Thursday 24th August 2017

1100 some sun, fairly quiet : Swift still 6, House Martin 4 & a few Swallows, Teal 8, Heron 4, GC Grebe 2, Cormorant 6, Herring Gull 3, Lapwing 60+, Pied Wagtail 5, Chiffchaff, etc.

Green Woodpecker juvenile 23rd August.

Wednesday 23rd August 2017

1000 - 1100 gloomy/drizzle 17c : Hobby, Sparrowhawk f, Yellow-legged Gull, Teal 4, Tufted 3, GC Grebe 2, Cormorant 7, M.Swan 9 (4 adults), Lapwing 100, Swift 10, Swallow 40+, House Martin 3, Sand Martin 2, Chiffchaff 6, Pied Wagtail 3, Green & G.S.Woodpeckers, etc.

Rushall - Silver Washed Fritillary on garden buddleia at 1220 when the sun broke through.

Quick grab of Hobby and swallow on 20th August.

Monday 21st August 2017

0930 - 1100 overcast/drizzle 16c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 3, poss.White Wagtail, Black-t Godwit, Lapwing 121, Teal 9, Cormorant 8, Heron 4, GC Grebe 2, Moorhen 11, Rooks & Jackdaws 100+ over to south + others on fields, Swift 6, Swallow 30+, Sand Martin 2, House Martin 2, Chiffchaff/Willow W.6, Goldcrest, Collared Dove 2, Sparrowhawk, etc.

Green Woodpecker & Little Grebe yesterday.

Sunday 20th August 2017

0830 - 1100 sunny/breezy, 18c : Hobby juv. over mobbed by swallows, Sparrowhawk f, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker 2, GS Woodpecker, Jay 3, Rook 30+ on horsefield, Jackdaw 40+, Collared Dove 2, Stock Dove, Common Sandpiper, Black-t Godwit, Lapwing 120+, Little Egret, Cormorant 9, Heron 4, M.Swan 6, Teal 11, Tufted 4, Little Grebe, GC Grebe 2, Herring Gull 5, LBb Gull 35, Pied Wagtail 6, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff 10+ (3 in song), Willow Warbler 6+ (1 in song), Swift 25, Swallow 35+, House Martin 5, House Sparrow 2, Goldfinch 50+, Linnet 3, Greenfinch 2, Chaffinch f, Bullfinch f, Lt Tit 7, Blackbird/Song Thrush/Robin/Great Tit/Starling/Canada Geese 200+/Mallard/Moorhen/Coot/Bh Gull/Wood Pigeon/Magpie/C Crow/Wren. (52 species).

Also seen - Speckled Wood 9, Meadow Brown 6, Hedge Brown 2, Small Heath, Common Blue 3m, Gv White 4.

Willow Warbler & young Jackdaws.

Friday 18th August 2017

0900 - 1015 fairly sunny, SW winds : Black-t Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing 96, Heron 4, Cormorant 7, GC Grebe 3, Tufted 4, Teal 8, M Swan 7, Swift 12, Swallow 10, House Martin 4, Chiffchaff, Starling 60, Buzzard, Collared Dove 2, Wren 2, etc.

Red Underwing moth at Rushall last night.

Thursday 17th August 2017

1500 - 1600 sunny 21c : Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing 112, GC Grebe 3, Cormorant 8, Swift 7, Swallows & Martins 20+, Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler 8, Goldcrest, Rook 2 over, Pied Wagtail 4, + usuals. Also seen was a Common Shrew, Speckled Wood 5, Gatekeeper 2, Common Hawker 2, Brown Hawker & Common Darter (photo).

During the evening a Common Sandpiper was present along with 116 Lapwings & 10+ Swifts (KMC).

Wednesday 16th August 2017

1100 - 1300 fairly sunny, to 19c : Yellow Wagtail (photo), Pied Wagtail 4, Kingfisher, Swift 7, Swallows & Martins 30+, Whitethroat catching airborne flies flycatcher-style, Blackcap, Chiffchaff 6+ some in song, Goldcrest, Linnet, Greenfinch 3, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch small roving flocks, Jackdaw 30+, Long-tailed Tit flock, Buzzard 2, Yellow-legged Gull 2 adults, Herring & LBb Gulls 50+, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing 103, Teal 6, Tufted 4, GC Grebe 2, Heron 3, Cormorant 8, Mute Swan 7, Magpie/C Crow/W Pigeon/Coot/Moorhen/Bh Gull/Mallard/C Geese/Robin/Wren/Great Tit/Blue Tit. (41 sp.).

