30th November 2015
– Drizzly and overcast, south-westerly wind, remaining mild.
The drake Goldeneye remains on Car Park Pool where it was joined by a Little Egret during the morning. 25 Snipe hid cryptically in the Marsh and three Jays showed with birds on the railway embankment, Old Road and by Oak Hide.
29th November 2015
– Very windy from the south-west, periods of driving rain, occasional intervals of slightly brighter weather, reasonably mild.
A juvenile Peregrine was again hassling the Lapwings around Car Park Pool this morning and, as a consequence, the flock was jittery, as indeed were the Starlings. A Woodcockflushed from the back gate copse area and the fawn coloured Little Egret was again present, initially on the Dragonfly Pool and later on, on Car Park Pool, were it was joined by a second bird.
A steady trickle of large Gulls moved through on the strong wind in the morning including nineCommon Gulls, five Lesser Black-back and 18 Herring Gulls.
A few Siskins and Thrushes were spread across the Reserve and there were five Bullfincheson the Old Road and two on the railway embankment.
The drake Goldeneye remained on Car Park Pool and there were 15 Snipe in the Marsh and two on the Dragonfly Pond where there was also a Meadow Pipit in the rushes.
Two immature female Goosanders and a drake arrived on Car Park Pool in the late morning and a Kingfisher showed well around Car Park Pool. Other wildfowl counts included 275 Teal, 25 Shoveler, 16 Pochard and there were 12 Rooks with the Jackdaws on the flood plain.
The stream under Oak Hide had blocked this morning and the path beyond it was flooded but after the donning of waders and the removal of the leaf and bramble debris, fortunately it cleared quite quickly and was soon flowing smoothly. Thanks to Brian Harris for his help.
28th November 2015
– Dry and sunny start, clouding over quickly, with periods of driving rain later on, on a strong south-westerly wind.
The more noteworthy birds today included the elusive Short-eared Owl which was accidentally flushed from around the Dragonfly Pond in a Snipe search. It flew over the hump of the tip field and disappeared. There was also a very odd coloured Little Egret with fawn coloured back and wing coverts. This was initially on the Dragonfly Pond as well, before moving to Car Park Pool. The drake Goldeneye remained on Car Park Pool and a Cetti’s Warblercalled in front of Oak Hide.
Other counts today were as follows: two Herons, two Little Grebes, 34 Cormorants, 20Mute Swans of which 15 were adults, the Black Swan, 546 Greylags, the Greylag / Canada, 70 Canadas, 248 Wigeon, 64 Gadwall, 198 Teal, 15 Mallard, 29 Shoveler, 12Pochard, 12 Tufted, the Brewers Duck, 187 Lapwing, 20 Snipe, the two Whooper / Hybrids, 61 Coot, eight Moorhen, 84 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Common Gulls, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 20 Siskins by the south-west pond.
27th November 2015
– Mild, mostly overcast, south-westerly wind, occasional sunny intervals.
Yesterday’s drake Goldeneye remains on Car Park Pool and there were plenty of Thurshesabout with 18 over to the west at 8.30 and then a further 50 Redwing and at least 25Fieldfare on the flood plain, later moving up the Old Road. 22 Pheasants were feeding in the crop field, 20 Stock Doves went over and a few Siskins were pottering about. A singleSkylark also moved west. Green Woodpeckers showed well by the car park and behind Oak Hide.
26th November 2015
– Grey and drizzly, light westerly wind.
An estimated 4000 Starlings ‘unfolded ‘ from the Reedbed roost at 7.40 am and all but a few immediately flew off. About 400 came back and perched up again before they too departed ten minutes later. Two Water Rails called from the east side of the Reedbed and aside from a scattering of Thrushes on the causeway there were five showy Redpolls and about 12Siskins feeding in the bushes there.
A Cetti’s Warbler called from the reed mace in front of Oak Hide (the first for a few days) and 12 Long Tailed Tits moved through the vegetation to the side of the same hide.
14 Herring and six Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew north at 7.45 am and over 30 Stock Doves also flew over as they came out of their nearby roost.
A drake Goldeneye was a new arrival on Car Park Pool and seems likely to have been a bird that was at Packington earlier in the week, which has since gone. There were also 15 Snipe in the Marsh.
