Archive bird sightings from Sandwell Valley.
Unless otherwise stated, reports on this page are anecdotal, and have not been verified by the relevant country recorder or rarities committee.
For the scientfic names of these birds, and their local status, see our county lists.
There were no updates in this period
The last few weeks of August saw some interesting birds coming through on passage, and some early winter arrivals.
April continued with two Green Sandpipers in the RSPB marsh on 14th and for any spring doubters a male Cuckoo on 15th. 4 Common Sandpipers were found around Forge Mill Lake on the 16th along with a Dunlin, Grasshopper Warbler and large numbers of House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallows. 17th saw the first Swift and numbers built up over the next week into the hundreds. The Oystercatcher pair were also joined by a third on the 17th though the other rested on the north island out of the way and moved off before the next day. Up to 3 male Redstarts were found around the valley on the 18th and 7 Wheatear and a female Stonechat joined one in the paddocks the next day. A Whimbrel was also spotted leaving the RSPB marsh after a rest. A Ring Ouzel was spotted on 24th by Salters Lane whilst over six Skylarks and a Yellow Wagtail were at Swan pool.
In the RSPB marsh, a pair and a single male Gadwall have remained and Little Grebe put in the occasional appearance. Kingfishers returned to last year's nest site, but late spring rains saw them flooded out and they have not returned. Lapwings also have suffered from the high water levels and breeding pairs seem restricted to the island, though one bird was seen sitting on the north island and another on the small gravel islands. Chicks were first seen on the 5th May and up to 5 have been recorded since so it seems likely that a few will fledge. It looks also like Buzzard have again bred in or near the valley as 7 were seen together on the 24th April.
A highlight for the few who saw it was a Short-eared Owl which was found by the lake edge on the 3rd May. It seems likely that the Lapwings had attacked it and forced it to take a swim. The bird was totally waterlogged and offered no resistance to being taken into care. It was dried and fed at the Hagley Falconry Centre 
and then released the next day in the meadows, where it flew away strongly.
Other notables in May included Tree Pipit, 8 Shelduck (3rd), Redshank, Wood Warbler, (6th), Common Tern (9th), Greenshank (26th), drake Pintail (28th), Goshawk and Quail (2nd June)
Oystercatcher, Ruddy Duck and Gadwall could yet surprise and delight us with young, but in early June it seems like most of our birds have bred and are now quietly getting on with the busy job of feeding all those hungry mouths. Kingfisher have been recorded carrying fish across the scrape so maybe they have found a better site to breed and Tufted Ducks seem to be high in number so they should have a good season bringing up the rear.
In its second year, The RSPB's nest box cam again delighted school parties and other visitors alike as a pair of Great Tits raised 5 young. Our other resident favourite, the Pheasant, has yet to show us any young despite his three fiercely-guarded females.
The spring progression continues to gather pace with new species arriving in the valley daily. Late March saw the first Chiffchaff singing in the valley (16 March), Willow Warbler were a little way behind as tradition dictates! (5 April). A Lesser Whitethroat was reported on the 8th April and Blackcap have been regularly recorded. March's Sand Martins were followed by House Martins and Swallows on the 2nd and 3rd April respectively and small groups of all three hirundine species are seen daily now. Most recent arrival was a Grasshopper Warbler which has been reeling in the RSPB scrape since the 12th.
Other migrants on the move have included an Osprey (31 March), Wheatear, Stonechat, Rock Pipit (18 March), Ring Ouzel (9 and 13 April) and Shelduck (23 March). There have been plenty of waders passing through too including Oystercatchers, Redshank and Curlew. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers have been recorded on the islands on Forge Mill Lake daily. Lapwing are defending areas of wetlands around the lake and some females are already settled on nests. Most pairs are on the RSPB island and marsh but one pair have nested on the recently cleared north island.
Other prospective breeders on the RSPB reserve include Gadwall, Little Grebe and Kingfisher. Elsewhere in the valley the heronry in priory woods is in full swing whilst the Little Owls near swan pool have picked their nest site.
