andythomas
Well-known member
Blithfield is a 320 hectare drinking-water supply reservoir situated to the west of Abbots Bromley in south Staffordshire (map reference SK0623). It is leased to the West Midland Bird Club by South Staffordshire water plc as a bird reserve. The reservoir was opened in 1953 to supply water to the growing West Midlands conurbation.
Even before its opening the reservoir was a well known birdwatching site, due to its large size and position on the migrating routes along the Tame and Trent valleys. The West Midland Bird Club began issuing permits to visit the reservoir in 1967. The site was leased by WMBC as a reserve in the 1970s and this arrangement continues to this day.
During the winter both dabbling and diving ducks occur in their thousands, with nationally important numbers of Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes. Goosanders have been present in large numbers in recent years. There is also a large gull roost with the possibility of seeing unusual species such as Kittiwake and Mediterranean Gull.
During late summer weather conditions and water consumption often result in large areas of mud becoming exposed. This attracts numbers of migrating waders, with Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper all being annual visitors. Unusual birds turning up in autumn 2003 included Great White Egret, Little Egret, Garganey, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Pectoral, Wood and Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Little Stint and Ruff. Tern passage is also good in spring and autumn, and Ospreys pass through in most years.
The reserve is open to members of the West Midland Bird Club with “inclusive” membership. Otherwise a separate permit is required, available from West Midland Bird Club, cost £12 per annum.
Access is possible via several roads around the site, with car parking available to permit holders at both ends of the causeway, near the dam at the south end, and at the Education Centre near Stansley Wood. Permit holders may walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir. Non-permit holders are able to bird-watch from the public areas only (the causeway, the dam, and a stretch of Watery Lane).
Resident: Greated Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher.
April - September: Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, passage raptors including Osprey.
October - March: Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander.
Even before its opening the reservoir was a well known birdwatching site, due to its large size and position on the migrating routes along the Tame and Trent valleys. The West Midland Bird Club began issuing permits to visit the reservoir in 1967. The site was leased by WMBC as a reserve in the 1970s and this arrangement continues to this day.
During the winter both dabbling and diving ducks occur in their thousands, with nationally important numbers of Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes. Goosanders have been present in large numbers in recent years. There is also a large gull roost with the possibility of seeing unusual species such as Kittiwake and Mediterranean Gull.
During late summer weather conditions and water consumption often result in large areas of mud becoming exposed. This attracts numbers of migrating waders, with Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper all being annual visitors. Unusual birds turning up in autumn 2003 included Great White Egret, Little Egret, Garganey, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Pectoral, Wood and Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Little Stint and Ruff. Tern passage is also good in spring and autumn, and Ospreys pass through in most years.
The reserve is open to members of the West Midland Bird Club with “inclusive” membership. Otherwise a separate permit is required, available from West Midland Bird Club, cost £12 per annum.
Access is possible via several roads around the site, with car parking available to permit holders at both ends of the causeway, near the dam at the south end, and at the Education Centre near Stansley Wood. Permit holders may walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir. Non-permit holders are able to bird-watch from the public areas only (the causeway, the dam, and a stretch of Watery Lane).
Resident: Greated Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher.
April - September: Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, passage raptors including Osprey.
October - March: Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander.
