe, Shelduck, Coot, Moorhen and numerous B H Gulls. In the marsh area a common Snipe was spotted. At...

I had a ride to a local Fisheries this morning. My first visit for this year as the the snow and freezing temperatures put paid to an earlier visit. Not a lot about really, Pheasant (1), Crows, Magpies, Starlings, Blue & Great Tits, Blackbird and a small flock each of Green and Goldfinch. It was unusual not to see a Buzzard over the area. I spoke to one of the owners and he told me a Water Hen, funny hearing a Rail called that, had been feeding with the chickens during the freezing weather...

A walk along the Caunsall stretch of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal was like a breath of fresh air on Saturday (24th) afternoon. The trees along the embankments were looking resplendent in their Autumnal colours, especially in the watery sunshine. Bird species seen were Great & Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, a flock of Siskin, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Heron, Corvids, Buzzard and the highlight of the afternoon a perched female Kestrel!...

After a drizzly morning and a trip to Asda it was good to be out walking in the sunny but windy afternoon! A churchyard was the starting point. A Grey Wagtail flew overhead calling as it headed towards the brook alongside the churchyard. Next to the church is a stately home which is set in 350 acres of landscaped deer park grazed by Fallow Deer of several colours. Buzzards, a Raven, Sparrowhawk, Mistle and Song Thrush, Robin and Coal Tit, were the highlights. A Red Admiral was busy feeding on the...

An early morning walk (well 8.45am) today (10th Oct) around the Fisheries was very refreshing! On arrival the mist was hanging low around the trees and hedgerows in distant fields, giving a very autumnal scene! The sun shone as I started my walk and the birds were calling..well Robins and a Green Woodpecker being the most vocal, the latter yaffling teasingly several times on my walk but never showing! Not a great selection of birds today but lovely to see and hear nonetheless. Blackbirds, Blue &...