Clayhanger Marsh Log

Scarce bird alert

2012-01-29T10:51:00.002Z

A call from Ray Fellows this morning to say that he is reasonably certain that he has relocated the Water Pipit at Ryders Mere. The bird was flighty and not seen well but Ray is familiar with this species and recognised the call (which is actually quite a clincher!). This backs up Yvonne's record of a probable Water Pipit on January 3rd.

A rare species and well worth the effort of looking for although as it is not favouring a particular area (and having both sites at its disposal) it may well be a matter of luck more than effort that resolves this bird. - Chaz

News from the Marsh

2012-01-28T14:35:00.006Z

Sometimes you forget that common birds are beautiful too
Yvonne Moore sent me this excellent photo taken on the Mere last Sunday.
--

My computer problems continue so treat every posting as if it were the last. Quiet today and very spring-like. No sign of wintering thrushes but good duck numbers. Both sites however are very like the Somme as usual (well, more-so than usual so Wellies are de-rigour).

Clayhanger Marsh (pm)

Teal (32) - Wigeon (24) - Gadwall (1M 1F)

Ryders Mere (pm)

Little Grebe (4) - Great Crested Grebe (4) - Teal (1) - Gadwall (5M 3F) - Wigeon (72) - Goosander (15M 23F) - Pochard (12M 8F) - Oystercatcher (1 -Apparently Yvonne had two last week) and a Common Gull.

To save me the time consuming task of compiling a highlights posting at the end of the year I have started a 'Year so Far' page from which you will be able to monitor events on the Marsh and Mere on a month by month basis. To see this you will need to scroll back to the earliest postings where you will find it alongside the annual reviews. I'm going to log off quickly now before everything crashes. I will keep you posted on developments - Chaz

A quick note before work

2012-01-27T07:41:00.003Z

One of the advantages of being half a mile from the Marsh is that I am often on the flight path of things going to and from the site. This morning, just before seven my first (audible) Redshank of the year flew over calling four times and seeming to be heading west (toward the marsh) so there might be a year tick over there for some of you today (you know who you are).

A quick word about the Peregrine in Walsall. It is present most mornings between 8.15 and 8.45 but seems to be moving between the town hall tower and Tameway Tower in Bridge Street. I have also had a reliable report that it has been seen hunting over Highgate which ties in with its hunting range in previous years.

Finally, can anyone help? I am having another computer problem. I can be half-way through a posting when a big blue screen fills the monitor saying that windows has detected a problem and is shutting down to protect my computer. My computer security is very tight and I do regular weekly system checks so I don't believe it is an invasive issue. Can anyone suggest a resolution or even a reason for this happening? If you suddenly stop getting updates you may assume that this has become a terminal issue.

HELP!!! - Chaz

Remembering an old mate: Tony Smith

2012-01-22T19:19:00.004Z

I know there are many out there who will not be familiar with Tony Smith (of Bloxwich) but I also know that there are a number of you who did know him, so it is with genuine sadness that I have to inform you that he passed away at around six o'clock this evening from complications relating to his terminal Liver Cancer.

This morning as I was starting out across the marsh I received a call from Bernard Smith to invite me to go with him to the hospital as Tony had been taken in on Friday after having fallen several times at home. The diagnosis of his cancer had been made toward the end of last year and it was unfortunately too far advanced to respond to any treatment. We managed to see him at lunchtime today and he was aware that he was not going to be leaving hospital this time.

My history with Tony goes back about twelve years and we have shared many long car journeys in pursuit of rare birds. Tony was a basic, decent Black Country lad who worked hard, didn't eat properly and was passionate about Real Ale (I wonder why we got on?).

He was not any more perfect than the rest of us and I will not look back at him with rose tinted spectacles, Tony was not always an easy person to get on with. Once he developed an opinion he would defend it to the death, even if it could be demonstrated that he was wrong, he was dogmatic and when out, made too much of an issue about acting cool about seeing a bird - even if he had just driven two hundred miles to see it (something that often caused tension amongst his mates - including me). For all that he was always good company and I have far more fond memories of days out with him than bad ones. Tony genuinely was a man with a heart of gold, he valued his friends and would never do anyone a bad turn if he could do them a good one. There are many birds on my list that would not be there were it not Tony inviting me to be a part of his crew, and I will always be grateful for his kindness and friendship.

Despite that I had not been out birding with Tony for six or seven years, not because we had fallen out but because I liked him so much that I didn't want to get to a situation where we would fall out irrevocably. There have been chances to rebuild that bridge but they never came to anything and I wish now that we could have met up over a pint and maybe gone birding again. You just tend to assume that people are indestructible and that there will always be that 'other time'.

I owe a genuine debt to Bernard for calling me today and I am glad beyond words that I was able to see Tony one more time and that he was aware, albeit at the eleventh hour, that I was still his friend.

My sincere condolences to Tony's family and friends and all of those who have come across Tony over the years. He may never have made a huge impact in the world of birding, (most of us don't) but he was 'one of the lads' a kind friend and a like-minded soul, the world of birding and the lives of his friends are diminished by his passing.

"God bless, Tone - rest in peace" -Chaz

Welcome Back!

2012-01-22T11:01:00.005Z

A strange day, blustery winds disguising amazingly warm sunshine. I am sure if the wind had dropped it would have felt more like April than January!

The big news of today should have been the two Raven that flew over the set-aside (the first of the year as far as I am aware?) but they were to be eclipsed by the return of an old friend, the male Oystercatcher, the second earliest record and only five days adrift from the earliest. I couldn't find him again later so he may be repeating last years pattern of commuting to and from Chasewater while he is waiting for 'er-indoors'. Hopefully he will now become a regular character until July and perhaps have better breeding success than last year?

