30th April 2009
– Sunny intervals, some showers.
A scattering of interesting records included only the second record of Swift for the year, a flock of 50 Starlings behind Oak Hide, continuing records of Tree Sparrow at the Oak Hide feeder (a single) and a Kingfisher along the central streamline.
29th April 2009
– Gorgeous sunny, still morning.
Two Yellow-legged Gulls with Lesser Black-backed was a surprising and unseasonal record.
On the pools, a Yellow Wagtail fed around the margins of the Car Park Pool islands and a pair of Little Ringed Plovers carried out a loud and active display flight there.
There was plenty of song along the Old Road with three each of Blackcap and Whitethroat, two Willow Warblers and an elusive Lesser Whitethroat by the horse paddock. No sign of the Sedge Warbler by the top gate this morning, however.
28th April 2009
– Mostly overcast with a light but cool north-easterly wind.
Rather quiet this morning with singles of Snipe and Common Sandpiper the only waders of note. Black-headed Gulls totalled 20. The day remained quiet until the gathering rain clouds arrived in the evening. At 6.15 p.m an Osprey appeared from over Siden Hill Wood, circled Car Park Pool and then flew off towards Berkswell. Sand Martins increased to over 50 andCommon Terns 25, the highest count of the year so far.
27th April 2009
– heavy rain in the morning, clearing away by early afternoon.
The bird of the day was a male Blue-headed Wagtail which John Sirrett found on Railway Pool prior to 8 a.m., after which it moved to Car Park Pool but was often elusive in amongst the vegetation on the islands. Part of the time it was in the company of a female Yellow Wagtailtype – this bird was slightly bleached in colouration but was probably of the flavissima type.
There were at least 50 Sand Martins on Car Park Pool, and at least four each of Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover across the Reserve. A drake Pochard showed briefly in the morning.
A Jack Snipe was flushed from the wet area to the rear of Oak Hide, and single CommonSnipe were on each pool.
During the afternoon, the best hirundine numbers of year were at least 100 Sand Martins but only a handful each of Swallow and House Martin.
In the evening there was no sign of the Blue-headed Wagtail but seven Yellow Wagtailsfed amongst the cattle on the flood meadows.
26th April 2009
– Sunny all day.
What was presumably yesterday’s Whimbrel appeared briefly in the afternoon before departing again. Common Terns increased to at least 18, probably 20, and there were noticeably more hirundines about with at least 55 Sand Martins and a few Swallows.
The first Wheatear of the year fed on the unplanted part of the crop field for most of the afternoon, a Green Sandpiper was present in the morning at least, and the first broods ofMallard and Lapwing were on Railway Pool. The Common Sandpiper was also again present.
25th April 2009
– A short rain shower first thing, followed by sunshine for the rest of the day.
The bird of the day was a Whimbrel which flew in to Railway Pool to bathe and preen about 9.15 a.m. before departing about 15 minutes later. The first Swifts of the year (three) flew through in the afternoon together with a Curlew, and a Yellow Wagtail was present on and off during the day. Whitethroats had increased to five and, in addition to the Lesser Whitethroat on the Old road, a second bird sang by the underpass.
Yesterday’s Common Sandpiper returned, Common Terns increased to 14 whilst gull numbers included six Herring Gulls, 15 Lesser Black-backs and 19 Black-headed Gulls.
There were five Little Ringed Plovers in the afternoon, Reed Warblers increased to four andSedge Warblers to three. A single Tree Sparrow was noted at the Oak Hide feeder.
24th April 2009
– Hazy sunshine.
Relatively little to report – Common Terms numbered 13 and a Common Sandpiper was present.
23rd April 2009
– Hazy sunshine, light and cool south-westerly.
Two singing Reed Warblers, one on either side of the reedbed were the first of the year, whilst a new Sedge Warbler joined Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Whitethroatsinging in the vegetation on the old road / concrete road junction.
12 Sand Martins and two Swallows flew through, and a late Meadow Pipit flew over.
22nd April 2009
– Sunny with a light south-westerly.
Migration remains slow. A new Sedge Warbler appeared, singing from in front of Oak Hide whilst the one on the causeway remained. A Cuckoo sang from the river side trees, during the day, and was only the second record so far this year. A Lesser Whitethroat sang from the scrub on the west side of the river opposite Patrick Farm.
63 Tufted was a good count.
21st April 2009
– Another sunny day, though the wind had moved around to the south-west.
A quick visit at lunchtime yielded nothing more than four Swallows and a Yellow Wagtailnorth and the return of a Whitethroat to the railway embankment. Common Ternsnumbered ten and there were at least eight Gadwall and a single drake Shoveler andWigeon. Plenty of butterflies again included my first Green-veined White of the year.
At about 3.30 p.m., the first Hobby of the year appeared from the east, flew over Car Park Pool, perched in Siden Hill Wood for a few minutes and then departed to the north. The firstLesser Whitethroat of the year was vocal and active down the Old Road between the car park and the horse paddock.
