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 2026
Tuesday 21 April – 6.00pm
Tuesday 19 May – 6.00pm
Tuesday 16 June – 6.00pm
MARSH LANE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
Starting from March/April 2026, and lasting about 9 months, there will be amended traffic arrangements on the A452/Kenilworth Road. These relate to the alterations that are taking place whereby the dual carriageway will rise over the forthcoming (God only knows when!) HS2 and a new junction with Marsh Lane is being formed. Use of the new section will commence shortly.
At that junction, a roundabout is due to be constructed and, in due course, Marsh Lane will be accessed off that roundabout. In the meantime, some lane closures will take place, but Marsh Lane and the Lorry Park will always be accessible. Signposting will hopefully mention the Nature Reserve but if not follow the signs for the Lorry Park.
NOTICE OF OVERNIGHT CLOSURES – A452 KENILWORTH ROAD – MONDAY 20th – FRIDAY 24th APRIL 2026
Works will be undertaken to prepare the A452 for the installation of the contraflow on the northbound carriageway of the A452 in mid-May 2026. HS2/BBV will be erecting signage and traffic management on the northbound carriageway as well as carrying out utility works close to Meriden roundabout, working alongside National Grid.
This will result in overnight closures from Monday 20th April to Friday 24th April from 8.00pm until 6.00am, Monday through Thursday. A fully signposted diversion route will be in place, shown below. If the works are completed early, the road will be reopened as soon it is safe to do so.
CORMORANT, RED 9J
A Cormorant, Red 9J, seen on Car Park Pool on 2nd February was ringed as a nestling at Vogelmeer in the coastal dunes south of Bloemendaal, the Netherlands, on 16th June 2025 and was seen there again on 7th August. There have been no other reports.
7th April 2026
Sunny, light south-easterly.
A good array of records today, with the highlight being a male Redstart found in the favoured spot, the Flood Plain hawthorns. A Curlew, presumably the same bird as yesterday, flew over south at 11.30, whilst a Swallow and seven Sand Martins flew north.
Willow Warbler numbers increased to three and Blackcap to five, and Sedge Warblers included singing birds in the Reedbed and the North Causeway Bay.
Meantime, a Grey Wagtail was present on the Flood Plain to replace yesterday’s Wheatears. Other counts included two Shelduck, an Egyptian Goose, 11 Mallard, 27 Gadwall, two female Goosanders, 12 Oystercatchers, four Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and one Great Crested Grebe.
Orange-tips were well in evidence, with at least 17 counted today, along with five Peacocks, a Holly Blue and a Green-veined White.
Redstart – Photograph by Alastair Robertson
6th April 2026
Sunny spells, light southerly.
A record count of five Wheatears was a great sighting on the sparse grass on the Flood Plain, with three males and two females principally visible from the first metal gate north of the Dragonfly Pond looking west. A Willow Warbler was in song in the Crop Fields Oaks and there were three singing Blackcaps. A Red Kite and a Raven went over, and a Curlew was a notable arrival on Car Park Pool but didn’t linger. A Common Sandpiper was present on Railway Pool early morning only.
Other counts today included two Shelduck, 11 Shoveler, 35 Tufteds, 10 Cormorants, three Goosanders, six Little Ringed Plovers, four Redshank, three Oystercatchers, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker in the crop Oaks; butterflies extended to four male Orange-tips and a Green-veined White.
5th April 2026
Bright, but breezy from the south-west.
The first decent numbers of hirundines this morning comprised 35 Sand Martins and the first Swallow of the year, all no doubt a consequence of the brisk wind. Six Little Ringed Plovers were present on Car Park Pool and there was a Willow Warbler in song in the Crop Oaks where it has been vocal now since the 3rd. Lastly, there were six Goosanders on Car Park Pool.
4th April 2026
Overcast with drizzle, brightening to sunny spells, fresh southerly.
A full count from Graham and Dave today was as follows: four Mute Swans, 21 Canadas, 14 Greylag, two Shelduck, six Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, nine Mallard, two pairs of Teal, 24 Tufteds, three female Goosanders, nine Cormorants, three Little Grebes, three Herons, three Little Egrets, two Great Crested Grebes, seven Moorhen, 16 Coot, nine Oystercatchers, 14 Lapwing, seven Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshank, 1,085 Black-headed Gulls, three Herring Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 16 Fieldfares north during the morning. Yesterday’s Willow Warbler was in the Crop Fields Oaks, and seven Linnets flew over Patrick Farm going east.
Four male Orange-tips were seen, along with a Comma.
3rd April 2026
Overcast, brisk south-westerly.
The first Willow Warbler of the year was singing by the Car Park, and a mix of migrants saw six Sand Martins feeding over the pools, four Redwings over, and a lingering pair of Wigeon and Goosanders.
Other birds making the log were three Shelduck, a female Pintail, two Great Crested Grebes, three Little Grebes, seven Moorhen, nine Oystercatchers, six Little Ringed Plovers and four Redshank.
2nd April 2026
Warm with a cool wind.
The two adult Mediterranean Gulls were present again on Railway Pool and waders included three Redshank and two Little Ringed Plovers. The female Pintail was still present, as was the male Wheatear from yesterday.
Later in the day a Black-tailed Godwit, in winter plumage, was reported from the doughnut pool in front of Railway Hide, and butterflies on the wing included an Orange-tip and a Peacock.
Redshank – Photograph by Graham Dyer
1st April 2026
Overcast, light south-westerly.
An adult Kittiwake from 09.40 – 09.45 on Railway Pool was a very pleasant surprise this morning, and follows other birds noted over the last few days moving through the Midlands. There were also two adult Mediterranean Gulls on Railway Pool.
A male Wheatear was briefly on the Flood Plain by the first gate north of the Dragonfly Pond, and there was also a Sand Martin present briefly. Two Red Kites went over, and other birds noted were three Shelduck, the female Pintail, nine Oystercatchers, three Redshank, four Little Ringed Plovers, five Little Egrets, three Herons and an Egyptian Goose.
In the late afternoon there were eight Goosanders on Car Park Pool (four males and four females) and two pairs of Wigeon.
Little Egret – Photograph by Chris Heyworth
