No 479 Winter 2015
Kingfisher at our Ladywalk reserve - photograph Peter Lichfield This front page is sponsored by the Birder’s Store, Worcester
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 1 24/11/2015 10:52 WMBC News Is published in March, June, September and December each year to link members with each other, what’s been happening, current issues and forthcoming events on the birding scene in our area and further afield together with a selection of your articles and a comprehensive summary of the recorded bird sightings in our area Well you’ve certainly done it again. You only need to check out the contents list below to see what a varied range of contributions we have this issue and the quality of both the writing and the photographs does you enormous credit. What you have achieved is a Newsletter by our members, for our members. WELL DONE AND A HUGE THANK YOU! If you enjoy reading these articles half as much as I did when receiving them then we are on to a winner. Let’s keep this momentum going, I am always nervous at this stage that your articles will ‘dry up’. Can you contribute to the next issue or do you know someone who could be encouraged to do so? Please get in touch at [email protected] . The membership of our club covers the whole birding spectrum and I have tried to include something for everyone but if you feel that this, your newsletter, does not address your birding interests please let me know, the more suggestions I get the better. I wish you a joyous festive season, brilliant winter birding and look forward to receiving your contributions for the spring issue. Sue
In this issue Page 3 Membership Matters - John Hoyle Pages 4-5 My Patch - Hatherton Reservoir - Sheila Barnett Page 6-9 Our Reserves -Updates from Ladywalk, Blithfield and Belvide Page 9 Stafford Branch - November meeting report Page 10 Rare Bird in Willenhall Garden - Dave Bate Pages 11-13 Our Branches - Indoor and Field Meetings Pages 14-15 The People Behind the Bird Names - Rob Swift Page 16 Some thoughts on Inner City Birding - Humphrey Miller Page 17 Black Redstart survey - Commencing 1st January 2016 - Jim Winsper Pages 18-21 Bird Notes - August to October - Humphrey Miller Pages 22-23 Spurn Trip - Saturday 3rd October 2015 - Nigel Talbot Pages 24-27 Birmingham Branch - Field Meeting Reports - Ray Davies Page 27 Staffordshire Birders’ conference - advance notice Pages 28-31 My Patch - Clayhanger - Chaz Mason Page 32-33 Patchwork Challenge - Matt Griffiths Page 34-35 Winter Birding - What to do? - Roger Broadbent Page 36-37 Book and app Reviews Page 38 And Finally - snippets of information Page 38 Officers of WMBC and their contact details
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 2 24/11/2015 10:52 Membership Matters
We are pleased to welcome the following new members of the Club, who have joined since the last list was published. Please note the names shown are as on the membership forms but that all family members at each address are included in this welcome. Mr K Morgan of TAMWORTH, Ms C Bateman of SOLIHULL, Mr B Juggins of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr D Caldicott of BIRMINGHAM, Mr L Johnson of TELFORD, Mr D Vickers of STOKE ON TRENT, Mr J Carter of TEAN, Ms L Shaw of BURTON ON TRENT, Mr S Wright of BURTON UPON TRENT, Mr B Jackson of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr P Danvers of BIRMINGHAM, Mrs V James of STAFFORD, Mr A Dickinson of STOKE ON TRENT, Mr B Roberts of SUTTON COLDFIELD, Mr J Wood of ATHERSTONE, Ms F Dematteis of BIRMINGHAM, Mr A Mellor of STOKE ON TRENT, Mr T Harborow of CANNOCK, Mrs V James of STAFFORD, Mrs P Reynolds of STAFFORD, Mr J Dunn of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr D Adams of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr P Jackson of CANNOCK, Mrs B Howe of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr G Hollyoake of TAMWORTH, Ms L Bradbury of WARWICK, Mr M Beardmore of STAFFORD, Mrs S Fowler of STONE, Mr C Ballance of STAFFORD, Miss D Robertson of STONE, Mrs B Williamson of CLIFTON CAMPVILLE, Mr C Bellingham of WOLVERHAMPTON, Mr S Hutchieson of RUGELEY, Mr J Hutchins of STOKE on TRENT, Mrs J Cooper of BREWOOD Enclosed with this newsletter is the membership renewal form for 2016 which you will need if you pay by cheque. Honorary members, members paying by standing order and those who joined the club after October 1st this year will receive their 2016 membership card automatically in January without completing the form. Members who don’t use standing order please complete the form and send it to me with a cheque made out to West Midland Bird Club. Please Note: All membership renewals are due on January 1st which gives time to process 1500 memberships before the gatecode change on March 1st. Every year there is a last minute rush in February when members realise that they haven’t renewed and will no longer be able to access their favourite reserve so be aware that if you are late renewing you may not recieve the code in time for the change. The renewal form can also be used to let me know if you have changed any of your personal details eg. address or email address or to change from cash to standing order if you would like to change to paying by this method. I would be very grateful if all members who pay by standing order would check that they are paying the correct fee (£20 for standard membership or £30 for inclusive membership). This should be the case, as our fees haven’t gone up for some time, but each January I receive some odd amounts which don’t relate to either fee and I can’t, for obvious reasons, process these. As a standing order is an agreement between you and your bank the WMBC cannot change it in any way so you need to contact your bank to change the amount. If you resign from the club and fail to notify your bank they will continue the payments until you tell them otherwise. Also please check that the reference your bank uses includes your surname and membership number to ensure that I can recognise it as your payment. John Hoyle, Membership Secretary
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 3 24/11/2015 10:52 My Patch - Hatherton Reservoir Sheila Barnett
Hatherton reservoir is on the border of Cheslyn Hay and Bridgtown in South Staffordshire. The OS is SJ979080. It has a small car park on Coppice Lane. The area is managed by Staffordshire County Council Countryside Services whose Rangers organise the Friends Group that meet every second Sunday of the month to carry out maintenance. I have been visiting the area for the last 30 years and my main role is to keep the bird box records and sightings.
The area measures 12Ha and consists of two pools one large pool and one small with a stream connecting them. The Wyrley Brook runs adjacent to the main pool and excess water is fed into the brook which then runs under the Toll Road towards Walk Mill Clay Pit.
There is a well-made path around the reservoir that forms a circular walk of about 2/3 of a mile, there are benches to sit on. A short woodland walk can be accessed from the main concrete path here where there is another bench also bird boxes, a bird table and feeders.
Originally the reservoir was known as Walkmill Reservoir and was much larger as it was used as a feeder reservoir for the Hatherton branch of the Staffordshire and Worcester canal, which was named after Lord Hatherton. Over the years a lot of the reservoir has been lost to new construction, the latest being the M6 Toll road which took away about one third of the area, the M6 Toll is adjacent to the reservoir. The reservoir was inaccessible during the construction of the Toll road but the main concrete path and woodland was still accessible.
The highest number of birds I have recorded in one year was 72 in 2012. In the last few years
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 4 24/11/2015 10:52 the numbers have been down slightly, at around 60 plus. It is home to the more common water birds, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, and Reed Buntings. Grey Herons can often be seen lurking in the reeds waiting for a juicy morsel to swim by. In Summer Reed Warblers breed amongst the reeds, Common Terns can also be seen hunting for fish.
Around the wooded areas Great Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and on occasions a Willow Tit can be seen.
Summer sees the return of Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. The area is also good for dragonflies, butterflies and wild flowers. During the winter months Redpoll and Siskin can be seen, and the occasional sighting of a Woodcock. Buzzards make a regular appearance, also Kingfishers can be seen, if you are lucky! I was fortunate to get a brief view of a Merlin in September 2014.
It’s always worth checking the nearby Hawkins sports field for Thrushes and Gulls, you can get a good view from the footpath, which leads to the Littlewood housing estate. Opposite the car park another path leads you up to the park.
A longer walk can be undertaken by going across the M6 Toll road bridge to Walk Mill Clay pit, which is an SSSI due to White clawed Crayfish been present. This pool doesn’t get many water birds on it apart from a few Coots, Moorhen, Mallard and the occasional Great crested Grebe but the wooded areas are very good in summer for Warblers, I have seen a spotted Flycatcher and Common Whitethroat there. The area provides ideal nesting habitat for woodland birds. It is adjacent to farmland and there is also a public footpath through the farmland that leads to the Chase Gate pub near to Longford Island.
Sheila Barnett
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 5 24/11/2015 10:52 Ladywalk Reserve Update Ken Bentley A flurry of activity during July and August saw work parties clearing Himalayan Balsam, strimming and clearing the islands and New Bay and clearing the spreading reeds and other invasive plants round B Pools. A JCB digger and driver was employed for two weeks during August lowering the height of two islands on the Main Pool to make them more accessible to wildfowl while we lowered the height of another island with our own tractor. The JCB was then employed on profiling and opening up areas around Bittern Hide. At one stage the JCB was nearly lost in the Main Pool and then shed both its caterpillar tracks in a deep ditch. It took almost 8 hours, considerable expertise and a great deal of effort by our farmer friend Robin and his driver Matt to extract it. The Tame Volunteers made two visits to the Reserve, on one occasion to help remove Himalayan Balsam and the other to help with the removal of willow and alder from the Reed Bed. Because of our work parties and contractor work the wild fowl numbers were on the low side but a good selection have been seen and breeding birds have had a good season. Among the success stories were two broods of Tawny Owls and one brood of Kestrels. Ringing has shown that Great Tits have fared better than Blue Tits and that our resident Cetti’s and migrant warblers have also had good seasons. Little Ringed Plovers bred for the first time producing two young who showed well and were very active, the parents chasing off intruders irrespective of size. Unfortunately they disappeared during a flash flood. Birds seen during the summer months include Peregrine Falcon, Hobby, Buzzard, Goosander, Black Tailed Godwit, Ruff, Redshank, most of the migrant warblers and even a Barn Owl.