25th November 2015
– Grey and wet, cool a.m., cloud lifting with occasional sunny intervals p.m., northerly wind.
Yesterday’s Dunlin remained today, as did the Little Egret. Six Common Gulls were amongst the Black-headed Gulls.
24th November 2015
– Mostly overcast, westerly wind.
Dunlin was new in overnight and continues the run of occasional November records for this species and occasionally other waders. There were at least 100 Redwings and ten Fieldfaresin the trees on the edge of the crop field but other Redwings were seen elsewhere on the Reserve, including a number in the back gate area of which 18 were ringed. The ringing totals for this morning were as follows:
6 Goldcrest (one of which was an adult)
18 Redwings (of which five were adults)
1 Wren (juvenile)
1 Reed Bunting (juvenile)
3 Great Tit (one adult)
2 Redpoll (one adult)
22 Blue Tit (three adults)
There were, in addition, two re-trapped Blue Tits from the recent ringing session and birds at dawn included two calling Tawny Owls by the back gate, a flock of at least 30 Siskin and an impressive flock of about 4000 Starlings leaving the roost just after dawn.
Of particular interest has been information now received on the controlled Redpoll and Reed Bunting. The Reed Bunting which was caught in the Reedbed roost on the 19th November was first ringed on the 29th November 2014 at Glenmore Farm, Worcestershire. It was thus caught 355 days later, 42 km from the original site.
The Lesser Redpoll, which was caught on the 14th November, was previously ringed on the 1st March this year at Greenham Common, West Berkshire, 120 km away from Marsh Lane and controlled 258 days later. Many thanks to Ben Dolan for this fascinating information.
Later on in the morning there was a Little Egret on the Dragonfly Pool.
23rd November 2015
– Overcast, south-westerly wind.
In the crop field today there was a mixed flock of about 50 Finches and Buntings with the species involved being Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. Along the Old Road and feeding on the berries, were approximately 50 each of Redwing andFieldfare and there were 25 Siskins in the Alders by the Dragonfly Pool.
22nd November 2015
– (weather to follow).
The Lapwing flock continues to be fidgety because of the presence of a Peregrine which this morning flew over to the east at the north end of Car Park Pool at about 10 a.m. TheYellowhammer count continues to improve with at least 15 to 20 at the north end of the crop field and along the causeway and they were accompanied by about ten to 15 Reed Buntings. Two Skylarks and five Goldfinches were also in the crop field.
A flock of 12 Siskin were feeding on the alders just east of the back gate and there were three further birds along the Old Road. Large Gulls on the move included one flock of 13 birds, with at least two Herrings amongst them, and a few more Lesser Black-backs went over during the morning. There were 15 Common Gulls with the Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool but, again, birds were coming and going all the time.
At least 15 Redwing were feeding either on the railway embankment or along the causeway and six Song Thrush called from various places, mostly around the causeway and the track to River Hide.
Green Woodpeckers were present on the railway embankment and by the car park and aGreat Spotted Woodpecker was at the car park feeder. Other birds of interest included a pair of Treecreepers on the Old Road, a Grey Wagtail and ten Rooks on the flood plain and 13Pochard on Railway Pool. In the evening, an impressive count of 306 Teal which I think is a new record for the Reserve. A Water Rail called at dusk from the Reedbed.
21st November 2015
– Cold, northerly wind, light dusting of snow early on, sunny.
There were again a scattering of Thrushes, mostly feeding on the berries along the Old Road with at least 30 Redwings there and a few Fieldfares.
Duck numbers continue to vary with only 106 Wigeon, but 228 Teal.
The Coot count, at 41, remains almost identical to the beginning of the month.
Other counts were as follows: 39 Cormorants, four Herons, four Little Grebes, seven Mute Swans, the Black Swan, 110 Greylags, 48 Canadas, 106 Wigeon, 58 Gadwall, 228 Teal, 36 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, seven Pochard, eight Tufted, seven Moorhen, 41 Coot, 60Lapwing, eight Snipe, 213 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Common Gulls, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls and three Herring Gulls. The Brewers Duck (Mallard / Gadwall hybrid) was also on site.
