Sandwell Valley (13 Viewers)

[yamyam]

Eventful afternoon!
4 LRP from the hide was the main attraction before scanning the sw corner of the lake and saw a silhouetted 'black' duck with its tail pointed up swimming out from under the trees where the Shovelers often roost. Took a couple of minutes before the bird raised its head to confirm my suspitions. It was the Common Scoter!
It continued to feed here for the rest of the day, spending most of its time underwater.
A young Peregrine ripped havoc across the pool around 3-3:15(ish) It landed on the islands 3 times, (briefly every time) having a pot shot at everything that moved. Oystercatchers, Lapwings, LBBGs, even a half hearted dive at the Scoter!
Once we closed up the hide, I walked around to the slipway for good views of the Scoter.

A quick drive over to Swan Pool, and after 15 minutes or so, the Ring Ouzel gave itself up, hopping around with the Wheatear. 3 New valley birds, taking my total to a measly 109 species!
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That's a good start. Craig and some good value Valley birds I will add you to the league table which I'm sure you will shoot up the ranks.PS drop Me your number
good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Common Scoter still on Forge Mill
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Wheatear still in paddocks no sign of Ouzel so far
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

No sign of Ring Ouzel by 09:30 but could still be in Paddocks somewhere it can go missing for hours.
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Swan Pool
Cormorant x2, Oystercatcher x2 on boom, Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe x2, Little Grebe, Shoveler pair, Swallow, Lesser Black Back x6 and Black Headed Gull x5
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Paddocks
Buzzard x2, Kestrel female, Ring Necked Parakeet's x2, Jay x2, Chiffchaff several, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Colliery Banks
Goldcrest, Blackcap male, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch x5 and Green Woodpecker

 

[yamyam]

Forge Mill
Goosander x6, Cormorant, Shoveler c11, Gadwall c6, Little Ringed Plover x2, Oystercatcher x2, Lapwing c12 and Redshank
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

League update

Craig Reed joins our League Table

1.Dave Saunders, 210 latest-Great Reed Warbler
2.Pete Hackett, 210 latest- Red Kite
3.Tim Hextell, 201 latest- Raven
4.Matt Hadlington, 192 latest- Osprey
5.Hughie King, 177 latest- Great Reed Warbler
6.Simon Edwards, 172 latest-Ruff
7.Terry Parker, 171 latest- Common Scoter
8.John Clarke, 164 latest- Red Kite
9 Pete Carless, 158 latest- Osprey
10.Tracy Saunders, 154 latest- Yellow Legged Gull
11.Steve Lilly, 151 latest- Mediterranean Gull
12.Mike Ixer, 143 latest- Goshawk
13.Steve Roper, 141 latest- Peregrine
14.Richard Eyres, 126 latest- Great Reed Warbler
15.Bob Slater, 125 latest- Great Northern Diver
16.Andy Thomas, 113 latest- Smew
17.Richard Davis, 111 latest- Barnacle Goose
18.Jason Davis, 109 latest- Ruff
19.Matt Gibbs, 109 latest- Great Black Backed Gull
20.Craig Reed, 109 latest- Ring Ouzel
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Common Scoter by Craig Reed

 

[yamyam]

League update

John Clarke adds Common Scoter his List

1.Dave Saunders, 210 latest-Great Reed Warbler
2.Pete Hackett, 210 latest- Red Kite
3.Tim Hextell, 201 latest- Raven
4.Matt Hadlington, 192 latest- Osprey
5.Hughie King, 177 latest- Great Reed Warbler
6.Simon Edwards, 172 latest-Ruff
7.Terry Parker, 171 latest- Common Scoter
8.John Clarke, 165 latest- Common Scoter
9 Pete Carless, 158 latest- Osprey
10.Tracy Saunders, 154 latest- Yellow Legged Gull
11.Steve Lilly, 151 latest- Mediterranean Gull
12.Mike Ixer, 143 latest- Goshawk
13.Steve Roper, 141 latest- Peregrine
14.Richard Eyres, 126 latest- Great Reed Warbler
15.Bob Slater, 125 latest- Great Northern Diver
16.Andy Thomas, 114 latest- Common Scoter
17.Richard Davis, 111 latest- Barnacle Goose
18.Jason Davis, 109 latest- Ruff
19.Matt Gibbs, 109 latest- Great Black Backed Gull
20.Craig Reed, 109 latest- Ring Ouzel
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Salters Lane
Ring Ouzel female per Bob Slater
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Ring Ouzel was in the top paddock in the dip
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[luckyosprey4]

My sightings from late afternoon:

Forge Mill Pool:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, drake Common Scoter, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

Salters Lane:
No sign of female Ring Ouzel, 6 Ring-Necked Parakeet, numerous Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Chaffinch and 1 Song Thrush.

Chris

 

[yamyam]

Forge Mill

Common Scoter still present,Oystercatchers x3 and Goosander x8 this evening per Hughie king
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[steve_zodiac]

2pm x 6.30pm

Swan pool, paddocks, Hill Top, Gun enplacements, FML.

1 Common Scoter
1 Wheatear
4 Little ringed Plovers
3 Oystercatchers
10+ Willow Warblers
3 Blackcaps
25 Chiffchaffs
4 Nuthatch
2 Green Woodpeckers
1 RN Parakeet
1 Goldcrest
1 Sparrowhawk

 

[yamyam]

Island at Forge Mill by Jackie Molly

 

[mattgibbs]

Common Scoter still on Forge Mill Lake

 

[yamyam]

Salter's Lane
Wheatear x2 and Ring Necked Parakeets x3 per Hughie King
Good Birding YAMYAM

 

[yamyam]

Salters Lane
Ring Ouzel female in Paddocks Near School per Hughie King
Good Birding YAMYAM