RABBIT ACTIVITY
As regular visitors will have noticed, rabbit activity is causing holes on the hard core tracks and whilst we try and in-fill them, please be aware that the tracks are more uneven than normal as a result of the rabbit diggings.
TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – MARSH LANE, HAMPTON IN ARDEN
Please note that with effect from 20th January 2021 Marsh Lane, Hampton in Arden will be gated just north of the railway bridge which accesses the Marsh Lane Nature Reserve car park, to the west of Siden Hill Wood. The gate is going to be locked overnight. Solihull Council have deemed this has become necessary due to frequent problems of anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and other forms of environmental crime at Bradnocks Marsh.
The closing/opening times will be as follows:
- 1st April – 30th September 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- 1st October – 31st March 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Work Party Dates
2024
Saturday January 6th – 2pm
Saturday February 10th – 2pm
Saturday March 9th – 2pm
Saturday April 6th – 2pm
Wednesday May 8th – 6pm
Wednesday June 12th – 6pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Pedestrian Gate Lock
A combination lock is missing from the back pedestrian gate by the cottages on Marsh Lane. If anyone does come across it, could you please let the Packington Estate Office know on 01676 522020. This will be replaced, but in the meantime, a padlock will be put on the gate.
Other News
It is with much sadness that I report that two long-standing members of Marsh Lane, Michael Pugh and Kathleen Orgill have passed away. Mike had been a member of Marsh Lane Nature Reserve for over 15 years and regularly contributed photographs to the Newsletters and Annual Reports. Kathleen joined with her husband Kenneth way back in 2006. Both will be sadly missed.
Glasses Found
Some glasses that have been left in Railway Hide have been placed in the records box.
31st December 2023
Showery, south westerly.
Just as the light was improving, 31 Goosanders were counted on Car Park Pool early morning, 11 males and 20 females, and there were probably an additional two on Railway Pool, but the light was insufficient to clinch this before the birds departed.
A Little Egret was present on Car Park Pool and a drake Pochard on the islands there appeared to be suffering from bird flu.
A flock of 20 Chaffinches had congregated by the Horse Paddock gate but were mobile and flew up towards the Reserve before reappearing a little later. A pair of Bullfinches were present by the Horse Paddock gate too and Song Thrushes were in song by the back gate, by the Horse Paddock and also up at Patrick Farm. It was a delight to hear these birds again. A Jay was on the Car Park feeders.
Twenty Snipe were counted in the Marsh and there were 40 Redwings and 10 Fieldfares on a very damp Flood Plain. The ill looking Pochard was being consumed by the Greater Black-backed Gull which may not be in its best interests! There was also a Great Crested Grebe on Car Park Pool and a Black-headed Gull with a yellow ring, 20XJ, was originally ringed at Pitsea, Essex.
30th December 2023
Overcast, light showers, fresh southerly.
The full count today comprised five Mute Swans, 139 Canadas, Canada/Greylag hybrid, 65 Greylags, 37 Shoveler, 64 Gadwall, 166 Wigeon, 40 Mallard, 116 Teal, 12 Pochard, 19 Tufteds, 21 Cormorants, one Little Egret, one Heron, one Great Crested Grebe, five Little Grebes, two Moorhen, 56 Coot, 84 Black-headed Gulls, seven Common Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Herring Gull, 17 Snipe, 42 Lapwing, a pair of Stonechats in the Horse Paddock, 30 Siskins along the Central Stream, with the Treecreeper there, two Lesser Redpolls by the South-West Pond, 50 Linnets in the Crop Oaks, a Raven over, a juvenile Grey Wagtail by the old cattle feeder north of Car Park Pool and, lastly, two Collared Doves on the Flood Plain.
29th December 2023
Sunny spells, light south westerly
A pair of Stonechats showed well around the Dragonfly Pond this morning, and an adult Peregrine went over the pools putting up some of the birds. There was a Mistle Thrush in the Back Gate Copse, along with a Lesser Redpoll, three Collared Doves at the Car Park feeders, two Ravens over, two Great Crested Grebes and a female Goosander on the pools, whilst on the Flood Plain there were at least 345 Canadas.
In the wet area north of Siden, there were 11 Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe and 10 each of Redwing and Fieldfare by the mobile phone mast.
