Newhall Valley Country Park.

No photos today being as I forgot my camera, which is unheard of normally. It was particularly annoying being as there were clear blue skies bereft of clouds and photo opportunities including seeing some Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) Funghi, a pair of accommodating Speckled Wood butterfly and reams of Wildflower in the meadows.

Anyway the birding was great, as always at this time of year it was great to see some fledglings, top of the pile had to be five or six five Whitethroat juveniles flitting in and out of the bushes and trees along the Plants Brook with at least one adult bird, other juvenile birds seen were a cracking looking Wren, Greenfinch and a couple of flocks of Blue Tit which contained many juveniles. Another highlight was seeing and hearing a male Blackcap having a right good old sing song.

Birds seen today were Buzzard, Whitethroat, Blackcap (male), Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Goose and the following juveniles, Whitethroat, Wren, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Ducking (10) and Canada Goose Gosling (12).

There are some resident Mallard on the bend of the Plants Brook near the allotments that always have a torrid time raising young thanks to the local Grey Herons but thankfully they have raised seven youngsters this year, which is great news because there are not enough Mallard around in my opinion, they are funny and very charismatic little birds if you can be bothered to sit down and watch them for ten minutes.

While not birding on Saturday because I was at the Aston Heritage celebrations taking in visits to Villa Park, Aston Hall and Aston Parish church amongst other places, I was still recording (as I always do) the birds that I see. For the record birds seen were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Swift, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon as well as the following juveniles, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Dunnock. I also had a short walk along The Tame Valley Canal under Spaghetti Junction where I managed to spot two separate Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Coot, Mallard and Canada Goose.