31st January 2011
– Remaining cold but bright.
The best birds of the day were a flock of 12 Golden Plover which flew over to the south at 11.15 a.m. Linnet numbers were back up again to 150 and there were also about 50Chaffinches in the field. The female Goldeneye remained and a couple of Herring Gullsand a Common Gull joined the Black-headed on the pools.
30th January 2011
– Overcast start, sunny pm.
The first Water Rails of the year were seen today, with one in the Marsh and one in the stream along the concrete road. A Jack Snipe showed well in the Marsh and there was a total of 17 Snipe. The best Pochard count of the year so far totalled 40, whilst theGoldeneye lingered in the small area of open water on Railway Pool. Three Bullfinchesincluded two by the underpass and one by the south-west pond, 12 Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder and 12 Redwing fed on the tip.
Within the crop field, a male Sparrowhawk again kept birds on the move but there were probably a similar number of Reed Buntings to yesterday spread between the crop field and the Reedbed, and about 30 Chaffinches and about 40 Linnets.
29th January 2011
– Overcast, Car Park Pool 70% iced up, Railway Pool 90% iced up.
The anti-cyclonic conditions continue but in spite of this there were some good birds today. The Bittern showed from early morning immediately to the left of the causeway screen, on the Reedbed Pool and, by mid morning, had worked its way out onto the ice and showed well. A new Reserve count of 389 Wigeon was counted in the morning and other birds of note included ten Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, the lingering female Goldeneyeand a Woodcock along the central stream.
The regular counts, helpfully provided by Graham Rowling, were as follows: fiveCormorants, two Herons, 27 Mute Swans, one Black Swan, two Canada Geese, theCanada / Greylag hybrid, 11 Farmyard Geese, 383 Greylags, a Shelduck, 389Wigeon, 21 Gadwall, 56 Teal, 39 Mallard, nine Shoveler, 37 Pochard, 28 Tufted, a female Goldeneye, two Lapwing, two Snipe, a Woodcock, 84 Black-headed Gulls, fiveCommon Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed, 58 Coot and a single Moorhen.
In the crop field, there were 40 Linnets, 50 Chaffinches and at the entrance gate at least three House Sparrows.
28th January 2011
– Sunny start, light north-easterly wind
A -2 degrees centigrade start had led to light icing around the margins of some of the pools. The crop field held about 90 Linnets and 40 Chaffinches, two Goldfinches and two Reed Buntings, whilst there were at least ten Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeders. NineGoldfinches went over in display flight, perhaps recently returned birds.
A pair of Shelduck fed in front of Oak Hide but otherwise there was nothing unusual on the pools. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from the large ash tree, just south of Oak Hide.
In the afternoon, there were 100 Linnets west of Siden Hill Wood in the Winter Wheat field, presumably part of the flock that is regularly at the Reserve. In the wood itself Nuthatch,Coal Tit, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Muntjac were all present in Siden Hill Wood whilst, on the Reserve, the female Goldeneye has now moved to Railway Pool, 12Snipe were present mostly in front of Oak Hide and 30 Chaffinches and 20 Reed Buntingswere in the crop field. Ten Fieldfares and 15 Redwings fed on the tip.
Thanks to Don Nettleton for the nest boxes and to Paul Johnson for putting them up in Siden Hill Wood.
Regarding local Waxwings, birds are irregularly visiting the Guelder Berry bushes, just north of Meriden, where Maxstoke Lane crosses the A45. The bushes are on the bridge embankments and there were three present earlier in January, and at least 18 this morning.
27th January 2011
– Overcast, cold north-easterly wind.
Rather dull and dreary this morning, with relatively little to report. 40 Chaffinches at first light seemed to have increased a little by 9 a.m., and a small Linnet flock had certainly increased substantially to well over 100 by the same time. Tree Sparrows were calling from the Oak Hide feeder but were invisible. 30 Pochard were spread between the two pools and there were plenty of wildfowl on view. Small groups of Wigeon and Gadwall were feeding in close-knit groups on Car Park Pool, perhaps responding to fish below the surface disturbing the sediment.
