29th February 2024
Overcast, light westerly.
Again, today there were two adult Mediterranean Gulls on Railway Pool, five female Goosanders on Car Park Pool, 24 Snipe in front of Car Park Hide and a further 11 on Railway Pool, five Little Egrets and at least two pairs of Long-tailed Tits, one by the back gate and one on the Causeway.
Long-tailed Tits on the Causeway – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
28th February 2024
Overcast, light showers and light south-westerly.
There were two adult Mediterranean Gulls today, one with a distinctive white mark above the bill. There was a flock of 11 Lesser Redpolls by the Horse Paddocks, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Crop Field Oaks, three Pochard, four Goosanders, five Little Egrets, a single Great-Crested Grebe, nine Oystercatchers and a Redshank.
27th February 2024
Good sunrise, slowly clouding over after a light frost.
Yesterday’s adult Mediterranean Gull was present again this morning. It was initially heard calling as it flew away from the pools just after 07.35, but it returned later and was seen displaying to some of the Black-headed Gulls.
Other birds this morning included five Little Egrets, 74 Lapwing, at least five Redwings, six Stock Doves, (plus two further birds singing in the Back Gate Copse), eight Oystercatchers, a Redshank, two female Goosanders and two Collared Doves by the Oak Hide feeders, and two Great Crested Grebes on Car Park Pool.
26th February 2024
Sunny spells, blustery, northerly.
The first returning Mediterranean Gull joined the many Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool this morning. It was an adult in full summer plumage. There were also five Little Egrets, two drake Pochard, 46 Cormorants, eight Oystercatchers, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 11 Herring Gulls and six Common Gulls. Later in the morning a Great White Egret flew over. A Cetti’s Warbler sang on the Causeway, there were two Jays at the Car Park feeders, and a Skylark in song over Patrick Farm.
25th February 2024
Overcast with periodic showers.
There was a Green Sandpiper feeding on the HS2 settling ponds near the mitigation area, towards the end of the Old Road this morning, and also a Grey Wagtail and five Meadow Pipits.
Five Pochard and two Goosanders were present on Car Park Pool, along with five Little Egrets, a Great Crested Grebe, 10 Common Gulls and two Herring Gulls. One of the latter had a green ring on it which is possibly one of the Gloucester birds, but further details are awaited. Lastly, there was a Lesser Redpoll along the Old Road.
24th February 2024
Still, overnight frost.
Today’s counts care of Graham and Dave were as follows: 25 Mute Swans, 34 Canadas, 12 Greylags, 26 Shoveler, 39 Gadwall, 165 Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 109 Teal, a drake Pochard, 30 Tufted, seven Goosanders, 27 Cormorants, four Little Grebe, one Great Crested Grebe, three Herons, two Little Egrets, nine Oystercatchers, 87 Lapwing, one Redshank, 36 Snipe, 2,650 Black-headed Gulls (including Yellow 2J99), four Common Gulls, six Herring Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 120 Linnets, and a female Roe Deer in Patrick Farm flash. Frogspawn is now visible in the South-West Pond. The colour-ringed Black-headed Gull was ringed as an adult at Pitsea landfill site, Essex on 11 March 2017 and there have been no other reported sightings in between.
Shoveler – Photograph by Bob Breach
23rd February 2024
Sunny, fresh westerly, cold. Railway Pool inundated again after heavy rain yesterday.
Two Red Kites went over this morning, both over Railway Pool, and despite the wet weather, there were three Cetti’s Warblers in song, one by River Hide, one by Oak Hide and one along the top stream.
On or around the pools there were three Shelduck, a drake Pochard, a female Goosander, the colour-ringed Redshank, nine Oystercatchers, a Great Crested Grebe, the yellow-ringed Black-headed Gull (2BXJ), a Chiffchaff along the Concrete Road and 40 Cormorants.
22nd February 2024
No records.
21st February 2024
Overcast, rain, gusty southerly.
An exceptional count of 75 Snipe were visible in the Marsh, along with three Jack Snipe this morning. The latter species has been conspicuous by its absence, so perhaps these are returning birds.
The Redshank joined six Oystercatchers, three Pochard and four Goosanders on the pools, whilst a Red Kite flew over, along with a Raven.