Clayhanger Marsh (am)

Teal (23) - Wigeon (5) - Raven (2) - Bullfinch (2) - Chaffinch (1) -Yellowhammer (1)
Notably NO winter thrushes of either kind this morning.

Ryders Mere (am)

Great Crested Grebe (3) - Wigeon (71) - Goosander (4M 1F) - Gadwall (4M 3F) -
Pochard (1F) -Teal (2) - Oystercatcher (1)

That's it for the weekend, I hope you all have a great week - Chaz

Check these out

2012-01-20T23:25:00.002Z

Many of the regulars will be familiar with young Jody and her Naturewalks blog. Well she has sent me a couple of mini-videos she has done with some of her photos and I think they are excellent. They showcase some lovely work and also show that she has good taste in music too!

The Youtube links are:

http://youtu.be/l4hCA9v4HZo
http://youtu.be/M8r0azDlDvQ

I love Jody's passion for the area, her total enthusiasm and I admire all the hard work and effort that she puts in to stuff like this. It makes me jealous that I am too feeble minded to get my head around the techniques that she uses to create things like this (as if to prove the point, today was a landmark, I am exactly five years away from being able to access my private pension - I wonder if there will be anything left if and when I get there?).

Jody you are wonderful! thanks for letting me share these with my blog followers - Chaz

Midweek hello

2012-01-18T19:16:00.004Z

The Yellow Bunting as it once was known
Photo: Barmoor Ecology
--

Anita has been over to feed her Horses today and took advantage of the opportunity to do a species count on the Marsh. Considering that birding was not the main focus of her activity she put together an impressive species list.

Great Tit (1) - Blue Tit (2) - Long-Tailed Tit (5) - Dunnock (3) - Robin (2) - Chaffinch (1M) - Wren (1) - Magpie (2) - Carrion Crow (2) - Woodpigeon (15) - Starling (7) - Fieldfare (9) - Buzzard (1) - Blackbird (2) - Redwing (2) - Grey Wagtail (1) and finally Yellowhammer (12!!)

Anita tells me that in the same area she often sees Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch and Lesser Redpoll (but not today).

She also took the trouble of drawing me a little illustration of where she was watching and I will certainly be checking it out next time I am over. No news from me except the Bittern that was at Chasewater yesterday (which I was unable to get to). I don't know if its still present but I expect I will be putting some time in at the weekend if I hear that it is still there.

Enjoy the rest of your week - Chaz

More rambling with Brambling!

2012-01-16T19:02:00.003Z

You have all had a go at 'Wheres Wally' (yes you have - own up!),
A prize to anyone who can find the three Brass Monkeys in this photo
and my admiration to anyone who can find their missing accoutrement's
(or the welding rod!).
--

Well it seems that my Brambling yesterday was not the second for the site (or if it was it was the second record of the second Brambling - if you know what I mean?). I have had a very reliable record of a Brambling seen amongst a mixed flock of finches and buntings last Friday.

The message was a bit scrambled but if I have the jist of it right, the birds were apparently feeding on the north paddocks of the Marsh and were viewed from under the Bridge in Bullows Road. They were flying down to feed amongst some discarded straw bedding and occasionally flying back up onto the bank.

Almost as significant as the presence of the Brambling was the number of Yellowhammer present, well into double figures, possibly as many as seventeen birds! Not bad for one of our most significantly declining species and another testimony to an excellent breeding season in 2011.

Both Tony and Ray have been over today and although they both unfortunately returned home 'Brambling-less' they both had encounters with a number of Snipe. Now I have been looking for Snipe since the turn of the year to no avail (as I know Ray has) so the presence of these birds may well be attributable to the coldest night of the winter (so far) having pushed them out of their normal roosts.

As for the Brambling, these two encounters are about as far across the site from each other that it is possible to be so I am hopeful that these records relate to two different birds and that they might be indicative of a small influx. Unfortunately I am not in a position to check out Bullows Road until the weekend but this flock certainly sounds worth a look at if you get the chance - Chaz

A significant site record

2012-01-15T11:46:00.005Z

A Brighter bird than the one seen today but a good example of how striking Brambling can be.
Todays bird appeared similar to the other photo (Below) and may well have been a female

I went across today with no expectations of anything interesting. Without any significant weather systems and following Kev Clements visit on Friday (Which was so thorough) the chances of discovering something noteworthy seemed very small. I certainly didn't expect to obtain a second site record and more importantly pull back a species that I had previously missed.

For a change I decided to follow the clockwise route which takes me to Coppice Woods first. This was so that I would have a better chance of the Nuthatch being active (which it was) but also to ensure that the bright low sunlight was behind me when I came to do the Mere.

Brambling Photo: Shay Connolly

I was following the footpath toward Green Lane when two Finches came up of the stubble field that both appeared at first to be Chaffinch, one of them confirming this identification with a call, the second was silent but as it flew across the path in front of me showed the restricted white rump of a Brambling. The first site record for over eight years and a species that had previously eluded me in 2003.

Brambling are one of those species that seemed to have been more prolific in the past. I recall in the 1980s they were almost annual at Chasewater and are still annual in small numbers on Cannock Chase. I suspect that the reason we don't do very well for them locally may be linked to the small numbers of Chaffinch that favour the area (Despite Chaffinch being one of the commonest birds in Britain they are always quite noteworthy on the Marsh even though they occasionally breed).

Whatever the reason for it being here it made my day and made up for dipping the first record. Right, wheres that damned Mandarin this year?

