31st May 2024
Thin broken cloud.
There were three Lapwing chicks still on Car Park Pool islands this morning, and the Tern chick was still being fed by the adults. The Fox was seen again on Railway Pool and other counts today were as follows: Mute Swan but only three cygnets now and they are back on the Reedbed, four Greylag broods, four Mallard broods, two Shelducks, the Lapwing brood of three on Car Park Pool, 12 Oystercatchers and still two broods of two each on Railway and Car Park Pool, four Redshank, a Little Ringed Plover, three Mediterranean Gulls (an adult, a second-summer and a new first-summer), seven Common Terns and two chicks, six Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes and four Swifts. There were also three Redshank.
An Otter was seen from the Reedbed Hide in the pool in the late evening when a Hobby went over.
30th May 2024
No records.
29th May 2024
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
With the helpful input of Graham Rowling the following broods of birds were noted, in some cases first chicks of the year. Broods were as follows, two Mute broods of five and a separate one of two on Car Park Pool. The five have come from the Reedbed, with the two presumably from the pair in the North Causeway Bay. Greylag broods were two on Car Park Pool of six and two; Mallard broods, two on Railway of five and three; Lapwing, a new brood of three on Car Park Pool on Tern island and the first Common Tern chick on Car Park Pool.
There were still two Oystercatcher broods, two on Car Park Pool and two on Railway. Other records included an Egyptian Goose, one Shelduck, three Great Crested Grebes, four Redshank, two Mediterranean Gulls (an adult and a second-summer), whilst a Fox again patrolled the margins of Railway Pool.
28th May 2024
Overcast, rain, light southerly
The first Bee Orchids of the year were seen today on the path from Car Park Hide to the Causeway and they have subsequently been caged.
In the wet weather there were 30 Sand Martins feeding over the pools, whilst on the pools there was a female Goosander, a first-summer Mediterranean Gull, four Shelduck, still two broods of Oystercatchers, four Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover. A Cuckoo was also heard, and they have been scarce this year.
27th May 2024
Sunny start, south-westerly, showers later.
A Hobby was feeding high over Siden Hill Wood at 08.40 and shortly after it disappeared, two Swifts and eight House Martins appeared to move south over the wood, whilst a single Sand Martin appeared over Car Park Pool briefly. On the pools, there were two Redshanks and two broods of Oystercatchers, two on Railway Pool which are close to fledging and the two younger ones on Car Park Pool. The single that was raised early on, on Car Park Pool, has fledged.
26th May 2024
Rain overnight and showers, cool southerly initially, mostly overcast, occasional sunny spells, improving from 11.00.
The gravel bar is still submerged and the high water levels in Railway Pool are taking some time to reduce.
The best birds today were a flock of five Ringed Plovers, which flew low over Car Park Pool at 11.45, appeared to be about to land, but then decided against it and headed off north.
There was a Red Kite over Siden Hill Wood together with a Hobby in the mid-morning period, and possibly up to three Mediterranean Gulls again, an adult and two second-summers, though the birds were harder to see in amongst the emerging vegetation on the islands.
A pair of Redshanks were being chased by a very dark, young Fox in front of Railway Hide early morning. Two pairs of Shelduck were aggressively interacting and a pair of Shoveler were new arrivals.
Twenty Sand Martins were present about 06.00 but they quickly dispersed. Two Swifts and four House Martins were feeding over Siden Wood in the late morning.
25th May 2024
Sunny spells, still.
In much better weather today, there were more insects present with a Hairy Dragonfly on the Dragonfly Pond, at least 17 Beautiful Demoiselles, four Banded Demoiselles, five Four-spotted Chasers, two female Broad-bodied Chasers; whilst Damselflies included Large Red, Azure, Red-eyed and Blue-tailed. Butterflies were limited to just three male Brimstones, one Comma, one Peacock and a Small White.
A count of the emerging orchids in the Orchid Field behind Oak Hide yielded at least 500 Southern Marsh Orchids and a variable number of Common Spotted, depending on whether you take the view that they are pure or hybridised with Southern Marsh. There appeared to be over 100 nevertheless.
Bird counts included 13 Mute Swans and five cygnets, eight Greylags and two goslings, just three Canadas, four Shelducks, 16 Gadwall, 17 Mallard and five broods, 85 Tufteds, eight Cormorants, one Little Egret, the booming Bittern, two Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes, one Little Ringed Plover, six Lapwings, four Redshanks, ten Oystercatchers and still three broods, five Common Terns, 1,175 Black-headed Gulls and 72 chicks, two Mediterranean Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls; and a good variety of raptors with Buzzards, two Red Kites, a Hobby, a Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Swan and Cygnets – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
24th May 2024
Overcast, fresh south-westerly.
