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.
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
WORK PARTY DATES
Wednesday 10th September – 6pm (please note change of date)
Saturday 11th October – 2pm
Saturday 8th November – 2pm
Saturday 6th December – 2pm
MARSH LANE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Marsh Lane membership was due for renewal on 1st July but, to date, a number of members are yet to indicate if they wish to renew. If you do wish to renew your membership could you please make the necessary payment and return the annual permit request form either by post to Bernice Finnerty, Packington Estate Enterprises Limited, Packington Hall, Packington Park, Meriden, Coventry, CV7 7HF or email to bernice@packingtonestate.co.uk Upon receipt of payment and the form, your new permit will then be issued. If you require another copy of the permit request form please contact Bernice on 01676 526711.
RIVER BLYTHE CONSERVATION WORKS
The Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership will be starting conservation work on the River Blythe on Friday 18th July and continuing into next week. This is mostly along the boundary with Railway Pool but extending a little down towards Car Park Pool. There should not be any disturbance to the pools, but apologies if there is.
31st August 2025
After Stef Fraczek posted photos of Willow Emerald Damselflies on the 26th from the Reedbed Hide, Dave Hutton found and photographed five more on the path to the ringer’s bridge today (turn left before crossing the streamline). This is a newly colonising species with one recorded by Dave on the Causeway last year.
This recent colonist was first recorded in significant numbers in East Anglia in 2009. Since then, it has rapidly expanded its range and can now be found as far north as North Yorkshire and as far west as Warwickshire. Its preferred habitat is a mixture of ponds, canals or other still water with overhanging trees. It has a characteristic habit of spending much time up in the trees with eggs laid into the bark of Willow or Alder.
Willow Emerald Damselflies – Photographs by Dave Hutton
Male
Female
Birds today included four Yellow Wagtails over Railway Pool, the drake Garganey and Great White Egret, 11 Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers and singles each of Green Sandpiper and Snipe, whilst two Hobbies hawked over Siden Hill Wood.
Later in the day a second Green Sandpiper was seen down by Patrick Bridge, where there were 15 Stock Doves on the Flood Plain and two Ravens went over. Six Swallows went south.
30th August 2025
Overcast, fresh southerly.
A good collection of birds today included a Yellow Wagtail over Car Park Pool, two Hobbies, a female Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel seen in various places around the Reserve, an equal site record of 12 Little Egrets along with the ever-present Great White Egret, 34 Lapwing, two Common and one Green Sandpiper and a Snipe.
Other counts comprised 14 Mute Swans, 88 Canadas, the Canada/Greylag hybrid, Swan Goose, 519 Greylags, three Shoveler, 28 Gadwall, 168 Mallard, 52 Teal, the eclipse drake Garganey, just three Tufteds, 22 Cormorants, 10 Little Grebes, six Herons, 29 Black-headed Gulls, nine Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Kingfisher on the Car Park Pool margins and two Swallows and eight Sand Martins south.
29th August 2025
Overcast, light rain at first, improving.
Not a great deal of change on the birding front today, with the drake Garganey, three Green and two Common Sandpipers, along with two Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail in the Reedbed.
28th August 2025
Cloudy with showers, westerly.
The occurrence of two Redshanks today was somewhat unexpected and unsurprisingly is the only record for the month so far. Two Common Sandpipers and two Green Sandpipers were present, along with a single Snipe and the ever-present Great White Egret.
Adult male and female Kingfishers have been showing well on the perch to the left of Reedbed Hide and seen carrying fish away to the south.
Finally, 16 Swallows were hawking over Patrick Bridge prior to moving south.
Kingfisher – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
27th August 2025
Sunny spells, sharp showers, fresh southerly.
The eclipse drake Garganey remains on Railway Pool, moving around but more often than not in front of Railway Hide.
The ever-present Great White Egret was on Car Park Pool with singles of Green and Common Sandpiper on the margins.
The parched looking Flood Plain held 41 Rooks, and two Water Rails were heard, one in the North Causeway Bay and one from the Reedbed.
