West Midland Bird Club

BIRDS IN THE BARTLEY RESERVOIR AREA,

1931 - 1962

(PART II)

OYSTERCATCHER. 17 records, all of single birds except for two on two occasions. Most frequent in autumn, but one or two winter records.

LAPWING. A large flock usually forms in the area each autumn, building up to about 300. Movements to the south-west in hard weather may involve up to 2,000 birds in a day. Very rarely breeds in the area.

RINGED PLOVER. Small numbers occur in spring and autumn. If the water level is low these and other waders may rest on the concrete but otherwise they fly over at varying heights and may only be heard. Maximum: eight, August, 1961.

GREY PLOVER. Singles on April 27th, 1958; from December 13th to 17th, 1959; May 27th and 28th and September 3rd and 27th, 1960; and August 22nd, 1962.

GOLDEN PLOVER. Small numbers occur in autumn and with Lapwings in hard weather movements. 60 on February 2nd, 1957, was exceptional.

TURNSTONE. One May 24th and two July 28th, 1948; singles on May 3rd and July 24th, 1950, May 27th, 1960, and July 23rd, 1961.

COMMON SNIPE. A few winter each year at Westminster Pool, usually arriving in September and leaving in March or April. Maximum: 24 February 7th, 1960. Since tipping only four or five are to be found.

JACK SNIPE. One occurs most years at Westminster Pool. Two or three recorded in December, 1950.

WOODCOCK. Single birds recorded at Frankley in winter, 1955, and on January 17th, and from October 18th to November 1st, 1959.

CURLEW. Small numbers pass through in spring and autumn and there are a few winter records. Maximum: 14, August 14th, 1948.

WHIMBrel. A few spring records but occurs more often in autumn when up to six have been recorded flying over. Usually two or three records a year.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. Three, August 19th, 1959.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT. One flying to south-west, August 31st, 1960.

GREEN SANDPIPER. Only three records: singles on August 31st, 1957, April 24th, 1958, and two on August 7th, 1960.

COMMON SANDPIPER. A small number present from April to September though fluctuations indicate that different birds are involved. Maximum: 17 on September 7th, 1946. Numbers up to 10 are normal.

REDSHANK. Uncommon, and only ones and twos occur on spring and autumn passage. Six winter records, chiefly in the thirties.

GREENSHANK. Despite the absence of records before 1943 is now noted regularly on passage, especially in autumn. None in 1961, but in 1962 a maximum of 18, including a party of 16, occurred on August 24th, and one on the late date of December 24th.

KNOT. One on November 18th, 1962.

PURPLE SANDPIPER. One on September 14th, 1957.

DUNLIN. Occurs in spring and autumn in much the same numbers as Ringed Plover. In 1947 up to 30 in April and 40 on November 17th, 1949, but since then no record of more than eight in a day.

CURLEW-SANDPIPER. One on July 26th, 1950.

SANDERLING. One or two recorded several times April and May and one November, 1947; singles in June, 1948, and May, 1959; one to three from May to July, 1960; and one or two in August, 1962.

RUFF. A party of nine flew south-west on August 18th, 1957.

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Only one or two records most years. Seven on December 11th, 1962, was exceptional.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Has increased considerably in recent years. Now regular throughout the year but especially in autumn. Over 50 recorded several times and 200 roosted on December 11th, 1962.

HERRING-GULL. Not as common as former species in autumn but more numerous in winter. Maximum: 200 roosting on December 26th, 1951.

COMMON GULL. Regular autumn passage to the south-west, usually up to 20 in a day. A small number roosted in the forties, with 150 in February, 1947. A few occur in winter.

LITTLE- GULL. An immature flew south on August 9th, 1959.

KITTIWAKE. One September 28th, 1946. A total of 10 flew south- west on February 22nd and one November 15th, 1959; singles September 27th, 1960, and November 29th, 1961; four November 18th and one December 20th, 1962.

