West Midland Bird Club

August 2010

Update from Lee Copplestone, Site Manager at RSPB Sandwell Valley:

The RSPB visitor centre will remain closed until further notice. The RSPB plan to rebuild the centre over the next year or so. Meanwhile, the reserve is still accessible on foot. If travelling by car, please park on Tanhouse Avenue at times when the gates are closed. Temporary buildings will be provided in the car park area off Tanhouse Avenue very shortly. The Lakeside hide is open on Tuesday to Friday 10.30am–1.00pm and Weekends 10.30am–3.30pm subject to availability of staff and volunteers. Please check opening times before making a special journey to visit the hide. The RSPB apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your co-operation.

July 2010

The young Common Tern chicks continued to thrive and grew rapidly. Other successful breeders whose young were seen include Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Starling, Long-tailed Tits and Reed Bunting. However the Little Ringed Plovers, after having several unsuccessful nesting attempts had their eggs predated again, this time by Magpies.

Tufted Ducks were very productive with nearly 40 chicks counted in different family groups. The Great Crested Grebe pair were attempting a second brood after earlier success and a further 4 Lapwing chicks hatched; again is a probable second brood.

There were occasional sightings of Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe and Kingfisher and more regular sightings of Swallow, Swift, House Martin and Sand Martin, Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Kestrel and Buzzard. Other warblers heard and seen were Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

On Forge Mill Lake there were small numbers of Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Shoveler, Cormorant and Grey Heron.

Several Southern Hawker dragonflies were seen foraging over the RSPB's dipping pool.

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June 2010

Exciting news: 3 Common Tern chicks were hatched (18th) after the parents had aggressively defended a nest site for about 3 weeks on the main island in Forge Mill Lake. This is believed to be a first for the RSPB reserve.

Other known successful breeders include blue, great and Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Mallard, tufted duck, one with a brood of 12, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, reed warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, starling and Great Crested Grebe, seen carrying 3 young on its back (30th). Unfortunately the Oystercatcher pair and the Little Ringed Plovers would both appear to have been unsuccessful after making several nesting attempts. There were still a few Coots sitting nests and a Lapwing sitting on 2 eggs, all probably on second broods.

Other sightings included a White-winged Black Tern that passed through (21st), Peregrine (19th), green and Common Sandpiper (24th), Water Rail, Kingfisher, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, as well as small flocks of Swift, Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin. On Forge Mill Lake were up to 14 Gadwall, 3 Pochard and single Teal and Shoveler.

Warblers not already mentioned were Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.

May 2010

The first Lapwing chick has hatched (2nd) and other successful hatchings include Mute Swan with 4 cygnets, Canada Geese with 5 goslings, Moorhen with 3 chicks and there are at least 5 Coot nests on the lake, whilst other hopeful pairings include Common Tern, Little Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. A pair of Great Crested Grebe built a nest on top of an old fencing stump in the lake and were observed performing their courtship rituals.

Other notable sightings on the RSPB reserve were Rock Pipit, Redstart, Common Sandpiper, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Kingfisher, Little Grebe and a calling Water Rail. A flock of about 12 House Sparrows congregated in the hedges near the visitor centre.

There have been flocks of probably 100+ Swifts, often accompanied by 50+ House Martins and Swallows but with fewer sand martins, flying over the lake

Warblers being heard regularly around the reserve were several Whitethroat, about a dozen Reed Warblers in the reedbeds, a few pairs Sedge Warblers, good numbers of Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. A couple of Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat could also be heard singing.

About 60 Tufted Duck gathered together, mostly males, whilst the females are sitting on nests. Other birds on the lake are 6 pairs of Gadwall, several young Grey Heron, Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Cormorant.

April 2010

There was an unusual and exciting appearance of a male Garganey (25th), although it only stayed a day it did re-appear again a few days later. Other visitors included Redshank (23rd), Wheatear (28th), Green Sandpiper (14th), Common Sandpiper on several days, 4 varieties of wagtails: Pied Wagtail, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail.

Warblers continued to arrive during the month including 3 Willow Warbler (9th), Sedge Warbler (19th), 5 Whitethroat (21st) and a Lesser Whitethroat (23rd), which showed well near the boardwalk. Reed Warbler (23rd) arrived suddenly and there were at least 10 singing by the end of the month. Blackcap (4th) numbers increased and their song could soon be heard everywhere around the reserve, Chiffchaff was also a regular sound.

Other arriving migrants included Little Ringed Plover (10th), House Martin (7th), Swift (30th), as well as many more Swallows and Sand Martins.

A singing Water Rail with a female was spotted on 23rd. and 3 Common Tern (26th), which stayed around the lake.

A pair of Oystercatcher was still occupying the island together with several nesting Lapwing. Other regular sightings around the reserve included Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Snipe, Meadow Pipit, singing Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, long-tailed and willow tit and Sparrowhawk. On Forge Mill Lake there were Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Teal, about 48 Tufted Duck as well as Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe, also Greylag Geese, Cormorant and Herring Gull put in appearances.

Near Swan Pool there were regular sightings of 2 Little Owls, several Skylark, Whinchat and a Goshawk.

March 2010

Early summer migrant arrivals were several Sand Martin (19th), Chiffchaff (20th) and Swallow (30th), all nearly a week later than last year. Other interesting sightings were Redshank, Stonechat, 2 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, a White Wagtail and a Peregrine (14th)

The Oystercatcher pair remained on the main island together with about 40 Lapwing.

