This article first appeared in the Annual Report of the Birmingham (latterly West Midlands) Bird Club for 1949. Bird names/ spellings were used as given:
THE WEST MIDLANDS BIRD REPORT NO. 16.
WEST BROMWICH AREA.
This review covers the strip of open country to the east of West Bromwich town, extending to the Walsall Road, and although its average width would not exceed 1½ miles the area includes arable and pasture land, woodland, a reed-fringed lake, a stream (badly polluted), water meadows and canals. An extensive industrial belt and urban housing estates almost enclose the area and in the appreciation of this fact lies its ornithological interest.
Sixty-three species have been seen in the district and interesting residents include Reed-Bunting, Tree-Sparrow, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tawny and Little Owl, Kestrel and Common Partridge. Spring migration has been observed in the cases of Blackcap, Wheatear, House-Martin,. Sparrow-Hawk, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Snipe (regularly), and Redshank; autumn passage is not so apparent here but Grey Wagtails, Spotted Flycatcher, and British Lesser Black-backed Gull have been seen going through.
Although marred by egg thieves the breeding season is particularly interesting, the chief passerine attraction being the nesting of many pairs of Yellow Wagtails. Near Swan Pool Reed Buntings and Sedge-Warblers breed regularly in small numbers and there are usually three or four pairs of Coot (in winter the Coots number about 20 birds). Swallows nest in at least three of the farms, and though House-Martins are absent Sand-Martins feed above the water of the pool. Chiffchaffs are few, but, of course, Willow-Warblers and Whitethroats abound.
Not a lot is seen of the waders; Lapwings breed every year but the recovery to the breeding strength of 1946 is slow after the winter of 1947. Although not proved it is likely that Curlews bred in the area in 1947, while the evidence that Redshanks did so in 1948 is even stronger. At least one pair of Whinchats nested in 1948.
In winter Jays are usually in the woods, while Redwings and Fieldfares are here every year, sometimes in flocks of over 100; each winter brings a score or so of Black-headed Gulls to the ploughed land. Species that are only very occasionally found in the district include Meadow-Pipit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Heron, Great Crested Grebe, and rather oddly, Coal-Tit.
A strange thing about this area is the relative scarcity of Chaffinches (known locally as Pie-Finches!), these being outnumbered by Greenfinches and Tree-Sparrows.
Colour ringing of Great and Blue Tits has tended to show a wide variation in numbers from year to year in both species, and also as between the two; it has, as well, indicated an extensive autumn movement of tits through the district.
An interesting incident was the observation by the writer of a Redwing perching in a tree in a small garden in a thickly built-up part of the town in February, 1947
D.R.M.