Ringing Returns
The Black-headed Gull seen on Railway Pool on the 6th March was ringed as an adult at Redesmere, Cheshire, on Nov 23rd, 2019.
Since ringing, it has been seen at the following locations:
Redesmere, Cheshire – Nov 23, 2019 – Feb 14, 2020
Redesmere, Cheshire – Nov 14, 2020 – Mar 4, 2021
Redesmere, Cheshire – Oct 16, 2021 – Mar 3, 2022
Earlswood Lakes – Jun 3, 2022
Redesmere, Cheshire – Sep 13, 2022 to Feb 24, 2023
Marsh Lane Nature Reserve – Mar 6, 2023
31st March 2023
Overcast, light showers with a light north-easterly wind.
The season’s first Willow Warbler was in song along the Old Road between the HS2 workings and Patrick Farm. Other records comprised three Shelduck, 36 Wigeon, a Little Ringed Plover, nine Oystercatchers and five Sand Martins. At the feeders there were three male Bramblings and a female.
30th March 2023
Showery, south-westerly wind.
A Red Kite flew over at mid-day today with a Peregrine over Car Park Pool earlier in the morning. Two male Bramblings visited the feeders and there were 55 Sand Martins over Car Park Pool.
Photographs by Arthur Owens
Egret from River Hide
Gadwall Dragonfly Pond
29th March 2023
Overcast, rain from mid-morning, fresh south-westerly wind.
The best birds today were a pair of Kingfishers which flew west along Baileys Brook, past River Hide. Tufted numbers had increased to 80. Other birds were three Little Ringed Plovers, three Redshanks, eight Oystercatchers, a pair of Pochard and two Little Egrets.
28th March 2023
Overcast and rain.
Two summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits were present, briefly, up until 8 pm, but departed shortly thereafter. There were three Little Ringed Plovers with the first Swallow of the year, ten Sand Martins, 11 Oystercatchers, a Shelduck, four Brambling, 19 Snipe and a Peregrine.
27th March 2023
Sunny spells, light north-easterly wind.
Four Bramblings and a male Yellowhammer were at the Car Park Feeders this morning and a Green Sandpiper was seen on the pool margins along with 13 Snipe, 11 Oystercatchers and two Redshank. There were also two Little Egrets present.
In the afternoon, a Red Kite went over and a White Wagtail was seen but with no location.
Cetti’s Warbler – North Causeway – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
26th March 2023
Wet start, mostly overcast and a few sunny intervals pm., light north-westerly wind.
Two different males and two different female Bramblings visited the feeders, along with a pair of Yellowhammers this morning. There were 40 Sand Martins over the pools, five Redshanks and a Little Ringed Plover on the margins and eight Pochard on Railway Pool.
Brambling – Photograph by Mark Waring
25th March 2023
Mostly sunny intervals, fresh south-westerly wind.
A Red Kite flew south from Patrick Bridge heading south along the Flood Plain and there was a single Little Ringed Plover on Car Park Pool early on. Three Bramblings in the feeders comprised two males and a female and, in a walk all the way around, at least 14 Chiffchaffs were in song. 36 Sand Martins were over the Flood Plain, six Buzzards in various different locations including the pale bird. There were at least 2000 Black-headed Gulls, a number of which are now appearing dead and it is highly likely that Bird Flu is having an impact.
Ten Oystercatchers included four on each pool and two on Lower Siden and there were eight Snipe in the Marsh.
The second-summer Mediterranean Gull was present on Railway Pool, ten Herring Gulls went over along with six Lesser Black-backed Gulls. There was a Coal Tit singing in Siden Hill Wood along with a Treecreeper, two Meadow Pipits in the wet field by the Mobile Phone Mast and four Redwings in Siden Hill Wood.
Other counts comprised three Mute Swans, 28 Canadas, 15 Greylags, 34 Gadwall, 46 Shoveler, 67 Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 23 Teal, 66 Tufted, four Little Grebes, a Great Crested Grebe, 25 Cormorants, nine Moorhen, 21 Coot, three Goosanders, 16 Lapwing and three Redshank.
24th March 2023
Sunny spells, sharp showers, strong southerly wind.
