andythomas
Well-known member
Map reference: SP0081
This water-supply reservoir covers 46 hectares and has uninviting concrete banks surrounded by short grass. This fits in with the image give in Bill Oddie's Gone Birding of a bird-free sight. Bill spent his formative years birdwatching here, and his regular attendance actually produced a fine selection of birds, as shown in his report Birds in the Bartley Reservoir area, 1931-1962.
Despite usually being an unproductive sight, particularly in the summer, the reservoir continues to produce birds not usually seen elsewhere in the county. These often appear during hard weather due to the reservoir being much deeper than other bodies of water in the area. All three British divers have appeared in the last fifteen years, as well as Red-necked Grebe. The gull roost occasionally contains rarities such as Iceland and Glaucous Gull. Other birds which passed through in the 1990s included Fulmar, Leach's Petrel, Honey Buzzard, Stone Curlew, Great Skua, Laughing Gull, Richard's Pipit and Snow Bunting.
Location and access: The reservoir is situated in Bartley Green, four miles south west of Birmingham city centre. A lane runs close to the southern and western sides of the reservoir.
More information on the West Midland Bird Club website here.
Resident: Mallard, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.
April - September: Common waders and terns on passage, including Black. Common warblers.
October - March: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shelduck (scarce), Wigeon (scarce), Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. Roosting gulls. Passerines may include Redpoll.
This water-supply reservoir covers 46 hectares and has uninviting concrete banks surrounded by short grass. This fits in with the image give in Bill Oddie's Gone Birding of a bird-free sight. Bill spent his formative years birdwatching here, and his regular attendance actually produced a fine selection of birds, as shown in his report Birds in the Bartley Reservoir area, 1931-1962.
Despite usually being an unproductive sight, particularly in the summer, the reservoir continues to produce birds not usually seen elsewhere in the county. These often appear during hard weather due to the reservoir being much deeper than other bodies of water in the area. All three British divers have appeared in the last fifteen years, as well as Red-necked Grebe. The gull roost occasionally contains rarities such as Iceland and Glaucous Gull. Other birds which passed through in the 1990s included Fulmar, Leach's Petrel, Honey Buzzard, Stone Curlew, Great Skua, Laughing Gull, Richard's Pipit and Snow Bunting.
Location and access: The reservoir is situated in Bartley Green, four miles south west of Birmingham city centre. A lane runs close to the southern and western sides of the reservoir.
More information on the West Midland Bird Club website here.
Resident: Mallard, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.
April - September: Common waders and terns on passage, including Black. Common warblers.
October - March: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shelduck (scarce), Wigeon (scarce), Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. Roosting gulls. Passerines may include Redpoll.
