Sandwell Valley (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Clements]

Swan Pool

The Great Northern Diver was still present this morning, spending a lot of time under water, but often quite close to the shore. Also eight Cormorant.

Kevin

 

[yamyam]

Two Hours in the Valley, Areas covered Dartmouth Park Pool, Park Farm Wood, Ice House Wood, Ice House Lake, Cascade Lake, Swan Pool and the Paddocks. Great Northern Diver still showing well on Swan Pool, I had Twenty Four year ticks: - Grey Heron x3, Great Tit, Magpie, Shoveler x 36, Starling, Blue Tit, Nuthatch x2, Robin, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Redwing x 80+, Goldcrest, Long Tailed Tit x18, Fieldfare x5, Treecreeper, Wren, Song Thrush, Wigeon x10, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe x2, Goosander x3, Gadwall and Ring Necked Parakeet x2, Also of note, Mute Swan x31, Cormorant x12 and Great Crested Grebe x4.Valley Year List = 41.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Two Hours in the Valley. Areas covered Forge Mill Lake and Forge Mill Farm. Diver still at Swan Pool, Twelve Year ticks:- Pied Wagtail, Feral Pigeon, Lapwing x60, Teal x10, Meadow Pipit x3, Jay, Greenfinch, Bullfinch x3male & 4 female, Snipe, House Sparrow, Rook and Jackdaw. Also seen of note, Pochard x34, Gadwall x9, Ring Necked Parakeet x2, Goosander x6 and Shoveler x8. Valley Year List = 53.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[richarddavis30]

Had a couple of hours around Sandwell this morning.

Could not find the Diver although others had said they had seen it.

Heres my findings

Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Redwing, Robin, Shoveler, Siskin, Snipe, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Willow Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren

 

[richarddavis30]

I thought I would pull all the alley sightings into one year list, Below is a list as complete as I can make it. All in Black are the sightings put on this forum and the purple ones are the ones put on Birdtrack(BTO) and not on here. Impressive list to start the year I think.

Please keep adding to the list....

1 Black Headed Gull
2 Blackbird
3 Blue Tit
4 Bull Finch
5 Buzzard
6 Canada Goose
7 Carrion Crow
8 Chaffinch
9 Coot
10 Cormorant
11 Dunnock
12 Fieldfare
13 Gadwall
14 Goldcrest
15 Goldeneye
16 Goldfinch
17 Goosander
18 Great Crested Grebe
19 Great Northern Diver
20 Great Tit
21 Greenfinch
22 Grey Heron
23 Grey Wagtail
24 Herring Gull
25 House Sparrow
26 Jackdaw
27 Jay
28 Kestrel
29 kingfisher
30 Lapwing
31 Lesser Black Backed Gull
32 Lesser Redpoll
33 Little Grebe
34 Long Tailed Tit
35 Magpie
36 Mallard
37 Meadow Pipit
38 Mistle Thrush
39 Moorhen
40 Mute Swan
41 Nuthatch
42 Pied Wagtail
43 Pochard
44 Redwing
45 Reedbunting
46 Ringed necked Parakeet
47 Robin
48 Rook
49 Shoveler
50 Siskin
51 Snipe
52 Song Thrush
53 Starling
54 Teal
55 Treecreper
56 Tufted Duck
57 Water Rail
58 Wigeon
59 Willow Tit
60 Wood Pigeon
61 Wren
62 Coal Tit
63 Collared Dove
64 Feral Pigeon
65 Great Spotted Woodpecker
66 Green Woodpecker
67 Jack Snipe
68 Stock Dove

 

[Tomwbhx]

Diver gone!

Had a quick look around the Valley yesterday just before dark, no sign of the GN Diver. Only 2 RSPB chaps looking sadly out over a very rough Swan Pool.

Did the circular walk around the RSPB reserve, not much to say other than the large numbers of Goosander. Plus Gadwall, Pochard and 7 Bullfinch on the feeders by the 'ex' Visitor Centre. The skies were looking ominous so we didn't hang around.

