Dipet Update

Sandwell Valley RSPB Nature Reserve

Caleb’s been patiently waiting for us to find a place to go birding.  We signed up as RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) members and the kids received their first membership packages last week.  They were super excited! We found the closest RSPB site, Sandwell Valley, and made a trip there on Saturday afternoon.  It was really cold so we dressed up in lots of layers.  With our binoculars, camera, and birding scope we trooped out to find all those “lifers” (first time sightings).

Getting all the gear in working order and first sightings.

Here is the list of birds we saw and which ones were lifers:

Mute Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
Shoveller
Tufted Duck
Moorhen
Coot
Black-Headed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Robin
Blackbird
Long-Tailed Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Green Finch
Canada Goose

Lifers:
Teal
Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Water Rail
Lapwing
Snipe
Bullfinch

The European Canada Goose and friends

The Goosander

Emma and I wandered off as the light was fading, ready to get home again.

Enjoy!

Diana