Work Party Dates:
2019
12th January 2019 – 2 pm
9th February 2019 – 2pm
9th March 2019 – 2 pm
6th April 2019 – 2 pm
Updates:
31st December 2018 – record updated – probable drake Common Scoter !
28th December 2018 – record updated.
21st December 2018 – record updated.
12th and 16th December 2018 – Photographs added.
10th December 2018 – additional bird records added.
10th December 2018 – Photograph added of Red-breasted Merganser.
We would like to wish all our members a very happy Christmas and New Year.
31st December 2018
Drizzly, mostly overcast.
800 to 1000 Starlings flew low over the Reserve going west at about 8.20 am, having clearly emerged from a nearby roost a little way to the east. At least 20 Crows and five Rooks went over to the west shortly afterwards.
Two female Bullfinches and two Goldcrests were feeding along the causeway by the central stream and after initially no birds in the crop field, a flock of 20 Chaffinches flew in at about 8.30. There was also a single Yellowhammer and two Pheasants.
The Chiffchaff from the 29th was again by the muck heap, along with the Grey Wagtail and 50 Lesser Black-backs and ten Herring Gulls flew over during the morning.
The adult Greater Black-backed Gull was on Car Park Pool during the late morning along with 38 Common Gulls from 12.30.
The Red-breasted Merganser fed on both pools between 1 pm and 3 pm, at least, and other interesting birds included six Bullfinches (five males and a female), two Goldcrests, 30 Siskins in and around the back gate copse, a Nuthatch at the Oak Hide feeder and Cetti’s Warbler and Water Rail (squealing) in the north causeway bay. 45 Chaffinches were in the crop field in the afternoon.
Lastly, the Pochard total increased to five (four males and a female).
A probable drake Common Scoter was seen very briefly, in flight, at 3.20 this afternoon when it appeared to be dropping into Railway Pool. However, a check of there and of Bradnocks Marsh failed to reveal it. There was a drake at Brandon yesterday.
30th December 2018
Initially overcast, clearing to sunny intervals, remaining still and mild.
The Red-breasted Merganser was joined by just five female Goosanders this morning and there were also 36 Common Gulls on Car Park Pool. Six Snipe were feeding in the channels between Railway Pool islands and the Kestrel again flew over.
Several small flocks of Golden Plover were visible, distantly to the north, moving west from Packington towards the Airport with an approximate total of about 100. There was a Grey Wagtail by the muck heap as seen there in previous days.
29th December 2018
Mild, but mostly overcast.
A Chiffchaff by the Old Road muck heap was a pleasant winter surprise. The female Red-breasted Merganser flew in with nine Goosanders (a male and eight females) at 12.45. Other counts today were eight Mute Swans, six Greylags, 108 Canadas, three Shelduck, 373 Wigeon, 34 Gadwall, 240 Teal, 23 Mallard, 47 Shoveler, a drake Pochard, 14 Tufted, 45 Cormorants, one Great Crested Grebe, two Little Grebes, two Herons, two Little Egrets, 12 Moorhens, 20 Coot, 280 Lapwing, two Snipe, 111 Black-headed Gulls, an impressive 43 Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Water Rail in the causeway, one Raven over, eight Siskins in the back gate copse, five Meadow Pipits south over Railway Pool, four Bullfinches in the back gate copse; whilst, on the tip field there were at least 12 Meadow Pipits and eight Pied Wagtails.
The Goosander count, again increased towards dusk when the total reached 23. The Red-breasted Merganser was still present and there was a Little Egret as well.
28th December 2018
Overcast start but clearing from the west, with sunny intervals, remaining mild.
Great Crested Grebe numbers have increased to four this morning (and is a bird that is relatively thinly recorded in the winter months at Marsh Lane), and there were a pair of Goosanders on Car Park Pool as well; the number increased to eight (one male and seven females) as the morning progressed and the female Red-breasted Merganser reappeared.
A Water Rail showed well in the causeway channels and a Kingfisher flew in front of Car Park Pool heading towards the causeway bay at about 9.15.
100 Jackdaws went south at 9 am and there were at least 15 Chaffinches around the car park area and commuting to the trees in the crop field. A female Pochard remained on Car Park Pool but numbers for this species have been thin this winter.
