Cole Valley (1 Viewer)

[zomerset]

River Cole - Ackers / Shire Country park 12.15
After the kingfisher pair on the Rea, I was informed of a kingfisher pair on the River Cole. In a completely new location to me. How great!! (A big thanks to Ali). So I took a look. This pair were far more difficult to observe, however, due to passers by, hidden bends, the lack of cover to observe from and the kingfisher being really good at stealth flying. Flying overhead rather than along the river. This was more like the secret kingfisher I am used to. Also interesting is there could be 3 pairs along the Cole in Birmingham, maybe 4. Great!!

 

[zomerset]

River Cole - Ackers - 08:00
Kingfisher on the River Cole at Ackers, at one point I thought I saw two in the distance and then turned around and there was another!! Great!!

 

[zomerset]

River Cole - just down from Trittiford
I'd been neglecting the great stretch of the Cole after Trittiford, the Shire Country park, where last year there were a pair of kingfisher. I was not disappointed, after a few minutes I heard a kingfisher calling in the distance but could not see it. I then found a heron on the River and saw another flying over. Then again I heard the kingfisher calling and could tell it was flying towards me. I just saw it fly along the river, it then saw me and did a loop around to avoid me before rejoining the river. Great!!

 

[zomerset]

River Cole - Shire Country Park;
Kingfisher 07:00 at Ackers and another 16:00 at Sarehole. From my observations, I think the male kingfisher is the more vocal and active in a pairing. The female a lot of the time does not call, waiting for the male.

 

[zomerset]

River Cole - Shire Country Park;
Kingfisher 07:00 at Ackers and another 08:00 at Sarehole. The Ackers pair really active, up and down and calling. (I checked out Merritt's brook in Manor Farm park and there was a Grey Wagtail and family. Loads of small fish in the brook at the back of the park)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/17531770440/

 

[UW82]

A distant shot of a Little Egret that has/have been present at various places along the River Cole since last autumn. This bird was fishing at Bordesley Green.

Des.

 

[UW82]

A distant shot of a Little Egret that has/have been present at various places along the River Cole since last autumn. This bird was fishing at Bordesley Green.

Des.

 

[zomerset]

River Cole - Shire Country Park 07:30
I've just read my postings from last year on the River Cole and this mornings kingfisher sightings were a repeat of last year. But even better!! (the good news is I've seen them earlier this year) Because I knew what to expect I hung around a bit longer. (Plus this years sightings on the Rea have taught me more about their behaviour). As I arrived I heard the great sound of the kingfisher chasing another kingfisher (possible fledgling) from it's patch on the Cole. It's a fast, repeated call, as it flies along. Then I knew to wait and it would fly back again, which it did about 5 minutes later. Then I heard the great sound of a male and female kingfisher calling each other. Where they do a call and respond. It was really loud, echoing and erie. I moved to find them and got caught right in the middle of their calling. It went on for a few minutes before they flew up and down the river calling. Cracking!!

(Hi Des - yes I saw that L. Egret earlier in the year on the Priory lake - great isn't it!!)

 

[donnam2]

Was the last time the little Egret seen June 5th ?

 

[UW82]

Was the last time the little Egret seen June 5th ?

Unless there are any other records, yes.


Des.

 

[cowcornerman]

I took a walk through the Kingfisher Country Park along the bank of the River Cole from Yardley Green Road to the Coventry Road at Hay Mills island last Saturday 24 October 2020 on this short stretch observed a pair of Grey Herons (I think one was a juvenille) and a Little Egret near the Coventry Road with a group of Mallards in various plumage

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu6Jh_BboW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvWUzBBg1a/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu5U_KBFSl/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu9L4Nh__p/

 

[zomerset]

I took a walk through the Kingfisher Country Park along the bank of the River Cole from Yardley Green Road to the Coventry Road at Hay Mills island last Saturday 24 October 2020 on this short stretch observed a pair of Grey Herons (I think one was a juvenille) and a Little Egret near the Coventry Road with a group of Mallards in various plumage

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu6Jh_BboW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvWUzBBg1a/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu5U_KBFSl/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGu9L4Nh__p/

Good to hear CCM; I used to check that stretch regularly. One winter there was a Kingfisher along there and then a pair either side of the bridge. It was by the Coventry Road up to the next bridge. I check now & again when in the area. I got this old photo there;
https://flic.kr/p/pFsxXS

 