At least 50 Sand Martins were present this morning, dodging the heavy showers. There was a single Little Ringed Plover, the second-summer Mediterranean Gull, a pair of Goosanders, two Shelduck, five Redshank (including the colour-ringed bird), a Kestrel hunting over the Car Park and a Stoat was seen along the Old Road in the morning.
In the afternoon, a flock of Wagtails dropped in on to the Flood Plain, which included 14 Pieds and a male White. A Red Kite came in from the east over the Car Park, a female Brambling was at the feeders and wildfowl counts included over 110 Wigeon, 33 Teal, 54 Shoveler and two Little Grebes.
23rd March 2023
Overcast, south westerly wind.
A Red Kite flew across the front of Siden Hill Wood at 11.40, heading south, whilst on the pools, the second-winter Mediterranean Gull (seemingly lacking feet) was present on Railway Pool, along with three Redshanks. There were two further Redshanks on Car Park Pool , along with five Pochard, a Shelduck, a single Little Ringed Plover and at least 16 Sand Martins.
Lastly, there were three Fieldfares on the Flood Plain.
22nd March 2023
Sunny start, south-westerly wind.
Although more cloud and rain began to come through in the afternoon, it was a good morning with the first notable birds found being a pair of Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the bank below Railway Pool. One was in near summer plumage. An aggressive Lapwing drove the birds onto the pools on Lower Siden where they joined at least one Oystercatcher, a Lapwing and a number of Canadas and Greylags. Fortunately the birds returned, initially to Railway Pool and then to Car Park Pool.
Godwits and Black-headed Gulls from River Hide – Photograph by Graham Dyer
Just after 9 am Sand Martins began to appear with seven initially, but at least 20 birds later on.
The second winter Mediterranean Gull put in a brief appearance in front of Oak Hide where close views seem to indicate that it might have an injury to one of its feet.
Both Bramblings attended the feeders and there was a Meadow Pipit around the Car Park area, with a singing Skylark just east of the Car Park above the Tip Field. A Red Kite circled over Railway Pool at just before 10 am and other raptors included a Peregrine, a pair of Sparrowhawks and at least two Buzzards.
At least four, probably five, Redshanks were spread across the pools.
Redshank feeding – from Oak Hide – Photograph by Graham Dyer
Photographs by Stef Fraczek
Grey Wagtail Railway Pool
Muntjac on the Causeway
21st March 2023
Sunny spells, fresh southerly wind.
A Green Sandpiper was present briefly on Car Park Pool before flying off and a Red Kite was seen east of the A452, drifting south, at 11.20 and was seen a little later on at the northern outskirts of Balsall Common.
The second-summer Mediterranean Gull, six Little Grebes, two Shelduck and eight Oystercatchers were the other birds making the log.
Photographs by Bob Breach
Gadwall from Oak Hide
Windswept Lapwing from Oak Hide
Wren from Causeway Hide
20th March 2023
Overcast, brightening to sunny spells, fresh southerly wind.
The second-summer Mediterranean Gull appeared briefly on Railway Pool but, again, did not linger for any length of time. There were three Redshanks, including the colour-ringed bird, three Shelduck, 77 Tufted, a pair of Goosanders, 11 Oystercatchers, eight Chiffchaffs and three Cetti’s Warblers.
An analysis by the Reay brothers of the Marsh Lane flora shows that about 18% (49 species) are non native out of 283 species in total. This compares to about 50% in the UK open countryside.
Lastly, the female Brambling, was seen at the Car Park Feeders on and off throughout the day.
19th March 2023
Mild, sunny intervals, light south-westerly wind, overnight rain.
A Red Kite was seen over the Flood Plain at 10.45 and there were at least two Redshanks on site; one of these included the colour-ringed bird.
There was a very brief view of a Jack Snipe in the Marsh with ten Common Snipe in the late morning, whilst a Kingfisher on the Reedbed Pool being the first record for some time.
Other birds making the log were a pair of Treecreepers in the Back Gate Copse, two pairs of Goosanders, 50 Shoveler, five Pochard, eight Oystercatchers, 15 Common Gulls and a Raven.
18th March 2023
Overcast, brightening light southerly wind.
Five Sand Martins appeared early on over Car Park Pool but did not linger. Presumably the same three Lesser Redpolls as were near Oak Hide on the 11th, were seen near the Dragonfly Pond this morning.
