I wasn't supposed to be visiting the farm this morning, it was a last minute decision but when the birding and wildlife is a good as it always is here then I can't go wrong.
Highlights were were seeing the usual high number of House Sparrow, the relatively high number of Yellowhammer with approximately twenty seen in the same area, observing the wonderful flight of the Skylark, the return of Swallows this year, hearing many Chiffchaff and seeing plenty of Tits and Finches. There is also evidence that the wildflower meadow is ready to burst into life, going on last years experience it should be an amazing spectacle.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Swallow, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Moorhen, Mallard and Grey Heron and Cormorant flying overhead.
It's been over two and half years since my last visit to Edgbaston Reservoir so today I remedied that and paid this wonderful venue a visit.
Highlights were seeing a good number of Swallow flying over the water, seeing and hearing plenty of House Sparrow in the areas that back onto the houses, a rare sighting of a Mistle Thrush, seeing the Coots busily building nests with two already on the nest and seeing all the flora bursting into life.
Birds seen today were, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffhcaff, Goldfinch, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Feral Pigeon, Swallow, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Canada Goose.
Then there's good news and bad news, the good being that a portion of the land has been set aside and called 'Summerfield Orchard', with twenty two apple trees planted, you can probably already guess what the bad news is, yes, six of the trees have already been broken, snapped in half or completely removed, this kind of vandalism really does wind up, a few seconds 'enjoyment' for one scumbag and the tree will never grow again thus depriving us of ever enjoying it.
Also seen in the area were the following,
Perrot's Folly.
Severn Trent Water Works Tower.
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara.
Nice visit to Plantsbrook Nature Reserve near Erdington this morning, highlights were seeing three juvenile Coot, fifteen nesting Coot, one Canada Goose making a nest and two separate pair of Mute Swan 'courtship dancing'. Also nice to see two very friendly Muscovy Ducks, sadly that will probably be their downfall though, what with inconsiderate dog walkers and the summer coming and chavs will be more evident on the longer lighter nights, there were also two other Muscovy present but they have recently 'disappeared' in the last fortnight.
Birds seen today were, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose and Canada Goose.
As you can see there's also been widespread destruction of the trees at this location, this has been done were a lot of birds tend to nest and the birds in that area have now been left with zero cover near the station where people tend to feed the birds in the bigger pool, it was once a great wooded area, now it just likes like a barren wasteland.
Great visit to Newhall Valley Country Park near Sutton Coldfield today with birds singing everywhere I went, Chiffchaff, Robin, Tits, Finches, Dunnock, Wren, Song Thrush and Blackbird were all heard as well as the unmistakable sound of a Buzzard Calling.
Highlight of the day was meeting a very friendly Robin who was very obliging in me taking photos and videos, in return it had plenty of mealworms in return from me, other than the Robin nice spots were a pair of Bullfinch, Coal Tits in a conifer tree, a fair sized flock of Long Tailed Tit as well as the sightings of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Jay.
Birds seen today were, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Jay, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Mallard and Canada Goose.
Now we've got the birding out of the way it's unfortunately time to have a moan, as you see from the above photos some trees have been cut down, well I say some trees, sadly it's huge swathes of trees, for some reason and I don't know whether it's a coincidence but they have all been chopped down in and around the pylons which in itself is not the problem, the problem is that tracks appear to have been made to and from the pylons so a large part of the wood adjacent to New Hall Hotel has been decimated and lost forever which is even more ironic when you consider this location was/is part of the Birmingham Trees For Life Project the only saving grace is that it's been done before the birds have started nesting, it's made parts of the park look terrible now all the same.
Another trip to Southfields Farm in Coleshill but with a slight twist today, I thought I'd walk the opposite way and veer off the path I normally take which was a great decision because I found a small to medium sized pool that I've never noticed walking the other way, hopefully there will be juvenile birds inhabiting it very soon.
Now spring is finally here and in full flow, the huge flocks of birds that I've seen at this location have now gone but it was still nice to Yellowhammer, Linnet and more Skylark than I've ever seen at any other site, excitingly as well as seeing and hearing them singing, hovering and parachuting back down, they were returning the same spot on the floor so they are hopefully already nesting, I must also mention the customary huge number of House Sparrow. Two of the first birds I always see when I'm out birding are Blue and Great Tit, strangely they were the very last birds I spotted today.
Birds seen today were, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Linnet, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Starling, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Mallard as well as Grey Heron and Cormorant flying overhead.
