MAIN CAR PARK SURFACE
During Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th June 2021 work will be taking place to the surface of the main car park at the Reserve. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience. Please park on the Old Road during the works.
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
27th June – Record updated.
10th June – The 10th June record uploaded on the 10th June was actually the record for the 8th June and that has been re-dated accordingly and the correct 10th June record uploaded.
7th June – Record updated.
4th June – Record updated.
29th May – photographs added
28th May – record updated
26th to 31st May 2021 – Records added.
25th May 2021 – Record updated with a final paragraph.
30th June 2021
Overcast, fresh northerly wind, brighter evening spells of sunshine.
530 Black–headed Gull chicks were counted today and five broods of Gadwall. A new brood of 13 Tufted was also present with other wildfowl similar to yesterday.
Eight Common Darters were on the wing around the Dragonfly Pond and, in the evening, an adult Peregrine was perched in the dead tree at the front of Siden Hill Wood.
Common Blue Damselfly – Dragonfly Pond – Photograph by Ray Allen
29th June 2021
Overcast, showers, fresh northerly wind.
The water levels are still quite high in Car Park and Railway Pools, despite the receding flood water in the river.
A day for assessing broods of wildfowl yielded the following:- Mallard: Railway Pool two broods of half grown ducklings, a six and three plus one small single duckling, Gadwall: two broods of three and five on Car Park Pool and a six, four and one on Railway Pool with the single, during the count, taken by a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The Tufted brood of six remains on Railway Pool.
Other wildfowl included a drake Teal and four drake and a female Shoveler, plus a drake Pochard. Six adult and two juvenile Little Grebes were present, plus 13 Oystercatchers. Two Ravens were seen north of Siden Hill Wood.
28th June 2021
Overcast, drizzle, fresh north-easterly wind, floods receding.
This morning’s counts included 11 Mute Swans and seven cygnets, 21 Greylags, four Canadas, 37 Mallard and eight well grown ducklings, drake Shoveler and Teal, 24 Gadwall and two broods (Railway Pool 4 and 7), 55 Tufted and a brood of six on Railway Pool (the first of the year), a single Great Crested Grebe, two Herons, two Little Egrets, six Moorhen, 51 Coot, 78 Lapwing, four adult Oystercatchers and two fledged juveniles, five Little Grebes, 1075 Black–headed Gulls, 32 Lesser Black–backs (flood plain), two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls and six adult Common Terns and ten juveniles.
Marsh-bedstraw is showing in flower along the ditch to Oak Hide and also by the causeway gate.
In the evening, as I was driving home, a Harrier which had clearly crossed the road from the Reserve was hunting the fields east of the A452 just north of the drive to Mercote Farm at 6.30 pm. These fields have been taken over by HS2 and are weed filled and proving attractive to Skylarks, Linnets and Goldfinches, with at least five singing Skylarks, 30 Linnets and 14 Goldfinches, all disturbed by the hunting Harrier.
The bird was an adult female in extensive moult on the inner primaries and shows resemblances, therefore, to a bird seen both up in Scotland and in Yorkshire. It had pale wing coverts on the upper wing and three marked primaries and one smaller one, features shared by Montagu’s Harrier and Pallid Harriers, but not Hen, which normally displays five primaries. It was clearly not as big as a Hen and slightly narrower winged, with conspicuous black and white markings around the head but no obvious collar. On the underside of the wing, it had particularly dark secondaries, lack of dark mark on the upper greater coverts and a slightly heavier build than Montagu’s, all features that indicate a moulting adult female Pallid Harrier.
I watched it for two to three minutes hunting the field before it dropped down below the ridge heading north to Cornets End Land and was lost to sight and despite searching that evening and early the following morning, it was not seen again. Bizarrely, on the following day, the 29th June, another ringtailed Harrier was seen up at Maxstoke which turns out to have been a different bird and likely a Montagu’s.
Other birds seen on the evening watch included Kestrel, two Shelduck, 100 Starlings going to roost on the Marsh Lane side, six Swifts over Siden Hill Wood, 400 mixed Corvids roosting in Side ill Wood and three Roe Deer.
