30th April 2022
Bright and sunny.
Warblers continued to arrive and there were four Lesser Whitethroats heard today, one at the north end of Car Park Pool, one on the Railway embankment, one on the other side of Railway Arches and one by the pumping station.
Eight Whitethroats were also recorded and Common Terns had risen to 21.
Six Little Ringed Plovers fed around the island margins on Car Park Pool where there was also a Common Sandpiper.
Other counts today comprised, two Mute Swans, 24 Canadas and the five Goslings, 31 Greylags, a drake Shoveler, 44 Gadwall, 14 Mallard and four ducklings on Railway Pool, 69 Tufted, five Cormorants, three Little Grebes, eight Moorhens, 22 Coot and five chicks on the Reedbed pool, six Oystercatchers, 13 Lapwings, 1950 Black-headed Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a pair of Yellowhammers in the Car Park. The first Odonata in flight today with ten large Red Damselflies counted, eight around the Dragonfly Pond, one along the Concrete Road and one in the Back Gate Copse.
Butterflies were also well represented with a single Speckled Wood, a male Brimstone, three Peacocks, ten Orange Tips and at least 23 Green-veined Whites. A new first-summer Mediterranean Gull was present amongst the Black-heads on Railway Pool, this one unringed. There was also a full adult and two second-summers.
29th April 2022
Initially overcast, brightening later, with fresh north easterly.
The improved hirundine passage continued today with at least 20 Swallows, ten Sand Martins and eight House Martins. A female Yellow Wagtail was present on the floodplain along with the Channel Wagtail; both however were only brief visitors.
At least three Linnets were mobile along the Old Road, with intermittent song heard there and Whitethroats comprised one by the entrance gate cottages (where it wanders up and down the A452 hedge) and the other by the Old Road muck heap.
Three Little Ringed Plovers, three Little Egrets, 12 Common Terns, three Shoveler, a pair of Teal and a Common Sandpiper were the main birds in the morning with the female Goosander seen on the river with no young obviously present.
In the late evening, a White Wagtail dropped into the floodplain with at least six Pied Wagtails, a Kingfisher was seen on the river and the Lesser Whitethroat was again in song by the mobile phone mast.
Pheasant – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
28th April 2022
Overcast, cool north easterly.
A Goosander with two chicks were present on Car Park Pool this morning. The young were only a few days old and spent part of the time on the back of the mother.
Todays other highlight was a Channel Wagtail that spent much of the late morning and early afternoon on the floodplain. A Channel Wagtail is believed to be a cross between a traditional Yellow Wagtail and a Blue-headed Wagtail.
The first decent number of hirundines saw at least 35 Swallows feeding over the floodplain whilst the Channel Wagtail was being watched and a single House Martin and there were also 15 Pied Wagtails present.
A late first-summer Common Gull showed from Oak Hide along with a pair of second-summer Mediterranean Gulls. And a Common Sandpiper fed on the Car Park Pool islands.
Lastly, a Badger was an unusual sighting along the Old Road in the late evening.
27th April 2022
Overcast, light north easterly.
The pair of Canadas nesting amongst the Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool have hatched out five Goslings. Other wildfowl included a pair each of Shoveler and Teal.
A Snipe fed in front of Car Park Hide and four Little Ringed Plovers were principally on the Car Park Pool islands whilst the two regular Redshanks were mostly in and around the Marsh area.
Five Swallows, three Sand Martins and a House Martin went through in the morning, a Fox was seen in front of Railway Hide, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull was in and out amongst the Black-heads and Garden Warblers had increased to five today with two along the causeway, two along the Old Road and one in the Back Gate Copse.
Lastly, on the floodplain in the afternoon there were two Little Egrets and a Common Sandpiper.
Common Sandpiper from Oak Hide – Photograph by Paul Casey
26th April 2022
Mostly overcast with occasional sunny spells, light northerly.
The swing round to a more northerly direction rather put paid to the quality records to the previous few days.
That said, there were two new Garden Warblers in this morning with two singing against each other on the Old Road north of the car park and one by the picnic bench in the Back Gate Copse.
Four Cetti’s Warblers were still in song and a Snipe flew over from Railway Pool going towards a pool in front of Lower Siden Hide.
A Lesser Whitethroat behind Railway Hide was also a new migrant and Swallows are now in at Patrick Farm.
25th April 2022
Sunny, light north easterly, cool.
The good run continues with a drake Red-crested Pochard on Car Park Pool this morning spending much of the day roosting on the islands. Interestingly, another drake Red-crested Pochard spent much of the same day at Arrow Valley Lake near Redditch. This is the Reserve’s first Spring record.
