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Blithfield Reservoir is the largest water body in the region. The shear size of the site means it will always be a magnet for a wide variety of birds. Access is strictly by permit only, details of obtaining one can be found Here. However large sections of the reservoir can also be viewed from public rights of way and these include the causeway, Watery Lane (on the east side of the reservoir south of the causeway) and from the dam.
During the winter months a huge gull roost often attracts plenty of scarce species including Glaucous, Iceland and Caspian Gulls while Yellow-legged Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls are more frequent. Wintering wildfowl include Goosander which occur in large numbers and may be joined by the occasional Red-breasted Merganser. Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Duck also occur from time to time and Common Scoter are recorded each year on passage.
Wader passage is usually more productive during the autumn when water levels have dropped sufficiently enough to expose large areas of suitable feeding habitat. Scarce waders usually include Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Knot, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, while past rarities have included Baird’s, White-rumped and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-winged Stilt.
In common with other large reservoirs, Blithfield often attracts good numbers of terns on passage and under suitable weather conditions these include Arctic and Black Terns, with a chance of both Little and Sandwich Terns.
Such a well watched site will inevitably have a long list of rarities and these include Squacco Heron, Blue-winged Teal, Franklin`s and Bonaparte`s Gulls, Gull-billed & Roseate Terns, Arctic Warbler and most outstanding of all, a Needle-tailed Swift in June 1991.
Although largely surrounded by urban development, Chasewater is one of the Midland’s most productive reservoirs. The main access is from the A5 dual carriageway (east-bound only). Turn left off the A5 on to Pool Road, over the M6 Toll Motorway and left again to the car park.
Chasewater is often at it’s best during the winter months when the huge gull roost represents one of the best opportunities in the Midlands for studying these birds. They are best viewed from the south shore adjacent to the car park. Both Glaucous and Iceland Gulls are annual while Caspian Gulls are becoming more regular. Yellow-legged Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls are frequent while Little Gulls and Kittiwakes are also occasionally present amongst the large numbers of commoner gull species. This site also attracts a good variety of wintering wildfowl with impressive numbers of Goldeneye, along with Goosander and occasional Red-breasted Merganser and Smew. Sea-ducks may also be present, including Greater Scaup and Long-tailed Duck, while Velvet Scoter has occurred but Common Scoter is more likely, particularly on passage. In 1987, Chasewater hit the headlines when it hosted Britain's first Lesser Scaup. It is also the most regular site in the region for divers, being very good for Great Northern and the scarcer grebes are recorded on a regular basis; Black-necked are often found on passage while Slavonian and Red-necked are more likely during winter.
The occurrence of waders will depend on water levels during the main passage periods with all the regular coastal species possible, including Sanderling, Knot and Turnstone while past rarities have included Kentish Plover, Purple, Least, Baird’s and Buff-breasted Sandpipers.
Arctic Terns are usually the most frequent terns during passage periods with smaller numbers of Common, while Black Terns are encountered during suitable weather conditions and Little and Sandwich Terns are recorded most years. There are also past records of both White-winged Black and Caspian Terns.
Chasewater also has an excellent track record for attracting seabirds with the most outstanding of all, being a Cory’s Shearwater in 1971. Other notables include Manx Shearwater, both Storm and Leach’s Petrels, Fulmar and Great, Arctic and Pomarine Skuas.
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