27th June 2021
Overcast all day, cool north-easterly wind. Extensive flooding receding.
Green Sandpiper – Photograph by Steve Pattison
The extent of yesterday’s flooding was marked today with draped weed hanging from the tops of the fenced area in front of Oak Hide where the re-planted Yellow Flags had been protected. There was still widespread flooding at Patrick Farm but it, along with the level of the river, had receded.
Nevertheless, many of the Reserve’s birds were feeding down towards Patrick Bridge with at least 750 Black–headed Gulls, 110 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, two Herrings and two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls. Up to 15 Oystercatchers, 40 Lapwing, four moulting drake Shovelers, three Shelduck, a handful of Tufteds and at least 50 Starlings were also present. In amongst the extensive number of Corvids there were up to ten Rooks.
A Hobby circled over Railway Pool mid morning before drifting off towards Bradnocks Marsh and then stooping in search of prey.
Reed Warblers were feeding young on the Causeway and on the path to River Hide with one in song behind Oak Hide.
Other records included 14 Stock Doves on the crop field, two Whitethroats on the railway embankment where two Collared Doves flew past and a Jay by Oak Hide.
Photographs by Nick Barlow – 27th June 2021
View from Car Park Hide showing the increased water levels which, amongst other things, have flooded the bay on the right hand side.
Following three photographs:
Views from Oak Hide where the weed, on the fences to protect the Yellow Flags, indicates the flood line from the 26th. The fence is 1.2m high and was at water level before the flood.
26th June 2021
Overcast, occasional sunny intervals, cool north-easterly wind. Extensive flooding.
A localised torrential thundery downpour last evening affected the Blythe Valley such that there were extensive floods across the flood plain and water levels were up on all pools, particularly Railway Pool where the levels were pushing up towards the top of the temporary fencing in front of the hides. However, Baileys Brook (aka the Central Stream) was not affected at all. This rises between Berkswell and Kenilworth and clearly the rain did not make that. The Blythe caused flooding of the Balsall Common / Knowle Road which was, in places, impassable, and the river breached the road at Barston. The road between Catherine-de-Barnes and Hampton in Arden is closed for roadworks but the closure is not associated with flooding, as far as I am aware.
The affect of the flooding on breeding birds is difficult to assess as most of the Black–headed Gulls and Terns would have been able move to the higher ground that the island design allows. Unfortunately the Great Crested Grebe in front of Oak Hide, on its third attempt, was flooded out as was a late Lapwing in front of Railway Hide. The marginal nesting Tufted and Gadwall nests will probably have been affected, but the assessment of this will have to wait as the season unfolds.
A Curlew flew north over the Old Road, calling at 12.10 and there was a Green Sandpiper on the flooded margins below Oak Hide. A drake Pochard was enduring the deeper water on Railway Pool and there were three male Teal. At least 20 Common Tern juveniles were counted and 345 Black-headed Gull juveniles.
Two Swifts were hunting over the Old Road but hirundine numbers were conspicuous by their absence. Cetti’s Warblers were heard along the Causeway and again by the south-west pond. At least 50 Lapwing were feeding either by Car Park Hide or on the flood plain. There were still two Little Ringed Plovers on Railway Pool along with the two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited the car park feeder.
When the sun did appear, a few Ringlets were on the wing along with a single Emperor Dragonfly.
25th June 2021
Overcast with early morning rain, very heavy thundery showers in the evening.
14 Swifts moved north over Siden Hill Wood in the early morning and a further Tern ringing session produced the following numbers, 27 young ringed in total, nine eggs still waiting to hatch, eight chicks un-ringed and two dead.
Counts later in the day yielded 38 Tufted, 37 Gadwall and a brood of 12, a drake Teal, a drake Pochard, at least four Little Grebes, two Little Ringed Plovers, nine Oystercatchers, 45 Lapwing and the two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls.
A Kingfisher was feeding in the south-west pond; I think one of the first records of this species there.