A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was found along the Old Road, between the Dragonfly Pond and the old bale store mid-morning but as if often the case, subsequently proved elusive amongst the ever increasing leaf cover.
A few more hirundines today saw nine Sand Martins, two House Martins and two Swallows through during the morning and at least four more Swallows and five Sand Martins in the early evening.
Also in the early evening, 16 Pied Wagtails were feeding on the floodplain where there was also an Egyptian Goose.
Two male Shoveler and a pair of Teal and a Shelduck were the other wildfowl.
24th April 2022
Cool north easterly, slightly lighter than the brisk wind of yesterday, sunny spells.
The easterlies continued to produce the goods with an adult Bar-tailed Godwit on Car Park Pool mid-morning where it spent all day showing well, mostly feeding on the grass in front of Car Park Hide. All three Mediterranean Gulls from the last few days were still present along with 14 Common Terns, three Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks and a Common Tern. An additional Garden Warbler was in song on the causeway and there was a Whitethroat in song on the railway line.
Later in the day, a male Goosander came to roost on Car Park Pool and a Red Kite went over north at 1:45.
An Egyptian Goose joined other Geese on the floodplain and of note, a Black-headed Gull on the 17th of April with an orange ring turns out to have been ringed as a chick on the 21st July 2021 at Pagham Harbour (code 270B).
In the early evening, at least seven Swallows were feeding over the floodplain, a Yellow Wagtail appeared there amongst the recently turned out cattle. A Snipe was displaced by Lapwings mobbing the Bar-tailed Godwit in front of Car Park Hide, and a Lesser Whitethroat was new in around along the Meriden Road opposite the pumping station car park.
Bar-tailed Godwit – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
23rd April 2022
Cool brisk north easterly, mostly overcast.
The persistent easterly direction in the wind paid dividends again today. With a regional movement of Little Gulls. The Reserve fortunately benefitted with two seen briefly at 10:50am, an adult and a second-summer. They came in from the south, over Railway Pool, circled over River Hide, moved back to Railway Pool, circled up and disappeared to the north.
A Dunlin was also a new arrival feeding on Railway Pool where it joined a Common Sandpiper and two Redshank.
The Lapwing chicks appeared to be down to two already today.
A count of Black-headed Gulls yielded 1825 together with adult, second-summer and first-summer Mediterranean Gull, nine Lesser Black-backs and three Herrings.
Other counts comprised ten Mute Swans, 31 Greylags, a Greylag/Canada hybrid, 17 Canadas, five Teal, 11 Mallards, 33 Gadwall, 91 Tufted, seven Cormorants, four Little Egrets, a Heron, a Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, nine Moorhens, ten adult Lapwings, seven adult Oystercatchers and four Little Ringed Plovers.
Five Sand Martins and two Swallows were the only hirundines making the log. Both the Garden Warbler and the Lesser Whitethroat from the last few days were in song near to the Dragonfly Pond and there was a Whitethroat new in along the Concrete Road.
22nd April 2022
Overcast, fresh north easterly.
Today’s star bird was a Sandwich Tern which flew over Dave Scanlan whilst he was unlocking the entrance gate by the cottages at 9am. One minute either way and the bird would have been missed.
The regular first and second-summer Mediterranean Gulls together were all present from time to time amongst the 650 pairs of Black-headed Gulls.
A few hirundines moving north included six Sand Martins and two Swallows. A female Goosander, two Ravens, one Garden Warbler on the Old Road, a Lesser Whitethroat on the top stream were the other main birds on offer. Three Lapwing chicks have hatched out from the pair on the island in front of Oak Hide and had swum across to the greater level of cover in the Marsh.
21st April 2022
Mostly sunny, east north easterly.
Impressive butterfly counts made by John Coakley today comprised 58 Orange Tips, 16 Green-veined White, 17 Peacocks, six Small Tortoiseshells and a Holly Blue. Others noted later in the day included five Speckled Woods and two Brimstones.
A few birds made the log with just a single Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool and 17 Common Terns in total.
Fox – photograph by Stef Fraczek
20th April 2022
Sunny, generally warm but with a cool easterly.
A Great White Egret flew south over Siden Hill Wood early morning and was seen later towards Patrick Farm going the other way.
Three Mediterranean Gulls came and went during the day, two adults and a first-summer. A Great Crested Grebe, a drake Goosander, a Common Sandpiper, four sitting Oystercatchers, three sitting Lapwings and three sitting Canada Geese were the other main records in the book together with a singing Garden Warbler along the Old Road opposite the Dragonfly pond.
Hirundines have been in poor numbers so far this year and a single Sand Martin over Car Park Pool first thing about sums it up.
