NEW 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.
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) – Updated 15th April 2021
The Reserve remains open. Members have been helpful and responsible during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Please continue to co-operate by:
- Remembering social distancing – 2m minimum between people.
- No more than three people, per hide at any one time, subject to (1) above.
- For the time being, please leave two hide flaps open permanently, one on each side, to allow for air flow.
- A spray and cloth has been put into the six main hides so that if people wish to, they can wipe down doors, flaps, shelves etc.
- A mask is preferred for people using hides.
Can all visitors please ensure they follow HM Government guidance in respect of hand sanitisation and social distancing, and ensure they avoid the Reserve if they or any family members (or anyone else you may be in contact with) are showing any symptoms associated with Covid-19.
Work Party Dates
Subject to the Government lifting the lock-down restrictions, the proposed Work Party dates are:
July 14th – 6 pm
August 10th – 6 pm
September 8th – 6 pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Updates
With apologies for the late update of the records but our internet service has been down since mid-morning on the 29th.
26th and 27th July – Records Updated
21st July – Record updated
9th, 10th and 14th July – Photographs added.
16th July – Record updated
11th July – Record updated
8th July – Record Updated
3rd and 11th July – Photographs added
24th April – Photographs added
27th June – Photograph added
6th and 9th July – Photographs added
5th July – Record updated with a final paragraph and photographs added
1st, 4th and 5th July – Photographs Added
23rd and 30th June 2021 – Photographs Added
31st July 2021
Today’s best bird was a Black-tailed Godwit present until 10.15 am A Peregrine was perched in the front of Siden Hill Wood for a while and a juvenile Hobby made repeated visits to the pools chasing dragonflies and was perched above River Hide for a while. Other records were 18 Mute Swans (11 adults, seven juveniles), 260 Greylags, three Farmyard Geese, 110 Canadas, one Egyptian Goose, 30 Mallard, 27 Gadwall (and two broods of 14 ducklings), four Teal, 13 Tufted (and ten broods of 47 ducklings), 17 Moorhen, 97 Coot, 13 Little Grebes (10 adults, three juveniles and two broods CP:2; RP:3 left of Oak Hide), 57 Lapwing, two Oystercatchers, two Green Sandpipers, 30 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Common Terns (one adult and one juvenile), two Cormorant, three Herons, three Little Ringed Plovers, one Peregrine (perched in Siden Hill Wood all morning), one juvenile Hobby (repeated visits also perched above River Hide) and one Willow Warbler (by the car park feeders).
Two Small Copper (one South-West Pond and one bottom of the Crop Field) and two Common Blue (car park / path junction).
Whitethroats – Railway Hide – Photograph by Ray Allen
30th July 2021
Overcast, showers, fresh north-easterly wind.
Best birds today were three Little Ringed Plovers (two over high and a juvenile on Railway Pool) and a Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool as well, two Common Sandpipers on Car Park Pool, five Oystercatchers still, a Snipe and five lingering Common Terns. A Hobby showed on a number of occasions and there were 95 Canadas, 15 Lesser Black-backs, one Herring Gull, six Herons and seven Swifts.
29th July 2021
Cool brisk south-westerly wind, sunny intervals.
The first stirrings of hirundine movement have been taking place over the last two days and this morning, in a 15 minute count either side of 8.30 am, 16 Sand Martins, five House Martins and four Swifts flew purposefully south-west into the wind. Some of the Martins do a quick circuit of the pools before heading off, but others just fly straight through.
As yesterday, there were single Green Sandpipers on both pools and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover on Railway Pool. A few Oystercatchers continue to linger with at least three this morning and about 50 Lapwings. With most Black-headed Gulls having moved off site, a flock of 50 this morning suggests the arrival of new birds as they were nearly all moulting adults.
A single Egyptian Goose was again on the Car Park Pool islands where there were four lingering fledged Common Terns with occasional visits from adults. A Kingfisher showed particularly well from Railway Hide on the fence posts at the waters edge. Two Whitethroats were present in the gorse clump opposite the back gate.
Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were to be found along the paths between the hides and a Comma showed well by Railway Hide.
Comma Butterfly – Photograph by Nick Barlow
28th July 2021
Overcast, cooler south-westerly wind.
Four Sand Martins and a Swallow were feeding over the pools just before 9 am, an indication probably that these birds are on the move as there have been virtually no records of any hirundines over the last few days. A Swift also went over.