A view over B pools from Bittern hide after clearing the reeds & Willows & improving the scrape in front. The cover photograph of a Kingfisher is in front of B Hide after the work party gave it a perch. Photographer Peter Lichfield
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 6 24/11/2015 10:52 September saw a major onslaught on the encroaching Willow and Alder on our main reed bed. We seem to have removed most of it but the edges of the marsh could still benefit from more attention. Two channels have been dug to link the Main Pool with B Pools and have proved what we suspected, that the Main Pool is about three feet higher than B pools so a sluice has been installed to avoid the Main Pool draining into B pools. Both the pools are fed by flood waters from the River Tame. However, while a highriver level will fill B Pools a major flood is required to top up the Main Pool. We already have a sluice on B Pools so when full we are able to control the level but we have no control over the Main Pool levels. So, at the moment, the Main Pool level is very low while B Pools are high. We are pondering at the moment on how to get more water into the Main Pool and to have more control over the water flooding into B Pools...... watch this space. A scheme for pollarding some of our woodland is the next work party aim and volunteers are needed. We meet on 2nd Monday of the month or see our Twitter Site @ladywalknature for up coming dates. Ken Bentley
Blithfield Reserve Update Roger Broadbent
Volunteers from the WMBC Blithfield Birders’ Group have now successfully completed the restoration of a hut in the Duckley Plantation for use for our resident bird ringer Dave Clifton. The hut was in a skeletal state before being restored with four walls, a new door and a roof! Adding to the luxury a light has also been fitted. Anyone interested in observing or developing an interest in ringing at Blithfield should contact me at [email protected]. uk
The landowner at Blithfield is the South Staffordshire Water Company with whom the Club has a birding agreement. In the past the Company have funded a number of projects either directly or by available grants to help develop Blithfield for bird watching. The Company has recently informed the Club that in future it will no longer be able to fund the hide replacement programme but will be prepared to continue to support environmental projects that will attract birds to Blithfield. Hence the installation of a tern raft is under consideration. The Club has been told that the Company has no objection to the proposal to extend the Forward Hide in Tad Bay or for the erection of a new hide on the western side of Blithe Bay. Both these projects are therefore under consideration.
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 7 24/11/2015 10:52 The Blithfield Group invites members please to enter their bird observations or comments about birding at Blithfield in the log book that is situated in the Stansley Wood Hide. Any wildfowl or counts or reports of scarce or rare birds should be sent to Staffordshire Bird News. All records are then compiled for a monthly Blithfield Bird Report for the Club’s website. Eventually those reports may be used for the WMBC Annual Bird Report. For many years the Club has conducted the monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) for the British Trust for Ornithology. For this purpose the Reservoir is zoned into three separate areas, the Deep End, Blithe Bay and Tad Bay. Depending how many members are available the survey generally takes no more than two hours. We would welcome more members to volunteer please. If you are a moderately competent birder and interested in helping, again please contact me. Finally we welcome birding groups to visit Blithfield. Some groups request a conducted tour that can be arranged by contacting the permit secretary for a Group Permit. Often some of these groups are not members and so the Club asks those non members for a £3.50 fee. Recently however some groups of friends have arrived unannounced. Again these groups are welcome but it would be appreciated if before descending on Blithfield someone could inform me that you are coming so that we can accommodate you all in the hides and give advice on parking. In case of a rare bird being found and present then an agreed Rare and Scarce Bird Plan will be put into operation with cooperation and assistance from the Company if that is available. Most of all though I trust that you will have a good birding experience at what is still a premier birding location. Roger Broadbent Leader WMBC Blithfield Birding Group Belvide Reserve Update Sue Judge
As reported previously autumn 2014 saw new scrapes created at the west end of the reserve. October 2015 saw the completion of a superb new hide which offers fantastic views over this area and the north west shoreline and also views looking east and south. It is very spacious, comfortably seating 18 people and is being enjoyed immensely by all who visit. You are reminded that there is no vehicular access to this hide which must be approached from the reserve car park a distance of approximately 1.2miles.
Green Sandpiper viewed from the new hide
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 8 24/11/2015 10:52 Views from the new hide Belvide photographs from Steve Nuttall Autumn and Winter is the time when we do our annual, habitat maintenance work, much of it done through our volunteer work parties on Sunday mornings. As always Nigel Talbot, the Belvide work party manager, has an enjoyable and rewarding work programme organised so why not come along to a volunteer work party and ‘do your bit, for your reserve’? Everybody is assured a warm welcome and tools and gloves are provided. We meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am and usually finish around 12noon when the sandwiches and binoculars often come out. The remaining dates for the 2015/16 season are December 6th, 13th and 20th, January 10th and 17th, February 7th and 14th. Any extra dates will be published on the Belvide News site - belvidenews.wordpress.com Should weather conditions force cancellation of any session this will be advised on the Belvide Birding Blogsite. The work done by work party volunteers is obvious to all who visit the reserve but the team are equally grateful to others who quietly ‘do their bit’. We have a suggestions box in the Scott hide and a slip from Sandy asked if we would repair the broom as the handle kept falling off. “A fair enough suggestion what’s your point” you might ask me. Well the reason Sandy knew the handle kept falling off was because she was using it to sweep out the hide. Needless to say the broom was repaired post haste and we hope Sandy and others will keep up the good work. It is easy to believe when you visit Belvide that the hides never need sweeping out or that no one ever drops litter but it is our unsung heros like Sandy that help give that impression and long may it continue. Sue Judge Stafford Branch November Meeting Merseybeat We enjoyed another evening with Jeff Clarke who took us round his local patch along the upper reaches of the Mersey estuary. Jeff wandered from Nature Reserve to industrial site to waste land and reclaimed sites. The reclamation of one area had not been properly completed and resulted in lagoons surrounded with tufted grass rather than a smooth meadow. This produced an amazing habitat for butterflies, moths - including five species of hawkmoth - dragonflies as well asbirds. Another site was the best in Cheshire for migration watching, winter thrushes in hundreds, wood pigeons in thousands. If you have the opportunity, go and discover another bit of birding Britain delivered in Jeff’s usual humorous style. (see Solihull Branch, January, for an opportunity to do this). David Dodd, Stafford Group Chairman9
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 9 24/11/2015 10:52 Rare bird in Willenhall Garden - Dave Bate
On Saturday 10th October, after a quiet walk around my local patch with friend and fellow birder John Smith, I reluctantly went into my garden to do a job I had been putting off for a very long time. Whilst working in the garden I could hear Goldcrests in the trees but I was not really paying them much attention because I was busy! As I was going back and forth up and down the garden I noticed a small bird fly out of the depths of the Hawthorn tree into the Leylandii trees which were just above my head. Stepping back a few feet (as the bird had come out into the open) it flew into a Willow tree 10-12 feet from where I was standing. I could not believe my eyes, it was not a Goldcrest but a Yellow-browed Warbler!!!!! The bird flew higher up into the trees so I ran into the kitchen to get my binoculars. Not believing that this could be happening in my garden I frantically searched all the trees with a pounding heart till I relocated the bird thinking “No one is going to believe I’ve got a YBW in my garden”. I needed someone else to see and confirm the bird. I rang John Smith who did not answer then rang the next nearest birdwatching mate Roger Clay. I asked where he was and when he said at home I told him to get to my house ASAP as I had a YBW in the garden. “You’re joking” he replied and within five minutes he was here. After what seemed like an absolute age we saw the bird high up in the Ash tree. “You’re right Dave it is a YBW” said Roger. As I am not on Twitter and have no means of putting this info. out I rang my birding mates at Belvide and asked if Steve Nuttall would put it on Twitter for me. Roger is a registered bird ringer and we did try unsuccessfully to net the bird! I live next door but one to the Essington and Great Wryley Canal and the bird could be viewed off the tow path. It was last seen on that day around 17.15hrs as it flew over the canal towards Sycamore trees. Over the next few days many birdwatchers came to see the bird. Some were lucky some were not. I personally saw it for three consecutive days. I believe it was last seen on Wednesday 14th October. This was truly a most amazing experience to find a bird like this in my own garden.
