RABBIT ACTIVITY
As regular visitors will have noticed, rabbit activity is causing holes on the hard core tracks and whilst we try and in-fill them, please be aware that the tracks are more uneven than normal as a result of the rabbit diggings.
TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – MARSH LANE, HAMPTON IN ARDEN
Please note that with effect from 20th January 2021 Marsh Lane, Hampton in Arden will be gated just north of the railway bridge which accesses the Marsh Lane Nature Reserve car park, to the west of Siden Hill Wood. The gate is going to be locked overnight. Solihull Council have deemed this has become necessary due to frequent problems of anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and other forms of environmental crime at Bradnocks Marsh.
The closing/opening times will be as follows:
- 1st April – 30th September 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- 1st October – 31st March 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Work Party Dates
2025
Saturday 12th April – 2pm
Wednesday 7th May – 6pm
Tuesday 10th June – 6pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
FALLEN AND DAMAGED TREES
Members are asked to please avoid, for the time being, the area immediately south of the South-West Pond and on the east side of the Back Gate Copse as a number of Willow trees have been affected by the recent high winds and the area has been fenced off.
A number of trees have also come down in Siden Hill Wood making it difficult to get around and this area is also best avoided.
Thank you.
Ringed Blackcap
A male Blackcap was ringed at Marsh Lane on the 21 September 2021 and subsequently re-trapped at Icklesham, East Sussex on the 12 February 2025. The distance between the two sites is 232km but clearly disguises what had happened in the interim period.
Common Tern
A Common Tern, colour-ringed number A01, which was originally ringed at Marsh Lane on the 9th July 2020 as a chick, was seen on the 24th July 2024 in Saint-Pair-sur-Mer in France, a distance of 253 miles south. This location is west of the Cherbourg Peninsula and just north of Mont Saint-Michel.
Since ringing, the bird has also been seen at Upper Bittell in 2022 and Brandon Marsh and Draycote Water in 2024.
ACCESS TO THE RESERVE – SATURDAY 29th and SUNDAY 30th MARCH & SATURDAY 5th and SUNDAY 6th APRIL
Please note that due to roadworks over the next two weekends, the A452 Kenilworth Road will be closed between Bradnocks Marsh Lane to the Cornets End roundabout at the A452/B4102 junction.
The options for access to the Reserve are therefore the layby at the top end of the Old Road, the Pumping Station car park or the Council car park at the south end of Marsh Lane, as accessed from Hampton in Arden, where there is a car park by the Packhorse Bridge, and from where it is a relatively short walk to the back gate.
26th March 2025
Overcast initially but gradually brightening to full sunshine by midday. Light south-westerly
Curlew again made the log today with two which flew in from the south at 11.30 and then headed east over the Tip Field. That apart, sightings were much as previous days with the Bittern again heard booming, the pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls still present, three Redshank, eight Oystercatchers and five Buzzards.
A further Mink was trapped, making two in the past two days.
25th March 2025
Rain initially in the morning then generally overcast. Light north-westerly
A Curlew was present on Car Park Pool late morning (reported on WhatsApp at 11.44) and, presumably the same individual, was subsequently seen going south over the Car Park at 13.44.
Further log entries included six Shelduck, two female Goosanders, 37 Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, three Redshank, Green Sandpiper (Flood Plain), seven Oystercatchers, the two adult Mediterranean Gulls, a pair of Mistle Thrushes and five Collared Doves around the Car Park feeders.
Another Mink was reported to have been trapped.
24th March 2025
Cloudy start then bright, sunny and mild. Very light northerly.
Records across the pools were as follows: four Shelduck, six Mute Swans, Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, 22 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 44 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, six Little Grebes, Cattle Egret, four Little Egrets, eight Oystercatchers, three Redshank and the two adult Mediterranean Gulls.
Elsewhere, raptor records were a Red Kite over the Tip Field going south and three Buzzards.
23rd March 2025
Misty & overcast with drizzle a.m.; clearing p.m., with some sunny intervals. Light north-easterly.
No logbook entries.
22nd March 2025
Overcast/light cloud, occasional sunshine, mild. Light south-easterly.