Despite the cold weather, there are a few signs of spring. Pussy Willow blossom was showing on the A452, just north of the Reserve, and has been since the 16th. Hazel catkins are also showing well along the Old Road and Airum Lillies are pushing through the soil on the paths in Siden Hill Wood.
26th January 2010
– Overcast, cold blustery north-easterly wind.
There was a marked increase in Chaffinch numbers this morning with at least 70 at the south end of the crop field, where the Linnet flock totalled about the same number. I have had no further news so far.
Later in the day there was a Raven over Siden Hill Wood, a flock of 515 Lapwings east of the A452, two Shelduck, the female Goldeneye, nine Common Gulls and 100 Black-headed Gulls on car park pool, ten Bullfinches by the aero club, a Kingfisher on the Reedbed and 13 Tree Sparrows by the Oak Hide feeder.
At 11.20 p.m., a Barn Owl was hunting Cornets End Island.
25th January 2010
– Light northerly wind, drizzly on and off in the morning, with prolonged rain in the afternoon.
During the first part of the morning, at least 40 Redwings, 20 Fieldfares and 20Chaffinches were feeding in the tip field, perching up to land in the Old Road hedges from time to time. At least 80 Linnets were in the crop field and a single Shelduck joined the many Wigeon on Car Park Pool.
Later in the day, Shelduck increased to three and at least 30 Common Gulls were present. The elusive female Goldeneye also showed on Car Park Pool, where there were 26 Mute Swans. A Kingfisher was recorded presumably from the Reedbed.
24th January 2010
– Overcast, cold northerly wind.
The only news in the log concerned a male Brambling in the crop field near the feeder, tenTree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder and a female Goldeneye again on Railway Pool.
23rd January 2010
– Light northerly wind, overcast.
Seven Redpolls and 12 Siskins were by the back gate. A noteworthy count for Redpoll as they have been relatively scarce this new year. Herring Gulls were again on the move with 15 through in the morning and at least three through in the afternoon. 40 Chaffinches and 40 Linnets were in the crop field and 30 Redwings and ten Fieldfares fed on the tip. The first Great Crested Grebe of the year was on Car Park Pool with a Shelduck and the female Goldeneye and Jack Snipe again showed in the Marsh. Today’s Tree Sparrowcount was 12.
22nd January 2010
– Mostly overcast, light northerly wind. 50% of the pools lightly iced.
Some good counts today with 380 Wigeon being a record count for the Reserve. 253Linnets in the crop field and 70 Siskins in the Alders by the south-west pond were also noteworthy. Tree Sparrows reached 13 and in the late afternoon, the Bittern again showed in the Reedbed on the crop field side. Other good birds included a Jack Snipe which showed exceptionally well below Oak Hide by the outlet pipe and a female Goosander.
Graham’s regular counts were as follows: 70 Cormorants, a Heron, 26 Mute Swans, theBlack Swan, 33 Greylags (later at least 250 came in to roost), the Canada, a Farmyard Goose, one Shelduck, 380 Wigeon, 43 Gadwall, 114 Teal, 62 Mallard, nine Shoveler, 25 Pochard, 29 Tufted, 74 Coot, a Moorhen, 61 Lapwing, 24 Snipe, 128 Black-headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backs, 35 plus Herring Gulls over, at least 25 Fieldfare along the Old Road, 30 Redwings dropped into the back gate copse and aPied Wagtail flew north.
Thrushes have begun to move back through to the north.
Nine attended the work party and worked really hard in shifting gravel out onto the islands. The island in front of Railway Hide and the big island were completed, with some gravel put out onto the main island in front of Oak Hide but that small island west of it and Tern Island all need to be completed next month. Please put the date in your diary!
21st January 2011
– Frosty start, sunny all day, light northerly wind.
