Birds of the upper River Trent valleyseen from the Caldon Canal today.

The city of Stoke-on-Trent has plenty of green spaces, on the outskirts and within the conurbation. One of them is the upper Trent valley in the Baddeley Green - Stockton Brook area. I don't know who owns the land; some of it is agricultural, so presumably it is owned by the farmers themselves, while other areas have been left to become wild. In spite of the fact that it is not managed as a formal nature reserve there are many hectares of wildlife-rich habitat. Much of it can be seen from the Caldon Canal towpath, however I often wonder how many drivers and their passengers pass along the A53, which traverses this area, are aware that they travelling by, and at two points crossing, the upper reaches of the river that gives the city its name? Anyway, here are some photos taken today and below that a list of birds seen. 

Head of the Trent meandering through pastures next to the Caldon Canal between Baddeley Green and Milton.

Having briefly perched in the Reedmace on the offside, two Kingfishers flew across the canal at this point. 

The Head of the Trent at Baddeley Green (from Caldon Canal towpath) showing the scrub, pasture and marshy habitats of the area.

View of the upper Trent valley from the Caldon Canal with Baddeley Edge/Light Oaks in the distance. The winter-brown vegetation comprises of species of damp soils such as Reed Canary Grass and rushes.

Alder tree seed cones provide food for birds such as Goldfinches. These ones are growing alongside the Caldon Canal near Heakley Hall Farm.

More winter-brown grassy/rushy vegetation in the upper Trent towards Stockton Brook from Caldon Canal towpath. Snipe are sometimes in this area during winter, but none seen or heard today.

Species	Comments
Mallards	Several gatherings of mixed sex groups at a number of points along the canal. Some males exhibiting courtship behaviour. Perhaps 80 birds seen during walk.
Moorhen	3 seen at separate locations.
Canada Geese	4 on grassy bank between Stockton Brook and Baddeley Green.
Kingfisher	2 together on canal and River Trent near A53 then another seen further up by bridge 20, may be one of the first two. The second sighting was of one plunging in to canal by the lock gate.
Mistle Thrush	1 in trees of large garden at Baddeley Green (where the Jackdaw roost is).
Fieldfares	Flocks perched/feeding in trees and flying over.
Redwings	Flocks perched/feeding in trees and flying over.
Blackbirds	About 5 seen.
Starlings	Flocks heard in distance.
Black-headed Gulls	Flocks of about 20 flying over or feeding in pasture.
House Sparrows	Flock of 20 or more in hedges adjacent to stables at Baddeley Green, maybe benefiting from spilt grains from horse feed.
Robin	1 on towpath.
Bullfinch	Pair in scrub near A53/River Trent.
Goldfinches	Several flocks seen/heard perched or feeding in trees.
Great Tits	About 4 seen.
Blue Tits	10ish heard/seen
Wren	3 – 4 seen or heard
Stock Dove	3 flying over near Greenway Hall Golf Club
Woodpigeon	15 or so seen
Rooks	About 10 seen feeding in pasture at Stanley Moss.
Jackdaws	Flocks flying over and feeding in pastures.
Magpies	About 16 seen, two chasing Sparrowhawk.
Carrion Crows	Perhaps 20 seen, some perched others feeding in pastures, some flying over.
Jay	1 Nr, drawbridge
Sparrowhawk	A male first being chased by a BH Gull, then by crows and later on by Magpies.
Buzzard	1 near pylons where they cross over A53.