West Midland Bird Club 
Studying Birds in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, 
Worcestershire and the West Midlands since 1929
Blithfield Reservoir
Access to birdwatch at Blithfield Reservoir is by Inclusive Club Membership only.

It has come to the Club's notice that certain members who have keys are climbing over locked gates at Blithfield. This sets a bad example to those who wish to trespass onto the main birding sites around the Reservoir. The practise therefore must cease immediately.
As you will see below on this website there is an agreed process to obtain keys should the keys not engage with locks properly or if they have been lost. 

Individual day permits are not issued
Blithfield Reservoir is a large expanse of water covering some 324 ha and owned by South Staffordshire Water plc who lease the right to birdwatch at the site to the West Midland Bird Club. A Bird Club Management Team act in an advisory capacity in connection to the birding and conservation administration of the site. Blithfield is regarded as one of the region's best bird-watching sites that provides interest year round. The reservoir and much of the surrounding woodland is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the stewardship of Natural England. This woodland and surrounding mixed farmland add a diverse mixture of habitat that, along with the reservoir, its exposed shoreline and reed-beds, plays host to an equally diverse mixture of bird species. The physical expanse of the water is an attraction to waterfowl and migrating wading birds while spring and autumn passage would not be complete without the appearance of Osprey.
Reserve Management Team Contacts

Reserve Details
Main Access - South Staffordshire Water plc Education Centre, accessed via Newton Hurst Lane - O/S Grid ref: SK053250
The most productive areas are Tad and Blithe bays that are situated at the north-west shallow end of the reservoir and these are accessed via the South Staffordshire Water Company Education centre where parking is available and footpaths from here lead to the reservoir shoreline and observation hides, Tad Bay is a designated reserve area. After proceeding along the main entrance road and parking near the education centre, Tad Bay is easily reached through a gate to the left of the drive and Blithe Bay via a locked gate to the right. It is possible, however, to drive around Beech Tree Point into Blithe Bay. Vehicular access to Blithe Bay is also possible from the western end of the causeway but the track is often unsuitable for cars or it may be closed altogether. Similarly it is possible to drive around the tracks of the reservoir to the south of the causeway, known as the Deep End where the tracks are better maintained. If you plan to visit the reservoir for the first time and feel that you require some assistance, please contact the management team through the e-mail address provided above. Several gates around the reservoir are locked and can be opened by a key which can be obtained from the Estate Office that is located on the approach road to the dam and on the production of your WMBC Inclusive Membership card, for a charge by the South Staffs Water Company of £5.00. If you have any difficulty with this, again please contact our management team through the e-mail address provided above. Access to other areas is via footpath from the causeway or the Sailing Club. A relevant car sticker that announces your presence is supplied annually to Inclusive members and these stickers must be displayed in your vehicle/vehicles at all time when visiting. Your inclusive membership card should also be carried with you at all times as the Water Company insists that regular permit checks are made by bailiffs and Club wardens. Additional car stickers may be obtained from the WMBC Membership Secretary or via the contact details above. Failure to comply with these requests may result in a request to leave the Blithfield Reserve.
Notice - Tad Bay access limit. In order to avoid disturbance to the birds in Tad Bay there is strictly no access to this area beyond the Forward Hide - Thank You.
Use the Staffordshire Bird News link to access all up-to-date bird sightings for the area. Blithfield Reservoir sightings will be posted when relevant.
 Blithfield Access Keys
Any WMBC member wishing to apply for a key to gain access to certain parts of this reserve will benefit by reading the information provided in the link below, Alternatively if you still have difficulty contact Peter Betts by emailing him on this address 
blithfield@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk Peter has obtained a number of keys to assist those that cannot get to the office in normal opening times
Blithfield Access Keys
Blithfield Reservoir Location Map
One of a great variety of wading birds that visit the site and in the case of this species, Little Ringed Plover, breed at Blithfield - photo - Steve Edwards

New Club signage will be erected from September 2022, showing designated areas that are accessible to WMBC members.

In August 2022 a special area of conservation designed to attract nesting Little Ringed Plovers was enlarged and modified.