In the floods at Patrick Bridge, there were two female Goosanders, a mixed family of a Canada/Greylag with two goslings, still two Mallard broods on Railway Pool, 14 Mute Swans and five cygnets, two Great Crested Grebes, three Redshanks, 13 Lapwings, eight Common Terns, one second-summer Mediterranean Gull and at least two Hobbies.
23rd May 2024
Overcast, occasional sunny intervals.
Most of the islands on Railway Pool were partly under water and the gravel bar had completely disappeared. Car Park Pool is usually less affected, but the levels in that had also risen.
There were three Mediterranean Gulls again, four Redshanks, four Little Ringed Plovers, at least 20 Swifts (at last), and mid-morning an Osprey flew over Railway Pool heading north. This was the first record for the year. These later birds are probably sub-adults.
22nd May 2024
Overcast, rain, fresh north-westerly
Rain from overnight proceeded through most of the day and it was not long before the Blythe breached its banks, flooding Railway Pool and the valley. Unfortunately, at least one pair of Common Terns, one pair of Oystercatchers and one pair of Lapwings were flooded out, and probably some of the low-lying Black-headed Gulls as well.
Birds in the rain included a Shelduck, a Mute Swan with five cygnets on the Reedbed, four Mallard broods on Railway Pool, four Great Crested Grebes, three Little Grebes, ten Oystercatchers and three broods, (one nearly fledged on Car Park, plus a brood of two fairly recently hatched, and those on Railway Pool which are about half grown), three Redshanks, three Little Ringed Plovers and three Mediterranean Gulls. Thirty Sand Martins came to feed in the rain.
21st May 2024
Overcast, light north-easterly.
Today’s star bird, and certainly the bird of the year so far was an adult Roseate Tern found by Glen Giles on Railway Pool at 09.15 and present until about 15.30 when it disappeared behind one of the islands and never reappeared. It was ringed but it has so far been impossible to get the ring number.
When perched the pink tinge to the breast was visible, but generally not in flight, but this was more than made up for by the long tail streamers. The long dark bill was also evident, as was the pale overall colouration, especially to the wings. An absolutely cracking bird.
Roseate Tern – Photograph by Steve Taylor
Seven Common Terns, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls (of which one was new), plus an adult, were also seen. A Mink was an unwelcome visitor in the North Causeway Bay with a Frog in its mouth.
In the evening it was at last good to see a few more Swifts, with at least 17 seen in the hour between 19.00 to 20.00, along with 10 Sand Martins. A Hobby and Red Kite also put in appearances, the former initially perched in a riverside willow before flying towards the Reedbed, whilst the latter flew south over the A452.
20th May 2024
Fresh north-easterly, brightening.
Today’s counts were six Mute Swans, 43 Canadas, seven Greylags and seven Goslings on the Flood Plain, a Shelduck, 20 Gadwall, 12 Mallard of three broods, a notable 146 Tufteds, six Cormorants, one Little Grebe, four Great Crested Grebes, 10 Moorhen, 18 Coot, 12 Lapwing, seven Little Ringed Plover, four Redshank, at least 1,225 Black-headed Gulls and 100 chicks, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Common Terns, two Swifts and eight Oystercatchers. There were a few butterflies about, with these limited to three Brimstone and a Peacock.
19th May 2024
Sunny
A female Peregrine put in a brief appearance, as did a second-summer Mediterranean Gull. Otherwise, there was not great deal of change in species.
18th May 2024
Sunny intervals.
The new brood of Oystercatchers (now three) was seen on Car Park Pool this morning, and other counts comprised a drake Teal, 31 Gadwall, 112 Tufteds, a female Goosander, 13 Common Terns, six Little Ringed Plovers, up to six singing Garden Warblers, four Great Crested Grebes, two Shelduck, six Buzzards, 41 Beautiful Demoiselles, one Banded Demoiselle, a single Broad-bodied Chaser, one Four-spotted Chaser and plenty of Damselflies.
17th May 2024
Not a great deal of difference on the bird front but the booming Bittern remains. Twenty-four Beautiful Demoiselles along the streamline, together with one Banded, was a good count.
Banded Demoiselle – Photograph by Bob Breach
16th May 2024
Overcast, light breeze.
