Worcestershire

• Avon Valley

  Information
  Park at Eckington bridge and walk west along the riverbank. Kingfisher, Cormorant, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting. Summer: Sedge and Reed Warblers, Yellow Wagtail. Passage waders. Winter: Ducks, Lapwing, Golden Plover.

• Bittell Reservoirs

  InformationSatellite View
  Park on unclassified road off the B4120 south of Barnt Green. View reservoirs from surrounding lanes and footpaths. Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk. Summer: Blackcap, Whitethroat. Passage waders including Greenshank and Common Sandpiper. Winter: Teal, Gadwall, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Siskin.

• Bredon Hill

  InformationSatellite View
  Car park at Elmley Castle. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Grey and Red-legged Partridge, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Stock Dove, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Nuthatch, Jay, Yellowhammer. Summer: Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Redsatart, Spotted Flycatcher. Possible Pied Flycatcher. Recent spring and autumn migrants have included Dotterel, Whinchat, Wheatear, Merlin and Red Kite. Winter: Fieldfare, Redwing, Redpoll, Siskin, Brambling.

• Bredons Hardwick

  InformationSatellite View
  Gravel pits and meadows between the village and the river Avon. View the main pit from the B4080. View water meadows by parking by the river Avon at the end of Fleet Lane. Little Grebe, Cormorant, Tufted Duck. Summer: Hobby, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail. Passage waders. Winter: Wigeon, Teal, Pintail. Golden Plover, Dunlin. Possible Scaup, Smew, Bewicks Swan, White-Fronted Goose, Peregrine.

• Castlemorton Common

  InformationSatellite View
  Rough pasture with gorse and bramble. Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Linnet, Yellowhammer. Summer: Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler. Whinchat on passage. Winter: Snipe, Redwing, Fieldfare. Possible Jack Snipe, Water Rail and Great Grey Shrike.

• Chaddesley Wood

  WebpageSatellite View
  Mixed woodland three miles west of Bromsgrove. Sparrowhawk, Woodcock, Willow Tit. Summer: Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit. Winter: Fieldfare, Redwing.

• Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve

  WebpageSatellite View
  Arguably the premier birding site in the county. Situated at Upton Warren on the A38 between Bromsgrove and Droitwich. It is owned by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and access is limited to members and permit holders. Permits are available from wardens on site. Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Water Rail. Summer: Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Hobby. Passage waders, including Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff. Winter: Goldeneye, Snipe, Jack Snipe. Rarities possible at any time during the year.

• Clent Hills

  WebpageSatellite View
  Grass covered hills with mixed woodland. Signposted for the A456 Halesowen to Hagley road. Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Jay, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Yellowhammer. Summer: Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Meadow Pipit, Linnet. Ring Ouzel and Wheatear on passage. Winter: Fieldfare, Redwing, Redpoll, Siskin.

• Devils Spittleful & Rifle Range and Blackstone Farm Fields

  WebpageSatellite View
  Heathland. Worcs Wildlife Trust reserve west of Kidderminster. View from public footpath. Sparrowhawk, all three woodpeckers, Yellowhammer. Summer: Cuckoo, Redstart, Wood Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher. Winter: Siskin, Redpoll, Fieldfare.

• Grimley and Holt

  Satellite View
  Gravel pits and marsh on the west bank of the Severn north of Worcester. View from roads and public footpath. Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting. Summer: Hobby, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Yellow Wagtail. Winter: Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Lapwing, Snipe.

• Hartlebury Common

  WebsiteSatellite View
  Heathland. Local nature reserve south east of Stourport. Sparrowhawk, all three woodpeckers, Willow Tit, Stonechat, Redpoll. Summer: Cuckoo, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher. Winter: Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin.

• Lickey Hills Wood

  InformationSatellite View
  Mixed woodland. Visitors centre signposted from the B4096 Rednal to Bromsgrove road. Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay. Summer: Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher. Possible Pied Flycatcher. Winter: Flocks of tits and finches including Siskin and Brambling. Possible Crossbill.

• Malvern Hills

  WebsiteSatellite View
  The hills are managed by the Malvern Hills Conservators and access is excellent. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Yellowhammer. Summer: Wheatear, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler. Ring Ouzel on passage. Winter: Fieldfare, Redwing, Redpoll, Siskin.

• Monkwood

  WebpageSatellite View
  Deciduous woodland north west of Worcester. Worcs Wildlife Trust reserve. Woodcock, all three woodpeckers, Stock Dove, Little and Tawny Owl, Nuthatch ,Treecreeper. Summer: Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit. Winter: Siskin, Redpoll.

• Piper's Hill & Dodderhill Commons

  WebpageSatellite View
  Beech and oak woodland south east of Bromsgrove. Little and Tawny Owl, Stock Dove, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay. Summer: Redstart, Wood Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher. Winter: Flocks of tits and finches including Siskin, Redpoll and possible Brambling and Crossbill.

