Trip reports

MANSFIELD GROUP'S FIELD MEETING TO SANDWELL VALLEY on 7th September 2008

Sunday, 14 September 2008

Another good bird watching trip, this time to the Black Country. 33 of us made the journey and we reached our destination in just 1 hour and 20 minutes from the pick-up point in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Sandwell Valley is a compact little Reserve in the Metropolitan Borough of Birmingham, but over 50 species of birds were seen during our stay of 6 hours and 30 minutes. A most bizarre incident was witnessed by some of the group when a Magpie was seen to kill a House Martin and swallow it.

The birds seen were as follows:

Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard (2) Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch - a good number of them visiting the Feeding Station. The Bird of the Day was a Fieldfare.


Outdoor Meetings Secretary
Derek Beech