20th November 2015
– Cold, northerly breeze, but sunny later, getting colder!
There were two Little Egrets by Patrick Bridge feeding on the river this morning and 15Snipe, either in front of Car Park Hide on the shore line, or feeding on the islands. 29Cormorants were also on the islands and 350 Greylags came in at 9.30. A pair of Whopper /Mute hybrids were on site, along with five Mute Swans. A flock of 50 Redwings were feeding on berries along the Old Road, with at least six Blackbirds.
19th November 2015
– Cool north-westerly wind, mostly overcast, showers.
What was presumably Sunday’s Short-eared Owl, appeared at dusk by the Reedbed and in the crop field whilst, overhead, there was a superb murmuration of Starlings, with a minimum of 3,500 to 4,000 birds. Two Sparrowhawks were picking off the Starlings as they came in to roost, whilst 38 Starlings (17 adults) and 16 Reed Buntings (four adults) were ringed in the Reedbed at dusk. There were at least 30 Reed Buntings in the roost. A further Reed Bunting was a control (ie., ringed before) and details are awaited. A juvenile Wren was also caught in the Reedbed. The Blue Tit that was caught on the 4th November had been ringed as a juvenile at Marsh Lane on the 28th December 2013, by the Brandon Marsh Group.
Earlier in the day, a flock of 12 Siskins showed well by Railway Hide along with a pair ofBullfinch. Two Skylark also flew over.
In order to appreciate the Short-eared Owl, can people please avoid walking in the crop field or around the Reedbed, at least for the time being; the Owl, assuming it lingers, will be best viewed in the morning at dawn or at dusk.
18th November 2015
– Fine and dry, light winds in the morning, rain, cool north-westerly wind with sunny intervals in the afternoon.
The Yellowhammer count in the crop field today reached 12 and 24 Common Gulls on the pools was the best count so far of the autumn. There were at least 26 Coromorants and 300Black-headed Gulls spread between the pools.
17th November 2015
– Windy, occasional showers.
Counts today included seven Common Gulls with the Black-heads from Oak Hide, along with 40 Gadwall, 12 Snipe in the Marsh and the now daily visit of a Sparrowhawk in search of early Starlings.
16th November 2015
– Drizzly with overnight rain into Tuesday. South-westerly wind.
A slow build of Yellowhammers is occurring with seven today and there were also a flock of 14 Siskin around Railway Hide. 50 Fieldfares went over and other birds included threeBullfinches and both Woodpeckers on the railway embankment, five Snipe in the Marsh and a pair of Whooper / Mute hybrids on Car Park Pool.
15th November 2015
– Strong westerly wind, mostly cloudy.
The day was surprisingly dry but remained extremely windy and this caused a significant movement of Gulls, particularly in the morning, with quality in the shape of an adult Yellow-legged Gull at 10 a.m., and an adult Greater Black-backed Gull at about mid-day. Birds were passing through all the time with the maximum at any one time being 52 Lesser Black-backs and 41 Herring Gulls but the totals were far in excess of this. 13 Common Gulls were also on site but again birds were passing through all of the morning. There were two Little Egrets for a short time on Car Park Pool and at least 31 Cormorants.
The day got even better with the finding of only the Reserve’s third Short-eared Owl. The bird was accidentally flushed from the side of the Reedbed from where it eventually moved to the crop field before flying over towards the Berkswell side of the A452 and then coming back about 12.30. At about 4.30 pm it then left the crop field, was mobbed by a Sparrowhawkattending the 3000 strong Starling roost and dropped down by the edge of the reeds. It was back up in a few minutes and circled around the causeway and the end of Car Park Pool while being mobbed by two Crows before flying off in a north-east direction. An absolute cracking bird which showed really well to those who were on site.
A Woodcock was also seen in the crop field where there were at least ten to 15 Reed Buntings; and three Yellowhammers and five Redwings were along the Old Road, opposite the car park gates, with a further seven Redwings flying into the strong wind.
Two Meadow Pipits and two Snipe were feeding around the Dragonfly Pond.
14th November 2015
– Blustery, westerly wind. Some rain showers late morning and afternoon.
The predicted rain was nothing like as bad as the forecast and indeed the early part of the day was dry, although it remained windy throughout.