On the Islands there was one adult and four juvenile Common Terns and still three juvenile Black-headed Gulls. There was a single Egyptian Goose amongst the Canadas and Greylags.
At least two of this year’s colour-ringed juvenile Common Terns have been seen at Seaforth in Lancashire. One, C69, being fed by an adult. We have had records from Lancashire before and, interestingly, an article by Rob Hume in the recent Birdwatch Magazine highlighted that Common Terns on the east coast follow a clear migratory path across the Penines to the Irish Sea with large numbers staging at Seaforth and also in Dublin Bay.
Further birds for today were single Green Sandpipers on each pool, a Cetti’s Warbler singing along the Causeway, a Raven over Siden Hill Wood, 35 Rook on the flood plain and an increasing Goose flock of 157 Greylags and 49 Canadas.
Birds in the evening included a Common Sandpiper, ten Swift over Car Park Pool along with six Sand Martins and a Swallow, whilst there were two Little Egrets on Railway Pool and also three Teal there. At dusk, the Greylag count had increased to 355 along with the regular Egyptian Goose.
27th July 2021
Overcast, still and humid, with thundery downpours in the afternoon and evening.
A Kingfisher flew up the Central Stream this morning and a single Water Rail called from the North Causeway Bay. This species has been quiet over the summer as it usually is.
There were ten adult and five juvenile Little Grebes from elsewhere this morning on the pools, plus three chicks this morning. One does appear to have disappeared but the birds are a bit more spread out than they were and not always easy to see.
The Garden Warbler gave itself up on the Old Road, a Cetti’s Warbler was heard by River Hide and there four Little Egrets.
A ringing session today around the Central Stream and Reedbed yielded 32 birds including a re-trap and a control. The two controls were from 2020 and 2018. A single Blackcap was colour ringed. The total were as follows: 15 Reed Warblers – eight juveniles, two Sedge Warblers – one juvenile, seven Blackcaps – all juveniles, two Robins – one juvenile, three Wrens – one juvenile, one Dunnock – a juvenile, a Song Thrush, an adult female and a juvenile Reed Bunting.
26th July 2021
Sunny with increasing cloud, light westerly wind.
Only two chicks could be found for the pair of Little Grebes on Car Park Pool this morning. There were three Teal and a juvenile Robin was noted by Oak Hide. It is obvious from the ringing results so far that many of the passerines have had a poor breeding season which I am sure is entirely down to the weather. However, there was a relatively late male Brimstone in flight and flowers noted were Gypsywort and Red Bartsia by Oak Hide and Hemp Agrimony in flower by the car park ditch.
Mating Common Darters – Dragonfly Pond – Photo by Bob Breach
Gatekeeper – Old Road – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
25th July 2021
Mostly overcast, lighter north-easterly wind.
Still no sign of the promised rain and the pools felt particularly quiet today. Highlights comprised of a Kingfisher calling from the Car Park Pond, one Green Sandpiper flying over, still 14 Terns, three Little Egrets, one Swift over and Linnet and Greenfinch along the Causeway.
24th July 2021
Overcast, fresh north-easterly wind.
The promised rain did not materialise and it remained warm enough for there to be plenty of insect activity which is covered below.
The bird count today was as follows: nine Mute Swans, 63 Greylags, a Greylag / Canada, 25 Canadas, 50 Mallard, 16 Gadwall and four broods of 24 ducklings, six Teal, 18 Tufted and ten broods of 45 ducklings, nine Cormorants, four Herons, four Little Egrets, 15 Little Grebes (12 adults and three fledged juveniles), 16 Moorhen, 97 Coot, 39 Lapwing, six Oystercatchers, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, 18 Black–headed Gulls and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
More particular interest was an adult Common Gull which dropped in at 11.20 for a quick wash before departing over Siden Hill Wood. A Green Sandpiper was feeding along the river, there were still 16 Common Terns and a Sedge Warbler was carrying food in the area of the Dragonfly Pond.
Butterflies listed today were as follows: two Essex Skippers, two Small Skippers, one Large Skipper, 18 Green-veined Whites, one Large White, one Comma, four Peacock, one Speckled Wood, 15 Meadow Browns, ten Ringlets and 40 Gatekeepers.
