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.
September saw the arrival, and gradual increase in numbers, of Shoveler, Pochard, Wigeon and Teal. By December, numbers had shot up, with recordings of up to 43+ Shoveler, 12 Pochard, 30 Wigeon and 70+ Teal. The first Goosander arrived on 25 October, there were up to 51 on Forge Mill Lake by the new year. Several Goldeneye were a permanent spectacle in front of the hide, from the beginning of December.
Other winter visitors included Jack Snipe (2), Water Rail (5), Siskin (40-50), Fieldfare (100+), Redwing (80-90), Lesser Redpoll (10), Mealy Redpoll (1 at Forge Mill Farm).
Further birds of interest to visit the reserve over the last few months of 2005 included Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Rock Pipit/Water Pipit, Peregrine Falcon, Buzzard, Dunlin and Golden Plover.
Flocks of up to 50+ Lapwing have been visiting the main island, including one quite striking leucistic bird.
A Snipe count at the beginning of December produced 25 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 4 Water Rail and 4 Meadow Pipit.
Willow Tits are doing well on the RSPB reserve, with five recently caught in one ringing session. This looks hopeful in terms of the species setting up winter territories and breeding on the reserve again this year.
Ring-necked Parakeets continue to visit the feeders and are often heard calling as the zoom past in a greeny-blue blur.
There were no updates in this period
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-2005 on Saturday 11 February 2012 12:54:18
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