30th April 2015
– Sunny intervals, cool, south-westerly wind.
There was no sign of yesterday’s Whinchat or the Mediterranean Gull, up until 9 a.m. At least three Garden Warblers were in song, one by the car park, one on the causeway and one behind Railway Hide and in that last location there was also a singing Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat.
Later in the morning a Peregrine took a Black-headed Gull from Car Park Pool. There is aLittle Egret present and in the late afternoon the first Cuckoo of the year was seen.
29 April 2015
– Early morning rain, cold south-westerly wind. Sunny from mid-morning.
The first-summer Mediterranean Gull was present for most of the day and, in the early evening, could be seen from Tower Hide. It appears that the bird was present from the 24th but was only identified on the 28th.
The second Swift of the year flew through in the morning and in the late afternoon and early evening, there were two Yellow Wagtails by Car Park Hide, 33 Common Terns, a femaleGoosander, a Kingfisher and the first Whinchat of the year. The latter was visible in the Marsh from Oak Hide from 8.15 to 8.30 when it seemed to dive into the reeds there to roost.
Last, but not least, there were four Little Egrets on Railway Pool this morning.
28th April 2015
– Mostly sunny, but a cold north-westerly wind
A different Mediterranean Gull was present on the Car Park Pool islands this morning. The bird was a first-summer but in unusual plumage as, in contrast to the three birds last year which had a typical eye mast type head pattern, this had a partial black hood and white forehead. It was well picked out by Glen Giles and Max Silverman and showed for much of the morning.
An adult Hobby flew in from the east to land in Siden Hill Wood before disappearing around the north end at about 9.30 a.m. A Reed Warbler was a new arrival in the pond by the car park and at least ten Sedge Warblers were in song this morning.
A White Wagtail appeared on Car Park Pool in the evening.
In the morning there were two Roe Deer seen on the railway embankment and 150Twayblade Orchids were counted in the back gate copse.
In the afternoon and evening there were five Yellow Wagtails to the right of Car Park Hide, 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls went over and there was a female Goosander on Car Park Pool.
27th April 2015
– Sunny a.m., partly cloudy p.m., cool northerly wind.
Records kindly reported in to me today comprise two Dunlin (one on either pool), three Little Egrets (which flew in to Railway Pool together at 11.30 a.m. and were still there at 1.30 p.m.), and five Arctic Terns which flew over late morning.
26th April 2015
– Light overnight rain, overcast start, light northerly wind, clearing to become warm and sunny.
The damp and overcast start provided the type of conditions that would have been helpful yesterday. Firstly, a moulting pair of male Ruff were found on Car Park Pool and showed well either on the islands or sometimes on the grass in front of the hides. A male Yellow Wagtailwas feeding on Railway Pool and flew south and, at the same time, a further bird flew north over the tip field.
On Railway Pool an Arctic Tern roosted briefly before flying off and a Water Rail showed well from the north causeway screen.
25th April 2015
– Sunny intervals, westerly wind, occasional showers.
Today’s all day bird watch was frustrated by a relative lack of movement and also the absence of some regular birds. The total was 82 which was nine short of the Belvide and Upton Warren totals.
In one of the showers two Dunlin moved through but aside from this a Common Sandpiper, the first Garden Warbler of the year (by the car park gates) and four Little Egrets that flew north, there was nothing to indicate any further migration.
The species were as follows: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Tufted, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.
Some obvious omissions include Shelduck, Shoveler, Raven, Hobby, Peregrine, Water Rail, Kingfisher and Yellow Wagtail.
24th April 2015
– Sunny start, progressively clouding over, south-westerly wind.
The two adult Mediterranean Gulls were moving between the pools this morning.
In the evening, the Jack Snipe showed well in the Marsh. There was an estimated 300 Sand Martins over the pools and the first Swift of the year went through.
23rd April 2015
– Overcast start, quickly turning sunny, but still with a cool, light easterly wind.
On the back of the continuing run of easterlies, a passage of Little Gulls through the country saw first one adult and then a second appear on Car Park Pool in the morning and they departed at about 4.30 pm.
At 5.15 two adult Mediterranean Gulls dropped in to Car Park Pool for half an hour before leaving. They returned in the evening. Other noteworthy birds throughout the day included aJack Snipe on and off in the Marsh with at least three Snipe there and another in front of Car Park Hide, a Curlew on Car Park Pool, a Whimbrel at 11 a.m. from Oak Hide, a Lesser Whitethroat on the Old Road and two each of Little Ringed Plovers and Ringed Plovers.