• Shrawley Wood

  WebpageSatellite View
  Mixed woodland and stream west of the Severn between Worcester and Stourport. Partly Forestry Commission. Keep to public paths. Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, all three woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper. Summer: Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher. Winter: Thrushes, Brambling, Siskin, Redpoll.

• Suckley Hills

  ArticleSatellite View
  Wooded hills to the north of the Malverns. Park at the Worcs Wildlife Trusts Ravenshill Wood reserve. Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Raven, all three woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Willow Tit. Summer: Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Pied Flycatcher. Winter: Redpoll, Siskin.

• Wyre Forest

  InformationSatellite View
  One of the best remaining native woodlands in Britain. Park in Bewdley or at the visitors centre at Callow Hill on the A456. The best area for birding is around Dowles Brook. Sparrowhawk, Woodcock, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, all three woodpeckers, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Raven, Hawfinch. Summer: Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, Spotted and Pied Flycatcher. Winter: Redwing, Siskin, Redpoll, Crossbill.

• Andy Thomas

  | andy@thomas1976.freeserve.co.uk

• Craig Reed

  worcs-recorder@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk

• Number of bird species: 317

• A Year in the Life of Worcestershire's Nature Reserves

  | By H Green | Pisces Publications | 1995 | Hardback | 128 pages, 60 col photos, line illus, maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781874357087 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• The New Birds of the West Midlands

  | (covering Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the former West Midlands County) | Graham Harrison & Janet Harrison | West Midlands Bird Club | 2005 | 496 pages, colour photos, line drawings, maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780950788128 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Where to watch birds in West Midlands

  | By F Gribble, G Harrison, H Griffiths, J Winsper & S Coney | Christopher Helm | 2007 | Paperback | 343 pages, 53 maps, 24 line drawings | ISBN: 9780713664195 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Worcestershire Museum - Natural History

  Museum Website
  Worcester City’s Natural History Collections go back to the Museum of the Worcestershire Natural History Society in the 1830s. In the nineteenth century specimens of animals, birds and plants were collected from all around the world, but any current acquisitions are made in collaboration with local wildlife trusts and are restricted to Worcestershire. Today, the local material in the collection is valuable as a comparison for the biological records produced by the Worcestershire Biological Centre at the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

• RSPB Worcester & Malvern Local Group

  Webpage
  We are a dynamic and thriving group of birdwatchers and conservationists. Whether you are just starting out or if you are a birdwatcher of many years, we have a wide range of activities to suit anyone who is interested in nature and especially birds.

• WMBC Kidderminster Branch

  Webpage
  Indoor meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of every month - September through to April inclusive - at: St. Oswald's Church Centre, off Broadwaters Drive, Kidderminster DY10 2RY - O/S Grid ref: SO841779 All indoor meetings commence at 19.30. The venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there is a large car park near to the church centre.

• West Midland Bird Club

  Website
  Studying Birds in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands since 1929

• Worcestershire Natural History Society

  Website

• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

  Website
  Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SZ 01905 754919 enquiries@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org - We care for more than 70 nature reserves which include many of the best wildlife habitats in Worcestershire. The Trust`s ownership guarantees they are protected for ever. They include: Pools and marshes - providing refuges for otters, dragonflies and birds such as kingfishers, wildfowl and wading birds. One of our highest priorities is to conserve, restore and recreate marsh, reedbed and open waters of which so little remains

Abbreviations Key

• *Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Reserves

  WebsiteSatellite View
  There is limited parking at many of our nature reserves, including The Knapp and Papermill, so please return at a less busy time if there is no parking available when you arrive.

• CP Lickey Hills Country Park

  WebpageSatellite View
  Lickey Hills has a complex and interesting geology which has created a variety of habitats. These include woodlands, heathland and grassland, which are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife.

• LNR Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve Upton Warren

  WebpageSatellite View
  Worcestershire's premier bird-watching reserve, Upton Warren attracts a range of birds but is particularly good for waterfowl and waders. The reserve consists of a series of freshwater and saline pools, created by land subsidence resulting from local brine extraction. Not only do these attract a wide variety of birds but the saline pools are an important inland site for saltmarsh plants.

• LNR Grimley Brick Pits

  WebpageSatellite View
  An important wetland site with many uncommon plants and animals - This important wetland area comprises of three old gravel extraction pits. The open water attracts wildfowl and Worcestershire’s largest heronry is found here. Deadwood in the surrounding carr woodland supports a rich variety of invertebrates and birds.

• LNR Monkwood

  WebpageSatellite View
  A semi-natural ancient woodland that is renowned for its ground flora & butterfly species. It’s likely that Monkwood, owned for centuries by Worcester Priory, has been in existence for over 1000 years. 'Monckewood' is first recorded in 1240, although woodland in the old manor of Grimley is mentioned as far back as 961. A plan from 1746 shows the boundaries of the wood almost exactly as they are today.