A few winter birds are still to be found around the valley including Brambling (seen under the RSPB feeding station on 10 April), Goosander, Snipe, Jack Snipe (28 March), Goldeneye, Wigeon, Shoveler and Fieldfare.
Spring has now arrived at the valley in stuttering fashion. The mixed weather has seen the Great Tits, Robins, Thrushes and Dunnocks singing one day and then quietly feeding the following one. Blue Tits have already started inspecting and clearing out potential holes and nest boxes and the resident cock Pheasant has begun to crow in earnest.
On the wetlands a dozen or so Lapwings have staked territories and have begun to torment the Crows and gulls. A Redshank on the 16th has also been targeted by their over zealous aggression whilst a pair of Oystercatchers seemed robust enough to avoid harassment on the 17th. On the 11th a Dunlin was found on the island on Forge Mill and stayed to the 13th where it was joined by the springs first Little Ringed Plover. The long-staying Water Pipit is still hanging on around Forge Mill Lake but has as yet showed no signs of coming into the attractive summer plumage. Up to 3 Meadow Pipits have also been seen in the RSPB reserve.
The 16th also saw the arrival of the first 3 Sand Martins and the first singing Chiffchaff was heard in scrub by forge mill lake to be joined by four more the following day. Blackcap too have been noticed in the scrub around the lake but these may be individuals that have over wintered.
On Forge Mill Lake, winter duck have still been present in good numbers with 20 or more Wigeon on moving back and forth from the river. Goosander numbers have hovered around the 25-30 mark in the valley though they are usually broken into small groups of 5 or 6 scattered around the pools and river. Two pairs of Gadwall have been noted on most days and it is hoped that they may stay and breed for a second year. Last years first ever breeding pair managed to raise all 10 young to adulthood and most stayed in the valley over the winter so the potential for resident Gadwall is good. Two pairs of Goldeneye have been on Forge Mill Lake and a Little Grebe has also been noted.
![[Link to large version of picture of Kittiwake]](/images/gallery/MabbettA/Kittiwake20040313t.jpg "Kittiwake © Andy Mabbett")
Up to 40 Shoveler have been feeding and pairing up in the RSPB reserve mostly in the now deep and flooded marsh. The marsh has also harboured up to a dozen Teal who have also been displaying and courting in earnest. A Snipe count in the marsh on the 27th recorded only a rather disappointing 15 Common Snipe however 3 Jack Snipe were also flushed showing that these are still about though easily overlooked. Water Rail are recorded daily mostly seen from the visitor centre but numbers are difficult to record as they are so elusive.
Linnet, Stonechat, Goldcrest, Skylark, Brambling and Yellowhammer have all occurred in ones and twos around the valley in the last month and the Redpoll flock has reached over 30 occasionally mixing with a dozen or more Siskin. These are mostly found in the Alders on the fringe of Forge Mill Lake particularly near the newly cleared north island.
A Common Gull was in amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the 11th and was still present on the 16th. Bird of the month though was probably the fine Kittiwake that rested on Swan pool on the 13th.
Spring is definitely in the air! Lapwing are starting to prospect nesting sites, Skylark have been active over Swan Pool and Grey Heron activity is building up at the heronry on Ice House Pool. Shoveler numbers are building up on Marsh Pool, with a maximum of 14 being counted. Other water birds include 35–40 Goosander, plenty of Teal, occasional Cormorants, 3 Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, plus a Shelduck on Swan Pool on the 17th.
Large numbers of gulls — mostly Black Headed Gulls, but also up to 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1–3 Herring Gull — have been present.
One or two Willow Tits are regularly visiting the RSPB's feeders; there have also been reports from the RSPB Marsh and Ice House Pool. A Little Egret was reported flying over the River Tame on the 21st. Fieldfare and Redwing and Buzzard are all being seen regularly and 30 plus Golden Plover have been seen flying over the valley. There has also been lots of Song Thrush activity.
