West Midland Bird Club

August 2008

August was a very frustrating month, with very few new sightings, usually by the middle of the month the Autumn migration has started, but sadly this year there werer very few species through with the exception in the latter part of the month of a few Wheatear at two or three locations in the Grimley and Holt area.

The two main highlights of the month were a Mediterranean Gull on the 9th, albeit a brief sighting; and 2 Black-tailed Godwit at the New Workings unfortunately they were disturbed early morning by walkers.

Of the summer visitors that remained, the Little Egrets peaked at 7 (new record for Grimley). A Greenshank and Green Sandpiper (1–4) were present for all of 8 days.

The sighting of Turtle Doves on power lines behind Holt Church and 3 Redstart in the hedgerow at Holt Prairie were all very encouraging.

Towards the end of the month all of the Little Ringed Plover had left, with only a few Swallows, with House Martins and Sand Martins remaining.

A Hobby hunted dragonflies over the pools on the 11th and 12th. Other sightings included Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Common Tern, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Whinchat, and the sighting and the vocal sounds of a Barn Owl with all the indications that they have a very late brood.

The total sightings of species for 2008 reached 134.

July 2008

July was a much better month than the last two, with some movement of different species on the pools. The main point of interest on the 20th, at the old workings and the new diggings, and staying 2 days, was a Little Stint. This rare, dainty bird is one of the smallest waders to be seen on our shores and inland pools. Also on the 20th, on the new workings, a Greenshank stayed for only a day.

Most encouraging were regular sightings in two locations of Turtle Dove. 1-3 Little Egrets were present on the pools throughout the month. Good news about the pair of Spotted Flycatchers at the old workings, whose brood successfully fledged. Redstart were reported in a few locations in the vicinity of the New Workings. The numbers of Green and Common Sandpiper remained constant through the month, but by its end we had lost the Redshank and the numbers of Swift, Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin had greatly decreased.

The nesting period was almost complete, all but for the late-nesting Tufted Duck, producing 6 broods. Another species that showed well was Little Owl, but sadly no nest sites were reported, likewise for Barn Owl.

Other reported sightings of interest included Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Hobby, Kingfisher, Little Ringed Plover, Sparrowhawk, Raven and Oystercatcher.

June 2008

June was slightly disappointing as there were few new sightings, but that was no reason to get despondent, as so many locations throughout the country tend to be quiet at this time of year, with little movement as so many birds are nesting.

The best sighting was of a Black Tern (in summer plumage) at Grimley New Workings. A Yellow-legged Gull that lingered on the pools for 2–3 days, among a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A pair of Spotted Flycatcher with young were discovered at Top Barn Farm. What has been very encouraging was the return of Corn Buntings, with at least 2 at Holt Prairie with regular sightings for the best part of the month. Less encouraging this year have been sightings of Turtle Dove with only 2 or 3 sightings recorded and those not in their usual locations.

There were three unusual species on the pools: Shoveler, Pintail and Teal; these are generally seen as wintering birds. There were two Wood Sandpiper at Holt, but their stay was brief.

Other sighting of note included Green and Common Sandpiper, Hobby, Raven, Little Owl, Curlew, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, and Shelduck. Finally, the third brood of Common Tern hatched 2 chicks.

May 2008

Yet another good month for Grimley. One of the main highlights was a brief sighting at Grimley New Workings of a Red Kite. Over the years there has been an increase in the number of sightings of this species especially in the Midlands. Back in the early and mid-20th century this bird was persecuted to near extinction by land owners and farmers but It is good to report with the introduction of a breeding and conservation program and increased numbers nation-wide this bird has now been taken off the endangered list.

On the 5th: at Grimley New Workings, 9 Whimbrel and very good sighting of a Black Tern were recorded. At Holt (Sling Pool), there were 7 Little Egrets (with another on the 18th,) a Wood Sandpiper, a male Garganey and sightings of 2 Corn Bunting.

Breeeding successes included 2 broods of Common Tern, 2 Great-crested Grebe., 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing and 1 Redshank, also a brood of Mute Swan.

Other sightings of interest were Dunlin, Sanderling, Black-Tailed Godwit, Turtle Dove and Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker.