• LNR Piper's Hill & Dodderhill Commons

  WebpageSatellite View
  Also known as Hanbury Woods these two old commons are former ancient wood pasture where, historically, livestock grazed on grassland scattered with large trees. Woodlands have been grazed to create wood pasture since at least the Middle Ages. This was often associated with old commons where the owner granted rights to the commoners to graze their cattle, sheep and pigs. Trees were often planted and protected to grow large timber, giving rise to old, widely-spaced trees with a grassy woodland floor – something between woodland and parkland.

• LNR The Devil's Spittleful & Rifle Range and Blackstone Farm Fields

  WebpageSatellite View
  This impressive heathland is one of the largest areas of the habitat left in Worcestershire. It’s estimated that we’ve lost approximately 90% of heathland in the county over the last 200 years. Visitors to the 60 hectare reserve of Devil’s Spittleful and Rifle Range will walk through a mosaic of habitats that thrive on acid soil; open areas are dominated by bell heather and acid grassland is dominated by wavy hair grass.

• NNR Bredon Hill

  WebpageSatellite View
  The scrub areas, characterised by hawthorn and ivy, with elder and blackthorn, provide important breeding sites for many bird species including whitethroat, linnet and yellowhammer.

• NNR Chaddesley Wood National Nature Reserve

  WebpageSatellite View
  Chaddesley Woods were probably mentioned in the Domesday Book as the ‘wood of two leagues’ and we think that parts of the site were wooded since the Ice Age 6-10,000 years ago. The presence of ancient woodland indicator species support this – flowers such as yellow archangel, herb Paris and dog’s mercury and trees like small-leaved lime and wild service trees.

• NNR Foster’s Green Meadows

  WebpageSatellite View
  Foster’s Green Meadows NNR is surrounded by rich hedges with field maple, wild service, spindle and elm. The largest field, known as Eades Meadow, is a hay meadow with ridge-and-furrow.

• NNR Wyre Forest

  WebpageSatellite View
  Wyre Forest is part of one of the largest ancient lowland coppice oak woodlands in England. Breeding birds in the area include redstart, pied flycatcher, wood warbler, buzzard and raven, while dipper, grey wagtail and kingfisher are found on the larger streams.

• Worcester Birding

  Twitter Feed
  Rare & Scarce Bird News from across Worcestershire.

• eBird

  Rare Bird Alert
  The report below shows observations of rare birds in Worcestershire County. Includes both unreviewed and reviewed/approved observations.

• Forest View Retreat

  Accommodation
  Stay right on the edge of the Wyre Forest in one of our exclusive luxury self catering Log Cabins. Just bring yourselves and we will take care of everything else!!

• The Birders Store

  Website
  Europe's leading birding store serving birders worldwide since 2009 - 4a King Charles Place, St John's, Worcester WR2 5AJ | Tel: 01905 312877 | sales@birders-store.co.uk - Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 5pm

• Worcester Birding

  Twitter Feed
  This spectacular range of hills dominates the south-western corner of the county and stretch for 8 miles peaking at the Worcestershire Beacon which rises to a height of 1,395 feet. Being such a dominant natural feature, many migrating birds use the hills as a navigational aid and during the spring and autumn migration periods unusual species can be encountered.

• Worcestershire Biological Records Centre

  Website
  New Bird Recording Scheme The next newsletter will include the launch of a new Bird Recording Scheme for Birds of Conservation Concern - those on the Red and Amber lists

• Worcestershire Wildlife Consultancy

  Website
  The commercial arm of the Wildlife Trust

• Craig Reed - Midland Birder

  Facebook Page & BLOG
  Having been looking at birds since the age of 5, the infatuation that has followed has enveloped my life. Those that know me can testify that there is little time in which I am not looking at birds, even when I am nowhere near any likely birding areas. I live by the motto 'Birds appear anywhere, there just needs to be someone looking', and this has proved me some success over the years, discovering a few very out of place species.

• Jason Kernohan - A Year on The Common (aka Shenstone Birder)

  BLOG
  Hartlebury Common and Hillditch Pool

• Pete Walkden - Pete's Birding Blog

  BLOG
  As a wildlife photographer I try to get out and about as much as possible, and as such keep this blog as a record of what I saw, when, where and any mishaps along the way.

• Photographer - Dave Barnes

  Gallery
  I am an amateur photographer who takes photos of birds through being a frustrated freehand artist. Having given up trying to draw I now get a lot of pleasure from trying to capture the beauty of birds with a camera as I see them. I can only assume that not everyone sees them as I do or whole world would be full of birders! I want to improve the pictures I take so any tips or advice greatfully received ;) For those who have already done that thank you