Hi readers, yesterday me and dad decided to do our usual thing on a Sunday and do a bit of birding. We first decided to take our usual visit to Sandwell valley in hope of seeing 3 black tailed godwits that had been seen on Saturday. The birds didn't make an appearance but apparently there was a particularly nice looking adult summer bird with the other two female specimens so it was nice to hear they were around. A Lapwing chick was around but we didn't get views of any more apart from that one, also the two Oystercatcher chicks are looking quite big now so it seems as if predation isn't going to be their fate luckily. Infront of the hide 4 Coot chicks have left their nest cautiously. Also 3 Sand Martin were flying around, 3 Common Tern, and an LRP which I didn't see bu t it was around somewhere. Also the Cettis Warbler was calling in the distance somewhere and Peter Hacket told me the bird was singing right next to the hide on Saturday. One final main sighting was that of a Green Woodpecker flying across the lake, I haven't seen one of these birds on the reserve for a few months so it was nice to see it around. Heres our main sightings from the morning.
RSPB Sandwell Valley- Lapwing 5+ (+1 chicks), Common Tern x3, Swift 20+, Herring Gull x3, Mute Swan x4, Oystercatcher x2 (+2 chicks), Buzzard x2, Black Headed Gull x1, Canada Goose 10+, Coot 10+ (+4 chicks), Cettis Warbler x1 (heard), Sand Martin x3, Reed Bunting x1, LRP x1, Green Woodpecker x1.
Interesting to see the good numbers of Herring Gull appearing on the lake recently. After going to the valley we decided to take an afternoon walk to a site that was completely new to me, it's called Uffmoor Wood, from the signs that were about it appears to be a Woodland trust reserve and I must say it sounded amazing, bird life was all over the hard thing was trying to see it. The man reason for us going to the wood was to search for possible locations for Wood Warblers, I personally am not very familiar with the species for the simple reason of never really seeing ne before so I wasn't to experienced with the species. There were a couple of birds that we saw that could have been Wood Warblers but I want to be honest and say at this moment in time I am not really that sure. I understand the species is a very obvious looking ne but I have to say they look similar to other species such a Willow Warbler and a lot of Willow Warbler were calling throughout the walk around the woods.
So I could simple new over exaggerating what the species really was. Any way the walk around the woods brought out a few nice birds including Song Thrush, a lot of Robins, and Willow Warblers all around and of course a nice Jay. Next Sunday me and Dad are thinking of taking a trip to the Wyre Forest where Wood Warblers are definitely seen and seen regularly, I also want to get to a place called Dowles brook that is near the Wyre Forest but am unsure of the location, zoo know that Dippers are seen there so I really want to take a look. if anyone knows of the Google maps address of Dowles Brook I would be really grateful if you could comment n this post with the location. Heres our main sightings from Uffmoor Wood yesterday,
Uffmoor Wood- Robin 5+, Willow Warbler (some heard), Song Thrush x2, Poss Wood Warblers x2, Chiffchaff (some heard), Jay x1.
There should be a post on the weekend for definite next week unless something comes up.
Thanks for reading have a good week all- WMBB
Hey
ReplyDeleteDowles Brook is located in the valley that runs through the centre of the Wyre forest. A circular walk can be taken starting from the car park at Dry mill lane. Walk through the forest, under the two bridge's and a little further on to an area where there are a few very large pine trees on your right hand side. Here you can follow a small track below the trees and down the bank which drops onto Dowles brook, which can be followed all the way back to the tarmac road past the two mills. Eventually you will reach a small marshy pool on your right, after which the road turns right and up the hill, and back to the car park. You should hear Wood Warbler anywhere along the walk, but the 'railway line' (the first section of the walk) is favoured.
If you need any further info, don't hesitate to contact me on my Midlandsbirder@aol.com email
Hope this helps
MB
Thanks for the help, we got there quite easily with your instructions and a few other peoples, if you read the latest post you may have seen we did luckily get Wood Warbler and Dipper. It was a great walk and a real nice days birding.
DeleteThanks for the help
WMBB