April 2008

By the end of the month most of the summer visitors had arrived. As always, the last to be sighted was the Common Swift — this species is also one of the first to leave our shores, in early autumn. The main highlight of the month was a Little Tern that showed briefly; it was the first recorded at Grimley. Another good sighting was of 2 Whimbrel on 21st; by the 26th there were six.

Throughout the month there were numerous sightings of Wheatear, also Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail have shown well in the surrounding meadows. There was also a bonus of 2 Blue-headed Wagtail (sub-species of the Yellow Wagtail), together with the first Hobby of the summer.

Little Ringed Plover numbers remained steady at 2 pairs as did Redshank at 3 pairs. By the last week of the month, the first brood of Mallard was on the pools with many more species mating or starting to nest, including Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Oystercatcher, Coot, Moorhen, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover. Other sightings of notable interest included Shelduck, Whinchat (first for the summer), Willow Warbler, Dunlin, Barn Owl, Ringed Plover, Water Rail, Black-tailed Godwit, Redstart (male), Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Red-legged Partridge, and Garganey (male) on the New Workings. The first Cuckoo was heard and seen in the village.

March 2008

Summer visitors such as Sand Martin and Swallow started to arrive from warmer shores, but the climate on arrival was far from summer-like — it must have been quite a shock to the system! The woods and coppices also came alive to the call of the first Chiffchaff.

The highlight of the month was a Rock Pipit at Grimley New Workings that stayed for 4 days.

In the second week there were arrivals of Wheatear, 4 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Common Gull. A Kittiwake flew over.

Black Redstart and Water Pipit were relocated again.

Towards the end of the month the Old Workings hosted 4 Greylag Geese on the flooded river meadows and a Red-legged Partridge in the Christmas tree plantation.

By the end of the month all but a few of the wintering duck had left the pools, including Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, and the couple of Goldeneye and Ruddy Duck, but Tufted Duck numbers remained very high.

Other recorded sightings of interest included White Wagtail, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Peregrine, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Shelduck and Redpoll.

February 2008

February was much better for sightings, than the preceeding 2 months. An early sighting, albeit brief was of a Little Egret and a Ringed Plover was on the pools at the New Workings. The breeding pair of Oystercatcher returned to last year's nesting site.

The water level on the pools started to drop quiet dramatically, leaving bare muddy shore margins for the spring waders.

The main best of the month was a Woodcock, in an area known as Grimley Brick Pits. This is a small, semi-flooded, overgrown old willow wood on the banks of the river Severn 1½ miles north of Bevere Locks. It holds the largest Heronry in Worcestershire, with 25 breeding pairs of Grey Heron recorded.

A Black Redstart showed well in the same location most days, north of the pools, under the gravel working cliffs. In the same vicinity there were sightings of a very mobile the Water Pipit, among the small flocks of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.

Towards the end of the month the numbers of Goldeneye peaked at 6. Green Sandpiper numbers varied throughout the month, between 1–4, and there was a solitary Redshank.

There were good sightings of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and, most days, a Peregrine Falcon.

Other sightings included Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Pintail, Stonechat, Barn Owl, Water Rail, and Jack Snipe. In the last days of the month, returning Curlews used the pools and surrounding meadows as an overnight roost.

January 2008

The start of a new year was quiet, with very little movement of new species to the pools and local area, though a Water Pipit was sighted around the "New Workings", staying for 6 weeks, albeit very elusive!

With the water level being high throughout the month, there were very good numbers of ducks on the pools including Pochard, Gadwall, Teal and Tufted Duck. Male and female Goldeneye numbers fluctuated between 1–6. Another prominent visitor throughout the month was Green Sandpiper, and an unusual visitor at this time of the year was a single Redshank, present close by for at least 5 weeks.

In the area surrounding the pools, 1–3 Stonechat showed well. What was a particularly good was a sighting of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Willows close to the river. Numerous Buzzards, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk were seen, plus a Peregrine Falcon, with the added bonus of a Merlin and at dusk a very rare sighting of a Barn Owl. In the surrounding meadows there were good numbers of Skylark and Meadow Pipit. In the woodland close by were Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Redpoll, and Siskin with Fieldfare and Redwing in the adjoining meadows.