RSPB Sandwell Valley, Birmingham 3
Posted 12-08-10 at 10:34 AM by alanjns
I have been in the West Midlands for my Nephew's Christening and after visiting Brandon Marsh near Coventry yesterday, I made a trip to Hamstead in Birmingham today, to visit the RSPB reserve; Sandwell Valley.
I was last here in a very cold and snowy February when building work had not long started on improving the centre and facilities. Sadly, not long after this, the centre was subject to an arson attack.
I arrived today to find only half of the building still standing, badly charred and fenced off. Reassuringly, however, was the presence of a large handful of RSPB staff and volunteers who were hard at work planting and maintaining a new pond adjacent to the visitors centre.
I was told that there are several ideas being contemplated including expanding the centre and creating a verandah-picnic area over looking one of the lakes or going upwards and adding a second storey to the building.
I spent almost 3 hours at the reserve and although it was quiet given the time of year, I did enjoy watching 6 Common Terns - 4 adults and 2 juveniles that had been bred on the reserve. They were skillfuly fishing and calling to each other noisily.
A solitary Buzzard made an appearance and sent masses of BH Gulls and Lapwing into the air and there was a pair of nesting Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile in tow.
Sightings for the day were:
Coot
Mallard
Moorhen
Tufted duck
GC Grebe
Lapwing
BH Gull
Herring Gull
Starling
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Common Tern
Reed Warbler
Buzzard
Canada geese
Mute Swan
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Teal
Great tit
Long-tailed tit
Robin
Blackbird
Wood pigeon
Blue tit
Goldfinch
I was last here in a very cold and snowy February when building work had not long started on improving the centre and facilities. Sadly, not long after this, the centre was subject to an arson attack.
I arrived today to find only half of the building still standing, badly charred and fenced off. Reassuringly, however, was the presence of a large handful of RSPB staff and volunteers who were hard at work planting and maintaining a new pond adjacent to the visitors centre.
I was told that there are several ideas being contemplated including expanding the centre and creating a verandah-picnic area over looking one of the lakes or going upwards and adding a second storey to the building.
I spent almost 3 hours at the reserve and although it was quiet given the time of year, I did enjoy watching 6 Common Terns - 4 adults and 2 juveniles that had been bred on the reserve. They were skillfuly fishing and calling to each other noisily.
A solitary Buzzard made an appearance and sent masses of BH Gulls and Lapwing into the air and there was a pair of nesting Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile in tow.
Sightings for the day were:
Coot
Mallard
Moorhen
Tufted duck
GC Grebe
Lapwing
BH Gull
Herring Gull
Starling
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Common Tern
Reed Warbler
Buzzard
Canada geese
Mute Swan
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Teal
Great tit
Long-tailed tit
Robin
Blackbird
Wood pigeon
Blue tit
Goldfinch
Total Comments 4
Comments
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A great species list for Sandwell, Alan! Sounds like you had a productive few days in the West Mids! Love the pics, especially the Tern in flight!Posted 12-08-10 at 02:10 PM by Little Sparrow
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Super Tern and Grebe images Alan,I wish the RSPB all the best with their ideas and renovations for the reserve after it's sad desecration at the hands of yobbo's!Posted 12-08-10 at 02:11 PM by Twitcheruth
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Thanks Judith and Ruth,
That old birders excuse of it ''being quiet at this time of year'' was sadly true! So the Terns were the main attraction on this visit. It was nice to watch the juveniles. I did note from my records though, that I visited almost exactly a year ago (5th August 2009 & 10th this visit) and I had Ruddy duck then!
I hope they can do something to improve security when they rebuild Ruth, it would be such a shame if this sort of thing happened again. I'm sadly not confident as I was told that a few years back there was a couple more hides which were burnt down. The existing hide is only accessible through a tall, locked iron gate.Posted 12-08-10 at 02:24 PM by alanjns
Updated 12-08-10 at 02:31 PM by alanjns -
I meant to comment about the Visitor Centre at Sandwell, Alan. The plans sound good especially the verandah/picnic area! Sadly I am not confident of the mindless people steering clear once the building is erected, CCTV should be installed there at the entrance to the reserve perhaps.Posted 12-08-10 at 09:14 PM by Little Sparrow