26th August 2025
Hot and humid, breezy southerly.
The eclipse drake Garganey remained on site today and was joined by three Common Sandpipers, two Snipe, the Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and four Linnets.
Forty-one Rook on the Flood Plain, two Water Rails (North Causeway Bay and the Reedbed), 11 Shoveler and 53 Teal were other birds making the log.
25th August 2025
Bright, sunny and warm.
The Garganey had moved to in front of Railway Hide this morning but otherwise, birds on the margins were similar to the previous days, albeit that the two juvenile Grey Wagtails were joined by an adult.
Swallows moving south today included 18 over the Old Road early on, and two later in the morning.
24th August 2025
Sunny, dry, warm light southerly.
The Garganey, an eclipse drake, was present again, this time in front of Oak Hide, and there were two each of Common and Green Sandpipers. Four Snipe were seen around the margins of Railway Pool, and the Great White Egret continues its long stay. Four Ravens flew over and there was a Kingfisher on the Reedbed.
23rd August 2025
Sunny spells, clouding over, still.
More Yellow Wagtails dropped in today with three on Railway Pool (again briefly), whilst presumably yesterday’s two Grey Wagtails had moved to Car Park Pool but also did not linger.
The Garganey was still present on Car Park Pool and there were singles of Green and Common Sandpiper along the River.
Seventeen House Martins flew south over Siden Hill Wood, there were two Kingfishers on site, three to four Cetti’s Warblers and a single Snipe.
More detailed wildfowl counts comprised 16 Mute Swans, 51 Canadas, 236 Greylag, eight Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 109 Mallard, 30 Teal, eight Tufteds, 20 Cormorants, one Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, eight Herons, 50 Little Grebes and a well grown chick on the Reedbed, 12 Moorhens, 52 Coot, 24 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 19 Lapwing and a Water Rail in the Reedbed.
22nd August 2025
Broken cloud, light south-westerly.
There was a Greenshank on Car Park Pool at 08.30 this morning, which then flew south, with improved quality quickly following with the arrival of two Wood Sandpipers on to the same pool. They only lingered for half an hour before flying off north.
Other waders included two Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, and five Snipe.
Later in the morning an eclipse Garganey was found on Car Park Pool, amongst 64 Teal.
Two juvenile Grey Wagtails were feeding on the margins of Railway Pool (perhaps a second brood from a pair on Bayley’s Brook), there was a Ring-necked Parakeet seen in Siden Hill Wood, six Little Egrets, a Great White Egret together with seven Herons present on the pool margins, and there were two Small Coppers around the Dragonfly Pond.
Wood Sandpipers – Photograph by John Hunt
21st August 2025
Overcast, light north-easterly.
Four Yellow Wagtails dropped in at 10.50 to feed with the cattle in front of Car Park Hide but moved on 10 minutes later. Like those in the spring, they did not hang about.
The Great White Egret was again on site, along with three Little Egrets, a single Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover from the preceding two days, and a Kingfisher on Car Park Pool.
20th August 2025
Light overnight rain and into this morning until 07.15. North-easterly.
There were two mobile Greenshanks present this morning, moving between the pools and probably also the river, and may be the two returning juveniles from the preceding few days. Yesterday’s juvenile Little Ringed Plover was present on the gravel bar on Railway Pool and there were two Common Sandpipers on the same pool, with a third on Car Park Pool.
Greenshank – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
The Great White Egret was in its favoured spot in the shallows at the south end of Car Park Pool.
Two Water Rails could be heard calling from the North Causeway Bay, two Swallows flew through at 08.40, with another 80 plus nine House Martins at 11.45, whilst other birds today included plenty of Chiffchaffs, with a family party of at least three by the Horse Paddock gate and another six counted across the Reserve, Green Woodpecker on the Central Stream, a Great Spotted Woodpecker over the Crop Field, two Collared Doves over the Orchid Field and a pair of Stock Doves feeding on the Car Park Pool islands.