This week’s Saturday count results were as follows:
Four Mute Swans, 18 Canada Geese, 25 Greylag Geese, two Shelduck, 25 Gadwall, 19 Shoveler, 218 Wigeon, 16 Mallard, 15 Teal, 29 Tufted Ducks, 14 Cormorants, Great Crested Grebe, four Little Grebes, three Grey Herons, five Little Egrets, Cattle Egret, seven Moorhens, 26 Coot, 10 Oystercatchers, Bittern (booming), Little Ringed Plover, 23 Lapwing, Redshank, eight Common Snipe, 2250 Black–headed Gulls, eight Lesser Black–backed Gulls, four Herring Gulls, a pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls and a single Sand Martin over east. Away from the pools, there was again a flock of Redwing, numbering 15, along the Old Road and also two Mistle Thrushes in the Oak by Car Park Hide.
Later records included Chiffchaff, Water Rail and Bittern, all from the North Causeway Bay.
21st March 2025
Light cloud, one or two sunny spells, mild. Light south-easterly.
The recent good weather has certainly encouraged a lot of Frog activity with over 70 seen in the North Causeway Bay, including pairs in amplexus, and frog spawn noted there, in the south-west Pond and in the Dragonfly Pond. A photo of one with orange colouring was posted on the WhatsApp group – apparently this is not an uncommon variation.
Around the pools, the following were logged: two Goosanders (male and female), 26 Gadwall, five Mute Swans (including a pair nesting in the North Causeway Bay), Cattle Egret, three Little Egrets, Bittern (booming), 10 Oystercatchers, six Little Ringed Plovers, two adult Mediterranean Gulls, Redshank and Great Crested Grebe.
Elsewhere were: a flock of 14 Redwing along the Old Road, a pair of Buzzards over Siden Hill Wood, Sparrowhawk over the Crop Field, Cetti’s Warbler from River Hide, a pair of Pheasants under the Car Park feeders and, notably, a male House Sparrow, again seen in the hedge by the container in the Car Park.
Finally, an early evening visit, around 17.45, logged two Curlews in one of the fields next to the river and a Ring-necked Parakeet flying towards Siden Hill Wood.
Pheasants – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
20th March 2025
Bright, sunny & warm (19°). Light south-easterly.
In something of a repeat of yesterday, the pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls was present on Railway Pool, the Bittern was booming, both Red Kite and Redshank were logged and Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell were again seen.
19th March 2025
Frosty start, sunny a.m., sunny intervals p.m., mild. Light south-easterly.
Butterflies were again in evidence with Small Tortoiseshell along the Old Road, two Commas (Railway Hide) and a male Brimstone (Railway Hide). The average dates for these are Mar 26, Apr 24 and Apr 6 respectively, so Comma and Brimstone are notably early but, in all cases, the earliest records for the site are in Feb.
A comprehensive count produced the following: 235 Wigeon, three Pochard (two male and a female), two Goosanders (male and female), Great Crested Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, eight Oystercatchers, three Little Egrets, Bittern (booming), two adult Mediterranean Gulls (Railway Pool), seven Little Grebes, Peregrine Falcon, Red Kite (circling over Siden Hill Wood), male Brambling (Car Park feeders) and Treecreeper (Back Gate Copse).
18th March 2025
Frosty start, bright and sunny. Light south-easterly.
The first Little Ringed Plover of the year was found on Car Park Pool at 08.10, just a day later than the average for this species.
Brambling (male), Redwing and Collared Dove were all noted around the Car Park feeders, although only a single of the latter this time.
The Bittern was again heard booming and logbook entries included Redshank, eight Oystercatchers and 40 Common Snipe.
The warm and sunny weather is also to the liking of butterflies which have overwintered and a Peacock was found along the Causeway. It wasn’t the first of the year though as one was recorded on Mar 8. The average first date for this species is Mar 25, while the site record is Jan 31 (2007).
17th March 2025
Frosty start, generally overcast. Light easterly.
The booming Bittern was again in evidence, as were nine Pied Wagtails, although now around Car Park Pool. Also in the logbook were seven Oystercatchers, two male Goosanders and two Shelduck, while Pochard numbers were up to eight (five male and three female).
16th March 2025
Frosty start, light cloud with sunny intervals. Light north-easterly.
The Bittern was again heard booming, both from the Reedbed and from the North Causeway Bay, and the Car Park feeders had two notable sightings: firstly, a male Brambling and, secondly, a count of eight Collared Doves.
The latter species often fails to make the logbook and, when it does, it’s generally only in ones or twos, so a count of eight is exceptional. There have been a couple of higher counts in the past but these look to have been from outside the Reserve boundaries, so this is possibly the site record.
The North Causeway Bay also held Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler, while there were 10 Pied Wagtails on the Flood Plain and a Song Thrush along the Central Stream. Other records from the pools included 40 Shoveler, up to 10 Goosanders (three male) and 17 Common Snipe which were flushed from behind Oak Hide.