Odonata were: one Azure Damselfly, 75 Blue-tailed Damselflies, 65 Common Blue Damselflies, one Small Red-eyed Damselfly, two Black-tailed Skimmers, 20 Common Darters, two Southern and one Migrant Hawker.
23rd July 2021
Cloud, fresh easterly wind.
A Hobby came in low over Car Park Pool at 11.45 which was the first record for a few days. There were two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers on site today and 22 Common Terns, of which 13 were adults and nine were juveniles.
12 Dabchicks comprised nine adults, three fledged juveniles from elsewhere and four chicks which were split into a three and a one.
22nd July 2021
Very sunny and hot, very little breeze.
Perhaps the most surprising birds today were two Snipe, which were seen in flight from Oak Hide. Additional waders comprised an adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plover on Car Park Pool, a Green Sandpiper (heard flying over the same pool). A male Bullfinch was seen on the Railway Embankment and two Little Egrets and an Egyptian Goose were also recorded.
Insects included one Brown Hawker and two Emperor Dragonflies together with one each of Painted Lady and Marbled White.
21st July 2021
After warm and sunny, misting over by 7.45 am, clearing by 10.30 / 11 am and back to hot and sunny.
There was a real feeling of “dog days” today with Railway Pool particularly quiet now that virtually all of the Black–headed Gulls have left. This was not helped by an adult Peregrine feeding on prey on Tern Island.
A few lingering Black-headed Gulls remain on Car Park Pool where there were eight adult Common Terns, six fully fledged juveniles and two just fledging juveniles this morning, along with two adult and one fledged juvenile Little Ringed Plover and three Oystercatchers. The Dabchick family seem to comprise of only three young this morning.
Later in the morning the Little Ringed Plover numbers increased to six (five adults and a juvenile). There was also a Common Sandpiper, 40 Tufted Duck young, two Teal and two Little Egrets.
Despite the mist, still warm enough for there to be plenty of Gatekeepers on the wing and a Painted Lady was seen later in the day.
A ringed juvenile Sedge Warbler spotted today was then caught 8 days later (4/8/2021), after travelling 369km, to Beveren, Roeselare, Belgium.
20th July 2021
Hot, sunny and still.
Little Ringed Plover numbers increased to five today with four adults and a juvenile, together with a Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool, but these were the only birds making the log.
An evening walk around Siden Hill Wood yielded 41 Purple Hairstreak butterflies, mostly along the south edge of the wood.
19th July 2021
Remaining hot and sunny.
The fact that there has only been one Egyptian Goose on the flood plain over the last few days (as today) suggests, perhaps, that the other bird is sitting somewhere.
A little bit more wader passage today, comprising singles of Green and Common Sandpiper and two Little Ringed Plovers, all on Car Park Pool. The family of four Little Grebe chicks were just north of the North Causeway Bay on Car Park Pool. The Sparrowhawk disturbed the car park feeders and there was a Painted Lady noted as well.
18th July 2021
Hot and sunny, relatively still.
The hot weather is not particularly good for passage at the moment with the only indication of movement being an adult Little Ringed Plover on Car Park Pool. The regular adult Mediterranean Gull was present there as well, in the morning, along with two Little Egrets and a Nuthatch was heard in the Back Gate Copse.
17th July 2021
Sunny, hot and still.
An evening walk by John Coakley, between 18.30 and 19.45 yielded an incredible 48 Purple Hairstreaks, all frequenting the tall Oaks either along the Old Road from the car park to the HS2 fence or from Oak Hide to the south-west corner, plus ones in the Oaks around the car park. In fact, most of the tall Oaks are probably holding Purple Hairstreaks which appear to be commoner than originally thought (or are just having a particularly good year) and early morning or early evening appear to be as good a time as any to see them.
Other counts today were 19 Mute Swans, 90 Greylags ten Canadas, one Egyptian Goose, 11 Gadwall and six broods of 39 ducklings, 29 Mallard, four Teal, 23 Tufted and six broods of 33 ducklings, three Great Crested Grebes, eight Little Grebes comprising six adults, two juveniles and a brood of three on Car Park Pool, three Herons, two Little Egrets, two Cormorants, 14 Moorhen, 97 Coot, 21 Lapwings, six Oystercatcher, eight Black-headed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Herring Gull, 17 Common Terns (12 adults and five juveniles) and the regular adult Mediterranean Gull. A Whitethroat was in good song by Patrick Bridge about 8.30 and a Chiffchaffs continue to sing well.