During the afternoon, the number of Ringed Plovers rose to six, and this number suggested some migration. At about 7 p.m. in the evening a Curlew dropped in to bathe and preen, before flying off calling 20 minutes later. As interesting as anything this year, 33 Sand Martins appeared to fly in from the east (perhaps from the quarries there) and roost in the reedbed. I am not aware of seeing this happen before with this species, although a small number of Swallows have roosted before.
20th April 2009
– After some mist early on, this was soon burnt off and was another sunny, warm day, with a light north-easterly wind.
There appeared to be a significant increase in Common Terns today. At least ten were present on site, and a further ten flew north in the early morning. After no more than three Ringed Plovers all month, the fourth bird was present today, which hopefully means that at least two pairs will nest. Little Ringed Plovers were back down to the usual pair, and in the evening there was a Yellow Wagtail around Car Park Pool, a Sedge Warbler sang from the reedbed near the causeway and a Snipe flew over.
Nine attended the work party and did such diverse jobs as further nest box erection, hide maintenance, Alder clearance and work to the hedgerow leading to River Hide. Thanks to all those who were present.
19th April 2009
– After another cold and overcast start, the cloud quickly cleared and despite the continuing cold north-easterly wind, the sun and clear skies made for a warm day.
Relatively little of note on the bird front, save for the continued presence of the WhiteWagtail and Jack Snipe, whilst Little Ringed Plovers increased to five. The warm weather encouraged butterflies to appear and Orange Tips, Small Whites and Peacocks were all on the wing in good numbers, together with singles of Comma and Speckled Wood.
18th April 2009
– Still a cold north-easterly but after an overcast start, the cloud cleared and it was sunny thereafter.
Yesterday’s Dunlin’s and White Wagtail were both still present, the latter clearly finding an insect hatch of some sort to its liking on one of the Railway Pool islands.
There was also an arrival of Whitethroats, with the lone bird from the 15th being joined by at least three others across the Reserve. A “new” Chiffchaff sang by the bend on the concrete road and a Sedge Warbler was heard from the reedbed.
Albeit in small numbers, it was pleasing to see a trickle of Swallows going north with at least 20 in the morning.
Other birds of note included a Green Sandpiper, three Fieldfares still by the aero club,Common Terms now at eight in total, two pairs of Bullfinches along the Old Road and twoTree Sparrows along the hedge towards the south-west pond.
17th April 2009
– Grey and drizzly start
At last some decent passage to report with 20 Arctic and a Sandwich Tern through at 09.45.Then, about 15 minutes later either two more Arctic Terns or two of the original 20 dropped into Car Park Pool and remained mobile across the Reserve for most of the morning with at least one still present at 2.15pm. A Yellow Wagtail flew through during the morning as well, aCommon Sandpiper dropped in briefly and the Jack Snipe was again showy in the Marsh.
By the evening, two Dunlins had arrived along with the year’s first White Wagtail – in all not a bad day!
16th April 2009
Despite seemingly promising conditions and Little Gulls widely scattered across the Region, the only bird of note reported to me was a late Jack Snipe, showing particularly well in the Marsh.
15th April 2009
Heavy thunderstorms in the morning yielded nothing other than the first Whitethroat of the year singing along the Old Road between the Car Park and the Dragonfly pond.
14th April 2009
– Sunny intervals, occasional showers
Common Terns reached at least eight. A Green Sandpiper appeared in the late afternoon and in the evening, possibly brought down by the heavy rain showers, six Little Ringed Plovers were scattered across the Pools and represented a notable increase on the previous ones and twos
13th April 2009
– Generally sunny.
Green and Common Sandpipers on Car Park Pool were the only new birds reported by mid-morning. Yesterday’s Fieldfares and Redwing were again seen but regrettably little else to report on the migrant front.
Later in the day, other than three Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, there was not much else to report.
12th April 2009
– A disappointingly cool misty / cloudy day.
Little Ringed Plovers continue to drop in occasionally – two today- but appear now to prefer the ‘fresher’ ground on the Berkswell Quarry complex. Common Terns reached five andBlack-headed Gulls are showing an interest in the Car Park islands. A single Yellow Wagtailflew over in the morning whilst seven Fieldfares and a Redwing favoured the tall trees and grass around the Aero modellers ground on the Old Road.
11th April 2009
– Cloud, slowly clearing from the west.
Aside from four Yellow Wagtails (recorded not in the log but on the Worcester birding website) an increase in singing Willow Warblers to five and a rise in Tufted Duck numbers to 67, there was precious little to report on the migrant front.
Still no Wheatears and any now reported are likely to be ‘leucorhoa’; Faroese, Icelandic or Greenland birds which move through later. The Portland Bird Observatory website refers to a poor spring for this species so far which is hopefully a consequence of birds going straight through in clement weather rather than poor over wintering numbers.