Other counts, care of Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan, were as follows: 20 Canadas, four Greylags, 36 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 270 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, 36 Teal, six Pochard, 46 Tufted, a Little Grebe, 24 Cormorants, eight Moorhen, 29 Coot, nine Oystercatchers, 16 Lapwing, three Redshank, six Snipe, 1230 Black-headed Gulls, eight Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Herring Gulls, 50 Redwing, one Raven, five Chiffchaffs, six House Sparrows at Patrick Farm, two Cetti’s Warblers (one by the Railway Bridge and one along the Top Stream) and a male Brambling at the feeders.
17th March 2023
Mostly cloudy, light southerly wind.
A small arrival of Chiffchaffs had occurred overnight, with a singing bird between the cottages and the car park and a further two singing birds, one in the Back Gate Copse and one along the Old Road by the Dragonfly Pond. At least one un-singing individual was fly catching in the mild weather along the Causeway, but there could have been a second bird as well.
Along Baileys Brook there was a calling Treecreeper, at least one signing Goldcrest and the singing Cetti’s Warbler whilst, in the Back Gate, a Redwing sang in almost full song.
Two singing Cetti’s Warblers comprised one in the North Causeway Bay and one along the Top Stream. Two Grey Wagtails were widely spaced, with one in front of Oak Hide and the second on the Flood Plain along with three Meadow Pipits there.
Counts on the pools were as follows, a pair of Goosanders, at least one Redshank, ten Common Gulls, two Little Grebes, 45 Shoveler, at least 65 Teal, 40 Gadwall, 225 Wigeon, a male Shelduck, nine Pochard, 14 Snipe, 12 Common Gulls and 45 Lapwings.
Lapwing – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
16th March 2023
Overcast am, wet and cold pm, northerly wind.
The inclement weather saw the first notable migration of the year with at least six Sand Martins seen this morning, although the coming and goings of the birds may have indicated more. Two were seen across the Flood Plain early on before six were seen together over Car Park Pool, but there may have been more.
A winter plumaged Black-tailed Godwit was first found on Car Park Pool at about 9 am and stayed all day. In the afternoon it was feeding close to Car Park Hide and there were seven Snipe along the shore-line below the hide.
In the late afternoon, a smart male White Wagtail joined 12 Pied Wagtails around Car Park Hide until at least 3.45 pm.
There were 25 Fieldfares on the Flood Plain with 20 Redwings and five Meadow Pipits, together with the now regular flock of 150 Starlings.
A second-summer Mediterranean Gull was briefly on Railway Pool and there were 16 Common Gulls as well as a Grey Wagtail there. A Chiffchaff was again seen on the Old Road by the Horse Paddock, but was not in song.
Three Goosanders, a Water Rail in the Causeway Bay, a Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond and at least the male Brambling at the Feeders made for a good day’s birding.
15th March 2023
Southerly, mostly overcast in the morning, rain in the afternoon.
The second-summer Mediterranean Gull was again amongst the Black-heads on Railway Pool this morning and there were 16 Common Gulls on site as well. A Raven flew over and a Grey Wagtail was seen along the Flood Plain.
Grey Wagtail – from Car Park Hide – Photograph by Graham Dyer
14th March 2023
Sunny, fresh north-westerly wind.
A second-summer Mediterranean Gull seen this morning is the third Mediterranean Gull in the last few days, but again was a brief visitor this morning.
The male Yellowhammer was seen with a female Brambling at the Car Park Feeders whilst, overhead, a regular Raven flew west and there was a Cetti’s Warbler heard at the Railway Bridge. Nine Oystercatchers, 14 Snipe, the pair of Stonechats, the Green Sandpiper (again on the flash north of Patrick Farm), and a pair of Goosanders were other records.
In the afternoon, there was a Peregrine over Railway Pool, a pale-morph Buzzard along the Old Road and 20 Fieldfares on the Flood Plain.
13th March 2023
Overcast, heavy rain until 10.30, southerly gale.
There were 11 Oystercatchers on site this morning, with a lot of interaction and display fighting over the pools as birds try and establish territories. A pair of Redshanks included the long visiting colour-ringed bird and there were two Mediterranean Gulls, a second-winter and an adult summer. The male Brambling was seen at the Car Park Feeders and there were 14 Snipe around the pools.
Photograph by Paul Casey
Black-headed Gull from Oak Hide
12th March 2023
Mostly overcast, west, south-westerly wind.