Sedge Warbler – River Hide – Photograph by Mike Pugh
19th April 2022
Sunny spells, clouding over fresh northerly.
A Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool was probably the best of a rather thin bunch today. There was also a Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Shoveler, 12 Common Terns, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull and two male Goosanders; five Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull were added to the list later in the day.
18th April 2022
Sunny spells, light south westerly.
There was not a great deal of change in bird species today. The first-summer Mediterranean Gull was present amongst the Black-heads on Railway Pool. Only eight Common Terns were seen today but the Goosanders continue to visit the two males this morning. The Red-legged Partridges had moved north towards Patrick Farm and four Cetti’s Warblers in song comprised birds in the Reedbed area by River Hide, by the Railway Bridge and on the top stream. There was still only one Reed Warbler in song in the north Causeway Bay.
Butterflies were similar to the previous few days with plenty of Orange-tips the highlight.
17th April 2022
Sunny light south easterly.
There were plenty of butterflies on the wing in the warm weather today but not much by way of migration with the latter limited to a male White Wagtail, briefly, on the floodplain and the Blythe banks north of Car Park Pool mid-morning. There were also two Little Egrets and a pair of Teal there.
At least 20 Orange-tips, five Green-veined Whites, five Peacocks, a Comma and a Speckled Wood all made the log.
Singing Warblers of note included two Sedge Warblers in the Reedbed, a Whitethroat along the A452 hedge north of the cottages and plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. There was a Reed Warbler singing from the north Causeway Bay and a single Willow Warbler in the Back Gate Copse and a further Whitethroat on the far side of Railway Pool from Oak Hide.
A Raven with prey was on the Tip Field, being regularly harassed by the breeding pair of Carrion Crows.
A male Peregrine caught a Black-headed Gull and consumed it in front of Oak Hide. A single Egyptian Goose was present briefly on Railway Pool and a pair of Green Woodpeckers showed well around the southwest pond. Later in the day, another Whitethroat was in song by the Dragonfly Pond.
16th April 2022
Sunny fresh southerly.
A Curlew on Railway Pool this morning was a new arrival and the first Reed Warbler was in the north Causeway Bay.
Hirundines have been thin on the ground so four Sand Martins making the log today were welcome. Two Common Gulls were relatively late with most birds through Marsh Lane having gone by the end of March. Common Terns were up to 14 but were being harassed regularly by the Black-headed Gulls.
Other counts comprised, five Mute Swans, 18 Greylags, a Greylag/Canada cross, 16 Canadas, 38 Gadwall, ten Mallards, six Teal, 35 Tufted, 12 Cormorants, two Herons, three Little Egrets, a Little Grebe, nine Moorhen, 22 Coot, five Oystercatchers, 14 Lapwing, four Redshank, two Snipe, a single Red-legged Partridge, a male Goosander, 1800 Black-headed Gulls, six Herring Gulls, nine Lesser Black-back Gulls and 14 Common Terns.
Two Holly Blues were recorded, one along the Causeway and one in the Old Road area.
Redshank – Photograph by Steve Taylor
15th April 2022
Sunny, warm, light southerly.
A pair of tardy Wigeon were still present this morning. There was a single Shelduck, nine Common Terns, two Little Ringed Plovers, the ringed first-summer Mediterranean Gull and at least three Whitethroats. The latter were at Patrick Bridge, Patrick Farm and at the back of the railway near Bradnocks Marsh.
The two Sedge Warblers recorded today were by Railway Hide and in the Dragonfly Pond area of the Old Road. A good selection of butterflies in reasonable numbers included a Holly Blue along the Old Road and at least 15 Orange-tips, four Brimstones, a small Tortoiseshell, three Peacocks, a Comma and four Green-veined White spread across the Reserve.
Redshank with leg rings – Photograph by Bob Breach
Teal – Photograph by Bob Breach
14th April 2022
Occasional sunny periods, high cloud, light south westerly.
Three Willow Warblers in song today comprised one in the Back Gate Copse, one along the Causeway and one by the car park, with still at least one Sedge Warbler singing in the Reedbed area.
The usual pair of Redshanks and at least one Little Ringed Plover, together with the first-summer Mediterranean Gull were visible from Oak Hide and five Common Terns were present on Car Park Pool. A Linnet was in song from the Gorse opposite the Back Gate.
13th April 2022
Overcast, light showers, fresh southerly, brightening late AM.
Common Tern numbers had risen to four today and there were still four Redshanks, four Little Ringed Plovers, two Bramblings, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull, four Goosanders and a Little Egret.
