Saturday 10th December 2022 - Oldbury Power Station

 

Map of the Oldbury Power Station Area

The final RSPB field trip of the year was to Oldbury Power Station where 12 members turned out on a cold and frosty day but the sun did shine all day. On the way to Oldbury the following were seen, a flock of Golden Plover on Lansdown, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Buzzard and Blackbird. As we approached the power station a Jay flew down the road in front of us and Magpies flew across the road. When we reached the car park while waiting for others to arrive a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the top of a nearby tree and Redwings were flying in and out of the Orchard. When we started the walk Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon were soon noted. It was then quite a while before our next sighting a flyover Mistle Thrush. Nothing more until we reached the river and here were lots of waders including, Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Curlew, Turnstone and Ringed Plover.  While watching the flocks of waders Bryan spotted a single Black Tailed Godwit flying down river, our only sighting of the day. A small flock of Shoveler were on the river and a pair of Stonechat were on a fence, 2 Rook flew over our only sighting of this species during the day. As we walked up the river small flocks of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks flew over. Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon and Mallard were on the mud with 2 Black Headed Gulls while a single Starling flew over. Heading back to the cars for lunch we stopped at the entrance to the orchard where a flock of Fieldfare were in trees along with more Redwing. At the entrance feeders had been put out and these contained Blue and Great Tits with a single Coal Tit also seen. A cracking male Chaffinch was in the bushes. After lunch 7 members set off in the opposite direction and I soon heard and found our 1st Goldcrest of the day. On a mostly frozen pond a pair of Mute Swans had managed to keep some water free of ice but the Moorhens were scattered over the ice. Our next sighting was a Song Thrush which meant we had seen all 4 species of thrush. A male Bullfinch and a Dunnock were added before we again reached the river and here we found Cormorant, Herring and Common Gull. This ended a great day and from the comments we had I think everybody else enjoyed the day. We added one extra bird to our list with a Collared Dove seen on our way home.

Severn estuary from Oldbury Power Station

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