Hi everyone,
Spent this morning doing a walk around Bittell Reservoirs to see what was about. Parked on the bend of Bittell Farm Road and walked north up the bridleway to the dam. Along the bridleway I encountered several mixed flocks of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Blackbirds, Robins and a Great-spotted Woodpecker. From the dam I could see the main reservoir was mainly frozen over, with Lesser Black-backed gulls and a large number of Black-headed Gulls standing on the ice, along with a Great-Crested Grebe and a Grey Heron. Back on the public footpath to the small duck pond, which was totally unfrozen there was a surprising amount of activity. Several Coots and Mallards here, along with a Little Grebe, another Grey Heron, 2 Moorhen and 15 Goosander which departed after a while. I then followed the North Worcestershire Path and saw Chaffinch, more Tits, several hundred Black-headed Gulls and Carrion Crows in neighboring fields. Then down the A441 and along the Birmingham and Worcester Canal where Wren, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow and Kestrel were added to the list. Around a dozen Mallard were on the Canal. Back through the farmyard and onto Bittell Farm Road where I viewed the southernmost pool at Bittell to see the water level very, very low and muddy and containing Coot, Mallard, around a dozen Teal and presumably the same 15 Goosander seen earlier. 3 Shoveller, a Mute swan and around 30 Canada Geese flew overhead during my visit, too.
All in all a very nice day. Nothing spectacular but thought I would post my findings in case anyone wondered what was there. May be worth keeping an eye on that water level on the lower pool - could get quite exciting if it stays muddy!
Regards,
Steve
Spent this morning doing a walk around Bittell Reservoirs to see what was about. Parked on the bend of Bittell Farm Road and walked north up the bridleway to the dam. Along the bridleway I encountered several mixed flocks of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Blackbirds, Robins and a Great-spotted Woodpecker. From the dam I could see the main reservoir was mainly frozen over, with Lesser Black-backed gulls and a large number of Black-headed Gulls standing on the ice, along with a Great-Crested Grebe and a Grey Heron. Back on the public footpath to the small duck pond, which was totally unfrozen there was a surprising amount of activity. Several Coots and Mallards here, along with a Little Grebe, another Grey Heron, 2 Moorhen and 15 Goosander which departed after a while. I then followed the North Worcestershire Path and saw Chaffinch, more Tits, several hundred Black-headed Gulls and Carrion Crows in neighboring fields. Then down the A441 and along the Birmingham and Worcester Canal where Wren, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow and Kestrel were added to the list. Around a dozen Mallard were on the Canal. Back through the farmyard and onto Bittell Farm Road where I viewed the southernmost pool at Bittell to see the water level very, very low and muddy and containing Coot, Mallard, around a dozen Teal and presumably the same 15 Goosander seen earlier. 3 Shoveller, a Mute swan and around 30 Canada Geese flew overhead during my visit, too.
All in all a very nice day. Nothing spectacular but thought I would post my findings in case anyone wondered what was there. May be worth keeping an eye on that water level on the lower pool - could get quite exciting if it stays muddy!
Regards,
Steve