At dusk, with a superb sunset, at least 23 Goosanders came in to roost, although others may have arrived after the light went. There were again 400 Jackdaws on the Flood Plain, and a pair of Goldcrests were calling together on the Causeway.
28th December 2023
No records.
27th December 2023
Overcast, rain, gusty strong southerly.
Three Shelduck, five Goosanders, and an overflying Peregrine were the only birds in the distinctly mixed conditions.
26th December 2023
Sunny with cloud arriving by 11.45 and more rain later.
A Chiffchaff showed well on the Causeway in the morning, calling frequently, before flying to the Central Streamline and disappearing. In the mild weather, there were plenty of insects on the wing, particularly in the sheltered areas like the Causeway. There was a single Little Egret on Railway Pool, 24 Snipe (19 in the Marsh, one below Railway Hide and four below Car Park Hide) whilst around the feeders there were two Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. At least 20 Chaffinches and two Reed Buntings were in the Crop Oaks and coming down to the feed there.
Other bits and pieces comprised a Skylark, Lesser Redpoll and Raven over, a Collared Dove at the Car Park feeders, a pair of Stonechats in the Horse Paddock and 70 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Lapwing and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull on the pool islands.
25th December 2023
Overcast, fresh south westerly, rain later.
Considering how settled the drake Smew appeared yesterday, it was a surprise that there was no sign today. There were still 15 Goosanders at dawn and there were 11 Pochard as well.
Birds throughout the day included three Egyptian Geese, 23 Snipe, 16 Pochard, eight Common Gulls, 12 Herring Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two adult Greater Black-backed Gulls, 72 Linnets in the Crop Field and three Cetti’s Warblers (Reedbed, North Causeway Bay and Dragonfly Pond). There was also a single Little Egret present.
24th December 2023
Overcast and breezy.
Today’s highlight was undoubtedly a drake Smew found by Steve Bradley mid-morning and still present at dusk. All the previous records have also been of drakes, with the first in 1999 and the last three drakes in 2012.
The bird was initially on Car Park Pool but subsequently moved to Railway Pool and seemed pretty settled at dusk.
Drake Smew on Railway Pool – Photograph by Martin Durkin
As the light went, 26 Goosanders had arrived on Car Park Pool and 450 corvids, mostly Jackdaws, had congregated in the trees on the Flood Plain before dispersing after dark.
With the light almost gone, Snipe could be heard calling as they flew out of the Marsh, presumably to feed elsewhere.
23rd December 2023
Sunny spells, breezy from the west.
The full count of birds today, care of Dave Scanlan and Graham Rowling were as follows:
Nine Mute Swans, 82 Canadas, two Greylags, a Canada/Greylag hybrid, 32 Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 280 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, 151 Teal, 18 Pochard, 25 Tufteds, eight Goosander, 29 Cormorants, four Little Grebes, one Heron, one Little Egret, six Moorhen, 36 Coot, only three Lapwing, 25 Snipe, 46 Black-headed Gulls, 14 Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Cetti’s Warblers (both in the Reedbed), a pair of Stonechats around the Dragonfly Pond and the Horse Paddock area, eight Meadow Pipits in the Tip Field, 25 Linnets in the Crop Field, and eight Reed Buntings around the Car Park feeders.
Later in the day a Sparrowhawk was on the prowl around the Car Park feeders.
22nd December 2023
Overcast, showers and breezy from the west/north-west
The good counts of Snipe continued today with 71 present, 67 in the Marsh and four in front of Car Park Hide. There was also a Jack Snipe in the Marsh.
On the pools there was a single Shelduck, a female Goosander, 34 Cormorants and 12 Common Gulls, whilst in the Back Gate Copse there was a single Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and Coal Tit.
21st December 2023
Cloudy, west/north-westerly
The only records making the log today were a pair of Shelduck, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and a single female Goosander.
20th December 2023
Sunny intervals early on, slowly clouding over from the north-west.
A Peregrine put in a brief appearance as did a Sparrowhawk and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull arrived to roost as usual. There were 17 Pochard, two Cetti’s Warblers (on the Top Stream and in the North Causeway Bay), and two Collared Doves at the Car Park feeders.
At 11.50 and continuing the raptor theme, a female or juvenile Marsh Harrier flew south across the front of Siden Hill Wood and disappeared to the south-west.
19th December 2023
Overcast, rain, fresh north-westerly.