A juvenile female Peregrine proved to the cause of a very flighty Lapwing flock and at about 9.30 it landed on one of the Railway Pool islands complete with Pigeon prey. It was subsequently driven off by a pair of Crows and flew off to Siden Hill Wood.
Other birds today included 109 Shovelers, 17 Tufted, a noteworthy 35 Common Gulls, 242 Greylags, two Cetti’s Warblers (a male in the Reedbed and a female by the south-west pond), 11 Snipe, a Yellowhammer, a male Kestrel, a Grey Wagtail at the Aeromodellers, a Nuthatch on the Oak Hide feeders and a Raven.
By the end of the day the Goosander numbers had risen to 30 (eight males and 22 females).
27th December 2018
Overcast but mild.
The Red-breasted Merganser did not appear until the afternoon (about 3.30 pm) when it was in the presence of at least 20 Goosanders.
A Jack Snipe in the vegetation between the Railway Pool islands, along with 19 Common Snipe was the first since the bird in the causeway some weeks ago.
Seven Shelduck flew into Car Park Pool at mid-day, with other bits and pieces including two Collared Doves at the car park feeders, ten Meadow Pipits, a female Pochard, one Great Crested Grebe, 12 Common Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and a Stoat behind Oak Hide. The Whooper Swan has not been seen now since the 21st.
26th December 2018
Cloudy, still.
11 Goosanders accompanied the Red-breasted Merganser this morning, nine females, an adult male and a first-winter male. Mute Swan numbers have increased to 14 and there were 39 Gadwall, 285 Teal and 40 Shoveler.
Amongst the Gulls on Car Park Pool there were six Common Gulls and an adult Greater Black-backed, with a further adult and a first-winter over.
Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Siskin and five Bullfinches were all in the back gate area and there was a Kestrel hunting over Railway Hide.
25th December 2018
Overcast, drizzly all day.
The female Red-breasted Merganser was on site again today long with two female Goosanders and a male. There was also a Great Crested Grebe, at least one Little Egret, a Water Rail in the Marsh, a Kingfisher in the causeway, 18 Snipe, mostly on Railway Pool, a Cetti’s Warbler between the causeway and River Hide, a Raven over and an increase in Gadwall to 48. There was also a noteworthy seven Shelduck on site.
24th December 2018
Foggy start, clearing slowly to sunny.
The crop field held 40 Chaffinches this morning and a single Yellowhammer and grain cleanings have been put into the field by one of the local farmers which hopefully will prove attractive to the Finches. There were four Redwings, a Jay and a pair of Bullfinches in the back gate and 11 Snipe in the wet channels between the islands in front of Oak Hide. Other records today included three Shelduck, a pair of Goosanders, the female Red-breasted Merganser, one Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebes, five Pochard, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, one Green Sandpiper, Cetti’s Warblers in both the causeway bay and in front of Railway Hide, a juvenile Grey Wagtail on the Old Road muck heap and ten Common Gulls.
23rd December 2018
Wet all day.
The female Red-breasted Merganser was joined by just a single female Goosander. There was no sign of the Whooper Swan again. The adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted along with six Common Gulls and duck counts today comprised 366 Wigeon, 280 Teal, 35 Gadwall, 50 Shoveler, four Pochards (three male and a female); Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler were in the causeway area, Treecreeper, nine Bullfinch, a Siskin, Coal Tit and a Nuthatch all in the back gate copse and 70 Redwing and seven Fieldfare along the Old Road.
22nd December 2018
Sunny all day.
The female Red-breasted Merganser was on site again this morning with one drake and eight female Goosanders. At least three Water Rails were seen in the north causeway bay and a fourth in the Marsh. Over 30 Meadow Pipits frequented the Railway Pool islands but they are often difficult to see against the new stones.
Other counts today were as follows: six Mute Swans, 243 Greylags, 56 Canadas, one Greylag / Canada Hybrid, 344 Wigeon, 13 Gadwall, 363 Teal, 53 Shoveler, 17 Mallard, two drake Pochard, eight Tufted Ducks, 32 Cormorants, six Little Egrets, three Herons, one Little Grebe, four Moorhens, seven Coot, 130 Lapwing, one Green Sandpiper, two Snipe, 63 Black-headed Gulls, seven Common Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a singing Cetti’s Warbler in the causeway bay, a Kingfisher also in the causeway by, a singing Goldcrest by the entrance gate cottages, a Green Woodpecker in Siden Hill Wood and both Bullfinch and Nuthatch in the back gate copse.
