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Kings Norton Nature Reserve (1 Viewer)

keithr

Relapsus resurgam
Not sure if allowed to start a thread for this place but "they" seem on one hand to want publicity but on the other not willing to make some.
As I visit frequently I have some sightings and pics from here but no way to use them...the place is here....

.http://www.fknnr.org.uk/index_refresh.html

A bit of a different place to all the rest on here in being an URBAN one,but it is getting a few nice species.
Birds I have seen here include.
Green Woodpecker
G.S.Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Kingfisher.
Mallard
Coot
Morehen
B.H.Gull
Herring/LBBGull (no I.D.)
Heron
Kestrel
Buzzard
LT Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Reed Warbler
Blackcap
Song Thrush.
Blackbird
Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Jackdaw
Jay
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
GC Grebe
Goosander
These are just off the top of my head from over the last few years.

1...No I.D.Gull
2...Heron.
3 ..Some of yesterdays 11 Goosander.
4...One of the females.

Thanks
Keith
 

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Gulls

Thanks John......apart from most other birds the Gulls really get me in a tangle.

Keith :t:

Hi Keith,
Gulls are a specialist branch of Ornithology requiring more study and research and still there are difficult birds that are sometimes not identifiable (hybrids). Myself I am not a specialist in Gulls, the New Collins guide you should be able to separate Adult Lesser Black back and Herring Gull by back colour. Watching Gulls regulary in roosts and loafing areas will increase your field experience, although Gulls in the Midlands will decrease as each tip closes.
Alan Deans Gulls of the West Midlands site is recommended.

Regards, John
 
Todays lunch walk

I went for a quick walk for an hour during my lunchtime today around part of Kings norton Nature Reserve. Whilst walking I Spotted

1. Great Tit
2. Blue Tit
3. Long Tailed Tit
4. Coal Tit
5. Blackbird
6. Wood Pigeon
7. Feral Pigeon
8. Carrion Crow
9. Chaffinch
10. Greenfinch
11. Gold Finch
12. Song Thrush
13. Mistle Thrush
14. Redwing
15. Dunnock
16. Sparrow
17. Jay
18. Nuthatch
19. 2x GS Woodpecker(another I could hear but not see)

20. Canada Goose
21. Coot
22. Moor Hen
23. Grey Heron
24. Great Crested Grebe
25. Mallard
26. Black Headed Gull
27. LBB Gull
28. Herring Gull

really enjoyed my stroll as it is in the middle of the city, There were a couple of other birds that I could not identify. A really pleasing lunch hour!!
 
Blimey I wonder how many you would have got if you stayed another 1/2 hour...lol
Fantastic spotting....did you manage to get up to the Meercroft Pool.
I popped in there for a quick look for the Goosanders but could not see them.

Keith :t:
 
Yes thats the end i started at. My first time over there and quite enjoyed will pop back again.

There were no goosanders while i was there unfortunately either.
 
Week March 17th to 21st...

Having previously thinking the Goosanders had left Meercroft I popped in and there were 7.....I let them settle down and carried on to have a look at the area by the horse pastures...very wet and muddy but the Male Kestrel kept an eye on me.
Returned to Meercroft and set up my camera while trying to stay out of the way behind some bushes,just as another Goosander flew in....8 now.
Also a surprise was a GreyLag Goose that kept coming close and honking at me.
Also of note was a solitary Great Crested Grebe that was either staying quite all fluffed up or then head up and calling.
After a while 7 of the Goosanders took flight over towards Kings Norton park area,leaving maybe the Male I had seen fly in.

Returned in the week a couple of times - one time having a wander around and noting all the work that has been done to thin out trees and building hedges etc.carried on to Wychall Resa area which surprised me as it was so low with all the terrible rubbish in it.NO BIRDS at all though.It gave access to the area around the west end of it and it allowed to get a better idea of the lie of the land...mostly wet and muddy.
On to have a look at the Popes lane extension and again a shock as last time I ventured off the path in the summer it was almost impossible to get through it. Now it's almost empty....died back....and there's a fenced off NEW POND area at the far west end... which look exciting for some good wildlife.
There's also another more open area with another pond to the right of Popes lane opposite the new fenced and more noticeable entrance with a metal narrow "turnstile" thing to keep motor vehicles out presumably.