There were 22 Goosanders on Car Park Pool at dawn but, as is usual, most of the birds dispersed immediately.
Canada numbers were up with 190 today plus 78 Greylags, with the Pochard total reaching 17. Fifty-five Linnets fed in the Crop Field and were perched up in the oaks for a while, whilst along the Central Stream line there were 20 Siskins. A pair of Stonechats were again by the Dragonfly Pond.
18th December 2023
North-westerly, showery.
Fifty-nine Snipe were put up from the Marsh by a Sparrowhawk this morning (eight remained) and flew in a tight flock around Car Park Pool before dropping on to the margins to join five more there, giving a total of 72. Twenty-five Linnets flew into the oaks just north of the Car Park briefly, and there were 10 Greenfinches on the feeders, along with eight each of Great Tit and Blue Tit.
17th December 2023
High cloud, mild, brisk south-westerly.
A female Goosander joined 12 Pochard on Car Park Pool and there were at least 260 Wigeon spread across both pools. The Cormorant count reached 32. The adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted on Car Park Pool again this morning, along with four Common Gulls and other birds included two Meadow Pipits, a Water Rail (south-west side of Railway Pool) and two Collared Doves around the feeders.
16th December 2023
Sunny spells, fresh southerly.
Todays counts, care of Graham and Dave, were as follows: Four Mute Swans, 42 Canadas, 26 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 281 Wigeon, 32 Mallard, 92 Teal, 15 Pochard, 18 Tufteds, two female Goosanders, three Moorhens, 52 Coot, three Little Grebes, 27 Lapwing, 36 Snipe, 34 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herons and a Little Egret; whilst around the Dragonfly Pond the pair of Stonechats were present again, along with three Meadow Pipits. In the Back Gate Copse, seven Siskins and a Lesser Redpoll were feeding in the alders and there was also a Treecreeper and Coal Tit present.
15th December 2023
Dry, cloudy, light wind.
A Great White Egret flew over north at 10:45, and the adult Great Black-backed Gull again roosted on Car Park Pool. There were also three Goosanders there, together with nine Pochard and a total of 20 Snipe. In the lunchtime period, a Chiffchaff was on the Railway Embankment near the Hide, presumably the bird ringed a few days ago. There were also 15 Common Gulls and two Little Egrets.
14th December 2023
Overcast, relatively mild.
The wandering Siskin flock appeared again in the alders along the Central Stream, with 14 counted this morning, and the Water Rail again showed in the North Causeway Bay channels. The mixed Linnet and Chaffinch flock around the Crop Field oaks was back to a commendable 101 today.
13th December 2023
Overcast, showers, fresh northerly.
Four Goosander, 19 Pochard, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and 30 Cormorants were the only birds making the log.
12th December 2023
Heavy overnight rain, mild, sunny intervals and showers.
The Snipe numbers were again commendable with 15 in front of Car Park Pool and a further 24 in the Marsh, with a possible Jack Snipe seen very briefly there before it disappeared into cover.
A pair of Goosanders were on Car Park Pool, a Water Rail was seen in the channels in the North Causeway Bay, Cetti’s Warblers were heard from the North Causeway Bay and Oak Hide, and there were 16 Pochard.
11th December 2023
Sunny, fresh south-westerly.
Extensive flooding at Patrick Bridge.
A single Egyptian Goose was present on the pools this morning and there was a good count of 53 Snipe, with the majority of the birds (38) in the Marsh. One of the colour-ringed Wigeon was back on the pools, there were 20 Pochard, a female Goosander, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a Brambling by the Flood Plain gate, and a Fox was asleep on the opposite bank to Car Park Hide.
10th December 2023
No records.
9th December 2023
Showery after more overnight rain.
A Water Rail was calling to the left-hand side of Oak Hide this morning, and a Sparrowhawk was terrorising the finches around the crop oaks. There were, nevertheless, at least 40 Chaffinches and 25 Linnets at any one time. Graham and Dave’s counts were as follows: three Mute Swans, 87 Canadas, 27 Greylags, 37 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 263 Wigeon and 222 Teal (the best counts so far this autumn), 30 Mallard, 15 Pochards, 16 Tufteds, five Goosanders, 19 Cormorants, two Little Grebes, two Herons, five Moorhens, 42 Coot, 30 Lapwing, 27 Snipe (12 on Car Park Pool and 15 in the Marsh), 35 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, two Herring Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull.
