Yesterdays birding

Hi readers, sorry the post is a day late this week had a little bit of revision to get done and in fact still do but I want to get this post done. Yesterday was one of mine and Dads normal birding days, we decided to get to some of our usual haunts RSPB Sandwell Valley, Swan Pool, Clayhanger, and Chasewater. Everything seems to be getting quiet at the moment in terms of birds turning up, although on Saturday a Great White Egret was reported and photographed multiple times at Upton Warren I dare say if it had turned up yesterday we would have gone for the bird.

We first took our usual visit to Sandwell Valley, we will most likely be doing this literally every week seen as I am a volunteer now, unless something real big turns up. On Saturday a Spotted Flycatcher was reported on the reserve but was nowhere to be seen yesterday. In fact things seem to be dying down a little now. The main birds seen include a single Ringed Plover, an increase in numbers of Oystercatcher to 4 adults and still 2 now quite large chicks, and 2 LRP's were still around. The Cettis Warbler was also heard by Dad and a few other people. 3 Common Terns are still around but no sign of any chicks as of yet. Here's the main sightings from the valley today,

RSPB Sandwell Valley- Sand Martin x1, Ringed Plover x1, LRP x2, Swallow x1, Swift 20+, Mute Swan x8, Oystercatcher x4 (+2 chicks), Common Tern x3, Blackcap x1, Grey Heron x1, Herring Gull x1, Lapwing 5+ (+3 chicks).

A good number of chicks around and Dad mentioned the LRP's were doing some courtship behaviour on the island which is quite late but hopeful in terms of nesting. The numbers of Mute Swan have raised dramatically from around 3-4 to 8 individuals.

After going round the valley we decided to have a quick look round Swan Pool in hope of getting a Spotted Flycatcher over there, you be sad to know we didn't but it was a wish rather than a reality but things were looking nice round the pool anyway. Here's what we saw,

Swan Pool- Coot 5+ (+2 chicks), Canada Goose 10+, Mute Swan x2 (+4 Cygnets), Swift 10+, Willow Warbler x1 (heard), Mallard 5+ (+6 Ducklings), Great crested Grebe x1, Song Thrush x1 (heard), Buzzard x1, Grey Heron x1.

AT THIS MOMENT REDSTARTS ON BBC SPRINGWATCH ,EXCITEMENT!!!!

Now to seriousness, after Swan Pool we decided to get over to Clayhanger as Pete Hackett had told us of a report of two Black Necked Grebes on the site somewhere. It didn't come to a surprise that they weren't there, we had been unsuccessful today and what struck me was there was conveniently 2 Great Crested Grebes on the pool, now I'm not accusing or anything but it doesn't seem as if these birds have been reported anywhere on the internet, in my eyes if they came up on I would guess Pete's pager then someone has simple made a mistake, its easy to do for me it would be impossible but if your an inexperienced birder that's just starting out making that sort of mistake is always possible, all I can say is look at the bird in detail first before reporting it, I do this before reporting anything, always look at the bird properly and come to a conclusion as to what it is, it pays to keep a bird book on you when you are just starting out I now use one for research rather than ID at least at the moment. Anyway things were quiet round Clayhanger, birds to note include, 20 Goslings, and 8 Common Tern our main sightings are as follows,

Clayhanger (Ryder's Mere, and Clayhanger Marsh)-  Common Tern x8, Black Headed Gull 20+ (+lots of chicks), Tufted Duck 5+, Pochard x3, Reed Bunting 5+, Kestrel x1, Mute Swan x2 (a glimpse of one Cygnet likely to be more), Grey Heron x1, Mallard 5+, Great Crested Grebe x2.

To end our birding day we decided to take a quick look round Chasewater, unsurprisingly there was little around on the lake as per usual in the summer, I really cant wait for the winter round Chasewater we may hopefully get some good Gulls about. Here's our main sightings,

Chasewater- Canada Goose 20+, Sand Martin x2, Tufted Duck x3, Swift x1, Black headed Gull 5+.

Yes the numbers are that small, I think that things will begin to pick up at Chasewater as the years go by, because the water levels have changed so much over the last few years birds are just trying to adjust I reckon more birds will start appearing maybe next year or the year after. Lest hope ehhh.

Anyway that's it for this week or rather last week folks, I should be posting next weekend with most likely Sandwell Valley sightings only for that week unless (this is unlikely) something big turns up.

Thanks for reading and have a good week all- WMBB