Numbers of Goosander reduced during the month from 20 down to 3 as they returned to their breeding grounds.

A Snipe count (20th) produced 66 Common Snipe and 12 Jack Snipe.

Notable sightings were Kingfisher, Water Rail, 2 Willow Tits, 2 Grey Wagtail, a few Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest and other regular sightings around the RSPB reserve included 6 Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Buzzard, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

On the Forge Mill Lake were groups of 10 Gadwall, 15 Wigeon, 10 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler, 14 Teal, pairs of Great Crested Grebe and up to 3 Goldeneye. A raft of over 200 gulls included Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Corvids included 20+ Rooks and 30+ Jackdaw.

At Swan Pool there were sightings of Rock Pipit and several Skylark.

March 2010 Message

Message from Lee Copplestone, Site Manager at RSPB Sandwell Valley:

Sandwell Valley visitor centre suffered very severe fire damage recently. The building is unsafe and will remain closed until further notice. All events, activities and meetings are under review. The RSPB car park will remain closed though the reserve is still accessible to pedestrians. The hide will not be open. I have asked our volunteers not to attend unless requested to do so.

None of our landlines are working. We have no electricity supply. Please contact the Midlands Regional Office if necessary. Urgent enquiries only please.

We at the West Midland Bird Club are very sorry to hear that, and wish our RSPB colleagues good luck in getting back up and running.

February 2010

An Oystercatcher arrived on the reserve (17th) followed by a second bird (27th), which was almost certainly one of last year's birds (it has a foot missing).

Other exciting birds were Shelduck (26th), Treecreeper, Yellow-legged Gull and 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (27th). On the same day small groups of Fieldfare and Redwing were seen.

2 Willow Tits have become regulars at the feeder table, making darting forays to grab the seeds. These are constantly joined by 2 Coal Tits, up to 10 Bullfinch, more than 20 Greenfinch and a Marsh Tit has also been seen.

On a Snipe count (6th) there were 32 Common Snipe and 6 Jack Snipe.

Other interesting sightings were Water Rail, Ring-necked Parakeet, a female Stonechat, Redpoll, Long-tailed Tit, a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk bathing in the marsh pool.

There were good numbers of water birds on the lake particularly 28 Gadwall, 27 Pochard, 40 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 18 Teal and 20 Wigeon with some grazing in the marsh area. Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe, Goosander and Goldeneye were also easily seen on the lake. 125 Canada Geese were counted (3rd).

Elsewhere in Sandwell Valley there were sightings of a Little Owl and Goldcrest at Hilltop and Blackcap at High Bridges.

January 2010

There was little birdwatching done in the first part of the month due to the freezing conditions. Forge Mill Lake and all the pools were frozen over and access to the RSPB hide was very difficult for the same reason.

However there were some notable sightings with a female Brambling (24th) seen near the feeder table, 2 Treecreeper and 8 Goldcrest seen near the reserve entrance. Other birds taking full advantage of the feeders in the severe weather were 10 Bullfinch, 20 Chaffinch, 30 Greenfinch, Coal Tit, House Sparrows, a few Reed Buntings and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Once the lake had started to thaw there were the regular sightings of water birds including 51 Goosander (17th), 5 Goldeneye, 25 Pochard, 23 Teal, 11 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 15 Wigeon, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe and Kingfisher.

Similarly in the marsh area birds started to appear as the ground thawed with 25 Snipe (29th), Water Rail and Jack Snipe all being seen. In the trees in the same area there was a large mixed flock of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll.

Other sightings were of Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Ring-necked Parakeet, Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit and Goldfinch as well as the usual raptors: Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard.

In other parts of Sandwell Valley there were sightings of Common Gull and Yellow-legged Gull, a Little Owl and Willow Tit at Swan Pool, a Woodcock at Hill House Farm and a Blackcap at High Bridges.

A Water Vole was spotted in the river Tame.

Improvements

Press released by RSPB on 18 January 2010:

Visitors to the RSPB's Sandwell Valley nature reserve and the local community are set to benefit from around £120,000 worth of major improvements over the next three months, which will improve links with the Sandwell Valley Country Park, provide training and volunteer placements for local people and attract more visitors.

The wildlife garden will receive a facelift with a new pond, paths, flower borders and seating areas, and the funds will pay for a new volunteers' workshop, a storage facility and a cycle shelter to be built next to the visitor centre.

The funding also will enable Groundwork West Midlands to employ a team of apprentices to build an extension to the car park and widen paths around the nature reserve, which will make them accessible for wheelchairs and buggies.

The improved trails will link up with footpaths and nature trails across the wider country park, including a major Sustrans cycle route. The improved links will make the Sandwell Valley an even better place for locals and visitors to exercise, enjoy wildlife and wind down from the stresses of life.

The major part of the grant has been awarded to the RSPB by Advantage West Midlands and Natural England through the Natural Assets grant programme, which aims to support initiatives that provide economic benefit to local communities through improving the natural environment. Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust has provided further funding for the workshop and much needed storage facilities, and Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) towards the wildlife garden.

RSPB Site Manager, Lee Copplestone said:

The funding is really a great boost for everyone visiting the reserve. Once all the work has been completed, the reserve will be an even better place for a family day out or a lunchtime stroll. The end result will also help give local children better learning experiences through our out-of-classroom learning.

Due to all the work that will take place, the nature centre will be closed on weekdays during most of February and early March, except for pre-arranged groups but will remain open at weekends.