A Hobby dashed through and along the back of the feeders and away over the entrance cottages this morning. There was a second-summer Mediterranean Gull and a Kingfisher around the Reedbed.
15th May 2024
Overcast, light south-easterly.
A newly hatched brood of two Oystercatchers was present on Car Park Pool, and the single advanced juvenile was still nearby from a separate pair, plus the two in the Orchid Field. A drake Teal and a second-summer Mediterranean Gull were also seen.
A Cuckoo sang from the Car Park Oak. This species has been scarce so far this year. A Goshawk was also reported flying fast along the Railway line but disappeared quickly. A Common Sandpiper appeared later, but they often move on to the river during the day.
In the evening 16 Common Terns were present, 14 on Car Park and two on Railway Pool. There appears to be a single pair on Railway Pool and six pairs on Car Park Pool.
14th May 2024
Overcast, showers and cool on a fresh south-easterly.
The Ringed Plover was present for the third day, along with an impressive 10 Little Ringed Plovers, five Common Sandpipers, four Redshank, two Mediterranean Gulls and four Shelduck.
A mixed Goose family of Canada/Greylag parents had three goslings in tow. There was also a drake Teal and a drake Pochard.
13th May 2024
Sunny spells, fresh southerly.
The northern Ringed Plover was present again today, along with seven Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, two Redshank and two Mediterranean Gulls. Early on there were 20 Sand Martins, ten Swallows and three Swifts, together with a drake Goosander.
12th May 2024
New in today was a northern type Ringed Plover which has subdued bill and leg colouring as they come into summer plumage later. The two Barnacle Geese were present briefly on Railway Pool in the early morning before flying off at 05.20.
Other birds making the log were a single Egyptian Goose, a female Goosander, six Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, an adult Mediterranean Gull and butterflies included four Brimstones and three Orange-tips.
A Changing Forget-Me-Knot (Myosotis Discolor) was in flower along the path edges between Oak and Railway Hide.
11th May 2024
Sunny, warm, light easterly.
A pair of Barnacle Geese in front of Oak Hide were today’s new arrival. These are probably feral birds but, nevertheless, nice to see.
Eight Mute Swans on Railway Pool included a pair thinking of building on the island in front of River Hide. There were also two birds on the Reedbed and two on Car Park Pool.
A new Garden Warbler was in song by the South-West Pond, in addition to the bird in the Back Gate Copse.
Other counts today were nine Mute Swans, 14 Canadas, 56 Greylags, an Egyptian Goose, female Shelduck, 41 Gadwall, drake Shoveler, 13 Mallards and two broods, 128 Tufteds, 10 Cormorants, two Great Crested Grebes, seven Moorhen, 11 Coot, six Oystercatchers, four Little Ringed Plovers, nine Lapwing, two Redshank, 15 Common Terns, 2,025 Black-headed Gulls and 73 chicks.
A Hairy Dragonfly was still cruising the North Causeway Bay and the channels there. Six Beautiful Demoiselles and two male Banded Demoiselles were also noted.
10th May 2024
Hazy sun becoming clearer, still.
A good selection of Odonata were seen today with two Hairy Dragonflies in the North Causeway Bay, at least two female Beautiful Demoiselles by the Causeway bridge on the Central Stream, two male Banded Demoiselles (Old Road and Dragonfly Pond), a female Broad-bodied Chaser by River Hide, 10 Four-Spotted Chasers, 12 Large Red Damselflies, five Blue-tailed Damselflies and 35 Azure Damselflies, the latter species spread around the Reserve.
Bird-wise four Mallard broods were seen, one of seven ducklings on Car Park Pool and three broods on Railway Pool of five, six and three. The broods do not seem to be lasting very long, but whether it is because they are being taken off site or predated is not clear.
Oystercatcher broods comprise the relatively new two on Railway Pool that are commuting between the Marsh, the Orchid Field and the islands, and one mature single on Car Park Pool, which is the only one of the original brood of three.
There was a Greylag brood of three on Car Park Pool, a single Egyptian Goose, a drake Shoveler and six Little Ringed Plovers. Mediterranean Gulls included one adult and one second-summer.
9th May 2024
Sunny and warm with temperature over 20°. The good run of birds continued today with a pair of Avocets on Car Park Pool which, from reports, are probably displaced birds from Upton Warren where numbers have suddenly crashed, for reasons currently unknown. In the middle of the day, around 13.00, a first-summer Little Gull appeared briefly on Railway Pool but did not linger.