A second-summer Mediterranean Gull came in to join the Black-headed Gulls on Car Park Pool at 12.40 for ten minutes before flying off north.
Aside from the usual pair of Stonechats by the Dragonfly Pond, there was a dull male on the Flood Plain. Both male and female Bramblings visited the Car Park Feeder.
A Green Sandpiper was seen on the flash north of Patrick Farm in the late morning and other counts of note were 17 Herring Gulls, a Little Egret, 14 Snipe, nine Oystercatchers, nine Pochard, a female Goosander and a singing Cetti’s Warbler at the north end of Car Park Pool.
Photographs by Stef Fraczek
Common Toad
Lots of Toads
Rabbit
11th March 2023
Cold after sharp frosts, pools mostly iced over. Mostly sunny, cold south-easterly wind.
Birds in the first part of the morning comprised 50 Linnets and 20 Chaffinches in the Crop Field, a pair of Goosanders that flew north up the river at 9 am, at least 12 Fieldfare and 150 Starlings on the Flood Plain area, a single Redwing in the Back Gate Copse and a singing Skylark near the old Aeromodellers ground.
Subsequent counts were as follows: 23 Canadas, two Greylags, three Shelduck, 73 Gadwall, 26 Shoveler, 240 Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 86 Teal, six Pochard, 52 Tufted, three Goosanders (a male and two females which came onto the pools later in the morning), three Little Grebe, eight Cormorants, nine Moorhen, 39 Coot, eight Oystercatchers, 26 Lapwing, a Redshank, 21 Snipe, 850 Black-headed Gulls, nine Common Gulls, eight Lesser Black-backs, a male and a female Brambling at the feeders, three Lesser Redpolls between Oak Hide and the South-west Pond including a bright male and a pair of Stonechats at the Dragonfly Pond.
Photographs by Bob Breach
Lapwing – from Car Park Hide
Shoveler – from Car Park Hide
Treecreeper – wood near Back Gate
Water Rail – from Causeway Hide
10th March 2023
Initially overcast with more overnight snow into the morning before it stopped and became sunny. Fresh north-westerly wind.
Both male and female Bramblings joined at least 15 Chaffinches around the Car Park and Crop Field Oaks, both this morning and into the afternoon.
25 Redwings were again by the Horse Paddock along the Old Road, with two in the Back Gate Copse along with Nuthatch, singing Goldcrest and Bullfinch.
The pools were relatively quiet as many duck had moved up onto the Flood Plain where, unsurprisingly, the river had broken its banks. Nevertheless, there were 21 Snipe, two Shelduck, six Oystercatcher and an un-ringed Redshank. A Raven went over and a flock of 40 Linnets put in a brief appearance in the morning, but were not seen in the afternoon.
Black-headed Gulls – Photograph by Graham Dyer
9th March 2023
Overcast, overnight snow, lying to 5-10cm with the snow slowly turning to rain.
A good count of 29 Snipe was made today but there was little else of note in the snow aside from the male Brambling at the Car Park Feeders.
8th March 2023
Overcast, snow showers, fresh north-easterly wind.
Both a male Brambling and a pair of Yellowhammers visited the Car Park Feeders, whilst in the Back Gate Copse there were 25 Siskin. Along the Old Road yesterday’s Chiffchaff continued to call in the inclement weather and there were 25 Redwings feeding in the Horse Paddock area; 12 Snipe showed in the Marsh.
Other counts were four Snipe, six Oystercatcher, 30 Lapwings, four Shelduck, two Little Egrets and 150 Wigeon.
7th March 2023
Sunny spells, light northerly wind.
The weather almost felt spring-like this morning and there were more birds of note, with early morning records of Ringed Plover and Green Sandpiper. Both were on Railway Pool and departed early, with the Green Sandpiper seemingly flying to the scrapes in Lower Siden. Other waders aside from Lapwings included a Redshank and ten Snipe (at least six in the Marsh and four in front of Car Park Hide) whilst a Jack Snipe appeared briefly in the Marsh in the early afternoon.
Other birds making the log were a pair of Goosanders, two Shelduck, a Little Egret, six Oystercatchers, the pair of Stonechats, a calling Chiffchaff along the Old Road by the Horse Paddock, 14 Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit on the Flood Plain, and two male and a female Brambling at the Car Park Feeders.
