Recent Sightings: Birds of the Summer Holidays

So it's getting towards the end of the quiet bird season, and that vaguely warm time of year we often refer to as 'summer'. Despite the muggy weather over the last few days, we can sniff out the first few hints of autumn, and the birds are starting to get fidgety.

The month of August, and the last few weeks of the summer holidays saw all our feathery regulars taking a bit of a break after raising this year's brood, and a visit to the hide was often a quiet and lazy affair.

Graham is one of our newer hide guides, which means you'll often see him in the lakeside viewpoint waiting to greet visitors and point out what's about. Below is a collection of his photos, taken throughout the summer, of some of the bird life you can hope to see from the hide at this time of year.

 Hi! All

It’s time to show those of you who have not visited RSPB Sandwell Valley some of the birds you could see if you come at the right time of year (as you may know birds do migrate). There are volunteers like myself who man the lakeside viewpoint (hide) and we will be happy to try to answer any questions you may have. As I have said before; we know a man that can! So why not come and spend a few quiet moments or a chat at the hide?

 

One of the many beautiful lapwings, bathing in the shallows of the lake. Photo by Graham Vernon.

Two common sandpipers have been seen regularly from the hide from the end of August. Photo by Graham Vernon.

A common tern with chick, which bred successfully on the islands. Photo by Graham Vernon.

The pictures in this blog were all taken at the lakeside viewpoint and show birds from across the summer. If you wish, why not visit the centre Nature’s Reach and speak to some lovely staff, or even, as so many people do, simply enjoy a stroll round the reserve and see where the RSPB spend the donations given every month from people who care to give nature a home.

 

One of our oystercatchers, which also successfully raised a chick this year! Photo by Graham Vernon.

Late spring and early summer is the best time to catch a glimpse of the great crested grebe's famous courtship dance. Photo by Graham Vernon.

If, like me, you are a keen photographer, then maybe I can help you or even learn something from you; either way I will look forward to seeing you!

Jenny Stevens - My Connecting People and Nature Internship

RSPB Sandwell Valley is special. Really special. It’s a little piece of green and blue heaven wedged between Birmingham, West Bromwich and motorway. I feel super lucky to have been part of this unique place, that sees the first appearances of wonderful migrant birds in the country, and also serves a hugely diverse local community; providing them with the much needed green space and tranquility every person needs to learn and enjoy and keep us happy and healthy. My internship allowed me to learn so much and make a difference at the same time, to people and wildlife alike.

My first photo of Sandwell, July 2015

Quitting a full time job for a part time, unpaid internship in your late twenties, to do something you have absolutely no experience in, is always going to be a scary (and slightly insane) thing to do. But I can honestly say it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my career and my happiness. I had no qualifications in ecology, conservation or anything related, but I knew I wanted to follow that path, so I went for the Connecting People and Nature Internship at RSPB Sandwell Valley, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. I feel genuinely blessed to have been a part of the wonderful team at Sandwell, the wider Midlands region and the RSPB as a whole. Never in my life have I experienced such support from colleagues, learnt so much in a short space of time, felt truly valued by a huge organisation, become friends with so many inspirational people of all ages and felt a passion so ignited. In this case, for wildlife and conservation.

The joy of getting my RSPB fleece from Ann!

When you become part of the RSPB, you’re not simply an extra, carrying out mundane tasks, you will be welcomed and encouraged and praised for your hard work by everyone around you. You’ll be given every opportunity to learn something new, enhance your existing skills and thrive at things you love doing. You’ll feel appreciated by, not only the incredible team at Sandwell, whom I now think of as some of my closest friends, but by everyone on every level of management throughout the region. I was amazed at how all of these people in positions of power across the region knew my name before they’d met me, and didn’t forget it! To have regional directors and area managers thanking you for the little things you’ve done, and telling you their door is always open, does a hell of a lot for moral and confidence. And the best bit is, they genuinely mean it.

Assisting with bird ringing

As if the staff weren’t enough, the brilliance of the 100+ volunteers at Sandwell will blow you away. Each and every person makes Sandwell what it is. Questions and queries will always be met with enthusiastic responses and explanations. As if these people weren’t already generous enough with their time and their knowledge - they want to share it with you too! The identification skills I’ve learnt from Pete Snipe, Colin and Alf, Andy Purcell; the new crochet tips and inspiration from Pat; train and boat routes through Europe and meandering pub walks through Gloucestershire from Terry; what masterpieces you really can create with a blackboard and chalk pen from Lauren; how the hard work of the Tuesday and Friday work parties will help terns and little ringed plovers and Peggy, the one legged oystercatcher. Considering nine months ago, I barely new my blue tit from my great tit, these people have worked miracles on me. And I’ve loved every minute. If you don’t already own a pair of binoculars, you’ll want some by the end of your first week. And Pete Snipe will probably sort you out.

Joining the Friday work party

If I had the opportunity to do the Connecting People and Nature Internship again twenty times, I would in a heart beat. If you’re wondering whether to take the plunge and follow your heart, I urge you to go for it. It’ll stand you in brilliant stead to find your career in conservation and introduce you to some amazing people and wildlife along the way. But more importantly, no matter what happens at the end of it, it’ll be nine months of your life you’ll have loved and learnt more than you could imagine.

Making a friend at Robin Corner, RSPB Middleton Lakes

Thank you Lucy, Alex, Cathy, Gretel, Paul, Nadia and every volunteer I’ve come in to contact with. You are truly amazing. Work with these inspirational and wonderful people if you get the opportunity. You’ll be a better person for it and end up admiring and loving them forever.

