Middleton Lakes

Jubilee Wetland almost finished......

2013-05-21T13:04:00Z

A new wetland landscape is now clearly visible, where just a few weeks ago was a mini-mountain range of soil mounds. Our contractors, Miles Waterscapes, are now finishing off the final details of the land-forming before we let nature take over. They have had to battle against extreme winter weather conditions, including several floods, to compete the project on time, and we are grateful to them for their excellent commitment to the project.

At the moment, it’s hard to see all the detailed work that has gone into shaping this area into a “lifeline for lapwings”. This will be gradually revealed over coming few weeks and months – as the water levels rise and the whole area greens up with grass and wildflowers.

Once the diggers have left, we will finish re-seeding the grassland areas and erect fencing ready for grazing. The fence will also be electrified during the nesting season, to deter predators and giving the ground nesting birds an extra helping hand.

As birds flock into the new habitats it will be exciting to see which areas they use. Yesterday (Monday 20^th May) a pair of courting redshank, very eager to use the new wetland, landed just metres from RSPB staff, and inspected a new pool!

Views across the wetlands will be enhanced by the creation of a couple of screened view points over looking two new shallow lagoons. Work is also progressing on the new Lookout Hide overlooking our northern lagoon; this will be ready for opening later in the summer.

Good views across the Jubilee Wetland can be obtained from the path along the western side of the wetlands. We are starting to re-open footpaths, but the full northern loop of the wetland trail is not yet passable.

Watch this space for further news.

Mike

Mike Pollard
West Midlands Area Reserves Manager

Dawn chorus at Middleton Lakes

2013-05-14T11:13:00Z

We had some enquiries about our recent annual Dawn Chorus. For those who couldn't be here for 4.30am to watch the first light and to hear the huge burst of early morning bird song, here are some notes from Peter, our volunteer guide for the morning.....

Dawn Chorus Walk Sunday 5^th May.

The Weather was fine and dry – hardly a cloud in the sky, but still a little cool for the start of May, with evidence of overnight frost on the ground.

Overall I have to say that we had fewer numbers, and fewer species, singing this year compared to 2012. The continuing cold weather was clearly still having a significant impact on migrant arrivals.

From the Car Park we had singing Robin, Song Thrush and Blackbird, and as I did the introductions, I was accompanied by a male Cuckoo – not to far distant beyond the farm.

As we progressed down the Bridlepath we experienced the full crescendo of the dawn chorus, and it was difficult to pick out individual species.

Of the commoner birds, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch all performed well, as did Dunnock, and the later rising Wren, once the sun came up.

Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed several times in the woodland – but no evidence of Lesser Spotted. We also had a couple of “Yaffles” from a Green Woodpecker.

Warbler song was disappointing – with the exception of Blackcap and Sedge Warbler, which were singing well and in reasonable numbers in their respective habitats, but most of the others were very poor compared with 2012.

Blackcap – good numbers in all suitable habitat – the most prolific singing warbler of the morning.

Sedge Warbler – heard singing in all the expected places – second only to Blackcap.

Chiffchaff – very disappointing only a couple heard along the whole of the bridlepath.

Willow Warbler – just a single singing male to the right of the entrance to the main reserve near where the path crosses the stream.

Whitethroat – one or two only, on the main reserve, plus one on the Children’s Adventure Area.

Lesser Whitethroat – A single singing male, in the area bordered by the path down to the river and the stream to the right.

Cetti’s Warbler – A single bird was heard – very briefly – near where the woodland walk path exits onto the Bridleway near the canal.

Of other singing and non-singing birds –

Reed Buntings performed well, I think everyone went away confident of identifying their song when heard again.

The Herons were very active, but the Rookery was uncharacteristically quiet.

Swallow numbers were low for early May – and we had no sightings of Sand Martin, House Martin or Swift.

Black-headed Gulls were noisy, but in relatively low numbers, mainly due to the continuing high water level on the Fishers Mill Pool – with most of the islands still under water.

In summary - a most enjoyable Dawn Chorus – but both the overall numbers of singing birds, and number of species seen/heard were down on 2012.

Wildlife sightings for April 2013

2013-05-05T12:56:00Z

This a monthly summary, so if you want more recent nature sightings, please click on the recent sightings tag on the RSPB Middleton Lakes web page.

The month started cold, so this was the new spring, warmth came with no wind and temperatures of 12C, cloudy days and some drizzle. No heavy April showers – just a few drops of rain. There were a few warm days with temperatures to 20C

Construction is continuing with sometimes 5 diggers, weekdays and weekends, as the completion date gets closer. It's going to be mid-May now. Areas of the new central wetlands were finished and there was some wild grass sowing done. The few spells of rain helped to keep the seeds moist for germination. Our fingers are crossed. There are some penstock sluices to go in. The new north-end lookout hut in being constructed. The Environmental Agency (mini hill) bund area has been cleared ready for the flood protection embankment creation.

