Initially we began looking from the old center and with no sign of the bird we moved on to the next screen, and pretty much instantly we were on to the bird a nice looking Greenshank showing well on the marsh and we managed to catch up with the bird again a little later on. The hide proved to be very productive today with a lot of different species seen, a single female Shoveler was showing all morning and had stunning plumage if I say so myself! In addition to this we had Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, and Stock Dove, plus a few Pochard. There was at least 19 Cormorant throughout the morning so a big increase in them.
Today really turned out to be a migrant day for us, Bob Bunn was looking left out of the hide and shouted that he had spotted something in his bins, the bird turned out to be a stunning female WHEATEAR the bird was quick on its feet and showed reasonably well all morning with some difficulty when it went into high shrubbery. I guess the bird was on the return leg migration journey so it was nice to get a late one. When the bird appeared I phoned Alf to notify him of the bird being around and he mentioned two Spotted Flycatcher being view able from Kingfisher corner, guess where we went next!
Before moving to the flycatchers we stayed in the hide for an hour more or so and again it paid off, the Black Headed Gull flock gradually began to fly off for some reason one after the other and very slowly. I began scanning each gull as it flew and managed to catch a lovely looking MED GULL in flight, I thought that was the last we would see of the bird but just ten minutes or so later it had returned and was showing well in front of the number 8 post with the Black Headed Gulls. I reckon it's the same bird from a few weeks ago it has pretty much the same plumage so it stands a good chance that it is.
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| Record shot of the female Wheatear. |
We arrived to Kingfisher corner with two birds catching flies from the willow tree opposite the bench, at least one of them was a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER but I have to admit they were hard to get even in my bins, they seemed very jumpy and full of energy, catching flies constantly and moving quickly around the trees, they were difficult but the decent but quick view I got of one showed a good looking Spot Fly. So with the success at Sandwell we kind of fancied taking a chance on something for the afternoons birding that didn't pay off.
I read on the Chasewater Wildlife Group Twitter that 4 Grey Partridge had been seen over Cuckoo Bank, we had no idea where we were looking really so it's possible we were in the wrong area for the birds but there was no sign of them, we knew we were at Cuckoo Bank as we had asked passers by but we only managed Linnet, Sparrowhawk, and Pied Wagtail plus a tone of Goldfinch, the fields we looked in had high crops in so the birds could have been hidden in them so harder to see.
The morning was a great migrant success, I have to admit every year this happens I never manage to see Migrants in the arrival leg of the migration in Spring but always seem to see them later on in the year when they are leaving the last three years have all been the same really. Now we move into the nighttime activities #mamallifertime.
I received a call from a friend of mine John who offered a trip out to see some Water Voles at a location I am not going to be sharing on here to avoid disturbing them. We arrived on location and I have to say I was impressed, it's a quiet place but perfect for Water Voles and John had assured there was plenty of them here. We walked along and kept out eyes peeled, and sure enough one appeared about ten minutes in and showed quite well, it was the first I had ever seen so I was very pleased. Throughout the night we managed to see three Water Voles all together, one was literally right in front of us and very close, it decided to use a freeze and stay still tactic hoping we couldn't see him but of course we could. We got stunning views of another Vole on the way back it was feeding on roots and it showed very well and we could even hear it feeding which was a very strange thing to hear.
A great way to end the day, a stunning animal showing so well, it's nice to see a species that is apparently in decline from what I have heard on programs like Spring and Autumnwatch, that may be true nationwide but maybe there are still a few little pockets of nature left where these animals can survive and survive well. Anyway that's it for this week people, there should be a post next week all being well so let's see what adventures the week awaits us. Before I go I just wanted to ask who watched the recent addition to a popular Sci-fi drama made by the BBC, that goes by the name Doctor Who. I've been a massive fan since I was 8 so I love the show, and a new Doctor has stepped in and he's awesome in the part, so if you see me going on about it in the posts don't call me weird or anything I'm just obsessed with the show and have been for a long time, just thought I would get that out there! Here's a few pictures of a close up Grey Heron to end the post on taken at Sandwell Valley from the hide.
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| Grey Heron, Sandwell Valley |
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| Grey Heron, Sandwell Valley |
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| Grey Heron, Sandwell Valley |
Bank Holiday Monday- After writing this on the Sunday night I heard big news about a bird at Sandwell Valley flying through at 17:55, a GLOSSY IBIS, this is a bird I would have loved to see and add onto the valley list, I have seen one this year but nothing beats seeing a Glossy Ibis they are stunning birds, apparently it didn't stop otherwise I would probably be there looking at it now, but what a bird to be seen at Sandwell Valley, I am presuming it was the Blithfield Reservoir bird that had left that place a while before it turned up at Sandwell, I have to say well done to the spotter its a great bird to put on the Valley list!
Thanks for reading and have a good week all, enjoy the bank holiday!- WMBB
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