Clayhanger Marsh/Coppice Woods

Redwing (17) - Fieldfare (30+) - Yellowhammer (7) - Chaffinch (1) - Brambling (1) - Coal Tit (1) - Nuthatch (1) - Jay (2) - Buzzard (1)

Ryders Mere

Wigeon (73) - Teal (65) - Gadwall (10M 5F) - Pochard (2M) - Goosander (2M 2F) - Little Grebe (4) - Great Crested Grebe (4) - Stock Dove (2) - Great Spotted Woodpecker (1) and somebodies domestic White Dove flying around.

That's it for me, I know that one or two people are looking for the Brambling so if it is relocated I will update later. Have a good week - Chaz

News from the Marsh

2012-01-14T11:31:00.003Z

OK - I know I set myself up for it!

Following my last blog posting I received a request for help from Dave Glover, apparently he had found a bird at Chasewater he could not identify that by the sound of it looks similar to the photo (above). His description was as follows:

"I nipped in to Chasewater to see what the water level is like. As I scanned around I saw a game bird sized bird, not really a partridge but similar, light wasn’t good, but lovely honey colours, flecked plumage, orangey back, long sharp tail, black trousers, head a rich sandy, tawny colour, grey breast, about 18 inches long, I’d guess"

I sometimes think that taking the wee-wee out of me is the only entertainment that some people get? - You wait until you really need help Dave Glover!

Anyway - a far more sober and useful response was obtained from Kev Clements who visited yesterday and as usual shamed me with the shear effort he put in to counting practically everything. Interestingly both he and Kev McCarthy mentioned the activities of a local fox during their visits. I did not bother to mention it (as Fox activity is a regular thing around the village) but on my last visit I spent ten minutes or so watching a very scruffy looking vixen on the south paddocks which was unusually approachable. She was doing the 'dog-in-a basket' thing of spinning round and around to make a comfortable place to sleep in the hedgerow. I am sure she would have a story to tell if we but knew it?

Ryders Mere

Goosander (14) - Tufted Duck (15) - Pochard (1F) - Wigeon (63) - Gadwall (5M 3F) - Shoveler (1M) - Mallard (65) - Coot (92) - Little Grebe (3) - Great Crested Grebe (3) - Black Headed Gull (518) - Lesser Black Backed Gull (6) - Herring Gull (3) - Common Gull (4) - Cormorant (1) - Yellowhammer (4)

Clayhanger Marsh

Teal (59) - Mallard (2) - Coot (1) - Grey Heron (1) - as well as Redwing and Fieldfare, Green Woodpecker and Linnet all in the area.

Thanks to Kev for a typically thorough and intensive grilling of the site (anyone with the patience to count Coot and Black Headed Gulls has my respect and admiration).

I am sure if there HAD been a Pallas's Sandgrouse present, Kev would not have missed it - do you agree Dave? - I will probably do an update tomorrow, enjoy the weekend - Chaz

Why does life go out of its way to make you look foolish...

2012-01-12T19:13:00.004Z

(especially when you don't usually need that much help)?

Following on from last nights posting, I travelled into Walsall this morning and what was sitting on top of the Town Hall Tower... The male Peregrine Falcon.

Working on the principle that whatever I say is wrong I would just like to make it quite clear that there is absolutely no bloody chance of a Pallas's Sandgrouse turning up at Chasewater, Clayhanger or Ryders Mere this weekend! - Chaz

P.S. Kev McCarthy paid a visit today and found over forty Teal on the Marsh, A Willow Tit, Fifteen Fieldfare and twelve Goosander. His e-mail reminded me that there was a bit of good news to share, I went across Clayhanger Common on Tuesday Morning and there were three Willow Tit calling in the same general area so perhaps they had a good season last year too? Many thanks to Kev for the information - C

"Walsall's Best Kept Secret" ?

2012-01-11T23:08:00.003Z

So says Glen King, our friend from Worcestershire who managed to finally find his way to the Mere today. Perhaps if Walsall's illustrious councilors managed to get of their fat useless fundements and actually experienced what a gem of a habitat was under their noses we might finally be able to get it some level of protection? At least I know that if you are reading this you, like myself, most likely share Glen's opinion and perhaps his opinion will influence a few more people to discover and enjoy the Marsh and Mere?

At the end of the day that is what the blog is about, raising awareness.

I am really pleased that Glen managed to find out how to access the site as he has contacted me several times and is obviously a genuinely enthusiastic birder. He could only manage half an hour today but still managed to find five Gadwall, twenty-one Goosander and a performance by three of our displaying Buzzard. I am sure that as Glen find his way around on subsequent visits he will discover plenty more to report. Many thanks Glen!

Not much from me I'm afraid. I found my first Rook of the year today as it sat on a roof near Rushall and a brief walk around the Arboretum on Monday produced only an audible Nuthatch but no sign again of the (once guaranteed) Kingfisher. No sign either of the Peregrine Falcons on the town hall but I expect they will have returned by the end of the month.

Finally, Graham Evans appears to have obtained photo's of the mysterious second year Gull that was at Chasewater on Saturday (see the Chasewater site). I would love to know the truth of this bird but I suspect it will ultimately turn out to be a variation on the Herring Gull theme? It would be interesting to know how this bird matches with the Kumlein's Gull that was reported last week? If it does I am sympathetic as at a distance I can certainly understand someone reaching that conclusion and lets face it, I am not sure of what it was and I have had the chance to study Graham's photographs!

Update from me at the weekend, until then enjoy the rest of your week - Chaz

News from the Marsh

2012-01-08T13:08:00.005Z

Not an easy bird to see so far this year, one
on the farmland today was my first of 2012.
--

I was going to pay a visit yesterday but instead decided to save my energies for the roost at Chasewater. It was worth the effort with both Mediterranean Gull and the sub-adult Iceland Gull on show. There has been a reliable record of a rare form of Iceland Gull locally, a Kumlein's Gull and those birders present were hoping that this might drop in but it was not to be. Graham and I did find one interesting bird however which gave us pause as at first it appeared to be a second year white-winged gull but in flight it had a small amount of grey at the primary tips. Unfortunately views were too brief and distant to make a positive identification and Northern race Herring Gulls are notorious for the variability of their plumage (including occasional specimens without dark plumage in their flight feathers) so we will never know.