15th March 2025
Frosty start, light cloud with sunny intervals. Light north-easterly.
The regular Saturday count, courtesy of Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan, yielded the following:
Four Mute Swans, 25 Canada Geese, 13 Greylag Geese, three Shelduck, nine Gadwall, 33 Shoveler, 157 Wigeon, 13 Mallard, 11 Teal, two male Pochard, 38 Tufted Duck, four Goosanders (three male and one female), 30 Cormorants, three Little Grebes, Grey Heron, two Little Egrets, seven Moorhens, 30 Coot, eight Oystercatchers, Bittern (booming), 40 Lapwing, six Common Snipe, eight Buzzards, a Red Kite which went north over Patrick Farm, 1,050 Black–headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, two Lesser Black–backed Gulls (four noted earlier in the day), a Herring Gull and a single Redshank. Away from the pools, there was a late Redwing around the Car Park feeders and, earlier on, nine Pied Wagtails around Car Park Pool.
14th March 2025
Generally overcast with sunny intervals, some light rain/sleet in the afternoon. Light NE
Chiffchaff numbers were up to 10 across the site, likely to be a mix of overwintering birds and recently-arrived migrants. Species around the pools were very similar to those earlier in the week with just minor changes in counts: three Pochard (two male and a female), Redshank, three Goosanders (two male and a female), eight Oystercatchers and eight Common Gulls.
Around 18.00, eight Goosanders (four male, four female) came in to roost.
13th March 2025
Generally overcast with sunny spells and occasional showers, some wintry. Light northerly.
The Bittern again showed well in the Reedbed where it was seen to swim across the top end of the pool from left to right and then later fly across from right to left midway along.
12th March 2025
Early rain then overcast with sunny intervals. Light northerly.
Entries in the logbook from around the pools comprised: Egyptian Goose, Redshank, two Pochard (male), three Grey Herons, three Common Snipe, six Goosanders (three male and three female), eight Oystercatchers and nine Common Gulls.
Around the Car Park were Reed Bunting, two Jays, two Collared Doves and a late female Siskin.
Grey Heron – Photograph by Bob Breach
11th March 2025
Sunny intervals, cooler than of late, light northerly.
With the weather on the turn after the recent mild spell, the year’s first Sand Martin was recorded over Car Park Pool at 09.30. Other log entries included a Red Kite, which drifted over going north, a second-summer Great Black-backed Gull (i.e. not the bird which has been a regular for the past few years), 60 Common Snipe, of which the majority (54) were in the Marsh and the rest on Car Park Pool, and a Mistle Thrush on the Flood Plain.
Finally, a male House Sparrow was recorded at the Car Park feeders. While there is a small breeding population at Patrick Farm, sightings on the main area of the Reserve have been very rare in recent years.
10th March 2025
Generally overcast. Light northerly.
A male Ruff was the highlight and spent most of the day on Car Park Pool, staying until at least 18.00. This species has become an increasingly rare visitor at Marsh Lane with just five records from 2020 to date.
The Bittern was heard booming on more than one occasion and was again seen in the Reedbed. The other notable record was of an adult Mediterranean Gull, this individual having a mostly black hood but with some white above the bill.
Elsewhere, the Redshank, presumably yesterday’s bird, had moved to Car Park Pool, Oystercatcher numbers were at nine, two Water Rails were present in the Reedbed and there were six Little Grebes across the pools.
Ruff – Photograph by Steve Pattison
9th March 2025
Bright, sunny and mild. Light easterly.
The Bittern showed well on the east side of the Reedbed before being seen to swim across the pool to the south-east corner. Other records included Redshank from Oak Hide, four Collared Doves at the Car Park feeders and the Oystercatcher count was up to nine across the site.
8th March 2025
Sunny, fresh south easterly, warm.
With temperatures up to 16° it was hardly surprising the early butterflies included at least two Peacocks and a Comma, with a Brimstone seen on the way to the Reserve this morning in Balsall Common.
A Toad was visible on the path to Oak Hide and another one was on the Causeway path this morning.
The Cattle Egret showed well either around the margins of Car Park Pool or on the islands, with it spending a lot of time preening in the lunchtime period on the Car Park pool islands themselves.
