Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve

The reserve is located around the eastern and northern edges of the Forge Mill Lake, a storm water retention basin within a meander of the River Tame.There are also a number of substantial screens, which are available at all times and afford good views of birds on the wetland areas surrounding the lake.The site, formerly a landfill, has been carefully planted with a wide range of native trees and shrubs, to provide a rich and diverse habitat.The lake and smaller pools are home to a wide range of water fowl and also play host to migrating birds.[2] The main summer breeding birds seen on the reserve include common tern, little ringed plover, oystercatcher and many more.
A Lane at Hamstead, Staffordshire by William Ellis (1747-1810), now in the Garman Ryan Collection at The New Art Gallery Walsall shows the area in more rural times
Tim Tolkienlittle ringed plovergrey heronSandwellWest MidlandsEnglandCoordinatesgrid referencenature reserveSandwell ValleyWest BromwichSandwell Valley Country ParkHamsteadForge Mill Lakeretention basinRiver TameWest Midlands conurbationBirminghamWalsallM5 motorwayM6 motorwayA34 roadeducationalschoolbird hideGreg PooleGarman Ryan CollectionThe New Art Gallery Walsallbirdwatchersgoosanderlapwingscommon snipewhitethroatbio-diversityraptorsbuzzardsCetti's warblerCommonMediterranean gullsBlack-tailed godwitscommon ternoystercatchersedge warblerreed warblerchiffchaffwillow warblergrasshopper warblerwigeonjack snipegoldeneyeWater railRinged-necked parakeets