West Midland Bird Club

December 2009

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has again been seen in the wooded area near the reserve entrance and also in the same area Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest and Ring-necked Parakeets. A small flock of Pink-footed Geese were seen flying over (13th) and much later the same day a Barn Owl was spotted near the Visitor Centre.

A snipe count (17th) revealed 45 Common Snipe and 3 Jack Snipe. Up to 4 Water Rail have also been seen.

On Forge Mill lake counts of water birds included 22 Teal, 15 Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 16 Gadwall and 60 Tufted Duck as well as Goosander, Comorant, Goldeneye, Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe. On the island a Starling flock of about 25 birds mingled with the larger flock of over 100 Lapwing. 2 Common Gull were spotted along with more than three hundred Black-headed Gulls.

Regularly around the feeders were Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit and brightly coloured Bullfinch, standing out in the grey weather. 2 Stock Dove were also identified.

There were frequent sightings around the reserve of Song Thrush, Redwing, Long-tailed Tits, a flock of about 14 Goldfinch and a larger mixed flock of Lesser Redpoll with Siskin. Other occasional sightings included Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. A group (murder ?) of about 26 Crows was also observed.

A Raven was seen flying near Park Farm (16th).

Tom Watson

Tom Watson , MP for West Bromwich East, wrote the following in his column in the Great Barr Obvserver of 8 January 2010. 

Just before Christmas I had the delight of visiting Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve to meet the staff and join in with their 25 year anniversary celebrations. The site has certainly come a long way since Hamstead Colliery closed and Forge Mill Lake was created to aid flood alleviation work further down the River Tame.

Looking at the area today it seems hard to believe that the RSPB only opened the doors to the nature reserve in 1984 after leasing the site from Sandwell Council. It's now a real jewel in the crown of the borough.

Creating a nature reserve from scratch did not happen overnight and has only been made possible thanks to the hard work by determined staff, volunteers, the commitment of local councillors to the valley and the financial support of RSPB members and local trusts.

Colleagues in Westminster are often surprised when I point out that West Bromwich East constituency has twice the average amount of greenbelt land. Sandwell Valley provides a real taste of the countryside within one mile of West Bromwich Town Centre.

We have over 2000 acres of woodland and parkland with wildfowl lakes and the remains of an old Benedictine Priory. It really is a special place where people and wildlife mix in equal measure.

The RSPB have built up a good relationship with local schools offering children their first taste of nature and there is even now a Baby Birds parent and toddler group. Each year around 35,000 people visit the nature reserve and 3,000 of those are local school children.

There's weekly health walks around Forge Mill Lake, community events ranging from moth and bat evenings to bird ringing days, plus many guided walks and other family-focused activities too.

For people who would like to get involved in local conservation work, learn new skills or get to know new people, there is also plenty of volunteering opportunities available.

Over 200 species of birds have been recorded here and in the winter months you are likely to spot wading birds such as jack snipe, lapwings and redshanks. You may also get the delight of spotting a heron or a water vole.

Sandwell Valley Naturalists  (SandNats) have also recently discovered several rare species of bees and wasps. One of the finds was the large spring spider-hunting wasp — a new record for Birmingham and the Black Country.

I am really proud of the work that the staff and all the volunteers do at Sandwell Valley. It's a great resource for local people and we should use the site to sell the benefits of Sandwell to the rest of the country.

Congratulations to our friends at RSPB Sandwell Valley for this well-earned praise! Our thanks to Tom for permsision to reproduce his article.

November 2009

A rare sighting of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker caused great excitement. It was first noted on the 9th in the wooded area near the reserve entrance and has been seen by a few lucky people on other days during the month. In the same area 4 noisy Ring-necked Parakeets were also seen.

Numbers of wintering wildfowl increased on Forge Mill Lake including 30+ Teal, 25 Shoveler, 40+ Wigeon, 15 Pochard, 7 Gadwall and 25 Tufted Duck. About 15 Goosander, 13 Comorants, 2 Goldeneye as well as Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe are also on the lake. A Common Gull and two juvenile Herring Gulls joined the Lesser Black-backed Gulls and more than a hundred Black-headed Gulls. 50+ Lapwing continued to occupy the main island.

Jack Snipe were still being seen occasionally with the Common Snipe and up to 3 Water Rail around the margins of the lake. Other notable sightings around the reserve were a male Stonechat (8th), a small flock of Lesser Redpoll, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, and Reed Bunting. There were daily sightings of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

Numbers of Blackbird increased, some of which wee probably wintering visitors from the continent. Other thrushes includedflocks of both Redwing and Fieldfare as well as Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes.

