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.
Work Party Dates
2025
Saturday 8th February – 2pm
Saturday 8th March – 2pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Combination Lock Code
A reminder that the code for the combination locks at the Reserve changed at the beginning of September. Details of the new code were provided in permit renewal letters, but if there are any queries, please contact Bernice on 01676 526711.
FALLEN AND DAMAGED TREES
Members are asked to please avoid, for the time being, the area immediately south of the South-West Pond and on the east side of the Back Gate Copse as a number of Willow trees have been affected by the recent high winds and the area has been fenced off.
A number of trees have also come down in Siden Hill Wood making it difficult to get around and this area is also best avoided.
Thank you.
ACCESS TO THE RESERVE – SATURDAY 25th and SUNDAY 26th JANUARY
Please note that due to roadworks over the weekend, the A452 Kenilworth Road will be closed between Bradnocks Marsh Lane to the Cornets End roundabout at the A452/B4102 junction.
The options for access to the Reserve are therefore the layby at the top end of the Old Road, the Pumping Station car park or the Council car park at the south end of Marsh Lane, as accessed from Hampton in Arden, where there is a car park by the Packhorse Bridge, and from where it is a relatively short walk to the back gate.
The security gates to the Barns and the House at the north end of the Old Road are closed on Saturday and Sunday, but if you are unable to access any other way, please call Nick Barlow on his mobile, 07831 092592.
31st January 2025
Overcast, drizzle, fresh westerly.
The only birds making the log today were a pair of Oystercatchers and three Pochard, a male Brambling under the Car Park feeders and two Mistle Thrushes to the right of Car Park Hide on the grass where they seemed to spend some of their time, or on the Flood Plain.
30th January 2025
Bright, sunny, cold, light northerly wind.
The Bittern put in one of its sporadic appearances on the Reedbed Pool this morning, two Mistle Thrushes were right of Car Park Hide, a Shelduck and two Goosanders were on the Pools, and a male Brambling under the feeders. A Red Kite was seen east of the Reserve over the HS2 workings this morning, with a second bird a little further north towards Stonebridge Island.
29th January 2025
Fair and sunny, light north-westerly.
A Sparrowhawk was hunting behind Oak Hide this morning and there were six Stock Doves on the Railway Pool islands with a Redwing below the feeders.
28th January 2025
Overcast, calm, light showers, extensive flooding at Patrick Bridge after overnight rain.
An impressive 90 Snipe today included 60 around Oak Hide, 19 in front of Car Park Hide and 11 in the Marsh by the mobile phone mast. A Jack Snipe was also seen by Oak Hide, a Woodcock was accidentally flushed from Siden Hill Wood and there were 29 Fieldfare and 11 Redwing on the Flood Plain. A Water Rail also showed from Oak Hide and there were six Pochard and 17 Shoveler spread across the pools. A Raven flew over, there were six Lesser Redpolls on the central streamline and a Green Sandpiper in the Patrick Farm flash.
27th January 2025
Sunny, strong southerly, flooding at Patrick Bridge.
Unsurprisingly, after the rain from Storm Herminia, there was some flooding at Patrick Bridge. This is usually a target of the wildfowl and today was particularly productive as Graham Rowling found a flock of 17 Russian White-fronted Geese, 16 adults and a juvenile. This may be part of the flock that has been seen regularly at Ladywalk.
The birds favoured the flooded pool on the west bank of the Flood Plain towards the first major hedgeline, and associated with some Greylags and Canadas, together with other wildfowl.
Duck numbers have been variable but, on the whole, relatively low, but today there were two Shelduck, 35 Gadwall, four Pochard and a female Goosander.
Other birds of note on the Flood Plain included two Mistle Thrushes, 27 Redwing and 13 Fieldfare and there were also five Meadow Pipits present. The mobile pair of Stonechats were initially on the HS2 fencing on the east bank of the river, but disappeared late morning, probably towards the rough ground either where the HS2 mitigation planting is located (just by the upper gate) or the Dragonfly Pond.
The male Brambling again showed at the Car Park feeders, along with plenty of other finches, and three Collared Doves.
Russian White-fronted Geese – Photograph by Martin Durkin
26th January 2025
No records – Storm Herminia.
25th January 2025
Sunny, light south-westerly.
The family party of two adults and the juvenile Whooper Swan were again present today, having not been recorded since the 12th. There were also 10 Mute Swans, 27 Canadas, 20 Greylags, five Shoveler, only seven Gadwall, 140 Wigeon, 25 Mallard, 124 Teal, a pair of Pochard, 17 Tufted Ducks and a drake Goosander.