21st December 2018
Wet and windy, slowly clearing from the west.
At 8 am there were only five Goosanders on site, three males and a female and no immediate sign of the Red-breasted Merganser. The adult Whooper Swan was again on Car Park Pool and at least two Meadow Pipits and a Yellowhammer were around the car park.
As the morning unfolded, 58 Cormorants, nine Common Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and four Little Egrets also appeared and the female Red-breasted Merganser came back onto Car Park Pool with the Goosander total rising to 23. Over 500 Wood Pigeons also flew out of Siden Hill Wood.
20th December 2018
Mostly sunny, mild, westerly wind.
The Goosander count was again broken today with 30 birds in total, 13 males and 17 females. The Red-breasted Merganser was also on site along with the adult Whooper Swan, 41 Cormorants, over 100 Black-headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull.
19th December 2018
Drizzly start, clearing from the west, sunny and mild
The female Red-breasted Merganser was on site again today and joined 27 Goosanders on Car Park Pool, (seven drakes and 20 ducks) which exceeds the previous record by one.
There were seven Redwings feeding in the hedge by the record box at 8.45am but they flew off.
Additional birds today included the now regular adult Whooper Swan, three Greater Black-backed Gulls (two adult and a first winter), five Little Egrets, six Common Gulls, a Kingfisher, at least 12 Meadow Pipits and the regular Cetti’s Warbler.
18th December 2018
Wet all day
No records
17th December 2018
Mostly sunny , mild westerly
There were six female Goosanders on Railway Pool along with a Little Egret and at least 50 Linnets in the crop field. A Grey Wagtail again fed on the muck heap along the Old Road along with two Pied Wagtails and there was at least one Siskin nearby along the Concrete Road.
The Car Park feeder remains very active with plenty of Finches, Tits and Buntings along with a Moorhen, four Pheasants, three Starlings and three Jackdaws.
16th December 2018
Sunny and icy start, cloud slowly moving in from the South, rain pm, milder in the evening
The adult female Red-breasted Merganser again spent part of the morning at least on Car Park Pool with four female Goosanders. The adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted again on the Car Park Pool islands and 4th year and a 2nd year both flew south. A Kingfisher and two Water Rails were seen or heard in the north causeway bay and there were at least three female Bullfinches in the back gate copse. To the west of Railway Hide two Fieldfares fed along the river with four Blackbirds and a Jay. Eight Meadow Pipits came and went around the Car Park, there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the crop oats and two Collared Doves at the Car Park feeders.
Red-breasted Merganser – Photographs by Steven Pattison
15th December 2018
Overcast start, increasingly windy, torrential rain from lunchtime onwards, cold south easterly wind
The female Red-breasted Merganser came and went throughout the day and the adult Peregrine put in regular appearances during the morning, regularly ‘buzzing’ the ducks on the Pools in the hope of making them fly. On one occasion, it flushed a Greylag which it chased and made an attempt to bring down.
The other counts today were as follows: Six Mute Swans, the adult Whooper Swan, 100 Greylags, one Farmyard Goose, 58 Canadas, 278 Wigeon, two Gadwall, 287 Teal, 11 Mallard, 93 Shoveler, one Tufted, 30 Cormorants, one Little Egret, two Herons, one Little Grebe, 20 Coot, ten Lapwing, one Snipe, 52 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and two Raven. A female Sparrowhawk flew along the shore in front of Car Park Hide chasing Snipe and flushing two.
14th December 2018
Sunny but cold and frosty and still
A cold morning found Railway Pool and the Reed bed completely frozen over and only areas of open water remained on Car Park Pool. There was no sign initially of the Red-breasted Merganser but it flew in on its own at around 9.30am and was still there an hour later along with four female Goosanders. The numbers of Goosanders varies widely during the day and earlier on at 8am there was a male and three females which flew off in a different direction to the arrival of the later birds. There were eight together later in the day..