Other species noted in the log were Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Goldcrest (Causeway), 12 Stock Doves, two Skylarks, two Song Thrush, two Sand Martin; and at the feeders six Greenfinch, two Chaffinch and two Reed Buntings.
24th June 2021
Overcast, occasional light showers, cold northerly wind.
At least 11 Tern young are now fledged and air-born, with others not far off. Two Great Crested Grebes, four Oystercatchers, three drake and four female Teal were the only other birds making the log.
23rd June 2021
A hint of migration this morning with two fledged juvenile Little Ringed Plovers from elsewhere, on Car Park Pool.
The pair of Egyptian Geese were again on the flood plain and there were three drake Teal and two drake Shovelers spread between the pools.
The Green Woodpeckers have bred successfully again in the Railway Pool area with two immatures seen there. There were also two Whitethroats.
In the evening, five female Teal were new in but they did not linger. Seven Swifts and four House Martins were seen over Siden Hill Wood, with two further Swifts at dusk over the causeway.
53 Lapwing in the Crop Field included 11 birds of the year which was very encouraging although none of those were from the Reserve. The nearly fledged Lapwing chick, however, remains in front of Oak Hide. Four Little Ringed Plovers, the Gadwall brood of 12, two broods of Mallard (three half grown and two very young) and two juvenile Bullfinches by the cottages made up some of the other family counts.
A flock of 250 to 300 Starlings congregated in the Oaks around Car Park Hide before roosting.
Four Spotted Chaser – Dragonfly Pond – Photograph by Ray Allen
22nd June 2021
Overcast conditions, clearing at dawn, cool start (less than 10 degrees centigrade) mostly sunny, cool north easterly wind.
No records.
Four-spotted Chaser with lunch – 22nd June 2021 – Photo by Stef Fraczek
Heron – Marsh Lane Reedbed – 22nd June 2021 – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
21st June 2021
The pair of Egyptian Geese were present on the flood plain and the pair of second-summer Mediterranean Gulls were again on Railway Pool.
Seven Swifts and a House Martin were hunting over the Reserve before drifting off. Singing Sedge Warblers extended to only three with one in the North Causeway Bay, one opposite Oak Hide and one in the north-east corner of Car Park Pool. Since the significant number of birds earlier on in the spring, birds have either moved on or have been displaced by Reed Warblers and this was evidenced by a Sedge Warbler caught in the spring at Marsh Lane and found later this year at Lady Walk.
A Kestrel was hunting the verges outside the lorry park and, later in the day, there were a pair of Redshank on Railway Pool, a male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker and Collared Dove at the car park feeder and a Green Woodpecker by Railway Hide.
20th June 2021
Overcast after overnight rain.
A minimum of 12 Swifts and three House Martins were feeding over Siden Hill Wood this morning and 70 Lapwings were counted spread across the Reserve, with many favouring the newly seeded crop field. Six Magpies and six Stock Doves were also feeding there, along with a handful of Blackbirds along the edge.
The Gadwall brood of 11 were still present on Railway Pool, a Lesser Black–backed Gull took a Coot chick in front of Oak Hide. Six Little Ringed Plovers, a single Redshank and two Egyptian Geese made up the other counts.
19th June 2021
A Great White Egret on Car Park Pool around 4 pm today was the undoubted highlight, but unfortunately it did not linger. There was a Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool and Garden and Sedge Warblers were in good song by the top gate. An odd sounding sub-songing Warbler, just south of the old bale store is a Blackcap.
One second-summer Mediterranean Gull was still on Railway Pool along with two Little Egrets. A pair of Egyptian Geese and ten Rook were on the flood plain and two male Shovelers were new in on Car Park Pool.
Hundreds of tiny frogs were crossing the Causeway path between the pools this morning and both Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids are popping up in a number of places, including along the Causeway.
Female Emperor Ovipositing – 19th June 2021 – Photograph by Ray Allen
Pair of Azure Blue Damselflies – 19th June 2021 – Photograph by Ray Allen
18th June 2021
Wet all day.