At 10.20 a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew low south over Railway Pool and the Back Gate Copse.
Two Green Sandpipers were using the muddy margins to the Blythe at Patrick Bridge, whilst across the pools were 51 Teal and five Shoveler.
The numbers of Rooks are building up on the Flood Plain as family parties use it as a feeding area, with 27 today.
19th August 2025
Overcast, light north-easterly, dry.
A record four Great White Egrets were present on site at 08.30 and then flew north at 09.15 as the mower started to cut the banks around Car Park Hide for baling. Aside from the Lapwing there were two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper, and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was new in. Five Sand Martins went through, although passage of hirundines so far has been disappointing.
18th August 2025
Overcast, light north-easterly, light showers.
A bit more action today on the back of the easterly winds with three Ruff which circled Car Park Pool at 10.35 and departed high to the north. The count of four Green Sandpipers on the mud at Patrick Bridge was the best count of the autumn and there were also two Common Sandpipers on Railway Pool.
A Peregrine put in an appearance, flying over Car Park Pool on which the Great White Egret, Swan Goose and Canada/Greylag hybrid were present.
17th August 2025
Cool start, warming up rapidly, sunny, light easterly.
The best birds did not appear until the afternoon when two Hobbies were catching insects over the Crop Field. Other birds making the log were limited to the now ever present Great White Egret, Swan Goose, one Common Sandpiper, a Water Rail in the channels in the North Causeway Bay and a Kingfisher.
16th August 2025
Overcast, light easterly.
Waders today were limited to 42 Lapwings, three Common Sandpipers (spread across the pools) and a Green Sandpiper on the muddy margins at Patrick Bridge.
Geese numbers are increasing with 258 Canadas and 301 Greylags today, along with the Canada/Greylag hybrid and the now regular Swan Goose.
A Bittern showed in the Reedbed again with a Water Rail calling from there. The regular Great White Egret was on the emerging island on the far side of Car Park Pool.
Other counts today included 16 Mute Swans, just one Shoveler, 72 Gadwall, 142 Mallard, 48 Teal, 8 Tufteds, 11 Cormorants, 20 Little Grebes and two well grown chicks on the Reedbed, six Herons, five Little Egrets, 19 Moorhen, 70 Coot, 30 Black-headed Gulls and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
I have commented before that this year has been a poor breeding season for Gadwall with five to six broods, and even more disastrous for Tufted Ducks with no broods. This suggests predation but it seems unusual that the predators would find every single Tufted nest, so a complete explanation eludes us as the moment.
15th August 2025
Sunny, warm, north-westerly.
A bit quieter today with the Great White Egret again on Car Park Pool, two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool, at least five Chiffchaff’s calling in various places, a Whitethroat by Oak Hide, a Buzzard, Jay and six Little Egrets comprised the other initial sightings.
Great White Egret – Photograph by Steve Pattison
14th August 2025
Sunny intervals, south-westerly.
Two Greenshanks were back on Railway Pool early morning but then flew off, possibly yesterday’s two juveniles. In addition, there were three Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, three juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, the Great White Egret, eight Little Egrets, a Swan Goose, Egyptian Goose and the flock of Goldfinches on the thistles on the Railway Pool islands.
13th August 2025
Sunny, light south easterly, hot.
Four Greenshanks were on site today at one stage or another. One on Car Park Pool flew north at 09.00 and there was an adult and two juveniles on Railway Pool at the same time. The two youngsters stayed very much together and were either feeding or asleep in the channels just west of Oak Hide, whilst the adult was separate. They all flew off around 11.00 with the adult back on Car Park Pool at 11.30 before it flew off south.
Other birds today included three Common Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, an impressive 10 Little Egrets, the Swan Goose, an Egyptian Goose, eight Shoveler and 29 Teal. A small flock of 10 Goldfinches were feeding on the thistles on the Railway Pool island and in the evening a Swallow and a Sand Martin went through.