In the crop field this morning the Linnet flock totalled over 100 birds and there were at least 30 Chaffinches together with two Yellowhammers and a handful of Reed Buntings. 30 Fieldfares and three Redwing were along the Old Road hedges and a Raven flew over to the west. At least two Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder with 13Greenfinches.
In the late afternoon, 60 Teal, 26 Mute Swans and a female Goldeneye were all noted.Tree Sparrows had increased to ten at the Oak Hide feeder. The elusive Bittern showed in the Reedbed and at dusk a Barn Owl hunted the margins of the pools.
20th January 2011
– Frosty and foggy start, but sunny and dry.
A Jack Snipe showed well in the Marsh during the late morning and ten Tree Sparrowswere again at the Oak Hide feeder.
In the late afternoon, the Bittern again showed on the Reedbed Pool, two Jack Snipesshowed briefly in the Marsh, 15 Tree Sparrows were again at the Oak Hide feeder and twoShelduck were on Car Park Pool.
19th January 2010
– Light frost, sunny all day, cool light north-westerly wind.
A female Goosander was present for a short while in the morning on Car Park Pool – thanks to Paul Casey for kindly correcting the original record, noted as a Merganser.
The female Goldeneye remains on Car Park Pool with a Shelduck and plenty of other wildfowl, and the goose flock (with no sign of the White-fronted Goose), was commuting between the flood plain, the pools and the tip field. A note was put in the log that in fact theWhite-fronted Goose was first seen on the 12th January – thanks to the finders for that.
Other birds noted today were ten Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, a maleBrambling again by the horse paddock, 70 Linnets and at least 30 Chaffinches in the crop field with ones and twos of Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.
The Bittern and a Kingfisher were reported again from the Reedbed in the late afternoon.
18th January 2011
– Light frost, light northerly wind and sunny.
Goldeneye and Shelduck were again on Car Park Pool with plenty of Wigeon, Teal andGadwall and 14 Snipe fed along the shoreline below Car Park Hide. Birds were coming and going from the crop field in the early morning with approximately 30 Chaffinches and 30Linnets, two Yellowhammers, three Reed Buntings and a Fieldfare. There also seemed to be some “movement” of Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws this morning, just after 8 a.m., with at least 100 Wood Pigeons heading south and a total of about 100 Jackdaws coming and going in various directions, together with a single Rook.
At least 10 Lesser Black-backs and an adult Greater Black-backed moved south about the same time, and smaller numbers of Black-headed Gulls dropping in to preen and bathe.
The RSPCA have now collected the injured Swan from the Dragonfly Pool – many thanks to Don Nettleton for his help in arranging this.
17th January 2011
– Misty start, slowly brightening with early evening rain. Light south-westerly wind.
A reasonable selection of birds included two Golden Plovers with 300 Lapwing for much of the day on the islands on Car Park Pool. The female Goldeneye also remained on Car Park Pool and at least 30 Common Gulls either dropped in to bathe or flew through, together with a juvenile Greater Black-backed Gull. 20 Siskins were mobile around the Reserve as were six Goldfinches. Five Skylarks also went over and other Larks were on the move away from the Reserve. A Kingfisher showed again on the Reedbed and a Nuthatch was singing from the direction of Siden Hill Wood.
16th January 2011
– Strong south-westerly wind, overcast in the morning, wet in the afternoon.
The first-winter White-fronted Goose showed from about lunch time onwards, sometimes on the water, but regularly feeding on the far shore from Car Park Hide with a small group ofGreylags and a Canada Goose. An impressive 49 Common Gulls were recorded in the morning and a female Shelduck has now joined the male Shelduck, spending much of the time on Car Park Pool close to the regular diving Goldeneye.
Other counts during the day included 12 Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, 12 Snipein front of Car Park Hide, at least 38 Gadwall on Car Park Pool and over 470 Lapwingroosting on the islands in front of Car Park Hide.