16th July 2021
Sunny and warm.
The regular adult Mediterranean Gull came and went from the islands in front of Car Park Pool this morning where the last of the Common Tern young are fledged or nearly fledged. The likely fledging total, assuming those present at the moment all fledge, is 32 or 33 representing a good breeding season. Young Common Terns are being spotted elsewhere as a result of the colour ringing project with birds seen over the last few days at Earlswood and Draycote. Also 2HFX; a Black–headed Gull ringed as a chick on the 15th June this year was found dead as a road casualty on the 13th July, 129km away at Widnes.
Just after 9 am a Red Kite appeared over Siden Hill Wood and landed in the wood itself. To see one perched at the Reserve is a rare event.
A ringing session in the Reedbed and the Causeway again produced a poor tally with, aside form yesterday’s adult male Cetti’s Warbler, just a male Great Tit, a juvenile Reed Warbler, two adult Reed Warblers and a new juvenile, a juvenile Blue Tit, one adult and one juvenile Wren and an adult male Blackcap.
A Green Sandpiper was present on the river at Patrick Bridge, there was seven Teal on site altogether plus six broods of Gadwall with 38 ducklings and 16 broods of Tufted, but with only 39 ducklings.
Members will recall that the favoured Wych Elm along the Old Road, by the Aeromodellers, was cut down by HS2. Some branches from the Wych Elm were taken and strapped to trees in Siden Hill Wood but, so far, there have not been any sightings. However, exciting news this morning is that two White-letter Hairstreaks were found on the Wych Elm on the opposite side of the road from the buildings at Patrick Farm. Lastly, an Essex Skipper was seen in the horse paddock.
Tufted Vetch (Ladies Bedstaw in the background) – Photograph by Nick Barlow
Purple Loosestrife – Photograph by Nick Barlow
15th July 2021
Overcast, northerly wind, becoming progressively sunny as the day proceeded.
The regular adult Mediterranean Gull was on Car Park Pool for much of the morning and there was a Common Sandpiper on the margins there as well.
A female Pheasant with three newly hatched chicks was around the car park feeder area and a buck Roe Deer showed well along the paths to River Hide. Two Purple Hairstreak butterflies were visible in the top of the oaks along the Old Road, north of the car park gates.
A new adult male Cetti’s Warbler caught on the edge of the central stream by the Reedbed.
Cetti’s Warbler – Photograph by Ben Dolan
14th July 2021
Sunny, warm, light north-westerly wind.
Less usual records this morning comprised two first year or female Garganey on Car Park Pool which remained all day and were feeding actively in the late evening on the far side of the islands. Also, a Tawny Owl flew south along the streamline from the Causeway area at 10.50 and at 11.15 it was perched in trees at the south end of the stream where it was mobbed by Blackbirds, after which it flew out of there and over towards the Orchid Field. Probably the same bird was perched at dusk in a dead tree by the car park gate.
Other birds of note today were the regular adult Mediterranean Gull on Car Park Pool, a Little Ringed Plover on Railway Pool and a Kingfisher flying past Railway Hide.
A Peregrine put in a brief appearance over Car Park Pool at 12.50 and the first Small Red-eyed Damselfly was present on the Dragonfly Pool.
Small Tortoiseshell – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Broods of youngsters included four Little Grebes in front of River Hide along the far edge of Car Park Pool, four broods of 24 Gadwall ducklings and 18 broods of 39 Tufted ducklings.
In the evening, a successful Work Party, attended by eight people undertook work in clearing some of the vegetation on the island in front of Oak Hide (principally to improve the view) and to strimm the plateau on the island beyond that; clearing channels in the North Causeway Bay and strimming or hedge cutting around the Back Gate Copse and the path to River Hide.
Earlier in the week the sluice to Car Park Pool was found to be blocked and was cleared. Thank you to all for their help.
Stock Dove by Stef Fraczek
Photograph by Nick Barlow
13th July 2021
Sunny spells, sharp showers, north-westerly wind, humid.
The most unusual record today was a group of seven Pochard (five males and two females) which appeared briefly on Car Park Pool in the morning. The adult Mediterranean Gull came and went again and there was a single male and two female Teal.