A Chiffchaff was an unusual sighting at this time of year, the bird showing briefly from Railway Hide on the embankment. The crop field held 30 Chaffinches and a Yellowhammer and a flock of 17 Goldfinches visited the car park feeder before flying off to the central streamline. There were three Siskins in the back gate copse, two Water Rails in the north causeway bay and a male Sparrowhawk was seen to drop out of Siden Hill Wood and catch a Fieldfare below it.
A frozen Reed bed at dawn
13th December 2018
Cold south-easterly wind, but sunny.
The Red-breasted Merganser visited site briefly before 9 am along with up to 15 Goosanders. and re-appeared in the afternoon as well. The adult Whooper Swan and Greater Black-backed Gull were also on Car Park Pool, Kingfisher and Water Rail were recorded and 63 Cormorants.
12th December 2018
Watery sun to begin with, clouding over in the afternoon, light south-easterly wind.
Today’s undoubted highlight was not a bird but an animal. An Otter came out of Car Park Pool and walked to within a few yards of two lucky observers in Car Park Hide, inspected a couple of Mole hills and then scampered off towards the north causeway bay at around 8 am.
Otter – Photographs by Steven Pattison
The immature or female Red-breasted Merganser came in again at 10.50 am but flew off at mid-day. There were also up to four Goosanders this morning along with the adult Whooper Swan, adult Greater Black-backed Gull and Shelduck, all on Car Park Pool. There were also 25 Meadow Pipits on the Car Park Pool islands and three Fieldfares in the oaks to the north of the hide.
11th December 2018
Sunny all day.
The immature female Red-breasted Merganser was again on site today having probably roosted at Packwood overnight. It was in the company of 17 Goosanders. Other birds today were the regular Whooper Swan, plus four Ravens and a Green Sandpiper.
10th December 2018
Today’s undoubted highlight was a female or juvenile Red-breasted Merganser which arrived at about 11 am and joined 19 Goosanders on Car Park Pool before flying off with some of those towards the river. This is only the second record, with the first being on the 29th November 1999. That particular bird was seen on the Reedbed before it was planted up with reeds!
Red-breasted Merganser with female Goosander in the foreground – Photograph by Max Silverman
Other birds today included seven Little Egrets and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, (both on Car Park Pool), there was a Water Rail in the north causeway bay and four Snipe on Railway Pool. Birds around the car park feeders included 15 Goldfinches, four Greenfinches and the Yellowhammer.
A Dunlin was also on Car Park Pool in the morning and was still present up until at least 11 am.
9th December 2018
Cooler north westerly wind, sunshine and showers.
A significant increase in Goosanders saw 13 today (one male, 12 females) and the autumn’s best count of Common Gulls, 19, all on Car Park Pool.
A Red Kite was reported as going over early morning before 9 am and other birds today included the adult Whooper Swan, 47 Shoveler, five Little Egrets, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, one Great Crested and two Little Grebes, Kingfisher, Water Rail, at least one Cetti’s Warbler and at least 50 Chaffinches in the crop field.
Ringers out after dark saw or heard a Tawny Owl on the central stream, a Barn Owl, six Woodcock, seven Skylark, a Redwing, 20 Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe east of the A452. Lastly, on the 5th December, a Black-headed Gull that was ringed on the 21st June 2018 at Marsh Lane was caught by Slimbridge Wildfowlers at Bowness-on-Windermere, 143 miles to the north-west.
Woodcock – Ringed 9th December 2018
8th December 2018
Sun and showers on a brisk west, north-westerly wind.
Plenty of birds again today but similar species to the previous few weeks. Today’s counts were as follows: two Mute Swans, the adult Whooper Swan, 118 Greylags, 61 Canadas, a Shelduck, 212 Wigeon, 21 Gadwall, 280 Teal, 16 Mallard, 36 Shoveler, two Pochard, four Tufted, a female Goosander, 36 Cormorants, three Herons, five Little Egrets, one Great Crested Grebe, two Little Grebes, 13 Moorhen, 19 Coot (numbers down because of the relatively low water level in Railway Pool), 144 Lapwing 161 Black-headed Gulls, nine Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a Kingfisher, in the north causeway bay and two Ravens.