East of the A452, a flock of 150 to 200 Jackdaws were very mobile in the fields either side of the track, and 26 Yellowhammers were in the unharvested wheat.
On a sadder note, an injured and subsequently dead Swan, was deep into the rushes on the north shore of Car Park Pool and a blooded but surviving Mute was on the Dragonfly Pond. Messages have been left for the RSPCA.
15th January 2011
– Overcast, strong south-westerly wind.
An excellent day commenced with an immature Peregrine which had a go at a Coot and then a Wood Pigeon, but only succeeded with the latter, in grabbing a foot full of feathers. A female Goldeneye spent the day on Car Park Pool and a record count of 15 Tree Sparrows fed from the Oak Hide feeder. The day improved even further about 10 a.m., when a first-winter White-fronted Goose flew in with the Greylag flock and it was present for most of the day. Five female Goosanders roosted on Car Park Pool and a maleGoosander flew over.
The regular wildfowl counts were generally good, with 310 Greylags, five Canadas, theGreylag / Canada hybrid, 12 Farmyard Geese, 60 Mute Swans, the feral Black Swan, aShelduck, 324 Wigeon, 130 Mallard, 102 Teal, 24 Gadwall, 17 Shoveler, 17 Pochard, 18 Tufted Ducks, 23 Coots, (no Moorhens were sighted on the count), 14 Cormorants, three Heron, 269 Lapwing, three Snipe, 72 Black-headed Gulls, nine Common Gulls,two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls and east of the A452, 30 Fieldfareand 10 Redwing.
In the late afternoon, the Bittern made one of its erratic appearances showing in the Reedbed. At dusk, an unidentified wader species dropped into Car Park Pool briefly before being flushed and disappearing.
14th January 2011
– remaining mild, westerly wind occasional showers.
A male Brambling with 12 Chaffinches by the Old Road horse paddock was the days best record, with an impressive 134 Teal not far behind. There were, again, over 250 Wigeonand eight Pochard and 12 Tufteds joined them. A Kingfisher fed on the Reedbed Pool, seven Tree Sparrows called and fed at the Oak Hide feeder and two Siskins went over.
There were again large gulls present in the afternoon and these included three Great Black-backs (two adults and a first winter), three Herring Gulls and two Lesser Black-backs.
13th January 2011
– Mild, mostly cloudy, westerly wind.
Teal were very much in evidence this morning and very vocal as the drakes are seeking the attention of the females. Of 108 birds the majority were on Railway Pool. The drakeShelduck was present and there were 147 Lapwings roosting with the Wigeon on Car Park Pool.
80 Starlings left the roost and then fed on some of the islands before departing.
The crop field was disappointingly quiet with a handful of Chaffinches, one maleYellowhammer and a couple of Reed Buntings and five Linnets. Five Tree Sparrowswere at the Oak Hide feeder, six Goldfinches, seven Fieldfare and three Skylarks flew over.
At 8 a.m., the re were two Great Black-backed Gulls, three juvenile Herring Gulls and four Lesser Black-backs on Car Park Pool, but they flew off towards the tip shortly after.
17 Snipe were on the shore line below Car Park Hide and one in the Marsh.
Later in the morning the continued turnover of Gulls yielded 24 Common Gulls, the best count of this winter period. One of the Greater Black-backs and five first-winter Herring Gulls all reappeared. The Bittern showed quite well to the right of the life buoy on the right of Car Park Pool and there was a Kingfisher on the Reedbed.
12th January 2011
– Milder on a southerly breeze. Showerly.
Plenty of Gulls about today, including a record six Greater Black-backs. There were also three Herrings, six Common Gulls and the usual Black-heads and Lesser Black-backs. Six Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder and four Snipe were around the Reserve.
Counts in the afternoon consisted of a minimum of 323 Wigeon, 34 Gadwall and aShelduck.
11th January 2011
– Cold, blustery north-westerly wind. Mostly dry, but overcast.