Quiet on the Marsh and Mere but managed to find my first Buzzard for 2012 and pulled back last weeks missing Little Owl. I also decided it was a good time to do my once-a-year Snipe flush along the east side of the Marsh and alarmingly, given the mild conditions, not a single Snipe was to be found. This may not seem very significant as numbers fluctuate from year to year but Snipe is a crucial species when measuring the value of the site as an SSSI, and any decline in occurrence is therefore very worrying.

Clayhanger Marsh (am)
Teal (38) - Goosander (1M) - Buzzard (1) - Stock dove (1) - Jackdaw (2) - Little Owl (1) - Redwing (17) - Fieldfare (1) - Linnet (2) - Grey Wagtail (1) - Treecreeper (1) - Yellowhammer (5)

Ryders Mere (am)
Little Grebe (1) - Great Crested Grebe (3) - Goosander (4M 8F) - Pochard (5M 5F) -
Wigeon (95) - Teal (13) Gadwall (5M 2F)

I finished the first week of the year on a modest 70 species. It still means an average of ten birds a day and at that rate I should finish 2012 on 3650 species for Britain which would make me either the best birder in history - or the biggest stringer (there are less than 600 species on the whole UK list!)!

Anyway, I hope you all have a good week - Chaz

A brief visit to Chasewater

2012-01-06T20:24:00.004Z

Not the rarest species seen today but probably the
one that stands out for me just for the numbers present!
--

From next week I'm going to have to reduce my visits to the Marsh (or anywhere else) for a while, So as I have been a prisoner of the recent gales I decided to pay a brief 'Year-listing' visit to Chasewater.

I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary as the emphasis has been on Gulls recently so I was surprised to discover the two Common (Mealy) Redpoll that Graham Evans found in December were still present on the South Shore, favouring the very low Willow Growth that has sprung up on the black mud. Fortunately I picked them up from a moderate distance and was able to approach surprisingly close and had excellent views of them, spending much of their time at ground level.

By all reasonable thinking these should have been the birds of the day but for me it has to be the record number of Bullfinch that I encountered. Seven were in one bush in Pool Road and another three in front of the visitor centre. By the time I had reached the Pig-Marsh I had seen thirteen (and I only had time for half a circuit!). It seems obvious to me that these birds definitely benefited from the mild weather in 2011 (allegedly the second warmest on record).

The presence of five Yellowhammer at Chasewater is also noteworthy and was actually exceeded on the marsh today by Ray Fellows who found six birds (Have they had a good year too or did the birds from Chasewater fly down to our patch, I suspect it is the former and that this lovely Bunting also had a prolific 2011)?

A full bird list for the day follows, read it if you want to, but it is really for the benefit of Graham Evans who has the task of recording all species that occur on his site during the year (and who probably had most of these during his visit anyway?).

Mute Swan - Canada Goose (41) - Wigeon (6) - Teal (43) - Mallard - Tufted Duck - Goldeneye (1M) - Goosander (3M 3F) - Great Crested Grebe - Sparrowhawk (1M) - Kestrel (1M 1F) - Moorhen - Coot - Lapwing (170+) - Black Headed Gull - Common Gull - Herring Gull - Woodpigeon - Green Woodpecker - G.S. Woodpecker - Meadow Pipit (5) - Pied Wagtail - Wren - Dunnock - Robin - Blackbird - Fieldfare - Redwing - Long Tailed Tit - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Willow Tit - Jay - Magpie - Carrion Crow - Starling - House Sparrow - Chaffinch - Greenfinch - Goldfinch - Siskin (1) - Lesser Redpoll (6) - Common Redpoll (2) - Bullfinch (13) - Yellowhammer (3M 2F ) - Reed Bunting (1M)

Hope there is something of interest for you Graham? - Chaz

Another hero who braves the winds

2012-01-05T10:48:00.004Z

You can see why a Linnet with a yellow bill catches the eye,
unfortunately no further sign so far!
Photo: Courtesy The Guardian
--

Ian Phillips, someone almost as daft as me who put his valuable time in yesterday for little reward (so where were the rest of you?). He did however manage to find the Linnet flock near the High Bridges and despite grilling them carefully was unable to locate the probable Twite that was seen on New Years Eve.

Apart from that he pretty much reflected my experience, few species on show and no Moorhen. There are a couple by the Canal Bridge at Brownhills but otherwise few and far between at the moment. They are obviously staying out of the wind but I wonder if they are prone to short distance movements in hard weather? I have certainly seen them locally when all waters are frozen but perhaps they respond differently to windy conditions?

Clayhanger Marsh
Teal (25+) - Mute Swan (3)- Fieldfare (25+) - Redwing (40+) - Linnet (74) - Bullfinch (3)

Ryders Mere
Wigeon (54) - Goosander (6) -Great Crested Grebe (3) - Black Headed Gull (200+) - Lesser Black backed Gull (2) - Herring Gull (1) - Common Gull (2)

Serious respect to Ian for braving the weather. Windy again today, I was thinking of doing Chasewater to add a few to the year list but I suspect it will be pretty hostile up there until the wind drops with viewing both restricted and difficult.

Determined to do the Marsh and Mere at the weekend though whatever, with probable Twite and Water Pipit in the last few days it has to be worth the effort. - Chaz

Shere bloody incompetence!

