First ever proper walk around Lower Green in Coleshill which is basically the other side of the Cole End bridge to Cole End Nature Reserve, it comprises of large parts of land that has been left to nature for the most part and runs either side of the River Cole, so there are many diverse habitats such as moorland, woodland, marshland and wildflower meadows which are maintained by Environment Agency for wildlife and peoples enjoyment.
Highlights were seeing Skylarks, many of which were singing, juvenile Whitethroat and Grey Heron, observing a hovering Kestrel and seeing the many wildflowers at this location.
Birds seen today were Kestrel, Skylark, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Conformant (flying overhead), Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Mallard as well as the following juveniles, Whitethroat, Grey Heron, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Magpie.
I visited Shard End Lake today in the East of Birmingham which aside from the ever present litter is a great little location that has the River Cole adjacent as well as Babbs Mill Nature Reserve very close by. Along the cycle path that follows the river there are many wild areas full of lots of wildflowers including Ragwort which were full of Cinnabar moth caterpillars, there are also many Rabbits on site as well as a secret location which many of the locals don't know about where Grey Herons breed every year, in fact I spotted five there today as well as a juvenile on the lake.
Highlight had to be spotting juvenile Jays in the trees alongside the river who were very noisy, no change there then. Other juveniles seen were Long Tailed Tit, Dunnock, Coot (6) and one lone Mallard Duckling who was literally days old.
Birds seen today were Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Starling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Grey Heron, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Domestic Duck, Greylag Goose and Canada Goose.
Trip over to North Birmingham today to visit Sutton Park which included a walk around Blackroot and Keeper's Pool as well as walk around some of the many wooded areas that adorn this wonderful park.
Highlights of the day included seeing a female Mandarin Duck on Blackroot Pool, there was no sign of the male though and one of the rangers told me that they didn't breed either. In amongst some pine trees by the pool were both Treecreeper and Robin juveniles, I do love to see juvenile Robins but is was hard to watch them when juvenile Treecreeper's are present, it's not every day you see baby Treecreper's. Other juvenile birds seen were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Coot (5) and Mallard Duckling (c.40).
Birds seen today were Treecreeper, Blackcap (male), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Robin, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, House Martin, Grey Heron, Mandarin Duck (female), Moorhen, Coot and Mallard.
It's been a long time since I've seen any Slime Mould and this white variety felt like jelly and was freezing cold, I don't know why but I always love to see it.
The Owl in the last picture is one of 90 sculptures that can be found in Birmingham at the moment but this was has to be the best because it has birds on it.
Back to Cole End Park Local Nature Reserve in Coleshill today for a walk around the nature reserve, the outskirts of the farmers fields and a section of the River Cole.
Highlights were seeing the iridescent blue flash of a Kingfisher along the River Cole, also seen in the river was a juvenile Grey Heron with a fish of six inches in it's beak before being swallowed whole, also in the same area were the following juveniles, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long Tailed Tit. Another great sighting was that of a Green woodpecker flying low over the grass.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Cormorant (flying overhead), Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Mallard as well as the following juveniles, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Mallard Duckling (3).
Butterflies seen today were, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Ringlet and as you can see I also saw Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars.
Another trip to North Warwickshire to visit Kingsbury Water Park today for a walk along a section of the River Tame and visit one of the bird hides which overlook Cliff Pool Nature Reserve which is in the park. It was another one of those days when bird wise it was very quiet but Kingsbury Water Park is always worth a visit for the walk and the scenery.
Birds see today were Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Chiifchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Starling, House Martin, Swallow, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose as well as the following juveniles, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Jackdaw, Cygnet (2), Great Crested Grebe (4), Moorhen (4), Coot (2), Canada Goose (37) and Mallard (25).
Wildflowers seen today were Musk Mallow, Sweet Pea, Rosebay Willowherb, Ragwort, Vetch and Bugle, unfortunately the sun didn't make an appearance until the end of my visit and only Comma and Small White butterflies were seen.
Another trip out to North Warwickshire today to visit Cole End Park Local Nature Reserve in Coleshill. I'd actually planned a trip to Kingsbury Water Park but with rain forecast I decided to go here instead but you've guessed it, it didn't rain even though it threatened too, with very ominousness grey clouds adorning the sky throughout my visit.
Highlight again was seeing and hearing all the juvenile songbirds especially a great looking Robin a flock of Goldfinch which included many juveniles.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Kestrel, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Robin, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Swift, House Martin, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Mallard, Grey Heron (flying overhead) as well as the following juveniles, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch and Robin.
Because it was quite humid there was also an abundance of Butterflies including the following, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Ringlet, Small White and Small Skipper.
Wildflowers seen today where, Musk Mallow, Wild Blue Geranium, Birds Foot Trefoil and White Campion.
Even rarer than a last Monday's birding trip was today's trip out to Cannon Hill Park in Edgabston, this time on a Sunday.
Highlight of the day was seeing numerous Goldcrest juveniles in two pine trees within seconds of getting out of the car. Another highlight was seeing a Bar Headed Goose for only the second ever time with the previous occasion being at Kingsbury Water Park, I have no idea how it got to Cannon Hill Park, great looking bird however it got there. Another great sight was the sighting of a Domestic Duck with four Ducklings, something which I've never seen in the wild before.
I didn't see as many songbirds as I was expecting but saying that I still heard a lot, most of whom were high up in the many trees that adorn this park.
Birds seen today were Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Domestic Duck, Canada Goose as well as the following juveniles, Goldrest, Dunnock, Moorhen (1), Coot (19), Mallard Duckling (17), Domestic Duckling (4) and Canada Goose Gosling (11).
