Saltwells LNR & Netherton Reservoir (1 Viewer)

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:

Andy,

This is fairly near the Merry Hill centre isn't it? I popped in when on business there a couple of years ago.

I was never quite sure if I found the reservoir - I came upon a small lake which was clearly used for water sports, next to a housing estate. Is that it or is that somewhere else?

I also went to a couple of lakes behind a housing estate on the road to Pensnett, can't remember what the name of that nature reserve was.

Regards,

Stephen.

A cracking list in the least!

Stephen,

Yes the Merry Hill Centre is just to the west of Saltwells Wood, but apart from a certain amount of traffic noise you wouldn't know it was there when you're in the middle of the wood.

The reservoir is used for water skiing and sailing at weekends, which can cause problems for breeding birds such as Great Crested Grebe. An early morning visit it usually the best time to find any ducks other than Mallards, although there is usually a large number of gulls there in the middle of the day.

If it hadn't been for the water sports the council may have turned the reservoir into a tip during the 1960s, as i believe this was was the intention when they bought it from British Waterways.

I forgot to mention that the whole area is surrounded by housing estates, but despite this the disturbance isn't too great, and the majority of people I meet when I'm walking round seem very interested in the wildlife and appreciate living near to the reserve.

The pools in Pensnett are called Fens Pools, and they have an even more impressive list of birds seen over the years. There's a page about it on my website if you're interested.

Andrew,

The impressive list is due to one person who used to watch the area from about 1985 onwards, but has since moved away from the area. He's proving a hard act to follow, and I still haven't managed to add any new birds to the list. But I'm having a lot of fun trying.

Saltwells Wood

Here is a photo of the bluebells in Saltwells Wood.

Andy,

What is the address of your website (apologies if I have overlooked it above).

Regards,

Stephen.

Stephen,

My home page is at:

http://www.thomas1976.freeserve.co.uk/

and the address for the Fens Pools page is:

http://www.thomas1976.freeserve.co.uk/fenspools.htm

Cheers

--
Andy

Things have started to pick up here at Saltwells in the last three days, after a quiet summer.

Spent a couple of hours on Sunday morning walking round the reserve, but there was very little showing apart from a noisy Willow Tit feeding in the bushes along the canal.

Monday morning I went for a walk before work. A Swift flew over the reservoir, my latest sighting for this species. On the reservoir a Great Crested Grebe and six Tufted Ducks had appeared overnight. I've noticed before that wildfowl appear on Monday mornings far more often than any other day of the week. Is this due to public disturbance on Sundays?

Carried on along the canal to the hill and spotted a juvenile Green Woodpecker in the field at the bottom. A pair of Linnets were calling form the top of a bush. A few birds were flying around in the gorse which may have been Whitethroats, but I had to leave as it was time for work.

Returning at lunchtime I had excellent views of a couple of Lesser Whitethroats in the gorse.

This morning I repeated my walk before work. On the hill I came across a mixed flock of warblers, quieter than the usual tit flocks but not as delicate in their movements. A couple of Blackcaps stuck their heads out from behind the leaves, and then a Common Whitethroat. As I was watching a Chiffchaff a larger non-descript bird appeared in my view, a Garden Warbler. This was a site tick for me.

As I was watching the warblers the first Meadow Pipit of the autumn flew overhead calling.

--
Andy

saltwells my local patch just starting to learn my way in the birding world and thought i'd update on this much underated place.living next to the saltwells all my life gave me a love for nature but i took it for granted it was not untill i took up birding that i realised what i had missed.in the few months at it i have come to see the beauty of this great place were i grew up.in the last year i have seen some great birds here and hope to share it with others in the last year on site i have seen the following.(included are only the birds i can identify as a new birder i've seen things i can only wonder at)
black birds
black headed gulls
tits blue great coal long tailed
chaffinch
grebe great and little
greenfinch bullfinch
grey heron
woodpidgeon stock doves
rooks carrion crows ravens
sparrow hawks common buzzards kestrals
white throats
ring ousels
stone chats
reed warblers
and many more i'm to drunk to remember.
i will do my best to update you on what else i see on site and hopefully help bring this small urban site back to life.
i forgot to mention the two or possibly three tawny owls that regualy fly around the edge of my street and usualy like me head off towards the saltwells pub
thanks and see you soon jim


if i remembered everything i'd never leave the house

thought i better give full list of birds i've seen on patch here goes
black bird
black headed gull
blue tit
bull finch
black cap
common buzzard
canada goose
carrion crow
chiffchaf
common gull
coot
chaffinch
collard dove
common white throat
common tern
dunnok
great greasted grebe#great spotted woodpecker
grey heron
green woodpecker
goldfinch
green finch
garden warbler
goldcrest
herring gull
house martin
jay
kestral
kingfisher
long tailed tit
lesser white throat
little grebe
lesser black backed gull
magpie
mallard
moorhen#mute swan
mistle thrush
meadow pipit
nuthatch
rook
ring ousel
reed warbler
raven
robin
rock dove
song thrush
starling
swift
stone chat
sand martin
stock dove
tufty duck
tawny owl
tree creeper
willow warbler
wood pidgeon
wren
these are the birds i've seen so far. some left out as i could not identify them maybe with you're help i can add more.

Hi Jimmy, welcome to Birdforum!

I enjoyed reading your posts, Saltwell NR is a good reserve given the coverage! I have not visited for quite a while and my last visit was mainly for Butterflies and Dragonflies and birds of course!

You have an impressive list which will no doubt grow as time goes by.
I shall look forward to reading of your future sightings.

Good luck and enjoy your birding.

Looking forward to more postings from Netherton Rez and surrounding area, try and pop down to Sheepwash if you have the time - it's very underwatched these days.........

Laurie:t:

went for a walk in the sub arctic weather today and had a new site tick for my trouble. as i reached the resivoir and as i sat down i saw a pair of shoveller ducks land about 3 o clock the light was perfect and spent half hour watching them and the other birds before i lost the feeling in my hands and decided to head off home for a cuppa.
also got first sparrow hawk on the neterton church banks sitting in the sun half way up the hill.would of made great pic. will have to see about getting a camera soon.
usual birds in the reserve including.
dunnocks/carrion crows/chaffinch/black headed gulls/bull finch/mallards/coots/robins/wood pidgeons/tits great blue long tailed
rollingthunder. went to sheepwash last week and found it to be a great site will be going back soon and will post any thing i see on thet thread.

Hi jimmyjynx I am just wandering where about you saw the kingfisher in saltwells because I go to the saltwells occasionaly because i live near there and I have never seen the bird. Is it on the netherton reservoir or actually in the wood?

Sam

alright sam the kingfisher i saw was on the canal it flew past along the canal across by the two bridges just past the big road bridge.at the bottom of neterton church.i,m not sure the canal is part of the reserve but as the reserve is both sides of the canal i decided to include it in my list. this was in the summer last year and i only got this quick look at it but there was a regular kingfisher on the canal near powke lane i saw several times last year.

Kingfisher is fairly regular along that stretch of canal. I usually see them either side of the 'sounding bridge' (thats the high one). Also slightly further afield Ive been getting them regularly along the canal between Delph locks and Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill just lately.

hi iwent to the canal and i saw the kingfisher under neath the seven dwellings bridge

had a wonder up to neterton rasa today to see if the weather brought anything good in.had the usual mallards coots black headed gulls dunnocks and robins and a single mute swan.then around by the boat house found four tufty ducks 3m 1f.

NethRez has open water when everywhere else is frozen so it might be worth looking over the next few days......

Laurie -