A full count of today’s birds were as follows: eight Mute Swans and seven cygnets, four Canadas and seven juveniles, 42 Greylags and 27 goslings, 46 Gadwall, nine Mallard and 19 ducklings (four and eight on Railway Pool, and a seven on Car Park Pool), one drake Teal, 56 Tufted, nine Moorhen, 49 Coot, three Heron, two Cormorants, one Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebe and a juvenile on Railway Pool, nine Oystercatchers and one juvenile, six Little Ringed Plovers, 74 Lapwings plus the juvenile in front of Oak Hide, one Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool, the first of the autumn, 450 Black–headed Gulls and 325 juveniles, five Lesser Black–backed Gulls, one Herring Gull, 16 Common Terns and ten juveniles.
In the evening, a Barn Owl was seen hunting east of the A452 at 9.30.
17th June 2021
Light early morning rain, overcast for most of the day, cooler light north westerly wind.
Six Little Ringed Plovers still on site suggests further interest in breeding, hopefully. There were also a pair of Redshanks and nine adult Oystercatchers and four juveniles. The pair of Egyptian Geese have moved to Railway Pool and the Greylag flock totalled 60 (40 adults, 20 juveniles).
A small impromptu work party in the evening had mixed success. The remaining Alder and Willow trees that were partly blocking the view from Tower Hide were cleared, but an attempt to level the ramp to Lower Siden Hide and reduce its slippyness was thwarted by the discovery that rabbits had undermined the supporting bank and so, temporarily, the hide is closed.
The sunset created a separate red glow against the partly overcast sky and still, in good light after 9 pm, a Barn Owl hunted Lower Siden field and parts of the Reserve until hassled away by Black-heads. A Swift went over (very infrequent recently) and Whitethroats were active by Lower Siden Hide and just north of the railway car park.
Finally, the Orchids in the field behind Oak Hide still look good though due to the dry weather, some are going over quite quickly.
Common Spotted Orchid (foreground) and Southern Marsh Orchid (background)
Photograph by Nick Barlow – 16th June 2021
16th June 2021
Sunny and warm.
The Garden Warbler was again in song in the Back Gate Copse with vocal Whitethroats on the railway embankment near to the road bridge and at the south end of the Orchid Field. The Willow Warbler continues to sing along the Causeway.
53 Lapwing and three Oystercatchers were feeding in the newly sown crop field where there was also a flock of 12 Starlings. Two Mistle Thrushes went south, low over the pools, prior to 9 am, 11 Lesser Black–backed Gulls went over and spooked the Black–heads and there were three young Crows in the Back Gate Copse. The long-staying drake Teal remains on Railway Pool with two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls and the nearly fledged Lapwing chick whilst, on Car Park Pool, there were two Redshanks and a drake Pochard.
15th June 2021
Sunny and warm, 21 degrees.
The regular pair of Egyptian Geese were on Railway Pool this morning, along with a drake Pochard. Four recently fledged Herons fed along the margins of Car Park Pool and other records today comprised three Little Egrets, nine adult Little Grebes and the juvenile on Railway Pool, plus a half grown chick in the North Causeway Bay, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls (the young appears to have been predated), a juvenile Grey Wagtail on the flood plain and flocks of both juvenile Blue and Great Tits along the Old Road.
14th June 2021
Remaining warm and sunny.
In the morning, four Ravens together over Siden Hill Wood suggests a family part. A Lesser Whitethroat was in brief song behind Railway Hide. Both second-summer Mediterranean Gulls were present on Railway Pool.
A Red Kite circled north of Siden Hill Wood at 12.48 before drifting off south-east over the Crop Field. The Snow Goose and pair of Egyptian Geese were again on the flood plain, with two Shelduck on Car Park Pool and two Little Grebe and a fledged juvenile from elsewhere on Railway Pool.
A Redshank appeared late morning on Car Park Pool, presumably the colour ringed bird again.