12th July 2021
There is still some bird song and a Skylark was singing high over the car park this morning and there were three Song Thrushes in song (cottages, Causeway and Back Gate). Chiffchaff and Blackcap are also still singing away as they are onto their second brood. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard from the North Causeway Bay with another along the top stream. Three Green Woodpeckers flew from the south bank of Railway Pool towards the Back Gate Copse, at least one of which was this year’s bird.
Two Little Egrets were visible along the river, along with two Oystercatchers, and there were six Rooks amongst the corvids on the flood plain. Whitethroat pairs were present opposite Patrick Farm and west of the river.
Other records included the adult Mediterranean Gull was back on Car Park Pool, a Kingfisher showed from Railway Hide and there was a male Broad-bodied Chaser fly catching over the south-west pond.
Plants in flower include Vipers Bugloss along the Old Road, Common Valerian Scentless Mayweed and Pineapple Weed along the Concrete Road.
11th July 2021
Sunny spells, light south-easterly wind, rain in the evening.
Marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls were trying hard to pick off ducklings across both pools this morning and counting young is difficult when the females have lead the young into deep cover. About 70 Lapwings were mostly roosting in the now thick island vegetation. The floods have flattened the vegetation on the gravel bar on Railway Pool making that easier to view, otherwise the wet weather has triggered the usual growth on the islands.
Plenty of vocal Oystercatcher activity continues although only three birds were initially counted. The only other wader was a Common Sandpiper which proved quite difficult to see on the shore line of the island in front of Car Park Hide. A single Swift went over purposefully heading south-east into the light wind and there was a House Martin over Siden Hill Wood. A male Sparrowhawk took prey into Siden Hill Wood.
An adult Mediterranean Gull was briefly seen on Railway Pool in the late morning, a Green Sandpiper was feeding on the River by Patrick Bridge, a Little Ringed Plover popped up in front of Oak Hide, a Water Rail was heard in the North Causeway Bay, Cetti’s Warbler sang again near the south-west pond, a pair of Swallows have seven juveniles by Patrick Farm (where I think there are at least five nests) and, lastly, there were two Mistle Thrushes along the Old Road.
In the sunny periods, there were plenty of butterflies on the wing including ten Marbled Whites, mostly confined to the back gate area. Green Woodpeckers were active and vocal around that back gate area.
The strong perfume of flowers on the way to Car Park Hide is probably from the emerging Ladies Bedstraw.
Southern Hawker – Photograph by Nick Barlow
10th July 2021
Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast with occasional heavy showers, with a light southerly wind.
The first Water Rail sighting for some days came from the Reedbed Hide this morning.
Other counts today comprised 16 Mute Swans, 39 Greylags, nine Canadas and two goslings, 29 Mallard and a brood of three on Railway Pool, 26 Gadwall and six broods, totalling 36 ducklings, 40 Tufteds and eight broods totalling 50 ducklings, eight Little Grebes (six adults and two juveniles, the latter probably from off-site), three Cormorants, one Little Egret, two Herons, nine Moorhen, 90 Coot, 20 Lapwing, eight Oystercatcher, 600 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, eight adult and four fledged juvenile Common Terns and two Cetti’s Warblers, one in the Reedbed and one along the top stream.
In the sunny spells, there were plenty of butterflies and Dragonflies on the wing. These included a Gatekeeper, two Commas, one Small Tortoiseshell, nine Small Skippers, three Green-veined Whites, 16 Meadow Browns, 39 Ringlets and 11 Marbled Whites.
Dragonflies and Damselflies comprised one Emerald Damselfly around the Dragonfly Pond, along with six Red-eyed Damselflies there, a total of 160 Blue-tailed Damselflies, 45 Common Blues, ten Azures, four male Banded Demoiselles, four Four-spotted Chasers, 11 Black-tailed Skimmers, a female Emperor ovipositing and a total of 160 Common Darters.
Reed Warbler – Car Park Pool – by Bob Breach
9th July 2021
Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast with occasional heavy showers, remaining fairly still.