Photographs by Paul Casey
Redshank from Car Park Hide
Common Snipe from Car Park Hide
Frog (one of at least 30 seen from the North Causeway Screen)
6th March 2023
Overcast, light south-westerly wind.
Both male and female Brambling visited the Car Park Feeders this morning and the pair of Stonechats continue to linger at the Dragonfly Pond.
A Jack Snipe was flushed from a ringing ride in the Reedbed this morning and, on the Pools, there were seven Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and five Goosander.
15 Pied Wagtails were around the Cattle Feeder area on the Flood Plain and a Raven went over.
There was unfortunately a dead Mute Swan in front of River Hide with no obvious cause of demise.
5th March 2023
Overcast and cold, 4 degrees.
What may have been the same flock of 19 Pied Wagtails as on the 3rd was again on the Flood Plain; perhaps their spring passage held up by the cold weather.
Three Little Egrets included singles on Car Park Pool, the Dragonfly Pond and along the Flood Plain. In the Back Gate area there was Treecreeper and a pair of Bullfinches whilst, in the Car Park area, a Sparrowhawk attacked the birds coming to the Car Park Feeder.
Counts around the Reserve included eight Oystercatchers, 54 Shoveler, six Herring Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, seven Pochard, a Mistle Thrush perched in Siden Hill Wood, four Siskins in the Alders near the Back Gate, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and three Snipe in the Marsh.
4th March 2023
Overcast, light northerly wind.
There were again three Bramblings at the Car Park Feeder, presumably the same birds as yesterday and the male Yellowhammer put in one of its infrequent appearances. There are 11 Pied Wagtails on the Flood Plain, the pair of Stonechats continue to linger by the Dragonfly Pond, the first Redshank of the year appeared and a Red Kite circled over Siden Hill Wood at 12.30, before drifting off to the north-east.
Other counts were as follows: two Mute Swans, ten Canadas, two Greylags, four Shelduck, 51 Shoveler, 41 Gadwall, 215 Wigeon, 11 Mallard, only 17 Teal, nine Pochard, 38 Tufteds, three Little Grebes, 17 Cormorants, a Heron, a Little Egret, 14 Mute Swans, 21 Coot, six Oystercatchers, 132 Lapwing, 21 Snipe, 730 Black-headed Gulls, 29 Common Gulls, one Herring Gull and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A Raven also went over.
In the afternoon, six attended the Work Party and cleared of invasive weeds such as nettle, dock and thistle the two largest islands plus the smaller one in front of Car Park Hide.
The islands in front of Railway Hide had a significant infestation of docks and an initial Roundup spray was applied. Further work here will be needed. Thank you to all those who attended.
3rd March 2023
Overcast, light northerly wind.
A Curlew was a new arrival on Car Park Pool, spending part of the morning feeding on the grass in front of the Hide and showing well. At the Car Park Feeders there were three Bramblings, two dull males and a female, suggesting that the bright male seen a few days ago was a single day bird.
Other birds today included eight Oystercatchers, two Shelduck, eight Pochard, a Little Egret and, on the Flood Plain, 19 Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit. There must be a considerable turnover in Pochards as the balance between males and females changes by the day.
Curlew – Photograph by John Hunt
2nd March 2023
Overcast, cool, northerly wind.
The female Brambling put in a brief appearance at the Car Park Feeder but, otherwise, there was not a great deal of change in birds, with three Shelduck, nine Pochard, eight Oystercatcher, a single Little Egret, a Cetti’s Warbler in the North Causeway Bay, along with a Water Rail there.
1st March 2023
Overcast, showers, light northerly wind.
The dull male Brambling was again feeding below the Car Park Feeders and there were 30 Linnets in the Crop Field Oaks. The pair of Nuthatches were calling and showing well in the Back Gate Copse whilst just the male Stonechat was visible in the Horse Paddocks.
On or around the pools there were two Shelduck, 51 Shoveler, a Little Egret, nine Oystercatchers, 13 Snipe and three Meadow Pipits.
In the evening, nine Goosanders came in to roost, three males and six females.
Photographs by Paul Casey
Cormorant on Car Park Pool
Long-tailed Tit – Oak Hide Feeders
Long-tailed Tit – Oak Hide Feeders
