Oldbury Power Station

Introduction

The power station is owned by British Nuclear Group.

The site consists of a variety of habitats, and this is its attraction. The site is on the banks of the River Severn, with its enormous mudflats. Three lagoons are in various states of use. These lagoons are large settling tanks, used during the dredging process for the marine reservoir. The fine Severn silt is settled from the water, before it is discharged back to the river. The mud has to be removed, as the licence to operate the power station only allows water to be discharged into the Severn, and no solids. There is also a Nature Trail, with orchard, meadows, newly planted wood and ponds.

The power station entrance (Jan 2004).

Access

General access is via public footpaths, which surround the power station. The main route is the Severn Way, which runs along the coast of the River Severn.

Access to the lagoons can be gained by writing requesting this. When visiting, ask at the Gate House for permission to visit the lagoons, Nature trail and hide.

Lagoons 1 and 3 are very susceptible to disturbance, especially the waders and gulls at High Tide roost. For this reason they should NOT be walked around. They can be viewed very well from viewing points - see Map of OPS.

Description of Site

Lagoon 1 - This is the oldest settling tank, and is now little more than a cow field, which floods in winter. However, the floods do attract waders and gulls at high tide. The birds are extremely susceptible to being flushed, as a bank surrounds the lagoon. However, with caution it is possible to view the lagoon from the outflow pipe platform near the Severn, which is now overgrown. Lapwing and Redshank have bred in years not too distant. Attracts yellow wagtail, chats and wheatears on passage. Little Owl breed in the hedge on the north-east side. Buzzards are usually circling overhead.

Lagoon 2 - This is also a disused settling tank. It is currently home to a rough grassland and scrubby habitat, with a small reedbed at its southern end. Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting and Skylark breed. Water Rail are present when water remains in the reeds. Stonechat over-winter. Whinchat can be common on passage. Also, the surrounding hedges are attractive to passage warblers. Grasshopper Warblers have been present some years in the low scrub at the south west corner of the lagoon (shown below) in late summer. Kestrels have bred on the tower, and hunt the grasslands. A wildlife pond just to the west of the lagoon is good for dragonflies. Migrant Clouded-Yellow butterflies can be seen around the lagoon or along the shore in autumn.

Lagoon 2 from southern end (Jan 2004).

Lagoon 3 - This is the settling tank which is currently in-use. A hide is situated on the southern bank. The main High Tide roost of waders and gulls is here. This consists mainly of Lapwing and Dunlin in winter, with a few Ringed Plover. Large numbers of Black-headed gulls are present, peaking in autumn when they usually include one or two Mediterranean Gulls. Also, a few larger gulls are usually present, including one or two Great Black-Backed Gulls. And Yellow-legged Gulls have been annual recently. Up to 10 Grey Herons roost here. The numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Shelduck depend on the level of water in the lagoon. Wind-blown seaduck (e.g. Long-tailed duck) sometimes shelter, if the water is high enough. The pylons around the site are always worth checking - for Peregrines, other raptors and Ravens (increasingly more common).

Lagoon 3 from hide (Feb 2004).

The large pond behind the hide usually has Tufted Duck (with accompanying Ring-Necked Duck in 2003) and Mute Swans have bred.

Large pond as seen from the hide (showing one of the pylons favoured by Peregrine). (Feb 2004)

River Severn - Running along the North side of the site is the River Severn. At this point the river is tidal, and about half a mile wide. At Low Tide, vast mud flats are exposed, which attract hundreds of Curlew (which prefer to roost west of the power station site, by Oldbury yacht club) and huge numbers of gulls. Whimbrel join the Curlew on passage. Redshank patrol the banks. Small numbers of Dunlin stick to the waters edge, and can be joined by other small waders on passage (e.g. Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint). The area just north of the site (towards what used to be the Passage House Inn, Shepperdine) is good for waders and duck (hundreds of Teal and Wigeon). A large marine reservoir encloses the near bank of the river, built to give access to water at low tide. This can hold storm-blown and passage birds - anything can turn up ! Common Scoter and 2 Little Terns were here in 2003. A Sabine’s Gull has been seen here. The rocky and seaweed covered walls of the reservoir hold about 50 Turnstone in winter. These sometimes roost on the large warning buoys in the river.

River Severn mudflats and marine reservoir (Jan 2004).

Nature Trail - The orchard holds Fieldfares and Redwings in winter, along with resident Little Owls. The meadows are favoured by Green Woodpeckers, which have bred on-site. There are usually Bullfinches and tit flocks in the hedges, and sometimes a Great Spotted Woodpecker.