2012-01-04T19:17:00.005Z

No for once I'm not having a go at anyone!
(sound of lots of mice going click as now disinterested blog followers log out)

Its me who is frustratingly incompetent - literally, there is a competence that I regret I do not have.

I received an e-mail request today from Glen Kirby which has highlighted an ongoing problem with the blog, Glen is not a local lad as such, he lives in Stourbridge (home of Nicholls and Perks - the best supplier of Malt Whisky in the Midlands - that should be worth a free bottle Dave?) but works in the doldrums of Walsall and has been trying to get to grips with the Marsh and Mere as good local birding sites convenient to access at lunchtime.

His problem as an out of towner is that he can't seem to find the right places to access the site. I have now provided him with some directions but it doesn't solve the real problem which was highlighted by Brownhills Bob some time ago; the site needs a map.

Firstly, I am timorous about obtaining a proper map as there are sometimes costs and legal implications. I have thought about drawing a basic map and photographing it but I don't have a scanner or a camera good enough to produce a good image.

Secondly, if it is just a case of uploading a photo of a map I can handle that but if a map needs adding to the site proper, I am completely out of my depth technologically (everyone thinks that being able to do a blog makes me competent - trust me, it doesn't, I get confused doing 'Cut and Paste'!).

If anyone has achieved this task and is able to put together a (totally 100% idiot proof, so simple a five year old child without a degree from IKEA could do it) very basic, preferably bullet-pointed, way of achieving this desired outcome - would they please let me know so that nice guys like Glen don't starve to death wandering the out lands of our fair town (I don't know him but I know he is a damned brave chap - he works in Blakenall without a Kevlar Flack jacket!).

If nobody can help I'm afraid you will just have to put up with my awful directions and the fate of Glen, Brownhills Bob (et al.) will be on your conscience! - Chaz

News from the Marsh

2012-01-03T15:37:00.003Z

Not a species that has ever graced the blog before, but two
Great Black Backed Gulls were a welcome addition to my year list today.
--

These winds are not doing much for the birding so far this year. The westerly aspect of the Mere has resulted in a substantial clear out of many wildfowl and small birds were at a premium today. It is so frustrating as there are possibly two really good species on site, neither of which is likely to 'play the game' in these weather conditions so I have had to satisfy myself with counting what ducks there were and a couple of year ticks today.

Clayhanger Marsh (pm)
Teal (27) - Wigeon (2M) - Gadwall (1M 1F) - Sparrowhawk (1) -
Jay (3) - Redwing (8) - Fieldfare (10) and Chaffinch (1M).

Ryders Mere (pm)
Wigeon (41) - Gadwall (3M 2F) - Goosander (4M 4F) - Teal (1) -
Pochard (4M 3F) Great Crested Grebe (4) Common Gull (1).

On top of this there was one of the biggest pre-roosts of Black Headed Gull that I have seen in a long time. Also on the gull theme, a bird flew in which I assumed was going to be a Great Black Backed Gull but it landed on the water and was obviously a huge Herring Gull. It sat on the water with other Herring Gulls all of which it dwarfed. It may well have been a lone northern race bird sitting with a couple of British race birds but it was certainly impressive looking and perhaps one to watch out for in the Chasewater roost? -Chaz

Important Species Alert

2012-01-03T00:03:00.004Z

You could be excused for dismissing this as a Meadow Pipit
but it is actually a Water Pipit!
Photo: Oxonbirders
--

Yvonne and Peter from Sutton Coldfield have got in touch with me to let me know that they did the Mere today and had what they think was a Water Pipit. The initial description is quite convincing and they are quite certain having seen the Doxey bird last week, but I have asked for some clarification on exactly what features were picked up so that if possible we can eliminate Scandinavian Rock Pipit as a confusion species.

There have been a number of records of probable Water Pipit over the years including from myself, Ian Phillips and county recorder Kevin Clements but the only confident record so far was a bird seen on the Ford Brook in the 1980s by Paul Jeynes.

The problem is as much to do with the topography of the site than confusion species, as the steep sides mean that you tend to flush the birds and they are flying away from you before you can get any key features on them. Today's bird was only seen briefly but it did land on the edge of the island and was seen quite well so I am hopeful that we can corroborate this one.

If you visit in the next few days, please pay particular attention to any pipits that you see and keep an ear open for the 'Vist - vist' flight call. - Chaz

2012 - The year so far

2012-01-01T15:10:00.006Z

Woodcock - a surprise to start the year
--

After the fierce conditions in 2010/11, 2012 began with strikingly mild weather systems. Despite this the large numbers of winter thrushes continued to be a feature until quite late into January. Large flocks of finches and Buntings continued to be encountered with striking numbers of the declining Yellowhammer being seen (seventeen reported on one occasion and twelve on another) this was mirrored by good numbers of the same species at Chasewater and excellent numbers of Bullfinch suggesting that 2011's breeding season was a particularly good one.

January: The traditional New Years Day visit produced around fifty species with a surprise in the form of a Woodcock along a field margin at Grange Farm. Unfortunately the probable Twite could not be relocated amongst the groups of Linnet which favoured both sites until mid-month. Equally as frustrating was a reliable but unconfirmed record of a Water Pipit on Ryders Mere on the third (YM.-PM.).

The discovery of a Brambling amongst a party of feeding Finches at Bullows Road (AS.) went unreported until another (or possibly the same?) specimen was located with a Chaffinch near Green Lane two days later (CM.).

The 22nd saw the first of the now regular encounters with Raven as two birds flew south across the set-aside mid-morning, but more surprising was the arrival of a returning Oystercatcher to Ryders Mere on the same day (only five days outside of the all-time earliest record). Five days later saw an ephemeral encounter with the sites first Redshank of 2012, when a bird flew over in the pre-dawn, heading west just before 07.00 and calling four times. Finally on the 28th the probable Water Pipit was seen again (RF.) a nice if frustrating end to the month.

2011 - summary of the year

2011-12-27T09:44:00.006Z

JANUARY began well with an uncommon species on the first in the shape of a GOLDENEYE and an outright site rarity (albeit of questionable origin) on the second when a BARNACLE GOOSE was discovered on the frozen Mere (this bird was also recorded briefly at Stubbers Green). On the 19th the elusive MANDARIN which had occurred at the end of 2010 put in its final appearance (avoiding me on all of them) and on the 27th a wintering CHIFFCHAFF was being very noisy down by the Sewage Farm but resisting all attempts to be seen. The following day however was to provide what was to be most peoples 'Bird of the Year' when Ray Fellows Discovered a diver on Ryders Mere which turned out to be the first BLACK THROATED DIVER for the site, what a way to end the month?

FEBRUARY was a traditionally quiet month for new species, the main thing to note being the gradual reduction in wintering species and (in a good year) the arrival of the first spring migrants. 2011 was not however a good year and the only record of note was the arrival of our first breeding OYSTERCATCHER on February 6th.

MARCH saw the arrival of the first migrant CHIFFCHAFF on the 20th and the final departure of this winters POCHARD (24/03), with WIGEON, REDWING and FIELDFARE being recorded for the final time on 26/03.

APRIL began well when Chris and Graham Weston discovered a RING OUZEL on the third which remained for much of the day, attracting many admirers. The same day saw the arrival of our first WILLOW WARBLER, BLACKCAP and SAND MARTINS of the Spring and the last record of GOOSANDER for the winter period. A PEREGRINE put in a brief appearance on 07/04 along with the first HOUSE MARTIN and the first SWALLOW was not far behind, arriving on the 8th.

But it was the ninth which gave Ray Fellows his second site-first when he discovered three fabulous looking BLACK TERN feeding over the Mere during the evening. This resulted in mad dashes by myself and Hughie King, thankfully both of which were successful.The first COMMON SANDPIPER and WHITETHROAT appeared on the 14th and the last wintering GADWALL disappeared on the 15th. A WHEATEAR was discovered by Kev McCarthy on the 16th and a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER (the first of three singing males this spring) was discovered by myself on the 17th. A CURLEW was heard flying over on 21st, the first REED WARBLER arriving the same day and quite an early first SWIFT was discovered on 22/04 the last TEAL disappearing two days later. April is obviously the month to visit if you want day-to-day action!

MAY by comparison was quite quiet this year. May can often provide significant records of overshooting migrants and outright rarities but the highlights this year were GARDEN WARBLERS on the 13th, DUNLIN and WHIMBREL on the 15th and the first HOBBY record of the summer on 22/05.

JUNE is normally the wind-down of the spring migration with little of note but this year had ominous significance with (as far as I know) the only record of LESSER WHITETHROAT for the summer? This has always been a significant species for Clayhanger and I had hoped that we had managed to avoid the national decline of the species but it appears not!

JULY saw the years first LITTLE EGRET, discovered by Steve Hill on the 14th and remaining in the area until the 18th, the same day that our breeding Oystercatchers were seen for the last time apparently having failed to raise a young one, something that had never happened since the first year that they arrived. This is almost certainly because of the lack of any management on Ryders Mere which has resulted in the islands developing breeding habitat which better suits the BLACK HEADED GULLS than the COMMON TERNS or Oystercatchers.

AUGUST was frustrating for me when I discovered a calling SPOTTED CRAKE which lured in a number of hopeful observers but ultimately proved disappointing (as is often the way with this species). The first returning TEAL arrived on 17th

SEPTEMBER saw the first GADWALL arrival on 04/09 and the first multiple record of WHINCHAT for the site with one bird on the Marsh (Anita Scott) and one bird with a late WHEATEAR on the Mere (Dave Glover and myself). A very significant and under-rated record occurred on 07/09 with the sites second ever confirmed record of ARCTIC TERN, this time not just a fly-through but a bird that remained long enough to be twitched by several of the regulars. This date also saw the last records of COMMON SANDPIPER and SAND MARTIN for the summer. A comparatively late arrival date for WIGEON was 21/09 and the build-up of this species was also somewhat slower than normal perhaps indicating a change in migration strategy from this species - global warming a trigger or just an anomalous migration?

OCTOBER saw the arrival of REDWING on 13/10, the first wintering POCHARD on 22/10 the second GOLDENEYE of the year and the first SHELDUCK of the year on 25/10 and the first returning FIELDFARE on 27/10 heralding a bumper winter for these Scandinavian migrants.

NOVEMBER saw a phenomenal late record for the site with a SWALLOW flying through on 01/11 the same day which recorded the arrival of the first of our wintering GOOSANDER. A COMMON REDPOLL (that's Mealy Redpoll to older hands) showed well briefly on 15/11 and the first WATER RAIL record for the year was on 18/11 (what has become of this species locally?).

My personal highlight of the year occurred on 22/11 when at dusk a party of six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew in to the Marsh for long enough to be enjoyed by Kev Clements, Kim, Trevor and myself (I have always been a sucker for wildfowl - especially wild geese).

DECEMBER was generally quite mild with little incentive for major incursions by northern species or local movements by established wintering wildfowl. The big news was the arrival of putative AZORIAN YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS at Chasewater and Stubbers Green, an exceptionally rare species in Britain and one which has yet to be accepted by the powers that be. It was therefore pleasing for our site to make a contribution to this debate with the presence of a sub-adult or adult specimen on at least two occasions during the month. This coincided with occasional visits by an often elusive species on the mere, adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. Frustratingly I was able to point it out on both occasions to some local dog-walkers but the bird seemed reluctant to be observed by other site Lister's - never mind, another bird for another day! The 31st of December ended the year on a bit of a cliffhanger, a finch with a bright yellow bill briefly observed amongst the Linnet, will it be seen again and, if it wasn't a TWITE then what was it?