I would like to thank Hughie King who supplied photographs of this superb bird - Dave Bate 10
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 10 24/11/2015 10:52 Branch Meetings Indoor and Field Meetings Please note that all members and their families Sunday 10th January 2016 are welcome to join all meetings organised by Rutland Water any WMBC Branch Depart: 07:00hrs. Expected return: 18.30hrs. Cost: min £17, max £24 BIRMINGHAM BRANCH Prime inland reservoir with lagoons, marshy Branch contact: margins, fields and woodland to provide a wide Email:[email protected] range of species to start the year. The cost includes reserve entrance fee. Indoor Meetings No further Indoor Meetings are being held by Sunday 7th February 2016 the Birmingham Branch. Bretton Country Park/Old Moor RSPB Depart: 07:00hrs. Expected return: 19.00hrs. Field Meetings Cost: min £14, max £22 Coaches for these depart from Cambridge Street, The Lakes in the Dearne Valley offer birding in Birmingham City Centre, promptly at the time parkland, woodland and around lakes with a stated. Food and drink should be brought as range of winter visitors and woodland birds. Old required. Appropriate clothing and footwear to Moor RSPB, a short distance away, has potential guard against the elements is recommended. To for winter swans, wildfowl, and waders. Entrance book or for further information please contact fee for non members so bring your RSPB either Ray Davies 0121 682 4375 or 07762 061603 membership card! [email protected] or Judith Gerrard 0121 427 3779 or 07975631430 Sunday 6th March 2016 [email protected] Forest of Dean Please Note: the coach can become fully booked Depart: 07:00hrs. Expected return: 19:00hrs. (48 is possible) but non arrivals on the day can Cost: min £12, max £20 prevent those on a waiting list the chance to The regular visit to this Gloucestershire site at enjoy the day. Could members please contact the time of peak activity offering prospect of Ray or Judith, however late, if they have to cancel displaying Goshawk, finding Hawfinch, Dipper their booking. On Sunday morning ring Ray’s and Crossbill, admiring spectacular Mandarin, mobile: 07762 061603 with any late cancellations, and what chance of Great Grey Shrike again? Thank you. Friday 1st Apr 2016 Devon Weekend Sunday 6th December 2015 We will stay at the Best Western Passage Hotel at Mere Sands Wood/Marshside RSPB Kingsteignton The cost is £47.00 per person per Depart: 07:00hrs Expected return: 19:00hrs night for half board for those sharing a room and Cost: min £16, max £21 Mere Sands Wood, a £62 for singles. Payment in full for the 2 nights is new venture and our morning site, features as required by February15th - by cheque made the name suggests, habitat promising a wide out to West Midland Bird Club (WMBC) and sent range of woodland, water and open area birds. to Ray Davies at ‘140 Bradbury Road, Solihull, These are likely to include Kingfisher, Goosander West Midlands, B92 8AL’. February 15th is also and a wide range of finches. At Marshside the the latest date for bookings to be taken. Travel extensive freshwater marsh and saltflats attract by own transport to meet at 18.30hrs for dinner a wide range of wildfowl - ducks and geese - and at 19.00hrs. Centred near Kingsteignton we herons. Ever present birds of prey e.g marauding will search for local specialities and lingering Peregrine, quartering Harriers and maybe Short- wintering species, as well as the first summer eared Owl - take advantage! migrants and rarities that may be present. 11
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 11 24/11/2015 10:52 Sunday 24 April 2016 Tuesday 1st March 2016 Woolston Eyes/Marbury Country Park Chris & David Evans - An Ecuador and Depart: 08:00hrs. Expected return: 19:30hrs. Galapagos Experience. Cost: min £15, max £22 For members Chris and David this was their As ever we expect the spectacle of breeding holiday of a life time. Tonight they share their Black Necked Grebe at Woolston along with adventure with us. some migrant warblers! Marbury CP and woodlands, a new venture, offers woodland and If any member has a birding pools harbouring Lesser-spotted Woodpecker experience they would like to talk along with usual woodland and wetland birds. about, please let us know. Sunday 15 May 2016 Ynys-Hir RSPB Nature Reserve Field Meetings Depart: 07:00hrs. Expected return: 19.00hrs. While the Stafford Branch has no formal field Cost: min £14, max £22 trips arranged at present for 2015/16 the This prime attractive reserve in mid-Wales should Committee is aware that there are new members yield Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart who consider themselves as beginners or and possibly Tree Pipit and Red Kite as well as novices and who would like the opportunity to other summer migrant warblers. Coastal birds go birding with more experienced bird watchers. add to the interest. This also applies to more experienced bird watchers who may wish to come along as well to share the social chat and, maybe, excitement. STAFFORD BRANCH Some members have made contact and we are Branch Contact: 01543 490096 Email: stafford@ trying to enhance their birding experience. If you westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk would like to join in please let us know. Indoor Meetings These are held at the Perkins Sports & Social SOLIHULL BRANCH Club, Tixall Road, Stafford. ST16 3PU. Drive past Branch contact on 0121 705 8507 ‘Reception’ and follow the road to the wooden Email: [email protected] building on your left. Park on the Club site. Meet at 7.30 pm for a sharp 7.45 pm start. Indoor meetings Indoor meetings are held in the Guild House, Tuesday 1st December 2015 Knowle B93 0LN, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Emily Tabernor - The Roaches Admission: WMBC members £2.00, non- Emily, Assistant Warden at the Roaches, will bring members £2.50. us up to date with the development and wildlife Please note that access from the eastern car park at this new SWT reserve. via the churchyard is unlit and those who are not Tuesday 5th January 2016. confident about their night vision should either bring a torch or take the slightly longer route via Keith Offord - Raptorphilia the High Street. We start the year with Keith making a welcome return to guide us through the raptors of the world. Friday 4th December 2015 Jim Winsper: “Breeding Gulls and Tuesday 2nd February 2016 other birds of central Birmingham”. Mike Leach - Owls of the World Jim’s recent study of Birmingham’s gulls also Every one loves owls, so here’s a chance to hear covers the other interesting species in the city Mike talk about 86 of the world’s 136 species. centre. 12
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 12 24/11/2015 10:52 Friday 8th January 2016 out if he made it and enjoy the 1,000’s of miles Jeff Clarke: “A Night on the Tiles”. travelled from the comfort of your chair! Jeff’s first talk to us is about birds and other wildlife after dark. This talk has kindly been Wednesday 27th January 2016 sponsored by BVP Management Company Gerry Griffiths - The Rift Valley Africa Limited. Gerry, an avid birdwatcher, thoroughly enjoys sharing his love of birdwatching with others. Friday 5th February 2016 As the founder of Avian Adventures, Gerry’s Mike Lane: “A Lane around the U.K.”. enthusiasm and knowledge have helped to In this talk Mike concentrates on British birds and establish the company’s excellent reputation. A mammals. former lecturer in Field Studies, he has travelled worldwide, organizing and leading tours. Tonight Friday 4th March 2016 we are off to Africa. Mike Leach: “In Search of the Flower Kissers”. Wednesday 24th February 2016 A look at one of the world’s most iconic bird Mike Lane - A Lane in a Midlands families – the fabulous Humming-birds preceded Forest A talk about the new and little known by Branch Annual General Meeting. This talk Heart of England Forest in Warwickshire where has kindly been sponsored by Keystone Castor Mike has spent the last few years extensively Company photographing the wildlife. It is a new forest with many young trees, but also some well Field Meetings established mature woodland, lakes, rivers and We’ve dropped the winter meeting, and details shallow scrapes. An exciting Midlands habitat of the spring meetings will appear in the March that has Mike working with his favourite subjects, Newsletter. British wildlife. Wednesday 23rd March 2016 KIDDERMINSTER BRANCH Mike Wilkes - The Gambia Contacts 01562 824615 (Branch Chair, Brian Photographer Mike presents the place, the Rickett, 1 Russell Road Kidderminster) or 01384 people and especially the birds of this premier 839838 birding destination Indoor Meetings Wednesday 27th April Meetings are held at St. Oswald’s Church Centre, Mike Leach - Poles Apart off Broadwaters Drive, Kidderminster DY10 2RY Mike’s adventures have taken him along the Commencing 19.30. A charge of £2.00 per flight-path of the Arctic tern into both these person for WMBC members and £2.50 for non- extreme environments. This personal journey members is made, which includes refreshments reveals the fragile domains of polar bears, king Wednesday 16th December 2015 penguins, snowy owls, elephant seals and reindeer from both ends of the earth. Jim Almond - Jim’s Big Year The story of 2014 which saw Jim travel the Field Meetings length and breadth of the UK to seek out rarities Sunday 1st May - Rutland Water and breeding birds. There’s too may species to list here but be assured the best of the images obtained will be featured - from common Sunday 8th May - Dawn Chorus Wyre residents to amazing rarities. It was a true roller Forest coaster of a year and many of the highs and lows More details of these field meetings will be are featured. Jim’s target was 300 species - find published in the Spring Newsletter. 13
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 13 24/11/2015 10:52 The People behind the Bird Names - Rob Swift We probably take bird names for granted as we jot them down in our notebooks or on our various well kept lists, but it is easy to forget that many species of birds have names that originate from some human connection, be it the discoverer, the explorer, the scientist or just being a friend of the namer at the right time! We can also perhaps think, that birds with human name pre fixes are predominantly birds of tropical rain forests or far flung places, so it’s fairly surprising, that there are many birds closer to home, whose names emanate from some way back, human family name origin. In addition some of these people have interesting backgrounds, nationalities and occupations! Have you ever tried to reel off a list of Bird species, named after people? There are some obvious ones, but it’s not as easy as it seems and as you begin to make a quick mental list, there are sure to be a few ‘light bulb’ moments ! Below is an interesting selection of ‘person named’ species that can be seen at or have been recorded at WMBC Reserves or at other sites in the region... Cetti’s Warbler – Francesco Cetti (1726-1778) was an Italian Priest, Mathematician and Zoologist . He has the whole, mainly Asiatic Warbler Genus ‘Cettia’ named after him. The name title being applied in 1820, 42 years after his death. Photograph of Cetti’s Warbler at Belvide - Nigel Talbot
Montagu’s Harrier – Colonel George Montagu (1751- 1815) was a British, natural history writer and served as a soldier in the American civil war. He was a ‘ladies man’ and was court martialled for provocative behaviour with fellow officers wives! On his return to England he devoted his life to science and wrote many papers on bird life, including the first studies into the meaning of bird song. He died of Tetanus, after stepping on a rusty nail! The Harrier was named after him by the Linnean Society (the Carl Linnaeus classification of all living things) Temminck’s Stint – Coenraad Jacob Temminck (1778-1858) was a Dutch Ornithologist, illustrator and collector. He came from a very wealthy family - there are numerous species with the family name but interestingly Coenraad named many birds in the family specimen collection, not after himself, but after his father Jacob. The Stint was titled in 1812. Photograph of Temminck’s Stint at Belvide- Steve Nuttall.
Leach’s Storm Petrel – William Elford Leach (1790- 1836) was a British zoologist, who was employed at the British Museum, with an expertise in crustaceans. He actually found the Petrel in a collection of purchased specimens. Realising it was different, he sent it to Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French Ornithologist, for describing. Vieillot named it after Leach in 1817.
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 14 24/11/2015 10:52 Sabine’s Gull – Sir Edward Sabine (1788-1883) was an Irish Physician, astronomer and explorer who came from a military family. The Gull was named after him in 1819 by his brother Joseph, after the bird was discovered on the voyage to find the North-West passage in 1818. Sir Edward was the expedition’s astronomer, but it was his brother who wrote the description of the bird, in the paper ‘The Birds of Greenland’. Photograph of Sabine’s Gull at Belvide - Rob Swift. Baird’s Sandpiper – Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887) was a leading American zoologist who wrote a ‘Catalogue of North American Birds’ in 1858. Baird became a fiend of the famous John James Audubon, although it was Dr Elliot B Coues (of Redpoll fame) who named the Sandpiper after Baird, in response to Baird naming Grace’s Warbler after Elliot Coues sister. ( a case of I’ll rub your back if you’ll...) Franklin’s Gull – Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) was an Officer in the Royal Navy and was best known for his Arctic exploration voyages including the race to find the North-West passage, from the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean...the latter led to his disappearance in 1845. Ironically the Gull was found/ described on and named after the expedition rescue search, took place for him. Photograph of Franklin’s Gull at Gailey - Steve Nuttall. Hume’s Warbler – Allan Octavian Hume (1829-1912) was an English born poet, writer and Theosophist. He spent much of his life in India, writing extensive volumes of the bird life of the country, with a particular interest in Game birds. The Warbler was named after him in 1878. Bewick’s Swan – Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) was a famous English ornithologist, engraver and illustrator. Audubon described Bewick as a ‘son of nature’, who could recreate nature with his wood carvings. The Swan was named posthumously for Bewick in 1830 by William Yarrell. Photograph of Bewick’s Swan at Gailey - Rob Swift. Wilson’s Phalarope – Alexander Wilson (1766-1830) was a Scottish poet and satirist, the like of Robbie Burns. After release from a short spell in prison in 1794 (due to writing negative verses about employers in a labour dispute) he emigrated to North America. He studied and wrote extensively about native North American birds and became known as ‘The Father of American Ornithology’. Noted for the detail of his descriptions, he has no less than seven species named after him. (including the self named Warbler, which was recently, the second record for Britain, on the Isle of Lewis!). Photograph of Wilson’s Phalarope at Upton Warren - Rob Swift.
