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Located in the Severn Valley just to the north-west of Worcester the Grimley area encompases a wide variety of habitats which include wetlands, mature and damp woodlands, rough grassland and scrub, arable fields and horse paddocks. This coupled with the area being directly on the Severn Valley migration route means a wide range of bird species have been recorded and this has lead to a growing number of observers visiting the area.
The main focus of attention, Grimley new workings is the largest wetland in the area and hosts nesting Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Redshank. In addition it is the county stronghold for breeding Gadwall. Passage periods see an increase in the variety of waders with Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Green and Common Sandpipers, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit being regular in occurence. Scarcer waders noted at these times have included Sanderling, Knot, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint while Pectoral Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover have been recorded on rare occasions.
Wildfowl are also prominent at this site with annual records of Garganey, birds often lingering for several weeks during the autumn while Pintail are scarce but regular in the autumn and winter along with the occasional Goldeneye and Goosander. Rarer species have included Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, Smew, Ferruginous Duck and the first county record of Lesser Scaup.
Osprey are more or less annual on spring or autumn passage although they rarely linger and Black Tern is being noted with increasing frequency albeit in small numbers. Little Egret have become annual visitors during July and August with as many as four birds being present. The site is a regular stop over for White and Yellow Wagtails, mostly in the spring, while Whinchat and Wheatear often favour the surrounding fences. Stonechats are also regular on passage and are increasingly present thoughout the winter months.
Access is from the A443 Worcester to Tenbury Wells road, following signs to Grimley and on entering the village turn right opposite the phonebox on to Camp Lane and continue for c.1/3 mile. Permission is granted to park in the field adjacent to the hay barn on the right.
| Upton Warren Nature Reserve |
The nature reserve at Upton Warren, managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, is situated between Droitwich and Bromsgrove. This popular reserve is divided by the River Salwarpe with the Moors Pool to the north and the Flashes to the south. The Moors Pool, being deeper attracts most of the wildfowl, while the surrounding reedbeds are excellent for reed loving species, most notably Cetti's Warbler and during the winter, Bittern. The Flashes is one the prime locations in the county for observing a wide variety of waders, particulary during the spring and autumn passage periods. Throughout the reserve there is a mixture of alders, willows and scrub which can be attractive to a variety of passerines throughout the year. In addition, the sailing lake located between the Flashes and the Moors Pool can be productive for passage terns and gulls or maybe a seaduck.
Access to the reserve is free to members of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust while day permits can be purchased from the sailing centre. Car parking for the Flashes is available at the sailing centre off the A38 opposite Webbs Garden Centre while further parking is available for the Moors Pool a little further north along the A38 just past The Swan Inn. There are numerous hides with three at the Flashes complex and four at the Moors Pool, although only one on the west side of the latter site has disabled access.
The Flashes is primarily managed for breeding waders comprising Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Redshank. Remarkably, in 2003 Avocet nested for the first time and has continued to do so ever since. The variety of wader species increases during spring and autumn with regular Green and Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit. Scarcer species can include Ruff, Sanderling, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and maybe Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint or Curlew Sandpiper. There is also a greater chance of a rare wader occuring at these times with past records of Least Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Black-winged Stilt, Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint. A Black-headed Gull roost increases in size from late summer and often hosts Mediterranean Gulls with the occasional Little Gull and has included both Sabine's and Laughing Gulls in the past. A feeding station attracts a wide variety of the commoner finches with the occasional Tree Sparrow or Brambling and Peregrine is often present throughout the year perched on the adjacent radio masts.
The Moors Pools are home to a greater variety of species with breeding Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, and Redshank along with Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers and Reed Bunting. Hobby is also present throughtout the summer months and spring and autumn passage often brings Marsh Harrier, Osprey and Black Tern. The winter months can be equally productive with one or two Bittern a regular feature, together with good numbers of Water Rail, Common Snipe, a few Jack Snipe and occasional Tree Sparrow at the feeding station.
The Wyre Forest is one of the finest remaining native woodlands in Britain and certainly the largest and most diverse in the West Midlands region. Straddling the Worcestershire - Shropshire border it covers around 6,000 acres with a wide variety of habitats, but undoubtedly the best feature, especially from an ornithological point of view is the Dowles Brook. There is year round interest with spring being by far the most popular time to visit.
There are numerous points of entry to the Forest with car parking available at the Visitor Centre and off Dry Mill Lane (limited spaces). Please remember to park sensibly, especially at the latter location where the gates must not be blocked as access is required at all times.
The main attraction in the spring are those three species that are more associated with the sessile oakwoods of Wales - Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler. The latter species is often the most easy to locate along the Dowles Brook, particularly when the males are in song, but numbers can fluctuate markedly with as many as twenty pairs present in a good year but in other years there may only be three or four. Redstarts are also fairly conspicuous when singing but can be surprisingly elusive at times while Pied Flycatchers often require more patience as they can spend long periods high in the canopy. The provision of nest boxes in Knowles Coppice can often provide the best chance of seeing Pied Flycatchers but if you come across an occupied box then please view from a sensible distance in order to avoid any unnecessary disturbance. Other interesting species which can be encountered include Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Cuckoo and Tree Pipit, the latter species favouring the clearings viewable from the disused railway line that runs parallel to Dowles Brook. The Dowles Brook itself holds Dipper throughout the year and is the most reliable place in the county to observe them, while Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher and Mandarin are also present.
The area around Lodge Hill Farm often holds a few Hawfinch during the winter months with birds best looked for from the public footpath that crosses the railway bridge and continues through the orchard, while Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is also often encountered here. Another woodland speciality that can be present is the Crossbill, although numbers vary considerably from year to year with the Arboretum being one of the more reliable locations to observe them. Brambling also occur during the winter months but again in variable numbers, while Siskin and Redpoll are far more numerous and reliable most years. The secretive Goshawk is present throughout the year but mid-mornings on a sunny day in early spring provide the best chance of observing a displaying bird, especially from any forest clearing that provides a good vantage point.
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