Under the feeder table 20 Magpies were counted together (not sure what this means in the song), as well as a cock Pheasant with 5 hens and several Dunnock. The feeder table was visited by good numbers of Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and a Coal Tit.

At Salters Lane a Woodcock was seen (2nd) and at Forge Mill Farm a Peregrine (24th).

A late-season Red Admiral butterfly was spotted on the 8th.

October 2009

The first of the wintering Goosanders, 4 pairs, arrived during in the month along with other winter migrants including Redwing, in several large flocks, Fieldfare, Goldeneye and 15 Wigeon. Other birds seen on passage were Dunlin, Little Egret, a Whooper Swan that flew over (7th), 3 Golden Plover (25th) and a Green Sandpiper, which stayed most of the month.

There were excellent and prolonged views of a Jack Snipe both in the marsh and on the main island and up to 27 Snipe were counted (27th) in the same locations. There were several Water Rail on the reserve, 3 have been seen at the same time and others heard.

Other interesting birds seen were a pair of Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush, 11 Siskin, Reed Bunting, Jay, Meadow Pipit, Kingfisher, Bullfinch and a large flock of Greenfinch. Some lingering House Martins flew through (9th) and Chiffchaff and Blackcap were still around.

70 Lapwing gather on the main island and up to 17 Cormorant now use the fence across the lake as a perch. On the lake there were 30 Teal, 15 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 30 Tufted, 7 Mute Swans, Little Grebe and a pair of Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile.

In other parts of Sandwell Valley there were sightings at Swan Pool of Rock Pipit, Skylark and a Woodlark (20th), which is thought to be the first record for the valley. Also Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen on the pool. At Hilltop, Lesser Redpoll and Willow Tit were seen (10th) and a rare Firecrest (30th).

September 2009

Some of the more unusual and colourful birds seen this month included Greenshank and Yellow Wagtail (2nd), Spotted Flycatcher (18th), Stonechat (20th) and a single Knot (22nd).

There were sightings of popular resident birds such as Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Jay, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, flocks of 15+ Long-tailed Tits, and Goldcrest. About 10 Snipe and 2 Water Rails could be easily seen around the edges of the marsh pool as water levels have dropped. Also there were other less regular sightings of Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker and Great-Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit. Raptors seen regularly were Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard.

Around Forge Mill Lake there were counts of 44 Teal, 80 Lapwing, 25 Tufted Duck, 44 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 7 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 25 Starling, 6 Cormorant and a pair of Great Crested Grebe with a chick.

Although most summer migrants have left us, there were occasional sightings of Reed Warbler and Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, a few Swallow, Sand Martin and a flock of a 100+ House Martin (15th).

Other locations in Sandwell Valley provided sightings of Whimbrel and a female Wheatear at Swan Pool and at Hilltop Blackcap, Linnet, Willow Tit, Nuthatch, Skylark, Song Thrush and Ring-necked Parakeets.

Butterflies on the RSPB reserve included Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood.

August 2009

A rare sighting of a Spotted Crake was the highlight of the month. Only a few fortunate people saw this elusive bird among the RSPB marsh's reedbeds. First noted on the 17th, it was seen again briefly and confirmed on a few more occasions.

Other notable sightings were Peregrine Falcon (4th), Dunlin (12th), Hobby (21st), Redshank (24th), Little Egret (30th) and both Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper made regular appearances. Also 3 Water Rail together a juvenile (obviously born on the reserve as it couldn't fly) plus a perching Kingfisher in the marsh and 60+ Lapwing, 4 Snipe and numerous young Starlings on the main island.

Early in the month there were large numbers of Swift (50+) and House Martin (250+) but by the month end only the occasional Swift could be seen and only small numbers of Sand Martin and Swallow.

Warblers could still be seen, though not necessarily heard, including Whitethroat and juveniles, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler and Blackcap.

On Forge Mill Lake there were 40+ Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, small numbers of Teal, Shoveler and Pochard, a pair of Great Crested Grebe that have taken over an old Coot's nest, Little Grebe, Cormorant and a solitary Goosander has stayed all summer. Several young Grey Herons stood guard around the edge of the lake patiently waiting to catch a meal.

At this time of year there is not much activity from small birds but the usual residents can still be seen including raiding parties of Long-tailed Tits, flocks of 10+ Goldfinch, several Bullfinches with juveniles, Greenfinch, Dunnocks, House Sparrows, Robins and Wrens. Both Green Woodpecker and Great-Spotted Woodpecker were seen regularly.

