West Midland Bird Club

April 2009

April was an exceptionally good month for Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Willow Warbers and — one of the highlights of the month — 3 Grasshopper Warblers, sighted at Holt. This species had not been recorded in this area since 2007.

True to the verse the Cuckoo arrived in the middle of the month and by the end of the month was singing its song quite profusely. Un the last week of the month, the Swifts arrived.

Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were seen in abundance throughout the month. A Wood Sandpiper was a notable sighting on the River Severn, close to Grimley.

As the month progressed the pair of Oystercatcher were showing signs of nesting, likewise the two pairs of Common Tern.

At this time of the year the numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull increase quite dramatically on the pools. This is bad news, as they plunder the young duckling.

An uncommon Brent Goose was at Holt. Encouragingly, the two pairs of Little Ringed Plover were showing signs that they were starting to nest. In the last few days of the month, 3 Whimbrel had taken to roosting in the sheep pastures north of Grimley New Workings.

Other sightings of interest included Gadwall, Rock Pipit, Wigeon, Pochard, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Shelduck, White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Garganey and Curlew.

March 2009

March was very interesting, with a Twite on the New Workings. This was a first for Grimley. It was located among small flocks of Linnet at the North end of the reserve, feeding on the large mounds of topsoil, or bunds, and was relocate on the 29th at the Old Workings, albeit very mobile.

An Osprey was sighted briefly at the New Workings on the 22nd, flying North to its summer breeding grounds.

Another first for Grimley was an Emperor Goose, but that's not on the British List and was considered an escapee.

There were regular sightings of both male and female Wheatear at Old and New Workings.

Chiffchaffs' repetitive song seemed to be heard from every hedgerow and coppice — a good indication that we were well into spring, and that summer was on its way.

A female merlin showed well at the New Workings in the latter part of the month. Other raptors present were Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel.

By the end of the month there were three breeding pairs of Great Crested Grebe at the New Workings.

Other species recorded were Oystercatcher, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Gadwall, Green Sandpiper, Redpoll and Greylag Goose.