This week I managed to grab a little time to visit the Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve in Birmingham, the first time that I have been there since the main hide has been rebuilt (after being burnt down by vandals). Amazing that on what should be a peaceful reserve (and what of course is most of the time) that a hide has to be built as vandal proof with a metal swing bridge employed along with high metal gates and fencing to gain access and to deny access when the hide is closed.
I was greeted almost immediately on sitting down by the sight of a Green Woodpecker streaking along the tree line opposite the hide but apart from that it was a fairly quiet visit watching the Tufted Duck; one with 8 young formation diving under the waters surface behind her, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Little Ringed Plover.
There have also been a few visits this week to Upton Warren; the Flashes and Moors with the usual suspects around but yesterday morning and evening I was treated to some excellent close views of a Kestrel. Firstly coming back from the flashes where a Kestrel was hovering for around ten minutes over fields by the reserve entrance, and second time on the evening at the Moors where a Kestrel spent some time flying the length of the pool and along the far side before disappearing off behind the tree line to the fields beyond.
First Photo Little Ring Plover from the visit to Sandwell Vally. Second Photo Lapwing again from this last visit to Sandwell Valley.
Below photograph taken in the evening recently at Upton Warren when 10 Curlew landed just as we were leaving and the sun was setting.
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