Birds of Warwickshire, Worcestershire South
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BIRMINGHAM BIRD CLUB. NINTH ANNUAL REPORT / ON THE BIRDS OF WARWICKSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE, 1942. Is. 6d. CONTENTS. 1. MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES. 2. EDITORIAL. 3. STATUS OF GEESE IN WORCESTERSHIRE. By. A. J. HARTHAN. 4. SANDMARTIN COLONIES IN WORCESTERSHIRE. By H. J. TOOBY AND A. J. HARTHAN. 5. MIGRANTS. 6. CLASSIFIED NOTES.- 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. EDITORIAL. As in recent years, this Report is produced under difficulties due to war conditions, which include cost, economy of material, and the scattering of active Members and Associates over various parts of the world. However, it is hoped that the few who are left to carry on the work of the Bird Club will have made this Report worthwhile, and of interest to our absent members. The Financial Statement shows that a considerable sum has accrued to the Reserve Fund from Associates subscriptions. This will be most useful when it is possible to effect the reconstitution of the Club, which was postponed by the outbreak of war. It is extreemly gratifying that so many Associates have continued to support the Club in these difficult times, but the allocation of 1/6 from each of their subscriptions, when added to the balance from the Members Account, will not cover the cost of this Report, and the deficiency will be met by voluntary contributions from Members in addition to their annual subscriptions of 10/-. Delay in issuing this Report is due to printer's staff being transferred to other work. A. J. HARTHAN. NOTES ON THE STATUS OF GEESE IN WORCESTERSHIRE. By A. J. HARTHAN. The following notes are complementary to the paper on Geese in Warwickshire that was published in the Report for 1941. The Grey Lag Goose was recorded by Hastings in 1834 as being " of frequent occurrence in the winter season on our various rivers and pools." Tomes repeats this statement in his Victoria County History of 1904, but adds nothing to it. Thus, the only definite record of the species is of six birds which frequented Upper Bittell reservoir from March 23—April 5, 1929. The White Fronted Goose is found in large numbers near Berkeley in the Severn estuary during the winter months, and probably most of the grey geese that appear flying over Worcester- shire are of this species. White Fronted Geese were indentified at Bittell in January 1935 and 1939, in the Avon Valley in 1940, and flying over Sheriffs Lench near Evesham, on January 1st, 1941. The Bean Goose was included in the V.C.H. Bird List by Tomes who saw specimens that had been shot, but he gives no dates. A single bird appeared at Bittell on March 27th, 1941. , Of the Pink Footed Goose, Tomes states that, like the Bean Goose, it " was formerly fairly common in the Severn district," and adds that he "has satisfactorily determined the species." The Barnacle is included in the 1834 bird list by Hastings, and Tomes - states that it is " a rare bird in the County." Nothing further can be added for either of these species. It is probable that the 10,000 acres of Longdon Marsh near Upton-on-Severn was a haunt of wild geese in mediaeval times. The remnants of this marsh was finally drained in 1870. The Brent Goose is recorded by Tomes as appearing "in an erratic manner, and generally singly, during the winter." One frequented Upper Bittell from December 31, 1934 until January 15th, 1935. 1 Canada Goose. Some 6—8 pairs nest annually on the Lake at Hewel Grange, and one pair at Witley Court; birds from the former often frequent the Bittell reservoirs for short periods. It is probable that a few pairs of the species breed elsewhere in Worcestershire, and we shall be grateful to correspondents for information as to localities, if any. That a large number of Geese have passed through the County in recent years is evident from the following records of Geese seen flying over Sheriff's Lench near Evesham. It may be assumed that most of them were Whitefronts passing to and from their winter grounds in the Severn estuary. The very large numbers that were noted on Jan. 12, 1941, and March 1, 1942, were seen to be following the river Avon from its junction with the Severn at Tewkesbury to as far upstream as Stratford-on-Avon. If they continued along this line of flight, it is not unlikely that these Geese were on their way to the Wash on the east coast via the River Nene, which has its source within a mile of that of the river Avon. 1936. Nov. 5. 