Butterflies included one Red Admiral, one Painted Lady, four Speckled Woods, two male Common Blues, seven Green–veined Whites, one Small Tortoiseshell, two Meadow Browns and one Large Skipper. Odonata included seven Emperors, 15 Four–spotted Chasers, 25 Black–tailed Skimmers, one male and two female Beautiful Demoiselles, five male Banded Demoiselles, one Broad-bodied Chaser, 100 Azure Damselflies, 50 Blue-tailed Damselflies, 25 Common Blue Damselflies, four Red-eyed Damselflies and one Large Red Damselfly.
On the botanical side, Grass Vetchling is in flower on the north causeway grass bank. This is a pea family member with grass like stems and leaves, with small quarter inch crimson flowers and easily mistaken for a grass when not in flower (thanks to the Reay brothers for this information).
13th June 2021
Remaining hot and sunny.
A Red Kite was seen at 10.30 distantly over Hampton Village moving south behind Siden Hill Wood. Both second-summer Mediterranean Gulls were present along with a Snow Goose, one Redshank, six Little Ringed Plovers, two Egyptian Geese, two Little Egrets, 15 Rook and ten Stock Doves, the latter in the car park field and the Rooks on the flood plain.
Garden Warblers were in song in the back gate copse and along the Old Road and the first Meadow Brown and Ringlet butterflies were seen on the wing today.
12th June 2021
Hot and sunny.
The Snow Goose and the pair of Egyptian Geese were still on the flood plain. Other counts today were as follows: eight Mutes and seven cygnets, 53 Greylags, seven Canadas and four goslings, 51 Gadwall, nine Mallard and three broods (eight on Railway Pool and a seven and a three on Car Park Pool), the drake Teal, 89 Tufted, one Heron, three Little Egrets, seven Moorhen, 28 Coot, three Little Ringed Plovers, 35 Lapwings and the chick in Oak Hide, 13 Oystercatchers (nine adults and four juveniles), 475 Black-headed Gulls and 275 chicks, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Little Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, the colour-ringed Redshank, singing Cetti’s Warblers in the Reedbed and at River Hide; and notable insects included a male Broad-bodied Chaser at the south-west pond, five Emperor Dragonflies, two Red Admirals and two male Common Blues.
11th June 2021
Overcast, cooler, south-westerly wind.
The Garden Warbler in the back gate has re-started in song and a Whitethroat was active and vocal along the stream line towards the lorry park.
What is presumed to be the returning Snow Goose from earlier in the year, joined two Egyptian Geese on the flood plain.
There was a new brood of Canada Goose goslings (two) on Car Park Pool and a new brood of three young Coot on the Dragonfly Pond. The adult second-summer Mediterranean Gull is still sitting tight and there does not seem to be much feeding of the youngster going on.
Lastly, a female Brimstone was present around Railway Pool.
Southern Marsh Orchids – Orchid Field – photograph by Nick Barlow
10th June 2021
Cloudy, but warm, 19 degrees.
The pair of Egyptian Geese were still present today, this time on Car Park Pool, along with a Redshank. The long-staying male Teal was present on Railway Pool, a female Pochard on Car Park Pool, the growing Lapwing chick was still present in the Marsh and the Lesser Whitethroat from the flood plain has again started signing, presumably on to a second brood.
A flock of 11 Long-tailed Tits were working their way along the causeway this morning.
Lastly, a Mistle Thrush was feeding in the newly sown crop field.
9th June 2021
Sunny, southerly wind, cloud building as the day progressed.
Not a great deal of change in the birds today, although a new Mallard brood was found on Car Park Pool; there are now three broods, one of eight well grown chicks on Railway Pool, six (was seven) reasonably well grown chicks on Car Park Pool and seven new ones on Car Park Pool. There is still one Little Grebe youngster in the north causeway bay and 290 Black-headed Gull chicks and 12 Common Tern chicks were counted. The Lapwing continues to grow well and the pair of second-summer Mediterranean Gulls have hatched out a single chick. There was, in addition, a first-summer Mediterranean Gull.
