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Sandwell Valley (3 Viewers)

More news from today Snipe x55, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Lapwing x28 on island and Little Grebe x 1 on the River per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
Even more news for today the Greater Black Back was on Forge Mill this AM. Lapwing x14, Ring Necked Parakeet x6 and Meadow Pipit seen at Forge Mill Farm. Little Grebe x4 and Tufted Duck c50 on the River Tame. Goosander x11, Teal c20 and the Pintail was seen to fly back in this evening per Pete Hackett
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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Even more news for today the Greater Black Back was on Forge Mill this AM. Lapwing x14, Ring Necked Parakeet x6 and Meadow Pipit seen at Forge Mill Farm. Little Grebe x4 and Tufted Duck c50 on the River Tame. Goosander x11, Teal c20 and the Pintail was seen to fly back in this evening per Pete Hackett
Good Birding YAMYAM

Pete also had Redwing x70 at Forge Mill Farm
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
I will be putting a post on here later today, a round up of the birds seen in 2014 in Sandwell Valley so I will take this opportunity to wish every one a happy new year and good birding for 2015
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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Great Black- Backed Gulls are quite unusual in the roost at Bartley. Any GBBG in the West Midlands is likely to roost at Chasewater, where 470!! roosted the other night!
MB
 
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Great-black Backed Gulls are quite unusual in the roost at Bartley. Any GBBG in the West Midlands is likely to roost at Chasewater, where 470!! roosted the other night!
MB

Thanks for that information, that go's to show just how rare they are in the west mids county not just in the Valley.
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
Last day of 2014 not alot doing in the Valley. No sign of the Pintail, Snipe only 13 birds on the island, Lapwing 20, Goosander x12 Pochard x12, Gadwall x20, Teal x4, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Common Gull per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
Sandwell Valley 2014

January got off to a great start with the Great Northern Diver from 2013 still present on Swan Pool till the 23rd January. There was a Jack Snipe showing well on the Bund on the 9th with Common Gull, Woodcock, Goldeneye and Shelduck seen in January the year list stood at 76 by the end of the month.
February saw the only record of Little Owl on the 2nd with a bird seen on the fence in the Paddocks, Great Black Backed Gull on the Boom at Swan Pool on the 8th was a rare sight in the Valley. A little Egret took a liking to the flood water on the fields at Forge Mill Farm and a Raven over Forge Mill both on the 9th. A lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen near Cascade on the 13th. The 16th was a very productive day with Long Eared Owl, Peregrine and twenty-one Barnacle Geese. A Tawny Owl on the 19th. A Mealy Redpoll was found in with a large party of Redpoll on the 20th and was seen again on the 21st. A Dusky Warbler in a private Garden on the 25th February till 16th April was a first for the Valley and only the third for the County, and a very confiding Brambling at the old feeding station and a Stonechat at Salter’s Lane on the 27th finished February off with the year list on 89.
March got off to a good start with a Snipe count on the 3rd producing thirty plus Snipe and eleven plus Jack Snipe, Yellowhammer on the 4th was a good record of this now scarce Valley bird. A Merlin was seen on the 8th, the first Chiffchaff was seen on the 9th, Rock Pipit Swan Pool and a Dunlin on Forge Mill on the 11th, a Curlew flew over Salter’s Lane on the 15th, Green Sandpiper was flushed from Swan Pool on the 16th, the first returning Little Ringed Plover was seen on the 18th, a Red Kite was seen on the 20th, Sand Martin on the 21st, Redshank on the 22nd, Wheatear on the 23rd, Willow Warbler and Marsh Tit on the 27th, Raven on the 29th and our second Little Egret of the year on the 31st.
April started off with a Redshank on Forge Mill on the 1st, Common Sandpiper and Swallow on the 5th, Red legged Partridge running down Salter’s Lane dodging the traffic on the 6th the same day our second Red Kite of the year was seen over Forge Mill Farm. Two Little Gulls briefly on the 7th.Whimbrel flew over on the 10th. The 15th gave us Cuckoo, Whitethroat and the only Ringed Plover of the year. On the 17th the second Yellowhammer of the year was seen in the Paddocks and also a Redstart this being the only Spring record. Whinchat and Grasshopper Warbler and five Arctic Terns thru Swan Pool on the 20th. Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, and Two more Arctic Terns on the 25th saw the year list go up to 124.
May was a fairly quite month, with Swifts seen in the first week. Hobby on the 8th and the 17th, Yellow Wagtail on the 11th. Spotted Flycatcher on the 20th was the only summer record and a Dunlin on Forge Mill on the 25th was only the second record of the year. A male Pochard spent all month on Forge Mill, and the all day Bird race produced a total of 74 species, a fantastic result.
June got off to a great start with a Spoonbill in the Marsh for half an hour on the 1st only the third Valley record. Garganey on the 2nd the only record of the year, the Oystercatcher had two young on the 11th, and the Common Tern had two young on the 15th four Linnets from the hide also on the 15th was a good record. Peregrine on the 16th Yellow Wagtail and the first returning Snipe on the 22nd, eight Little Ringed Plover on the 29th was the best count of the year.
July was a quite month with not a lot going on, main highlights being Mediterranean Gull on the 13th and our third Little Egret of the year on the 22nd. At the end of July the year list was on 130.
August the 3rd gave us Redshank and Green Sandpiper on Forge Mill with Tree Pipit and our first returning Goosander on the 13th, Our forth visit by Little Egret on the 14th involved three birds, Two Sanderling seen at Swan Pool early in the month was a welcome addition to the year list, The 15th saw a Hobby in Dartmouth Park and on the same date two Redstart, Tree Pipit and Spotted Flycatcher where at Hill Top, Hobby and Wheatear at the Paddocks. A Greenshank was found on the island on the 18th later moving to the Marsh where it spent the next eight days. On the 19th Wheatear and Whinchat were at Salter’s Lane, and the 20th gave us Arctic Tern and a Mediterranean Gull which was seen on and off till the end of the month. The 24th gave us Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear at the RSPB with the Med Gull on the island and Greenshank still in the Marsh. The second new bird for the Valley this year was seen on this date when a Glossy Ibis graced us with a few minutes of its time before departing southwest. The next day the 25th saw more Spotted Flycatchers with birds at the Paddocks and Hill Top and Redstart at both locations two birds at the later. The 27th saw the second Marsh Tit of the Year in the Old Orchard at Hill Top also in the area that day where one Hundred plus Long Tailed Tits and a pair of Pheasants. The 28th gave us another four Spotted Flycatchers and Redstart at the Paddocks, the 29th gave us two Black Tailed Godwits on the RSPB being the only record for the year, two Spotted Flycatcher and two Redstarts could still be found at the Paddocks. Eighty-Five Lapwings on the 30th was the largest flock of the year and Four Spotted Flycatchers in the Paddocks. The Last day of the month the 31st was a busy one with the seventh Little Egret of the year on Swan Pool briefly. Redstart, eight Spotted Flycatchers in the Paddocks. Redstart, Whinchat, three Wheatears at Salter’s Lane and Redstart and four Spotted Flycatchers at Hill Top.
September started off with a Greenshank on the RSPB Island briefly, and between twelve and fifteen Spotted Flycatchers in the Paddocks. Next day the 2nd only four Spotted Flycatchers could be found in the Paddocks but they had been joined by two Redstarts and a couple of wheatear where at Salter’s Lane. A Hobby flew over Forge Mill on the 3rd and a Raven on the 5th. The 6th saw the second all-day Bird race of the year with 76 species seen, again a fantastic result highlights of the day being Pintail x two, Raven and the Med Gull. On the the 7th a Stonechat was found at Salter’s Lane with two Tawny Owl being Heard at different locations on the 11th also that day Redstart in the Paddocks and again the Med Gull was showing well on the Slipway. Ruff on the 12th found the Marsh to its liking staying with us for eight days, one Spotted Flycatcher on the 13th with ten plus Chiffchaffs at Hill Top. Golden Plover on the 14th and a count of forty-five Teal was impressive. A Green Sandpiper joined us on the 17th staying in the Marsh till the end of the Month, there was a movement of Meadow Pipits that day with twelve in the Paddocks and eight at Salter’s Lane, The first returning Jack Snipe on the 18th with ten Ring Necked Parakeets over Forge Mill, Twenty- three Snipe on the 19th. A Stonechat and a Raven over Salter’s Lane. Two Ravens next day and more Meadow Pipits on the 22nd forty at Salter’s Lane and a combined total of thirty-two in the Valley on the 23rd, and the Stonechat was still present. Six Goosander on the 24th with eleven birds there on the 26th also on the 26th Stonechat at Salter’s Lane and thirty-four Wigeon where on Forge Mill. On the 28th we had an other Raven over Park Farm Wood, Spotted Flycatcher near the Motorway and a Stonechat was seen by forge Mill Farm, On the 29th Wheatear and a Jack Snipe where both on the island. Hobby, Willow Warbler and Ten Plus Chiffchaff where also seen that day in the Forge Mill area. We ended the month the 30th with Wheatear, two Chiffchaff, twenty-one Meadow Pipit and twelve Blackbirds at Salter’s Lane while in the Paddocks were Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff.