Four Spotted Chaser – by Ray Allen
Ringing in the Back Gate Copse this morning yielded 27 birds and one re-trap. The tally included five juvenile Robins, four juvenile Dunnocks and a juvenile Wren, one juvenile Song Thrush, nine Blackcaps (of which seven were juveniles), two adult Whitethroats, one juvenile Reed Warbler, one juvenile Sedge Warbler and two juvenile Chiffchaffs. There was also a Reed Warbler re-trap from 2019. The photograph of the tail of the Reed Warbler (photo below) shows a prominent growth bar on the tail. This line shows where the bird has been under stress and has probably gone without food in the nest due to mainly bad weather. This one actually has three bars which probably coincides with the recent heavy rain.
Reed Warbler showing growth bar on tail arising from stress in the nest during
the bad weather Photograph by Ben Dolan
Other birds and wildlife today include the adult Mediterranean Gull, one Little Ringed Plover in front of Oak Hide, just a single Egyptian Goose on the flood plain, now ten broods of Tufted with 73 ducklings, but only five broods of Gadwall could be found this morning comprising 25 ducklings.
The first Purple Hairstreak butterflies were seen in the Oaks north of the car park along the Old Road and the first Gatekeeper was in flight along the Concrete Road where there were also two Brown Hawkers.
8th July 2021
Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast with occasional heavy showers, relatively still. Humid.
The drake Garganey seemed to have moved on after five days on Railway Pool, but the Kingfisher was back on there showing well in front of Railway Hide.
A Peregrine was perched in the dead tree in front of Siden Hill Wood and eight broods of Gadwall and five broods of Tufted were counted this morning. An adult Mediterranean Gull and two Little Egrets were also noted.
A relatively disappointing ringing session in the Reedbed and along the Central Stream yielded just 16 birds of two species; 14 Reed Warblers and two juvenile Sedge Warblers (the latter an indication of breeding within the Reedbed). Of the Reed Warblers, three were juveniles, six were adult males, four were adult females and one could not be classified. There were also three re-trap Reed Warblers, two from earlier this year and one from 2017. It was surprising that no other species were caught. The poor returns suggest that the breeding season, for first broods at least, has not been particularly productive.
The warmer weather was much better for counting butterflies and Odonata, with six Small Skippers, at least 30 Marbled Whites, 35 Meadow Browns, 48 Ringlets, three Small Tortoiseshells and a Red Admiral whilst Odonata included one Emerald Damselfly, at least 150 Blue–tailed Damselflies, five Red-eyed Damselflies, 100 Common Blue Damselflies, one male and two female Beautiful Demoiselles (along the Old Road), two males and one female Banded Demoiselles, six Four-spotted Chasers, 20 Black-tailed Skimmers, five Emperors and 15 Common Darters.
7th July 2021
Sunny periods, humid, south-westerly wind.
The only records making the log today were the drake Garganey, still on Railway Pool, where a Kingfisher showed well in front of the hide, a pair of Egyptian Geese along the flood plain and insects by way of a Small Tortoiseshell and Banded Demoiselle along the Old Road and a Comma at the car park.
6th July 2021
Mostly overcast with heavy showers.
The drake Garganey was present on Railway Pool for its fourth day and the adult Mediterranean Gull was back again. The Cetti’s Warbler sang from the south-west pond – it is not clear whether this is a single bird, part of a pair or a wandering individual from elsewhere.
Six broods of Gadwall were counted this morning and four broods of Tufted, and other wildfowl included a pair of Pochard and four Teal.
There were still at least four Oystercatchers on site, wandering across the pools and down towards Patrick Bridge. The pair of Egyptian Geese were feeding on the flood plain, along with 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The Garden Warbler was back in song along the Old Road along with at least one Chiffchaff. Six Sand Martins fed over Car Park Pool. Despite the weather, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Marbled White and Small Tortoiseshell were all noted.
Egyptian Geese on flood plain – Photograph by Paul Casey
5th July 2021
The eclipse drake Garganey remained on Railway Pool today, mostly feeding in front of Railway Hide. Bullfinches were calling actively in the Back Gate Copse where a Stock Dove was in song along the ditch line.
Marmalade Hoverfly – Dragonfly Pond – Photograph by Ray Allen
A Red Kite flew over the Old Road, heading towards the railway at just after 9.30. Two Egyptian Geese and two Shelduck were on the Causeway, an adult Mediterranean Gull popped into Railway Pool, there was a Linnet on the Causeway, a Kestrel hunting the Tip Field (it has been regular up and down the A452 over the last few days), a pair of Great–spotted Woodpeckers at the car park feeder along with a Stock Dove and still plenty of bird song from the wooded areas in the Old Road.