BLACK-HEADED GULL. Recorded in all months. Roosted in numbers up to 1,000 in the early forties but, since the Water Department started "bombing" the birds in 1945, roosts have been erratic, usually forming only in hard weather. Maximum: 6,000 on December 30th, 1962.

BLACK TERN. Recorded in small numbers in August and September and occasionally in spring. Parties totalling 45 flew south- west on August 29th, 1961, in an exceptional movement.

COMMON TERN. A few recorded from July to October since 1958. Maximum: six, June 3rd, 1960. In 1959 three recorded on late date of October 25th.

ARCTIC TERN. Despite the infrequent early records probably one or two occur in autumn most years. One in May, 1959, is the only spring record.

LITTLE TERN. Four on August 19th, 1942, and singles on May 4th, 1958, and August 15th, 1961.

STOCK-DOVE. Occasionally seen in small numbers.

WOOD-PIGEON. A few pairs breed and large flocks occur in winter. Maximum: about 1,000, December, 1959.

TURTLE-DOVE. Uncommon. Does not breed.

CUCKOO. Has not occurred in summer since 1959 although one or two appear on passage.

BARN-OWL. Formerly bred in farm buildings now the Council Estate, but one on December 19th, 1962, was the first for at least six years.

LITTLE: OWL. Reported to be increasing in 1948 and again in 1957 when seven or eight could be recorded in a day. Since then one or two has been normal and not recorded at all in 1962.

TAWNY OWL. A pair probably breeds in woods near the filter beds.

SHORT-EARED OWL. One flew south-west in hard weather movement, January 10th, 1959.

SWIFT. A few breed locally. Southerly movement usually early August. Maximum: 500 in four hours, August 3rd, 1959.

KINGFISHER. Possibly once a regular visitor but one at Westminster Pool in October and November, 1960, is the only recent record.

GREEN WOODPECKER. "A severe reduction" noted in 1947 so presumably once fairly common. Now only one or two records each year.

GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Two or three pairs believed to breed near the area and birds often seen in woods near the reservoir.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Uncommon. Usually one or two records each year since 1957.

SKYLARK. A considerable movement to south-west occurs each year in October and early November. Usually about 140 per hour on peak days. Flocks up to 200 in winter; 600 on December 27th, 1962, was exceptional.

WOOD-LARK. One seen and heard September 30th, 1942.

SWALLOW. A few pairs breed in farm buildings. Southerly movement in autumn with 1,200 in an hour, September 17th, 1957.

HOUSE-MARTIN. Same status as Swallow. 500 noted in five minutes moving south, September 3rd, 1960.

SAND-MARTIN. A few occur on passage.

JAY. Up to three often in Bromwich Wood but does not breed. An influx of about 30 quiet birds noted on September 28th, 1957.

BLUE TIT. Breeds fairly commonly. In late autumn, 1957, when there was an "eruption" parties of up to 50 fed on ploughland and in bushes.

COAL-TIT. Described in 1947 as "uncommon winter visitor." A few with other tits in 1957 is the only recent record.

MARSH-TIT. Recorded, rarely, in winter months.

WILLOW-TIT. Four pairs recorded in summer, 1948, but since the encroachment of the estate only one or two pairs breed. Seen throughout the year.

LONG-TAILED TIT. An irregular winter visitor in small numbers.

NUTHATCH. Strong visitor. Singles in Bromwich Wood, March 25th and July 31st, 1960.

TREE-CREEPER. One or two in Bromwich Wood each winter.

FIELDFARE. More common than Redwing and large parties often occur, especially on migration. Maximum: about 400, November 30th, 1958, and December 23rd, 1962.

REDWING. Less numerous than Fieldfare but quite regular. Maximum: about 200, December 23rd, 1962.

WHEATEAR. Small numbers in spring and autumn near the reservoirs. Maximum: 18, April 7th, 1951.

STONECHAT. Uncommon. Isolated occurrences of singles or pairs in winter, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1960 and 1961.

