30th June 2023
Overcast, drizzle, fresh southerly.
A Snipe on Car Park Pool was unseasonal and is probably a failed breeder or an early returning bird. There were eight adult Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Oystercatchers, one fledged juvenile and two chicks on Railway Pool, a single adult Redshank, still three broods of Lapwings and, in the blustery conditions, hirundines and swifts included 20 Sand Martins and six Swifts.
In the early afternoon the total number of Lapwings roosting on the islands had increased to 105 with 10 fledged juveniles and at least three partly grown chicks.
29th June 2023
Mostly overcast, south-westerly.
The Barn Owl was seen again hunting over the Orchid Field during the day. The warmer weather compared to yesterday saw plenty of butterflies on the wing with at least 20 Marbled Whites and four Commas.
28th June 2023
Overcast, becoming humid, fresh south-westerly, occasional light showers.
There was no sign of the Redshank family this morning, which was disappointing to say the least, although there were two adults on site. If predated, it is very quick, though Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been regularly picking off the young Black-heads. The Oystercatchers and Lapwings were largely the same as yesterday, as far as could be told in the increasing cover. Seven adult Little Ringed Plovers were joined by a fledged migrant from elsewhere and a Common Sandpiper.
Duck broods included eight Gadwall broods with 70 ducklings and six Tufted broods with 31 ducklings and there were two male Shoveler, a female Teal and two Little Egrets. On the butterfly and moth front, there was a Scarlet Tiger outside River Hide and at least three Gatekeepers on the north shore of the Reedbed.
27th June 2023
Cloudy, light wind.
A hunting Barn Owl was the best bird on show today, feeding around the west shore to Car Park Pool. There were three Shovelers and six Little Ringed Plovers as well.
26th June 2023
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
A brood of three Redshank chicks was discovered this morning on the island below Railway Hide and represents the first breeding for some years. There were also three adults present. Other waders included six Little Ringed Plovers, 11 adult Oystercatchers, two fledged juveniles and two fledglings on Railway Pool, one from each of the two families. There are still three Lapwing broods, a single on Car Park Pool at least, and a one and a two on Railway Pool. Seven Gadwall broods and four Tufted broods were counted today, along with three male Teal.
A Red Kite went over to the north mid-morning and there was a single Little Egret on site.
A Purple Hairstreak, the first of the year, was seen around the Back Gate Copse area where there was also a Stoat.
25th June 2023
Sunny, warm, light south-westerly.
A Red Kite flew high over Railway Pool, drifting north at 10:22 and of the Oystercatcher broods, the two below Railway Pool were still present but there was only one visible around the Marsh. Three Little Ringed Plovers were showing well on the Car Park Pool islands and there was a Redshank around Railway Pool margins.
The Blue Chicory in the crop field is looking stunning at the moment and wild flowers of interest include Agrimony (with plenty around the Back Gate area) and Smooth Hawksbeard in lots of places. Also, the Hogweed show along the Old Road is worth a look for those who haven’t been recently.
24th June 2023
Sunny spells, warm, light south-westerly.
The best birds today were a full adult Mediterranean Gull which was seen sporadically for much of the day on Railway Pool, and a mobile Cuckoo which was initially heard in the morning at the north end of the Flood Plain but had gravitated towards the Reed Bed in the late afternoon, presumably sussing out the Reed Warblers.
A Hobby was also recorded in the afternoon, again hunting the proliferation of dragonflies.
Most warblers are now well on with their second broods and, as a consequence, there was plenty of song from all but Whitethroats. Sedge Warblers, for example, were singing towards the Dragonfly Pond and in the Marsh, Reed Warblers in most of the reedbeds, Garden Warblers at both ends of the Old Road and on the Railway Embankment, the Willow Warbler on the Causeway with another one heard on the Railway Embankment (which was probably a mobile breeder from elsewhere as there haven’t been any recorded there for some time), plus plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. There was a young Willow Warbler towards the north end of the Old Road where a brood of Reed Warblers were being fed by an adult.