Snipe on a frosty morning – Photograph by Graham Dyer
20th February 2024
Overcast start, brightening to sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
Redshank with four colour rings
Having not been seen since at Marsh Lane since June last year, the regular colour-ringed Redshank returned on the 20 February, the earliest it has returned to the Reserve. It was ringed as an adult at Thorney Island, Chichester Harbour in West Sussex on 17 October 2015 and has been seen at:
Thorney Island, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex – Oct 17, 2015 – Mar 13, 2016
Marsh Lane
Mar 19 – Jun 20, 2016
Mar 13 – May 29, 2017
Mar 11 – Jun 16, 2018
Feb 21 – Apr 18, 2019
RSPB Middleton Lakes, Staffordshire – Apr 19 – May 12, 2019
Marsh Lane
May 25 – Jun 12, 2019
Apr 20 – May 28, 2020
Mar 27 – Jun 17, 2021
Feb 28 – Jun 18, 2022
Mar 7 – Mar 13, 2023
Ripple Lakes, Worcestershire – Mar 17, 2023
Marsh Lane
Mar 20 – Jun 23, 2023
Feb 20, 2024
A Chiffchaff was in song along the Old Road near the Car Park gates, and other birds on or around the pools were two female Goosanders, nine Oystercatchers and 103 Lapwing.
The Linnet flock in the Crop Field reached 200 this morning, and there were 26 Siskins in the Alders around the back gate. Two male and five female Pheasants were gorging themselves under the Car Park feeders. Eight Snipe were visible by Oak Hide, despite the high water levels.
19th February 2024
Early rain giving way to sunny intervals, light north westerly.
The Blythe was flowing into Railway Pool again this morning, with extensive flooding across the whole of the Blythe Valley.
A Dunlin was a new arrival this morning on Car Park Pool and and an early singing Chiffchaff was in song in the Back Gate Copse, with a second silent one along the Concrete Road.
Three Stonechats around the Dragonfly Pool comprised two females and a male, and there were also five Siskins and three Redpolls in the Alders near by.
Other birds today included two Egyptian Geese, four Shelduck (on the Flood Plain), a drake Pochard, a pair of Goosander, 10 Oystercatchers and 36 Cormorants.
Black-headed Gull – Yellow 2DXJ
This regular visitor returned to the Reserve on 19 February. It was ringed as an adult at Pitsea Landfill Site in Essex on 8 March 2013, and has since been seen at Marsh Lane on:
Feb 16, 2016
Jan 7, 2018
Feb 20, 2019 – Mar 2, 2019
Feb 22, 2020
Feb 16, 2021
Dec 30, 2021
Feb 12, 2022
Mar 9, 2022
Dec 31, 2023
Feb 19, 2024
18th February 2024
Heavy overnight rain and early showers clearing by about 11.00. Extensive flooding at Patrick Bridge.
The total Black-headed Gull count today was 1100 birds, with 680 on the Railway Pool islands, 120 on Car Park Pool and 300 on the floods at Patrick Bridge.
Surprisingly, there were few other gulls of note.
In addition, there were eight Oystercatchers on the pools and 15 Snipe (at least) in the Marsh. Seven Greenfinches joined numerous Blue and Great Tits on the Car Park feeders.
17th February 2024
Overcast, fresh south-westerly.
A full count of birds today, courtesy of Graham and Dave was as follows: 45 Canadas, a Canada/Greylag hybrid, two Mute Swans, 24 Shoveler, 54 Gadwall, six Mallard, 154 Wigeon, 53 Teal, a drake Pochard, 39 Tufted Ducks, seven Goosanders, 23 Cormorants, two Little Grebes, one Heron, one Little Egret, eight Moorhen, 46 Coot, seven Oystercatchers, 90 Lapwing, 30 Snipe, 725 Black-headed Gulls, a single Common Gull, seven Heron and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 60 Linnets in the Crop Field, a Raven over, 32 Redwings along the Old Road and, finally, a flock of 15 Siskins and 11 Lesser Redpolls along the Old Road frequenting the Alders opposite at the start of the Concrete Road.
16th February 2024
Sunny start, clouding over, fresh south-westerly, extensive flooding at Patrick Bridge.
Another good count of roosting Goosanders was made this morning at first light, with 43 birds, (26 females and 17 males). Two Shelduck, nine Oystercatchers and two drake Pochard were on the pools or the islands, whilst a male Stonechat was present in Lower Siden.