Three Little Grebes, two Herons, a Little Egret and 32 Cormorants made up most of the birds actually on the pools, and there were also two Moorhen and 52 Coot. Waders were limited to 47 Lapwing and 24 Snipe.
A pair of Stonechats were again on the Flood Plain, whilst in the Alders on the Central Stream, a flock of Redpolls and Siskins included 14 and two respectively. Bramblings then showed at the Car Park feeders, and the now regular Fox patrolled the far bank of Car Park Pool.
24th January 2025
Sunny, strong south-westerly, Storm Éowyn.
This blew through this morning, but didn’t blow much different in. The Bittern showed in the Reedbed, just the male Stonechat at the Dragonfly Pond, and nearby there was also a Grey Wagtail. A male Bullfinch showed briefly on the Causeway, a Raven went over, and ducks included a Shelduck, 10 Pochard, and a female Goosander.
23rd January 2025
No records.
22nd January 2025
Early morning mist lifting to light showers and still.
One goose of unknown origin reappeared today and the variable number of Pochard were limited to just five males. There was also a female Goosander and a Shelduck.
A noteworthy flock of 40 Lesser Redpolls were feeding in the Alders along the Central Stream, and in the Crop Field Oaks (commuting to the feeders and back) were at least 30 Chaffinch and a Brambling.
21st January 2025
Overcast, high thin cloud, slowly breaking up, light southerly.
An adult Russian White-fronted Goose was present on Car Park Pool this morning between 09.10 and 09.30 and again at 10.15, on both occasions flying south. This bird might well have been part of a group of well over 20 that have been visiting Ladywalk recently.
Other birds noted today included three Goosanders and the adult Peregrine, whilst in the Back Gate Copse, feeding in the Alders, there were 14 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll with a Nuthatch also present. On the Flood Plain there were 34 Fieldfares and 12 Meadow Pipits, whilst by Patrick Bridge itself there were 17 Pied Wagtails, three Meadow Pipits and the pair of Stonechats.
20th January 2025
Overcast, light southerly.
The full count of birds today, care of Graham Rowling, was as follows: five Mute Swans, six Canadas, six Greylags, nine Shoveler, seven Gadwall, 194 Wigeon, eight Mallard, 91 Teal, three Pochard, 21 Tufted, 34 Cormorant, three Heron, two Moorhen, 51 Coot, a Water Rail on Railway Pool by River Hide, 65 Lapwings, 12 Snipe, 104 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Ring-necked Parakeets in Siden Hill Wood, a Raven over, 30 Fieldfares and 15 Redwings on the Flood Plain, a pair of Stonechats by the HS2 settlement ponds, and two Collared Doves at the Car Park feeders.
19th January 2025
Cold and overcast, light south-westerly.
A Peregrine flew over this morning and disturbed the 53 Lapwings and 11 Snipe that were on site. Four Lesser Redpolls flew along the Old Road, there were 13 Pied Wagtails on the Flood Plain (perhaps an indication of early northbound movement), a Water Rail showed in the channels in the North Causeway Bay and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted on the Car Park Pool islands.
18th January 2025
Overcast, cold, light south-westerly.
The Brambling showed periodically under the feeders this morning and there may have been a second bird. Some discussion ensued on the sex of the Brambling, but with helpful photographs, it was reasonably clear it was a male. The black head feathering is beginning to emerge around the base of the bill. The bill is also a very bright yellow, as is the orange on the chest, and these would probably be more subdued in a female. The nape markings are quite prominent for a male, but this is probably because it is a first-winter bird.
In addition, there were at least 20 Chaffinches, 14 Greenfinches, six Reed Buntings, two Jays and two Collared Doves at any one time.
On the grass by Car Park Hide, 21 Lapwings showed really well, and they were exhibiting their habit of vibrating their legs, presumably to try and encourage food just below the ground to come up. There were also eight Snipe right over towards the bank against the Old Road, and also four Stock Doves.
On the pools there was a single drake Goosander, and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull. On the Old Road 36 Redwings were perched up in the trees by the Car Park, before most of them flew west towards Siden Hill Wood.
A Jack Snipe, with eight Common Snipe, were present on the wet field by the phone mast, west of the river, and a further 14 of the latter in the margins of the main pools.
Duck numbers were down for unknown reasons with only 153 Wigeon, 90 Teal, five Shoveler, four Gadwall, six Tufted, one Pochard and three Goosanders.
17th January 2025
Overcast, light southerly.