On the Flood Plain a pair of Oystercatchers, with an un-ringed fledged young, were feeding close to at least five adult Rooks and two fledged juveniles.
Other birds today were as follows: eight Mute Swans, 24 Greylags and 41 juveniles, 10 Canadas and 10 juveniles, five Teal, two Egyptian Geese, 58 Mallard and two broods of two on Car Park Pool and two on Railway Pool, 35 Gadwall and six broods of 46 ducklings, 56 Tufted and five broods of 41 ducklings, nine Cormorants, four Herons, a Little Egret, four Little Grebes and three juveniles (Car Park one, Reedbed two), five Moorhen, 25 Coot, five Little Ringed Plovers, 75 Lapwings and broods of three on Car Park Pool and at least one on Railway Pool, 11 Oystercatchers with four young, two Redshank, 485 Black-headed Gulls and 185 juveniles, five Common Terns and at least three chicks and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Thirty-four Marbled Whites was a good count, and there were three White-letter Hairstreaks on the Dutch Elm opposite the RDAC at the north end of the Old Road, including a mating pair.
Last, but not least, a Stoat crossed the Old Road near the Car Park gates.
23rd June 2023
Watery sun all day, light south-westerly.
Both Oystercatcher broods on Railway Pool seem to be doing well, one below Railway Hide of two and another in the Marsh , also of two. Three Lapwing chicks on Car Park Pool and the two on Railway Pool, also in the Marsh, have survived another day.
Other birds making the log were three Egyptian Geese (two on Railway Pool) and one by Patrick Bridge, two Little Egrets, six Little Ringed Plovers, three Redshank, a Red Kite over Hampton-in-Arden, five Gadwall broods of 47 ducklings, five Tufted broods of 24 ducklings, four male Teal, four Little Grebes with two nearly full grown young on the Reed Bed and one on Car Park Pool.
In the afternoon a Hobby was hawking over Railway Pool. The bird appeared to be a first-summer with little rust colour under the tail.
Despite the cloud, it was more than warm enough for plenty of insects to be seen with butterflies as follows: three Marbled White, three White-letter Hairstreaks on the Dutch Elms opposite RDAC, the first Ringlets (seven), plenty of Meadow Browns with at least 50 seen, four Large Skippers, two Small Skippers, a Comma, a Red Admiral, a Small White and two Speckled Woods.
Odonata extended to two Beautiful Demoiselles, three Banded Demoiselles, a male Broad-bodied Chaser, ten Four-spotted Chasers, at least 25 Black-tailed Skimmers, three Emperors, 35 Common Darters, and the following Damselflies, 20 Blue-tailed, 35 Common Blue and a Red-eyed.
22nd June 2023
Mostly high cloud, south-westerly wind.
Three adult Little Ringed Plovers were present on the Car Park Pool islands this morning, along with a small flock of Lapwing and at least two Oystercatchers. There were also two male Teal.
21st June 2023
Sunny periods, warm, light south-westerly wind.
All the attention centered on insects today, with 15 Marbled Whites counted, together with four Commas, a Large Skipper and two White-letter Hairstreaks. The latter was seen in Siden Hill Wood with others seen over the proceeding days opposite the RDAC at the north end of the Old Road. Lastly, a male Broad-bodied Chaser was hunting the path verges near Railway Hide.
Marbled White – Car Park Hide Area – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
20th June 2023
A wet start, slowly clearing, sunny and warm thereafter, south-westerly wind.
The first migrant Little Ringed Plover, a juvenile, was present on Car Park Pool this morning, along with 11 fledged juvenile Lapwings, hopefully some of which are birds from the Reserve. So far, five have been successfully reared between the two pools with still three young on the Car Park Pool islands, part grown.
The second year Common Tern that was ringed two years ago, C62, was spotted on site with four broods of Terns being fed by their parents.
19th June 2023
Drizzly start, improving by 07.45. Sunny and warm.
There are two firsts for the year today, an Osprey which flew over Railway Pool at 11 am and, subsequently, a Cuckoo was heard singing briefly from the west end of Siden Hill Wood.
The Osprey was probably one of two that put in a brief appearance at Packington, early in the same morning.
