andythomas
Tuesday 29th July 2003, 22:55
Saltwells Local Nature Reserve and the adjoining Netherton Reservoir is my local patch. Together they cover an area approximately 4km long and 1km wide, although I rarely visit the most northerly part of the reserve as it is furthest from my house.
Saltwells LNR was created in 1981 and is owned by Dudley council. It covers the deciduous Saltwells Wood, Doultons Claypit and the gorse-covered Netherton Hill. The main part of the wood was planted about 200 years ago by Lady Dudley over former mineworkings. The name Saltwells derives from brine wells. There was a spa here in Victorian times. Pendunculate Oak and Beech predominate, with alder, birch, rowan, sycamore, holly etc. There are large areas of bluebells flowering in the spring. The claypit was in use until the 1940s and the hillside was mined for coal as recently as the 1960s.
The whole area is crossed from north to south by the Black Brook, and from west to east by the Dudley No.2 canal. All these different habitats result in quite a long list of bird species being seen each year, as well as other fauna and flora. For example, 18 species of dragonflies have been recorded in recent years, along with 33 species of butterflies. Up to 1999 nearly 570 species of moth had been recorded on the reserve.
Several areas including Doultons Claypit are geological SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). Netherton Hill itself is 152 metres above sea level and can be good for visible migration in spring and autumn.
The following is a list of the 146 birds that have been recorded on my patch. I've given a guide to their status and the year they were last reported. Birds I've seen here (87 species) are marked with an asterisk.
*Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - Winter, 2003.
*Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - Resident, 2003.
*Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Vagrant, 2002.
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis - Vagrant, 1994.
*Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Winter, 2003.
*Mute Swan Cygnus olor - Resident, 2003.
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus - Vagrant, 1994.
*Greylag Goose Anser anser - Vagrant, 2003.
*Canada Goose Branta canadensis - Resident, 2003.
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus - Vagrant, 1992.
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna - Vagrant, 1994.
*Wigeon Anas penelope - Winter, 2003.
Gadwall Anas strepera - Winter, 1998.
*Teal Anas crecca - Winter, 2003.
*Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - Resident, 2003.
*Shoveler Anas clypeata - Winter, 2003.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina - Vagrant, 1991.
*Pochard Aythya ferina - Winter, 2002.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca - Vagrant, 1991.
*Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - Winter, 2003.
Scaup Aythya marila - Vagrant, 1997.
Eider Somateria mollissima - Vagrant, 1993.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - Passage, 1998.
*Goldeneye Bucephala clangula - Winter, 2002.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator - Vagrant, 1987.
Goosander Mergus merganser - Vagrant, 1993.
*Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis - Winter, 2002.
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis - Vagrant, 1990.
*Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus - Resident, 2003.
*Buzzard Buteo buteo - Regular flies over, 2003.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Vagrant, 1992.
*Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - Resident, 2003.
Merlin Falco columbarius - Vagrant, 1993.
Hobby Falco subbuteo - Vagrant, 1994.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus - 1997.
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa - Formerly bred, 1996.
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix - Vagrant, 1996.
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus - Vagrant, 1996.
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus - Winter, 1996.
*Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Resident, 2003.
*Coot Fulica atra - Resident, 2003.
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus - Passage, 1991.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius - Passage, 1996.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula - Passage, 1991.
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus - Vagrant, 1990.
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus - Winter, 1998.
*Woodcock Scolopax rusticola - Winter, 2001.
Curlew Numenius arquata - Passage, 1997.
Redshank Tringa totanus - Passage, 1998.
Greenshank Tringa nebularia - Passage, 1993.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - Passage, 1992.
*Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos - Passage, 2003.
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius - Vagrant, 1987.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Vagrant, 1996.
Little Gull Larus minutus - Vagrant, 1994.
*Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - Winter, 2003.
*Common Gull Larus canus - Winter, 2003.
*Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - Winter, 2003.
*Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Winter, 2003.
*Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - Winter, 2002.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla - Passage, 1996.
*Common Tern Sterna hirundo - Passage, 2002.
Arctic Tern Sterna Paradiseae - Passage, 1994.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger - Passage, 1992.
*Stock Dove Columba oenas - Resident, 2003.
*Woodpigeon Columba palumbus - Resident, 2003.
*Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto - Resident, 2003.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur - Passage, 1995.
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus - Passage, 1996.
Barn Owl Tyto alba - Vagrant, 1994.
*Tawny Owl Strix aluco - Resident, 2002.
Long-eared Owl Asio otus - Vagrant, 1992.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - Vagrant, 1992.
*Swift Apus apus - Summer, 2003.
*Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - Winter, 2003.
*Green Woodpecker Picus viridis - Resident, 2003.
*Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major - Resident, 2003.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor - Vagrant, 1996.
*Skylark Alauda arvensis - Passage, 2003.
*Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Passage, 2003.
*Swallow Hirundo rustica - Passage, 2003.
*House Martin Delichon urbica - Summer, 2003.
*Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis - Passage, 2002.
*Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis - Winter, 2002.
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus - Vagrant, 1989.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - Passage, 1996.
*Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea - Winter, 2003.
*Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba - Resident, 2002.
*Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - Resident, 2003.
*Dunnock Prunella modularis - Resident, 2003.
*Robin Erithacus rubecula - Resident, 2003.
*Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - Passage, 2003.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - Passage, 1994.
*Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Passage, 2001.
*Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Passage, 2002.
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus - Passage, 2003.
*Blackbird Turdus merula - Resident, 2003.
*Fieldfare Turdus pilaris - Winter, 2002.
*Song Thrush Turdus philomelos - Resident, 2003.
*Redwing Turdus iliacus - Winter, 2003.
*Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - Resident, 2003.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti - Vagrant, 1988.
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia - Passage, 1998.
*Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - Passage, 2003.
*Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - Summer, 2003.
*Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca - Summer, 2003.
*Whitethroat Sylvia communis - Summer, 2003.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin - Passage, 1994.
*Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla - Summer, 2003.
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix - Formerly bred, 1995.
*Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita - Summer, 2003.
*Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - Summer, 2003.
*Goldcrest Regulus regulus - Resident, 2003.
*Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - Passage, 2003.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca - Passage, 1994.
*Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus - Resident, 2003.
Marsh Tit Parus palustris - Former resident, 1994.
*Willow Tit Parus montanus - Resident, 2003.
*Coal Tit Parus ater - Resident, 2003.
*Blue Tit Parus caeruleus - Resident, 2003.
*Great Tit Parus major - Resident, 2003.
*Nuthatch Sitta europaea - Resident, 2003.
*Treecreeper Certhia familiaris - Resident, 2003.
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus - Vagrant, 1990.
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio - Formerly bred, 1969.
*Jay Garrulus glandarius - Resident, 2003.
*Magpie Pica pica - Resident, 2003.
*Jackdaw Corvus monedula - Possible resident, 2003.
*Rook Corvus frugilegus - Regularly flies over, 2003.
*Carrion Crow Corvus corone - Resident, 2003.
*Raven Corvus corax - Vagrant, 2003.
*Starling Sturnus vulgaris - Resident, 2003.
*House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Resident, 2003.
*Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs - Resident, 2003.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla - Winter, 1994.
*Greenfinch Carduelis chloris - Resident, 2003.
*Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - Resident, 2003.
*Siskin Carduelis spinus - Winter, 2003.
*Linnet Carduelis cannabina - Resident, 2003.
*Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret - Winter, 2003.
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea - Vagrant, 1996.
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - Vagrant, 1994.
*Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhulae - Resident, 2003.
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - Formerly bred, 1990.
*Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus - Summer, 2003.
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra - Vagrant, 1997.
The following is a rough map of the area:
Saltwells LNR was created in 1981 and is owned by Dudley council. It covers the deciduous Saltwells Wood, Doultons Claypit and the gorse-covered Netherton Hill. The main part of the wood was planted about 200 years ago by Lady Dudley over former mineworkings. The name Saltwells derives from brine wells. There was a spa here in Victorian times. Pendunculate Oak and Beech predominate, with alder, birch, rowan, sycamore, holly etc. There are large areas of bluebells flowering in the spring. The claypit was in use until the 1940s and the hillside was mined for coal as recently as the 1960s.
The whole area is crossed from north to south by the Black Brook, and from west to east by the Dudley No.2 canal. All these different habitats result in quite a long list of bird species being seen each year, as well as other fauna and flora. For example, 18 species of dragonflies have been recorded in recent years, along with 33 species of butterflies. Up to 1999 nearly 570 species of moth had been recorded on the reserve.
Several areas including Doultons Claypit are geological SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). Netherton Hill itself is 152 metres above sea level and can be good for visible migration in spring and autumn.
The following is a list of the 146 birds that have been recorded on my patch. I've given a guide to their status and the year they were last reported. Birds I've seen here (87 species) are marked with an asterisk.
*Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - Winter, 2003.
*Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - Resident, 2003.
*Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Vagrant, 2002.
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis - Vagrant, 1994.
*Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Winter, 2003.
*Mute Swan Cygnus olor - Resident, 2003.
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus - Vagrant, 1994.
*Greylag Goose Anser anser - Vagrant, 2003.
*Canada Goose Branta canadensis - Resident, 2003.
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus - Vagrant, 1992.
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna - Vagrant, 1994.
*Wigeon Anas penelope - Winter, 2003.
Gadwall Anas strepera - Winter, 1998.
*Teal Anas crecca - Winter, 2003.
*Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - Resident, 2003.
*Shoveler Anas clypeata - Winter, 2003.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina - Vagrant, 1991.
*Pochard Aythya ferina - Winter, 2002.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca - Vagrant, 1991.
*Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - Winter, 2003.
Scaup Aythya marila - Vagrant, 1997.
Eider Somateria mollissima - Vagrant, 1993.
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra - Passage, 1998.
*Goldeneye Bucephala clangula - Winter, 2002.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator - Vagrant, 1987.
Goosander Mergus merganser - Vagrant, 1993.
*Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis - Winter, 2002.
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis - Vagrant, 1990.
*Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus - Resident, 2003.
