30 of us boarded the coach at the usual car park and left promptly at 7am. We had our usual breakfast stop earlier than normal due to the lack of suitable places to stop on route and arrived at Gibraltar Point 10.40am.
The group then dispersed over the reserve, with most heading to the shoreline first, with others heading to the small, wooded area looking for the Yellow-browed Warbler – which was seen. I needed to confirm the arrival of our coach in the Visitor Centre.
Those that went along the shoreline saw Manx Shearwater, Gannets, Cormorants, Pink-footed Geese, Brent Geese, Shelduck, Eider, Common Scoter, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Little Ringed and Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Black-tailed and bar-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Turnstone and Sandwich Tern. The gulls seen were Kittiwake and Black headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls. A Razorbill was also seen flying north.
Similar to last year’s lack of water, only North Hide has any water in the pools. Numerous Shovelers were seen here along with Greenshank, Redshank and a single Avocet. Those that visited Mere Hide had good views of a Grey Plover and Water Pipit. Numerous Blackbirds were seen in the wooded area along with some Redwings. Also seen in the wooded area and the scrub areas were Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Brambling, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue and Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and, for a few, a Lesser Whitethroat. Also Seen were Pied Wagtail, Robin, Skylark, Woodpigeon, Moorhen, Pheasant.
Raptors seen were Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby. Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Starling were also seen.
The sunny weather and cold wind held until 3pm when we had a couple of heavy showers until 3.45pm. We left the reserve at 4pm and, after a comfort stop at Donington Park on the way back, we arrived back in Sutton Coldfield at 7.25pm.
82 species were seen on the reserve with 3 others only heard. Red Kite, Collared Dove and Rook were also seen from the coach.
Paul Hobbs
Field Trips Organiser
RSPB Sutton Coldfield Group
Gibraltar Point – Linda Hobbs
Grey Plover – Mike Box
Water Pipit – Mike Box
Kestrel – Mike Box