Hi readers, its time for another post, this week was reasonable quiet but still a nice day out and I managed to get a year tick as well which added to the niceness of the day as a whole. We began the day at our usual haunt Sandwell Valley, and this week the hide was closed so we had the chance to have a good walk around the reserve and take in the wildlife something I personally don't do as much of lately staying in the hide. We walked all the way round Forge Mill Lake and in all honesty it was very quiet. The Greylag Goose still resides and was around various parts of the lake throughout the morning, the Canada Geese have risen to new heights there has to be well over a hundred on the lake I know at one point there was at least 180 birds altogether, in all the years I been round the valley I've seen great numbers of Canada's but they really have gotten out of control this year.
On a more positive note with rising numbers there are greater numbers of Pochard around since we last went round over five birds I didn't get a chance to count them properly. The Common tern chicks have fledged properly now with two juvenile birds flying around now, the Oystercatcher chicks are more or less fully grown and are flying around well now. Plenty of Reed Warblers calling in the reeds (weird to see them there) and a single singing Chiffchaff also. Two Sand martins were also flying around all morning something that hasn't been around to much for a little while now.
I have to admit as a photographer I always put the birds first, I always like to keep a good distance from the birds I am photographing and if that distance is too far away then there is no photo I am still great full to see the bird whatever species it may be ,however stunning it maybe as a bird. I did witness a photographer walking along the bank opposite the hide, which to my knowledge is off limits, the main reasoning for this would be that birds breed in there a good selection of warbler too including Sedge and Reed Warbler and Whitethroat in the past and currently. Reed Warblers would be the main concern in this instance walking so close to the reeds will disturb nests and feeding habits in some cases, at this time of year perhaps not as much as the chicks will be very well grown at this point in their lives, but I have seen it earlier on in the year nearer to breeding season from the hide. Its great to have a hobby like photography especially when it comes to birds and wildlife, but lets just be serious now and respect the birds we are photographing. Rant over......
After a quiet morning round Sandwell Valley we moved onto another reserve we have perhaps for some unknown reason neglected this year that reserve being, Upton Warren, we arrived on the flashes around two o'clock and sat down for a bit of birding, in total there were 19 to 20 Curlew showing well as well as one of my favorite wading birds the Avocet with numerous birds showing well from the hide. Both Green and Common Sandpipers around throughout the time spent in the hide, a single Oystercatcher showed well and two House Martins as well as the same number of Stock Doves. Three Shellduck were also showing well. Finally I did notice a Leucistic Starling or rather a partly Leucistic Starling showing around to the right of the hide in a seperate pool to the main flashes.
So with the Flashes looking quiet we moved to the Moors which was equally if not even more quiet. A single Sparrowhawk flew through, The Common terns had a single chick and juv bird from the ones I noticed I guess there would be more. The main highlight for me was actually a regional rarity when it comes to breeding birds and I'm sure if any Upton regulars are reading you will know what breeding bird I am getting at. Yes of course the Shoveler a pair have raised ten ducklings and from what I have read online it is the first breeding pair in Worcestershire since 1947! Now that's a long time and it was great to see the birds with the female today looking very well grown, there was no sign of the male however.
So that's it for this week folks another post comes to a close and as I repeat every week there should be another posting next weekend if not before, don't forget to have look through the Roseate Tern post that was posted during the week if you haven't already.No pictures today, had a look through them and no to many good ones overall.
Thanks for reading and have a good week all- WMBB
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