18th August 2009

Blythe Valley Country Park

Went on a tour of this park (near Earlswood) with Humphey Miller and Barbara Oakley as part of a nestbox maintenance and monitoring project that the West Midland Bird Club's Solihull Branch has recently become involved with implementing there. 2 Ravens, 3 Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Treecreeper were among the birds noted whilst there.

At present just the three of us are involved with this project but more volunteers will be needed if it is to be successful. More information should be appearing in the next WMBC Bulletin, but for non-members wanting further information or interested in participating please contact Humphrey (Solihull Branch Chairman).

The park is situated adjacent to Junction 4 of the M42, less than 1.5 miles ENE of Earlswood Lakes, and includes small pools, reedbeds, grassland and woodland, as well as a bird feeding station and a hide that overlooks one of the larger pools. Quail, Wood Lark, Waxwing, Black Redstart and Common Crossbill are amongst the species that have been recorded. Its location makes it easily accessible not just to Solihull bird lovers but also to those living elsewhere in the West Midlands region. More information about the country park can be found here. A number of relevant maps can be found here; the site map is particularly useful but since this was made the bird feeding station seems to have been moved to next to the hide.

M.P. Griffiths