200. flying S.—N.E. 8-15 a.m. 1938. Jan. 5. 66. N.—S. 4-15 p.m. 12. 20. E.—S.W. 5-30 p.m. 1939. 15. 1. N.—S. 4-00 p.m. Nov. 30. 17. S.—N. 3-00 p.m. Dec. 15. 30. E—W. 12-5 p.m. 1940. Jan. 10. c.300. Whitefronts at Harvington. 21. 45. Whitefronts at Eckington. 1941. 1. 74. flying N.E.—S.E. 12-30 p.m. 12. c.500. S.W.— N.E. 12-30 p.m. 19. 68. N.E.—S.W. 3-00 p.m. Feb. 2. 54. W.—E. 12-5 p.m. 3. 5. W.—E. 9-00 a.m. 4. 5. E.—W. 9-00 a.m. 7. 34. E.—W. 1-00 p.m. 1942. Jan. 25. 50. W.—E. 11-00 a.m. March 1. c.500. S.W.—N.E. 12-5 p.m. 2 A SURVEY OF SANDMARTIN COLONIES IN WORCESTERSHIRE. By H. J. TOOBY AND A. J. HARTHAN. In the 1941 Report it was suggested that Members and Associates might care to investigate the distribution of the Sandmartin in the area covered by this Report. A complete census of all the breeding colonies of this bird was not expected, and although, with one exception, the notes sent in by correspondants were extremely meagre, we feel that those from Worcestershire justify the publication of this paper. Roughly two thirds of Worcestershire was searched for Sand- martin colonies, but the area around Kidderminster was not examined, although many Sandmartins were observed in that district from a passing train. It may be stated that colonies of Sandmartins are exceedingly numerous in the outcrops of Red Sandstone rock around Bridgnorth on the river Severn. It may be assumed that this place is their chief local stronghold, as the numbers of Sand- martins are much fewer on the lower reaches of the Severn covered by this paper River Section Length Colonies Banks Pairs miles right left both min. max. Severn Upton to Worcester 10 6 2 3 1 21 33 (H.J.T.) Teme Mouth to Ham Br. 15 25 8 10 7 176 280 (H.J.T.) Avon Mouth to Warwicks/ 35 3 1 in gravel pit 8 9 (A.J.H.) boundary 2 in stone walls Bromsgrove District: Apesdale, Blackwell Sandpit 40 65 (A.J.M.) (C.K.J.) Belle View Farm, Marlbrook „ 2 (A.J.M.) Sandy Lane, Wildmoor ,, 15 (A.J.M.) Nine other Sandpits visited, including Rowney Green, but no birds seen (A.J. M.) Remarks. (1) Rivers Severn and Teme. The estimated number of pairs of Sandmartins breeding along each mile of the Teme is almost 18, whereas along the Severn there are only 3 pairs per mile. It would seem that the Teme is preferred because its banks, otherwise similar, are much less stable than those of the Severn; falls in the banks occur at many places along the Teme after the Winter floods, and provide attractive sites for Sandmartins. Rows of holes were 3 noted in many places where subsidences occured in earlier years, especially near existing colonies, from which it seems clear that sites are changed whenever they become unsuitable. The colonies on the Teme, (with one or two exceptions), &re therefore in much safer and more suitable sites than those on the Severn ; the latter may also have suffered from human interferance, as most certainly have those on the lower Teme. (Close to Powick bridge, 10 out of 11 drain pipes were occupied in 1942. The four lowest were flooded out in May, but the birds returned when the water subsided. The adjacemt site in the river bank, formerly the more important, was occupied by only one pair, and they were interferred with by boys and failed to breed.) This colony is the only one on the last 3 miles of the Teme; higher up the colonies are distributed very evenly at about half a mile apart. Many consist of small groups which tend to be some 100-200 yards apart, or on opposite banks. The main concentration lies on both sides of Knightford Bridge, with an estimated population of 105 pairs on some 3 miles, or 35 pairs per mile. This includes one colony of about 44 pairs, mostly along a 200 yard stretch of bank, and another of about 26 pairs in five separate groups spaced out over half a mile. The small colonies on the Severn are spaced about one mile apart. Particulars of colonies etc. on the Teme are as follow : Pairs Colonies Groups 1—2 5 5 with an estimated total of 7 pairs 3—5 4 6 IS II 16 , 6—10 7 13 II » >i 53 ,, 11—15 5 9 II II ii 66 ,, 16—20 nil nil II 1 1 >> nil „ 20—30 3 11 1! It .. 78 „ 30 plus 1 4 II I* 44 ,, Is 25 48 264 (2) The colonies of Sandmartins along the river Avon present a marked contrast to those of the Severn and Teme.