Pochard numbers had increased substantially this morning, with 26 birds. There were also four Goosanders, whilst the Stonechats were again visible around the Dragonfly Pond, and over 50 Fieldfares were feeding on the Flood Plain. A Red Kite flew over Oak Hide later in the day.
16th January 2025
Mostly overcast, light southerly.
The Bittern was visible from the Reedbed Hide this morning, having roosted again overnight. Mornings and evenings are best.
An additional highlight today was a first-winter Brambling around the Car Park feeders where it joined many other finches in the cooler weather.
Brambling – Photograph by Steve Pattison
15th January 2025
Sunny spells, light south-westerly.
A slow thaw continued but there was still plenty of water at the Patrick Farm flash where a Green Sandpiper was seen today. Slightly bizarrely, a dandelion was in flower on the path down to Car Park Hide.
On the pools, birds of note included an increase in Pochard from one to 10, six Goosanders and a Shelduck. Eight House Sparrows were seen at Patrick Farm, and Lapwing numbers had increased to 49.
14th January 2025
Overcast, light south-westerly, slow thaw underway, pools 70% iced.
Seven Goosanders were on the pools this morning, and the Flood Plain and Tip Field held a combined count of 20 Fieldfares and 36 Redwings, with three Meadow Pipits on the Flood Plain. There were only 23 Lapwings on site. Three Collared Doves came into the Car Park feeders and a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard calling but was not seen.
In the morning the Bittern was seen on Reedbed Pool and flew from left to right, and at dawn there were 18 Goosanders, seven males and 11 females. A Peregrine was also seen, together with a single Egyptian Goose.
13th January 2025
Sunny spells, light southerly, pools 90% iced over.
A Swan Goose of unknown origin was on the pools this morning, and more legitimate wildfowl included six Mute Swans, 333 Canadas, 18 Greylag, 69 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 361 Wigeon, 14 Mallard, 327 Teal, a single drake Pochard, 38 Tufted, 15 Cormorants, a single Little Grebe, one Heron, four Moorhen, nine Coot, seven Snipe, 88 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Egyptian Geese (around the Patrick Farm flash) and a Water Rail by the South-West Pond. A pair of Stonechats were seen by the Dragonfly Pond, but for those looking for them, please bear in mind that they do wander quite widely and may be out of sight to the east of the HS2 works.
12th January 2025
Cold, grey and overcast.
The Bittern showed well in the Reedbed this afternoon, climbing up to roost just before 16.30. The number of broken reed tops throughout the Reedbed gives a good indication of the various locations that the Bittern has roosted.
A Water Rail was also seen, and a male Cetti’s was heard, along with a second calling bird. The family party of Whooper Swans was still on Car Park Pool.
11th January 2025
Thick freezing fog, -4°at 10.00, pools 95% iced up.
The full count, care of Graham and Dave today, was as follows: two Mute Swans, 99 Canadas, 20 Greylags, 27 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, six Wigeon and others heard on the Flood Plain, eight Mallard, 137 Teal, 18 Tufteds, 10 Goosander, a Cormorant, a Heron, four Little Grebes, 75 Coot, five Lapwing, eight Snipe, 76 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and an impressive 115 Chaffinches in the Crop Field. A Fox was patrolling the margins of the Dragonfly Pond during the morning.
Four attended the afternoon work party and spent most of the time cutting back the thicker, overgrown vegetation on either side of the path to Car Park Hide, and similarly the area on the bend of the track down to the Causeway. The cut grass was raked up.
Food was scattered under the cages at the front of the Oaks in the Crop Field, and some in the Crop Field itself.
As the work party was clearing up at just after 16.00, the two adults and the juvenile Whooper Swan came in and landed on the ice on Car Park Pool. They were very vocal. A Meadow Pipit also flew over.
Fox opposite Car Park Hide – Photograph by Jason Lewis
10th January 2025
Sunny spells, temperatures down to -3.5°, pools 95% iced up.
The Bittern was seen again in the Reedbed, despite the icing up, and other records of note included three Goosanders, four Meadow Pipits (around Patricks Bridge), at least four House Sparrows at Patrick Farm, 16 Shoveler and six Little Grebes.
9th January 2025
Cold and icy.
The Bittern was seen on the Reedbed Pool in the early morning but became elusive thereafter. In the afternoon there were 10 Snipe present, with two put up by a Sparrowhawk from the Marsh area. Three female and four drake Goosanders came into roost, whilst in the Crop Field there were 40 Chaffinches and 10 Fieldfares.
Two Foxes were also seen, one on the Old Road and the second on the Flood Plain.
8th January 2025
High cloud, still, cold. Car Park Pool 25% ice, Railway Pool 65% ice.