In the evening, there were at least 20 Common Terns.
22nd April 2015
– Overcast start, sunny later, easterly wind.
A Jack Snipe showed again in the Marsh this evening along with three Snipe and the first brood of Lapwings hatched with four chicks present by Car Park Hide. The eight Graylaggoslings were also present along with a drake Shoveler.
21st April 2015
– Sunny, easterly wind.
An elusive Greenshank was present up until about 8.15, initially on Railway Pool and subsequently on Car Park Pool but could not be found after about 8.30 a.m. There was a singleCommon Sandpiper on Car Park Pool and at least three pairs of Redshank on Railway Pool and one on Car Park Pool. Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Goldcrest were all in good song at the west end of the causeway and at least four Sedge Warblers were singing between Oak Hide and River Hide.
The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was in song by the sewage pumping station car park on the west side of the river.
Warbler counts from a complete circuit of the east and west sides courtesy of Graham Rowling were: 18 Chiffchaffs, five Willow Warblers, 13 Blackcaps, six Sedge Warblers, one Reed Warbler and three Common Whitethroats.
In the evening, the undoubted highlight was a male Hen Harrier which flew east over the end of Siden Hill Wood and then north-east away towards Packington. This is the fifth record for the Reserve.
Also in the evening, there were five Little Ringed Plovers, a single Common Sandpiper, aJack and four Common Snipe in the Marsh, 20 Common Terns and nine Swallows.
The first Odonata of the year were two Large Red Damselflies, seen on the Dragonfly Pool in the mid afternoon.
20th April 2015
– Sunny, light easterly wind.
In the morning, there was a female Wheatear by the cattle feeder on the flood plain and also a male Yellow Wagtail whilst there were two Jack Snipe in the Marsh; the Jack Snipe were also present last night as well.
In the evening, in addition to the Jack Snipe, 24 Common Snipe flew over the causeway from the railway. There were four Little Ringed Plovers on Car Park Pool along with a White Wagtail and six Pieds, two Common Sandpipers and 24 Common Terns. There were 388Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool, 532 on Car Park Pool giving an incredible total of 920. A pair of Greylags have also hatched out eight goslings.
19th April 2015
– Overcast, cool northerly wind, more sunny intervals in the afternoon.
Two new quality birds today with a drake Garganey commuting from Railway Pool to Car Park Pool and the first Hobby of the year which was soaring over the A452 north of the Reserve in the early afternoon. The first Reed Warbler of the year was also in song on the causeway with other birds of note comprising four Little Ringed Plovers, one Common Sandpiper, at least five Common Terns, 40 mixed hirundines, three Willow Warblers and a Yellow Wagtail on the flood plain which flew over Car Park Pool later on.
In the late afternoon, a female White Wagtail joined about six Pied Wagtails in the crop field and a pair of Herring Gulls went over. The Garganey was still present at, at least 5 p.m.
The all day bird count has been moved to next Saturday, 25th April as some of the Upton Warren team are away on the usual May date. It would be great to have a full day compliment of birders and I am particularly looking for those who can cover the afternoon and the evening to try and get a good total. Can people please let me know their availability.
18th April 2015
– Sunny, but cool easterly winds. It was warm out of the sun, but cool in the easterly winds.
New migrants today included a brief Wheatear on the crop field from 9.40 until 10.02 a.m. and an increase in Common Terns to at least nine. Other birds of note included a Jack Snipein the Marsh, at least three Common Sandpipers, an increase in Sedge Warblers to six,Blackcaps to five and a Peregrine which harassed the Gulls on Car Park Pool.
Other counts today included: five Little Grebes, three Great Crested Grebes, sixCormorants, two Herons, six Mutes, the Black Swan, 18 Greylags, two Canada, oneShelduck, 25 Gadwall, four Teal, ten Mallard, 60 Tufted, nine Moorhen, 18 Coot, threeLittle Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, six Oystercatchers, 23 Lapwings, threeSnipe, five Redshank, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls, at least 500 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Sand Martins and two Swallows.
Butterflies included Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White and I think the first Speckled Wood of the year on the path to River Hide.
17 April 2015
– Partly overcast, cool start, light north-easterly wind.
There was no sign of the Ring Ousel this morning which was present until at least 7.30 p.m. last night. There is a small flock of eight Linnets in the crop field, but nothing else of note so far.