Also seen - Speckled Wood, Hedge Brown, Meadow Brown, Small & Gv Whites, Brown Hawker, Vapourer moth.

Tuesday 15th August 2017

1115 - 1230 sunny but breezy, to 19c : Little Egret (photo), Cormorant 8, M.Swan 7, GC Grebe 2, Tufted 3, Teal 7, Heron 5, Moorhen 2, Lapwing 25, Black-tailed Godwit, Herring Gull 3, LBb Gull 25, Pied Wagtail 4, Mistle Thrush, Swallow 12, House Martin 2, Chiffchaff 2, Goldfinch 10+, Jackdaw 20, Collared Dove 5, Stock Dove 2, Sparrowhawk f, etc. Also GV White 3, Large White, Red Admiral, Hedge Brown, Brown Hawker 3.

At Beverley Road, West Bromwich, a migrant Convolvulus Hawkmoth (photo) was found on the wall of a house. The moth crawled down to a flowerpot where it unfortunately later expired.

Saturday 12th August 2017

1015 - 1045 cloudy 15c : Little Grebe, GC Grebe 3, Yellow-legged Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing 120, Cormorant 8, Teal 4, Heron 3, Kestrel, Blackcap, Chiffchaff 3, Swallows, Rook 2, Red Admiral 2 etc.

Small Copper butterfly at Aldridge airfield on 10th August (one of five seen), and Cinnabar caterpillars.

Friday 11th August 2017

A quick look at 1800 (cloudy, 18c) - Yellow-legged Gull 3 adults, Herring Gull 25, LBb Gull 80, Lapwing 100+, Black God., Cormorant, Collared Dove 14, Pied Wagtail 3, Teal 3, Swallow 60+, House Martin 5, Swift 2.

Collared Doves.

Wednesday 9th August 2017

1030 - 1130 rainy, 14c : Sparrowhawk, Lapwing 120, Black-tailed Godwit (photo), Cormorant 8, Yellow-legged Gull, Tufted 6, Teal 3, GC Grebe 4, Willow Warbler 8, Blackcap, Swift 6, Swallow Sand & House Martins 100+.

Tuesday 8th August 2017

0900 - 0930 rain, 13c : Little Grebe 2 (photo), GC Grebe 2, Lapwing 135, Black-tailed Godwit, Yellow-legged Gull, Cormorant 7, Heron 2, Collared Dove 4, Stock Dove 2, Pied Wagtail 4, Swallows Sand & House Martins 80+, etc.

Monday 7th August 2017

0920 - 1115 generally cloudy, 15c : Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing 99, Yellow-legged Gull adult, Herring Gull 4, LBb Gull 35, Bh Gull 100+, Cormorant 10, Heron 2, GC Grebe 3, Coot 25, Moorhen 8, Teal 3, Tufted 4f, Mallard 50+, Canada Geese 150+, Mute Swan 7, Pied Wagtail 5, Grey Wagtail, Starling 30, Jackdaw 8, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 8, Rook 2, Collared Dove 3, Stock Dove 3, Wood Pigeon 30+, House Martin 3, Sand Martin 10+, Swallow 10+, Swift 8, Blackcap 3m & 2f, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff 20+ incl juv.birds & 2 Willows giving sub-song, Song Thrush juv., Blackbird 3, Robin 3 incl juv., Dunnock 3, Wren 2, Long-tailed Tit 8, Blue Tit, Great Tit 4, Green Woodpecker, House Sparrow 5, Goldfinch 6, Bullfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch m, Buzzard adult & juv. (49 sp.).

Godwit, Buzzard & Green Sand. today.

Wednesday 2nd August 2017

1300 - 1345 Rainy, 16c : Black-tailed Godwit (photo), Lapwing 52, Yellow-legged Gull, Cormorant 6, Heron 2, GC Grebe 4, Herring Gull 9, LBb Gull 60, Swift 20+, Swallow/Sand & House Martin 35+, Blackcap m, Pied Wagtail 2, Long-tailed Tit 4, Collared Dove 2, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk f, etc. Nuthatch & Great Spotted Woodpecker m at Rushall.

Monday 31st July 2017

1230 - 1330 sunny, SW breeze, 20c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 4, Cormorant 8, GC Grebe 4, Heron 3, Mute Swan 7, Lapwing 38, Tufted 6, Moorhen 5, Coot 25+, Yellow-legged Gull 3 adults (1 shown), LBb Gull 60, Herring Gull 7, Sand Martin 5, Swallow 3, House Martin 3, Swift 2, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff, GS Woodpecker, Collared Dove 3, Stock Dove 2, Buzzard, etc.