Yesterday’s heavy rain has caused the river to flood at Patrick Bridge and the water levels in both pools are now high. Ice continues to linger either side of the causeway in the more sheltered locations, but otherwise it has mostly melted.
Bird-wise this morning, there was relatively little of note. The male Shelduck was with a scattering of wildfowl on Car Park Pool, three Fieldfares flew north over the tip and there were at least 150 Black-headed Gulls spread between the two pools. Ten Stock Dovescame up from the crop field and were of note. Few recorded for some weeks.
At 4.30 p.m. the Bittern flew from the north shore of Car Park Pool and landed somewhere around the causeway, presumably to roost.
10th January 2011
– Cool westerly wind, showery until more persistent rain in the late evening and overnight.
There are only two records today, that of a flock of 50 Siskins between Oak and Railway Hides and the other of a Woodcock. The latter was seen independently by two different members, firstly flying west across the Kenilworth Road just north of Cornets End Lane island and, immediately afterwards, crossing the Hampton and Meriden Road and heading towards the Reserve. It was probably looking to drop down into the wet field north of the aero-club, where they have been seen before.
9th January 2011
– Sunny again, with a cold westerly wind.
The Bittern showed on and off all day. It initially gave three regulars stunning views, just to the left of the north causeway screen. The bird then flew to what appears to be its favourite haunt, the north shore of Car Park Pool. It showed here on and off, but distantly, for much of the afternoon. At about 4.20 it then flew to roost in the reedbed.
The first Peregrine for some weeks also put in an appearance, as did two Ravens, aKingfisher on the Reedbed, a male Shelduck and a male Brambling in the crop field.
Of particular note were five Greater Black-backed Gulls which dropped onto the remaining ice on Car Park Pool. These included two adults, a first-winter and either a second or a third-winter. This species remains surprisingly scarce and this is a particularly noteworthy number.
8th January 2011
– Cloudy start, becoming sunny but cold. North-westerly wind.
There was a scattering of noteworthy birds today, and the wind and rain has opened up much more water. Three Ravens flew over during the morning, ten Tree Sparrows (the best count so far this winter) visited the Oak Hide feeder and two male Bramblings were with about 90 Chaffinches in the crop field. (The best time to catch up with Tree Sparrowsseems to be in the morning. They come in for a feed and then seem to go back over the railway towards Bradnocks Marsh). A Grey Wagtail also flew over.
In the late afternoon the Bittern was again on Car Park Pool and then flew to the Reedbed to roost. The Saturday counts, which were much more respectable this week, included: threeCormorants, 11 Mute Swans, over 300 Greylags, one hybrid Canada Goose, a Greylag, 37 Canadas, eight Farmyard Geese, 305 Wigeon, 84 Teal, 28 Mallard, 12 Shoveler, nine Gadwall, four Tufted Ducks, a Shelduck, three Moorhens, 53 Coot, 196 Lapwing, two Snipe, 117 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls; in addition to the Chaffinches there were 20 Linnets and 20 Reed Buntings in the crop field and four Siskin, mostly fly-overs, were also noted.
Lastly, a Goldcrest on the central stream has obviously survived the cold weather.
7th January 2010
– Rain and snow showers all day, south-westerly wind.
No records.
6th January 2011
– Another frost – high cloud, occasional sunny intervals, light north-westerly wind.
Three Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder this morning along with at least 11Greenfinches, two Reed Buntings and four Chaffinches. In the crop field 54Chaffinches, 30 Linnets and a handful of Reed Buntings were dwarfed in numbers by at least 200 Wood Pigeons. There were also seven Pheasants.
There was no sign of the Bittern early on and pretty well everywhere remains frozen up with the exception of a small pool in the lee of the islands on Railway Pool. Four Shoveler, eight Teal, three Common Gulls and ten Black-headed Gulls were availing themselves of the “facilities”.