There we are then - 2011 in a nutshell, many thanks to everyone who participated. The site total (excluding species for which there is not enough detailed evidence) is 177 (three of which have been added this year) and I will be happy to send a detailed site list to anyone who requests one.

Here's to 2012! - Chaz

2010 - Summary of the year

2011-12-02T10:39:00.010Z

By any ones yardstick, this has to be the star bird of the year!

January:
Probably the most significant bird of this month was the most elusive! After photographs of a Red Kite were taken over Pelsall I finally received at least two visuals on site from experienced birders, unfortunately neither with a specific date but both in the last ten days of the month. The ninth was a day for interesting species with a Little Egret present on the Ford Brook (CM), a male Goldeneye on Ryders Mere (CM) and an adult Yellow-Legged Gull on Ryders Mere (which was seen again on 17/01). The 21st saw probably the rarest bird of the month when a ring-tailed female Hen Harrier was seen in flight carrying a large rodent across the western fields at Grange Farm (SD-MD) heading towards High Heath. Finally on the last day of the month the first record for this year of an increasingly regular species, when two Raven overflew the site.

February:
As is normally the case, probably the quietest month of the year, highlights being the return of our first breeding Oystercatcher on the 8th and a male Stonechat on the 27th (a species which had been notable by its absence this winter!).

March:
Spring was not to come particularly early in 2010, certainly as far as migrants were concerned. Some compensation was found however when the local Barn Owl was found to be favouring a particular roost site (CW.-GW.) it then continued to favour this site on most days until at least 18/04. The last wintering Pochard disappeared on 13/03 and the first migrants arrived on 25/03 when both Chiffchaff and Sand Martin were recorded. The same day also saw the arrival of a Redshank on Clayhanger Marsh.

April:
On the 2nd the departure of the last Fieldfare of the winter was balanced by the arrival of Swallow and Wheatear. The last Goosander of the winter departed on the 3rd and a Peregrine was seen hunting on the 5th.

The tenth was a good day for arriving migrants with Willow Warbler, House Martin and Yellow Wagtail being seen and the following day was to see the arrival of a Green Sandpiper which remained faithful to the marsh until the 18th.

Continuing the balanced approach, the 14th saw the departure of the last Wigeon and Redwing countered by the arrival of Blackcap and a male Garganey. Another Raven was seen on 17/04 and the 18th saw the welcome return of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler on the Marsh and an (always noteworthy) Greylag Goose on the Mere. The 19th gave one observer the welcome sight of two Shelduck on the Mere (JAS.) and the 20th saw the departure of the last Teal and another visit by the Redshank.

The 24th was another bumper migrant date with the simultaneous arrival of; Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Swift. The following day finished the regular line-up when Lesser Whitethroat arrived. The 28th saw two Redshank present but any thoughts that Spring migration was over, ended on the 29th when I received a text from Anita Scott to say that she had found a Hoopoe perched on wires at the south end of the site!

May:
Confirmation of the presence of this southern European vagrant was made and Clayhanger Marsh was to be the focus of intense birding activity until the bird was last seen on 9th (sic.). Local birders were supplemented by visitors from every part of Britain, many on their way to or returning from seeing a major rarity in Devon. I personally escorted visitors from as far away as Yorkshire and my wife found a party from Scotland wandering around Clayhanger Common on the assumption that this was the correct site. The presence of a large number of observers was to add a couple of good species to the year list and is evidence of what may be missed in an average year.

The first of the month saw the arrival of a Common Sandpiper and birders looking for the Hoopoe picked up a Pied Flycatcher and on the following day, a female Marsh Harrier flying over the site on 02/05. The seventh saw another Raven and the 9th another Greylag Goose. The last wintering Gadwall (although by now almost a summering Gadwall) departed on 22nd.

June:
Unseasonal birds are always exciting,but I cant explain the presence of an immaculate drake Wigeon on the first of June! The bird was present for much of the day and was seen by a number of observers. It had gone the following day however and as far as I am aware was not recorded anywhere else. A very late migrant or an escaped collection bird - it is certainly at the extreme end of feasible migration? The twelfth saw yet another Greylag Goose in what was turning into a good year for seeing this species and the 20th not only saw the arrival of the first Hobby of the year but also the presence of two Black-tailed Godwit on Ryders Mere.

JULY:
A typically quiet month with the last Oystercatcher on the 11th sharing the Mere with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover.

August:
A very early return date for Teal, with two birds present on the first of the month. Six juvenile Pintail were present on the morning of the 15th (CM.) staying just long enough to be twitched by two other site regulars and a male Redstart was a very welcome sight on the 22nd. The 27th saw the most bizarre twitch of my life when a phone call from Paul Jeynes told me that an adult Gannet was flying toward the Marsh from Stubbers Green! I bolted upstairs and within two minutes had remarkably picked up the bird as it flew across the south paddocks. It soared over the site and gave good views until it banked and apparently reversed its course, last being seen powering away across the south paddocks towards Shelfield. Finally, to round of an excellent month another site rarity, a Spotted Flycatcher showed well on the 30th.

September:
A steady flow of returning migrants was supplemented by the odd highlight including a Stonechat on the 12th, an unseasonal Rock Pipit on the 18th and a Black-tailed Godwit on the 25th which shared the day with the first returning Gadwall.