Heronry: birds flying about, sentinels on top of the trees, one or two with hesitant flying, losing balance on the branch ends. Were these early young – they were all grey, no dark patches, perhaps first breeding seasoners, or last year young watching for a few tips,

2 adults in nest – parents and young being fed, sounds of young calling.

Our volunteer heron surveyors have counted 30 active nests, but the cold weather and snow-frozen waters has caused a number of casualties with active nest numbers (down to 20-25) and chicks. However, we are optimistic that there maybe second brood attempts in the current warmer weather. We have been seeing birds with nesting material and hearing a few begging chicks.

Several adults birds were seen in and around the silt pool, others searching around the play meadow pools and even in the horse grazing field ditches.

Elsewhere

The highlights were the bearded tit and black-necked grebe at Dosthill for a few days.

There were chiffchaff calling, chaffinch chasing, dunnock arguing, mallard under the feeders, first blackcap heard on the 12th and a cuckoo heard on the 20th.

Great crested grebe pairs were mooching about, their courtship done.

Wetland trail also had arctic tern, avocet, bearded tit (Dosthill), common sandpiper (north-end and Dosthill), bittern, blackcap, black-necked grebe (Dosthill), black-tailed godwit, cormorant, dunlin, gadwall, goldeneye, goosander, grasshopper warbler (19th), green sandpiper, grey partridge, hen harrier, house martin, herring gull, jack snipe, kestrel, kingfisher, lapwing, lesser whitethroat (by the stone bridge on the way to the cow meadow), little egret, little ringed plover, long-tailed duck (Dosthill), marsh harrier, meadow pipit, oystercatcher, pied wagtail, red kite, redshank, reed bunting, reed warbler (19th), ringed plover, sand martin, sedge warbler (17th), shelduck, shoveler, snipe, swallow (8th), swift (26th), teal, wheatear, whimbrel, woodcock, yellow wagtail.

Meadow trail had green woodpecker, linnet, redwing, skylark, snipe.

Play meadow, car park, woodland edge trail (and canal) had blackbird, blackcap (first heard on the 12th), bullfinch, buzzard, Cetti's warbler (around the bridleway silt pool), chiffchaff, cuckoo (on the 20th), dunnock, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, jay (feeding along the bridleway), little egret (in the heronry), long-tailed tit, mallard (with young on the brook), redpoll, redwing, song thrush, sparrowhawk, water rail (under the feeders), whitethroat, willow warbler, wren.

Amphibians: Frogs, toads were making the most of the warmer days and meeting by the pond dipping area (play meadow) or the living willow screen (Fishers Mill lake). There were common newts under the refugia mats.

Butterflies: brimstone, comma, green-veined white, orange tip, peacock, small white.

Mammals: Muntjac, fox and hare were seen.

Flowers, trees and shrubs: Trees in bud: ash, birch, hazel, horse chestnut, oak, sycamore, willow (sallow). Blackthorn in flower and hawthorn in leaf. Bluebells (24th) and cuckooflower came into flower at the end of month. Colt's-foot, greater stitchwort, lesser celandine, sweet violet, white dead nettle, wood anenome were in flower.

With a great thank you to everyone for your nature sightings – keep them coming in. You can use the car-park sightings board, phone or email. Contact details are on the maps – a copy of which can be downloaded from the RSPB Middleton Lakes internet page and also available in the car-park.

Compiled by Nigel Palmer

Woodpecker gymnastics again

2013-05-04T11:20:00Z

The great spotted woodpecker feeding station dance - the climb and slide, followed by the climb and twist - has started again.

Great spottie was seen to climb a feeder support branch, looked to see if a feeder port was free – yes – so she slid down the branch, then flew to another support branch.

She then climbed and twisted to eat from a seed port. Feeding and twisting lasted several minutes.

Thanks to Nigel for these pictures.

.... Climb and look busy....

..... then twist and feed ..... repeat as many times as you can.

The goldfinch is not bothered.

International Dawn Chorus Day approaches

2013-05-03T15:05:00Z

The first Sunday in May is the day we hope for fine weather in the Northern Hemisphere.

This is the day when people get up and visit their local nature reserve for a 4.30am start of an extraordinary experience.

From March, through to April and then into May, the early morning sounds of birds, along woods, meadows and wetlands, have been building up each day and by May its huge.

In March, we have our resident birds singing. Then in April, the migrant singers arrive and start to sing. By the beginning of May, the mixture of resident and new birds is truly amazing.

From 4.30am in the dark, perhaps with some confusing light from nearby street lamps, the wide-eyed resident birds – blackbirds and robins, are already singing. Probably, they have been singing all through the night.

By first light, just before 5am, the other local birds, the wrens have been heard, perhaps with the great tits, and the chaffinches.

Then it's the sounds of the newcomers, the warblers. Blackcaps, chiffchaffs, garden warblers, willow warblers along the woodlands edges. As you get close to the wetlands, the sounds of reed and sedge warblers, with maybe a grasshopper warbler, ring out around you.

Later we hear the thrushes and the dunnocks. Or maybe earlier, everywhere is different.

It's glorious – a wonderful experience. There's no need to see the bird – just be amazed by the sounds around you.