12th April 2022
Overcast, periodic heavy showers, easterly.
Further passage today, started with the year’s first Sedge Warbler (Reedbed) and a White Throat (Causeway). Yesterdays Greenshank was still present up until about 9am when it flew off. The male Wheatear from yesterday was also still present east of the Kenilworth Road.
In the showers, hirundines appeared from time to time with a maximum of 25 Sand Martins, five Swallows and at least one House Martin.
In addition to yesterday’s Willow Warbler there were two more singing in the Back Gate Copse and as the day unfolded, further Sedge Warblers were heard in the North Causeway Bay and along the top stream.
At 12:15, an Osprey went over to the north before reappearing and heading east.
Other records of note comprised both the first and second-summer Mediterranean Gulls, at least three Bramblings around the feeders, four Redshanks, two Goosanders, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Water Rail which was heard calling from the Reedbed.
11th April 2022
Sunny spells, fresh south easterly.
With a swing in the wind from southerly yesterday to south easterly today, a few new birds appeared. The first was a different male Wheatear from the last few days, albeit in a similar spot. This bird was much brighter underneath and was seemingly of a more northern race. A Curlew put in a brief appearance on Railway Pool, two Swallows went over, a Willow Warbler was in song by the car park and the first Common Tern was perched on one of the post, amongst the islands, on Car Park Pool.
In the evening, a Greenshank was found on the gravel bar on Railway Pool. There were also 11 Pied Wagtails on the flood plain suggesting some movement of this species.
Other records of note comprised, four Egyptian Geese, two Ravens, a Peregrine, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull and also the second-summer, up to two Little Ringed Plovers, two Shelduck, a female Goosander and a Snipe.
Orange Tip drying it’s wings – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
10th April 2022
Sunny intervals with some cloud, light southerly.
What was presumed to be yesterday’s Wheatear had returned to the ground east of the A452 where there was also a single Meadow Pipit. At least three Sand Martins flew through to the north in the morning and in the early afternoon a Red Kite went over. The first-summer Mediterranean Gull was visible from Oak Hide along with a single Little Ringed Plover and two Shelduck together with three Snipe.
As temperatures improved, butterflies emerged and there were at least three Orange Tips, three Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell recorded.
At least one Blackcap was in song in the Back Gate Copse.
Pied Wagtail – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
9th April 2022
Sunny spells, fresh north-westerly wind.
With passage continuing to be slow in the cold northerly winds, the male Wheatear east of the A452, from late morning until 3.30 pm, was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. This bright grey, black and white Wheater was clearly a British bird, lacking the browner hues in the back and the rusty orange breast of a more northern breeder.
Other counts today were as follows: two Mute Swans, 11 Canadas, 17 Greylags, 64 Gadwall, four Shoveler, four Wigeon, seven Mallard, four Teal, 52 Tufted, seven Cormorants, two Little Grebes, one Heron, nine Moorhen, 27 Coot, five Oystercatcher, 17 Lapwing, a Redshank, 1525 Black-headed Gulls, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull, four Herring Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three singing Cetti’s Warblers, 11 Snipe, two Red-legged Partridges, two female Bramblings and a male Yellowhammer and at least one Orange-tip Butterfly.
Seven attended the afternoon’s work party which was principally concerned with translocating Yellow Flag Iris’ from Car Park Pool to plant in various places around Railway Pool to help provide some cover for breeding waders. The sluice on Railway Pool was also cleared and some of the fencing to protect last year’s Yellow Flag was removed. Some additional maintenance work was undertaken on the Car Park Pool islands. Thanks to all those who attended.
Raven – Photograph by Steve Pattison
Moorhen Fighting – Photograph by Steve Taylor
8th April 2022
Sunny spells, light northerly.
The bird of the day was undoubtedly an Osprey that came in over Railway Hide just before 2pm circled the pools, put up all the gulls and then moved off to the north east. A pair of Bramblings visited the Car Park Feeders and there were still five Wigeon on site although the numbers of this species have dropped quickly over the last few days.
A Kingfisher showed well at Patrick Bridge. Despite the cold northerly wind and this mornings frost, there were a few butterflies about with a Small Tortoiseshell along the Old Road, a male Orange Tip near the screens.
In the early evening, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull reappeared amongst the Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool and there were still at least three Bramblings and a Yellowhammer visiting the feeders.
7th April
Very windy, sunshine and showers.
There was at last a little passage today with at least ten Sand Martins, ten Swallow and two House Martins present over the Causeway or over Railway Pool in the afternoon. Two Swallows had been seen in the morning but it’s not clear whether they were part of the same group or others.