The first Whitethroat of the year was in song on the Old Road and there were at least threeSedge Warblers singing today, two in the Marsh and one in the Reedbed. Four Willow Warblers comprised two by the back gate, one on the causeway and one by the car park.
On the pools, there were three Little Ringed Plovers and two Common Sandpipers, aYellow Wagtail flew over at 8 a.m., and there were 15 Sand Martins and two Swallowsover the pools.
I have been remiss in mentioning over the last three days of warm weather that there have been good numbers of butterflies about, mostly Peacocks but the first Orange Tips andGreen-veined Whites have also been seen, together with Commas and a few Small Tortoiseshells.
As the day progressed, a second Whitethroat was located along the concrete road, with aGreen Sandpiper on the Dragonfly Pond, a male Goosander on Railway Pool and a very showy male Yellow Wagtail on the grass in front of Car Park Hide in the afternoon. There were also five Little Ringed Plovers on Car Park Pool in the afternoon when hirundine counts included at least 40 Sand Martins, five House Martins and five Swallows.
16 April 2015
– Warm but overcast, light northerly wind.
Whilst there have been three Ring Ousel’s seen at the Reserve before, all have been single observer records and have not lingered; so it is pleasing to report today that a male was frequenting the crop field, mostly towards the far end and sticking close to the hedge line, seen up until 3.45 p.m., at least. A Yellow Wagtail went over at 9.30 and then at 11.30 a femaleRedstart was found in the Old Road hedge between the gateway looking across the flood plain just north of Car Park Pool and the farm. It was unfortunately somewhat elusive.
Two of yesterday’s Dunlin also remained on Railway Pool and there were at least three Sedge Warblers and four Willow Warblers in song.
A Ringed Plover dropped into Car Park Pool briefly at about 1 p.m. before departing high east and was probably a migrant as opposed to one of the resident pair. Other waders aside from the usual birds included two Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper.
15th April 2015
– Sunny, warm, light south-westerly wind.
The first Sedge Warbler was in song on the causeway this morning and there were twoCommon Sandpipers spread between the pools and fine northern race Wheatear on the crop field. A Willow Warbler was still in good song by the car park and plenty of the local Sand Martins were feeding over the pools.
As the morning progressed, the Wheatear appears to have moved to the tip field, by the Dragonfly Pond, where it joined a second bird. Further Sedge Warblers were heard by Oak Hide and the south-west pond, three Little Ringed Plovers flew through and three Dunlindropped in. A possible Swift was seen briefly over Siden Hill Wood. There were also threeCommon Sandpipers on site.
14th April 2015
– Sunny, warm, light south-westerly wind. Temperatures in the upper teens.
As better weather takes hold, there was much more today with firstly a Sandwich Tern over calling raucously at 10 a.m., followed by a male Wheatear on the flood plain and then twoWhimbrels at 1.30 p.m. on Car Park Pool which were displaced by harassing Lapwings and moved to the flood plain before returning to the islands until 4.15 p.m.
Willow Warblers were in song by the car park and along the causeway and Common Ternswere in display flight high over the Reserve. Plenty of Sand Martins were coming and going during the morning.
It is not at all clear whether the Sandwich Tern has lingered from Sunday or whether it is a separate bird, but it seems more likely to be a separate bird.
In the afternoon, there were two male and one female Goosander on Railway Pool and at least four Snipe around Oak Hide.
11 attended the Work Party. Thanks to all who attended. The broken oak branches to the left of Car Park Hide have been corded up and the view improved, the Car Park Pool islands were sprayed, various drainage pipes were opened up, some tree guards removed, the sand in theSand Martin bank topped up and the hides swept.
13th April 2015
– Misty, hazy start, slowly clearing to sunny conditions. Light south-westerly wind. Cool start but warming later.
Surprisingly on the back of improving weather, there was not a great deal new to report. There was still a Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool, two pairs of Common Terns on Railway Pool, along with a Little Ringed Plover and at least eight Snipe spread between Car Park Hide and the Marsh. Hirundines are starting to appear more regularly now the Sand Martinshave returned to the local quarries and there are Swallows at the farm. Sand Martins, at any one time, were in the region of 20 to 30 and there were at least five Swallows and a House Martin present in the morning. Three Willow Warblers were present in the back gate copse along with Nuthatch and Long-tailed Tit and the single drake Wigeon remains.
