This last week has seen me up in the North of England in Newcastle working with a visit to the Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, over at the Sandwell Valley Nature reserve in the Midlands, out and about on my local patch of Upton Warren in Worcestershire, out in the woods in the dark at Chaddesley Wood National Nature Reserve close to home bat detecting and over at the Jinny Ring craft centre where they now have a resident Bird of Prey Centre.
Washington Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - Tyne & Wear
The Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands reserve did indeed turn out to be exactly that as it was absolutely tipping it down with rain on my visit. During a two hour visit to the reserve I didn't see another soul around the reserve proper outside of the captive bird areas and the birds were rather sparse as well.
Apart from watching over 50 Redshank in front of the main row of hides most of my time was spent in a smaller hide overlooking the tree canopied feeders where Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Bullfinch and Long Tailed Tit were in abundance. Sometimes though it is quite nice to settle down looking out into a heavily tree covered area just watching the smaller birds flitting around and it certainly wasn't the day for spending a large amount of time walking around the reserve.
Sandwell Valley RSPB Nature Reserve
A quick visit to the Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve a couple of days later also proved to be quite quiet with just one Dunlin present, a circling Buzzard and Kestrel hovering across from the main hide and a Sparrow hawk zipping just above my head on the path during the walk back to the visitors centre and car park where it had just come from after perching on the bird feeders according to the RSPB staff.
Upton Warren Worcestershire Wildlife Trust - Local Patch
I managed to spend quite some time on my local patch this weekend spending some eight hours between the Moors and Flashes over the Saturday and Sunday. Little Grebe were in abundance with larger numbers than normally experienced with seven on the Moors on the Saturday morning and one on the Flashes. There were also large numbers of Shovler on the Moors on the Saturday. Small birds were also in abundance with Cettis showing well in the reed areas. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the Moors feeders flying off to cling to the telegraph pole to the SE of the W Hide joining a second Great Spotted Woodpecker there and providing good long views of them both. Fifteen or so Snipe were at the Flashes with small numbers of Common and Green Sandpiper.
Worcestershire Bat Group - Chaddesley Wood
Saturday night saw us joining fellow members of the Worcester Bat Group to go for a dusk till dark bat detecting session at Chaddesley Wood National Nature Reserve guided by the reserve warden. In total we spent around two hours by torch light following at times very muddy paths through the wood with Soprano and Common (55 & 45) Pipistrelle Bats, Noctule, Natterers and Daubentons bats being detected. This was our first outing with the Group since joining and it was pleasure to meet them all with some good conversation and banter.
Upton Warren Worcestershire Wildlife Trust - Local Patch
Back at Upton Warren on the Sunday saw the Little Owl perched on the farm roof and two Little Stint at the Flashes the first to be seen for some time. The pathways between the hides allowing for good views of the numerous Brown Hawkers and Common Darters that were around.
Arden Falconry - Jinny Ring
In the afternoon we took a drive over to the Jinny Ring craft centre where there is now a resident collection of birds of prey. The pens are still being constructed but six or seven Owls and Raptors are already in residence with displays being given for a very low entrance fee in a roped off area in an adjacent field three time a day.
At the moment Arden Falconry have 8 birds of prey, these being a European Eagle Owl, Bengal Eagle Owl, Kestrel Falcon, and a Harris Hawk, 2 Saker Falcons, a Peregrine cross Lanner Falcon and a Goshawk. They hope, as time goes by, they will be able to add to these birds by increasing the number of native species. They are running Falconry days and photographic days as well as the flying demonstrations.
A statement by Arden Falconry states “Our new home at the Jinney will enable us to grow, giving our birds purpose built aviaries and a large flying field without pylons or electricity wires. Our aim is to educate the public about the art of falconry, how these birds play a part in our environment, what we can do to help reduce the decline in the population of these magnificent birds but most importantly have fun in learning more about these birds”.
More information can be obtained here Arden Falconry - Jinny Ring Craft Centre
Pictured at the top of page is a Barn Owl from the Arden Falconry Centre. Picture above Seker Falcon and David Fieldon co founder with Danielle Shearsby of Arden Falconry.
Details of the Bat group can be found here Worcetershire Bat Group
Details of Chaddesley Wood can be found here Worcetsershire Wildlife Trust
Details of Washington WWT can be found here WWT Washington
Details of Sandwell Valley RSPB Reserve can be found here RSPB Sandwell Valley
My 2008 Birding Information can be found here 2008 Birding
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