This article first appeared in the Birmingham (latterly West Midland) Bird Club first ever Annual Report, for 1934. It is taken from a hand- written copy, so please allow for any errors of transcritpion.
Report of Observations on Bartley Reservoir 1934.
W. E. Kenrick.
The site of the reservoir is a shallow natural valley which originally had a stream running down the middle of it. The reservoir lies between Bartley Green and Frankley church alongside the corporation reservoirs at Frankley at the foot of Frankley Beeches. It is about 4 miles N. of the Bittell Reservoirs and 20 miles [30 Km] S.E. [1] of Belvide (Staffs) [2].
The reservoir was made by putting a bank across the lower end of the valley, and there was a certain amount of excavation round the edges to level the contours and make a proper bank. Work was begun in 1925 and the reservoir was filled in 1931. The surface area is 114 acres and the depth varies form 6 feet at the foot of the bank to 60 feet at the foot of the dam. The bottom is concreted for about a hundred yards in width all the way round, but apart from this it is covered with gravel. The water is from the corporation reservoirs at Rhayader in Central Wales [3] and all local surface water is caught taken round the reservoir. There is a road running across the dam, and the rest of the reservoir is surrounded by a grass verge and an iron fence.
For record purposes the reservoir may be considered to be in Warwickshire as being part of the City of Birmingham, but as a matter of fact, a small piece of the Frankley end is in Worcestershire [4].
The area was not one which came under frequent observation and so there was no evidence as to whether the reservoir lay on a migration route and was likely to get visitors that way, but with regular visits now, we are beginning to learn something about it. Our interests are almost entirely concentrated on the ducks and other aquatic birds using the reservoir itself and therefore this report will not be concerned with the passerines which haunt the neighbourhood.
Mallard are undoubtedly the commonest ducks, and are always to be found either sitting on the concrete or in flocks in the middle. Teal are never likely to be common as there is no nice muddy for them as on the Lower Bittell. Wigeon are as yet uncertain: they have increased greatly in the last winter of 1934-35 and the largest flock recorded was 85. They have been correspondingly scant on Bittell. They may remain faithful to Bartley as they spend some of their time digging in the turf on the top of the concrete bank. Pochard are uncertain and do not seem to favour the reservoir. Tufted Duck are always to be found in the winter in small parties: in December 1934, there was flock of 70. Goldeneye are regular visitors throughout the winter and are always to be seen diving somewhere in the reservoir, frequently the deepest part. From this I am certain that there is sufficient vegetable growth on the bottom of the reservoir to keep them happy.
Waders are not often to be seen at Bartley as there is no suitable accommodation and when they have appeared there has been either a low water level exposing the concrete at the bottom of the bank or a fringe of ice round the edge.
Gulls pass over on migration and sometimes stop for a short time, but I would not like to say a yet that the place is on a migration route as gulls might be tempted to turn aside from their line by the sight of a good sheet of water.
There is undoubtedly a movement of birds between Bittell Reservoirs and Bartley. The two Redshank seen on December 5th and 9th, 1933, were reported form both reservoirs and so also were two female goosanders seen on February 10th, 1934. This winter we have had two hybrid Mallard with white patches on the breast, which had previously appeared on the Bittells.
I have purposely left out mention of many Gulls in the following list as I hope to have sufficient material for a special note on these next year.
Irregular visitor. Adult and 3 immature in autumn 1934. Breeds on Westminster Pool, 100 yards from the reservoir.
One seen (WBA & HK) on 23rd March 1934
One seen on 16th December 1933
Common. Varying quantities October to May.
Two seen on 7th April 1933
Fairly regular in Winter, November to March
Four on 12th November and two on 31st December 1932. Three on 3rd December and two on 14th December 1933.
Uncertain winter visitor. Greatest number seen at one time was eight in December, 1934.
Regular throughout the winter. Flocks of sixty to seventy in December, 1934.
Regular winter visitor. Usually to be found in small parties of four to six. The greatest number seen on one day was thirteen. The number of adult drakes normally remains constant for several weeks.
A pair seen on 1st July, 1933. One female on 18th April and one male on 21st April 1934.
One male seen on 13th March 1932. One female on 13th January and two on 10th February, 1934.
Single birds sometimes seen Spring & Autumn.
A single bird on 13th and 20th October, 1934.
One seen on 30th April and two on 7th May 1932. One on 12th July, 1933. Two on 28th April and one on 24th July, 1934.
Two seen on 5th and 9th December and one on 11th December, 1933.
[1^] Originally said "S.W."; an errata was included in the subsequent report.
[2^] Belvide Reservoir is now a West Midland Bird Club reserve.
[3^] Now better known as the Elan Valley Reservoirs 
.
[4^] In 1974, the Warwickshire part of the reservoir was transfered to the newly-created West Midlands county. The remaining, Worcestershire, part was finally "moved" into the West Midlands county, and into Birmingham, in 1995.
Ornithology in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & the West Midlands county, since 1929.
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