Chelmarsh- Black-Necked Grebe

25/11/12
Following on from visiting the Waxwing flock at Rowberrys, we then did a cross county drive into underwatched Shropshire, to visit what is one of my favorite local birding sites.
Chelmarsh Reservior
This place always looks like it could attract come serious birds, and the last few years have produced Arctic Skua, Bean Goose, Red-Throated Diver. This obvious rarity potential is only added upon when you relalise the numbers of Goosander that turn up at the place, and being so close to the river it could produce anything! Surrounded by decent farmland also add's to the interest, as farmland birds also feature of the species that can be encountered, having seen large flocks of Yellowhammer, Linnet, Goldfinch, Redpoll etc. And even further than that, there is the Gull roost, which, as any Gull lover would know, can produce anything Larus related from around the globe!

We had intended to visit as a Great-Northern Diver had been found there. We were going to head there on Saturday for it, but with no news, we didnt. Which is a decision i regretted later, as news emerged that the bird had still be present!
And to cut it short, it had now gone!
However, a nice flock of Gulls had started developing, and it didnt take much for me to start sifting through them! At 2:30, with about 1000 Gulls down, i picked out a adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, not exactly the 'crippler' i was hoping for, but enough to satisfy my Gull needs. I also spent time scanning the Coots and Little Grebes, of which there were many, and it was while doing this with my bins that i picked out a strikingly Black and White Grebe. I had connected with the BLACK-NECKED GREBE! The bird wasnt close, however it was a nice lesson as i now know that i am able to picked out these 'rare' grebes on large reserviors, as every one of my previous BNG's and my only 'Slav' were always at fairly close range.
Black-Necked Grebe:
http://midlandsbirder.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/west-mids-black-necked-grebe.html


Slavonian Grebe:
http://midlandsbirder.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/ducking-diving.html

The bird then swam away to the northern end of the lake and we only had incredibly distant views of it thereafter!
However, the bird is reported still there, so it may make a nice 'tick' in the new year!

MB

Chelmarsh res suprise!

17/02/12


Having heard that an Iceland Gull had rosted here a few nights previously, and with Glauc been seen at other Shropshire sites, i decided a roost watch may be in order!
Having walked around to the hide, i met another birder, who told me that the TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE was still on the reservour! a month had passed with no news, and it was still there!
I took this oporotunity, and walked to the north end, and finding the BEAN GOOSE swimming on the water with the Greylag flock! however after about a minuite, it flew out with the Greylags to feed in fields that are unviewable!
Also at the north end was 2 drake Wigeon, a flcok of Tufted Duck and a very large flock of GOOSANDER (Around 60 on Res)
Despite this suprise, having seen Bean Goose for the 2nd time, the roost failed to produce anything other than a couple of GBBG.

(Bean Goose on 17/02/12)




While driving out, a Little owl was near some barns

MB

BEAN GOOSE AT CHELMARSH!

14/01/12
Jason from the Shenstone Birder again hit it lucky when he Re-located the 1st winter Bean Goose, about 10 miles to the west from its origional location.

I was releaved to hear news every day that the Goose was still present in fields at Chelmarsh, and on the Friday, i knew that was where i was heading the next day, But with my luck with these Geese of late being little over dire, i remained open to thoughts it wouldnt be there!

I had already briefed my dad that as we drive along the country lane if i shout 'Geese' then can he stop ASAP!

Well it didnt take long, and a few hundred metres after turning off the main road i shouted 'GEESE'

Down in the field by the waters edge was a flock of about 250+ Geese, about half and half between Canada and Greylag, However I quickly spotted the 'odd one out' and was soon taking photo's of my first TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE!

Although abit too far off for photo's, it shown well through the scope, always on the 'front' edge of the flock. I was actually strook by how distinctive it was within the flock, in contrast to what has been told to me about 'grey' Geese. I supppose if it was with Pink-foots it would be alittle harder, but with Greylags, Easy Peezy!

I cranked the Camera Zoom up for the closer photo's to try and get the orange spot on the bill, hence the terrible quality!

And i took a video of the bird preening in front of the flock.