Six attended the evening work party with some of the islands on Railway Pool being strimmed and views from River Hide opened up in both directions. Some Himalayan Balsam was also pulled. The grazing cattle have helped eat off, smother or generally trash the vegetation on the islands and with the increasingly decreasing water line much of the shore on all islands is now visible.
12th August 2025
Overcast start with light showers, clearing slowly to sunny and a south-westerly.
The Great White Egret was present again, along with seven Little Egrets, with the former becoming a regular daily feature and often favouring the shallow water on the far side of the Car Park islands. Waders, aside from Lapwing, were limited to a single Common Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers. Twenty-five Little Grebes comprised 16 adults and nine fledged juveniles with two broods of one on Car Park and two on the Reedbed. In amongst the geese there was a single Egyptian Goose and the now regular Swan Goose.
In the evening a Hobby was hunting over Railway Pool, a Snipe was present on the Car Park islands, a Water Rail was heard from the margins of Car Park Pool and there were three Sand Martins and two House Martins through. Counts of five Shoveler and 36 Teal were made during the day.
11th August 2025
Mainly overcast, very warm and humid. Light south-westerly becoming still from mid-afternoon
Both Great White Egret and Water Rail (North Causeway Bay) were again recorded with other log entries being Common (two) and Green Sandpiper, 26 Teal, Shoveler (male and female), Raven over and a total of 23 Little Grebes (14 adults and nine juveniles) spread across Car Park Pool and the Reedbed.
10th August 2025
Sunny and very warm p.m. Light south-westerly.
There were two highlights today, the first, an immature Marsh Harrier which was seen around 09.45 over Railway Pool. This species was a rare visitor in the early days of the Reserve but sightings have increased significantly in recent years.
The second highlight came in the very early hours of the morning when a Nightjar was seen by the ringers just after midnight. This is a relatively early record with the others being right at the end of August or into early September.
The ringing results from the Back Gate area comprised 16 Blackcaps, and singles of Sedge, Reed Warbler, Wren, Robin, Dunnock and Whitethroat.
Other sightings included three Common Sandpipers, Great White Egret continuing the recent run of records, five Little Egrets, adult Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and, last but not least, a sighting of the Bittern in the Reedbed.
9th August 2025
Sunny and warm with cloudy intervals. Moderate westerly.
Thanks to Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan for the usual Saturday count which was as follows:
Sixteen Mute Swans (six adults and 10 juveniles), 184 Canada Geese, Canada x Greylag hybrid, 430 Greylag Geese, Swan Goose, 73 Gadwall, 125 Mallard, 13 Teal, five Tufted Ducks, 11 Cormorants, 23 Little Grebes (15 adults, eight juveniles), five Grey Herons, five Little Egrets, Great White Egret, 15 Moorhen, 76 Coot, Little Ringed Plover, 44 Lapwings, two Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpiper, two Common Snipe, 34 Black–headed Gulls, four Lesser Black–backed Gulls, Water Rail (North Causeway Bay) and Kingfisher on the Reedbed.
Away from the pools, a Red Kite went north over Siden Hill Wood, juvenile Grey Wagtail was noted by Patrick Bridge and, finally, a Treecreeper was present along the Old Road.
Little Grebe – Photograph by Mark Waring
8th August 2025
Mainly sunny with occasional light cloud. Moderate south-westerly.
The two Greenshank were present for a further day, along with a single Green and two Common Sandpipers, Great White Egret, seven Little Egrets, Great Crested Grebe and Water Rail (North Causeway Bay).
A Sandwich Tern, heard calling while flying over around 11.00, was the most notable record of the day. This species is a rare passage migrant at Marsh Lane and, as most occurrences have been in the spring, a record at this time of year is particularly noteworthy.
Finally, a Painted Lady was seen behind the Car Park feeders.
7th August 2025
Light cloud with sunny intervals p.m. Moderate south-westerly.
