Two visits today, first off it was a birding trip around Shard End Lake where before you even got out of the car you could hear the Parakeets, they numbered in the three figures and they sure do know how to make a racket, great to see such an exotic bird making it's home in Birmingham.
There were a lot of birds on the lake where it was especially nice to see Goosander, Great Crested Grebe and a Grey Heron fishing, notable for their absence were Canada Goose, saying that there was a sizeable amount at nearby Babbs Mill.
There was sadly a lot of litter around the lake, especially by the water's edge and where the 'fishermen' sit and especially disappointing was the amount of fishing lines and hooks blatantly thrown into the trees by said 'fishermen', I haven't been here for years and it was one of the factors I was expecting and sadly I was right scumbags all of them.
Birds seen here were, Parakeet, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Starling, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Feral Pigeon, Grey Heron, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, and Mallard.
Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve.
Then it was off to Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve taking in the short walk along the River Cole where the lake was full of waterfowl and it was especially nice to see, Shoveler, Goosander, Teal, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe.
Obviously with it being so close to Shard End Lake where the Parakeet mainly roost there were a lot present here as well, mainly on the island, as were a sizeable number of Cormorant.
Birds present here were, Parakeet, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Jay, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Shoveler, Goosander, Teal, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Domestic Goose, and Canada Goose.
As per usual there was also a lot of litter here as well, again a lot of is that 'fishermen' have left behind/discarded, don't know why I'm surprised really, filthy heathens! Regardless it was nice to pay both places a visit and I'll have to make sure the length inbetween this and my next visit is not as long as the last.