A pair of Hobbies showed particularly well hawking over the Dragonfly Pool, there was a male Pochard on Railway Pool, two Egyptian Geese on the flood plain, the colour-ringed Redshank on Car Park Pool and a total of seven Little Ringed Plovers altogether.
The first Emperor Dragonfly of the year was seen by the Dragonfly Pond and there was a Broad-bodied Chaser at the south-west pond. Two Painted Ladies included the worn one from the 7th and a new fresher one in front of Car Park Hide on the superb display of Red Clover and Yellow Rattle.
620 Southern Marsh Orchids and a 120 Common Spotted Orchids were counted behind Oak Hide.
A Work Party in the evening was attended by seven with a variety of jobs undertaken. Thanks to all those who attended.
The car park works have taken slightly longer than planned but all plants should be removed by the end of tomorrow night.
8th June 2021
Sunny and warm.
At least five Little Ringed Plovers were present today and the Garden Warbler was again in song along the Old Road towards the top gate.
The Dragonfly Pond is the place to be when the weather warms up as Hobbies have been coming there and showing well. 17 Oystercatchers was a particularly good count and this included 12 adults and five juveniles. Other counts today included: 15 Mallard ducklings, two Egyptian Geese, a female Goosander, two Pochard and three Little Egrets.
7th June 2021
Sunny and warm.
“Bits and pieces” today, at least to begin with, were a Painted Lady around the Car Park was the first of the year and seemingly new Whitethroats were in song along the causeway and near the south-west pond, whilst a Cetti’s Warbler in the back gate copse was singing regularly and appeared to be separate from the birds on the central stream by the Reedbed.
At least four Little Ringed Plovers were on site, two on each pool. Other birds today comprised three Mediterranean Gulls, a female Pochard (Car Park Pool), two Egyptian Geese on the flood plain, a Weasel along the Old Road and singles of Red Admiral and Orange-tip.
6th June 2021
Drizzly start, clearing slowly from mid-day with a mixture of sunshine and showers for the rest.
Two Egyptian Geese were back on the flood plain today and the female Goosander on Car Park Pool. Waders included five Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and the half grown Lapwing chick in front of Oak Hide. Meditteranean Gulls included one second-summer and one first-summer and there were 24 Common Terns with at least 12 chicks. Yesterday’s Garden Warbler was singing along the Old Road.
5th June 2021
Warm and sunny.
A Curlew on Car Park Pool was another out of season wader, following yesterday’s Common Sandpiper. It was present until 10 pm when it flew off north. The colour-ringed Redshank was again on Car Park Pool, Whitethroats were feeding young in front of Railway Hide, there was still one Lapwing chick in front of Oak Hide, along with 30 adults and other counts today included: five Mute Swans and seven cygnets, 57 Greylags and 18 goslings, 18 Canadas and five goslings, three Shelduck, 37 Gadwall, ten Mallard, a drake Teal, a female Goosander, eight Moorhen, 38 Coot, three Great Crested Grebes, four Little Grebes and a new chick at the south end of Car Park Pool, two Herons, one Cormorant, two Little Ringed Plovers, ten adult Oystercatchers and six juveniles, 1050 Black-headed Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 22 Common Terns.
In the evening, a Garden Warbler was in song opposite the car park gates which, like the Lesser Whitethroat yesterday, had been quiet for some days whilst breeding. On the newly seeded crop field, there were eight Stock Doves and a Green Woodpecker showed well along the Old Road.
Plenty of butterflies and damselflies were seen, with counts including four Common Blues, one Holly Blue, two Speckled Woods, two Small Tortoiseshells, three Orange-tips, five Green-veined Whites; and Odonata included four Beautiful Demoiselles, three Banded Demoiselles, 140 Azure Damselflies, six Common Blue Damselflies, two Red-eyed Damselflies, 30 Blue-tailed Damselflies, six Large-red Damselflies, 13 Four-spotted Chasers and seven Black-tailed Skimmers.
375 Southern Marsh Orchid and 12 Common Spotted Orchid flower spikes were counted behind Oak Hide.
4th June 2021
High cloud, occasional sunny intervals, light north-westerly wind.