A Kingfisher flew past Railway Hide during the morning and, on the pools, there were three Teal, five Shoveler and three Little Ringed Plovers.
18th June 2023
Warm and sunny am, thunderstorms and heavy rain into the evening, pm.
Nine Shoveler, a female Teal and at least seven Gadwall broods were the main wildfowl making the log. A Red Kite flew over the Flood Plain heading north during the morning and there were at least two Sparrowhawks seen. Five Swifts, a Little Egret, five Little Ringed Plovers and three Redshank were the other birds and three Marbled Whites, included two at the start of the Causeway and one towards the Back Gate Copse.
17th June 2023
Overcast with light showers, brightening later, light southerly wind.
Counts today were as follows: ten Mute Swans, 25 Greylags and 33 goslings, six Canadas and ten goslings, 11 Shoveler, three Teal, 50 Gadwall and 65 ducklings from eight broods, 20 Mallard and 21 fledged ducklings, plus four new ones from a late brood, 60 Tufteds with a duckling in a Gadwall brood (we are still waiting for the first full brood of young), nine Cormorants, a Great Crested Grebe, four Little Grebes but only one chick was visible on the Reedbed this morning, one Heron, 39 Lapwing and the three young ones on Car Park Pool, five Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Oystercatchers and six young, 620 Black-headed Gulls and at least 200 juveniles, two Lesser Black-backs, seven Common Terns and eight chicks and two Redshank.
The count of Bee Orchid stems continues to increase with 35 counted today, 28 around the Reedbed and seven around the Car Park. The first Southern Hawker was also on the wing.
A moth trapping session overnight from the 16th into the 17th yielded a number of moths, with a sample of photographs shown here, courtesy of Paul Fitzgerald.
Yellow Conch
Beautiful Golden Y
16th June 2023
Sunny, light south-easterly wind, hot.
A single Ringed Plover this morning was a new arrival and there were three Little Ringed Plovers, all on Car Park Pool, with a pair of males interacting over a female. Eight Oystercatchers, plus two fledged juveniles on Car Park Pool and two new broods on Railway Pool of two in the Marsh and one below Railway Hide. The colour-ringed Redshank was again patrolling the margins of the pools and the Common Tern numbers of young are slowly increasing, with still three on Railway Pool, but now five on Car Park Pool. Shoveler numbers are varying by the day and there were five this morning, four Gadwall broods, two Mallard broods with a new one of three on Railway Pool and seven Greylag families.
The first Marbled Whites were on the wing this morning at the start of the Causeway and other butterflies included a single Common Blue, three Speckled Woods, a Comma and 43 Meadow Browns. Plenty of dragonflies and damselflies included six Common Darters.
15th June 2023
Sunny, light northerly, hot.
No records.
14th June 2023
Sunny, light norther wind, hot.
The appearance of two first-summer Common Gulls this morning was very out of season for the Reserve, with a paucity of records between the last departures in early April and the returning birds in late August or early September.
Common Terns have started to hatch out on Car Park Pool with each of the three pairs with a single this morning. There is also a new brood of three Lapwing chicks on Car Park Pool. The post breeding flock of Lapwings has started to increase with 70 this morning.
Other birds making the log were one Great Crested Grebe, three Teal, six Shoveler, three Little Ringed Plovers, eight Oystercatchers, three Little Ringed Plovers and a Redshank.
13th June 2023
Sunny, light north easterly wind, hot.
The first Brown Hawker was noted today hunting over Railway Pool and a Hairy Dragonfly was present along the Old Road. Plenty of other Odonata was seen, including three Emperors, 24 Spotted Chasers, ten Black-tailed Skimmers, three each of Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles, at least 30 Common Blue Damselflies, with ten Azures, 30 Blue-tailed and two Red-eyed. Nine Meadow Brown and a Speckled Wood were the only butterflies making the log.
Eight Common Terns were present on site with three chicks visible on Railway Pool.
660 Black-headed Gulls and at least 170 juveniles were principally confined to Railway Pool. On the wader front, there were nine Oystercatchers and two juveniles, 42 Lapwing, four Little Ringed Plover and three Redshank.