Due to the icing up, there were limited counts today but 50 Tufteds was noteworthy, as was 26 Snipe. There were also 13 Shoveler recorded, and two drake Goosanders.
7th January 2025
Sunny spells, light westerly, still extensive flooding.
A drake Pintail was a new bird in on Car Park Pool this morning, before moving to Railway Pool. It was not visible at lunchtime and may have moved to the Flood Plain where a lot of the wildfowl had relocated.
The Bittern showed particularly well from 09.15 to after midday, sat on top of the reeds, in the Reedbed, to the north of the channel with the lifebuoy on.
A Water Rail dashed across the channel from the North Causeway Bay, a pair of Stonechats were present again on the Flood Plain, four Collared Doves came to the Car Park feeders, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull again roosted on the island, and there were at least 10 Chaffinches in the Crop Field.
A record-breaking count of nine Shelduck was seen in late morning, having arrived on Car Park Pool, before moving onto the scrapes in Lower Siden.
Water Rail – Photograph by Graham Dyer
6th January 2025
Overcast after very heavy overnight rain leading to severe flooding in parts, such as the Causeway, Car Park Pool and the Flood Plain.
Not only had the Blythe broken its banks, but the quantity of water meant that the river was overtopping into Railway Pool and from the confluence of the Central Stream and the Blythe itself, with water spewing into Car Park Pool.
The birding highlight of the day was a Brambling in the 50 strong Chaffinch flock in the Crop Field.
Other birds making the log were limited to just five Pochard, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and 40 Cormorants.
5th January 2025
The cloud that built during the day produced some overnight snow and cold conditions, and periodic rain during the day slowly melted it, but temperatures remained cold.
Birds making the log included 55 Snipe (52 on Car Park and three on Railway), a vocal Cetti’s Warbler in the North Causeway area with a separate one on Railway Pool, a pair of Reed Buntings at the feeders, and five Pochard on Car Park Pool.
4th January 2025
High thin cloud, still and cold.
The full count of birds to start the New Year, courtesy of Graham and Dave was as follows: six Mute Swans, 145 Canadas, 51 Greylags, 15 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall¸ 334 Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 272 Teal, 3 drake Pochard, 30 Tufted, 10 Goosanders, 49 Cormorants, four Little Grebe, two Herons, one Little Egret, seven Moorhen, 52 Coot, just nine Lapwing, 28 Snipe, 44 Black-headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Ravens, a flock of 20 Lesser Redpolls in the Alders on the Central Stream with a single Siskin, and a noteworthy 75 Chaffinches in the Crop Field.
A Peregrine flew over Railway Pool and a Kingfisher went south along the Blythe from Patrick Bridge. Three Foxes were seen today, two patrolling the margins of Car Park Pool and a separate one by the HS2 settlement ponds. Lastly, a Collared Dove visited the Car Park feeders.
3rd January 2025
Sunny, light north-westerly.
38 Snipe today included 27 feeding on the wet grass around Car Park Hide.
12 Linnets came into the Crop Field Oaks, presumably subsequently feeding in the field.
A miscellany of other birds included one Egyptian Goose, a pair of Goosanders, a Water Rail in the Reedbed where the Bittern also showed again, four Rooks on the Flood Plain, a Mistle Thrush north over Car Park along with two Ravens, four Lesser Redpolls in the Back Gate Copse, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, but just 45 Lapwing.
2nd January 2025
Bright, sunny periods.
Today’s quality came in the shape of a pair of Red-crested Pochard which spent all day on Car Park Pool, joined in the late afternoon by 17 roosting Goosanders.
Red-crested Pochard – Photograph by Mark Waring
Also in the afternoon, the Bittern showed well in the Reedbed, and at least 750 Starlings came into roost, although more were probably in the Reedbed. A Raven, 35 Snipe and at least two Cetti’s Warblers were the other birds of note making the log.
1st January 2025
Wet with heavy showers, light south-westerly.
The three Whooper Swans were present until 09.30 (presumably having roosted overnight) before departing off to the south-east.
The Bittern was viewable (with difficulty) in the north-east corner of the Reedbed, better found with a thermal but just about visible with a telescope.
There was a male Stonechat feeding from the fence line on the Flood Plain, whilst other birds of note included two Water Rails (North Causeway Bay and the Reedbed), a showy Kingfisher on the Dragonfly Pond, 22 Snipe in total, and eight Fieldfare, 22 Redwing and a Meadow Pipit on the Flood Plain. Towards the end of the afternoon five Goosanders came into roost.