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
Saturday 3 January – 2.00pm
Saturday 31 January – 2.00pm
Saturday 21 February – 2.00pm
Saturday 21 March – 2.00pm
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.
9th December 2025
Heavy rain a.m., overcast. Fresh south-westerly, gusty at times. (Storm Bram)
Storm Bram brought heavy showers and blustery winds during the morning. Nevertheless, logbook entries included two male Pochard, 43 Gadwall, 225 Teal on the Pools, 40 Redwing and a Raven over. Mistle Thrush was again recorded, with one seen in the oaks to the left of Car Park Hide.
8th December 2025
Sunny start, showers from midday. Light south-westerly.
A Monday count around the Reserve yielded the following:
Four Egyptian Geese, two male Pochard, 11 Tufted Ducks, Grey Wagtail by the cattle feeder, a pair of Stonechats on the HS2 Flood Plain fence, a male Goosander, Bittern in the Reedbed, the regular adult Great Black–backed Gull and 68 Cormorants – still just shy of the Dec record of 69!
The overwintering Green Sandpiper was again present on the flash north of Patrick Farm and two Mistle Thrushes were noted in the same area.
7th December 2025
Overcast start, rain from midday. Moderate south-westerly.
Collared Doves have been much in evidence of late and seven were again present around the Car Park. Other records of note included Kingfisher in the Reedbed, Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers over River Hide. Finally, around 40 Redwing were present along the Causeway and in the Back Gate Copse.
6th December 2025
Sunny spells and showers a.m., overcast p.m. Fresh south-westerly.
Many thanks to the five who attended the work party during the afternoon. The main task was to cut back the bramble thickets to the west of Railway Hide, just in from the shoreline, and excellent progress was made.
The regular Saturday morning count by Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan produced:
Four juvenile Mute Swans, 108 Canada Geese, 107 Greylag Geese, 14 Shoveler, 28 Gadwall, 307 Wigeon, 48 Mallard, 101 Teal, three Pochard (male), six Tufted Ducks (three male and three female), 48 Cormorants, Little Grebe, two Grey Herons, Little Egret, Moorhen, 18 Coot, 33 Lapwing, Common Snipe, 70 Black–headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, Lesser Black–backed Gull, two Stonechats (male and female around Dragonfly Pond), two Egyptian Geese, 13 Fieldfares (including five over HS2 workings), six Collared Doves (Corrie Farm), 24 Rooks and two Siskins.
5th December 2025
Bright morning then overcast with persistent rain from mid-afternoon. Light south-westerly, freshening later.
A Friday morning count by Graham Rowling yielded the following:
Three Egyptian Geese, 17 Shoveler, 40 Gadwall, 67 Cormorant (just shy of the Dec record of 69), Pochard (two male and one female), 11 Common Gulls, the adult Great Black–backed Gull, 10 Mute Swans, two Water Rails (Reedbed and North Causeway Bay), eight Skylarks (HS2 workings), a total of four Stonechats (male and female Dragonfly Pond and male and female HS2 Flood Plain fence), six House Sparrows (Patrick Farm), Green Sandpiper (Patrick Farm flash), Goosander (male and female), 13 Redwings and, finally, a single Fieldfare.
Redwing – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
4th December 2025
Overcast with rain on and off throughout the day. Light south-westerly.
A female Stonechat was again seen around the Dragonfly Pond with a Song Thrush noted in the Car Park. Other records from the feeders included seven Collared Doves and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
3rd December 2025
Misty start then sunny intervals. Light southerly.
Mistle Thrush can be fairly elusive at Marsh Lane so a record from the Car Park was notable, as was the presence of six Collared Doves at the feeders. Also recorded were two Egyptian Geese, four Goosanders (one male and three female) and eight Common Gulls.
2nd December 2025
Sunny intervals, dry, light south-westerly. Flooding by Patrick Bridge
What was presumably yesterday’s Green Sandpiper was again on the flash by Patrick Farm and a female Stonechat was present around the Dragonfly Pond.
Gulls were also in evidence with six Common, three Herring, five Lesser Black–backed and the Great Black–backed. Other entries included Pochard (two male), three female Goosanders and a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay.
Late morning, a Buzzard was photographed feeding on a carcass on the Flood Plain and, coincidentally, another, one of four recorded in the log, was photographed on a different carcass, possibly a Canada Goose, in front of Oak Hide during the afternoon.
1st December 2025
Intermittent showers, some heavy. Mild. Moderate south-westerly.
Despite the inclement weather, log entries from around the site included a fair variety of Gulls with three Common, eight Herring, seven Lesser Black–backed and what was presumably the ‘resident’ Great Black–backed. Other species noted were Pochard (three male), 48 Gadwall, 52 Cormorants and 15 Shoveler. The Crop Field held a small flock of seven Linnets and, last but not least, an overwintering Green Sandpiper was on the flash to the north of Patrick Farm.