One of my wonderful goodbye gifts from the team.
Peggy by lovely Lucy.

And never forget, as a wise Community and Volunteer Development Officer once said to me, "the world is your oystercatcher".

Jenny, Communications and Events Officer (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) and former Connecting People and Nature Intern (RSPB Sandwell Valley).

Recent Sightings - February/March 2016

The big story so far of 2016 has undoubtedly been the very early return of a little ringed plover. First spotted on Monday 22 February, it was the first to be seen in the Midlands and possibly the whole of the UK. This is the earliest, by far, that one has reached us, normally arriving around mid March. We're pleased to say that the female has now been joined by another. Fingers crossed they make use of the new gravel pits installed by volunteers!

Another very early returning regular is our one footed oystercatcher who is back for her 8th year, along with a mate, who arrived shortly afterwards. The great crested grebes have started their courtship, while a pair of little grebes were seen on the river on Tuesday 23 February and more recently on Forge Mill Lake.

It was great to hear a redshank had been spotted from the hide on Sunday 13 March, however it has been elusive since.

Ducks include goosander, gadwall, wigeon, teal, shoveler, pochard, tufted and goldeneye. Snipe have been spotted from the hide on most days with akingfisher making the odd appearance. There have also been sightings of water rail reported, most recently on Saturday 12 March.

Various birds of prey have been spotted including buzzards, a sparrowhawk, kestrel and a peregrine from the hide.

From Nature's Reach, the bird feeders have been really busy, with lots of different birds making an appearance during National Nest Box Week. Notably, lesser redpoll feeding from the window boxes, both willow tits and marsh tits on the cage table and hanging feeders. Not to mention, 2stonechat spotted in the marsh area on Saturday 5 March.

Stay tuned for more arrivals in the coming weeks!

Jenny (Connecting People and Nature Intern)

Image credits: Little ringed plover, Ben Hall; grebe, Chris Gomersall; goldeneye, Ben Hall; stonechat, Ben Hall (all www.rspb-images.com)

'Walk It Off' New Year Guided Walk - Bird Watching for All

Despite the thundering rain right through the wee hours of this morning, we had a cracking turnout for our first monthly guided walk of the year. And thankfully the weather decided to be kind.

Expert volunteers Colin Sedgwick and Alastair Hughes-Roden guided us, whilst I happily tagged along with the visitors. We set off through the wildlife garden, seeing only a dunnock, a few woodpigeons and hearing a robin. We weren't to know the reserve had plenty more in store for us.

Teal (Andy Hay www.rspb-images.com)

We walked along the Tame, keeping keen eyes on both the river and Forge Mill Lake, and quickly the birds obliged. We had helpful hints from Colin on how to tell our teal from our shoveller and our gadwall from our goosander, with glimpses of great crested grebe and a sparrowhawk along the way. The lapwings were pretty and plentiful, as always, and we played 'Where's Wally?' with the snipe on the bank of the island. We also discovered that the rumours about Stumpy the one footed oystercatcher returning to Sandwell early this year, were true.

Oystercatcher (Tom Marshall www.rspb-images.com)

After a fantastic close up of a goosander making it's way downstream, we headed to the hide to hang out with the cormorants, being serenaded by a song thrush along the way. Along with those who'd already obliged our binoculared gaze, we were treated to a dancing grey wagtail and a kingfisher flying along the bank, most helpfully, in line with the lake's numbered posts. Not to mention, an important looking grey heron.

Kingfisher (Mike Richards www.rspb-images.com)

On returning to the visitor centre, we sipped our hot chocolate and took a seat to enjoy the bird feeder show. Great tits and blue tits, goldfinches and greenfinches, long tailed tits and coal tits, reed bunting and jays, bullfinches and chaffinches. All topped off with perhaps the cutest of them all, a willow tit.

Snipe (Tom Marshall www.rspb-images.com)

For anyone new to starting a 'bird list' for 2016 (such as myself), it was a pretty brilliant start to the year. And the knowledge and enthusiasm Colin and Alastair have is infectious, making bird watching exciting and enjoyable for adults, experts, children and even for amateurs like me.

In total, we saw 45 different species of bird along the way. Here is a list of every single one of them...

Dunnock
Robin
Magpie
Woodpigeon
Carrion crow
Black headed gull
Shoveller duck
Teal
Greenfinch
Coot
Moorhen
Gadwall
Great tit
Blue Tit
Cormorant
Grey heron
Lesser black backed gull
Great crested grebe
Sparrowhawk
Mallard
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Goosander
Pochard
Wren
Grey wagtail
Wigeon
Snipe
Tufted duck
Canada geese
Mute swan
Muscovy duck
Pied wagtail
Starling
Kingfisher
Reed bunting
Bullfinch
House sparrow
Song thrush
Chaffinch
Long tailed tit
Coal tit
Jay
Goldfinch
Willow tit

If you like to get outside and fancy knowing a bit more about the winged creatures you might see and hear, our monthly guided walks are a brilliant introduction to birds and the local area. They run from Nature's Reach visitor centre on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 10 am. It's just £3 for RSPB members and £5 if you're not a member.

Blue tit (Ben Hall www.rspb-images.com)

Our next walk, Winterwatch Walk, is coming up on Saturday 6 Feburary and you can find more details out about it HERE. 

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog and we hope to see you at Sandwell Valley soon.

Jenny Stevens (Connecting People and Nature Intern)