Bittell Reservoirs and Hopwood area (3 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

Lower - Green Sandpiper still present 2.30pm

Upper - White-fronted Goose reported at lunchtime, still present at 3.30pm, roosting along the reservoir edge. Not viewable from the dam, need to head for the footpath to the north of the reservoir.

Upper absolutely full to the brim with water. Lower showing significant amounts of wader-friendly mud.

Also a Shag present early afternoon

 

[Rob_S]

Great White Egret on Upper this afternoon. Flew off south but appeared to drop down so may well be on Lower.

Skylarks in the fields to the north, and a singing Chiffchaff along the road up to the old farm.

 

[Steve Newland]

A massive shelf of mud on the lower tank this afternoon. Let's hope it persists for migration. Only a handful of teal on it so far and an early white wagtail. In contrast the upper tank is brimful. Thankfully the paths have solidified from their quagmire state. The next few days will undo that.

 

[Rob_S]

Water levels in Lower are back to normal.

3 Sand Martin over the moorings along the canal.

 

[keithr]

DONT LAUGH........driving up from Lower/Mill Shrub to Hopwood about 6.30pm yesterday and caught a glimpse of 4 Very Large darkish birds coming into land at Upper. Very long trailing legs and necks but couldnt make out heads. Reminded me of Spoonbills....told ya not to laugh.......was anyone around to let me know if they saw anything like that or if anything around this morning ?

 

[Julie50]

Hope they were spoonies Keith!

 

[Rob_S]

DONT LAUGH........driving up from Lower/Mill Shrub to Hopwood about 6.30pm yesterday and caught a glimpse of 4 Very Large darkish birds coming into land at Upper. Very long trailing legs and necks but couldnt make out heads. Reminded me of Spoonbills....told ya not to laugh.......was anyone around to let me know if they saw anything like that or if anything around this morning ?

Plenty of Grey Heron and a single Little Egret but nothing like Spoonbill when I was at Upper briefly about 9am.

 

[keithr]

Thanks....only put it on as I saw a pic on I think a Norfolk facebook site of 4 Cranes and it looked just like the image I had in my head...lol

 

[steve_zodiac]

Thanks....only put it on as I saw a pic on I think a Norfolk facebook site of 4 Cranes and it looked just like the image I had in my head...lol

March is as good a time as any for Cranes on the move.......so you never know 🤔

 

[keithr]

Report on WEST MIDLANDS BIRDING.......

4 x Avocet at Upper Bittell Reservoir this morning

 

[keithr]

Report of an OSPREY on Upper today.

 

[keithr]

Lower around 5.45pm.......a huge flock of Swallow/Martins (??) at far end of pool. Could just about make them out like a swarm of midges...had a few come a bit closer but still miles away.

 

[Rob_S]

Lower around 5.45pm.......a huge flock of Swallow/Martins (??) at far end of pool. Could just about make them out like a swarm of midges...had a few come a bit closer but still miles away.

I had similar on Friday afternoon about 3pm, from the canal side of Lower. Watched them for 15-20 mins, hoping to find all three species, and was successful. Mostly Sand Martin, 10+ House Martin and a couple of Swallow.

 

[keithr]

Thanks...it was awesome

 

[keithr]

At least 4 LAPWING in fields around Coopers Hill, Alvechurch....aerial chasing etc.....

 

[keithr]

On the Arrow on Tuesday

 

[keithr]

Grebes on Lower and rest were at Rugby Club Ash Lane........Nice Female Linnet...will be back to try for a Male

 

[keithr]

The Mandarin Duck Male on the canal running next to Lower is hanging around with a female Mallard and 1 chick...... I have heard that she had around 10 and they have all gone apart from this one.

 

[keithr]

Loads of FIELDFARE still around in fields at the Cobley Hill / Grange Lane / Stoney Lane triangle......also Lapwing and Jackdaw.

 

[keithr]

LOWER..MIDDAY....Common Sandpiper on overflow concrete and Reed Warblers on reeds...lots of Swallow feeding low down.

A shot off back of camera