3000 to 4000 Starlings came out of the roost at dawn as a ringing session managed to dodge the worst of the weather and yielded 28 birds of which 27 were new. Even the common birds are not being re-caught. The totals were as follows: six Redwings of which five were juveniles, a Fieldfare, two Blackbirds (one adult and one juvenile), two Robins (one adult and one juvenile), one Wren, two Goldcrests, five Blue Tits, three Great Tits, one Siskin and fiveRedpolls. One of the Redpolls was a bird ringed elsewhere and we are awaiting details of that. Some photographs of these birds will appear in the next Newsletter.
Some ringing rides were cut in the Reedbed for some ringing work over the winter, specifically on the Reed Bunting roost.
Other counts today were as follows: six Little Grebes, two Herons, 42 Cormorants, sevenMutes, the pair of Whooper / Mute hybrids, Black Swan, 354 Greylags, three Farmyard Geese, the Greylag / Canada cross, 52 Canadas, 229 Wigeon, 182 Teal, 73 Gadwall, 34Mallard, 22 Shoveler, the hybrid Duck (which appears to be what is called a Brewers Duck, a hybrid Mallard / Gadwall rather than Mallard / Teal as suspected – thanks to Andy Hale for that information), six Pochard, eight Tufted, 12 Moorhen, 41 Coot, 103 Lapwings, 24Snipe, 177 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 20Siskins around the south-west pond, a Water Rail at the causeway hide, 30 Redwings, threeFieldfares and three Meadow Pipits on the tip field.
13th November 2015
– Early rain, fair p.m., blustery westerly wind.
Little to report I am afraid. The only birds recorded in the log were a male Bullfinch, a maleYellowhammer, Greenfinch and Song Thrush along the Old Road.
12th November 2015
– Cool, but fine and sunny a.m., clouding over and increasing south-westerly wind, p.m.
Whilst there was nothing particularly out of the ordinary this morning, there was a good selection of birds and still plenty of wildfowl on the pools.
A Peregrine was determined to harass the Lapwings and made three appearances prior to 9 a.m., and is probably a reason why numbers are lower than in previous winters.
There were at least 20 Redwings, a Song Thrush and a few Blackbirds on the railway embankment and at least ten Redwings, two Song Thrushes and three Blackbirds on the causeway. A further few Redwings went over, with at least ten Fieldfares.
Five Siskins were feeding in the alders in the back gate copse and a further seven were flying around the Old Road area. Green Woodpeckers were present on the railway embankment and in the car park and a Treecreeper called from the back gate area. There was a singleYellowhammer with ten Reed Buntings around the crop field oaks, two Skylarks flew over, three Redpolls and two Greenfinches were present by Oak Hide and at least 250 Wood Pigeons went south-west this morning.
Last, but not least, a single Cetti’s Warbler called from the causeway embankments.
11th November 2015
– Mostly fine and sunny, with some cloud, south-westerly wind.
The only records in the log today were of the immature Peregrine over car park Pool at 10.30 a.m., two Common Gulls amongst the Blackheads and a Water Rail calling from the causeway area.
10th November 2015
– Mostly wet, mild and breezy from the south-west.
A Kingfisher showed very well albeit briefly in front of the north causeway hide at 10 a.m. At least eight Redwings were feeding on the hawthorne berries along the causeway and in the late afternoon, about 50 Fieldfares were feeding in the Aeromodellers field. Between 300 and 400 Starlings roosted in the Reedbed.
9th November 2015
– Periodic rain, mostly cloudy, mild south-westerly wind.
17 Snipe were on the Car Park Pool islands along with 130 Lapwing until they were flushed by a Sparrowhawk.
8th November 2015
– Again periodic rain, brisk southerly wind, remaining mild.
There was at least one Cetti’s Warbler calling occasionally from the north causeway hide area but the bird remained elusive. There was a Kingfisher in front of River Hide and a Green Sandpiper on the flash in the field opposite Patrick Farm Barns. 16 Rooks were amongst at least 200 Jackdaws on the flood plain, seven Skylarks and five Meadow Pipits went over and a Weasel showed well, albeit briefly, on the Old Road.
