News

Sunday, 31 January 2010

Barry Proffitt

Big Library Garden Birdwatch

RSPB Wolverhampton Group, Perton Library and "Wild about Perton" joined forces to present "Big Library Garden Birdwatch". With pre-event visits to schools and almost a page of publicity in the Express & Star a couple of days beforehand we expected a good turn out of people. Unfortunately the weather on the day conspired to put people off, with snow and freezing conditions only a couple of hours before the event. A big football match on tv may have also had an effect, so numbers were lower then expected.

However, those that turned up had the use of binoculars and telescopes to watch a number of species in the garden and immediate area, including Redwings and Lesser Black Back Gulls. A guided walk around the lake ( which was mainly ice ) revealed not only the usual Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, Coots and Mallards, but also a pair of visiting male Pochard, who spent as much time under the water as on it. Collared Doves, Robins and Sparrows were seen in the lakeside trees. The cold made long walks unviable, so the short stroll headed quickly back to the Library for a hot cuppa. A few pounds of funds were raised so all was not lost but fingers crossed for better luck next year, when we will also move the event to Saturday!

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/wolverhampton