Nick's Notes

Hi All,

 Before I waffle on if you have not yet filled in a questionnaire about the future development of Sandwell RSPB you can do so online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P7WZQDX Even if you have done one perhaps you could add extra value for us by circulating the link to any friends, family or other contacts that you think might have a view on the reserve future. We are particularly interested in people that would probably enjoy the reserve but do not currently visit. We want to know why not and what might give them reason to come and find out more. So please do forward this onto as many people as you can think of.

 The update proper

Finally the sun has appeared and it feels summer has arrived in the valley. Yesterday I saw 6 species of butterfly around the meadows the most so far this year amazingly.

 As anyone who has enjoyed it since the sun has come out will agree the view from the old centre is now at its best, the crown vetch gives a rare carpet of pink whilst the chickory punctuates it with blue. One result of the weather is that the marsh pool is as deep as ever for this time of year (deep enough for little grebe yesterday)  and the surrounding grassland will also be saturated providing feeding opportunities for waders and wildfowl. A great result from last winter’s works has been the hatching of lapwing within the marsh and also number of birds using the new shoreline. This of course capped off with the fledging of two little ringed plovers.

 The oystercatcher family have been performing well for visitors with regular formation flybys and the common tern chick seems to be always hungry as he harasses his parents and begs constantly. Some young lapwings seem to have evaded all those that would eat them and are now loafing with the adults whilst coot now have tiny young in the relative safety of the marsh pool. I predicted last Friday that the gadwall would be out soon with young and although a family of small ducklings was on the pool that evening no one has yet confirmed that they were gadwall.

 In the reedbed the water levels are also still deep and the reeds have recovered well from their crushing last winter. It is good to see too that the open water areas have remained un-colonised by the reeds providing important habitat and reed edge.  I noted yesterday reed warbler feeding young, 2 baby moorhens, 2 brown hawker dragonflies and the Cettis was still calling periodically. Reed bunting and willow tit were also calling around the scrub.

 As the wildlife has been growing, hatching, flying and singing around the reserve, our work parties have concentrated on the people infrastructure. The wildlife garden looks better all the time and the wild flower meadow area is now adding colour whilst attracting bees and butterflies. The new kingfisher trail should be officially ready to go soon with a new path through a lighter and better managed wood and steps leading down to the river. Lots of people have worked very hard on this over the last couple of months and should be very proud of the efforts.

Pippa and Nicky have enjoyed lots of support from the volunteers helping with walks and events. The families attending are having a great time and we have seen many new faces become regulars since the spring. Yesterday over a hundred kids and parents enjoyed the Holiday wildlife club taster and despite the heat had a great time. My heated argument with William (aged about 8) as to whether a rattle snake or a tiger would win in a fight might have been a bit off message but I expect he learnt something of real value too at some point in the day!

From The Ed team:

School Groups

Despite the weather being incredibly miserable for the field teaching season this year, I am pleased to say we have had a very successful few months here at Sandwell.  Since Easter we have had over 30 school visits which means we have had hundreds and hundreds of local school children out and about on the reserve getting up close with nature! We even had an A level group this year which was a great day so a little bit different than what we are used to here at Sandwell with the youngsters and the team did a great job as always.  A huge thank you to all of our education volunteers for all your help this season and for keeping smiling despite the downpours J.

(I am also pleased to report that the pond failed to claim its usual victim this year and not a single child went for an unauthorised swim!)

Work Experience Students

For a very wet and soggy week at the end of July we had two local work experience students (Matt and Jason (some of whom you will know from the hide at weekends!)) with us here at Sandwell. Some of you will have met them and in fact worked with them.  They had a fantastic week and helped out in the hide, helped with a school visit and spent time with the work party.  It was great to have them and hope that they continue to return to the reserve in future years!

Baby Birds

With the end of term I am pleased to see the re-starting our weekly Parent and Toddler group for 5 year olds and under. This runs on Wednesdays and is based from the Sandwell classroom.  We run two sessions; mornings between 10.00am – 12.00pm and afternoons between 13.00pm – 15.00pm. If you know of any Baby Birds that enjoy spending time outdoors then send them our way!  There is no need to book so just turn up.  Buggies and pushchairs welcome!  Tea and coffee is also available.

Holiday Wildlife Club

The end of term also sees our very popular Holiday Wildlife Club back. This is school holiday club for children aged between 5-14years.  It’s a great day for the kids, they can be dropped off at 10.00am and picked up at 4.00pm.  Its only £12.00 per day for young RSPB members  so if you have any children / grand children that you think would love to have a great day out exploring in the wild then send them our way!.

Wildlife Explorers

After a fantastic start several months ago our WEX group is still going strong but numbers have declined slightly.  So if you know of any budding young nature enthusiasts aged between 8-12 years of age this is the group for them!  Its run on the last Saturday of the month between 13.00pm – 15.00pm – no booking required so just turn up.  It costs just a £1 for young members.

We try and market all of the above groups that we run here at Sandwell in local libraries and youth centres but if you know of anywhere local to you that you think would display a flyer or poster the please let us know!  All of these groups are also advertised on the Sandwell Valley webpage’s and we also regularly tweet on Twitter and let you know what’s happening on Facebook.  Whilst these posters,  flyers and modern social media sites are great tools, we also know  the value of word of mouth so please do let all your friends and family know about the range of groups and opportunities that we offer for young people and their families and please do send them our way.   Ann, Wendy or Lesley J in the Sandwell Office have any other information you might need about all of these groups so please do pop in and see them.

Egg Boxes

Thank you for all your donations of egg boxes in recent months.  I am please to say we now have enough so thank you for all your help!

 The Big Build....

 Thank you to everyone who inputted into the consultation week last month, the work has continued and we now have questionnaires and drop boxes spread around the area. Fiona has also been out speaking to key members of the local community to get their input and Chris and Nicky also entertained a group of local youngsters on the reserve who are now acting as surveyors for us within their peer group. We hope that their insight will help us generate a more positive relationship with our local youngsters and channel their energies into conservation.

 Hopefully you will also have received an invite to the Meet the Architect session. This is building on the consultation and will be your chance to discuss and influence the design of the new centre and its surroundings. The architects and staff will be at the reserve from 4pm till 8pm so hopefully there will be lots of chance for useful discussions around all aspects of the project.

 Finally a big thank you for everyone who turned out to make our Volunteer BBQ a great success, the weather was lovely and the atmosphere was great. It was so good to have some time out to chat to people and discuss the reserve past, present, future and just life in general. Thanks also for everyone who brought food and drink it was a fine spread in addition to Chris’s excellent work manning the BBQ. If anyone has any good suggestions for any other volunteer social events please do let us know.

 For anyone who was not there it was announced that Ann Burt was our first Sandwell RSPB Volunteer of the Year.  A very popular member of the team Ann has been a constant support for staff and volunteers at the reserve for the last 5 years. She is always cheerful yet professional and has a great can do attitude. Chris and Lee spoke about how important Ann was in the days and weeks after the fire and how her practical and moral support helped them through. Ann was awarded her trophy and judging by the reaction from other volunteers on the evening is a popular winner! Thank you to Andy Purcell for taking the attached photo.

 Many thanks as always and please do enjoy the summer now it’s finally here!

 See you soon,

 Nick and the team

 Nick Martin

Senior Site Manager