Pelsall Village Nature Trails Part3
Areas
Ryders Hayes Mere
This artificial lake was created on the site of a former opencast mining project; the lake edges are quite steep so care is needed when visiting the area. Winter visits are most productive – Clayhanger wetlands are a very short walk to the immediate north of the old mineral line at the top end of the lake.
Resident/frequent visitors:
Great crested grebe, little grebe, mallard, coot, moorhen, grey heron, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, skylark, meadow pipit, cormorant (frequent visitor), mute swan.
Winter visitors:
Wigeon, teal, tufted duck, goldeneye, goosander, gadwall, pochard, great black-backed gull, herring gull, redwing and fieldfare in adjacent fields, finch flocks in winter (including redpoll and goldfinch).
Summer visitors:
Little ringed plover, oystercatcher, lapwing, common tern, common swift, barn swallow, house martin, sand martin.
Passage visitors:
Wheatear, common redstart (infrequent).
The Former L & NWR line
This stretches along the eastern edge of the village, from Heath End to Highbridge, where Ryders Hayes Mere is easily accessible.
Most common birds are present here; tits, finches, warblers in summer, occasional woodpecker; infrequent peregrine over fields east of the old station; skylark.
The Central Commons
Mistle thrush nests, as does goldfinch and jackdaw; starling roosts in winter; occasional small flocks of redwing forage in some winters; pied wagtail.
Ford Brook
This formerly polluted stream, that represents the ancient eastern boundary of the village, now hosts mallard, coot, moorhen; occasional grey wagtail; occasional lapwing in adjacent fields as well as skylark; grey heron frequently visit.
Clockmill Brook
This stream, that represents the ancient southern boundary of the village, hosts largely the same species as the Ford Brook, though where it runs into the marsh near Slacky Lane is a good site for occasional visiting species such as snipe.
Heath End Pool
A willow-fringed pool that now hosts nesting mute swan, numerous Canada geese, moorhen, coot and a few species of dragonfly and damselfly.
Special thanks to Pelsall Author Ken Wayman (author of the book "The True and Faithful Men - Pelsall Servicemen in The Great War 1914-1918") for compiling this information.
On Sale at Pelsall History Centre
E-MAIL
pelsallhistorycentre@hotmail.com
TEL. 01922 691021