Friday 28th July 2017

1130 - 1200 overcast, breezy, 16c : Yellow-legged Gull 2, Herring Gull 3, LBb Gull 42, Bh Gull 100+, Cormorant 4, Lapwing 108, Heron 3, GC Grebe, Pied Wagtail 3, Collared Dove 6, Swallows & Sand Martins 20+, Swift 8.

Little Egret on 18th July.

Thursday 27th July 2017

1000 - 1030 overcast, drizzle, 15c : fairly quiet - Cormorant 3, Lapwing 7, GC Grebe 2, LBb Gull 10, Chiffchaff, a few Swallows & Sand Martins, Swift 12, Stock Dove 3, Collared Dove 12, Long-tailed Tit 10+.

Yl Gull on 24th July.

Monday 24th July 2017

1500 - 1545 breezy becoming sunny, 19c : Yellow-legged Gull 2, Herring Gull 17, LBb Gull 81, LR Plover, Lapwing 33, Cormorant 2, Heron 2, GC Grebe 3, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, Tufted 8, Moorhen 5, Pied Wagtail 4, Linnet m, Greenfinch, Goldfinch 2, Long-tailed Tit 4, Swallow 6, Sand Martin 10.

5 Bee-eaters at East Leake quarry yesterday. Would be good to find some at a West Midlands quarry site... Photo : Phill Robinson.

Saturday 22nd July 2017

1315 - 1415 fairly sunny, 19c : Cormorant, Lapwing 72, Oystercatcher, LBb Gull 4, GC Grebe, Tufted 12, Moorhen 3 + 2 chicks, Mute Swan pair +5 cygnets, Heron 2, Swallow 4, Sand Martin 2, House Martin 2, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove 2, Rook over, Buzzard, Kestrel, Linnet 2.

Also seen - Red Admiral 2, Hedge Brown abundant, Meadow Brown 10, Speckled Wood 3, Small Skipper 2, GV White 4, Small White 3, Common Blue damselfly 3. Yellow Shell and Common Carpet moths 4.   (GR)

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden

 on 4th June (mobile phone photo) (GR)

Tuesday 18th July 2017

1100 - 1200 sunny, 22c : Cormorant 3, Little Egret, Heron 3, Mute Swan 7, Lapwing 101, Tufted 18, Moorhen 3, LBb Gull 33, Herring Gull 2, Bh Gull 150, Kestrel, Buzzard, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 8, Swift 4, House Martin 4, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Collared Dove 3, Red Admiral.

"Nettle Tap" micro moths.

Saturday 8th July 2017

1100 - 1200 fairly sunny, 21c : Little Egret, Common Tern 4, Cormorant, GC Grebe 2, Tufted 16, Heron, Lb Gull 9, Lapwing 26, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan pair + 5, Collared Dove 6, Stock Dove, Jackdaw 12, Swift 8, Swallow 7, House Martin 5, Sand Martin 2, Chiffchaff 2 juvs, Blackcap, Pied Wagtail 2, Song Thrush etc.

Long-horned Caddisfly

Thursday 6th July 2017

1000 - 1120 sunny, 23c : Lapwing 71, Common Tern, LBb Gull 5, Heron 4, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, GC Grebe 2, Tufted 22 + 7 young, Swift 10+, House Martin 6, Swallow 8, Collared Dove 7, Stock Dove 2, Sparrowhawk f, Long-tailed Tit 4, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Linnet 2, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting 2m.

Also seen - Hedge Brown (Gatekeeper) 5, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet 12+, Meadow Brown 10, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Small White 3, Large White, Green-veined White, Clouded Border, Yellow Shell, Cinnabar larva, Common Hawker dragonfly 2, Common Frogs at the marsh.

Hedge Brown, Small Skipper & Linnet today.

Monday 3rd July 2017

1100 - 1130 sunny 19c : Common Tern, a few Black-headed & Lesser Black Gulls, Lapwing 8 + 50 at brickworks field, Tufted Duck 18 + 7 small ducklings, Canada Geese 250+, Heron 3, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets still, GC Grebe 2, a few Swallows Sand Martins & Swifts, Pied Wagtail 2, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Collared Dove 8, etc. Also Comma, Ringlet 2 & Small White 3.