October the 1st saw the Pintail still present on Forge Mill for there twenty sixth day. Reed Warbler and Hobby on the 2nd, Green Sandpiper in the Marsh on the 3rd. A male Stonechat was at Salter’s Lane on the 4th with fifty seven Teal in the Marsh and a Willow Tit was seen at the RSPB, Sixteen Goosander on the 5th, three Swallow and four Water Rail seen on the 6th, two Redwing, sixteen Blackbird and seven Jay at Salter’s Lane on the 7th was a little bit of ‘Viz Mig’ also that day fifty-seven Lapwing and seventeen Cormorant where on Forge Mill. The 11th gave us three Golden Plover over Salter’s Lane; the 12th gave us sixty Teal in the Marsh, twenty Meadow Pipit and a Blackcap at Salter’s Lane, also at Hill Top Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Woodcock. On the 14th we had three Stonechat, Fieldfare and fifteen Redwings at Swan Pool while Forge Mill gave us five Water Rail and nineteen Gadwall. There was a bit of passage on the 15th with hundred Redwing, ten Song Thrush, sixteen Mistle Thrush, ten Goldcrest, sixteen Meadow Pipit, six Skylark, two Chiffchaff seen around the Swan Pool area and two willow Tit and Tawny Owl also seen that day. The 16th gave us three Stonechats, Brambling and a Raven, while the 18th gave us two Brambling flying over Forge Mill. On the 19th Salter’s Lane had three Stonechat and three Skylark, Hill Top produced Swallow, two Chiffchaff, twelfth Blackbird, Raven, six Jay and Two Redwing, also seen in the Valley that day where one Stonechat at Swan Pool, Peregrine over Forge Mill a Stonechat in the Marsh and fifty Eight Tufted Duck were on Forge Mill. The 21st gave us two more Brambling, Chiffchaff, three Redwings, two Meadow Pipit, Goldcrest, and three Stonechat in the Valley. On the 22nd there where seven Stonechats in the Valley four Swan Pool and three Salter’s Lane, ten Skylark, thirty Meadow Pipit went West, Common Gull on Forge Mill and Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Raven, sixty Jackdaw, thirty Rook and hundred and twenty Starlings where seen at Forge Mill Farm. On the 25th we had twenty Goosander on Forge Mill thirty-six Snipe were counted on the Island and Fieldfare and Chiffchaff were seen. There was still one Stonechat at Salter’s Lane on the 27th and a Goldcrest. On the 28th a Stonechat was still at Swan Pool and One Hundred and sixty six Coots were counted, Forge Mill had twenty-one Gadwall fifteen Pochard and twenty-Eight Snipe were counted. The 29th gave us a Water Pipit on the Bund, twenty-One Goosander, fifteen Fieldfare, forty Redwing, eight Ring Necked Parakeets and fifty Long Tailed Tits. The last day of the Month the 31st gave us a Woodlark briefly at Salter’s Lane and the Pintail were still present for their fifty-sixth day. October finished with the Year list on140.
November started off with the Pintail still present, two Willow Tits at the feeding station on the 2nd. The 3rd gave us an other new bird for the year with a Barn Owl seen at Forge Mill Farm, Pochard numbers where up to twenty-eight on the 4th, Pintail still present on the 5th. On the 6th a Nuthatch was seen on the RSPB this could have possibly been only the second record with in the reserve boundaries, On the 7th there where forty eight Goosander, twenty eight Gadwall, twenty six Barnacle Geese two Goldeneye and the Pintail. There where twenty one Wigeon and fifty one Teal on the 9th, Woodcock on the 10th, Common Gull and Stonechat at Swan Pool on the 11th, also on the 11th a wildfowl count was done taking in all the bodies of water in the Valley witch gave us one hundred and eighty one Mallard, one hundred and sixteen Tufted Duck, twenty four Mute Swan, thirty one Moorhen, one hundred and seven Canada Geese, thirty three Wigeon, and two hundred and fifty four Coot, this being the second highest count in the Valley. A Greylag was new in on the 12th with the Pintail seen for the last time completing a sixty-eight day stay, also seen on the 12th Woodcock, Redpoll, twelve Goldcrest, twenty five Fieldfare and twenty Stock Dove. The 14th produced forty six Snipe, one Jack Snipe, six Water Rail, fifty one Goosander, one Hundred plus Fieldfare, fifty plus Redwing, three Willow Tit, three Redpoll and a Common Gull, the Barn Owl was seen again on the 15th. A Goldeneye on Swan Pool on the 16th with forty-six Goosander, thirty Snipe and a Common Gull on Forge Mill. On the 18th there were forty Snipe on the island and thirty-four Wigeon on Forge Mill, the Barn Owl was seen again on the 19th. The Goosander had gone up in number to sixty-four birds on the 20th also on the 20th thirty-six Wigeon six Ring Necked Parakeets and thirty Stock Dove, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported on the 24th. The Goosander had gone up to an amazing eighty-five birds on the 24th Wigeon had gone up to thirty-six, five hundred Jackdaw over Forge Mill and ten Ring Necked Parakeets. On the 25th there where three Goldeneye on Swan Pool a Male and two Female, a Jack Snipe was seen on the 26th. And a pair of Mandarin briefly on Forge Mill on the 30th where new for the year.
December The 1st gave us one male and two female Goldeneye, fifty-six Tufted Duck and one hundred and sixty four Coot on Swan Pool. Forge Mill held thirty Pochard, nine Wigeon, twelve Goosander, forty-five Lapwings and two willow Tits at the feeding station. The 2nd gave us a Mediterranean Gull, The Barn Owl was seen again on the 5th and on the 6th we had Woodcock, Pintail and the Med Gull. On the 7th Forge Mill held twenty seven Wigeon, twenty seven Pochard, sixty tufted Duck, fifty four Goosander, forty eight Lapwing, twenty Snipe, Pintail and a Jack Snipe. The 8th gave us a Common Gull, and on the 12th we had eight Jack Snipe, sixty-five Snipe, Green Sandpiper, four Water Rail in the Marsh Pintail on Forge Mill and two Willow Tits at the feeding station. On the 13th there were fifty-one Snipe on the island. The 14th Goldeneye, Pintail and eighty Tufted Duck could be seen on Forge Mill. On the 16th fifty-five Snipe on the island, Common Gull and the Med Gull were seen. On the 18th fifty-nine Snipe on the island was an impressive sight. The Pintail was still present on the 22nd, sixty Snipe on the island and six Ring Necked Parakeets at the Feeding Station. On Christmas Day the Pintail was in the Marsh, two Willow Tits where at the feeding station, on Forge Mill there were twenty Goosander, twenty six Gadwall, fourteen Wigeon, twenty three Pochard, six Shoveler and on the island thirty five Snipe and forty three Lapwing. There where twenty-five Goosander and a Peregrine on the 27th, The 28th saw the second Greater Black Back Gull of the year forty six Snipe in the snipe corner on the island had been joined by a Jack Snipe also on the island forty two Lapwing and the Pintail was in the Marsh. On the 29th the Great Black Backed Gull was still on Forge Mill in the Morning, also on the partly frozen lake where sixteen Wigeon, twenty Teal, fourteen Shoveler and eleven Goosander the Pintail was seen to fly back in to Forge Mill at Dusk there where fifty Tufted Duck on the River also on the River four Little Grebe. A Nuthatch was seen near to Forge Mill Farm seventy Redwings and fourteen Lapwings were in the Fields. On Swan Pool there were eighty Tufted Duck, twenty Wigeon, eight Cormorants and six Little Grebe. Salter’s Lane had three Fieldfare, five Redwings and twenty Lapwings in the Bottom Field. The last day of the year gave us a Common Gull but there was no sign of the Pintail. The Valley Year list finished on 142.

Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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What an impressive post!!

Well done Yamyam and thanks from me too for all of the updates from Sandwell Valley! Keep them coming in 2015!

Happy New Year to you!
 
Managed four hours in the Valley today clocking 56 species:-
Little Grebe x2
Great Crested Grebe x1
Cormorant x8 Swan Pool
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Wigeon x37
Gadwall x13
Teal x10
Mallard
Shoveler x9
Pochard x27
Tufted Duck
Goosander x15
Buzzard
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing c50
Snipe c23
Black-headed Gull c300+
Lesser Black-backed Gull c36
Herring Gull c11 Swan Pool
Feral Pigeon Forge Mill Farm
Stock Dove x2 Cascade
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove x1 Park Farm
Ring-necked Parakeet x2 Park Farm Wood
Kingfisher x1 Cypress Pool
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare x4 Forge Mill Fields
Song Thrush
Redwing x40
Mistle Thrush x3
Long-tailed Tit c16
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Willow Tit x1 Feeding Station
Nuthatch x1 Park Farm Wood
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling c110
House Sparrow x6 Park Farm
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch x15 Park Farm
Siskin x1 Ice House Wood
Redpoll x7 Ice House Wood
Bullfinch x8, 5 male & 3 female, Feeding Station

Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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More news from today
Pochard x 40 and Goldeneye x1 male per Mike Ixer,
Goosander x20, Gadwall x20 and a Grey Wagtail per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
Goosander x12, Snipe x37, Teal c12, Gadwall c18, Pochard c20, shoveler and Wigeon on Forge Mill and a male Goldeneye still on Swan Pool per Pete Carless
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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Swan pool
Goldeneye x 1 male,Common Gull x2,Wigeon x7, Cormornt x3 and Great Crested Grebe x4
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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Crematorium Forge Lane
Nuthatch x2, Treecreeper x1, Goldcrest x3, Long Tailed Tit c8 and Kestrel x1 female
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
Forge Mill/ RSPB
Wigeon x6, Teal x10, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Snipe 40+, Lapwing c32, Goosander x12, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Cormorant x2, Kingfisher, Bullfinch x7 and Willow Tit.
Good Birding YAMYAM
 
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