The Twayblade Orchids are back in flower in the Back Gate Copse, which was a late surprise and Corncockle and Common Poppy along with Hedge Agrimony are in flower towards the five bar gate by the large gorse bushes opposite the back gate. A Red Admiral was nectaring along the Concrete Road.
Eclipse Drake Garganey – Photograph by Steve Pattison
Male Pochard – Photograph by Steve Pattison
4th July 2021
Sunshine and showers, heavy rain in the evening, humid south-easterly wind.
The eclipse drake Garganey showed well in front of Railway Hide for most of the day and there was a Green Sandpiper on the river or on a small flash in the field west of the bridge.
Eclipse Drake Garganey – Railway Pool – Photographs by Steve Taylor
The pair of Great Crested Grebes, having been flooded out, seemed to be re-building the old nest on Car Park Pool.
On the flood plain there was one Little Egret, 41 Greylags, ten Canadas, 16 Starlings, 47 Rooks (about 20 adults and the rest were recently fledged young), 20 Crows and one Herring Gull over.
At least two Mediterranean Gulls were seen and a Greenshank was a very brief visitor in the early morning.
A Peregrine, four Swifts south, Garden Warbler and Nuthatch on the Old Road, Sparrows and Collared Doves at the farm and plenty of overhead Oystercatcher activity were the other pieces of bird news.
Male Banded Demoiselles were seen near to the back gate and at the north end of Siden Hill Wood. Two Red Admirals were present along the Old Road.
3rd July 2021
Rain in the morning, showers on and off for much of the day, clearer evening, humid, southerly wind.
Five Black–tailed Godwits came and went between 7.30 and 8 am this morning and appear to have been the same flock seen both at Middleton and later at Upton Warren.
A Green Sandpiper was present on Railway Pool in the early morning and was seen flying over the pools at 1 pm when an eclipse Garganey was found in front of Oak Hide. Initially believed to be a female or juvenile, it was subsequently discovered to be an eclipse male when the blue fore-wing was eventually revealed.
Other counts today comprise: 15 Mute Swans, 47 Greylags, 11 Canadas, 19 Gadwall with five broods, three Teal, two Shoveler, 18 Mallard with three broods, all well grown, 52 Tufted Ducks, a drake Pochard, seven Moorhen, 78 Coot, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, a Red Kite which flew over at about 11 am, 58 Lapwing, five Oystercatchers, eight Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, one Cormorant, 610 Black-headed Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, 11 Common Terns, three Garden Warblers in song (two along the Old Road and another in the Back Gate Copse), Cetti’s Warbler, one Swift over, a very active Whitethroat singing between Oak Hide and the Causeway, young Reed Warblers along the Causeway, five adult Goldfinch at the car park feeder and at least ten Marbled Whites.
In the brighter spells, the first Brown Hawker of the year was hunting around the south-west pond.
Tufted Vetch on the path to Car Park Hide – Photograph by Nick Barlow
2nd July 2021
Overcast with occasional sunny periods, still.
Plenty of insect activity today included one Painted Lady, a male Common Blue, one Large Skipper, 15 Meadow Browns, 30 Ringlets, three Small Tortoiseshells, one Large White, two Speckled Woods and at least 15 Marbled Whites.
Odonata included 30 Common Darters, six Emperors, seven Four-spotted Chasers, 20 Black-tailed Skimmers, a female Banded Demoiselle, 110 Blue–tailed Damselflies, 100 Common Blue Damselflies, one Red-eyed Damselfly and a male Broad-bodied Chaser.
The only birds making the log were four male Shoveler, a drake Teal, a drake Pochard, two broods of Tufteds and two broods of Gadwall.
1st July 2021
Overcast, but still.
There was a Roe Deer Buck on the far bank of Car Park Pool at dawn this morning and there have been at least three on the east of the A452.
An adult Peregrine was perched in the dead tree at the front of Siden Hill Wood for most of the morning and there were nine Marbled Whites, at least, between Oak and Railway Hides, with others seen around the car park and the entrance gates.
Whitethroats were showing well around Railway Hide this morning.
Young Reed Warbler – North Cuaseway – Photograph by Steph Fraczek
Young Whitethroat – from Railway Hide – Photograph by Steph Fraczek