A Kingfisher flew up the Central Stream, two Ravens went over in the afternoon, and other counts today were as follows: two Mute Swans, 11 Canadas, 27 Greylags, a single Egyptian Goose in the morning with two flying south in the afternoon, two Shelduck, six Gadwall, 17 Shoveler, 200 Wigeon, 10 Mallard, eight Teal, a drake Pochard, 30 Tufteds, 13 Goosanders, 19 Cormorants, one Little Grebe, three Great Crested Grebe and singles of Heron and Little Egret. 23 Coot, five Moorhen, 49 Lapwings, eight Oystercatchers, 715 Black-headed Gulls and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls made up the rest.
At dusk a Mediterranean Gull was flying around calling with the Black-headed Gulls but proved impossible to pick out from below.
Five attended the work party on a beautiful afternoon with work undertaken being the weeding of the Car Park Pool Tern island in advance of the returning Terns (hopefully), whilst the removal of bramble on the bank between the back gate and Railway Hide slowly continues. Thanks to all those who attended.
Tufted Ducks – Photograph by Bob Breach
7th March 2025
Sunny spells, fresh southerly.
The Cattle Egret was back today, again favouring Car Park Pool. 284 Wigeon was a good count today, and there were nine Oystercatchers. Six singing Chiffchaffs probably represented an influx with the fine weather and included two by the Back Gate, two along the Old Road/Concrete Road junction area, one just north of this by the old Horse Paddock and one by the former Bale Store.
The Green Sandpiper was on the Flood Plain opposite the first gate north of the main part of the Reserve, whilst a male Hedge Sparrow was back in the hedge by the container. Finally, nine Goosanders and a drake Pochard were on the pools.
6th March 2025
No records.
5th March 2025
Sunny after mist, thin cloud, light southerly.
Five Goosanders and a Great Crested Grebe were present today with three Chiffchaffs counted, the singing bird again on the Old Road/Concrete Road junction and two silent birds on the Old Road by the former Bale Store.
A Fieldfare fed on the Flood Plain along with a Pied Wagtail and there were seven Redwings nearby along the Old Road.
4th March 2025
Cold and frosty but beautifully sunny all day.
At least four Chiffchaffs were in song this morning, one on the junction between the Concrete Road and the Old Road with a second bird slightly further along the Concrete Road towards HS2. There was another one singing in the hedge by the Car Park and a fourth in the Back Gate Copse.
A Bittern was again visible in the Reedbed, with light booming also heard. A Red Kite went over Railway Pool and then Siden Hill Wood, there was a Water Rail heard from the Reedbed where a Kingfisher was also seen, whilst the Black-headed Gull count was over 2,000 today. 13 Goosanders included seven males and other birds making the log included three each of Heron and Little Egret, 27 Shoveler, a Ring-necked Parakeet from Siden Hill Wood, a single Great Crested Grebe, a Green Sandpiper visible from the Flood Plain gate and 42 Snipe.
Chiffchaff – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
3rd March 2025
Sunny, light southerly.
The Bittern boomed softly in the Reedbed this morning but proved difficult to see.
On the pools there was the long-staying drake Pochard, a single Shelduck, 25 Shoveler, 47 Tufteds, 21 Gadwall, 15 Mallard and two Egyptian Geese. A Water Rail and five Oystercatchers around the margins added to the variety, whilst under the feeders the male Brambling put in an appearance along with two Redwing.
2nd March 2025
Sunny after a frosty start, still.
A Cattle Egret was back around Car Park Pool this morning, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the Back Gate Copse, with a Green Woodpecker calling just by the Car Park.
The Cattle Egret disappeared mid-morning but returned to the Car Park Pool area in the midday period.
The Bittern was seen on the west side of the Reedbed and boomed twice quietly.
Other birds making the log were a female Kestrel, a pair of Buzzards over Siden Hill Wood, a Water Rail in the Reedbed and a Treecreeper by the back gate.
1st March 2025
Sunny and still.
The Cattle Egret was present on Railway Pool in the early part of the morning but disappeared only to reappear around the margins of Car Park Pool at lunchtime.
Waders extended to nine Oystercatchers, 48 Lapwings and 39 Snipe, whilst Black-headed Gulls are beginning to build for the breeding season with at least 1,400 today, along with seven Common Gulls, a Herring Gull and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A Red Kite went over to the south-east, there was a Chiffchaff in song on the Old Road/Concrete Road junction, with another one singing towards the HS2 crossing.
Two Skylarks were also seen trying to make something of the disturbed ground on the margins of HS2.
Other wildfowl counts, care of Graham and Dave, were two Mute Swans, 44 Canadas, 120 Greylags, 18 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 136 Wigeon, 18 Mallard, 16 Teal, a pair of Pochard, 32 Tufteds, 28 Cormorants, three Little Grebes, three Herons and two Little Egrets.