Had to drop the wife off at the doctors in Wychall lane which backs on to the East end of Meercroft area and I explored in the back garden car park and saw more birds here than in the reserve the previous day.... The Male Kestrel again..Pr Bullfinches,Long Tailed Tit,Great Tit,Blue Tit, Pigeons, Crow,Magpie,Herring Gulls,Wren and a Squiggle.
In the middle of the week a nice pair of Goosanders were sitting on one of the semi submerged branches near the path and obviously swam off with the Female flying off to Kings Norton park again but the Male stayed along with the Grebe.
Last visit there had been some inflatables on the pool doing research on the mud in the pool which meant no Goosanders but the Grebe just went to the far end for a snooze.

Keith :t:
Some pics...
 

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Forgot to say a female G.S. woodpecker was tapping a trunk - feeding I suppose
- and a few Starlings roosting and entering some of the holes in the decaying trees at Popes Lane...
More pics....

Keith :t:
 

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Things have moved on in the last month with loads of colourful flowers greeting you everywhere.

Still in awe at all the work done in opening up the reserve by removing all the overgrown areas.

Had a late walk around Meercroft and Popes Lane - birds singing everywhere.....good news for the OPEN DAY on Saturday that starts with an early Dawn Chorus walk.

Keith :t:
 

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Flowers

Things have moved on in the last month with loads of colourful flowers greeting you everywhere.

Still in awe at all the work done in opening up the reserve by removing all the overgrown areas.

Had a late walk around Meercroft and Popes Lane - birds singing everywhere.....good news for the OPEN DAY on Saturday that starts with an early Dawn Chorus walk.

Keith :t:

Hi Keith,
Your flowers are Marsh Marigold minus outer petals, Wood Anemone and Fritillary.

Regards, John
 
Thanks John - I was wondering what the Yellow one was....there were some "proper" ones around as well....are these earlier ones and gone over now.I only had my 400mm and no tripod so was really pleased anything turned out so well.

Keith
 
Marsh Marigold

Thanks John - I was wondering what the Yellow one was....there were some "proper" ones around as well....are these earlier ones and gone over now.I only had my 400mm and no tripod so was really pleased anything turned out so well.

Keith

Hi Keith,
Marsh Marigold can flower from March to July a good I.D feature is the leaf shape.. John
 
Size is important;) 'KingCup' is a common vernacular - indeed calathos means 'cup'. This picture possibly depicts some sort of variety it is an unusual flowering arrangement? The species is polymorphic but i have'nt seen anything like that. Answers on a postcard..........

Laurie:t:
 
The Kingcup you photograped Keith is a hybridisation of the wild species. Its full name is Caltha palustris 'Flore Pleno' and it bears double flowers only. (bad news for bees!)
 
Had a quick visit on Sat 25th May evening...could not linger by Meercroft as there were a few teenage girls sitting by my fave tree viewing place.....so carried on past the paddocks and ended up by tiny bridge as it comes out into the field area.
A pair of Goldfinches were either building the nest in tree about 10 yards from bridge or feeding young as they were constantly coming and going.Same thing with pair of Nuthatches going across path into area where a garden meets the field opposite paddocks.
Also of note...Pair bullfinch...lots of Blue and Great tits and a Long Tailed Tit.Herring Gull overhead and Pair Canadas flew over.
White and Orange Tips about and a Dark Brown one at a distance...think Peacock.
Did not get chance to snap any more flowers as got sidetracked with the birds...lots of Bluebells all around though.
Keith
 

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Had a few hours spare before the annual beating by Spurs and popped to Merecroft.....just the local Coot,Moorhen,Mallard - along with a few Canadas.
Also a 1st for me here was 3 Tufteds.....2 female and a Male.
Only non water bird was a Jay which flew off the Island into the gardens.
Keith
 

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Went from Merecroft over to the Wychall Resa and as I approached it I could see "loads" of small Ducks....1st impression (or hope) was of Wigeon but as I bought the lens up to view them they all took off.....spent the next 5-10 mins watching them whirl around and around like the way Startings do.
They would split up then come together again with the odd one or 2 dropping back onto the water but up the far end....away from me.|I was leaning against the railings at the outfall.
They were TEAL.

Before I saw the Teal I looked over the wall/bridge at the river and it was really high and clay coloured and also STANK.....a sewage smell....the Resa is the same.The outfall on the river opposite Meadow Hill road always stinks but I have never smelt it this far up stream.....The Resa as always is low with the ducks really unable to swim and is a total mess with the bikes and bins sticking out of the mud.The outfall area is totally blocked with all sorts...HARDY THE TYPICAL NATURE RESERVE...the Teal like it though.
Keith
There were a good 50-60 Teal ....great sight.
The rubbish looks a right mess.
 

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