WHINCHAT. Small numbers on migration, usually along reservoir fences. Maximum: seven, September 22nd, 1957.

REDSTART. Occasional records in summer, which may suggest local breeding, and in autumn.

GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER. One singing, Frankley, June 19th, 1962.

REED-WARBLER. Recorded in spring and autumn, 1958, at Westminster Pool.

SEDGE-WARBLER. Occasional on passage, usually at Westminster Pool.

BLACKCAP. A few on passage but does not breed.

GARDEN-WARBLER. Rarely on passage. May breed some years in woods near filter beds.

WHITETHROAT. Common breeding species. Usually leaves early August but one very late record, November 5th, 1949.

LESSER WHITETHROAT. Three pairs breeding, 1947, but now driven out by estate development. A few occur on passage.

WILLOW-WARBLER. About six pairs breed in Bromwich Wood. Larger numbers often on passage.

CHIFFCHAFF. Common on passage but probably does not breed.

WOOD-WARBLER. Two records: August 29th, 1957, and May 4th, 1958, both at Westminster Pool.

GOLDCREST. Small parties in winter.

FIRECREST. One at Westminster Pool, November 6th, 1948.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. One or two pairs usually breed near farm buildings.

MEADOW-PIPIT. Small numbers in winter. Often movements to north-east in April and south-west in October. 140 per hour on March 31st and April 1st, 1960.

ROCK-PIPIT. One, October 17th, 1948. Two, October 7th, singles, 11th and 18th, and five on the 22nd, with one on November 5th, 1950. Singles, October 8th and 13th, 1954; October 25th, 1958; September 27th and October 31st to November 2nd, 1959; and March 20th, 1960.

WATER-PIPIT. Singles, November 2nd, 1937; October 22nd, 1947; and October 17th, 1948.

PIED WAGTAIL. A few pairs breed. Up to 150 have occasionally roosted at Westminster Pool, and on October 21st, 1956, about 400 passed to the south-west.

WHITE WAGTAIL A few recorded each year in spring.

GREY WAGTAIL. One or two present in winter.

YELLOW WAGTAIL. A few in spring, and up to 40 moving south in a day in autumn. A pair bred in 1958 and 1959.

GREENFINCH. A few breed, and flocks usually form in winter. Maximum: about 400, December, 1961.

GOLDFINCH. Small parties in winter and may breed locally. Maximum: about 45, November 11th, 1962.

SISKIN. Very occasional in winter. Maximum: 30, November 11th, 1956

LINNET. Parties up to 100 seen some winters. About three or four pairs breed near reservoir.

TWITE. Singles, October 11th and 25th, 1959.

REDPOLL. Small numbers in autumn and winter.

BULLFINCH. Seen in all months, with maximum 13, October 22nd, 1961.

CROSSBILL. One in Bromwich Wood, October 25th, 1960.

CHAFFINCH. A few breed and flocks occur in winter. 700 passed through, October 25th, 1958, moving south-west.

BRAMBLING. Irregular winter visitor in small numbers.

YELLOW HAMMER. A few breed and flocks occur in winter. 300 on December 8th, 1957, was part of passerine "erruption."

CORN-BUNTING. One flying north-east, April 16th, 1961, and one south-west, August 28th, 1962.

CIRL-BUNTING. A male with mixed finches, February 5th, 1950.

REED-BUNTING. One or two pairs breed. Up to 50 roosted at Westminster Pool in late autumn, 1957.

SNOW-BUNTING. One, November 5th, 1948; two flying west, November 20th, 1955. Two January 17th, and one, December 19th, 1960. One, Novernber 11th, and two flying west, November 18th, 1962.

TREE-SPARROW. Several pairs breed, and flocks of up to 100 form in winter.

The following fly over regularly but do not breed:-Carrion- Crow, Rook, Jackdaw.

The following are noted regularly and breed:-Magpie, Wren, Mistle-Thrush, Song-Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Hedge-Sparrow, Starling, House-Sparrow.

W. E. ODDIE. [1]