A Water Rail has been showing well from Marsh Screen and a Stonechat was seen at Swan Pool on the 23rd.
The Water Pipit is still present on the RSPB marsh at time of writing and seems very much at home in the flooded grassland. It was joined by 3 Meadow Pipits on 29 January who stayed until 2 February. Skylarks have been in song over the meadows and grassland adjacent to Swan Pool and Song Thrushes and Robins having been proclaiming spring all around the valley.
The Goosander flock has been fairly constant at up to 40 on Forge Mill Lake, though work on the North Island has seen them pushed to the RSPB end for the most part. The island has been cleared of vegetation to allow better access for wintering waterfowl and also raise the prospects for breeding Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover. A fine male Goldeneye and two females have been on Forge Mill Lake most days January and this month and up to 11 Gadwall have been present on the lake, fuelling hope that they will attempt breeding again this year.
Up to eight Bullfinches have been visiting the RSPB feeders alongside all the other regulars. The new table seems to be working well though the smallest of the Grey Squirrels managed to squeeze through, much to the disgust of staff at the visitor centre! Mixed flocks of Siskin and Redpoll have been counted well into the forties and have mostly been found feeding in the Alders on the fringe of Forge Mill Lake. Flocks of 20+ Redwing and Fieldfare have been moving around the valley polishing off the last of the berry crop. A Goldcrest was also seen on 6 February.
At least four Water Rails have been calling from all around Forge Mill Lake, where a flush count recorded only 6 Common Snipe. Tawny Owl were heard calling from Handsworth Golf Course on 1 February and a Chiffchaff was in the scrub near the visitor centre on the same day. The Lapwing flock has been fairly constant at around 30 birds, but was disturbed by a single Herring Gull and a young Lesser Black-backed Gull on 3 February.
As well as the birds announcing the early arrival of spring, Blackthorn has begun to flower and a Noctule Bat was seen out and about on the 5 February. Expect toad, frog and butterfly reports to be following this bird report soon!
![[Link to large version of picture of Female Redpoll]](/images/gallery/MartinN/Redpoll20040118t.jpg "Female Redpoll © Nick Martin")
In early January a new table and two new feeders were installed to baffle the ever rampant Grey Squirrels and Magpies. The table has been a great success with all the regular species taking to it straight away and even Long-tailed Tits which are certainly unusual. The birds are taking longer to find the feeders hanging on the visitor centre wall, but once they've realised the availability of the food, nice close up views will be afforded from the viewing window. One of the Willow Tits has moulted and grown a rather splendid white tail so is now easily seen as it raids the table.
Close up views were also the theme of the day at the RSPB on the 18th when local ringers set up mist nets on the reserve. Over 70 birds were caught, weighed measured and ringed. Most of these were Great Tits yet incredibly most of those visiting the feeders on subsequent days were not ringed! Begging the question... just how many Great Tits are being fed at the reserve? Other birds caught included Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin and Dunnock. The best bird though was surely the beautiful female Redpoll.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Coal Tits and Goldcrests have been recorded daily in the woodlands near Park Farm and Ice house woods. And flocks of Siskin and Redpoll are to be found in the Alders around Forge Mill Lake. Flocks of up to 40 Fieldfare have been recorded from various parts of the valley but redwing have been few and far between. Green Woodpeckers and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are seen daily across the valley.
The Water Pipit reappeared after Christmas and has been seen daily up to the 22nd. It was most obvious on the small islands in the RSPB Marsh but as the water level has risen and covered these it has been seen more in the scrape and edges. A Short-eared Owl was seen briefly on the golf course behind the RSPB Reserve on the 9th.
Information supplied by our friends at RSPB Sandwell Valley,
20 Tanhouse Avenue, Great Barr, Birmingham B43 5AG (SP035928 ).
Ornithology in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & the West Midlands county, since 1929.
Fetched from http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/westmidlands/sandwell/latest-2004.htm on Wednesday 17 March 2010 02:10:56
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