Birding today.

Hi readers, today me and Dad decided to have a quiet birding day and took a trip down to Sandwell Valley as usual. The first birds we saw were the Ring- necked Parakeets (x3), surprisingly enough the birds were not where they usually are in fact they were flying round the old centre. We heard them first and then saw them flying quite low over the car park and around the old centre. Our full sightings list from the day is,

Sandwell Valley- Ring- necked Parakeets x3, Snipe 5+, Moorhen 5+, Black headed Gull 50+, Coot 10+, Lapwing 10+, Reed Bunting x2, Pochard 10+, Wigeon 20+, Great Spotted Woodpecker x1, Goldfinch x2, Goosander x5, Teal x1, Wren x2, Siskin x1, Robin 5+, Gadwall 5+, Bullfinch 5+, Greenfinch 5+, Nuthatch x1, Long- tailed Tit 5+, Great Tit 5+, Blue Tit 5+, Dunnock x2, Mute Swan x2, Canada Goose 5+, Mallard 10+, Grey Heron x1.

All round we had quite a Strong list today, all together I have had 4 year ticks today which isn't to bad. I'm hoping that something pops up at Sandwell Valley soon, usually every winter something good arrives, last year the female Smew was a star bird and the year before a Barnacle Goose turned up. So I am hopeful that something good might turn up. I must say the Parakeets have been good birds to see, they seem much more active than usual seen as today was the first time I have ever seen them near the old centre. One birder did approach me and said that he would have thought they should have grown in numbers by now, it seems that even though they have been on the site for quite a few years they either haven't bread or haven't bread successfully, I can't think why this may be because where they are usually is quite a quiet place and there is little disturbance.

I'm hoping that me and Dad can take a trip down to Upton Warren next Sunday, mainly because I am desperate to see the Bittern that has been around there for the last few weeks. I am also hoping to see a Water Rail at Sandwell this year, they have in fact been reported in the reeds this week but there was still no joy today. Also after looking at the notice board in the hide today a Woodcock has been reported on the marsh this I would like to see so I will keep an eye out for it appearing again.

Another wildlife surprise for us today was two Foxes on the horse paddocks near the railway bridge, they offered stunning views. Last time I saw a fox on the reserve was last year when one fox was in the same area but now another fox has appeared. I was going to upload photos of these Foxes and some birds but the photo up loader is having a little hissy fit and won't seem to work, is anyone else having this problem is so is there a way to fix it?

Any way hopefully next week I will be posting about seeing a Bittern at Upton Warren, so I should be posting next Sunday (if the weathers good) if not before.

Thanks for reading- WMBB.