As the seasons change and the leaves fade from the green of Summer to the reds, oranges, and browns of the Autumn our summer visitors leave the reserve and are replaced by an influx of wintering birds such as thrushes to waders. Meet some of our Winter visitors below.
Secret Snipe
Common snipe. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
One of our first winter visitors to return to the reserve is the common snipe or just snipe. Whilst snipe can be seen all year round, they are more numerous and widespread in the winter months as they spread out from their upland breeding grounds and are joined by birds from northern Europe. They are a medium sized wading bird that are easily identified by their long beaks which they use to probe into mud when searching for worms and other small invertebrates, despite having such a long and distinctive bill, snipe can be hard to spot due to their cryptic colouring and are usually seen skulking around the edges of water bodies near to vegetation. Here at RSPB Sandwell Valley, we have quite a lot of snipe spending the winter and they are best spotted skulking around the edges of our islands and the lake shore although large numbers take shelter in the marsh where they’re not easily seen.
Colourful Ducks
A male wigeon. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com
A female (top) and male (bottom) goosander. Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
During the Autumn and Winter our resident ducks are joined by their European counterparts as they flee from the harsher winters further north. Here at RSPB Sandwell Valley we love to host many species of duck on their winter holidays, some of my favourites are the goosander. The goosander belongs to a family of ducks known as ‘Sawbills’ this is due to their serrated bills, designed for catching fish whilst diving. On our reserve they can be seen resting on the islands, as individuals or pairs whilst hunting on the lake or the river Tame. Various other ducks drop into the reserve over the winter some of these are dabblers like shovelers, teal, wigeon and gadwall others are diving ducks like the pochard and occasionally, in the deep winter, goldeneye. You can find more info about these birds on our birds A-Z.
Munching Thrushes
Redwing. Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Fieldfare. Blake Euan Marlow, Reserves assistant intern.
In October and November, our familiar thrushes are joined by their relatives from across the North Sea, the redwing and fieldfare. Both thrushes breed in northern Europe and travel to us in large flocks, usually overnight. The redwing is our smallest true thrush, it is slightly smaller than a song thrush, it’s identifying features are a cream eye stripe and orange-red flanks. The fieldfare on the other hand, are slightly bigger than a blackbird. They are very distinctive with their grey heads and heavily speckled breast. Both thrushes roam our countryside in search of winter berries, often together, and can also be seen in parks and green open space. As you walk around this winter keep your eyes peeled on berry trees and bushes and you might catch a glimpse of these colourful winter visitors.
These are just some of the changes that this season brings to our reserve, why not visit us to discover these for yourself and finish off with a hot cuppa at the visitor centre?
Adam Saul-Braddock