At least three female Bramblings continued to visit the Car Park Feeders, the ringed first-summer Mediterranean Gull was present along with two Redshank, one Little Ringed Plover and the first Common Sandpiper of the year. A Common Gull paid a brief visit to the Car Park Pool islands in the afternoon and there were 18 Mute Swans on site.
6th April
Overcast, showers, strong south westerly.
There was not a great deal of change today and few birds made the log. There was still a single Brambling attending the Car Park Feeders but only one Little Ringed Plover, one Shelduck and five Wigeon were on the islands or the pools.
A pair of Ravens went over, there were two Grey Wagtails again at Patrick Bridge and a male House Sparrow was in song at the entrance gate cottage.
5th April 2022
Sunny spells, strong westerly.
Four Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, four Bramblings, a drake Pochard, 15 Wigeon and the second-summer Mediterranean Gull and four Goosanders were the main birds on offer today.
A complete circuit including Siden Hill Wood yielded an impressive 22 Chiffchaffs and six Blackcaps. The pair of Red-legged Partridges were back in the crop field.
The only Meadow Pipit passage for April was a flock of 20, east of the A452, on the 5th.
4th April 2022
Overcast, fresh westerly.
Little Ringed Plover numbers increased to seven today with four on Car Park Pool and three on Railway. The yellow ringed first-summer Mediterranean Gull was also back amongst the Black-heads on Railway Pool.
Singing Blackcaps were heard in the back gate area and also down the Old Road. There were still three Bramblings in the crop field oaks, a Coal Tit was in the back gate area and there were three Little Egrets seen at any one time.
Little Ringed Plover – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
3rd April 2022
Birds today were similar to the previous few days with the most unusual of todays fare being a Green Sandpiper in front of Oak Hide in the afternoon.
A male and three female Goosanders, four Brambling, two Ravens and three Little Ringed Plover were the best of the rest.
2nd April 2022
Sunny spells, light northerly.
The morning started well with three Swallows heading north over Patrick Bridge. At least five Bramblings visited the Car Park Feeder or the Crop Field (three males and two females) 65 Fieldfares on the mown area north of Patrick Farm. A Sand Martin went over at 12:45.
Either side of this, there were some gull action with a flock of 20 Common Gull through to the northeast at 12:30. The birds were calling regularly and were a mixture of adults and first-summers. Three peeled off the main flock to rest briefly on Car Park Pool before flying off in the same direction.
A third-summer Yellow-legged Gull appeared at 12:45, providing a suite of helpful features to confirm it’s identification including the darker grey back, straw coloured legs, a red orbital ring, pale panel in the wing like Herring Gull and a dark secondary bar. Lastly, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull was back on Railway Pool in the afternoon.
Other miscellaneous records included five Redwings near the bale store, a female Bullfinch and Green Woodpecker on the Causeway, a male Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards over, a pair of Linnets by the Car Park Pool and later along the Causeway; the rest of the general counts follow below:
13 Canadas, 11 Greylags, three Shelduck, 57 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 60 Wigeon, 14 Mallard, 14 Teal, 37 Tufted, a pair of Goosanders, ten Cormorants, two Herons, seven Little Grebes, 12 Moorhen, 51 Coot, five Oystercatchers, a single Little Ringed Plover, 11 Lapwing, eight Snipe, at least 1300 Black-headed Gulls, two Ravens and three Cetti’s Warblers.
1st April 2022
Sunny spells with wintery showers, cold fresh northerly
A single male and two female Goosanders were joined by and Egyptian Goose Car Park Pool this morning and there were a pair of Brambling on the car park feeders. In the afternoon, at least one further Brambling was also present.
Around the lunchtime period a first-summer Mediterranean Gull, with a yellow colour ring, appeared. This bird was ringed by SOUTHERN COLOURING GROUP (FORMALLY THE NORTH THAMES GULL GROUP) and it is making a return visit to the Reserve. It was ringed as a chick at Fishers Green Essex on June 8th 2016 and was seen on March 9th 2021 on Marsh Lane and then a few days later at Upton Warren on the 24th before being seen at Marsh Lane, firstly on the 28th February and then subsequently thereafter.
There were also three Little Ringed Plovers, two displaying males and a female. Wildfowl counts today were 24 Shoveler, 84 Gadwall, 50 +Wigeon 21 Teal and three Shelduck and 42 Tufted Ducks
Four pairs of Oystercatchers came and went and there were at least 20 Lapwing with three sitting birds. In the late afternoon, there were three Little Ringed Plovers of which two were displaying males on Railway Pool. There were also a pair of Redshank there along with two Shelduck.
Great Spotted Woodpecker – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