October:
This month was solely about returning winter species with Wigeon on the 2nd, Redwing on the 8th, Fieldfare on the 17th and both Pochard and Goosander on the 27th.

November:
Another male Goldeneye, the second in a year and very noteworthy, was present on the 7th and the 13th provided brief but good views of a Common Redpoll perched high on the perimeter hedge line. The 21st provided another Little Egret. Probably the most remarkable record of the period was a party of possibly fifteen Corn Bunting on farmland near Green Lane on the 27th which unfortunately could not be relocated the following day.

December:
It is unusual to get a new record for the site so late in the year but the drake Mandarin which had been favouring Chasewater put in an appearance at Ryders Mere on the 4th and 12th (being photographed on the latter occasion). The last Greylag of the year was present on the 31st when remarkably a Kingfisher defied the freezing conditions to fly along the Ford Brook, the first for the year on the very last day!

A perfect end to an excellent year - Chaz

This is where I stand!

2011-10-01T09:44:00.002+01:00

Someone has already phoned me to ask about exactly where the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen yesterday and the answer is - "I don't know"!

Anita Scott found it and is reluctant to share the information with me because, as she put it, she is concerned that it Will be "hounded". Those of you familiar with this species will probably appreciate that unless you are the most talented hang-glider pilot in the world the chances of 'hounding' an LSWP is slightly less than the chances of me giving up beer and becoming slimmer of the year!

There is however a serious underlying point here though, the myth of the 'Twitcher', the thug of the countryside who will trample vegetation and barge children aside in their insatiable lust to add a new species to their list. Indeed the common perception (promoted even by wonderful television programmes like "Watching" and "To the Manor Born") seems to only omit twirling moustaches.

Birdwatching (like every other hobby) has its good folk and bad folk. I have met many stupid birders and many thoughtless birders, and to be honest there are birders I have had dealings with that I wouldn't cross the road to p*ss on if they burst into flames, but I have never met an evil birder, the very concept is almost an Oxymoron as it can't be possible to be so enthused and care about birds if you are so negatively motivated.

Someone reading this once pulled up alongside me as I walked back from Chasewater and said "Are you Chaz the Twitcher" To be honest I just smiled as this very daft term is now associated with anyone who goes birding. I have been a 'Twitcher', there were weekends in the eighties and nineties when my wife forgot what I looked like. My British list is actually quite modest but is still somewhere around 420, and you don't get to see that many species by doing Clayhanger every day.

People sometimes are quite amazed that I can identify a little brown shape flying overhead by its call - well that's because instead of just reading books or internet blogs I (like all serious birders) have spent god knows how many hours over the last thirty years experiencing and familiarising myself with them AND also learning flight characteristics and calls from other more experienced birders and Twitchers, many of whom are people who love wildlife so much that they give their time and effort to learn and experience them.

I am not a Twitcher these days, I didn't give it up because I learned the error of my ways, if I was younger and better off I might still go twitching, I happen to have some health conditions that actually don't respond well to the very real Stress that was involved (as Tony Stackhouse will tell you, I did used to get very stressed). I am proud to have been a Twitcher and pleased to have friends and acquaintances who are twitchers (and don't forget, any of you who came over the Marsh to see Anita's Hoopoe - you have all been twitchers!)

So where is this going? Believe it or not since I have been doing the blog I have been gently criticised by several people for enticing people over to what they perceived as their little area. Well to be honest, Tough! The whole purpose of the blog has always been to promote interest in the area and share wildlife with others. If people don't know about the Marsh and Mere or just regard it as an elitist site 'just for the locals' how can we ever inspire them to care about it?

There is a very well known naturalist who was for many years in the national consciousness as the face of rural Britain, he wrote many books and was held in high esteem by the BBC and all of the 'serious' wildlife experts. I will tell you now that this man was a wildlife fascist - he once said at a public meeting "Town people shouldn't come into the countryside because they don't understand it" How are they ever going to understand it if you stop them from experiencing it?

Similarly, many years ago I was out with an organised group and we heard that there was an American Wigeon on our route at a place called Messingham Gravel Pits (Near Scunthorpe). We were all behaving properly and quietly going through the flocks of duck when one or two of the locals led by this huge and abusive 'posh' woman came and asked what did we think we were doing on THEIR reserve and that whoever put the word out about the Wigeon had certainly not got the management committee's permission and would we all leave please? I had to bite my tongue as I would have cheerfully helped her to insert her Wigeon where 'the sun don't shine', but as I was a guest on an arranged group I couldn't.

How would you feel about that sort of treatment? If you honestly think that either of those individuals was right then please log off now and don't come back!

Unless the welfare of a bird is at risk I will not suppress anything that occurs on the Marsh because I want others to enjoy it. This is not always and easy path to follow. Some weeks ago I heard and briefly saw a Spotted Crake on the Marsh and had to make a very real decision about what was my best action. I have plenty of experience of this very elusive species and knew that there was a better than average chance that it would never be seen again.

So, do I save people the effort and cost involved by suppressing the bird or give them the chance to come and look for it?

It wasn't really a decision that I had to think about, if there had been any doubt about the bird I would have said nothing but having suffered suppression several times over the years I did not feel that I had the right to keep quiet about this bird. How in good conscience can you go and look at other peoples birds and suppress the ones you find yourself?

That is me having a rant about something that really matters to me, it is genuinely an important part of my life view and if it is wrong then I might as well stop doing the blog now.

Please drop these pre-conceived notions about Twitchers and accept the right of others to enjoy wildlife. Wildlife doesn't belong to anyone, it belongs to everyone and as a well known birder called Peter Grant once said; "If you go two doors up the road to look at a Woodpecker on a bird table - then you are a twitcher"

If you have bothered to follow this posting - thank you - Chaz