Pebble Brook Trail, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Another daily exercise walk.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

I again went for a stroll out to the Bluebell wood out on Woodhouse lane via Pebble Brook, soon after I left the village I started to see good numbers of birds including Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and on the verges Dandelion (Taraxacum spp), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), White Dead Nettle (Lamium album), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) and Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Through the first gate I started to find quite a few butterflies including a few Speckled Woods (Pararge aegeria), several Common Orange-tips (Anthocharis cardamines), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula).

Further along the track towards the stream I spent some time watching Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and on the stream margins Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria), Pink Purslane (Claytonia sibirica), Pendulous Sedge (Carex pendula), Red Campion (Silene dioica) and Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis).

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Over the stream I continued on to the Woodland, on the way I had a female Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), several Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Buff-tailed (Bombus terrestris) and Red-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius) and Peacock (Aglais io).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Up at the wood the Common Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) were looking good so I took a few more photo's. In the same area I heard and saw Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes).

Common Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

On my way back towards the stream I had fly over Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), a pair of Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which flew off along the hedge, Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

Common Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

At the stream I bumped into a gut, Rob who I had not seen in over 30 years so we had a chat before continuing on with our walks. Just before I reached the village again I had views of Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and both male and female Pied Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

Female Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

As much as I enjoyed the walk I was very disappointed to see so many Dog Shit bags hung or thrown into the trees or just ditched in the grass. What is the point in these selfish gits picking it up and then dumping it, really do not understand the thinking of the lazzy tossers.

Humphreston Farm area, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Getting a breath of air.

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) collecting nest material.

Headed out of the village and crossed the A41 and walked out towards Humphreston Farm, in the first group of trees a Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla) was singing along side a couple of Common Chiffchaffs (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and a Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) collecting nest material.

As I continued on I saw Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), a single male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) as well as White Dead Nettle (Lamium album), Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) and on the fields a single very distant European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) collecting nest material.

On the way down to the stream I found a nice clump of white Common Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Annual Mercury (Mercurialis annua), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) and along the stream Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria), Peacock (Aglais io), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax).

Lickens on a gate bar.

I walked back along the road and around to a bit of woodland seeing Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), flowering Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Ivy (Plural ivies), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto) and as I walked back to the village a Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) flew over head and a Blue Tit flew into an English Oak (Quercus robur) collecting nest material.

Ivy (Plural ivies).

Peacock (Aglais io).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris).

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum).

Common Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna).

Pebble Brook Trail, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Birds, Butterflies and some Wild Flowers on my Old Local Patch.

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

I set off on the public footpaths from the village for my daily walk and headed out towards Pebble Brook and onwards to Bluebell Wood.

Just after I started along the first part of the track and found Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and on the verges Dandelion (Taraxacum spp), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), White Dead Nettle (Lamium album) and Seed heads of Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).

Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella).

In the hedges there were flowers of Blackthrorn (Prunus spinosa) and lots of Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), some other trees were just coming in to leaf including Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Silver Birch (Betula pendula), Hazel (Corylus avellana) and English Oak (Quercus robur). 

Greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea).

Further along the track before I reached the brook heard and saw Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and saw a Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) on the fields.

Locals.

On the far side of the brook on my way to the Wood I had views of a fine male Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella) sat on top of an Hawthron hedge, a pair of Linnets (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), a flock of 10 or so Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), singing Skylarks (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis) and Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis).

I reached the wood and there was a very good show of Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) which I spent a few minutes taking some shots of. In the woods I also saw and heard Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and on the bank Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta), Red Campion (Silene dioica) and in one of the sunny periods a male Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

I continued on along Woodhouse Lane and then took another track back towards Pebble Brook, as I passed the farm gardens I heard a Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) singing and had a Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) fly across the path.

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Other birds on my back to the brook included Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Stock (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris).

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

As I reached the Brook again I could see a nice show of Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) but behind a barbed wire fence.

White Dead Nettle (Lamium album).

In the same area there was a  Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), lots of Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus).

On my way back towards the house I also saw Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), another pair of Common Buzzards, Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis), Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Peacock (Aglais io) and Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae).

Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria).

Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis).

Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis).

Humphreston Farm area and in the Garden, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Out along the lanes for a quiet early morning stroll.

European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)-

I started off and once over the by-pass started to hear a few of the newly arrived summer migrants including Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Willow Warbler (Mosquitero Musical / Phylloscopus trochillus). I continued on up to a gate way seeing Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax).

Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax).

From the gate I scanned the distant crop edges and found several European Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula) and Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Greylag Goose (Ansar Común / Anser anser).

I continued on passed the farm and down to the brook, on the way there were loads of insects in the sunny areas including this and many more Common Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax) and another species which remains unidentified.

Blackthrorn (Prunus spinosa).

In the same area I also had a small flock of Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser) out on the fields and down by the brook Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and several Common Chiffchaffs. 

Peacock (Aglais io).

I turned round and retraced my way back along the lanes to the village, on the way had a singing Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

Unidentified.

I also had a male Common Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines), Peacock (Aglais io), Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata),  White Dead Nettle (Lamium album), Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Blackthrorn (Prunus spinosa), Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus).

Once I was back at the house I set myself up in the Garden and added Small White (Pieris rapae), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus viridis) heard, Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Peacock (Aglais io) in the garden.

Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

West Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands,

Ferruginous Duck, smart bird but from where????

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Julia dropped me off near to West Park and I walked in looked on the first pool I came to and I soon found the very smart looking male Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) which had been around for a few days. It was fully winged and in good condition and generally none too tame, although it could be at times according to other reports.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Other species seen included Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus). 

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca).

Around the woods Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Feral Pigeon (Paloma Bravía / Columba livia), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Woodhouse Lane, Boningale, Shropshire.

Walk in to the Horns.

Pebble Brook and Woodhouse Lane.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), European Green Woodpecker (Pito Real euroasiático / Picus viridis), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

Shifnal Sewage treatment plant, Shifnal, Shropshire.

In search of a but not finding a rarity from the East.

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus).

I got the train to Shifnal and then walked out to the site, on the way I saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Along the approach track there was a small mixed flock of Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and over head a flock of around 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus).

Once on site I saw the first of a good many Goldcrests (Regulus regulus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Mistle (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), a singing Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo),

Common Treecreeper (Agateador Norteño / Certhia familiaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Robin, Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Jackdaw, Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) as well as Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), Lesser Celendine (Ranunculus ficaria) and Annual Mercury (Mercurialis annua).

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus).

 As I walked back to the train I added Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus) and Rook (Graja /  Corvus frugilegus) and back at Albrighton Station I was pleased to see the Royal Scot Steam Loco come long the line heading to Birmingham.

Newhouse Lane and Pebble Brook Trail, Albrighton, Shropshire.

Walking to the Horns of Boningale and back.

Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), European Green Woodpecker (Pito Real euroasiático / Picus viridis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) x6, Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto).