Salford Priors GP:- Review of the year

White-fronted Geese

Bewick's Swans

Black-necked Grebe

Short-eared Owl

 Stonechat

 Mandarin

 Wheatear

 Greenshank

 Old workings

 Pink-footed Goose

 Fall of the bunds

Meadow Pipit

It’s been a year of fit’s and starts at Salford Priors Gravel Pits. The restoration moved into full swing however the December deadline will pass with at least half the main bund still present. Some of the small areas of reeds and water have gone forever but new area have also have emerged giving us some fresh hope. With over  141 species recorded we surpassed last years total even though wader passage was minimal due to high water levels in the spring and autumn.

Two new species were recorded for the first time which was a Pomarine Skua & White-fronted Geese.

January started well with the Pink-footed Goose staying until the 8^th, three Shelduck, three Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, two Pintail, 80 Teal, five Shoveler, nine Pochard, 87 Tufted Duck, 11 Little Grebe, Merlin, two Peregrine, 650 Lapwing, three Jack Snipe, Redshank, seven Green Sandpipers, Yellow-legged Gull, Barn Owl and single wintering Blackcap and Chiffchaff. A flock of 1250 Lapwing were keeping company with 340 Golden Plover to the east of the village.

February saw two Goosander visit with returning Oystercatchers.  Two Brambling and a Chiffchaff were both good winter finds.

March proved to be an interesting month with a pair of Mandarin, Little Egret, Water Rail, , Little Ringed Plover (from 21st), a Jack Snipe, Redshank, Curlew (only record of year) ,Rock Pipit (27th), White Wagtail, 15 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest (28^th). 

April was probably the best month of the year and thankfully the hours put in by all of us reaped some real rewards. I finally recorded by first Ring Ouzel (28^th), a major relief, and one of my personal targets. The month highlights included three returning Turtle Doves, a Brent Goose (23rd), two Red Kites, Marsh Harrier (7th), two Peregrines, Hobby, Merlin (24th), Water Rail, three Great Crested Grebes, a stunning Black-necked Grebe (23^rd – sites second record), two Oystercatcher, two Avocets (8th), a Ringed and six Little Ringed Plovers, 25 Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, Curlew, Whimbrel (23rd-24th), Redshank, four Green and seven Common Sandpipers, Cuckoo, two Whinchat, six Wheatear, & both White and Yellow Wagtails.

A late red headed Smew was recorded in May (10^th).  I managed to miss the two Avocets yet again (7^th) however my Short-eared Owl find was a personal highlight. Wader movement was limited to two Ringed and six Little Ringed Plovers, two Golden Plover (1^st), a single Whimbrel (1^st and 5^th), two Dunlin, six Turnstone and nine Common Sandpipers. Four Black Terns (10^th) & five Common Tern, a Grasshopper Warbler and three Yellow Wagtails added to a good months return.  

Treecreepers bred again in the plantation in June, whilst the Shelducks & Water Rails booth produced a brood of six that did very well in difficult circumstances. A Spotted Flycatcher was the only additional migrant. This was followed by a very quiet July of which we had regular visits by a pair of Common Tern.  

July saw confirmation of the breeding of he Little Ringed Plovers again, who seem happy to move around the site to breed,  and also one juvenile Turtle Dove was seen.

The edge was taken off my own summer holiday when the pits produced some notable August records. Mike Inskip found42 Common and 17 Black Tern.  This was followed up by Jon with a Garganey on Pophills, Red Kite, Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Little Stints, 6 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank (all main pit), 1 juvenile Med Gull (main pit), male Redstart , 2 Whinchat, Wheatear and a Grasshopper Warbler. A brood of Sparrohawks proved to be great watching throughout the month.

I finally recorded my first Greenshank in September (Stayed 5 weeks) to much relief. Jon added a brilliant Pomarine Skua to the site list, another one missed myself (must stop twitching). A Honey Buzzard was recorded at Morton Bagot & nearby Coughton so did we miss it at the pits! 17 Wigeon & two Pintail retuned indicating autumn had started. 

October gave us a mega day in the pits history as myself & Chris Lane found five adult White-fronted Geese on the main pit. A cracking record and I pleased I was able to get some excellent shots. A rare species Jon has not seen on the site. A fall of 600 Meadow Pipits proved a genuine spectacle.

Chris Lane magical year continued when we found four Bewick’s Swans on the main pit in November. Unfortunately they didn’t stay very long as they were spooked by the local Greylags so only Chris & I connected with this handsome foursome.

December has proved rather dreary as the water levels have been low to attract and different wildfowl. He shall plough on regardless. More trees are being planted on the north side of main pits which may discourage wader looking for water. I know that CEMEX were seeking advice from RSPB about these trees so you have to remain hopeful.  There is not a visit that passes when we comment how this could have been a fantastic reserve if managed by West Midland Bird Club.

Many thanks to all the regulars – Jon, Chris, Paul (Alcester Squire), Mike and Mark who kindly contributed to the sightings. With some recent new additions to the text group you never know what 2017 will bring.