Sandwell Valley (2 Viewers)

[yamyam]

I'm surprised that Black-Headed Gull hasn't/doesn't breed but having said that - where do they? I remember, more years ago than i care to, a huge colony just outside Bridgnorth on an area of marsh but i think it dried up and the birds left?

Laurie:t:

No breeding to date, there are breeding birds at Clayhanger not sure of any other county breeding birds
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

The Fulvous Whisling Duck spent all day in Dartmouth Park on the main pool per Matt Hadlington
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[Phil Andrews]

No breeding to date, there are breeding birds at Clayhanger not sure of any other county breeding birds
Good Birding YAMYAM

The last WMBC annual report (2012) states that at least 45 fledged young were present at Ryders Mere on the 25th June; elsewhere in the West Midlands county 80 to 100 pairs bred at Marsh Lane the same year (but only fledging 26 young)

 

[steve_zodiac]

Stopped off at Swan pool this afternoon on my way home (3.30pm-4.15pm).

Much the same as YamYam's sightings though only 42 LBB Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls on the water.

Single Great crested Grebe chick with adult the last few days.

 

[yamyam]

Dartmouth Park
Canada geese 18+8 young, Mute Swan 2 Adults+5 young, Herring Gull and Grey Wagtail
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Salters Lane
not a lot doing but scanning across the Valley I counted Eight Buzzards
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Forge Mill
Common Tern x4, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover c2 and four Lapwing chicks per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

also seen in the Forge Mill area
Goldcrest and Sand Martin per Pete Hackett
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

An other photo of the Great Reed Warbler by Pete Forbes

 

[rhbirder]

An 8 hour session today. 4 Cormorant, 4 Male, 2 Female Gadwall, 4 Oystercatcher, 5 LR Plover (4 RSPB, 1 North Island), 6 Black Headed Gull, 4 Common Tern, 2 Kingfisher, Green, Great Spot Woodys, Few Sand Martins, Garden Warbler, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Numerous Goldcrests, 10+ Reed Buntings, and at Dartmouth Park the escaped Fulvous Whistling Duck, cheers simon

 

[steve_zodiac]

Had a walk round Swan pool and FML tonight....6.30pm x 8pm.

Little Grebe on the river between the RSPB and the golf course. Usual birds on the reserve plus half a dozen Herring gulls on the lake.

On Swan pool 22 Mute Swans. Loads of Whitethroats, a few Willow Warblers.

Very quiet all round.

 

[yamyam]

A quick look on the way home from work saw no change on Forge Mill with Common Tern x 4, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover c2, Black Headed Gull c9, Herring Gull c3, Lesser Black Back c15 and Bullfinch c4
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Blockers from the Eighties and Nineties

With so many Birders passing through the Valley now and many adopting it has their local patch I thought this list of Blockers from the Past would interest them.

Red-necked Grebe, 29th April 1993
Slavonian Grebe, 23rd March 1999
Fulmar, 31st May 1991
Leach’s Petrel, 27th September 1987
Manx Shearwater 7th September 1988
Shag, 17-19th October 1993
Bewick's Swan, 21st January 1997
Whooper Swan. 2nd January 1997
Pink-footed Goose, 24th March 1996
Brent Goose, 1st December 1996
Eider, 31st October 1993
Velvet Scoter, 3-19th December 1994
Hen Harrier, 20th October 1995
Quail, 9-13th July 1997
Grey Plover, 3rd October 1994
Little Stint, 7-8th September 1998
Temminck's Stint, 12-13th May 1993
Curlew Sandpiper, 23-28th August 1993
Great Snipe, 22-23 August 1995
Wood Sandpiper, 8th August 1999
Turnstone, 8th August 1994
Grey Phalarope, 10th September 1993
Arctic Skua, 2nd August 1993
Little Auk, 6th January 1990
Puffin, April 1999
Hoopoe, April 1997
Wryneck, 24th September 1989
Dipper, 1st September 1987
Black Redstart, 26-27th November 1994
Marsh Warbler, 20th June 1982
Red Backed Shrike, 21st July 1984
Twite, 12th January 1985
Hawfinch, 14th December 1997
Lapland Bunting, 1st October 1996
Snow Bunting, 15-18th November 1987

Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Can anyone provide any details on the following birds: -

Golden Plover x2, 9th April 2015
Cetti’s Warbler, 25th April 2015
Yellowhammer, 22nd March 2015
Corn Bunting, 19th May 2015

Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Red Kite over the M5 near Swan Pool 6:10 this morning moving East
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Forge Mill

Peregrine, Goosander x 1 female, Gadwall x2, Common Tern x4, Oystercatcher x3, Little Ringed Plover x4, Lapwing x4 young and Red Kite over Hide betweem 13:00-13:30 per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

On my way to work this morning (3:30) I was chuffed to see a Badger just within the Valley recording area
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Lesser Black Back x16 and Common Tern Swan pool per Matt Hadlington
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Swan pool
Lesser Black Back x14, Herring Gull x4 and Oystercatchers x2
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Spotted Flycatcher (129) in paddocks bird was in dead tree in right hand hedge of the empty paddock
Good Birding YAMYAM