After several months of planning and organising, and our launch in the Newsletter and on the WMBC website, it was great to finally get out and about on the inaugural WMBC Kestrels walk on Saturday morning!

Leanne Wood, the club’s Membership Secretary had kindly agreed to lead the walk at our Belvide Reservoir reserve, with Martin Smith, one of the club’s Trustees, acting as our back marker. It was a lovely autumnal morning when we met in the carpark and we had a wonderful group of 6 young birdwatchers, each accompanied by a parent, eager to get going.

After a few introductions, a basic overview of the club and a chat about some of the Apps that have opened up birding to a new audience - and an increasingly younger group at that - we set out into the reserve to see what we could find.

First stop was the Woodland Hide, where the Kestrels members helped fill up the feeders, which were soon attracting the usual assortment of woodland birds, Coal, Blue & Great Tits, Nuthatches, Dunnock and a Robin…as well as a number of Wood Mice scurrying around for the spilt seeds. 

We then made our way to the Reservoir itself, where a strong breeze was blowing west to east down the reservoir. Gazebo Hide was our first stop and one of the first birds we saw, rather appropriately, was a Kestrel perched on a post. There were also lots of birds at the feeders, including a couple of beautiful Goldfinches.

We were just about to leave the hide when Leanne received a call from Belvide regular, Steve, who informed her that a juvenile Black Tern had just dropped in (thanks Steve!). Scopes and binoculars were quickly trained on the dam and the bird was soon located. It was great to hear the young birders guiding each other on where to see the bird and the behaviour it was showing, which helped ensure everyone got to see it. This was a lifer for most of the group, which was a great thing for our first walk!

West End Hide was our next port of call, where we were guided onto some Pintail and Ringed Plover, thanks to Steve and Foz. Indeed everyone we met on our walk was great with the young birders and commented on what a great initiative it is to get the next generation of birders engaged.

After a visit to the amazing new Chappell Hide, and a very windswept trip to the dam, it was soon time to head back to the carpark to go our separate ways, but not before a Treecreeper gave us a wonderful final memory, showing really well next to the carpark. 4 hours had seemed to fly by and it was great to hear everyone chatting and getting to know each other as we walked.

As first walks go, it was a definite success and the attendees, both children and parents, had a great time and will hopefully go on to build lasting friendships as the Kestrels continue to meet over the coming weeks and months.

It would be remiss of me not to highlight the incredible generosity of the many club volunteers and trustees who have stepped forward to offer their time, knowledge and support in leading walks or running sessions for the Kestrels. I’ve been amazed how people have got behind the initiative and I can’t thank you all enough!

If you know a young birdwatcher, aged 8 - 17, who would be interested in joining us on future walks, please send me an email and I’ll add you to the distribution list for future walks. The email address is Kestrels@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk