November 2023

30th November

29th November 2023

28th November 2023

27th November 2023

26th November 2023

Misty.

Counts today were as follows: 13 Pochard, 17 Shoveler, 18 Snipe, 17 Common Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, three Jays on the feeders, two Ravens over, five Skylark around the crop field, a Lesser Redpoll in the Back Gate Copse, 16 Greenfinch on the car park feeders and 13 Goldfinches in the crop field.

25th November 2023

Bright, sunny, light northerly wind.

A male Brambling was present in the trees by the car park this morning, presumably investigating the feeders and a female Goldeneye had arrived and was showing on Railway Pool. Counts of wildfowl were as follows, 185 Wigeon, 14 Pochard, 16 Tufted, 81 Teal, six Gadwall, eight Mute Swans, two Little Grebes, 27 Shoveler, 20 Snipe, 60 Lapwing, three Little Egrets, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, 79 Black-headed Gulls, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Fieldfare, ten Redwing, 70 Linnets in the crop field and ten Chaffinches at the feeders.

24th November 2023

Cold north-westerly wind, overcast then sunny.

Birds at the beginning of the day included the Great White Egret again, a goose which was presently a first-winter White-fronted Goose, but the pictures did not completely rule out a hybrid. It was much smaller than the Greylags with a dark neck and black band vertically down the face, with some white blaze emerging around the bill. The legs and the bill were orange. I personally did not see the bird physically.

There were ten Common Gulls, five Herring Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Great Black-back on Car Park Pool, along with 32 Lapwing and three Snipe. Railway Pool had 18 further Snipe, 12 Pochard and two Little Egrets, and there were both Sparrowhawk and a pale faced Buzzard about for part of the morning.

23rd November 2023

The only records came from the afternoon when a Great White Egret was present on the margins of Car Park Pool, where the Great Black-backed Gull was roosting, and approximately 100 Starlings were present at sunset.

21st and 22nd November

No records.

20^th November 2023

Generally overcast with occasional light drizzle. Light westerly/north-westerly

The only records were a pair of Bullfinches feeding on the Guelder Rose bushes behind Railway Hide and a small murmuration of Starlings, comprising 60-70 birds, towards dusk.

19^th November 2023

Overcast with light showers. Moderate south-westerly

There were several records of Snipe in the log, with up to 25 in the Marsh and eight on Car Park Pool, but around 12.30 up to 60 were seen high over the Car Park and it transpired that these had been flushed from the Marsh by a male Sparrowhawk.

Other records from the pools included up to five Common Gulls, seven Herring Gulls, singles of both Great and Lesser Black–backed, 11 Pochard (eight male and three female), four Egyptian Geese, 16 Gadwall and a Little Egret. Also logged were 40 Fieldfares and a Water Rail, the latter in the North Causeway Bay.

18^th November 2023

Overcast with rain clearing a.m., cloudy p.m. Mild with moderate south-westerly

The Saturday count results this week were: three Mute Swans, 35 Greylag Geese, 155 Canada Geese, Greylag x Canada Hybrid, 263 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 27 Mallard, 62 Teal, 11 Pochard (eight male, three female), 10 Tufted Duck, seven Cormorants, 23 Snipe, c60 Black–headed Gulls, three Herring Gulls, two Common Gulls, 10 Lesser Black–backed Gulls and an adult Great Black-backed Gull. Away from the pools there were: 23 Long-tailed Tits, a pair of Stonechats (Dragonfly Pond), four Goldcrests in the Back Gate Copse with two Siskins over, also Lesser Redpoll and Raven over, Cetti’s Warbler in the North Causeway Bay, a Sparrowhawk along the Central Streamline and, finally, 52 Redwings and 19 Fieldfares in total across the Railway Embankment, Old Road and Back Gate Copse.

17^th November 2023

Sunny intervals, dry, with light south-westerly

There was a good variety of wildfowl across both Railway and Car Park Pools and noted too were singles of Common, Herring and Great Black–backed Gull along with 21 Black-headed Gulls. There were 67 Lapwings across the two pools and 10-15 each of Fieldfare and Redwing went over.  The Car Park Feeders were again busy with the usual visitors, as well as Jay for the second day in a row, a species which only occasionally makes the logbook.

16^th November 2023

Overcast but dry and cool; light north-westerly

The Great White Egret was again present, this time on Car Park Pool, along with a Little Egret and a selection of Gulls: four Herring, three Common, 11 Black–headed and singles of both Lesser and Great Black–backed. A Little Egret was also around on Railway Pool and there were 22 Snipe in total across the pools, 18 of these in the Marsh.

The Car Park feeders were a hive of activity with the following logged: Jay, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, 16 Greenfinch, 12 Chaffinch, a pair of Reed Buntings, Robin, two Dunnock, three Great Tits, four Blue Tits and, unsurprisingly, a Sparrowhawk was also taking an interest.

15^th November 2023

Dry with sunny intervals; moderate westerly breeze

A detailed count, courtesy of Graham Rowling, produced the following: six Mute Swans, 84 Greylag Geese, 56 Canada Geese, 221 Wigeon, 17 Shoveler, six Gadwall, 14 Mallard, 67 Teal, 11 Pochard (eight male, three female), 26 Tufted Duck, 11 Cormorants, four Little Grebes, two Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, Great White Egret, three Moorhen, 61 Coot, 56 Lapwing, 28 Snipe, 58 Black–headed Gulls, nine Common Gulls, four Herring Gulls, four Lesser Black–backed Gulls, a pair of Stonechats (Horse Paddock) and two late Common Darters along the Concrete Road taking advantage of the relatively mild conditions.

The Great White Egret flew off to the south from Railway Pool in the early afternoon.

14^th November 2023

Rain early and overcast; brighter later with occasional light showers; light westerly

The Great White Egret was present for a third day and the Great Black–backed Gull for a second. Pochard numbers were up to 12 (nine male and three female) and a pair of Stonechats, likely to be the pair seen on and off at the end of October and start of this month, was around the Horse Paddock.

13^th November 2023

Heavy rain followed by sunny intervals; gusty south-westerly

The Great White Egret was again present (Railway Pool) as were 10 Pochard, although this time with eight males and two females. The only other log entries were two Egyptian Geese and an adult Great Black–backed Gull.

12^th November 2023

Cloudy start followed by persistent rain; light south-westerly

A Great White Egret again featured in the records. This species, while not common, is certainly becoming a more frequent visitor to the site. The other log entries were 10 Pochard (seven male and three female), 15+ Snipe in the Marsh, seven Common Gulls on Car Park Pool and a single Lesser Redpoll with 20+ Siskins along the Old Road.

Great White and Little Egrets – Photograph by Steve Pattison

11^th November 2023

Cold start then bright & sunny; very light north-westerly

The early part of the morning (08.30-10.30) produced an overwintering Chiffchaff in the hedge by the Lorry Park, an immature Peregrine, Kingfisher, four Skylarks, three Meadow Pipits and 15 Siskins in the Back Gate Copse.

The regular Saturday count results were: five Mute Swans, 55 Greylag Geese, 137 Canada Geese, 152 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, two Gadwall (male and female), 14 Mallard, 68 Teal, nine Pochard (seven male, two female), 74 Tufted Duck, 19 Cormorants, five Little Grebes, three Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, six Moorhen, 59 Coot, 60 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 110 Black–headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, eight Lesser Black–backed Gulls, a female Stonechat (Horse Paddock) and, finally, a late Common Darter along the Concrete Road.

10^th November 2023

Dry with sunny intervals; light north-westerly

Logbook entries were: nine Pochard (seven male and two female), seven Gadwall, 20 Snipe, 20 Redwings and a male Sparrowhawk.

9^th November 2023

Sunny intervals a.m. with light showers p.m.; gentle south, south-westerly

No records.

Guelder Rose Berries by Railway Hide – Photograph by Nick Barlow

8^th November 2023

Overcast with light showers a.m., brighter p.m., light westerly

Further Fieldfare movement was noted with 40 over south, 30 on the Flood Plain and 10 along the Old Road. There were marginal changes in both Cormorant and Pochard numbers: the former up from 35 to 36 and the latter down to eight (six male, two female) with the two Egyptian Geese again present. Twenty Siskins were also on the move south and a Raven went over.

7^th November 2023

Bright with sunny intervals a.m., light showers p.m., gentle westerly

A Red Admiral was a late record for this species, well past the average last date of October 21 but still 10 days short of the latest ever for the site (November 17th 2009). The Grey Wagtail was again around, this time near Patrick Farm. Interestingly, Pochard numbers were back at nine, where they had been for some days previously, but the male/female split had changed from 5:4 to 7:2.  Little Grebes were in evidence with six in the logbook – a very good count for November and the highest in the month since seven back in 2015.

ADDENDUM: A Great White Egret was reported on the WhatsApp group.

6^th November 2023

Bright and sunny with moderate SW breeze

A Stoat, seen below Railway Hide, was a rare sighting, with logbook entries from the pools including a male Shelduck, 35 Cormorants, two Egyptian Geese, two Water Rails in the North Causeway Bay and five Pochard, comprising four males and a single female. Other records were a female Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond, a Grey Wagtail on the Flood Plain and 80 Fieldfares which went over to the south.

5^th November 2023

Bright with sunny intervals and a moderate westerly breeze

The undoubted highlight of the day, and also one of the highlights of 2023 to date, was a Grey Phalarope which flew in from the south-east and dropped onto Railway Pool around 09.50, being spotted initially from Oak Hide by Steve Bradley. It landed first at the south end of the pool, to the right of the Railway Arches, but after a few minutes relocated to the north side of the gravel bar, towards River Hide, from where it was photographed by Steve Pattison who had run round from Oak Hide. After a frustratingly short stay, it then flew off in the direction of Bradnocks Marsh. Despite extensive searching in that area, it could not be relocated. An excellent record and only the third ever for the site, with the last one back on Aug 24 2008.

Grey Phalarope on Railway Pool – Photographs by Steve Pattison

The other highlight of the day, albeit somewhat overshadowed by the above, was the appearance of an Otter on Railway Pool. This was seen twice from Railway Hide in the period from 13.00 – 13.35.

Otter Reflected – Photograph by Graham Dyer

Other records included the now-regular nine Pochard, 10 Skylarks, three Buzzards and two Ravens over Siden Hill Wood, Sparrowhawk and c2,600 Wood Pigeons which flew over Siden from 09.00 – 09.16. Finally, there were 22 Snipe in the Marsh and four on Car Park Pool.

4^th November 2023

Persistent heavy rain a.m., easing off p.m. Fresh easterly turning to westerly late p.m.

The weekly count by Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan produced the following: four Mute Swans, 10 Greylag Geese, 68 Canada Geese, 193 Wigeon (including a fourth returning colour-ringed bird), 18 Shoveler, eight Gadwall, 69 Mallard, 94 Teal, nine Pochard (5M, 4F), 31 Tufted Duck, 29 Cormorants, two Little Grebes, 13 Moorhen, 48 Coot, 61 Lapwing, 26 Snipe, 11 Black–headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, one Herring Gull, two Lesser Black–backed Gulls, 40 Fieldfare (Flood Plain) and 60 Redwing (50 over south and 10 on the Flood Plain).

Five attended the working party. Tasks undertaken included clearing scrub and saplings around Oak and Railway Hides, along with mowing the paths to the hides and around the Back Gate.

Some 45 Snipe, along with a single Jack Snipe, were disturbed from around the Marsh as a result of the working party activity. Towards dusk a murmuration of approximately 70 Starlings was noted and a Grey Wagtail too.

3^rd November 2023

Bright and dry with sunny spells; fresh south-westerly

The highlight of the day was the sighting of three Crossbills, flying south high above the river at around 10.45. This species has been recorded only a handful of times, the last in Oct 2020. There was also a large movement of Wood Pigeons, with 4,450 noted going south/south-west between 09.00 – 11.00.

Other records were a Mistle Thrush in the Car Park, 40 Fieldfare over, the nine Pochard, an adult Great Black–backed Gull, Raven and the pair of Stonechats which was frequenting the area around the Dragonfly Pond.

2^nd November 2023

Heavy rain for most of the day with gusty south/south-westerly wind

The majority of Goldeneye appearances at the site involve singles or occasionally two birds, but a group of three has only occurred once before, back in 2007. The appearance of two females with a first-winter male on Railway Pool during the morning was therefore a notable record. It is possible that one of the females may have been the one seen on Oct 29.

No other records.

Three Goldeneyes on Railway Pool – Photograph by Martin Durkin

(1^st winter male is far right with faint white patch on cheek)

1^st November 2023

Bright spells with some showers. Fresh south/south-easterly breeze

Log entries from the pools were 212 Wigeon (including a third returning colour-ringed bird), the current nine Pochard (five male, four female) and a female Mandarin which was on Car Park Pool. The pair of Stonechats was around the Horse Paddock.