Wildfowl counts included 210 Teal, 34 Shoveler, two Pochard, five Tufted and, amongst theGulls, there were four Herring Gulls and four Common Gulls.
7th November 2015
– Morning rain, sunny intervals pm., brisk west, south-westerly wind.
The more noteworthy birds today included a female Goosander on Car Park Pool in the morning, a Peregrine over in the afternoon, and slightly better counts in the crop field with 16Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer and at least 15 Pheasants.
Plenty of Thrushes included at least 60 Redwings and 40 Fieldfares.
Despite a seemingly reasonable breeding season, Greenfinches remain scarce and so one by the Car Park gates made the log.
Other counts today were as follows: four Herons, six Little Grebes, 27 Cormorants, sixMute Swans, the Black Swan, 27 Greylags, 274 Canadas, 221 Wigeon, 198 Teal, 60Gadwall, 45 Mallard, 35 Shoveler, a single drake Pochard, three Tufted, ten Moorhen, 40Coot, 217 Lapwing, 44 Snipe, 60 Black-headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Herring Gulls and the Mallard / Teal hybrid.
6th November 2015
– Periodic rain, light south-westerly wind, misty.
No records.
5th November 2015
– Misty, periods of rain, south-easterly wind.
Snipe numbers were up today with 46 counted and there were also 244 Canadas on site. At least one Cetti’s Warbler was calling around the north causeway hide and either overhead or in the hedges there were at least 60 Fieldfares and 30 Redwing on site. The Mallard / Tealhybrid showed again.
4th November 2015
– Misty and drizzly.
A quickly arranged ringing session yielded another Cetti’s Warbler with the bird from Saturday also re-caught. Both birds were caught along the causeway. Aside from a fewRedwings, two Song Thrushes and a few Blackbirds, it was otherwise quiet.
The results from the ringing session were as follows: 29 new birds were ringed and five birds were re-trapped. The new birds were:
8 Redwings – two adults;
3 juvenile Goldcrest;
2 juvenile Song Thrushes;
6 Blue Tit of which only one was an adult;
2 juvenile Great Tits;
2 juvenile male Reed Buntings;
1 adult male Blackbird;
1 juvenile Wren;
2 juvenile Robins;
1 adult Dunnock; and
1 female Cetti’s Warbler, probably a juvenile.
Re-traps were as follows:
1 Blue Tit, probably ringed by the Brandon Marsh group (full details awaited;
1 juvenile female Goldcrest ringed on the 11th September, on site;
1 juvenile Blue Tit ringed on the 18th August, on site;
1 adult Great Tit ringed on the 25th August, on site; and
the previous Cetti’s Warbler ringed on Saturday.
3rd November 2015
– Misty and drizzly.
A single late Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen by the horse paddock gates and, in the evening, an impressive 3590 Starlings came in to roost at about 4.15 p.m. They arrived in small groups with the maximum number being about 300.
2nd November 2015
– Foggy all day.
Just three bits of news today; there were definitely three female Cetti’s Warblers heard and seen from the north causeway hide. This included a ringed bird which is presumably the bird that was ringed on Saturday. There were also 12 Siskins (at least) along the central stream and 30 Common Snipe on site.
1st November 2015
– Misty start, slowly clearing to warm and sunny conditions.
Today’s quality came in the shape of two Woodcock and a fly over of a group of Crossbills. The former comprised one disturbed from the side of the footpath, just south of the pumping station, and a second bird near the path at the top of Siden Hill Wood. The Crossbills were a small group, not seen but heard flying over Railway Hide mid-morning. There were still two elusive Cetti’s Warblers in front of the causeway screen and a slight increase in Common Gulls saw four amongst the Blackheads in the morning.
Tens of Redwings (at least 50) plus the ten Blackbirds, some Song Thrushes and a fewFieldfares were along the hedgerows south of the pumping station whilst, in the wood, there was a Chiffchaff as well as six Goldcrests, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Coal Tit in a rovingTit flock in the wood. The Grey Wagtail was again by the pumping station along with 16Goldfinches and a Meadow Pipit.
Further Redwings on the Reserve included 12 on the causeway and 50 along the concrete road and a Green Sandpiper was also noted in the afternoon.