Avocets on Car Park Pool – Photograph by Mark Waring
A Cuckoo sang from Siden Hill Wood.
In the evening there were five Little Ringed Plovers, including four chasing each other on Car Park Pool and a single on Railway Pool, a pair of Shoveler, two pairs of Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Redshank, the Oystercatchers still with two chicks in the Orchid Field, and at least one fairly advanced chick in front of Car Park Hide, but no sign of any Lapwings in the Marsh.
8th May 2024
Bright, south-easterly.
A brood of six Greylags on Car Park Pool was the first of the year, and there were still two broods of Mallards, seven on Car Park Pool and three on Railway Pool. Two pairs of Great-crested Grebes include one on a nest on Car Park Pool and the other, as yet not breeding.
Six Oystercatchers, plus two chicks, around the Orchid Field, three Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper, two Redshanks, one adult Mediterranean Gull and two Hobbies were the other birds making the log.
Oystercatcher with chicks – Photograph by Graham Dyer
7th May 2024
Sunny spells, light northerly.
Not a great deal of change in the number of species seen, with the exception of Garden Warblers which are now up to four, with birds as follows – Back Gate Copse, Causeway, Cottages and Car Park gate. There were also four Cetti’s Warblers with birds around the Top Stream wandering down to the Car Park, one in the reedbed North Causeway area, a third around the South-West Pond and a fourth over towards the Railway Arches.
A note in the log indicates that the Grasshopper Warbler, reported in early May in the Horse Paddock, might in fact be coming from some HS2 generator on their site!
The evening count of Common Terns was 18, with 14 on Car Park Pool and four on Railway Pool.
6th May 2024
Sunny spells, light northerly.
The first Hobby of the year flashed along the Central Stream line and was seen briefly around the Dragonfly Pond. Also, the first Cuckoo was heard calling from Siden Hill Wood, whilst the Bittern continued to boom in the North Causeway Bay.
Three Little Ringed Plovers, 12 Oystercatchers, three Redshank, six Egyptian Geese, three Mediterranean Tern and 15 Common Terns were the other counts today.
5th May 2024
No records
4th May 2024
Sunny spells, light southerly.
It was the West Midlands All Day Birdwatch with many Reserves all round the Midlands contributing their counts. The Reserve scored with 81 species actually seen and heard, but we know that Barn Owl and Water Rail (at least) are present, but they failed to perform on the day. The full list is set out below. For those who are interested, Branston, Ladywalk and Middleton all achieved 101 with more local Reserves, such as Sandwell (84), Upton Warren (83) and Smestow Valley (on 79), similar to us. Steve Haynes, with some help, had a commendable 74 on the Packington Estate away from Marsh Lane. Bigger reservoirs like Belvide had 90, but Blithfield only scored with 63 which seems surprisingly low for such a large place.
The full list for the day was as follows:
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Bittern, Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.
In the evening, a short ringing session yielded just singles of Blackcap, Song Thrush and Chiffchaff with a Bullfinch being heard. In the morning, the Causeway area yielded a new male and a female Cetti’s with a brood patch.
3rd May 2024
Overcast, drizzly, light south-westerly.
The relatively unattractive conditions proved excellent for birds, with firstly four Dunlin, and then an adult Kittiwake and an adult Arctic Tern on or over the pools. Two Swifts and a drake Pochard were also additions to the birds in the day.
Kittiwake – Photograph by John Hunt
There were four Great-crested Grebes, four Mediterranean Gulls and a better count of hirundines with at least 30 Sand Martins, five Swallows and three House Martins.
In the evening what was presumably the same Arctic Tern was still present, but there was no mention of the bird from the morning in the log in the middle part of the day.
2nd May 2024
Sunny intervals
A drake Garganey on Railway Pool for much of the day showed well in front of Oak Hide and continues the run of May records. It has been some time since the early spring, March or early April birds have reached the Reserve.
Drake Garganey – Photograph by Martin Durkin
There were 16 Common Terns on Car Park Pool and the Bittern showed intermittently in the North Causeway Bay.
1st May 2024
Overcast start, sunny spells later and still.
The Bittern was vocal this morning, but what was originally thought to be a Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the Horse Paddock just north of the Dragonfly Pond, turned out to have probably been an HS2 generator. A Lesser Whitethroat was along the road near the HS2 crossing and the Lapwing and Oystercatcher broods remain intact.
Five Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 11 Common Terns, three Egyptian Geese and two Mallard broods were the other birds making the log.