I passed out the news the Bird was still there, and we headed off to the Res to try and see if the Diver was still here.

It wasnt!

And that was confirmed a few days ago, when another birder drew a blank on the diver, has it gone?

A large flock of Gulls had started forming on the dam, and 4 seperate 'watches' of the flock didnt reveal anything other than 6 GBBG.

A marsh tit was heard in the woodland. and a flock of 17 GOOSANDER was on the water.

I decided to use the hedge as cover and get closer to the geese, but with the sun behind the flock, and undulations in the field meaning half the flock wasnt on view, it didnt look good for the Bean Goose!

However, i was glad to see that with the 50c Greylags that could be seen proppely, the TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE was among them!

Although not very close (Photo's required alot of cropping), i manadged to get better photo's of the Goose, albiet into the light!

Im so glad im happy with a 'record' shot.

We didnt stay for the 'Full' roost, because i had to be at my Girlfriends house, but we very quickly dropped into the 'North end' to see if the diver was up there, Again a blank, But i was glad to get a site tick, a single female GOLDENEYE, and a female Wigeon in a quick 20 second stop!

Also had an added bonus of seeing 5 Red-legged Partridge along the track on the way out!

All in all, a Good visit, and Chelmarsh is still getting 'the goods'

I'll be back for more, and you never know, i may actually find something! Eventually!

MB

Last few weeks of the year!

19/02/11
Sheepwash
A single Drake Goosander was on the Main pool with 30+ Pochard and 11 Teal, 30+ lesser Redpoll were in the birches around the lake and an unknown amount of Siskin were heard!

Sheepwash 23/12
A female SHOVELER was on the marshy pools adjacent to the river before switching to the main lake, we failed to get any photo's or videos of this personal site first.
A flock of 9 Goosander was also on the main pool, with 20 Pochard and 11 Teal, 20 Redpoll were still in the Birches around the Pool



Blackstone (Patch) 27/12
my dads car had broken down, so we had to walk to his home from my nans in Bewdley, we decided to walk there via the patch, At Blackstone, a Drake and duck MANDARIN DUCK was on the river, which was very high and fast flowing, the first time ive seen a drake in a long time, and i didnt have my scope with me :(
Also showing well at blackstone was 2 Jay, which i would've had some amazing footage of, if i had taken my scope, but i didnt fancy it on a 10 mile round jorney!
40c Redpoll were at various locations between Blackstone and Lickhill!

Chelmarsh Res 28/12
Checked the Gull roost, Only 2 Yellow legged gulls came in, as well as a few GBBG and Herring Gull, the other 4000 Gulls consisted of LBBG and BHG, 19 Goosander were on the main lake as was a Wigeon, on the Marsh were 3 Teal.
Somehow we missed the Red-throated Diver!

Upton Warren 29/12
West hide at the Moors, spent most of the time watching the feeders.
10c Reed Bunting
1 Bullfinch
1 GS woodpecker
17 Curlew in A38 Field
1 Pochard and 50 Teal on the Pool

Chelmarsh

27/11/11
After having my fill off the Desert Wheatear on the windy hillside, i decided to head to another Shropshire site.
Chelmarsh Res
Having a quick scan from the Sailing club revealed a very brief look at the adult RED-THROATED DIVER which had moved up here from the patch well up at the north end of the lake. There was about 2000+ Gulls on the water, and were just on the edge of scoping distance, Panning across the flock i picked up a small Gull. tiny infact, hawking around away from the main gull flock, Instant recognition kicked in:
Adult LITTLE GULL!
I watched for a brief moment, then handed the scope over to my dadwhile i text the news out, but when i got the scope back, it had dissapeared, i guess it just landed on the water with the gulls.

We there had a walk to the other side, near the hide, and here we were much closer to the Gulls, and i was able to pick of 2 Adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL's among the flocks, but the Little Gull had literally dissapeared!
We were treated to more views of the RED-THROATED DIVER at the north end and my dad saw it for the first time.
It was around this time that Sailing activities started taking place, and the Gulls were soon flushed to the north end, too far for the scope to see:



MB

Chelmarsh Res.

25/10/11
Like i explained when the Arctic skua was around here, i found this place for the first time and i quickly thought it could become one of 'my' birding haunts, and without knowledge on any good birds we headed over there to have a look, and hopefully see a few 'winter' ducks.
Saying that, i was actually quite saddened that only tufted duck and 4 WIGEON were the only birds that represented this type, i had also hoped that the large greylaf flock would harber a 'wild' goose, but the entire goose flock had gone!
30 odd lapwing were on the dam. there wasnt much doing on the water, so we walked the hedges, untill be struck gold, a particualr strech of bush held lots of birds. 5 YELLOWHAMMER including one gorgeous male was showing



As this is usually a bird i always seem to miss, was quite happy to see them, the birds associated with 10+ Reed Buntings, as well as a multitude of finches, including a flock of 40+ flighty Linnet, 5 Redpoll sp flew over, and 5 Siskin was in the small birch trees near the hide at the north end, it was quite odd to hear skylark singing on such a cold, despite bright and sunny day.
2 Marsh tit were seen along the enterance road to the sailing club as was 2 Treecreeper in a mixed tit flock.
The large flock of roosting gulls that was present just before we left was looking into the sun, so, other than a quick look through, i didnt really 'grill' them.
On the roads coming away i spotted a very large flock of gulls in a roadside field, we pulled over and i had a scan through them.
400 odd Gulls, all every single one was either a LBBG or a BHG, not even a herring!
However, in the same field, was also c30 Pheasant, and 6 RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.



MB

ARCTIC SKUA, revisited

30/08/11

As aformented, i had planned to visit Chelmarsh again, and the following tuesday, there we were.

We didnt know if the bird was presant or not, as we only had 'it was there yesterda' news, so how relieved we were when after a couple of mins of scanning, i picked up the ARCTIC SKUA again, sitting on the water, quite close into the bank, we then walked back so we could walk up the public Bridleway on the west side of the Res', from here we were treated to much better views of the Skua, and plumage detail could be seen, A dark morph Juv Arctic Skua, what a bird, Many times today it took to the air and harassed the LBBG that flew in after they fed on nearby fields,

The Skua would chase the birds, occasionally even pecking at the birds tails to get the Gull to disgorge its meal, lets just say the tactic worked quite well, and the Skua got lots of Food, and unusually for seabirds, it looked in extremly good health, oftern taking short flights (but often returning to the same spot), I spent some time studying the bird, and taking a few notes (both mental and written) to aid future occurences with the species, or even the whole skua group, as i have only seen one skua species, and 1 bird!

This is how the Res' looked from the public Bridleway, showing lots of potential, however i notcied a sign saying that the water is kept at high levels so there is no wader shore, other than the dam.

Which was why this was Created!

A small, shallow marsh, which although small, has amazing potential, having had Ruff, Spotted Redshank and currently holding a Grey Phalarope, it looks like with more coverage, this place could do some great birds!

So my first few visits to the Res made a huge impression, hopefully this is only 2 of many future visits (and its not that far away!)

Also noted:

120 Greylag Goose (actual count)

1 Snow Goose

63+ Goosander!!!!

1 Yellow wagtail (again on dam)

1 Peregrine flew over

10c Teal on marsh

MB

A site Mega, to a regional MEGA!

26/08/11

When news emerged that a Juv Arctic Skua had been found at Chelmarsh Res i was imidiatly thinking it wouldnt stay long, how wrong i was.

On friday, when my dad picked me up i sneakilly asked to have a visit, and to my suprise, a few hours later, there we were, pulling into the sailing club at chelmarsh!

It didnt take long to locate the bird sitting distantly on the other side of the Res near the Dam, and it flew once for no reason, and flew a tiny little closer, still way too far for digiscoping, but you cant blame me for trying.

We were treated to 'satisfactory' views of the bird as it sat on the water, not really doing much.

I vowed to return to chelmarsh in the following week, skua or not, because it looked quite good.

There was also a large (80c) flock of Greylag goose and in amongst the flock was a single adult Snow Goose, which flew over our heads a few times.

There was 23 Goosander and a single Yellow Wagtail on the Dam.

MB