10th April 2009
– Regular showers and mostly overcast
Of the three Wigeon left on the 9th, only a single male now remains. This appears to have a damaged wing and although it can commute between the pools, it may over summer. Gadwallreached a respectable 25 but the Drake Goldeneye was last recorded on the 7th.
Common Terns increased to four during the day and the first Sedge Warbler of the year sang by Railway Hide. A noticeable arrival of Blackcaps included at least eight males around the Reserve. A trickle of hirundines through included 15 Sand Martins, six Swallows and in the evening at least eight House Martins. Both Swallows and House Martins have returned to the local farms and housing estates. This may partly explain the generally poor showing of hirundines so far this year – remarked on the Belvide birding website too.
Singles of Fieldfare and Redwings lingered on the Old Road.
9th April 2009
A cool westerly with regular showers on a generally overcast day brought in at least 30 Sand Martins, a Swallow and a House Martin. Today was the first time that some of the Sand Martins appeared to be breeders as there was some to-ing and fro-ing to the quarries to the east.
In the afternoon three Yellow Wagtails dropped in and showed well in front of Car Park Hide. There was at least one Common Sandpiper on the Car Park Pool island and both Jack Snipeand Water Rail showed well in the Marsh.
Two Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder.
8th April 2009
– Sunny all day but with a brisk westerly wind
Generally quiet until the evening when two Common Terns and two Curlews appeared.
7th April 2009
– After light over night rain, sunny intervals and some cloud.
Common and Green Sandpipers were present on the far shore of Car Park Pool at 7.30am. The former (ie the Common Sandpiper) was the first of the year. There was no sound of theBlackcap by the cottages but two were in song elsewhere, one by the south-west pond and one in the railway copse. Wildfowl of note included 11 Gadwall, four Wigeon, three Pochard, the male Goldeneye and a handful of Teal and Shoveler.
Later in the day a second Common Sandpiper appeared together with a single Common Tern
6 April 2009
– Sunny start, beginning to cloud over as the afternoon developed.
By mid-morning the only new bird was a male Blackcap which was singing from the copse by the entrance gate.
As the morning developed however, a few new things arrived with firstly a Yellow Wagtail in front of Oak Hide and then subsequently a Common Tern flew through and a Dunlin dropped in.
Other birds of note included eight Shelduck and a male Goldeneye.
5 April 2009
– A hard overnight frost.
Another sunny dry day still failed to produce much by way of migrants. A new Willow Warblersang by the cottages and presumably a different one by the dragonfly pond and three Linnetson the Causeway were new in. During the day, two Little Ringed Plovers and 11 Sand Martins were present in the afternoon.
Late news: A Cuckoo was seen and heard.
4 April 2009
– A weak front moved across the Country in the evening of the 3rd and 4th and disappointingly produced little by way of migrants during the day.
The best bird was a Red Kite which showed briefly, twice, just east of the A452 over the Berkswell quarry area but could not be relocated. Five singing Chiffchaffs seemed to represent an increase on the previous few days but other than a single Swallow and a single Sand Martin which went through in the morning and 12 Redwings and five Fieldfares along the Old Road, migrants were thin on the ground. The wildfowl counts included four Shelduck, 12Wigeon, seven Teal, ten Shoveler, 15 Gadwall, 22 Mallard, 52 Tufted Duck, two Pochardand a drake Goldeneye. Five Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder.
3rd April 2009
– A grey, mistly and cool start was enlivened by the first Willow Warbler of the year, which sang from the south-west pond area. Aside from five Fieldfares which flew north along the Old Road, there appeared to be little else on the move. Of a scattering of wildfowl, four Wigeon, three Pochard and the drake Goldeneye were the main ones of note.
41 Cormorants roosted on Car Park Pool, but there was a turnover throughout the morning and this total was probably exceeded. 12 Snipe included ten feeding in the grass to the right of Car Park hide.
As sunny conditions developed there was some passage in the shape of a Curlew which flew over at 1.35pm (only the second of the year), seven Swallows, two House Martins and aSand Martin. A Jack Snipe showed again in the Marsh and a pair of Kingfishers were very active around Railway Hide in the early evening.
2nd April 2009
– The cloud blown in from the east coast took most of the day to burn off, and it was only towards the end of the afternoon that the sun appeared.
The bird of the day was a Yellow Wagtail, which showed in front of Car Park hide in the late afternoon. Two Jack Snipe and a Water Rail showed in the Marsh and passage birds included four Sand Martins, a Swallow and a House Martin north and 15 Redwings and twoFieldfares along the Old Road. Two Muntjacs were seen to run from the railway embankment into Siden Hill Wood.
1st April 2009
– After an initially cloudy start, the sun soon broke through to give a warm day with a light easterly wind.
The best birds of the day were two Little Egrets which were found on Railway Pool in the morning and, after disappearing or hiding, reappeared there in the late afternoon.
A Peregrine showed well, briefly, in the afternoon, three Swallows went through, a JackSnipe showed well in the Marsh, and two Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder.