Sheldon Country Park.

Nice trip out to Sheldon Country Park today which is 300 acres, comprising of open grassland, wetlands, old hedgerows and some mature woodland. It's also directly under the flightpath of Birmingham International Airport and Marston Green Railway Station, so it's ideal for birdwatching and plane and train spotting.

Spot of the day had to be seeing a Green Woodpecker foraging on the grass until it flew up into the trees. It was also nice to see double figure numbers of (very noisy) Jay and Collared Dove. I also saw a great mixed Tit flock compromising of many Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tit. Also nice to see was around fifty House Martin even though they were hunting directly in the flightpath of the planes, hopefully they all survived to see another day. Also nice to see and hear was the resident House Sparrow community especially as their habitat has been greatly reduced by the airport ripping out large swathes of the hedgerow that they like to be in, thankfully they border onto houses with mature gardens.

There were also many apple trees bursting with fruit and they same could be said for the Hawthorn, Rowan, Black Byrony and Oak trees and bushes which is good news for the birds in the winter.

Birds seen were Kestrel, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Robin, Wren, House Sparrow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woopdigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie and a Grey Heron flying overhead.