Rob Swift
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 15 24/11/2015 10:52 Some thoughts on inner-city birding Humphrey Miller The purpose of this article is to supplement, and support, Jim Winsper’s writings on the forthcoming Black Redstart survey (in which I look forward to participating).
The Black Redstart is, of course, a very scarce bird, and realistically even surveyors who have experience of the species and its preferred habitat may draw blank on survey visits. Nevertheless, inner-city birding visits can be very rewarding for the other species which can be found. Species are fewer in number than in rural reserves and, with a few exceptions such as Feral Pigeon and (where colonies occur) Lesser Black-backed Gull, with smaller population sizes. However, a sighting of a Grey Wagtail by a central Birmingham canal is surely more memorable than one where the bird is one of fifty or more species at a major reserve.
This was made plain to me a few years ago, at the time of the fieldwork for the 2007-11 Bird Atlas. One of my selected tetrads covered Birmingham city centre, from the Jewellery Quarter in the north to Deritend (south of the Bull Ring) in the south. I didn’t succeed in finding a Black Redstart (though another member whose place of work was within this area had the good fortune to have a pair nesting close to his office window), but there were plenty of compensating features of interest. One notable find was the discovery of a Lesser Whitethroat on passage in the cemetery adjoining Jewellery Quarter station, and other unexpected records in the course of the survey were a Skylark calling as it flew over the Jewellery Quarter and a Common Chiffchaff in a tree near Moor Street station. Other visits to the aforementioned cemetery have yielded a passage Willow Warbler and a family party of Mistle Thrushes.
Subsequently, a visit to Worcester in January this year in search (successful) of the Black Redstart which wintered on the cathedral had a bonus in the form of a close view of a fly- through Peregrine Falcon. This of course is the other iconic inner-city species, and in recent years they have bred in Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall.
You will also recall that a few years ago Jim thoroughly enjoyed himself surveying breeding Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls in Birmingham city centre.
Participation in the Black Redstart survey will be a voyage of discovery, and if we don’t search we shall not have a chance to add to our knowledge of the birdlife in our towns and cities. Please give serious thought to signing up to take part, so that fullest coverage possible can be given to finding Black Redstarts, and our knowledge of other species found in inner-city surroundings can also be increased. Humphrey Miller
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 16 24/11/2015 10:52 Black Redstart survey Commencing January 1st 2016 - Jim Winsper A joint survey involving the West Midland Bird Club and Regional BTO Finding a Black Redstart at any time of year is a memorable record, establishing that the bird is breeding or wintering in our region is an exciting prospect. As of January 1st 2016 we can make this happen on a greater scale than might normally be the case. I am sincerely hoping that the West Midland Bird Club will be well represented by a good turnout of members taking part in this survey. If just over 3% of our total membership visit a potentially suitable Black Redstart site, we can cover around 50 different locations in our region. While such a level of involvement would provide acceptable coverage, it would be an impressive effort if we can enlarge upon that figure. With a total base of 1500 members this must surely be achievable, thereby affording an effort that not only justifies the action but fully endorses our commitment to British bird study. I am extremely enthusiastic about this survey and fascinated by what might be revealed, even if we simply confirm our current understanding of the birds regional status, it will be an understanding based on a firm foundation. Please do not be put off from taking part in this survey if you consider your knowledge of the Black Redstart to be limited. This is a survey that any member can become involved in, some straightforward instructions will provide the armoury for your involvement and I will be more than happy to assist in any way or at any time that you feel will be important to you. An information and guidelines paper, together with survey instructions, are available to all those taking part or, in downloadable format from our website - visit: www. westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk - Contact me at: [email protected] or Tel: 07969649740 for further information regarding any element of this survey or to submit your sightings and findings. Good luck with your searches!
Jim Winsper
Intermediate plumage male Black Redstart Coleshill, Warwickshire 22nd September 2011 aging the bird at approximately 15 months
Photograph Dave Hutton
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 17 24/11/2015 10:52 BIRD NOTES August to October Compiled from your records by Humphrey Miller These notes cover the greater part of the seen on 9th August (it turned up subsequently autumn migration period, and are derived in Lincolnshire) and Blithfield’s long-staying from unchecked reports. My thanks to Common Crane stayed until 7th October. everyone who has submitted records. W.M.B.C. RESERVES RARITIES BELVIDE A European Bee-eater was reported from A wide range of wader species included Tittesworth on 11th August, and on the Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed (also at Gailey) next day an Alpine Swift was recorded at and Black-tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshank, Cheddleton. A Rough-legged Buzzard was Common Greenshank, Turnstone, Ruff (up recorded at Ryders’ Mere on 12th October. to eight), European Golden Plover (highest A Honey-buzzard was seen at Blithfield on count 58), Sanderling and Whimbrel. Records 6th September. Two Roseate Terns were of Black Tern included 13 on 14th August, recorded at Upton Warren on 23rd August, when four Arctic Terns also visited. Sandwich and a White-winged Black Tern was reported Terns were reported on 22nd August and from Westport Lake on 8th September. Arctic 8th September. Garganey were frequently Skuas were recorded at Draycote Water on present, with two males from 1st-24th August 28th August and Tean on 2nd September. and a female from 16th September. The A Red-backed Shrike was at Upton Warren highest count of Northern Pintail was nine. on 24th September. There was an influx of Two Common Scoters were recorded on 6th Bearded Tits in the second half of October, September and a Greater Scaup visited on 12th with five birds at Uttoxeter Quarry and October. A Marsh Harrier was seen on 12th Napton Reservoir, four at Brandon Marsh, September (photographed taking a Moorhen) two at Middleton Lakes and one at Salford and there were a few reports of Osprey and Priors. Eurasian Spoonbills were reported Red Kite. On 5th August a pair of Spotted from Middleton Lakes (three) and Croxden Flycatchers and four young were seen. Other Quarry. A Hoopoe was reported from Water passerine species included Yellow Wagtail, Orton on 26th August. Two maritime species Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, Whinchat, were a Northern Gannet over Cookley and Northern Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Cetti’s a Shag at Olton Reservoir. Yellow-browed Warbler, Brambling (18 on 31st October) and Warblers were recorded at Willenhall House Sparrow (flock of 25). Gull species and Burntwood. Great White Egrets were included Caspian and Mediterranean. A Barn reported from Aqualate Mere (three), Doxey Owl was reported on 22nd September. Marshes, Branston (both with two), Blithfield, Tittesworth, Middleton Lakes/Kingsbury BLITHFIELD Water Park/Tameside N.R., Preston Vale Two Whooper Swans were seen on 13th (Penkridge), Westwood Pool, Croome Park, October. A Garganey was reported on four Marsh Lane and Napton Reservoir. The Red- dates in August. There was an unconfirmed footed Falcon at Chatterley Whitfield was last report of a Red-breasted Merganser on 18
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 18 24/11/2015 10:52 7th October. A Northern Goshawk was been much in evidence. Green Woodpecker reported on 19th October, a Hen Harrier has, surprisingly, been absent virtually all on 2nd and 3rd September, a Marsh Harrier year, but has been seen regularly since mid- on 3rd and 9th August and a Red Kite on August. Two Grey Wagtails arrived in early 27th August and 22nd September. There September and are expected to remain until were plenty of sightings of Osprey. There the spring. Common Ravens continued to be was a count of 194 European Golden Plover seen throughout August and September. on 23rd October, and other wader species recorded included Little Ringed Plover (18 on 16th August including juveniles), Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Whimbrel (12 on 3rd August), Sanderling, Red Knot, Turnstone and Ruff. A Water Pipit was recorded on 25th October, and other passerines included Yellow Wagtail, Tree Sparrow (both with counts of 12), Willow Tit (two caught by ringers on 23rd September), Redwing - Photograph Steve Nuttall Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear and Tree and Rock Pipits. Up to four Black LADYWALK Terns were seen, and there were occasional A Grey Plover went over on 7th October, and records of Mediterranean and Caspian Gull on the same day three Black-tailed Godwits were seen. Five Ruff were reported on 2nd September. Green Sandpipers were regular, with a highest count of seven. Other wader species included Common Greenshank, Woodcock, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Common Snipe. A Tree Sparrow on 28th October was the reserve’s first for some years. At least three Cetti’s Warblers have been present. A mixed flock of 50 Siskins and Lesser Redpolls was Rock Pippit - Photograph Steve Nuttall recorded on 28th October. A Brambling was HARBORNE seen on 25th October. The latest report of Parties of Blackcaps and Blackbirds were Spotted Flycatcher was on 17th September, seen feeding up on blackberries in August, and other summer passerine species included and a different group of Blackbirds arrived Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, Northern in October. 16 Redwings on 14th October Wheatear and Lesser Whitethroat. There were the first of the autumn, and a few have was one report of Willow Tit and several of been present since. On the same date three Marsh Tit. A Northern Pintail was reported Eurasian Sparrowhawks (presumed to be a on several dates between 23rd September family grouping) were seen in a lengthy aerial and 23rd October. A Garganey visited on 9th dogfight with Magpies. On 9th September a and 10th August. The latest report of Hobby Tawny Owl was seen being mobbed in broad was on 23rd September, and there have been daylight. Eurasian Jays and Goldcrests have a few records of Peregrine Falcon. A Rose- 19
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 19 24/11/2015 10:52 ringed Parakeet was seen on 20th and 23rd Reed Warbler and Garden Warbler 19th August. The highest count of Water Rail was September. A Cetti’s Warbler was recorded seven on 28th October. A notable mammal on 11th September. A Willow Tit was seen at record (photographed) was an Otter on 13th the Whitacre Heath feeding station on 12th October. October. Garganey were recorded regularly until 14th September. SELECTED RECORDS FROM OTHER MAIN SITES PRINCIPAL RECORDS SALFORD PRIORS ELSEWHERE There was a good run of wader records in NON-PASSERINES August, with Spotted Redshank, Bar-tailed Three Whooper Swans were seen at and Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Little Chasewater on 13th October. The highest Stint, Ruff and Wood Sandpiper all being count of Pink-footed Geese was 385 at Black recorded. Four Black Terns were recorded Bank on 10th October. A Brent Goose visited on 14th August. Raptor sightings included Bartley on 31st October. There was a count Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Hobby. Five Turtle of 140 Mandarin Ducks at Brookleys Lake Doves were recorded. There were reports of on 13th October. A Greater Scaup was at Garganey on six dates in August. Passerine Draycote Water on 4th August. Up to six Red species included Whinchat, Grasshopper Grouse were seen on the North Staffordshire Warbler, Tree Pipit, White Wagtail and Moorlands. Grey Partridges were reported Common Crossbill. A Mediterranean Gull from Brandon Marsh and Wishaw. A report of was recorded on 10th August. a Common Quail at Charlecote appears in the national birding press. A Eurasian Bittern was TAME VALLEY(N.B. all records are from reported on 7th August from Hillditch Pool, Middleton Lakes unless stated otherwise) Hartlebury, with a later record at Gwen Finch Reserve. Marsh Harriers were reported from The first report of Eurasian Bittern was on ten further sites. A Hen Harrier was recorded 9th September. A Short-eared Owl was at Cuckoo Bank on 31st August. A Northern seen on 26th October. Two Barn Owls were Goshawk visited Gailey on 27th August. recorded at Kingsbury Water Park (KWP) on Ospreys were recorded at eight additional 11th September. A roost of 43 Little Egrets sites. Merlins were reported at seven further at KWP on 20th October is a site record. localities. Records of Avocet came from There were several records of Lesser Spotted Grimley and Branston. Additional sightings Woodpecker. A Marsh Harrier was recorded of Grey Plover were from Draycote Water and on 1st September and a Merlin on 31st Hindlip. Red Knot were recorded at Croxden October. There were several reports ofHobby. Quarry, Uttoxeter Quarry, Draycote Water, 300 European Golden Plover were recorded Branston and Chasewater, Another report of on 31st October, there were many reports of Sanderling came from Bittell. Further reports up to three Wood Sandpipers and ten Ruff, of Little Stint were from Upton Warren and and other wader species included Little Stint Chasewater. The first records of Jack Snipe (four, plus two at Marston), Black-tailed were from i54 and the Aston-Burston area Godwit, Red Knot, Sanderling, and Common on 17th September, with later sightings from Greenshank. Latest records of summer- Chasewater and Morton Bagot. Woodcock visiting passerines were: Spotted Flycatcher have been reported from the North 9th October, Northern Wheatear 8th October, Staffordshire Moorlands and Marsh Lane. A 20
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 20 24/11/2015 10:52 Spotted Redshank visited Marsh Lane on 8th Grasshopper Warbler reports come from September. There were sightings of Wood Lutley Wedge, Berryhill Fields and Silverdale Sandpiper at Clifton Pits between 23rd August C.P. Two Dippers were seen at Doveridge on and 1st September. A Kittiwake was seen at 31st August. Records of Ring Ouzel were Earlswood Lakes on 2nd October. Records principally from Malvern Hills (highest count of Little Gull came from Bittell and Upton five) and Bredon Hill, with other sightings Warren. Other reports of Caspian Gull are at Black Bank, Berryhill Fields, Netherton from Upton Warren, Bartley and Earlswood Hill and Cannock Chase. On 15th October Lakes. A Little Tern was at Draycote Water there was a count of 1330 Redwings over on 8th August, and four Sandwich Terns were Black Bank. The Black Redstart at Chatterley also present here on the same day: another Whitfield was last seen on 2nd August, and record of the latter species came from Priors there there were other reports from Fenny Hardwick. Common Cuckoos were reported Compton and Rugby. Pied Flycatcher has from Silverdale C.P. and Earlswood Lakes. been recorded at Berryhill Fields, Hartshill Barn Owl productivity in South Warwickshire and Sutton Park. Tree Sparrow records has been reported as disappointing, with 28 include 39 at Lower Hatton (Coven). Tree broods raising 58 young. The species has also Pipit reports include six at Rowley Hills on been reported from Chasewater, Ford Green 15th August. There have been two visible and Berryhill Fields. Short-eared Owls have migration counts in excess of 1000 Meadow been reported from 11 further localities. Pipits at Black Bank. 130 Bramblings were Wrynecks have been recorded at Berryhill counted at Cannock Chase on 29th October, Fields and Doxey Marshes. An additional and a similar number of Siskins was counted report of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker comes at Black Bank on 16th September. The highest from Shustoke. known count of Common Crossbills was 12 at Woodbury Hill. A Hawfinch was reported PASSERINES from Coney Meadow on 31st October. 1-2 In late October Great Grey Shrikes were Snow Buntings have been seen on the Malvern reported from Park Hall Country Park and Hills from 21st October. Corn Buntings have Cannock Chase. 27 Common Ravens at been reported from Cuckoo Bank, Morton Bubbenhall on 22nd October is a county Bagot and Audley. record for Warwickshire. Firecrests were reported from Draycote Water, Hewell Humphrey Miller Grange and Branston. Willow Tits have also Bird Notes been reported from Chasewater, Gailey, Any bird notes for inclusion in the next Doxey Marshes, Uttoxeter Quarry, Sandwell newsletter should be sent to Humphrey Valley and Fenny Compton. Additional Miller, 29 Dorcester Court, Dorcester Road, records of Marsh Tit come from Gailey, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 1LL by 1st Brandon Marsh and Morton Bagot. 600 Barn February, 2016 please. Swallows were counted at Fradley on 18th Please note: references to any location in September. There was a count of 100 House this newsletter are no guarantee of right of Martins at i54 on 20th August. Cetti’s Warbler entry. The appropriate permit should be has regularly been recorded at Branston and obtained or permission sought from the Doxey Marshes, and also at Marsh Lane and landowner or such authority as necessary Nuneaton. The only known record of Wood for the privilege of birdwatching on the land Warbler was at Stubber’s Green on 7th August. in question. 21
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 21 24/11/2015 10:52 Spurn trip Saturday 3rd October 2015 Nigel Talbot Spurn, as many of you will know, is Mecca for birding and has produced many rarities over the years and is a place myself and my birding pals love to visit a few times each year when conditions are favourable i.e. when winds are in an easterly direction. Spurn is controlled by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is situated 30 miles east of Hull.
On Saturday October 3rd myself and four other birding pals, Rob Swift, Steve Norton, Roger Clay, and Arthur Bladen set off on the three hour journey. On arriving at the Bluebell Cafe car park flasks were quickly out and a welcome cup of coffee was consumed to set us up for the morning session.
A quick sea watch produced Arctic Skua, Red-throated Diver, Guillemot, and many Gannets. Next we took a walk down to Kew Villa Crown and Anchor car park for a scan around the hedgerows. This area has produced many good birds for us in the past but not today. There seemed to be a distinct lack of activity with only Linnets, Goldfinches and a few other bits and bobs showing, so it was decided that we would drive the short distance to an area known as Sammy’s Point at Easington as this area nearly always produces a few goodies! And it did not disappoint with three Yellow-browed Warblers, Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A scan along the shoreline here also produced a few waders, Redshank, Turnstone, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, Sanderling, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and many Dunlin.
With the tide not due to go out until mid-day it was decided that we would return to the car and take lunch for an hour. There had been a report of a Olive-backed Pipit on the point so while waiting for the tide to recede, so that we could get to the bird, we sat and ate our sandwiches and enjoyed another coffee or two. With lunch over we started off on the long trek to the point for the Pipit, after long hard slog of over a mile we reached the area where the Pipit had been showing, an area known as Chalk Bank, but with this bird being very illusive unfortunately only myself and Rob Swift managed to get views of it. After trying hard but with no success for the other members of the gang to see the bird news arrived to say that a possible 1st winter Pied/Black-eared Wheatear had been found at Middle Camp, just a short distance down from the Pipit site, so we all quickly made our way down to the spot. Straight away we were all on the bird which gave stunning views as it worked its way back and forth along the shoreline rocks. The bird was quickly identified as a Pied Wheatear and what a stunning little bird it was and a lifer for all of us!
After all this excitement we all thought it couldn’t get any better than this but how wrong we were. We had just started the trek back when news broke that a 1st winter Citrine 22
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 22 24/11/2015 10:52 Wagtail had dropped in virtually right next to the Wheatear so a quick walk back put us straight onto this bird as well. Talk about luck this was unbelievable! With all of us enjoying these two cracking birds for over an hour we all set off back on the long walk to the car for our journey back home with a spring in our step and revelling over this great days birding! They don’t come much better than this! Nigel Talbot
Photographs Citrine Wagtail - Rob Swift Pied Wheatear - Nigel Talbot Spurn Point is one of the most striking features of Britain’s coastline, stretching for three and a half miles across the Humber Estuary. This curving spit is only 50 metres wide in places, making it look like an elongated tongue. It is made up of a series of sand and shingle banks held together by Marram grass and Seabuckthorn. There is a series of sea defence works built by the Victorians which were maintained by the Ministry of Defence, until they sold Spurn to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in the 1950s. Spurn’s environment is very fragile and is open to the ravages of the North Sea. It is an important wildlife haven for migrant birds, lizards, roe deer and numerous species of insects. Fossil hunting is popular with an abundance of fossils to be found amongst the pebbles on the beach. Spurn Point Facts Open: at all times Location: Spurn Head, south of Kilnsea, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU12 0UB. Map reference TA 419 149 Directions: Spurn is located c.30 miles east of Hull. From Easington follow the B1445 to Kilnsea. From the village of Kilnsea, the nature reserve begins on the road past the Bluebell cafe. Parking: Available at the Bluebell Cafe, Canal Scrape and there is a limited car park just beyond the reserve entrance for those less able. Strong currents and soft sand underfoot mean that it is very dangerous to enter the water on the wash over area as the high tide comes in and recedes The download section of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website gives details of Spurn tide times when not to cross.
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 23 24/11/2015 10:52 BIRMINGHAM BRANCH Field Meeting Reports - Ray Davies Frampton Marsh RSPB - Sunday 13 Sep 2015 We left Cambridge Street at 07.00hrs and after a break at A1/A605 Services just outside Peterborough. We arrived at Frampton Marsh. After a talk with the warden we set off onto the reserve. Spotted Redshank were soon found near the Centre. A Peregrine was seen to fly over scattering the Swallows. Marsh Harrier, Merlin and Hobby were also seen hunting over the reserve during the day. From the 360 hide Little Egrets were numerous and in front of a small group of them some Ruff were feeding. These were the first of many Ruff seen around the reserve. A Snipe fed at the base of a line of reeds and nearby a Water Rail was located, preening in full view for nearly 10 minutes! Another Spotted Redshank appeared in front of the next hide. A Kestrel hunted along a nearby bank and Yellow Wagtails fed at the feet of a herd of cows as we made our way to the sea wall. Beyond the cows a large flock of Wigeon grazed. On a pool just below us Black-tailed Godwit probed the water and around them were some seven Little Grebe constantly ‘whinnying’. On the saltmarsh a Wheatear was seen and unusually a Fulmar was resting on the ground - it was also likely to have been the FIRST ever record of the species at the reserve!! Further on a Wood Sandpiper had been found feeding in narrow watery channels and on some soft muddy areas - a rare opportunity to see such an attractive scarce wader close-to. Returning towards the Centre a Kingfisher flashed along a watery channel, a Yellowhammer showed on the hedgetop and a nearby pool had a large feeding group of Black-tailed Godwit and with them a Curlew Sandpiper was located! Little of note was found along the footpath beyond the Centre until we came to a plain square-shaped pool. However the birds along its edge were far from plain. Along with a Green Sandpiper and Greenshank was a Little Stint! This completed the 17 wader species seen on the day! On the water was a Common Gull and a Pintail. In a nearby bush a Corn Bunting sat for a while. A little further on two Little Owls sat out on a pile of concrete rubble which finished the day’s birding very pleasingly. Gibraltar Point Lincolnshire - Sunday 11 Oct 2015
Record shot of Rustic Bunting from Andy Hartley. 24
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 24 24/11/2015 10:52 We left at 07.00hrs with 34 members on a bright morning with an Easterly wind forecast which could promise a productive migration time. We arrived with the news that a Rustic Bunting had been seen! We set off hopefully but initial searches around the wooded area were fruitless apart for one member who saw a bird she didn’t recognise. A little later the Rustic Bunting was located along a nearby path and the initial observer was among the lucky few who saw the bird! It soon took refuge in a nearby hedge and despite a lengthy wait it did not show again. Searches were also made for Yellow Browed Warbler but they were fruitless however many Goldcrests and one Firecrest were found in the process! Around the pools waders included Ruff, Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. Two lonely Pink-footed Geese seen with some Greylags were soon supplemented when a huge flock flew in and landed noisily on the pool in front of us. Searching the skies yielded a massive flock of Golden Plover, a Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. A single Wheatear was seen briefly and a Stonechat showed in front of the hide. Redwings with a few Fieldfare flew in on the wind and among Chaffinches a Brambling was located feeding on berries.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover fed on exposed muddy banks by the sea with the now inevitable Little Egret. A flight of Brent Geese flew in and out to sea Gannet were found. Near the Observatory, where earlier a few were shown a Firecrest ‘in the hand’ after it had been netted, a Great Grey Shrike used bare branched trees as lookout posts as it searched for a tasty morsel! Back at the coach, just before we were to leave, a Black Redstart was found to end a most productive day during which the group had recorded some 74 species with one EXTREME rarity! Norfolk Weekend - Friday 30 Oct 2015 29 members met at the Le Srange Arms in Old Hunstanton on Friday looking forward to the 2015 Norfolk Weekend. Before breakfast on Saturday the ‘early birds’ looked over a misty sea with birds of note being Gannet, Common Scoter, Little Egret and parties of Knot flying past and a Slavonian Grebe on the sea. Birmingahm Branch members on Cley Beach - photograph Ray Davies
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 25 24/11/2015 10:52 After breakfast we met up on Cley beach hoping for Divers and less common grebes with no luck. A Stonechat showed close by in rough grass and a walk along the shingle found many Skylark, Goldfinch and Linnet feeding on seedheads with a Wheatear perching on nearby fenceposts. From the screen looking into the Cley reserve regular wildfowl were visible as silhouettes against the sun! In a nearby channel the first surprise of the day was mammal not bird - an Otter searched for food as it swam from the far end to finish just below us! Record shot of the Otter - photograph David Wood
A Water Rail flew across the channel to give us some birding interest! For the afternoon we met up at Burnham Overy Staithe and searched for birds from the coastal path. Grey and Ringed Plover were on the exposed tidal mud and in the channel Red-breasted Mergansers foraged. A little Grebe was in the freshwater channel and just beyond in a muddy field was a small covey of Grey Partridge and Egyptian Geese fed in a field. Looking over fields towards Holkham freshmarsh we searched for raptors. However the search surprisingly found a party of White-fronted Geese! Four perched Buzzards were studied hoping one might be Rough-legged - a few of us visited Titchwell at lunchtime and were rewarded with sighting of Rough-legged Buzzard! As the mist rolled in eerily across the fields - very apt on Halloween - we returned to base. Although it was misty on Sunday the pre-brakfast watch was more successful with two Bewick’s Swans and the Slavonian Grebe on the sea. The Rough-legged Buzzard we’d been hoping for flew over our heads being harassed by a Sparrowhawk! Long-tailed Tits and a Reed Bunting added to the interest as the mist rolled in again. After breakfast we went to Holme beach where the sun soon burnt off the mist. Apart from a newly arrived party of Brambling showing briefly in the dunes there was little small bird interest along the beach. However roosting Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Greenshank and active Sanderling improved things until sightings of two hunting Short-eared Owls raised our spirits. At Thornham Kingfisher and Rock Pipit were found and a female Marsh Harrier roosted on the saltmarsh. At Titchwell we were soon watching a Water Pipit feeding along a weedy channel and a large mixed group of Bewick’s and Whooper Swans on the freshwater lagoon - they were to fly off later - Welney bound maybe? Along with masses of Golden Plover were a few Dunlin and Avocets. From Parrinder hide another Water Pipit was found near to where Common Snipe fed. Soon after a Jack Snipe emerged from weed cover to feed by the Snipe to give excellent views and comparison with its larger relative. Heading for the beach we sought the reason why all the Brent Geese flew up and soon found an overflying male Hen Harrier!! Many Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea and the usual range of waders fed among the rocks. As dusk approached many Marsh Harriers came to 26
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 26 24/11/2015 10:52 roost in the reedbed and two Barn Owls hunted over it to end a most successful weekend with 102 species being recorded by the group.
A record shot from Ray Davies showing the size comparison and bill length of the Jack and Common Snipe
I personally joined the Birmingham Branch for their recent Norfolk weekend (despite not knowing anyone) and would like to thank Ray, the group leader, for his superb organisation, the branch members for their wonderfully warm welcome and company, not to mention the brilliant birding and I know that they would welcome you on their next away weekend or any of their monthly coach meets. The dictionary definition of a club isan organisation of people with a common purpose or interest, who meet regularly and take part in shared activities. Based on my experience may I encourage you to take advantage of the upcoming oportunities available in our club. Our Stafford branch have an made an offer to beginners or novices who would like the opportunity to go birding with more experienced bird watchers. and this also applies to more experienced bird watchers who may wish to go along as well to share the social chat and, maybe, excitement. Our Solihull, Kidderminster and Stafford branches all have a super programme of indoor meets planned for the upcoming season and the camaraderie on our reserves has to be experienced to be belived.
An advance date for your diaries BIRDERS’ CONFERENCE Connecting Birders Across Staffordshire Saturday, March 5th, 2016 at Oulton Village Hall 10am-3pm This multi agency day conference is being organised by Geoff Sales and confirmed presentations include (in alphabetical order) BTO rep; Brewood Ringers; RSPB Staffordshire Reserves; Staffordshire Bird News; Staffordshire County Recorder and WMBC with others still to confirm. International award winning wildlife film maker, Peter Durnall, will also be giving a 30minute presentation. The day will conclude with a Q&A session and there will also be plenty of time for networking during the lunch break (self catering). This is a non profit making event but a small attendance charge of approxiamtely £5 will be made to cover tea and coffee and costs (eg room hire). Further information will be posted on the Staffordshire Bird News blog and the Belvide News Blog and also from Geoff at [email protected] 27
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 27 24/11/2015 10:52 My Patch - Clayhanger Chaz Mason ‘Clayhanger’ – a name that has been occurring a bit more frequently in birding circles in recent years I’m glad to say.
Once upon a time this name would have only meant something to the more literary minded as the name of a trilogy of books written by the Potteries author Arnold Bennet (a few older readers may even remember a television adaptation many years ago)? As far as I know, this literary connection is just a coincidence although as a Staffordshire lad it’s not impossible that Bennet may have come across the name on a map or some-such at some point during his life?
No, until recent years Clayhanger Village and the post-industrial Marsh behind it were only likely to have been familiar to the inhabitants of Brownhills and Pelsall, two mining towns that were evicted from Staffordshire and into the West Midlands during the early nineteen seventies. The first birder I am aware of who saw the potential of the site was Graham Evans, a name now more readily associated with Chasewater but Graham put in plenty of time during his formative years working the site as his own local patch and some of the earliest references to the site in West Midland Bird Club records can be attributed to Graham.
I have been familiar with the site since the mid-seventies (when I used to drive trains through it) and in fact twitched my very first pair of Garganey there. The site today is very different from what it was then and the bird species occurring have greatly increased in abundance and variety as a result of developments that have been undertaken to extract the shallow coal deposits that surfaced near Ryders Hayes. As well as the post-industrial Marsh (now a S.S.S.I.) we also have an extensive lake with two islands that supports one of the largest gull colonies in the county as well as a breeding pair of Oystercatcher that have raised a good number of Black-Country bred offspring over the years. In fact one of the things that make the site exceptional as a local patch is the range of habitats that can be found when just doing a circuit of the site. Urban fringe, marsh, lake, farmland, island, woodland, set-aside, all contribute their own particular species to the site list. Add to this some very scarce and local plant species and a good range of butterflies, dragonflies and crickets and any visit can become something of an adventure for those with an interest in wildlife.
Like most sites, Clayhanger and the neighbouring Ryders Mere are really only well known to those birders who have put their time in and worked the sites on a regular basis and as with many local patches, they have only become more widely known when there has been something special to see. Despite this there are an increasing number of birders and photographers beginning to pay the marsh more regular attention as a result of which the sites status (and species list) has been increasing in recent years.
For anyone wishing to make a significant contribution to our understanding of breeding and 28
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 28 24/11/2015 10:52 passage birds Clayhanger is a great place to start. At the time of writing the species list currently stands at a modest 187 confirmed (full) species but there are still a number of comparatively common birds that have yet to be recorded on site and many more that must have gone under- recorded due to the minimal coverage that the site still receives throughout the year.
