Wednesday 8 April 2009

Happy Returns




Wednesday 8th April 2009

Considering it was supposed to be a non-birdwatching day it turned out quite well ending the day with 2 more species for the year. It was good to see the first pair of Common Terns (136) returning to the Tame valley although I understand there has been a single bird about for the last couple of days. Anyway lets hope the terns have a successful breeding season free from the attentions of predators, Black headed Gulls and floods. Also on Cliff pool late afternoon was a Black tailed Godwit (137).

Earlier in the day I had a good look round Baddesley Common. Birds seen: Little ringed Plover, Blackcap, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff and Common Buzzard. My exploration was interupted in a good way by John Harris telling me about a pair of Garganey on Fishers Mill pool and in a bad way by 3 hoodies shouting at their pit bulls.

Ironically the Garganey had been flushed by the RSPB volunteers who were so involved in planting their reedbeds they were unaware of the birdlife around them. I do hope the RSPB doesn't spoil all the wonderful work they have done by covering all the edges of the Fisher's Mill pool with Phragmites. It would be great to see Bittern and a healthy population of Cetti's and Reed warblers on the new reserve but the Tame valley is a vital area for passage waders to rest up and feed and they add a huge amount of interest to visiting birdwatchers.

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