Volunteer Training Day Bird Walk

Last Thursday we had an introductory bird identification training day for volunteers. It was led by Pat who told us all about the species we could find on the Long Mynd throughout the year.  

It was glorious weather and we walked up to the reservoir to search for birds before heading onto the top to Pole bank looking for bramblings. Pat was a brilliant enthusiastic teacher and everyone enjoyed the day.

Heather Management

Last week National Trust Rangers started heather burning again on the Long Mynd. Heather burning is a great way to help the heather regenerate quicker and creates the perfect habitat for Grouse. Grouse like to live in tall heather but scout for food in smaller heather, however they wont go to far from cover so heather burning has to be planned carefully. We only have til around the end of March to fit in burning as after that it is ground nesting bird season and burning will disrupt the nests and the birds.

Fallen Oak Branch

On Monday the large oak close to the bird hide dropped one of it's larger branches. No one was injured and after cordoning off the site a tree surgeon examined the tree. A plan is being implemented to ensure the tree is healthy and safe for many years to come.

To ensure visitor safety the bird hide will be closed, however, the roof-top terrace is the perfect place to see, and listen to, Chiffchaff, Siskin and many others!

New Bird Feeders

We have put up some new bird feeders! Pop down to the bird hide to see what you can see.

This siskin and blue tit flew in as soon as the new feeders were up!

Peregrine Nest

Work is underway to monitor the peregrine nest. A camera was bought with money kindly donated by Steven Matthews of Darwin Matthews Solicitors, Shropshire Members Centre and the Peregrine Group, and has been set up to monitor the nest, which in previous years has been affected by predation. This year we are hoping to find out what has been predating the nest, and if possible prevent, with the use of dazers, which emit a high pitch noise. We will keep you posted with any updates!

Birds Of Prey

The Long Mynd is a fantastic place to see wildlife, in particular birds of prey. Isabel took this photo of a kestrel hovering near the Portway today, but there are also buzzards, red kites, merlins, hobbies, and sometimes peregrine falcons.

Having a Dip

Learning Officer Chris Stratton spotted this Dipper opposite the Tea Room in the Valley this morning.  

Dippers like to eat insect larvae and fresh water shrimp, and are often seen near fast flowing water.

Bird Feeders

With winter fast approaching our bird feeders are busier than ever! FTV Isabel took these photos from the Roof Top Terrace, which is the perfect place to sit and watch the birds. Don't forget to ask in the tea room for the binoculars! 

A Coal Tit and a Blue Tit eat some sunflower seeds



Another Blue Tit eating peanuts



Binoculars in the Tea Room

Fancy doing a spot of bird watching whilst having tea on the Roof Top Terrace? Pop into the Tea Room and ask to borrow our binoculars, its free and you can watch the birds at our bird feeders! What will you see?

Grant spies some birds



The Swallows Are Flying The Nest



If you've been in the tea room recently you may have noticed a video feed of an empty nest, this is because our swallows have fledged! All three chicks are happily flying around the shed, and will soon begin their journey south. Hopefully we'll see them again next year!

Mum and Dad are clearly very proud of their chicks!





Baby Swallows

Carding Mill Valley is currently playing host to a family of swallows! The nest is tucked away at the top of the barn and is very difficult to see, but the wardens have set up a camera so we can watch the baby birds grow.

The nest is right at the top of the barn



 The camera is linked to a TV in the Tea Room, so if you have a minute to spare pop in and have a look (and maybe a bite of cake too!)



In the Tea Room you can watch the baby birds



Swallow Chicks

Follow the link below to see a compilation video of the swallow chicks in Carding Mill Valley made by our volunteer, Richard Yeoman-Clark. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/jCsmISJKh1w

CMV Bird watching day

 This Tuesday at Carding Mill Valley, Peter Carty set up and led a bird song course for NT volunteers. Due to glorious weather they started on the rooftop terrace listening to bird song using an app on Pete's phone.



Thrush



Then the group walked up the valley and to the reservoir all the way looking for birds, taking pictures and listening to Pete who gave an in-depth talk about bird species and their song. The highlight of the morning was the Buzzard that they spotted.



Cuckoo!

This lovely cuckoo was spotted near Lightspout in Carding Mill Valley on Monday by Lucy Dunkerley. The picture is a tad blurry but the cuckoo was a long way off.



Birds of the Long Mynd

Below is some information on just some of the bird species that can be found on the Long Mynd and that will be visiting soon. Birds that are regulary here include Mistle Thrush and Wren.

Mistle Thrush

Birds which will migrate and stay on the Mynd include; Golden Plover, Curlew, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Hen Harriers, Short-eared owl, Merlin, Kestrel and Meadow Pipit.

Golden Plover

Occasionally a Snow Bunting visits the hill from Norway and Siberia, it is a very confiding bird and will come very close to you.

Snow Bunting

This month Red Wing and Field Fare can be seen at the batch, the Pipe walk and in Carding Mill Valley, they are both members of the thrush family.



Red Wing



At the end of December till the beginning of January there will be Bramblings, Siskin and Red pole. Red Pole is often spotted in the Batch valley and the Wern whereas Bramblings can be found at New pool hollow, Pole cottage and the Batch.



Brambling



Thank you to North East Wildlife who supplied all these amazing photos and to Malcolm Loft, a National Trust volunteer who gave us the information used here.

Swallow fledglings

The live streaming from the Swallow camera is showing fantastic viewings as the baby Swallows are preparing to fly the nest! To catch a glimpse of them before they leave next week or so, please feel free to pop in to the tea room and look on the big screen.

There is also an opportunity to see the mother feed its young via the link below;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UAnC5Wtgas