A pair of Bullfinches were feeding in the large Yew in the Back Gate compounds nearest to Railway Hide, presumably after a few remaining berries. Nineteen Snipe were visible in the Marsh with a further 12 in front of Car Park Hide. Thirteen Starlings were feeding on the islands, 21 Linnets were in the Crop Field, where there were also 10 Stock Doves and just south of Oak Hide, both Comma and Red Admiral butterflies were on the wing. The Pussy Willow and Cherry Plum flowers are emerging, providing an early source of nectar.
Pussy Willow and Cherry Plum flowers – Photographs by Nick Barlow
15th February 2024
No records.
14th February 2024
Overcast, showery, fresh southerly. Extensive flooding at Patrick Bridge.
Two Jack Snipe were present in the Marsh area by the phone mast this morning and the Oystercatcher count reached nine on the pools. A drake Pochard and three female Goosanders were on Car Park Pool and the female Stonechat was again around the Dragonfly Pond.
13th February 2024
More rain! Exactly 20 Reed Buntings were feeding in the long grass on either side of the track down to Car Park Hide from the Car Park at 09.30 this morning. On disturbance, they flew up and most circled back to land in the feeder clump where there were seven female Pheasants and a Collared Dove amongst tens of Blue and Great Tits.
On Car park Pool itself there were two Goosanders, the lone Pochard and a pair of Oystercatchers on the islands, with a further five birds elsewhere.
Other counts today comprised 95 Lapwing, 53 Snipe (all but five in the Marsh), a female Stonechat around the Dragonfly Pond, singing Cetti’s Warblers in the North Causeway Bay and around the Railway Bridge, a Raven over, and 10 Pied Wagtails and three Meadow Pipits by Patrick Bridge.
Song Thrushes were vocal both by the cottages (as you come in) and also immediately by the Car Park.
12th February 2024
Sunny, light westerly, early grass frost.
Martin Durkin made a record-breaking Goosander count, at dawn this morning, with 59 birds, 42 females and 17 males. This surpassed the previous record of 40 on the 27th December 2022.
Eleven Pied Wagtails and 18 Meadow Pipits were feeding on the Flood Plain by Patrick Bridge early on and the Black-headed Gull numbers are beginning to build with 375 this morning. Lapwings were up to 94, there were four each of Little Egret and Heron, eight Oystercatchers, 30 Cormorants, a single Shelduck and a single drake Pochard, a Canada/Greylag hybrid, a male Bullfinch in the Back Gate Copse and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker by the South-West Pond.
11th February 2024
Overcast, dark, turning sunny and remaining mild.
New in today was a drake Red-crested Pochard which was initially found on Car Park Pool before moving to Railway Pool, where it became elusive in the north-west corner.
At least 60 Snipe were visible to the right of Oak Hide in the early afternoon and, on the pools or the islands, there were eight Oystercatchers, four Goosanders, 11 Pochard, two Shelduck, at least 80 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 20 Tufted, eight Mallard and 20 Gadwall.
A Green Sandpiper was heard calling as it flew up river, a female Stonechat was present again by the Dragonfly Pond, a second-winter Great Black-backed Gull flew over, a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard by the Car Park and a pair of Egyptian Geese moved between the pools.
10th February 2024
Sunny spells, light southerly.
The full count of today’s birds, care of Graham and Dave were as follows: two Mute Swans, 66 Canadas, 58 Greylags, two Shelduck, 15 Shoveler, 63 Gadwall, 205 Wigeon, 33 Mallard, 114 Teal, four Pochard, 42 Tufteds, three Goosanders, 19 Cormorants, two Little Egrets, two Herons, three Little Grebes, three Moorhen, 31 Coot, seven Oystercatchers, 88 Lapwings, 16 Snipe, 290 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, seven Herring Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two singing Cetti’s Warblers (Reedbed and River Hide), a female Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond, two Skylarks seen over the HS2 workings, and a pair of Bullfinches in the Back Gate Copse.
9th February 2024
Overcast, more rain, fresh south-westerly. River Blythe streaming into both pools with extensive flooding everywhere.
An adult Peregrine put in a brief appearance today, along with three Shelduck, two Goosanders, 13 Pochard, six Oystercatchers and the female Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond.