[cowcornerman]

Thanks for the info zomerset. I walked on the same stretch of the River today as I did last Saturday and saw another pair of Grey Heron's. Possibly the same pair as last Saturday.
Those are great photos that you have taken of the Kingfishers and Dippers on flickr and twitter. I have never seen a Kingfisher on the Yardley to Hay Mills stretch of the Cole but twice in recent years I have seen a Kingfisher perched on the wall of the Stechford Road Bridge that I have viewed from the 11A outer circle bus so on my commute I always keep eyes open as the bus goes over the Cole !
https://twitter.com/IanGenge/status/1322593316408565760/photo/2

 

[zomerset]

Thanks for the info zomerset. I walked on the same stretch of the River today as I did last Saturday and saw another pair of Grey Heron's. Possibly the same pair as last Saturday.
Those are great photos that you have taken of the Kingfishers and Dippers on flickr and twitter. I have never seen a Kingfisher on the Yardley to Hay Mills stretch of the Cole but twice in recent years I have seen a Kingfisher perched on the wall of the Stechford Road Bridge that I have viewed from the 11A outer circle bus so on my commute I always keep eyes open as the bus goes over the Cole !
https://twitter.com/IanGenge/status/1322593316408565760/photo/2

Hi Ian, I know the Stechford bridge over the Cole. I did check there earlier in the year but they were widening the road. Have you seen a Kingfisher there this year?
Yes lucky to have Dippers turn up on the Rea & the Kingfishers.

 

[cowcornerman]

Cole Valley at Babbs Mill today & Babbs Mill Lake

Hi Zomerset

They have nearly finished the road widening scheme now at Stechford. The new bridge over the River has been in place for a few weeks but there is still a lot of work activity taking place. The last time I saw a Kingfisher on this stretch of the Cole was in about May 2018 on a Sunday morning.

Today I walked along the stretch of the Cole by Babbs Mill Lake and Nature Reserve and saw a good variety of birds but no kingfishers.

I saw a pair of Grey Herons, a small flock of Ring Necked Parakeets, a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, House Sparrows, Blue Tits & Great Tits, Wren, Robin, Blackbirds, Jay, Magpies, Carrion Crows, a few Goldfinches, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Gadwalls & Wigeons (I struggle to identify the difference between them), Black backed Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Moorhens, Coots, a few Canada Geese and a Family of Mute Swans

 

[zomerset]

Hi Zomerset

They have nearly finished the road widening scheme now at Stechford. The new bridge over the River has been in place for a few weeks but there is still a lot of work activity taking place. The last time I saw a Kingfisher on this stretch of the Cole was in about May 2018 on a Sunday morning.

Today I walked along the stretch of the Cole by Babbs Mill Lake and Nature Reserve and saw a good variety of birds but no kingfishers.

Hi CCM,
Yeah I've seen Kingfisher at Stechford previous years. This year I checked, saw the road works & thought no chance.

I've seen Kingfisher along the Cole at Babbs Mill this year.
I waited by the bridge over the Cole by the Mill & a Kingfisher flew under a couple times. I like the stretch before that. One summer there were a few Kingfisher chasing along there & other years Kingfisher early summer mornings.

 

[cowcornerman]

Thanks for the information Zomerset. I will keep on the look out for Kingfishers. I think with the leaves coming off the trees now they might be more noticeable with their distinct colours standing out from the background.

On Sunday 8 November, on a 3/4 mile walk along the River Cole in Yardley between Yardley Green Road ad Hay Mills bridge I saw 2 Herons (possibly the same 2 I have seen the last 2 weeks), Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Robin, H Sparrow, Dunnock, Blackbird, Starling, Crow, Black Headed Gull & Mallard

https://twitter.com/IanGenge/status/1325515714724306945/photo/1

 

[cowcornerman]

Babbs Mill Lake area & York's Wood - Thu 16th March 2023

Blackbird
Black headed Gull
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Common Buzzard
Common Gull (1 on log perch on s. of island)
Common Teal (m & f pair)
Coot
Domestic X Greylag Goose 2
Dunnock
Feral Pigeon
Gadwall 5
Goldfinch
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Lesser black backed Gull
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Nuthatch
Redwing (6 in flock)
Robin
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Song Thrush (1)
Starling
Tufted Duck
Wood Pigeon
Wren

 

[zomerset]

Kingfisher along the River Cole yesterday, same stretch as last year.