The two Greenshank were again seen, this time in flight around 06.50. There was a good variety of other species recorded across the Reserve, highlights being:
Common Sandpiper, Water Rail (North Causeway Bay), Hobby (flew over to Siden Hill Wood), Sparrowhawk (female – low over Railway Pool), Great White Egret, six Herring Gulls, Kingfisher (in the reeds to the left of Car Park Hide), juvenile Great Crested Grebe and two Treecreepers (near Railway Hide). There was also some hirundine movement going south, with up to 20 Sand Martins, a single House Martin and four Swallows.
Butterfly sightings included Red Admiral, Small White, Large White and Speckled Wood.
6th August 2025
Sunny intervals with light cloud. Light south-westerly.
A Clouded Yellow, seen behind Car Park Hide and towards the Causeway, was an excellent record and the day’s highlight. This species is a rarity at the site, with records in only five years since 2006, the last in 2020.
Two Greenshank, most likely yesterday’s pair, were present for a short time before flying off to the north. Other records included Great White Egret, Common Sandpiper and Hobby.
An evening visit, from 19.00 – 21.00, yielded: Green Sandpiper, Great White Egret, 110 Gadwall (most on Car Park Pool), 570 Jackdaws roosting in Siden Hill Wood at dusk, 28 Little Grebes (24 on Car Park Pool and four on Railway Pool), Water Rail in the Reedbed, Cetti’s Warbler along the Causeway, 56 Lapwing on Car Park Pool and four Sand Martins over Railway Pool. Finally and somewhat worryingly, a Fox had made its way over to the Railway Pool islands and was observed having a good look around for at least an hour.
5th August 2025
Light cloud, some sunny intervals. Moderate north-westerly.
There were again two Greenshank recorded, this time on Car Park Pool early morning before flying off later. Little Grebes were again present in good numbers, 23 in total, comprising 15 adults and eight juveniles with broods of one on Car Park Pool and two on Reedbed Pool. Little Egrets numbered seven across the site and, finally, 40 Sand Martins went through.
Later in the morning, further logbook entries included Great White Egret, two Common Sandpipers and a Chiffchaff in the North Causeway Bay.
Greenshank – Photograph by Steve Pattison
4th August 2025
Cloudy with showers until mid-afternoon then sunny. Moderate south-westerly (Storm Floris).
Fortunately, Storm Floris went through well to the north so had little impact locally apart from some showers and a slight increase in the wind strength.
Across the pools were two Great White Egrets, three Little Egrets and the same number of Grey Herons. Three Common Terns went through going south and other species included singles of Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover, four Sand Martins and a Kingfisher.
3rd August 2025
Overcast, occasional light shower. Light westerly.
The sighting of the day was of two Greenshank which flew through going north around 08.25. Elsewhere were a Great White Egret, a single Green and two Common Sandpipers, along with a Peregrine Falcon which was seen over Car Park Pool.
2nd August 2025
Dry with light cloud and sunny intervals. Light north-westerly.
The regular Saturday count courtesy of Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan yielded the following:
Sixteen Mute Swans (six adults and ten juveniles), 47 Canada Geese, 66 Greylag Geese, 61 Gadwall, 90 Mallard, 14 Teal, six Tufted Ducks, 12 Cormorants, a single Great Crested Grebe, 21 Little Grebes (16 adults, five juveniles with broods of one on Car Park Pool and two on Reedbed Pool), five Grey Herons, seven Little Egrets, Great White Egret, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover (juvenile), 52 Lapwings, singles of both Common and Green Sandpiper, 14 Black–headed Gulls and one Lesser Black–backed Gull.
Other records were Hobby and a Dunlin which was present on Railway Pool from 10.35 to 10.50 before it was chased off by the aforementioned Hobby.
1st August 2025
Generally overcast, some showers p.m. Light north-westerly.
Oystercatcher numbers were down to three, the two adults plus a juvenile, and Sandpiper numbers were similarly down with just singles of both Common and Green. There were six Grey Herons and the same number of Little Egrets spread across the pools and other records included Hobby, 25 Sand Martins and four House Martins over, and, lastly, a Kingfisher on the Reedbed.