It's Nature's chorus in full swing.

So why does this happen ? Well it has worked for thousands of years.

When the migrating birds arrive in April, the resident birds have already found their nesting and feeding territories and their mates – some say by Valentine's Day, 14th February. It's important for a bird to keep an area just to themselves, as a supply of food.

But then the new birds arrive and they must too must find their own space for their food and nests.

Singing is one way a bird can tell their neighbours that this is my space – so keep out.

Also a singing bird can attract a mate. A passing female bird will be on the lookout for a fine singing male. Once two birds are together, the male continues to sing, declaring that this area is no longer empty – please look elsewhere.

Early morning, at first light, sounds travels a long way, and other birds hearing this will respond by keeping away.

There are no insects active yet, not a time for feeding – so why not sing. It so easy for a bird - just breathe in deeply and glorious warbles just emerge from their open mouths.

This is the experience of the Dawn Chorus.

So come and join us this Sunday at Middleton Lakes (and also Sandwell Valley). Look on the websites for details.

So you cannot make it this year – then set your alarm for 4.30am, wake up, open a window and wait for first light, before 5am, and experience a wonderful sound of exhilarated birdlife.

Early May mothing

2013-05-03T14:03:00Z

Our keen-eyed moth-ers have been out recently with their Skinner lightboxes and have sent us their sightings.

Dark Chestnut, Brindled Beauty, Brindled Pug, Clouded Drab,

Common Quaker, Early Thorn, Early Toothed-stripe, Powdered Quaker,

Purple Thorn, Shoulder Stripe, Twin-spotted Quaker, Oecophoridae micro

Thanks to UK Moths for the links

Calling all starwatchers - your May news follows ....

2013-05-03T12:40:00Z

Our resident volunteer star and planetary watcher has sent some what-to-do this month.

Use your binoculars to help your sightings and bring out your planisphere..... (wiki)

During May, there is a meteor shower falling on May 5/6th (look East-Southeast) which is the remains of tiny fragments of Halley's Comet burning up as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

So we hope for a clear sky as the moon will be well out of the way and so should allow for a clear view.

This month use your planisphere (Jodrell Bank) to locate the constellation of Virgo and it's bright star Spica, rising in the South.

Planetary wise this is a fairly good month. Jupiter is still visible, looking West, in Taurus, setting around 11pm.

Venus is appearing low in the West after sunset and will remain as an evening object throughout May.

Saturn is now rising in the South just to the East of Spica in Virgo.

With a good pair of binoculars or a telescope - and with a clear sky, you should be able to make out some of Saturn's rings.

We wish you luck. Remember to go with a friend or family and be safe.

Jodrell Bank nightsky weblink

Fine flutterings in early May

2013-05-02T13:03:00Z

Our butterfly surveyors have told us about the first sightings of ...

holly blue, orange tip, speckled wood recently seen along the bridleway and meadow paths.

Thanks to Keith Warmington, Warks butterfly recorder, for these links.

Thanks to Andy Merrett for this photo of a speckled wood on nettle.

Seen along the bridleway

A warm day in May

2013-05-02T12:45:00Z

Our VWs have told us about ...

whitethroats and a lesser whitethroat along the cow meadow walk,

a cuckoo calling along the bridleway,

sedge warbler and reed bunting in the play meadow and by Fishers Mill Lake

a cetti's warbler calling along the bridleway silt pool edge,

and lots of blackcaps calling from the woods.

Nature's choir is in fine voice

Reasons for coming to Middleton Lakes (5)

2013-05-02T10:58:28Z

See birds on our feeders by the heronry...

Thanks to Ken Rogers for this photo of a nuthatch on the peanut feeder.

Reasons for coming to Middleton Lakes (4)

2013-05-02T10:54:36Z

Wild flowers out in bloom...

Thanks to Richard Hancy for this photo of Lesser Celandine

Reasons for coming to Middleton Lakes (3)

2013-05-02T10:50:00Z

Pheasants apecking around by the feeders

Thanks to Richard Hancy for this photo

Reasons for coming to Middleton Lakes (2)

2013-05-02T10:33:56Z

Hear the migrant birds singing

Thanks to Ken Rogers for this photo of a blackcap singing

Reasons for coming to Middleton Lakes (1)

2013-05-02T10:26:56Z

Hear the resident birds singing.

Thanks to Maggie Bucknall for this photo of a song thrush asinging.

Birds reported in last few days in April

2013-04-27T13:19:00Z

Along the bridleway - blackcap (seen and heard), chiffchaff (seen and heard), cuckoo (heard),

Around the wetlands – black-tailed godwit (group of 30 seen, early one morning), buzzard, common sandpiper,

dunlin, grasshopper warbler, green woodpecker, jay,

kestrel, lapwing, little egret, little ringed plover,

marsh harrier (female seen occasionally), oystercatcher,

pied wagtail, ringed plover, willow warbler,

yellow wagtail, wheatear, swallow, swift.

.......... picture Rupert Hartop ....... view from Canal Viewpoint before the diggers came