Other counts comprised 12 Mute Swans, six Canadas, 22 Greylags and 25 Goslings, four Shoveler, 50 Gadwall and at least three broods, 17 Mallard with six large ducklings on Railway Pool, 83 Tufteds, five Little Grebes with still two chicks present on the Reedbed, ten Cormorants, one Great Crested Grebe, three Herons, seven Moorhens and 27 Coot.
Photographs by John Hayes – all taken from Oak Hide
Oystercatcher
Heron
Redshank
12th June 2023
Sunny with a light easterly wind.
The pair of Oystercatchers on the island in front of Oak Hide have hatched out two chicks which are moving between the island and the marsh area.
A Hobby hunted briefly over Car Park Pool, mid-morning, but was regularly harried by Jackdaws.
11th June 2023
Hot and sunny during the day with storm clouds brewing as the afternoon wore on and some rain.
No records.
10th June 2023
Hot and sunny, light easterly wind.
At about 8 am there was both Nuthatch and Treecreeper on the Old Road by the car park with a Buzzard overhead, along with two Swifts. There were three Little Ringed Plovers with two males fighting, a pair of Oystercatchers, three sitting Terns and two pairs of Shoveler. The Cetti’s Warbler along the top stream continues to sing and there was a Skylark in song over the Tip field.
As the day and heat warmed up, a Red Kite appeared over the HS2 workings making its way slowly north over Patrick Farm. A Yellowhammer singing at the top end of the Old Road, towards the farm, was an unexpected surprise.
Shoveler numbers increased to seven as the day went on and there were a pair of Teal, two Gadwall broods (one on Car Park Pool of six and another of ten on Railway Pool) and eight Common Terns in total.
26 Bee Orchids were counted this morning with the majority around the Reedbed but some on the right of the path down to Car Park Hide and at least one under the cage by the pond. The count of Southern Marsh Orchids was just short of 1000 with 900 behind Oak Hide and seven around the Reedbed. Common Spotted Orchid totalled 80 in the field behind Oak Hide, mostly towards the southern end.
Butterflies included a single Meadow Brown, the first recorded Large Skipper of the year around the Car Park, two Common Blues, two Red Admirals, nine Beautiful Demoiselles and seven Banded Demoiselles.
9th June 2023
Sunny and warm after an overcast start, north-easterly wind.
The only bird making the log today was a Red Kite over Railway Pool mid-morning.
8th June 2023
Overcast start, warm later, easterly wind.
No records.
Banded Demoiselle – Orchid Field – Photograph by Dale Rose
7th June 2023
Overcast start, brightening slowly, light easterly wind.
The first recorded Meadow Brown was seen today, along with two male Common Blues, two Speckled Woods, one Emperor Dragonfly, one Four-spotted Chaser, seven Black-tailed Skimmers and plenty of Damselflies.
Naturally at this time of year the bird count was a little light with just two Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshank, a single Egyptian Goose, a pair of Shoveler, two Gadwall broods on Car Park Pool and two Great Crested Grebes.
6th June 2023
Overcast, cool, fresh north-easterly wind.
Four Ringed Plovers on Car Park Pool were obviously late migrants. It is not clear whether this number included the single from the previous few days. There were three Little Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks, seven Oystercatchers with a total of just three young, seven adult Little Grebes and the two chicks on the Reedbed, two Shelduck flying over the HS2 workings, a pair of Shoveler, the brood of six Gadwall on Car Park Pool, two Mallard broods, two Canada broods, five Greylag broods, two adult Great Crested Grebes, at least 15 Swifts and two Ravens.
A well attended Work Party in the evening, attended by nine people, carried out mowing and strimming on the paths and around the hides, removed some of the Blackthorn emerging along the path to Oak Hide and swept out the two hides in Siden Hill Wood with some repairs there undertaken.
There were more Swifts around in the evening, with at least six birds, a Kestrel was hunting over the Crop Field and there was a fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker in Siden Hill Wood.