Common Tern Chick

The Club is delighted to hear from the West Midlands Ringing Group that a Common Tern ringed at Blithfield Reservoir as a chick when it was unable to fly on July 13th 2021 was found on August 31st 2021 at Formby Point ,Merseyside, a National Trust site 71 miles away alive and seemingly well.

Water Quality Improvement Conservation Work Blithfield 2020-21

The Club has been informed that water quality improvement platform installations are to be constructed and anchored at Blithfield Reservoir. One will be anchored north of the causeway above deep water where the two Tern Rafts were until quite recently. These are now located in Blithe Bay. Work on providing a mains supply to the platform and under water turbine will commence in early April from Blithfield Court to Beech Tree Point. The device will be constructed near the engineers’ office adjacent to the dam and transported by helicopter to the location off Beech Tree Point in late May weather permitting. A double installation will be placed off the dam and Sailing Club car park in early May. Helicopter usage will be kept to a minimum. Their flight paths will be strictly restricted and controlled. Disturbance to bird life is expected to be kept to a minimum. The work has been sanctioned by Natural England.


Improvements to water quality and the elimination of algae blooms should in the long term have a beneficial effect on bird life at Blithfield. Club members are asked to submit all their records to BTO Birdtrack and to Peter Betts via email (blithfield@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk). Anyone wishing to help with the monthly BTO Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS) would be especially welcome and should also contact Peter Betts.


Habitat Improvement work 2020-21

During the lockdown the Blithfield Estate Manager, Richard Whiting assisted by apprentices, Tom Smith, Jake Garratt, placement student Pete Barker and WMBC volunteers have laid 200m of hedge along Newton Hurst Lane near the River Blithe, planted 7000 native broad-leaved trees with species that will compliment the semi- natural ancient woodland compartments of Stansley Wood and they have also planted 2,400m of native hedges.  These are impressive achievements by any standard.   

RCB

March 2021


(All photos by Roger Broadbent unless stated otherwise)

Blithfield Office Changes

Due to the current Covid lockdown restrictions the office is closed to the public. On December 2nd this will change and will be by appointment between 8am and 12 noon Monday to Friday. We are currently operating a Covid-secure working environment so restrictions will remain in place throughout the winter and into the Spring. To arrange an appointment please call 01283 840284.


Blithfield Reservoir News
The management team feel that in view of the recent and continuing development of this reserve, it would seem highly appropriate to include a site map on this page. This map provides a full layout of the site, how to gain access to the site from a variety of routes and most importantly, the whereabouts of the bird observation hides. As stated elsewhere on this page, being familiar with your location at all times while visiting Blithfield is of prime importance to a good health and safety policy.
Originally designed and produced by Andy Lawrence as West Midland Bird Club publicity literature, this map has now been amended by the reserve management team to include all named bird hide locations, subsequently being reproduced by Andy to form this new version. Please use the link below to view the map.
Blithfield Reservoir Site Map
We are, for the first time at Blithfield placing a Goosander nesting box within the estate in an attempt to encourage these birds to breed here. We place them about 3 metres high in a position that gives the birds clear sight and flight to water
Spotted Flycatcher nest box sited in a riverside Oak on the Blithe - Photograph Jerry Ray
Spotted Flycatcher - Blithfield Reserve - Steve Edwards


As part of the on-going Blithfield nest box scheme, boxes that will hopefully attract breeding Spotted Flycatcher have been placed appropriately. The adjacent photograph by Jerry Ray shows a box in a riverside Oak on the Blithe. This species has seen a massive decline in its breeding population and is RED listed here in the UK. The first birds will begin to arrive back here in our region from their African wintering grounds around the end of April with the main influx arriving in May, let's hope that our efforts here at Blithfield will contribute to a recovery in their numbers.


Please be aware that the forestry work has began again at Blithfield. The public car park by the entrance and the permissive walks are now closed until further notice due to Health and Safety considerations. It will not effect those of you planning to visit the Stansley Wood or Forward hides. Also the hides along Blithe Bay will still be reachable.
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