Elsewhere in Sandwell Valley there were sightings at Hill Top of Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Tit, Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Treecreeper and at High Bridges a Tawny Owl. Also seen in the same location was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Butterflies on the RSPB reserve included Gatekeeper, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Small White and Large White, Ringlet and Brimstone. Also Brown Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies. A Blood-vein moth and an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar were also identified.

July 2009

There were several short-stay visitors this month including Redshank (8th), Little Egret (15th), Green Sandpiper (28th), Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Common Tern with 2 juveniles. Also a Hobby (24th) and a pair of Ruddy Shelduck were seen flying south (6th).

On the main island there were several Snipe, 60+ Lapwing, Goldfinch feeding off the Teasel, up to 5 Grey Heron, a single Oystercatcher and a small flock of Starling plus an occasional swooping Sparrowhawk. On Forge Mill Lake at least 35 Tufted Ducklings have been counted although several have since become meals for the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Also there were Gadwall with 10 ducklings, 8 Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe and a Goosander that is possibly injured and has not migrated. Kingfishers have been causing lots of excitement in the hide as they fly past.

Water Rail have regularly been heard 'squealing' and a juvenile was seen in the RSPB marsh area (31st)

Warbler sightings included Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat, which seem to have had a good breeding season. Large flocks of 50+ Swift, 20+ House Martin were mixed with smaller numbers of Sand Martin and Swallows.

At the feeders there were several Bullfinch, Willow Tit, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow and Greenfinch. Around the reserve there were sightings of Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Jay and parties of Long-tailed Tits.

At Swan Pool 4 Arctic Tern were seen (21st) and a Sandwich Tern at Dartmouth (26th).

Butterfly sightings included Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Comma, Ringlet and Common Blue.

June 2009

Several chicks and juvenile birds could be seen around the RSPB reserve including Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Starling and Magpie.

Other notable sightings were a pair of Oystercatcher which was joined briefly by another adult and juvenile, there were regular visits by Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Common Tern and a Hobby on the 23rd. Flocks of 150+ Swift, 50+ House Martin, 20+ Swallow and smaller numbers of Sand Martin could be seen hunting over Forge Mill Lake. Kingfishers were also seen making regular sorties across the lake.

Other warblers seen or heard were Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, and Chiffchaff and a Grasshopper Warbler at Swan Pool. Other water birds included Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Great-Crested Grebe and Comorant.

Butterflies species, many in good numbers, were Holly Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Painted Lady, Small Skipper, Small Heath, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Small White and Large White. Day-flying moths included Chimney Sweeper, Cinnabar, Yellow Shell and 5-Spot Burnet.

Common Orchid, Spotted Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid and Bee Orchid were found on the RSPB reserve.

May 2009

Some highlights this month included the first Lapwing chick being hatched (1st), watching hatching Blue Tits on screen from the nest camera in the visitor centre and 7 Mute Swan cygnets hatched on the main Forge Mill island. 7 more Lapwing chicks were hatched during the month. A pair of Garganey appeared on the lake (23rd) and groups of 100+ Swifts could be seen flying over Forge Mill lake sometimes accompanied by large flocks of House Martins and Swallows with fewer Sand Martins.

Visiting waders included 4 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover. The Oystercatcher pair appeared to be carrying out nest duties on Forge Mill island.

Warblers heard regularly around the RSPB reserve were several Whitethroats, multiple Reed Warblers in the marsh reedbeds and in fewer numbers were Sedge Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. A Garden Warbler could be heard continually singing away near the marsh area.

Other interesting sightings were Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Ring-necked Parakeet and an injured female Goosander that stayed behind and not migrated with the others.

Numerous male Tufted Ducks gathered together whilst the females sat on nests.

At Swan Pool there were reports of Whinchat (1st), Skylark and Grasshopper Warbler (2nd) and Little Owl (9th).

Butterflies included Small Whites and Green-veined Whites, Orange Tip, Peacock, Common Blue, Small Heath and Speckled Wood.

April 2009

Warblers continued to arrive during the month including Willow Warbler (7th), Whitethroat (19th), Garden Warbler (23rd), an obliging Lesser Whitethroat near the RSPB boardwalk, and Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler (all 22nd), as well as Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

Other arriving migrants were Little Ringed Plovers (3rd.), House Martin (21st), Swift (22nd), Yellow Wagtail (7th) Common Sandpiper (16th), Common Tern (18th), a Redshank as well as many more Swallows and Sand Martins.

9 Mallard chicks were first seen on the 19th.and early on the same day a Marsh Harrier was seen flying over the RSPB reserve.

Some winter visitors could still be found including two large groups of Waxwing in residential areas near to the reserve and Goosander.