*Buzzard Buteo buteo - Regular flies over, 2003.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Vagrant, 1992.
*Kestrel Falco tinnunculus - Resident, 2003.
Merlin Falco columbarius - Vagrant, 1993.
Hobby Falco subbuteo - Vagrant, 1994.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus - 1997.
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa - Formerly bred, 1996.
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix - Vagrant, 1996.
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus - Vagrant, 1996.
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus - Winter, 1996.
*Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Resident, 2003.
*Coot Fulica atra - Resident, 2003.
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus - Passage, 1991.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius - Passage, 1996.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula - Passage, 1991.
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus - Vagrant, 1990.
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus - Winter, 1998.
*Woodcock Scolopax rusticola - Winter, 2001.
Curlew Numenius arquata - Passage, 1997.
Redshank Tringa totanus - Passage, 1998.
Greenshank Tringa nebularia - Passage, 1993.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - Passage, 1992.
*Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos - Passage, 2003.
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius - Vagrant, 1987.
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus - Vagrant, 1996.
Little Gull Larus minutus - Vagrant, 1994.
*Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - Winter, 2003.
*Common Gull Larus canus - Winter, 2003.
*Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - Winter, 2003.
*Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Winter, 2003.
*Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - Winter, 2002.
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla - Passage, 1996.
*Common Tern Sterna hirundo - Passage, 2002.
Arctic Tern Sterna Paradiseae - Passage, 1994.
Black Tern Chlidonias niger - Passage, 1992.
*Stock Dove Columba oenas - Resident, 2003.
*Woodpigeon Columba palumbus - Resident, 2003.
*Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto - Resident, 2003.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur - Passage, 1995.
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus - Passage, 1996.
Barn Owl Tyto alba - Vagrant, 1994.
*Tawny Owl Strix aluco - Resident, 2002.
Long-eared Owl Asio otus - Vagrant, 1992.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - Vagrant, 1992.
*Swift Apus apus - Summer, 2003.
*Kingfisher Alcedo atthis - Winter, 2003.
*Green Woodpecker Picus viridis - Resident, 2003.
*Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major - Resident, 2003.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor - Vagrant, 1996.
*Skylark Alauda arvensis - Passage, 2003.
*Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Passage, 2003.
*Swallow Hirundo rustica - Passage, 2003.
*House Martin Delichon urbica - Summer, 2003.
*Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis - Passage, 2002.
*Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis - Winter, 2002.
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus - Vagrant, 1989.
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - Passage, 1996.
*Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea - Winter, 2003.
*Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba - Resident, 2002.
*Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - Resident, 2003.
*Dunnock Prunella modularis - Resident, 2003.
*Robin Erithacus rubecula - Resident, 2003.
*Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus - Passage, 2003.
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra - Passage, 1994.
*Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Passage, 2001.
*Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Passage, 2002.
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus - Passage, 2003.
*Blackbird Turdus merula - Resident, 2003.
*Fieldfare Turdus pilaris - Winter, 2002.
*Song Thrush Turdus philomelos - Resident, 2003.
*Redwing Turdus iliacus - Winter, 2003.
*Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - Resident, 2003.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti - Vagrant, 1988.
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia - Passage, 1998.
*Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - Passage, 2003.
*Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus - Summer, 2003.
*Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca - Summer, 2003.
*Whitethroat Sylvia communis - Summer, 2003.
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin - Passage, 1994.
*Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla - Summer, 2003.
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix - Formerly bred, 1995.
*Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita - Summer, 2003.
*Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - Summer, 2003.
*Goldcrest Regulus regulus - Resident, 2003.
*Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - Passage, 2003.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca - Passage, 1994.
*Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus - Resident, 2003.
Marsh Tit Parus palustris - Former resident, 1994.
*Willow Tit Parus montanus - Resident, 2003.
*Coal Tit Parus ater - Resident, 2003.
*Blue Tit Parus caeruleus - Resident, 2003.
*Great Tit Parus major - Resident, 2003.
*Nuthatch Sitta europaea - Resident, 2003.
*Treecreeper Certhia familiaris - Resident, 2003.
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus - Vagrant, 1990.
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio - Formerly bred, 1969.
*Jay Garrulus glandarius - Resident, 2003.
*Magpie Pica pica - Resident, 2003.
*Jackdaw Corvus monedula - Possible resident, 2003.
*Rook Corvus frugilegus - Regularly flies over, 2003.
*Carrion Crow Corvus corone - Resident, 2003.
*Raven Corvus corax - Vagrant, 2003.
*Starling Sturnus vulgaris - Resident, 2003.
*House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Resident, 2003.
*Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs - Resident, 2003.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla - Winter, 1994.
*Greenfinch Carduelis chloris - Resident, 2003.
*Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - Resident, 2003.
*Siskin Carduelis spinus - Winter, 2003.
*Linnet Carduelis cannabina - Resident, 2003.
*Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret - Winter, 2003.
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea - Vagrant, 1996.
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - Vagrant, 1994.
*Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhulae - Resident, 2003.
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - Formerly bred, 1990.
*Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus - Summer, 2003.
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra - Vagrant, 1997.
The following is a rough map of the area: