THE WEST MIDLAND BIRD REPORT 1969 No. 36 A nesting Woodcock photographed by R. J. C. Blewitt Front cover—a Marsh Warbler at the nest photographed by S. C. Porter Price Seven Shillings and Sixpence THE WEST MIDLAND BIRD REPORT No. 36 BEING THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WEST MIDLANDS BIRD CLUB FOR 1969 ON THE BIRDS OF WARWICKSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE CONTENTS Page OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 3 EDITOR'S REPORT 3 SECRETARY'S REPORT 4 TREASURER'S REPORT 7 FIELD MEETINGS REPORT 8 RINGING SECRETARY'S REPORT 8 CANNOCK CHASE TIT NEST BOX STUDY . 10 VERTEBRATE FOOD OF THE TAWNY OWL IN MIXED FARMLAND 13 MOVEMENTS OF THRUSHES TO AND FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS 15 CLASSIFIED NOTES 25 RECOVERIES IN 1969 OF BIRDS RINGED IN THE WMBC AREA 70 RECOVERIES IN WMBC AREA OF BIRDS RINGED ELSEWHERE 72 ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF MIGRANTS 73 KEY TO CONTRIBUTORS 78 FINANCIAL STATEMENT . 80 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE. 1970 President: THE LORD HURCOMB, G.C.B., K.B.E. Vicc-Presidents: A. J. HARTHAN, Dovers Cottage, Weston Subedge, Chipping Camden. C. A. NORRIS, Clent House, Clent, Worcester- shire. Chaimian: A. T. CLAY,' Ardenshaw,' Gentleman's Lane, UJIenhall, Warwickshire. Secretary: A. J. RICHARDS, 1 St. Asaph's Avenue, Studley, Warwickshire. Editor: J. LORD, ' Orduna,' 155 Tamworth Road, Sutton Cold- field. Treasurer: K. H. THOMAS, ' Beechcroft,' 34 Froxmere Close, Crowle, Worcester WR7 4AP. Field Meetings Secretary: A. F. JACOBS, 46 Bernard Road, Birmingham 17. Assistant Secretary: J. SEARS, 21 Lynbrook Close, Hollywood, Worcestershire. Ringing Secretary: E. J. PRATLEY, 54 Welford Road, Sutton Cold- field. Conservation Secretary: G. C. LAMBOURNE, Cottage Farm, Ipsley, Redditch. Branch Representatives: Kidderminster: L. R. BAYES, 23 Woodland Avenue, Sweet- pool Lane, West Hagley, Worcestershire. Stafford: F. C. GRIBBLE, 22 Rickerscote Avenue, Rickerscote, Staffordshire. Committee: A. R. M. Blake, R. J. C. Blewitt, G. H. Green, J. A. Hardman, G. R. Harrison, R. Maskew. EDITOR'S REPORT The new reservoir at Draycote in Warwickshire continued to fill during the year and is now making a substantial contribution to the county bird records. Records of White-winged Black Terns at Alvecote and West- wood and of a Whiskered Tern at Belvide continued last year's visit of another scarce tern. The Westwood and Belvide records were first occurrences for Worcestershire and Staffordshire respec- tively. In addition a Common Tern nested at Bodymoor Heath, the first record for Warwickshire. Amongst other noteworthy occurrences were: Red-necked Grebes at Draycote and Belvide; Manx Shearwaters at Gailey (alive) and at Belvide (dead); Red-crested Pochard at Packington; 3 White-eyed Pochard at Sambourn; Long-tailed Ducks at Alvecotc and Blithfield, the former the first summer record for the Club; Velvet Scoter at Bodymoor Heath; 27 Shelducks at Cannock Reservoir, the largest party in the Club's records; Brent Geese at Brandon; a surprising visit of 110 Grey Plovers to Belvide; Purple Sandpiper at Cannock Reservoir; Avocet at Upton Warren; Arctic Skua at Bclvide; G.re.y Phalarope at Bodymoor Heath; and Water-pipits at Cannock Reservoir and Belvide. That the occurrence of two Woodlarks at Weeford was regarded as news illustrates the continued scarcity of this species in the region and there were no records of divers at any of the reservoirs. It was the best ever year for Curlew-Sandpipers and the worst ever for Whitethroats. The section on the Whitethroat makes aston- ishing reading and leads to speculation on the cause of the catas- trophe. The most bizarre breeding record was that of a Herring-Gull at Bromsgrove and two pairs of Black Redstarts nested in Birming- ham. The failure to clinch a breeding record of the Oystercatcher at Draycote was frustrating and the chance is unlikely to recur now the temporary islands are submerged. A Black-headed Gull colony discovered near Gnosall was a rare event for Staffordshire. With the publication of the Atlas of Breeding Birds of the West Midlands it is hoped members will be encouraged to fill in the gaps revealed in our knowledge of the distribution of breeding species. With our membership now in excess of 1,000 the resources are available for an increased coverage of the region. J. LORD. SECRETARY'S REPORT Indoor Meetings In 1969 eight indoor meetings were arranged and all these were held in the Art Gallery; once again we are indebted to the Museum authorities for the most excellent facilities made available to us. Our thanks are also due to Mr. Hanney, Keeper of The Natural History Department and his staff for their assistance in preparing displays and for the use of specimens from the museum collection. The Sub-Committee set up to arrange the year's meetings again provided a varied selection of entertaining and informative evenings which certainly found considerable favour with members, for, excepting the AGM of a year ago each meeting attracted between 200 and 400 members. I would like to remind members of the full programme which began in January with Mr. D. J. Munns whetting our appetites for far away places with a delightfully illustrated talk on the Galapagos Islands. At the February meeting we welcomed Geoffrey Boswell who with great humour and suitably accompanied by sound recordings dealt with the subject of bird language. ' Birds of a Reservoir' was the title of the April meeting when Mr. 4 S. C. Brown showed us some of bis magnificent photographic bird studies. In May Dr. E. A. R. Ennion was our visiting speaker who told us all about bird changes in Tenerife most ably supported with his own distinctive style of illustration. The R.S.P.B. films ' Sea Swallows,' ' Snowy Owls in Shetland ' and' Operation Osprey ' attracted a capacity audience at the October meeting and set the pattern for a most successful winter session. In excess of 300 members listened with keen interest to Mr. Peter Hope-Jones as he described the birds of the coasts, woods and moun- tains of North Wales at our November meeting and to complete a most successful year over 200 members braved the elements of early December not wishing to miss the opportunity to see some of Mr. S. C. Porter's outstanding coloured slides depicting the birds of Suffolk. 1,000th Member 1969 was a notable year for the Club in several ways and certainly an event of major importance was the enrolment of our 1,000th member. This year is also our fortieth anniversary and it is perhaps fitting we can mark the occasion with such an achievement. I certainly hope it does not take 40 years to enrol our next 1,000 members and I dare to suggest we may reach 2,000 long before our 50th anniversary. Junior Membership At an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday, 7th October, approval was given for a change in the rules which allowed junior members to be enrolled at.the age of 12 instead of 14. The question of junior membership has long been the concern of the committee and several meetings have dealt with what is a most difficult problem for, while it is our wish to encourage the younger member, the facilities and energy which must be devoted towards such an end are not readily available. The geography of our area also precludes the sort of activity which is basically needed to maintain interest at the minimum age group level, but bearing these things in mind a sub-committee set up to settle a policy on this matter recommended that the age at which junior members be accepted be reduced to 12. It is of interest to note that in recent years the number of junior members has hardly exceeded 5 % of the total membership which is an extremely low level. We hope, however, junior membership will increase and whether we will be able to encourage younger members to stay and become senior members, only time will tell. Bulletins A further milestone in the Club's history was the publication of our 200th bulletin in November. It is twenty years since Mr. 5 C. A. Norris introduced the Club's first bulletin which has been issued at regular intervals .ever since. During 1969 bulletins were published in every month of the year except June, August and September and most ran to three pages and several to four. The number of contributors was up on last year (as is to be expected with increased membership) an average of 41 members sending in material for each issue. The main function of the bulletin remains unchanged in that it serves to inform members of club events and activities and of course keep members up-to-date with bird news in the three counties. Blilhfiekl Reservoir The second full year of the birdwatching permit scheme at Blithfield supplied further evidence if any was needed that the arrangement introduced in 1967 was soundly based and with the continued help and co-operation of The South Staffordshire Water- works Company enabled 164 permit holders and a number of organised parties to enjoy the unrivalled facilities during 1969 at this most ornithologically important reservoir. Belvide and Galley Reservoirs During the year under review over 100 permits were issued for birdwatching at Belvide and Gailey which was further demonstra- tion of the continued popularity of these waters. The future of Belvide and Gailey reservoirs as undisturbed haunts for wildfowl has been a matter of concern for some time with the pressures of yachting interests clouding their ornithological future. At the end of 1969 it was announced that boating was to commence at Gailey with the future of Belvide still to be decided. However, there is great hope that Belvide will remain a haven for birds and it is to be hoped at next year's AGM such a report can be made.