12th April 2015
– Sunny morning, cloudy afternoon, strong blustery westerly wind.
Today’s quality came in the shape of a Sandwich Tern which circled Car Park Pool before flying off high to the north-east. It was probably the bird seen earlier at Upton Warren. The supporting cast included a fine male Wheatear by the cattle feeder (the bird suggested a northern race), a Common Tern on Railway Pool, a Peregrine hunting over Car Park Pool, two Common Sandpipers, a Jack Snipe in the Marsh, at least 40 Sand Martins, tenSwallows and three House Martins, and a Green Sandpiper early on, on Car Park Pool, plus the still lingering drake Wigeon.
11th April 2015
– Heavy early morning rain passed quickly, sunny thereafter but blustery west, north-westerly wind.
In the early morning rain, the first decent gathering of hirundines over the pools included at least 20 Sand Martins and 12 Swallows. What was probably the same Curlew from the last few days was feeding on the flood plain as well.
As the rain eased and the sun came out further hirundine passage included at least six House Martins, further Sand Martins up to about 30 birds, and at least a dozen more Swallows.
Other migrants included two further Blackcaps, one by the cottages and one by Patrick Farm joining the first arriver still present at the south-west pond. Willow Warblers included the now resident bird by the back gate and the second bird by the bale store. A Common Sandpiper showed on Railway Pool and other counts today, courtesy of Graham Rowling, were three Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, ten Cormorants, six Mute Swans, 16Greylags, a lingering drake Wigeon, 31 Gadwall, seven Teal, seven Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 61 Tufted, 11 Moorhen, 18 Coot, 43 Lapwings (there are at least ten pairs on site), threeRinged Plovers, eight Oystercatchers, six Redshank, two Snipe, 491 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls and a Shelduck.
In the late afternoon, three Little Ringed Plovers were together on Car Park Pool and despite the wind, the first Orange-tip butterfly was on the wing.
10th April 2015
– Cool and misty start, soon burning off, warm and sunny
A Jack Snipe showed well in the Marsh this morning with about 20 Common Snipe from about 7am to 8am before all were spooked and the Jack, with some of the Common Snipedisappeared into the taller vegetation. Two Common Terns arrived from the south about 8.15am and one took a liking to one of the Tern rafts.
A third colour ringed Black-headed Gull seen on Railway Pool on Saturday 4th April (white AF400) was ringed as a chick on 25th June last year at Plön, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Plön is half way between Kiel and Lübeck.
A male Wheatear appeared in the afternoon (no location given) and in the evening there were 14 Sand Martins over the pools, a Little Ringed Plover was chased off Railway Pool by theRinged Plover pair.
9th April 2015
– Sunny intervals, light southerly wind.
Six Black-tailed Godwits flew low to the north at 9.45am this morning and a Common Sandpiper was new in as well. At 12.30pm a seventh Black-tailed Godwit dropped into Car Park Pool but appeared to have moved on by 2pm. An hour later, a Red Kite flew over the Car Park and headed north west towards Hampton in Arden.
Other birds of note today, were a Curlew briefly on Railway Pool, a Little Ringed Plover, twoWillow Warblers (behind Oak Hide and by the Cottages) a Blackcap also behind Oak Hide, one Swallow and ten Sand Martins north, whilst five Wigeon remain on site.
8th April 2015
– Warm and sunny
New birds in today included the first Willow Warbler of the year, singing on the Causeway, the first Common Tern which moved between the Pools, a Curlew which lingered briefly before moving on and also a Little Egret. One group of 18 Sand Martins also flew through to the east but there were seemingly quite a few more besides and at least two Swallows. A third Ringed Plover joined the regular two birds on Railway Pool.
A different colour ringed Black-headed Gull (orange 2A41) seen at Marsh Lane on 6th April was ringed on 10th June last year at Dunkirk near Ely, Cambridgeshire. Thanks to Graham Rowling for this information.
7th April 2015
– Misty start, clearing to warm sun by 11am
Yesterday’s Dunlin was present on Car Park Pool and some visible migration during the morning included three Herring Gulls, six Linnets, eight Sand Martins and three Swallowsthrough to the north. A Treecreeper was visible at the back gate copse where a Green Woodpecker was again very vocal. 16 Wigeon still remained. Plenty of butterflies were on the wing, mostly Peacocks but a few Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma.
A male Goosander was present on Car Park Pool in the late afternoon.
