After the strength of ‘Storm Eowyn’ came the calm of a perfectly beautiful and well –timed morning at Venus Pool Nature Reserve for our very first specialised event for the wildlife group. Although outside the Rea Valley area, Venus Pool is our closest body of water that supports a nice population of waterfowl and, along with Shropshire Ornithological Society’s well managed crop fields and mixed hedgerows, it provides an idea location to teach a beginners guide to winter ducks and other winter visitors.
Six of us met and spent some time in the publicly accessible hide identifying and talking through different features of various ducks and waders-with particular favourites being snipe, shoveller and pintail. Moving on to the smaller woodland hide we were delighted to see, amongst others, greater spotted woodpecker, greenfinch and long-tailed tit. In the last hide, with the sun shining, we saw pochard and a descending flock of mute swans.
Up in the crop fields and along the hedgerows we were treated to fantastic views of yellowhammer, corn bunting and reed bunting. With a quick stop to view the deeper fishing lake we added tufted duck, great crested grebe. Little grebe and a lovely kingfisher to the sightings and once we reached the quarry we were relentlessly mocked by the laughing green woodpecker.
With 48 species in total and finishing with tea and cake in the car park it was a lovely start to our event calendar!