7 Cormorants north-west over Rushall early morning.

Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Wednesday 28th June 2017

1530 - 1600 overcast, 13c : Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 34, Tufted Duck 16, LBb Gull 60, Herring Gull 8, Swift 12, House Martin 8, Swallow & Sand Martin 20+, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, etc.

Cinnabar, Silver Ground Carpet & Degeers Longhorn moths on 7th June.

Tuesday 20th June 2017

1030 - 1130 light cloud, 22c : Oystercatcher 2, Lapwing 35, GC Grebe, a few Herring & LBb Gulls, Heron, Tufted 8, Pied Wagtail 3, Swift 8, Swallow 6, House Martin 6, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Collared Dove 3, Buzzard 2. Also - Ringlet 4, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Common Blue Damselfly 20+, Broad-bodied Chaser m.

Herring Gull on 6th June.

Wednesday 14th June 2017

1230 - 1330 sunny, 26c : Meadow Brown 8, Ringlet, Small Heath 4, Speckled Wood 6, Large Skipper 4, Common Blue 3, Small White 2, Yellow Shell 6, Five-spot Burnet 3, Burnet Companion, Common Wave, Spotted Longhorn beetle 3, Green Flower Beetle 3, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Also seen - large gulls 50+, Lapwing 26, Heron ad + 2 juvs, Mute Swan pair + 5, Grey Wagtail, Swift 8, Swallow 3, Whitethroat 3, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler 2, Stock Dove 2, Song THrush in song, Linnet, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting 2, Buzzard.

Meadow Brown & Spotted Longhorn today.

Wednesday 7th June 2017

1000 - 1200 sunny to 15c strong SW : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 2, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, LBb Gull 170, Herring Gull 9, Bh Gull 8, GC Grebe 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5, Swift 12, a few Swallows Sand & House Martins, Whitethroat 2 with juv, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush 2, Rook 2, C Crow pair with 2 juvs, Collared Dove 2, Buzzard, Greenfinch pair with 2 juvs, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting 3, also 2 juvs, etc.

Also seen - Large Skipper, Small Heath, Speckled Wood 6, Degeers Longhorn moths 30+, Nettle Tap moths 6, Silver Ground Carpet, Cinnabar, Common Blue Damselfly.

Reed Bunting, young Crows and Bullfinch today.

Monday 5th June 2017

1030 - 1200 rainy, breezy, 12c : Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Lapwing 8, LBb Gull 136, Herring Gull 9, Bh Gull 9, Heron 2, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnet, Tufted 12, Mallard 40+, Canada Geese 100+, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 2 + 2 juvs, Swift 30+, Swallows House & Sand Martins 80+, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove 3, Collared Dove, Jackdaw 6, Goldfinch 3, etc.

Friday 2nd June 2017

1030 - 1100 rain, 18c : LBb Gull 116, Herring Gull 15, GBb Gull juv, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 5, Mute Swan pair + 5, Heron 2, GC Grebe 4, Tufted 8, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 2, Whitethroat 2, Song Thrush.

Tuesday 30th May 2017

1130 - 1230 light cloud, southerlies, 15c : Common Tern 2, GBb Gull juv, LBb Gull 109, Herring Gull 7, Bh Gull 8, Greylag Goose, Heron 3 flew in, GC Grebe 2, Lapwing, Mute Swan pair, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 3, Swift 6 over Rushall, Whitethroat, Blaxckcap, Collared Dove 2, Buzzard, Kestrel, etc.

Jay in the garden at Rushall today.

Friday 26th May 2017

1215 - 1330 Quarry & marsh (hot & sunny, 27c) - Common Blue, Small Heath, Dingy Skipper, Burnet Companion 8+, Mother Shipton 2, Latticed Heath, Speckled Wood 5. Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit family group of about 8, Skylark over, Stock Dove 2, Linnet, Reed Bunting. < p > 1330 - 1400 Pools etc : Common Tern 2, LBb Gull 84, Herring Gull 3, Lapwing 2, Pied Wagtail, Swift 5, Swallow 3, Heron, Song Thrush, etc.

Common Blue male, and day-flying moths Burnet Companion & Mother Shipton this afternoon.

Wednesday 24th May 2017

1130 - 1230 sunny, 22c : Common Tern, LBb Gull 71, Herring Gull 5, LR Plover, Lapwing 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5, GC Grebe 4, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow 3, Buzzard, etc. Also Holly Blue 2, Red Admiral, GV White & Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Linnet on Monday (a bit distant!).