West Midland Bird Club

BIRDS OF THE EARLSWOOD AREA.

The area lies about eight miles south of Birmingham and consists of three lakes totalling eighty acres, a further eighty acres of mainly deciduous woodland, and several arable fields.

The lakes attract a good variety of duck, but in small numbers. Twelve species, including, Shellduck, Gadwall, Garganey, Pintail, Ferruginous Duck (the first record for the county [1]), and Goldeneye, were seen during the year. Only Mallard bred. Three pairs of Great-crested Grebes attempted to nest, two pairs rearing young.

Another interesting bird seen was a Spotted Crake, which, after being seen in December, 1948, appeared again in January. The conclusion that it wintered locally seems possible. The only other winter record -was over 30 years ago.

Amongst the birds seen on the spring passage were Curlew, and a Wood-Sandpiper, also two Great Black-backed Gulls.

During the Autumn, the water level dropped considerably and the mud exposed attracted a Bar-tailed Godwit, Snipe, a single Ruff, Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpipers (one of which stayed until the middle of October), and a Ringed Plover.

Three Water-Pipits and a White Wagtail were also seen, and later a Snow-Bunting stayed for a few days.

The surrounding area in winter supported a number of flocks of finches, buntings, etc., including a few Brambling and a possible Richard's Pipit. During the Spring, Wheatear, Whinchat, Woodlark, and Ring-Ouzel, were seen, but did not stay.

A considerable amount of passerine migration was noted this Autumn. The species chiefly involved were Meadow-Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Swallows, and House-Martins. The first two were usually moving in a South to South-Easterly direction, the latter two South-Westerly. A Sand-Martin was seen on November 1st. Greenfinches, Chaffinches, and Skylarks were seen flying in unusually large numbers, but did not tend to any particular direction.

P.E., J.S., M.J.T.