6th April 2015
– Again, foggy and misty, clearing by mid morning, sunny and warm with temperatures up to 17/18
A Dunlin was a new arrival, frequenting the shores of Railway Pool and three Sand Martinsheaded north. The main feature of the day however was Meadow Pipit migration with a count between 9.20am and 10am yielding 82 north. There were similarly good counts at places like Belvide as birds moved through on a broad front.
The warm weather encouraged more butterflies to emerge with a pair of Brimstones by the south west pond, a Peacock by the back gate copse and further ones on the causeway, by the Car Park and along the Concrete Road. There was a Small Tortoiseshell at Oak Hide as well.
5th April 2015
– Misty start, slowly clearing and warming up, light northerly
Today’s main highlight was a male Merlin which flew across the crop field and on over Railway Pool, the railway arches and away to the north west. This is a fairly typical date for returning northern or Icelandic breeding birds and from previous experience it is unlikely to be seen again.
There are still eight Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, at least five Redshanks, 25Wigeon, 29 Teal, 26 Gadwall, 23 Shoveler, seven Canadas and now eight Chiffchaffs. A pair of Goosanders flew north down the River and a few Meadow Pipits were on the move with at least ten over to the north.
The Green Woodpeckers showed well behind Railway Hide and as the weather warmed up, the first butterflies of the year came out with Peacocks to the fore, particularly along the Concrete Road.
4th April 2015
– Showery, overcast, northerly
More of note today with the highlights being a little more hirundine passage, a Red Kite south at 10.15am and a cracking male Wheatear by Car Park Hide from midday onwards. Added to this, a very accommodating and showy Little Ringed Plover fed on the grass by Car Park Hide in the late morning.
Of the hirundines, a minimum of five Sand Martins and six Swallows went north and the firstHouse Martin of the year put in a brief appearance at about 10.15am. There was a lightMeadow Pipit passage with at least ten birds seen, seven over, two on the Tip field and one east of the A452.
Other counts comprised four Mute Swans, 16 Greylags, four Canadas, four Shelduck, still 25 Wigeon, 23 Gadwall, 12 Teal, nine Mallard, 33 Shoveler, 40 Tufted, a pair ofGoosander, five Little Grebe, four Great Crested Grebes, 15 Cormorants, a Heron, fourBuzzards, a Kestrel, seven Moorhen, 33 Coot, eight Oystercatcher, 37 Lapwing, 16Snipe, five Redshank, 636 Black-headed Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, twoHerring Gulls, three Collared Doves at Corrie Farm, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker at the back gate, three Mistle Thrushes at Corrie Farm, Blackcap at the south-west pond (after one there yesterday), at least seven Singing Chiffchaffs on the east side including four along the Old Road, singing Goldcrests at the cottages and by the central stream crossing and three Linnets over.
3rd April 2015
– Drizzly, variable winds.
There were still 25 Wigeon today feeding in one of the puddles on the flood plain, west of the river. Three Sand Martins went north about 3pm and a Swallow paused briefly to feed at the north end of Car Park Pool before heading north at 5pm. There were at least four singingChiffchaffs and four singing Goldcrests in the wood together with a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a pair of Green Woodpeckers.
There were two pairs of Oystercatchers on each of the Pools and a further pair flew over. TheLittle Ringed Plover showed again briefly along with the pair of Ringed Plovers. There were 24 Snipe in the Marsh together with a Jack Snipe and 12 Redshank included six resident birds and six migrants that flew off to the north mid morning.
2nd April 2015
– Some pale sunshine early on, mostly overcast, northerly
Little new in today; there were at least four singing Chiffchaffs, pairs of Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker by the south-west pond, a pair of Kestrels by the Car Park, eightLesser Black-backs over, five Buzzards thermalling to the north and at least three pairs ofLittle Grebe and a pair of Dabchicks.
1st April 2015
– Sunshine and showers, westerly
No sign of the Little Ringed Plover today but the juvenile Peregrine was about again flushing birds off the Pools. There were a pair of Goosander, just one of the Ringed Ploversand at least three Chiffchaffs.
A Black-headed Gull on Car Park Pool on Saturday 27 March bore a white colour ring (2Y23) which indicated that it was ringed as a chick at Cotswold Water Park on 12 June 2009. The only other report since then was on the Hayle Estuary on 15 November 2010 and does give an indication of the wanderings of Black-headed Gulls specifically and Gulls generally.