West Midlands/Warwickshire local patches. (1 Viewer)

[jeff]

Also Warwickshire Birding images has quite a few bird pics taken at Whitacre Heath:

http://warwickshirebirdingimages.fotopic.net/

 

[xFritzx]

Duck Pond- a friend of mine who lives up there hears them kicking off at night, apparently they have lived in Kings Heath Park for over 50 years!

 

[PAULBOY]

The Bittern was showing well at Brandon today from the East Marsh Pool Hide. I saw it at 1330 - and my Daughter watched it for 25 minutes at 1615. It was in the Phragmities to the left of the hide. Eventually flew over to Newlands.

 

[KayD]

Thanks for the Info Jeff

Ok, got a bit more time now i'm at work

There are 5 hides at Whitacre Heath:

River Pool Hide, small pool in front of the hide, another pool to the left of the hide - Usually Kingfisher, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Canada Goose, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Sometimes Water Rail on the pools, Redwing, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Tits, Woodpeckers could also been seen from here.

? hide, sorry cant remember the name of the next hide, it's a small hide in the woods overlooking a small pool, usually on the pool are several Little Grebe.

Scrape hide , as you can imagine this is the scrape, at present it's full of water, you could seen Snipe, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Mallard, Grey Heron, Teal on the pool if your lucky, probably have more chance when the water levels go down.

Feeding Station Hide , Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, GS Woodpecker, Pheasant, Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Magpie, Jay, Sometimes LS Woodpecker, last year good numbers of Siskin. These feeders are filled by a few of us who use the reserve, i always take food, that way i get to see a few birds here, so i always say to people take a bag of seed or a few nuts as you never know the feeders might just be empty one day. Good hide for photo's

Flashes Hide, Over looking boggy fields, could get Curlew, Stonechat, Little Owl, Corvids, Geese, Buzzard.

Car Park Feeders Similar to the feeding station in terms of birds, used to be a regular spot for the Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker, but not so frequent of late, use you car as a hide and park nearby.

Woodlands A stroll between the hides will take you through the woods, and you could see anything.

Niger Feeders There are also a couple of niger feeders at the top of the path to river pool hide, always got goldfinch on it, sometimes siskin.

I'm sure there's stuff i've missed as this is all from memory of recent birds seen. Completely different in the Summer as are most places.

Sightings books are located in every hide.

Cheers

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Thank you so much for such extensive info on the reserve - greatly appreciated I hope to get there very soon for a look round, maybe next weekend, if the weather holds out.

Sounds like a good range of birds there and great facilities - I'm hoping for a Lesser Spotted Woodie, could be in with a chance there!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

Kstar

PS Thanks for the link too, good photos on there and sightings info too.

 

[KayD]

Duck Pond- a friend of mine who lives up there hears them kicking off at night, apparently they have lived in Kings Heath Park for over 50 years!

Amazing what can live right on your doorstep! I live only about a mile from Kings Heath Park. People I know who live in Moseley, have reported hearing Tawny Owls calling now and again. I reckon Highbury Park might also be a good place to look if you're going for a forage.

Let us know how you get on ?

 

[xFritzx]

yeah, hopefully be going on an expedtition soon.

12 goosander at Sandwell valley today.

 

[KayD]

yeah, hopefully be going on an expedtition soon.

12 goosander at Sandwell valley today.

Have they got a new hide at Sandwell Valley now? I remember they used to have quite a few but they were burned down :C Last I heard they had a new one and the others had been replaced by viewing screens/platforms, wondered if that was still the case?

Was down there recently for a bird ringing event, with my other half but he hates the reserve there and wouldn't stay to bird there. But I have fridays off work now so I'm looking at doing some solo birding on my day off and Sandwell is good as its accessible by public transport.

 

[Duck_Pond]

They were still building the hide when I was up at Sandwell, but that was on 3rd Dec, so it might be finished now.

As for Kings Heath park - not sure I'd want to take my camera up there at dusk! Maybe I'll risk it with my more discreet S2... Would be good to see the owls.

The places I have heard them are in the wooded areas near Alvechurch marina. They were calling very frequently when I was at a beer festival at the pub (Weighbridge) late last year, and I heard some during the day whilst walking along the towpath towards the tunnel, earlier in the year (May). Also heard them in the woods near the Peacock Inn (Forhill). Common theme developing here!

 

[xFritzx]

The Hide has been open for about three weeks now. work is however still being done on the island and marsh. nice place for a walkabout, might check out swan pool next time i go round

 

[Duck_Pond]

I thought about going there when I was last up - looks promising... but Sandwell itself was quiet, so I didn't think anywhere nearby would be any good at the time - maybe that was the problem - all the birds had b*ggered off there!

 

[senatore]

The poor weather continues.Not good for birding and even worse for taking pics (my camera is gathering dust !!!!).

Seen in our area yesterday:-

Kittiwake at Dunstall park.

Bittern at Brandon Marsh.

Garganey at Lower Bittell Res.

Glaucus Gull at Bartley Res.

Today :-

Snow Bunting at Chasewater.

Max.

 

[jeff]

The poor weather continues.Not good for birding and even worse for taking pics (my camera is gathering dust !!!!).

Max.

Sunshine forecast for this afternoon, so dust yourself off and get ready.

PS. You can just go and look at the birds! All these good birds around and you still find something to grumble about ;-)

 

[Duck_Pond]

I think Max is like me, in that he strives to get that "perfect" shot of the birds we see. It's addictive and very frustrating in the weather at this time of year, especially given that there are usually more varied targets now!

This Whitacre Heath sounds interesting - I have been to Kingsbury already, though in the rain! Is the site open access, or do you need a key?

 

[jeff]

This Whitacre Heath sounds interesting - I have been to Kingsbury already, though in the rain! Is the site open access, or do you need a key?

It's Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, so you need a code to get through the gate just like Brandon Marsh out of hours access.

Cheers

Jeff

 

[senatore]

Sorry Jeff I wont mention the weather again specially this mornings !!!!! Seen by others yesterday in our area :-

Raven in Milverton.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Grimley.

Bittern at Brandon Marsh.

Glaucus Gull at Frankley Res.

Siberian Chiffchaff at Kempsey SW.

Med. Gull at Westwood Pool.

Max.

 

[jeff]

Sorry Jeff I wont mention the weather again specially this mornings !!!!!
Max.

Hope you got out yesterday and enjoyed that glorious sunshine.

 

[Duck_Pond]

Roll on my membership pack for Warwickshire's WT then!

 

[Duck_Pond]

Max - has anyone said where exactly on Lower Bittell, the garganey has been seen? I live fairly local to the lakes and have yet to see it.

 

[KayD]

Max - has anyone said where exactly on Lower Bittell, the garganey has been seen? I live fairly local to the lakes and have yet to see it.

On sunday it was right at the back of the Lower Bittell and could be viewed from the roadside (allthough I missed it!). It is quite a shy duck and was hiding in the vegatation. It is an immature male apparently.

 

[KayD]

The Hide has been open for about three weeks now. work is however still being done on the island and marsh. nice place for a walkabout, might check out swan pool next time i go round

Thanks for the info on Sandwell Valley Swan Pool could be good for Little Owls.