Migrants Galore

Hi readers, another installment of birding experience for you to read through. Things were back to normal this week with a quiet visit to Sandwell Valley and a look over Bartley Green Reservoir. Firstly our birding day took us to RSPB Sandwell Valley for a morning of birding. It turned out to be a good morning for getting some migrant year ticks, firstly on our walk down to the hide a nice calling Willow Warbler made an appearance, we later saw the bird on the return walk up the path so it's likely it will stick around for the summer. Plenty of Grey Herons made an appearance presumably coming from Icehouse Pool. We still have a couple of Goosander around along with 2 Teal and 5 or so Shoveler. 

The two Oystercatchers were on the island for most of the morning and seemed to be showing off to each over a little bit, two Little Ringed Plovers were also around on the main island all morning. We had a good influx of Hirundines throughout the morning with Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow all making an appearance throughout the morning something. I was very pleased with. Buzzards were plentiful throughout the morning as usual. Two Little Grebes were also in the reeds in a similar area to last year. On the gull side of things a Herring Gull made an appearance in the morning with plenty of Lesser Black backed Gulls no sign of any Black headers. Lapwing were also in small numbers.

In terms of Migrants it was a great morning, all three species of Hirundine that you would expect at this time of year turning up in one morning has to count for something and a good species of Warbler added to the year list. I have been reading about news of a Red Kite in the area this afternoon something to keep your eyes peeled for if you are in the area.

So with the success of the morning we decided to get over to Bartley Reservoir which turned out to be very quiet, a Common Scoter turned up yesterday but no sign of it today or at least when we were around only a few Great crested Grebes were around, Herring and Lesser black backed Gulls, and Coots, the highlight was a drake Goldeneye. 

That's all I have to post about this week, sorry it's a short one but things were quiet today apart from the morning at Sandwell, there should be a post next week if not before, and take a look at some of the bellow photos from Sandwell today, overall the valley is improving with migrants, hopefully some more Wheatear turn up at Swan Pool soon as they usual are quite good to see over there especially in the paddocks, I've seen Wheatear twice over there in the last two years so its highly likely we will eventually get one over there.

Record shot of today's Willow Warbler

LRP RSPB Sandwell island

Overall one of the best days for migrants so far this year, I was thinking I was going to have to wait a while for a full set of Hirundines (excluding Swift) so it was nice to see them all at Sandwell Valley today, Bartley Reservoir will probably get a little more quiet now, however with it being such a big place anything could really turn up and I have notcied its getting a lot more coverage lately so its more likely things will be found over there. As I said post next week, not sure exactly where we will be going but time will tell. 

Thanks for reading and enjoy the week all- WMBB