Our understanding of the site’s role in relation to its neighbours (Chasewater, Brownhills Common and Stubbers Green) is only now beginning to be appreciated. We know that when activity at Chasewater causes disturbance, or when cold weather freezes smaller areas of water locally the Marsh and Mere become a refuge for displaced birds but it is also a stopping off point for many birds on spring and autumn migration. Wading birds sometimes roost overnight, occasionally in significant numbers (how does 42 Black Tailed Godwit on one occasion grab you?) but also many of the passerine species that breed on Cannock Chase and beyond can often be found. The autumn of 2015 saw impressive numbers of passage Redstart and Whinchat as well as other notable species such a Tree Pipit and the site has always had a reputation as a good place to look for spring migrants such as Ring Ouzel and Garganey. Most common species of Warbler breed although Grasshopper Warbler is unpredictable, sometimes establishing several territories and in other years none at all.
High Water and the new estate
The development of the site has also had some negative effects, a visitor travelling through time from nineteen eighty would not only be surprised at the changes in the sites appearance but 29
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 29 24/11/2015 10:52 would also wonder where the Ruddy Duck, Partridge, Corn Buntings, Yellow Wagtails and Golden Plover have gone? The national decline of species such as Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail is well known but despite this the site still occasionally gets Yellow Wagtail on Passage. The Marsh still held a modest breeding population of Grey Partridge until the late noughties but if these still remain they are present only in single figures and are very mobile, now rarely being seen on site. Red Legged Partridge had all but disappeared and as a species was suspected of being extinct locally until a few birds were encountered on the fringe of the site during 2015, a resurgence that seemed to be reflected in other local sites during the same period. But of all these loses, Golden Plover are the bird that I probably miss the most, large parties sometimes amounting to several hundred birds used to regularly fly in during the winter to roost with Lapwing on the farmland but sadly not anymore. I suspect that the change to more intensive farming practices has probably been the main reason for this decline.
But what about the Twitchers birds, the rarities and semi-rarities that might be found on a visit at the right time of year? Birds of truly national significance such as the Bufflehead in 2004 are very rare but in a regional context the site has hosted some impressive species including Hoopoe, Wryneck and two Black Winged Stilt in recent years. Semi-rarities such as Quail, Spotted Crake, Black Necked Grebe, Divers and also pelagic birds such as Gannet and Common Scoter have all been recorded. In fact I suspect that If the occurrence of scarce and rare birds were to be put on a graph with site coverage as a factor on one of the axis, the ratio of birds found to actual site coverage would be a comparatively good one and it makes you wonder just how many birds do go through unrecorded compared to the number that are actually found?
View North to Pit Mound
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 30 24/11/2015 10:53 Sunset A few years ago one local patch birder decided that it might be a good idea to embrace technology and put the results of his regular visits online through a local blog. This idiot did not know what a rod he was making for his back. The Clayhanger Marsh Log was originally intended to raise the profile of the site with established birders, letting them know when something of interest was present, but within a year it had become apparent that everyone and his dog (quite literally in many cases) was using the blog to find out when there was something of interest to be seen. I would like to think that this online profile has made some kind of contribution to raising awareness of the site and exposing its potential but also its value and vulnerability as something to be cherished and protected by local residents.
The chap who does the blog is not a bad-sort really, he may be grumpy and anti-social but is always willing to answer any questions or give help to anyone wishing to visit the Marsh or Mere and his e-mail is openly available to anyone who feels so inclined. I suspect that he would also like to take the opportunity of thanking everyone who has actively contributed to the blog over the years, particularly those who take time out of their busy days to collate and pass on their records and photographs. I (sorry – he) wouldn’t be able to do it without such supportive individuals. If you would like to know more, check out the blog at clayhangermarshlog. blogspot.com or just put Clayhanger Marsh into your search engine as it is usually the first thing that comes up. Better than that though, why not pay a visit? A full circuit of the site will normally take about one and a half hours but there are some stiles to be negotiated and heavy- duty footwear is recommended in winter months. Give it a try, if nothing else you should enjoy a good day of birding and you never know, you might be able to make a more significant contribution to the site list (and there are not that many sites locally where you can say that with such confidence). Chaz Mason
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 31 24/11/2015 10:53 Patchwork Challenge Matt Griffiths
Some birders visit various sites across a region or the country to find birds. Others confine their birding to looking at what visits their garden. Twitchers travel to see birds found by other birders. I would argue that the most rewarding form of birding is patch-birding, that is visiting a local patch to observe birds - preferably regularly! Nothing beats finding a rare bird in an area which you’ve put a lot of time and effort in checking, especially if it’s a lifer or a new completely unexpected species for the patch. But it’s also really interesting and enjoyable seeing how bird species and numbers change with the seasons and over the years, following the fortunes of individual birds and families, and building up a detailed knowledge of the birds and habitats of a local area. If the patch is close to home, fuel costs and travel time will be much less than trips further afield. By visiting regularly, you could accrue quite an impressive list of species, perhaps a lot more than you’d initially expect? When I started visiting my patch as a newish birder, I’d never have guessed that eight years later I’d be on 155 species!
A local patch can be any piece of habitat that’s not too far from home. Areas with an expanse of water, such as reservoirs, gravel pits or wetland nature reserves are most favoured by patch-birders in the midlands, as these tend to attract the greatest variety of species. Hills, river valleys, farmland under stewardship schemes, parks, scrubland and large woods are other good bets for finding something unusual, but anywhere with some decent habitat should do.
If you’ve found a local patch or already have one, perhaps you’d like to take part in Patchwork Challenge (PWC) next year? It’s a competition to find as many species on a patch as possible, competing against other patch-birders and, if you participate over multiple years, yourself. A scoring system is used which factors in each bird’s rarity and (for the scarcer species) whether they were self-found or twitched. The scores are based on the Birdguides rarity categories, which gives every species on the BOU British list a rarity value – common, local, scarce, rare and mega – so each species is worth 1-5 points. For species worth 3 or more points that were found by the competitor, double points are awarded. So, for example, a Great White Egret on patch would be worth 3 points if you twitched it, or 6 points if you found it, and a Firecrest would provide 2 points regardless of who found it. To make patches more comparable with each other, each contestant’s final score is compared to their scores for previous years to represent how good their year has been on their patch. So at the end of their second year of taking part, the final score is presented as a percentage of the previous year’s score, and in subsequent years as a percentage of the average of the previous two years’ scores. To make things simple, the PWC organisers have provided a downloadable spreadsheet that automatically calculates the scores for each bird name that the competitor types in.
The rules are pretty simple too: • Each patch must be no larger than 3 km square. It can be any shape as long as it is joined together; it doesn’t have to be rectangular or comply with any OS grid lines. A link to a mapping tool is on the PWC blog to help competitors work out the size/boundaries of their patch. • All birds seen or heard in or from a patch can be counted. So, for instance, heard-only birds, fly- overs, birds observed being flushed from the patch whilst the contestant approaches the site, and distant birds seen outside the patch area whilst the contestant is standing in it can all be added to the scores. 32
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 32 24/11/2015 10:53 Patches are grouped into “minileagues” based on geographical location, and there is also a league for green birding (no use of motorised transport) and another for Next Generation Birders members (birders aged 13-25 years old). Of most relevance to us is the Midlands minileague, which includes the WMBC region plus surrounding counties. A total of 12 patches within the Club’s area have taken part this year, and the most recent results at the time of writing are as follows, these being for September:
Position Name Patch Species Points % Comp 1 Neil Duggan Salford Priors GP 125 145 - - 2 Kevin Clements Clayhanger and Ryders 121 128 - - Mere 3 Matt Griffiths Earlswood 113 124 91.176 136 4 Richard Harbird Morton Bagot 109 113 88.281 128 5 Matt Bruce ‘The Puddle’ 101 104 - 6 Matt Bruce Draycote 94 101 64.744 156 7 Laurie Ison Grimley 95 96 - - 8 Mike Wakeman North Redditch 81 84 - - 9 Lee Taylor Salford Priors GP 75 78 - - 10 Rob Williams Upton Warren 73 78 93.976 83 11 Mark Peacock Blakedown 68 70 - - 12 David Nicholls Cookley & Caunsell 53 54 - -
Top highlights for me at Earlswood so far this year have included a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull and a Cetti’s Warbler, both of which are the first records for the lakes, and a Caspian Gull and a Hawfinch, these latter two being firsts for me personally on patch. A very fine supporting cast has included visits by Shelduck, Mandarin Duck, Pintail, Little Egret, Peregrine, Dunlin, Redshank, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black Tern, Arctic Tern, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest and Spotted Flycatcher, plus two broods of Tufted Duck successfully raised. I’ve missed at least 10 species so far though, although there’s still time for me to grip back a few!
There have been many other good finds by the other competitors in our region, perhaps the rarest being a Rough-legged Buzzard over Ryders Mere seen by Gareth and Kevin Clements. Fingers crossed someone will find a jaw-dropping twitchable mega one of these days – back in 2013, a competitor in Nottingham found a Pied Wheatear which came second in votes for the best PWC find for that year; admittedly it wasn’t in our region but it was far inland!
PWC provides patch-birders with further encouragement to go out and find more birds. It’s a hub for birders who all share the same love of birds and patch-watching, and it could add even more enjoyment to your own birding experience.