7th December 2018
Wet start, clearing by 10am, increasing westerly wind
The adult female Peregrine put in at least two sorties against the wildfowl this morning but without success on either occasion. The adult Whooper Swan was on site as well with 11 Common Gulls, 26 Cormorants, a pair of Goosanders, one Shelduck, four Pochard, 15 Gadwall, 220 Teal, 220 Lapwing, 55 Shoveler, one Great Crested Grebe and one Little Grebe.
The crop field held at least 75 Linnets, three Yellowhammers and 25+ Chaffinches whilst along the Old Road there were at least 50 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare.
In the wet field north of the mobile phone mast there were eight Snipe in the rushes there.
Five Little Egrets roosted in the afternoon and there was a Kingfisher on the reed bed.
6th December 2018
Mostly wet
On Car Park Pool today the adult Whooper Swan was joined by an adult Greater Black-backed Gull, six Common Gulls, two Herring Gulls, three Shelducks, three Little Egrets, a Snipe and a Goosander. In the crop field there were two Yellowhammers and a Kestrel.
5th December 2018
Mostly sunny after a wet start
No records.
4th December 2018
Sunny and frosty start, clouding over from the west from 11 am.
The adult Whooper Swan was again present on Car Park Pool along with three Shelduck, three Goosanders (two males and a female), one Pochard, one Great Crested Grebe and four Little Egrets. On Railway Pool there was one Green Sandpiper.
A Kingfisher showed well both in front of Oak Hide and on the Reedbed Pool to the right of the hide.
40 Fieldfares and 30 Redwings were in the hedgerows down the Old Road and everything was put up on the pools by a Peregrine sortie.
The crop field at lunchtime held at least 80 Linnets, 35 Chaffinches, 25 Goldfinches, 10 Fieldfares and four Redwings with a further four Redwings on the railway embankment.
Green Woodpecker, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Bullfinch were present on the central streamline. There were also four Siskins there and lastly a Water Rail was in the causeway channels.
3rd December 2019
Heavy showers, occasional sunny intervals.
Records to follow.
2nd December 2018
Mostly sunny, some showers, brisk south-westerly wind, mild.
The adult Whooper Swan was with other wildfowl on Car Park Pool where the adult Greater Black-back roosted. A second or third winter Greater Black-backed Gull also put in a brief appearance. There were 15 Common Gulls and 12 Herring Gulls as well.
After yesterday’s single Pochard there were seven today and there were two Green Sandpipers again on Railway Pool. Five Siskins fed in the Alders by the south-west pond and 15 to 20 Meadow Pipits were favouring the Railway Pool islands.
A male and two female Goosanders came in later in the morning to Car Park Pool. A Kingfisher, the adult female Peregrine and a Raven all put in appearances and today’s Lapwing count reached 325.
A Reed Warbler ringed at Marsh Lane on the 1st August 2018 was re-caught 183km away, 38 days later, on the 8th September 2018, at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Hampshire.
1st December 2018
Overcast with periods of rain to begin with, brightening from late morning, mild and sunny afternoon.
The crop field was again busy this morning, although the presence of a male Sparrowhawk did nothing to encourage the birds to linger. There are an estimated 80 Linnets, 60 Chaffinches and one Brambling. Three Lesser Redpolls flew over the back gate and this area was generally lively, with plenty of Tits, at least three Goldcrests, four Song Thrushes (two in song, one in the gorse patch opposite the back gate and another towards the Lorry Park), and a third bird was of the continental race with gray back and rump, at least six Redwings and a Bullfinch, whilst two Great Spotted Woodpeckers worked along the stream towards the feeder.
There were also six Redwings and at least five Blackbirds in the back gate copse whilst, around the car park, five Meadow Pipits and a Fieldfare fed on the grass there.
Other counts today comprise the adult Whooper Swan, two Mute Swans, 107 Greylags, two white Farmyard Geese, 122 Canadas, a Shelduck, 240 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 351 Teal, 18 Mallard, 35 Shoveler, ten Tufted Ducks, a female Pochard, a female Goosander, 41 Cormorants, three Great Crested Grebes, one Little Grebe, three Herons, four Little Egrets, 11 Moorhen, 11 Coot, 132 Lapwing, eight Snipe, 275 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, nine Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls and the male Cetti’s Warbler around the Reedbed.