8th February 2024
Extremely wet all day.
No records.
7th February 2024
Hazy sunshine, still. River Blythe burst its banks at Patrick Bridge.
Fifty-four Snipe were counted this morning (13 on Car Park Pool and 41 in the Marsh) but the latter number was, as usual, only a proportion of those that were visible and 70 took up when flushed in the afternoon.
Other counts today included two Shelduck, eight Pochard, five female Goosanders, three Oystercatchers, 75 Lapwings, two Little Egrets and four Common Gulls.
There was a Lesser Redpoll in the alders along the central streamline, 70 Linnets in the Crop Field, a female Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond, and 14 Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail along the HS2 works.
6th February 2024
Overcast, strong gusty south-westerly.
Despite the strong wind, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee was seen in one of the sheltered areas along the Causeway.
Of two Grey Wagtails, one moved from the Central Stream area to Lower Siden, whilst the other one was in the HS2 settlement pond by Patrick Bridge.
The female Stonechat was present in the Horse Paddock, whilst on the pools there were 163 Greylags, a pair of Egyptian Geese, two Shelduck, eight Pochard, four Little Egrets, 70 Lapwings, 13 Common Gulls, 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, a Raven and 50 Linnets in the Crop Field. A small flock of six Starlings fed on the islands and are probably local breeders.
5th February 2024
Overcast, strong blustery southerly.
Birds making the log today included a drake Shelduck, two Oystercatchers, 11 Pochard, five Little Egrets, 310 Black-headed Gulls, 23 Pied Wagtails at Patrick Bridge, a single Great Crested Grebe, a female Stonechat around the Dragonfly Pond and a male House Sparrow at Patrick Bridge.
4th February 2024
Overcast start then cloudy with occasional brighter spells. Mild with moderate westerly.
A fine male Brambling around the Car Park feeders was one of the highlights of the day along with a very early Dunlin which was seen fleetingly on Car Park Pool early morning. Oystercatchers were down to two and other records included Skylark and two Meadow Pipits over, Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and Sparrowhawk.
3rd February 2024
Generally cloudy, some sunny spells a.m. then light drizzle p.m. Moderate westerly
Courtesy of Dave Scanlan and Graham Rowling, this week’s Saturday count provided the following: two Mute Swans, seven Canada Geese, 21 Greylag Geese, 18 Shoveler, 38 Gadwall, 294 Wigeon, 14 Mallard, 46 Teal, 18 Pochard (13 male and five female), 23 Tufted Duck, three Goosander (one male and two female), 32 Cormorants, five Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, six Little Grebes (just shy of the Feb record which stands at seven), four Moorhen, 47 Coot, three Oystercatchers, 52 Lapwing, 45 Snipe, 136 Black–headed Gulls, 15 Common Gulls, four Lesser Black–backed Gulls and 11 Herring Gulls. Elsewhere, the Crop Field Linnet flock was up to 85, 20 Siskins were along the Central Stream and a Skylark went over south.
The trail camera looking at ‘the rock’ along the Central Stream continues to yield some excellent video clips, the latest being of a Weasel at around 08.30.
Video courtesy of John Hunt
2nd February 2024
Early light drizzle then overcast and mild. Moderate west/south westerly
Oystercatcher numbers were up to three with other records from the pools including 74 Lapwings, nine Common Gulls and 12 Herring Gulls in addition to three Pochard (two male and one female) and a solitary female Goosander. A flock of 30 Siskins was feeding along the Central Stream with two Lesser Redpolls around the Back Gate Copse. Two Ravens were also noted along with an adult Peregrine which went south over Patrick Farm.
1st February 2024
Frosty start then sunny intervals, dry with light north/north westerly.
The first returning Oystercatcher of the year was recorded, just one day ahead of the average date for the site. Elsewhere were 150+ Wigeon, three Little Egrets and 51 Lapwing, while Gulls comprised 150 Back–headed, four Lesser Black–backed, six Common and three Herring.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in action with one drumming in the Crop Field Oaks and a female at the Car Park feeders, which were busy with a number of other species too. Finally, Song Thrushes were vocal with records from four locations: along the Causeway, along the Old Road, near the Phone Mast and by the gate to the Railway Car Park.
Finally, the Otter family (ref Jan 25) was recorded again around 20.00 and in the same location.