Bird watching on the canal

from Cut Both Ways 116 - August 2023

by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Environment report

After a pretty rotten winter, lasting much longer than it ought, when the sun at last pokes through the window, it is time to grab one’s binoculars and head out onto the towpath to do a bit of bird spotting.

There are two sections of the Lichfield Canal close by my home: the first is opposite across Tamworth Road, next is Fosseway, slightly further away. There are some differences in the habitats on each site. The former is partially in water, with some trees on one side of the canal and a lovely large field, soon to be filled with houses. The latter has a few trees and a lot of low scrubby bushes, such as gorse, with fields each side. Of course there is a third section of canal nearby too: Darnford Moors, which should soon be in water and open to the public.

I walk almost daily between Gallows Wharf and Bobby’s Bend, alongside Tamworth Road and always see and/or hear birds. This May, my sightings included the following: magpie, crow, rook, wood pigeon, grey heron, moorhen (and chicks), mallard (with ducklings), robin, chaffinch, gold finch, green finch, wren, chiffchaff, dunnock, blackbird, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, grey wagtail and pied wagtail.

I love the grey wagtails, which are handsome looking birds with bright lemon yellow colouring under their long tails, which they wag up and down. I think they have been nesting near Bobby’s Bend.

Wrens have an incredibly loud song in relation to their size and are often spotted low down in the scrub. The greenfinch is one of my favourites. It has a varied song, which it delivers from a high, often visible, perch. Goldfinches tend to move in flocks and make twittering noises.

A few days ago, I also saw or, rather, heard an incredibly loud whistling song, which turned out to be an unassuming brownish bird, warbler size, high up in a tree, which I could not identify. This always peeves me somewhat. Its tail vibrated as it whistled. My best guess is that it was a marsh warbler, a summer migrant, but if so, it was north of its normal range. Plenty of rabbits have been seen as well, frolicking in the field.

One lunchtime walk to Fosseway - not the best time to spot wildlife, I saw, including some of the birds listed above, many house sparrows flying in and out of the old signal box over the disused railway, a pheasant, two pairs of white throats, which are summer migrants, and a yellowhammer. The latter has a lovely song, which ends in a kind of ‘cheese’ sound.

I am sure that others will have seen many more species than the above, particularly if they are early birds! Once Darnford Moors is open to the public, there may be some different species turning up in that area too. It is much more fun and more interesting to be able to give names to the birds that you spot and to get to know their songs.

Amanda Hilmarsson-Dunn

Meetourvolunteer

Amandaisawomanofmanytalents,having helpedoutourworkparty,eventsteamand helpingtoeditCutBothWaystoo.

SowhydidIvolunteertohelpLHCRT?

Well,Ilikeboats.Ihavelivedonseveral:a Thamesbarge,anIcelandictrawleranda30 footsloop.Ihaveownedboatshares:a narrowboatandarivercruiser,andhave sailed or motored various vessels across oceans, seas, and up and down waterways. What better to do than get involved with restoring one of England's lovely canals; to enable nature lovers, ramblers as well as boaters to get out there by/on the water. Anyway, I am living across the road from the old Lichfield Canal. No brainer really. Come and join us!

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