A Common Sandpiper was a surprise late (or ? early returning) migrant this morning and a Cuckoo was also seen. Four Little Ringed Plovers, included three on Car Park Pool and at least one on Railway Pool.
A ringing session centred around the Reedbed and the streamline yielded 12 Reed Warblers plus a re-trap from 2019. Of the total of 13, three were females. Two Sedge Warblers included one re-trap from last year, there was a female Blackap, two male Reed Buntings and juveniles of Robin and Dunnock to complete the totals.
22 adult Common Terns and 14 chicks were counted and it would appear that there are at least 16 nests so far. An empty Reed Bunting nest was found today by one of the ringing guys. It would seem early for the birds to have already fledged.
Three drake Pochard joined four Great Crested Grebes on the pools and there were four Mediterranean Gulls today.
Lesser Whitethroats have gone quiet recently so one along the Old Road indicated that birds have been breeding. There was a Grey Wagtail along the concrete road, still one Lapwing chick in front of Oak Hide and all six Oystercatchers have either fledged or are close to fledging.
Three Moorhen chicks remain in front of Oak Hide and there are now a family of two Coots in front of Railway Hide. The eight Mallard ducklings have so far survived on Railway Pool where the seven cygnets are still present. Two broods of five Canada goslings each were also on Railway Pool where the total of Black–headed Gull chicks has reached 270.
Nine Bee Orchids are now in flower around the pond by the car park.
Whitethroat – Railway Hide – Photograph by Alan Rich
3rd June 2021
Mostly overcast, but warm. Light south-westerly wind.
An Avocet was a pleasant surprise on Car Park Pool this morning at 9 am. It did move to Railway Pool but then moved back again to Car Park Pool where a first–summer Mediterranean Gull showed well. Later in the day there were two additional first-summers along with two second-summers, a total of five.
Avocet – 3rd June 2021 – Photograph by John Hunt
There were at least four Whitethroats in song along the Old Road with one just north of the top gate by the Dragonfly Pond, another by the car park and probably two separate birds south of the car park towards the cottages. The roaving Willow Warbler (which is probably just a single bird) was in song around the car park this morning. Assuming it is the same bird, it covers the area through the crop oaks and along the causeway.
Four male Pochard were new arrivals but sadly there was no sign of the Little Ringed Plover chick today and just a single Lapwing in front of Oak Hide. The predators seem to wait until the birds are “more of a meal”. Finally, two Little Egrets were seen.
2nd June 2021
Hot and humid, clouding over from late afternoon with short periods of thundery rain in the early evening.
The male Teal was again seen and there was a female Goosander on site, along with a newly fledged juvenile Heron.
Mallard broods extended to eight on Railway Pool and seven on the Dragonfly Pond and a new brood of Canadas are hatching on Railway Pool with four goslings so far.
A Small Copper was seen along the concrete road, a female Brimstone around the car park. A Common Blue Damselfly was recorded in the Reedbed and a Red-eyed Damselfly on the Dragonfly Pond.
At least one Lapwing chick and the partly fledged Little Ringed Plover was seen this morning and a Muntjac was feeding along the railway embankment.
1st June 2021
Sunny, light south-easterly wind, temperatures well over 20 degrees.
A Peregrine which flew over Railway Pool at 10 am this morning has subsequently perched in Siden Hill Wood.
Two Shelduck were again on site and 312 Black-headed Gull chicks were counted, along with eight Common Tern chicks. One second-summer and one first-summer Mediterranean Gulls were also on site, as was a Redshank.
The good weather helped the insects and the counts were as follows: two Beautiful Demoiselle (one male along the Old Road and another along the causeway), two Banded Demoiselles (a male by Railway Hide and a female by River Hide), one Black-tailed Skimmer, 15 Four-spotted Chasers, three Large Red Damselflies, four Blue-tailed Damselflies, 117 Azure Damselflies, three male Orange-tips, a male Brimstone (Railway Hide) and four Green-veined Whites.