A hopeful pair of Oystercatcher was still occupying the island together with several nesting Lapwing.

The on-camera nest-box in the RSPB Vistor Centre has been occupied by a pair of Blue Tits since the start of the month and the first eggs were laid on the 23rd.

Other regular sightings around the RSPB reserve included Water Rail, Snipe, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher, Goldfinch, Coal Tit and Willow Tit. On Forge Mill Lake there were counts of 17 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 3 Wigeon as well as Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe.

Near Swan Pool there were sightings of 2 Little Owl, Linnet, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, a Whimbrel flew over (15th), and a Goshawk sighted on several occasions, also Skylark, Redstart, Whinchat and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard.

Butterflies included Large White, Small White and Green-veined White, Comma, Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Peacock, Brimstone and Speckled Wood.

March 2009

Early summer migrant arrivals included Chiffchaff and Sand Martin both on 14th, Swallow (21st) and Blackcap (30th). Other sightings included a 1st. winter Iceland Gull (23rd), which was chased across the main lake by 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, also Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Greylag Goose, a pair of Stonechat and a probable Whimbrel flew over (14th).

A second Oystercatcher (7th) joined the one that had arrived 3 weeks before and mating activity was observed. Hopefully this will be a third successful breeding year. A third bird arrived (23rd) but did not stay for long.

A snipe count (21st) produced 37 Common Snipe and 6 Jack Snipe.

Other notable sightings included small flocks of Siskin and Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Water Rail, 2 Willow Tits, a pair of Ring-necked Parakeet, and flocks of 30 Redwing and 36 Lapwing. Regular sightings around the reserve included Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush.

Most of the Goosander left the RSPB reserve although there was a gathering of 35 (15th) which reduced to a few pairs by the month end. On Forge Mill Lake were groups of 14 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 20 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 30 Shoveler, several Teal, pairs of Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe and up to 5 Goldeneye.

A colony of Clarkes Miner Bees have been identified in the sand bank near the RSPB hide together with other bee species.

Early butterflies were Comma and Tortoiseshell. A Weasel was also seen crossing this path.

At nearby Salters Lane Wheatear and Meadow Pipit were seen and Skylark near Swan Pool.

February 2009

An Oystercatcher arrived on the reserve (16th), possibly one of last year's birds returning, hopefully there will be further breeding success this year. Other highlights included 3 Pintails (10th), 3 Water Rail (12th), 2 Dunlin (18th), a Mealy Redpoll was reported (7th) and a pair of Ring-necked Parakeets was seen almost daily.

On the lake there were the regular water birds including 8 Goosander, 12 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 3 pairs of Gadwall, 30 Pochard, 25 Tufted Duck, 2 pairs of Goldeneye, Teal, a pair of Great-Crested Grebe, Cormorant and a Kingfisher. On the main island were up to 36 Lapwing and amongst the dozens of Black-headed Gulls were a Common Gull and several Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

In the marsh area there were 7 Snipe and a Little Grebe and around the feeders were up to 12 Bullfinch, a Willow Tit, Coal Tit, 25+ Greenfinch, House Sparrow and Reed Bunting.

Elsewhere on the RSPB reserve there were sightings of Siskin, Long-tailed Tit, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, flocks of 12 Goldfinch, 20 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing and both Collared Doves and Stock Doves. Raptors included Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and a Kestrel with a vole.

At the Paddocks 3 Skylark were seen (21st).

January 2009

It was an exciting day on the 23rd. when four lucky people in the hide saw a Bittern fly out of the reedbed on Forge Mill Lake across to the marsh area, but it does not appear to have stayed. Other uncommon sightings were a Pintail on the frozen lake (14th), a male Brambling on the same day and a Shelduck (29th).

On Forge Mill lake there were up to 25 Goosander, 40 Pochard, 33 Shoveler, 36 Teal, 14 Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 30 Tufted Duck, pairs of Goldeneye and Great-Crested Grebe and 2 Cormorant. Around the island there were 60 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, a Common Gull and 2 Water Rail were seen by the sluice gate.

Other sightings around the reserve included flocks of 14 Siskin and 10 Redpoll, 12 Long-tailed Tit and 9 Goldfinch. Also seen were 8 Bullfinch, Mistle Thrushes and Song Thrushes, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Coal Tits and Willow Tits, Green Woodpeckers and Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, a Stock Dove and a Treecreeper.

Raptors seen regularly were Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

At other locations in Sandwell Valley a Barn Owl (5th) and a Woodcock (10th) were seen at Salter's Lane, a male Blackcap at High Bridges and at Ray Hall (10th) a Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest and more than 100 Pied Wagtails.