Whitethroat amongst the brambles in front of Railway Hide – Photograph by Richard Clapham
Reed Warbler in front of Causeway Hide overlooking the Reedbed – Photograph by Richard Clapham
5th June 2023
Sunny spells, light north-easterly wind.
The orchids in the field behind Oak Hide are at their best at the moment with 1,075 Southern Marsh Orchid spikes (990 in the field and 85 around the Reedbed), and 120 Common Spotted Orchids all in the Orchid Field and mostly at the southern end. There are now up to nine Bee Orchids with four around the Reedbed and five around the Car Park.
Flowers of note include Grass Vetchlings along the Causeway bank. The Crimson Clover on the junction between the path to Car Park Hide and the route to the Causeway was a new plant for the Reserve and is usually native to the UK coastal areas.
The Willow Warbler remains in song along the Causeway and other birds of note included a pair of Shoveler, singles of Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover, five Oystercatchers, three Redshank, five adult Little Grebes with two chicks on the Reedbed and two Great Crested Grebes, one on each pool.
4th June 2023
Warm and sunny.
Shoveler numbers jumped today to seven birds (six males and a female). There were 43 Gadwalls with still the single brood on Car Park Pool, 88 Tufted Ducks, a female Pheasant with five almost fledged young around the Car Park feeders, a late Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool, a Kestrel over with prey, three singing Cetti’s Warblers, a pair of Whitethroats with three juveniles just south of Oak Hide, a Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the Back Gate Copse and a Great Crested Grebe on Railway Pool. Another pair of Whitethroats were feeding young by Railway Hide.
In the afternoon, a Hobby was hunting dragonflies over the Car Park Pool and showing well. There were at least three Little Ringed Plovers on site as well.
Photographs by Paul Casey
Blackbird along the Causeway
Silver-ground Carpet Moth
3rd June 2023
Sunny, light north-easterly wind.
A Sanderling in summer plumage was present on Car Park Pool this morning and showed well for much of the day. A Hobby hunted over the Reedbed Pool and showed particularly well.
Other birds on today’s counts were eight Mute Swans, 28 Canadas, 58 Greylags and 29 juveniles, three Shoveler, 38 Gadwall and the first brood of the year, six on Car Park Pool, 12 Mallard and two broods with 13 young on Railway Pool, 82 Tufted, three Herons, two Little Egrets, a single Great Crested Grebe, three adult Little Grebes, plus two chicks still on Reedbed Pool, seven Cormorants, eight Moorhen, 17 Coot, 14 Lapwing, singles of Little Ringed and Ringed Plover, ten Oystercatcher (only two chicks visible this morning), 600 adult Black-headed Gulls and 165 chicks with an estimated 450 pairs of birds, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a single Herring Gull, five Common Terns and three Redshank.
Bee Orchids beginning to appear, with plans visible at the start of the track to Car Park Hide and one by Car Park Pond under the metal cage.
In the warm weather, insects included at least four male Common Blues, four Speckled Woods and a Large White whilst Dragonflies and Damselflies included six Emperors, 32 Four-spotted Chasers, 18 Black-tailed Skimmers, 12 Beautiful Demoiselles with four Banded Demoiselles, a single Broad-bodied Chaser and the following Damselflies : 70 Azure, four Blue-tailed, three Red-eye and two Large Reds.
Sanderling on Car Park Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
2nd June 2023
Two Hobbies hunted over Railway Pool this morning, showing well, and there were also 20 Swifts present.
Three Common Blue butterflies were also seen.
Lapwing taken at Oak Hide – Photograph by Tony Burbery
Following Photographs by Bob Breach
Newly emerged Blue-tailed Damselfly – Orchid Field
Beautiful Demoiselle (female) main path
Beautiful Demoiselle (male) main path
Four-spotted Chaser Car Park Pool
Orchid – Orchid Field
1st June 2023
The Ringed Plover remains on site and other birds included a single Little Ringed Plover, one Redshank, four Oystercatchers (with a pair sitting), a Whitethroat feeding young (but with no location). A female-type Marsh Harrier flew through just before mid-day.