For further information or to sign up for next year’s competition, please visit the PWC blog – http:// patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk PWC is also on Twitter (@PatchBirding) and Facebook. Email: [email protected] Matt Griffiths 33
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 33 24/11/2015 10:53 Winter Birding-What to do ? Roger Broadbent
Roger, leader of the WMBC Blithfield Birding Group, gives us his perspective on what the upcoming season has to offer us. Birding in winter in our region invariably means that watching gulls either at a well known roost site such as at Bartley Green, Chasewater, Belvide or even Blithfield will figure at sometime during December. Only the very dedicated will participate in this specialist area more than occasionally. The biggest roosts building up often in the week before the Christmas holiday. In mid month it is not possible to see much before 8.00am or after 4.00pm so there is not always the chance to travel too far. This gives us perhaps the opportunity to watch and count birds on our local patches or even in our gardens. Back at the open water sites it is not satisfactory for me anymore to just report that I have seen numbers of Wigeon,Tufted Ducks or Goldeneyes for example it has become an obsession to have to count and report how many there are. This contributes to the science of birding. In these days with the threat of ever spreading urbanisation and developments such as HS2 it is important to record the totals of birds around sites that you know well and may be under threat. Additionally you might even consider participating in the monthly BTO Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS). If the weather is uninviting this might be a good time to make sure that your records for the old year are sent to county recorders. The preferred method these days seems to be online via BTO Birdtrack. You might also consider your plans for the coming year and follow the various information services where the scarce birds are likely to linger into the New Year. This is important if you are considering compiling a new year list. One growing activity more likely to be suited to a local patch is compiling a Christmas or Boxing Day list perhaps as the excesses of the festive period are being worked off. Christmas Day birding is mainly an activity in lands across the Atlantic but seems to be a growing activity here too. Another growing exercise is to try and see as many species in January as possible. I will continuing to monitor the Goosander roost in Tad Bay at dusk which can be a spectacle from November into January especially if the smaller lakes freeze. I suspect that most active Midland birdwatchers will be visiting at least one reservoir or gravel pit in the winter period perhaps looking for a Smew, Long tailed Duck or one of the scarcer grebes. In January many like to get their New year lists off to a great start and get to where December’s goodies are still hanging on. Lingering Divers will often stay from December into January. So why not do a grand tour of as many local Reservoirs and other known hotspots as you can? Many will be up at the crack of dawn or before to get that list rolling. I have a more laid back approach these days and might manage an afternoon trip to Blithfield or the Chase once the hangover has diminished. Blithfield has produced a Green-winged Teal in recent years and Bramblings and Waxwings are often around the Chase area. Others might prefer 34
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 34 24/11/2015 10:53 Hanchurch Woods near Newcastle under Lyme or various sites in North Worcestershire in the Clent Hills area. Chasewater usually has good mid-winter birds such as Great Northern Diver or perhaps Slavonian Grebe. Draycote should always be a consideration for those that are close to there. It, together with Chasewater, is still a premier spot for white winged Gulls and more latterly Caspians and Yellow legged. There may also be a chance of more Bearded Tits lurking in waterside vegetation. If there is a ‘mega’ around the country then by all means go for it. In times gone by I have been known to travel to Pembrokeshire for a Cattle Egret on New Year’s Day, they were much rarer thirty years ago! I have also spent a very wet Jan 1st in Dorset for a Little Bustard sometime in the distant past. Hume’s Yellow browed Warbler is on my New Year’s Day list for Aberdeen. Where better to spend a few days birding in early January than Bonny Scotland? January though is always best in our region if there is a freeze up so anywhere with open water should not be ignored. Cold frosty mornings are best for water rails and even Bitterns. Never forget to feed the birds that visit your garden. Look out for Redwings; Fieldfares; Siskins; Lesser Redpolls or even Waxwings. Dusky and Black Throated Thrushes were both found by garden birdwatchers. I can recommend the weekly BTO Garden Birdwatch or the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. I do both. Sewage treatment plants often seem to have their own mini climates and some will regularly harbour a wintering warbler such as a Chiffchaff. Faraday Road near Ladywalk Reserve is also a good place to look. There are other sites around South Worcestershire. Gravel Pits invariably are worth inspection for there is always a chance of one of the scarcer grebes or perhaps a Smew, Long tailed Duck or even a diver. Rivers and streams may also pay host to Green Sandpipers. Be careful if you screech to a halt to go through any large gathering of Mute Swans on arable land to check if they have attracted a family of Whooper or Bewick’s Swans. If however you find birding in the UK in winter is not for you why not consider a trip south perhaps to foreign parts? For some the Southern Hemisphere might beckon. In early February not much changes usually from January except it is perhaps worth noting the first singing Mistle Thrushes; Dunnocks; Skylarks and Chaffinches in your area. As the month progresses some species tend to be on the move. At Blithfield we will be looking for the first returning Oystercatcher and Shelducks. Further south there is always a chance for a Sand Martin in the last few February days. As daylight hours increase it is now possible to consider a trip further afield maybe for a long weekend. Norfolk in mid-February can be a good place to visit with lots of geese still present and Snow Buntings at Salthouse. The Horsey area is always a good place to finish with Hen Harriers; Cranes; Bitterns; Merlins and much more on offer . Dawn birdwatching is easier at this time of year. It can always be rewarding for the first two daylight hours are best but remember to wrap up! Alternatively I can also recommend a trip to South Devon. The Exe Estuary area was full of birds with huge flocks of Avocets, Black tailed Godwits and Wigeon last February. Whatever you do I hope that you enjoy your winter days out and have a bird filled 2016 ! Roger Broadbent 35
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 35 24/11/2015 10:53 Book Review A detailed examination of the meaning of Briitish bird names - common formal and scientific. Plus interesting facts, tales and myths. An intriguing and fascinationg read
How to order
As an E-Book” Download from Amazon Kindle store; Apple I bookstore: Kobo; Nook.
As a Printed Book: Amazon Bookstore - search for British bird names;
From the Author 01404 813127 [email protected]
It’s that time of year when non birders with a birder to buy a present for seek out a book which is destined to be put on the shelf where it will remain for years unwanted and unopened. How fortunate you would be therefore if your favourite aunt presented you instead with this new book by Geoff Green which explores the interesting and intriguing world of the meaning of and the stories behind the names of 231 of our British birds. From old English names and local names to the breakdown of the latin classification by Carl Von Linne of Linnaeous fame, this book delves into it all. The names are broken down to enable the reader to see where the classification came from and how it was observed in the birds behaviour or appearance. Mis-named birds are identified showing how our increased knowledge of birds has guided us to more accurate names.
Many names are linked to myths and tales, often establishing the characteristics we attribute to birds, so many of these are referred to. Included are Greek and Roman myths as well as much British folklore and superstition revealing many fantasies that prevailed for centuries. References to birds in literature abound and some of these are quoted to make a specific point.
One key observation about birds is the way they flock. As a result humans use collective nouns for birds. These are given in the book, often providing another insight into the nature of the bird. Alongside this analysis of the names of birds, the book adds many facts and figures giving a greater insight into the bird’s life. The interesting facts range from a description of their breeding behaviour, migratory feats, feeding habits, song, physiology and detail of their often extraordinary senses.
At the end of the book there is an excellent index to enable facts to be refound easily.
I found this book fascinating, informative and thoroughly enjoyable and have no hesitation in recommending it as a fine addition to the library of anyone with an interest in birds at any level. I shall not be adding it to my bookshelf any time soon because it will live on my bedside table, that is unless a certain person purloins it for his! Sue Judge 36
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 36 24/11/2015 10:53 The Little Book of Garden Bird Song by Andrea Pinnington
Published by Fine Feather Press Ltd. at £12.99 ISBN: 9781908489258
Overview - An enchanting introduction to 12 of the most common garden birds, with 12 simple sound buttons. A great book for families to share, with beautiful photographs included. The high quality sound module has replaceable batteries. Have you ever wondered where the next generation of bird watchers will come from? If you agree that we owe it to the younger generation to introduce them to the magic that is birding then read on. If the Little book of Garden Bird Songs doesn’t fascinate and delight young and not so young alike I will eat my binoculars. It has a general introduction to 12 of our common birds (Dunnock; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Robin; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Wren; Blackbird; Chaffinch; Blackcap; Song Thrush and Carrion Crow) in words that a child can understand but won’t patronise an adult. The name is given in English and Latin and details include where it is found, what it eats, where it nests, how many eggs it lays and how males and females differ followed by great did you know facts and as if that isn’t enough this is a sound book. Printed on nice thick board each bird has a button which when pressed gives their song. Being able to identify just a handful of garden bird songs is a skill that will stay with you for the rest of your life and could light a spark that can be nurtured - so if you thought you were too old for a sound book think again. Stop Press: On Newsletter publication day this book was available from Wordery at £8.61 inc. delivery Order by 14.00GMT on 17th December for Christmas Delivery. Surely what the ipad was invented for I bumped into an old friend this week who is an expert ornthologist but as he tends to bird on his own and hadn’t been to the bird fair recently didn’t realise that the Collins Bird Guide was available as an app. Currently only compatible with iphone, ipad and ipod touch it is available from the Apple app store for £13.49 It has everything that the book version has and is quick and easy to use but the real bonus is that it includes all the bird calls and songs. If you are like my friend you may wish to Google ‘Collins bird Guide app review’ to read what Bird Guides have to say. Personally I would not be without it. Sue 37
88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 37 24/11/2015 10:53 And Finally Blythe Valley Countryside Park - The Solihull Branch welcomes Mark Rickus to the nestbox monitoring team.
Suggestions - The officers of the club welcome suggestions and feedback from the mebership regarding any aspect of our club. Please send them to the most appropriate officer or, if in doubt to Mark, our Secretary who will pass them on.
Next Issue - The Spring issue of your newsletter will go to press by 1st March 2016 and should be on your door mats by mid-March. Please send your contributions to the editor by 1st February at the latest. Anything received after this cut off date will be held over until the Summer issue.
WMBC Officers Membership Secretary - John Hoyle, President - W.E. Oddie O.B.E. 16 Brendan Close, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 3EF Vice Presidents - F.C. Gribble M.B.E. Email: [email protected] A.J. Richards, G.R. Harrison Annual Report Editor - D.W. Emley, 23 Leacroft, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8GF Chairman - Kevin Clements, Email: [email protected] 26 Hambrook Close, Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, WV6 0XA Newsletter Editor - Sue Judge Email: [email protected] 3 Fennel Close, Cheslyn Hay, WS6 7DZ Email: [email protected] Deputy Chairman - Position Vacant Enquiries regarding advertising in this Honorary Secretary - Mark Rickus, publication should be addressed to the Editor. 27 Ringmere Avenue, Castle Bromwich B36 9AT Email: [email protected] Small ads of direct benefit to members and ‘for sale’ items from members will be normally be Press Officer - As Honorary Secretary included free of charge, space permitting. Email: [email protected] Permits Secretary - As Honorary Secretary The WMBC is a Registered Charity (number Email: [email protected] 213311), serving birdwatchers, ornithologists and all who have an interest in the birds of Honorary Treasurer - A. Thomas Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and 24 Awbridge Road, Dudley, West Midlands, the West Midlands Counties. DY2 0JA Website - westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk Email: [email protected] Twitter account @WestMidBirdClub
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88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 38 24/11/2015 10:53 88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 39 24/11/2015 10:53 88791 WMBC Dec Booklet.indd 40 24/11/2015 10:53