Four each of Siskin and Goldfinch were feeding in the Alders on the central streamline. Later in the day the Bittern was seen from the causeway within the Reedbed. Ten Snipeand 100 Lapwings were also seen.
In the evening, both Mallard and Wigeon were calling from the River and as dusk descended, birds started flighting in to the small area of open water on Railway Pool. 54Mallard, ten Wigeon, 12 Shoveler and 17 Canadas had all arrived before the light prevented other arrivals being identified. Some birds landed on the water whilst others made a less graceful entrance on to the ice! A Snipe also dropped into the Marsh.
5th January 2011
– sunny intervals, blustery south-westerly wind and showers.
Whilst there was no sign of the Bittern this morning, there was evidence that it had been roosting in the shape of the reed platforms that the species forms. The Jack Snipe however was visible in the puddles below Railway Hide.
Of significant note was a passage of gulls in the hour from 8 a.m. onwards. Whilst Herring Gull does occur on a mainly monthly basis and is commoner in December than in other months, counts are usually in single figures but not today. At least 100 went south, mostly over Siden Hill Wood, accompanied by an increasing number of Lesser Black-backs which probably totalled about 40. The birds stopped moving by 9 a.m. A large cloud of gulls was visible over Little Packington Tip and the birds may have come from there.
The crop field held 20 Linnets, 30 Chaffinches and 10 Reed Buntings and the birds were being hassled by a male Sparrowhawk. A Green Woodpecker showed well by Oak Hide. 25 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings flew west at dawn.
Tree Sparrows numbered eight.
4th January 2011
– Sunny periods, occasional snow flurries.
Steve Haynes has kindly called in to say that yesterday’s Bittern has now relocated to the Reedbed and was visible on the east side of the pool late this afternoon. At least two Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder, but otherwise I am not aware of anything else of note.
3rd January 2011
– Occasional sunny intervals, mostly cloudy, south, south-westerly wind.
Undoubtedly the bird of the day was a Bittern found by Don Nettleton on the north shore of Car Park Pool. The bird helpfully wandered out onto the ice from the reeds and rushes before disappearing into cover and melting away. It reappeared then about 3 p.m. when it again wandered out onto the ice before going back into the reeds just to the west of the Life Buoy. It showed on and off in the vegetation but was incredibly elusive and then at 3.45 p.m. it flew from the north end of Car Park Pool to the south end and appeared to land in vegetation just to the east of the north causeway screen.
11 Snipe were on the shore of the otherwise continuing frozen car park pool and tenShoveler, five Teal, 25 Mallard and 100 Wigeon were either on Railway Pool or along the river. 50 Linnets were present in the crop field, with a handful of Chaffinches and Reed Buntings and eight Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder.
2nd January 2011
– Cloudy, north, north-easterly wind.
The bird of the day was undoubtedly a Jack Snipe which showed well in the small pools below Railway Hide. Four Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder, but there was relatively little else to report.
1st January 2011
– Mostly overcast with light drizzle, north wind switching around to north-east but remaining light.
Seven Tree Sparrows, a Nuthatch and a Coal Tit were amongst the visitors to the Oak Hide feeders, whilst 20 Siskins fed nearby around the south-west pond. Two Ravensdisplayed over Siden Hill Wood and 22 Rooks fed with at least that number of Jackdaws on the flood plain.
The regular Saturday counts yielded five Cormorants, a Heron, 50 Greylags, 200 Wigeon, seven Mallard, two Gadwall, ten Teal, two Moorhen, 32 Coot, 63 Lapwing, 110 Black-headed Gulls, seven Common Gulls, ten Herring Gulls over, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls, mostly flying over.
The crop field remained disappointingly quiet with about 30 Linnets and a few Chaffinchesbut east of the A452 there were 16 Yellowhammers and 22 Skylarks, with a further nineSkylarks passing over to the east as the relocation of this species continues in the milder weather. Ten Fieldfares and 30 Redwings were spread along the Old Road, but mostly around the car park.