 

[yamyam]

Two Hours in Valley, Swan Pool, Forge Mill, Paddocks and R.S.P.B. Covered. Six year ticks: - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Jack Snipe, Willow Tit and Grey Wagtail. Also of note, Great Northern Diver still Swan Pool, Cormorant x11, Goosander x36, Wigeon x15, Lapwing x 49 and Snipe c45 on the R.S.P.B Island. Valley year list = 59.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[richarddavis30]

69 Sparrowhawk

 

[rollingthunder]

That's a good number, where is the roost?

Laurie:t:

 

[yamyam]

Two and a half hours in the Valley today, Areas looked at, Salter’s Lane, Swan Pool, Forge Mill, R.S.P.B, and Monks Meadows. Great Northern Diver still graces the Valley with its presence. Four year ticks Kestrel x1 male, Buzzard x2, Sparrowhawk and Goldfinch. Others birds of note Redwing x60, Fieldfare x10, Mistle Thrush x15, Jackdaw x20, Goosander x10, Bullfinch x5, Snipe, Jay, Wigeon x15 and Cormorant x10. Valley Year list = 63.
Good Birding YAMAYM

 

[Charlotte Rosefinch]

Hi all,

This photo was taken today ..... I wondered if I could get some help on an ID please?

My thought is Yellowhammer??

Would appreciate your opinions

Image quality is rather poor!

Thanks!

 

[midlands birder]

Hi all,

This photo was taken today ..... I wondered if I could get some help on an ID please?

My thought is Yellowhammer??

Would appreciate your opinions

Image quality is rather poor!

Thanks!

Looks like a male Siskin
MB

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Looks like a male Siskin
MB

Yes Male Siskin

 

[hughie king]

Hi all,

This photo was taken today ..... I wondered if I could get some help on an ID please?

My thought is Yellowhammer??

Would appreciate your opinions

Image quality is rather poor!

Thanks!

Agree with Siskin. Had a flock in double figures by the viewing platform near the river last week.

Hughie.

 

[Charlotte Rosefinch]

Thank you!

I am not complaining it is a patch tick for me

I got a beautiful view of a Kestrel today, it perched on a branch 10 yards away until someone's noisy child went screaming passed. :eek!:

 

[richarddavis30]

A lunchtime walk around forge mill only,

Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Coot, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied/White Wagtail, Pochard, Robin, Shoveler, Siskin, Snipe, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Willow Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Also I think it was female goldeneye on forge mill.

Valley tick list now 60

 

[yamyam]

A quick kick before the rain, Swan Pool, Colliery Banks and Forge Mill, Two year ticks Redpoll x20 & Siskin x8, Also of note Great Northern Diver, Buzzard, Great Crested Grebe x5, Goldcrest x3, Long Tailed Tit x16, Jay x5, Snipe x18, Goosander x8, Wigeon x12 and Lapwing x49. Valley Year List = 65.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[Ixer]

Managed to get out to the Valley again today after a busy start to the year. Saw a healthy 59 species with the diver still being the main attraction. A few goldcrests around were nice as were a mixed flock of siskins and lesser redpolls.

 

[yamyam]

Four Hours in the Valley today, Areas looked at R.S.P.B, Forge Mill, Forge Mill Fields, Browns Fields, Newton Paddocks, Crematorium, Wigmore and Swan Pool. Three year ticks Water Rail, Collared Dove and Pheasant. Other birds of note Great Northern Diver, Bullfinch x11, Goosander x20, Snipe x12, Lapwing x49, Herring Gull x9, Buzzard, Redwing c100 and Nuthatch nice to see a pair away from the traditional site at Park Farm Wood. Valley Year List = 68.
Good Birding YAMYAM.

 

[Ste-gull]

Had a few hours at the valley and caught up with the diver. Great bit of time there overall with the other highlight c40 snipe.

Few snaps below including some of the snipe...