-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
West Midlands/Warwickshire local patches. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter senatore
- Start date
paul goode
Well-known member
kstar_76 said:I notice on todays Birdguides Birdmap that a Wryneck was spotted in Solihull - could anyone give me any info on the location as I work in Solihull and could pop down tommorrow to see if its still around? PMs welcome, this would be a lifer for me B
The location is the carpark of the National Motorcycle Museum on the M42/A45 roundabout. I got there at 6.30pm and was greeted with long faces. I was told no one who arrived after the message was put out had seen the bird or the finder.
Its a big area and even when I got there the light was fading fast, so the bird may have gone to roost. It may be worth a look in the morning, if you go good luck.
Paul
senatore
Well-known member
Went to Brandon Marsh again yesterday afternoon.Did not see the Osprey again but it had been seen in the morning.The Kingfisher(s) were showing very well again on the poles in front of the Carlton hide.
Other sites:- Yesterday a Little Egret at Fishers Mill pit
The Wryneck has been seen at the Motor Cycle Carpark on the A45 again this morning.
Max.
Other sites:- Yesterday a Little Egret at Fishers Mill pit
The Wryneck has been seen at the Motor Cycle Carpark on the A45 again this morning.
Max.
senatore
Well-known member
The Wryneck was showing well this morning (I was there between7.00 -9.00AM) in the carpark at the Motorcycle Museum.It was pretty mobile and was seen in the trees and on the ground.There is a show there today so it might go elsewhere.
I then went to the Marsh Lane reserve and had good views of the Pectoral Sandpiper from the Oak hide.
Max.
I then went to the Marsh Lane reserve and had good views of the Pectoral Sandpiper from the Oak hide.
Max.
senatore
Well-known member
Great pics Duck Pond.I know the dead tree the Osprey was on but could not get near enough to get a shot but I was able to get some in-flight shots.
Yesterday :-
Little Stint and Ruff at Draycote Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper,Common Sandpiper, Wheatear and Black Swan at Marsh Lane.
Max.
Yesterday :-
Little Stint and Ruff at Draycote Water.
Pectoral Sandpiper,Common Sandpiper, Wheatear and Black Swan at Marsh Lane.
Max.
senatore
Well-known member
Hi Duck Pond,
Sorry did not see your query re. Marsh Lane.It is just off the A452 between the Stonebridge island on the A45 and Balsall Common.As you go down the A452 from Balsall Common you will see a sign that says "lorry park" (just after one of these electrical speed signs) you turn left here and immediately right and the you will see the reserve entrance gate.You will need a permit.
Max.
Sorry did not see your query re. Marsh Lane.It is just off the A452 between the Stonebridge island on the A45 and Balsall Common.As you go down the A452 from Balsall Common you will see a sign that says "lorry park" (just after one of these electrical speed signs) you turn left here and immediately right and the you will see the reserve entrance gate.You will need a permit.
Max.
senatore
Well-known member
Went to Brandon Marsh yesterday afternoon :-
The Osprey was still there but I did not see it this time.There were 18 Snipe from the East Marsh hide (I counted 11 myself).A walk in the woods produced a Willow Tit (? Marsh Tit),loads of Longtailed Tits,a G/S Woodpecker etc.There were 2 Green Sandpipers from the Carlton hide.Yet again the Kingfishers were showing very well from the Carlton hide one even sat on the post right in front of the hide(see pic.)
Elsewhere yesterday :-
The Little Stint was again at Draycote Water.The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Marsh Lane but it may have flown off later in the day.
Max.
The Osprey was still there but I did not see it this time.There were 18 Snipe from the East Marsh hide (I counted 11 myself).A walk in the woods produced a Willow Tit (? Marsh Tit),loads of Longtailed Tits,a G/S Woodpecker etc.There were 2 Green Sandpipers from the Carlton hide.Yet again the Kingfishers were showing very well from the Carlton hide one even sat on the post right in front of the hide(see pic.)
Elsewhere yesterday :-
The Little Stint was again at Draycote Water.The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Marsh Lane but it may have flown off later in the day.
Max.
Attachments
hornet
Well-known member
Duck_Pond said:
My best advice is get there early - I always aim for 7am if possible. That way it's a lot quieter, and a lot more productive. The hide, and Tofts Shallows can be good, but if you go the other way from the visitor centre there is a mud bank (Hensborough Bank?) which can be productive for waders if the water level is low.
To be honest, the best way to get the most from the site is brace yourself for the full five mile walk - I've found decent birds along most parts of the route.
And if you've got one, don't forget a scope to check out the middle - a lot of the divers, gulls and wildfowl in winter can be hard to see with binoculars.
If you haven't found it, this site is useful for a full guided tour:
http://www.draycotebirding.co.uk/
senatore
Well-known member
Reported yesterday:-
Garganey at Sandwell valley.
6 Little Egrets at Kingsbury water park.
Osprey and Ruff at Brandon Marsh.
Med. Gull at Shustoke and Marsh Lane.
2 Ruddy Shellducks at Dostill Lake.
Reprted today:-
Little Stint at Draycote.
Hoopoe in a garden in Walsall.
Don't forget if you see or hear about anything in our area post it here.
Max.
Garganey at Sandwell valley.
6 Little Egrets at Kingsbury water park.
Osprey and Ruff at Brandon Marsh.
Med. Gull at Shustoke and Marsh Lane.
2 Ruddy Shellducks at Dostill Lake.
Reprted today:-
Little Stint at Draycote.
Hoopoe in a garden in Walsall.
Don't forget if you see or hear about anything in our area post it here.
Max.
Adey Baker
Member
senatore said:
Saw the Common Scoter at Draycote http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/109549/sort/1/cat/500/page/1
We'd gone for the Little Stint but the weather beat us to it before we re-located it (the light was starting to get gloomy before it started to rain, anyway, so a photo was probably not likely).
The Scoter was quite close in but I haven't seen any more photos/reports - has it gone?
I need advice on some birds that I have seen today and I think that this thread would be a good place to ask.
I arrived at the Village Hotel Walsall junction 10 M6 this evening at about 5.30 and noticed a flock of around 20 small birds (in the distance) that appeared to be hunting insects high in the sky.
The birds remained in a tight group and made continuous circles, it seems there was a cloud of insects, looking like a drift of smoke, that they were hunting.
I was in the hotel for about 40 mins, and when I returned to the car the birds were still circling high.
I didn't have binoculars with me. My instant thoughts were that the birds looked like a flock of starilng but the behaviour and hunting technique might suggest otherwise.
Has anybody got any thoughts as to what else these birds were?
Any advice would be appreciated.
I arrived at the Village Hotel Walsall junction 10 M6 this evening at about 5.30 and noticed a flock of around 20 small birds (in the distance) that appeared to be hunting insects high in the sky.
The birds remained in a tight group and made continuous circles, it seems there was a cloud of insects, looking like a drift of smoke, that they were hunting.
I was in the hotel for about 40 mins, and when I returned to the car the birds were still circling high.
I didn't have binoculars with me. My instant thoughts were that the birds looked like a flock of starilng but the behaviour and hunting technique might suggest otherwise.
Has anybody got any thoughts as to what else these birds were?
Any advice would be appreciated.