A Kingfisher flew over Car Park Pool towards the Reedbed, there was a Grey Wagtail on the margins of Railway Pool, a Cetti’s Warbler sang from the South-West pond and a lone Siskin was feeding in the alders along the Concrete Road.
8th December 2023
Sunny, fresh southerly.
Extensive flooding still at Patrick Bridge.
Forty Linnets were present in the Crop Field Oaks this morning, but no great numbers of Chaffinches since the 2nd. Pochard numbers have dropped to 11, there was a drake Goosander, and a pair of Stonechats were present in the Horse Paddock. Two Ravens flew over.
7th December 2023
No records.
6th December 2023
Sunny, overnight frost.
Car Park Pool was 75% frozen over and Railway Pool 25%. The river was still well over the banks at Patrick Bridge, with some duck present on the Flood Plain, but not as many duck as one might have expected. Pochard numbers had increased on the pools to 21 (17 males and four females), and 37 Snipe were either in the Marsh area (21) or along the front of Car Park Pool (a further 16).
Two Ravens flew over the Car Park, there were two Goosander present in the afternoon, Sparrowhawk perched briefly by River Hide and there were 12 Fieldfare, mostly around the Car Park area.
A morning ringing session in the Back Gate Copse yielded 15 Redpoll, a surprisingly late Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, 23 Tits and a Wren.
5th December 2023
Morning rain, light north/north-easterly.
The river had overflowed into Railway Pool this morning and a number of ducks had flown down onto the Flood Plain. On or around the pools there were six Snipe, 31 Shoveler, eight Pochard and 15 Cormorants, with a Kingfisher seen in flight over Railway Pool. Around the Crop Field Oaks there were a few Chaffinches, but not the double figure numbers of the last few days.
4th December 2023
Overcast, light southerly.
The Blythe again burst its banks at Patrick Bridge. The first returning Shelduck of the autumn was present along with 19 Pochard, 30 Cormorant, 24 Snipe, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and at least eight Pheasants, most of the latter around the Car Park feeders.
3rd December 2023
Light overnight snow turning wet and slushy. Slightly warmer but remaining foggy.
The weather and visibility were not conducive to birding. Three Goosanders were still present on Car Park Pool mid-morning and some of the Teal and Wigeon were feeding in front of the hide along with at least four Snipe.
The Chaffinch flock had already found the seeded area by the Crop Field Oaks with 30 to 40 present along with a few Linnets. 40 to 50 Fieldfare and 20 Redwing were spread between the area around the car park and north of the Dragonfly Pond, with the flock at the latter location including at least two first-winter Blackbirds. Two Cetti’s Warblers were in song, one from the Reedbed and one from Railway Pool.
A Mistle Thrush flew over in the late afternoon. There were two Jays around the Car Park and utilising the feeders, 74 Lapwings spread between the two pools, and a calling Cetti’s Warbler from the Reedbed, with a separate singing bird by Oak Hide.
2nd December 2023
Foggy start, slowly lifting to mostly overcast, very cold, pools still 50% iced over.
Even though it has been icy, wildfowl counts are relatively low for the time of year with, for example, just 164 Wigeon and 110 Teal. Compared to yesterday, there was only a single Little Grebe and other counts were as follows: four Mute Swans, 63 Canadas, 15 Greylags, 26 Gadwall, 39 Shoveler, nine Mallard, 13 Pochard, nine Tufted Ducks, seven Goosander, five Cormorants, one Heron, five Moorhen, 30 Coot, 36 Lapwing, four Snipe, 58 Black-headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Herring Gulls, 60 Fieldfare and ten Redwings whilst 80 Chaffinches were mostly coming into the Crop Field.
Eight attended the Work Party in the afternoon and we concentrated on clearing the tall grass and nettles from the north side of the Crop Field Oaks in order that we can start feeding the Finches and Buntings there. Thanks to all those who attended.
1st December 2023
Sunny and cold, with the pools 70% iced over.
There were eight Goosanders and 15 Pochard on the pools this morning, with the Grey Wagtail around the margins of Car Park Pool and a Kingfisher south over the same pool.
Later in the day, 14 Snipe were feeding on the grass to the right of Car Park Hide. There were four Little Grebes on Railway Pool, two more on Car Park Pool representing a good total for this time of year.