Trip reports

Weekday walk at Middleton Lakes RSPB Reserve.

Otter among seaweed - RSPB Image

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

This newly acquired RSPB reserve, due to open to the general public in the spring of 2011, is situated in the Tame valley near Birmingham. The weather forecast looked very poor and the eight group members turned up wearing wet weather gear and expecting the worst. As it turned out our worst fears were not realised and although cloudy with a few spots of rain, a good walk and good birding was had by all.

We were welcomed by Middleton Lakes volunteer Mick Smith who explained the work already carried out at the reserve and the work that still needed to be achieved before the reserve would be accessible by all. The reserve is large and in our 2 hours there we were not able to visit all areas.

The reserve is on the site of old gravel works and typically consists of lagoons and open grass land, it is on a natural flyway between the River Severn and the River Trent and as such attracts many migrants. The wooded part of the reserve has a large rookery and a large heronry, all 3 species of woodpecker and good numbers of commoner species.

The lakes have good numbers of little egret and it is hoped that breeding will be confirmed in the near future. Wildfowl are numerous and common tern breed.

We were all surprised at the extensive area covered by the reserve and is already well 'stocked' with amphibians and dragonflies; otters are believed to be in residence and it is hoped that water vole will soon return.

On the day we visited it was a typical quiet September day, but we still saw little egret, great spotted woodpecker, kestrel, gadwall and heard juvenile buzzard. The walk was excellent and it is sure to be one of the RSPB's top reserves; the day was made by the warm and informative volunteer, Mick, and a spring visit was promised.

RO

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/middletonlakes/index.aspx