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.
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Updates
25th May 2021 – Records added
14th May 2021 – Final paragraph added
12th May 2021 – Final paragraph added
30th April 2021 – Photograph added of Orange-tip and egg (well worth a look!)
7th May 2021 – Photographs added
5th May 2021 – Photographs added (well worth a look!)
9th May 2021 – Final paragraph added along with photographs
7th May 2021 – Final paragraphs added.
4th May 2021 – Final paragraph added.
31st May 2021
Misty cloud to begin with, soon burning off to be another sunny and warm day, with temperatures over 20 degrees.
There was not a great deal of change on the bird front. The single Little Ringed Plover chick is growing well in front of Oak Hide and there are still two Lapwing chicks in the Marsh. The part grown Lapwing chick in front of Car Park Hide has not been seen for a few days, so it is not know whether that has fledged or been predated.
One of the fledged Oystercatcher chicks was feeding on the crop field this morning, which is due to be re-sown shortly. A single Egyptian Goose was on the flood plain and a male Banded Demoiselle was seen down the Old Road.
Kestrel, Buzzard and Whitethroat were recorded along the concrete road with Skylarks singing over the gravel field to the south.
Plants helpfully put in the log by the Reay brothers include: Wild Strawberry on the path to Oak Hide, Changing Forget-me-not on the path to River Hide and Common Sorrel and Jack Go To Bed at Noon on the path to Causeway Hide.
30th May 2021
Cloudy, cool start with sun burning off the cloud by mid-day.
In the better weather it was not surprising to find a Hobby hawking over Railway Pool in the late morning along with a Red Kite, which was heading towards Berkswell. Three Mediterranean Gulls from the previous few days were present again and three Shoveler (two males and a female) were new in, joining the drake Pochard on Railway Pool.
In the late afternoon a female Goosander came in to roost. There were a pair of Bullfinches behind Oak Hide, Cetti’s Warblers by River Hide and along the causeway and birds from the Old Road included Buzzard, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.
29th May 2021
Overcast, spots of rain, still.
A Raven flew over calling prior to 9 am and a drake Pochard was a new arrival on Car Park Pool.
Crows do not often make the blog – a pair with two young were in the small copse north of the cottages this morning.
A full list of counts is as follows: 14 Mute Swans and seven cygnets, 26 Canadas and five goslings, 48 Greylags and 20 Goslings, two Shelducks, 33 Gadwall, 14 Mallard and broods of eight on Railway Pool and seven on the Dragonfly Pond, 125 Tufted, seven Moorhen, 31 Coot, four Heron, two Little Egrets, two Cormorants, five Little Grebes, eight adult Oystercatchers and six young, five Little Ringed Plovers and one chick, six Lapwing and three chicks, 1025 Black–headed Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls (two second-summers and a first-summer), 12 Lesser Black–backs, six Herring Gulls and the colour-ringed Redshank.
When the weather improved from about mid-day onwards, insects began to appear and these included one male Common Blue on Car Park Pool, two Orange–tips, three Green-veined Whites, 11 Four-spotted Chasers, four Large Red Damselflies, three Blue-tailed and 30 Azure Damselflies.
In the evening, the pair of Whitethroats showed very well in front of Railway Hide.
Hawthorn Flowers on the Causeway – 29th May 2021
Photographs by Nick Barlow
Broom – Causeway – 29th May 2021
28th May 2021
As a probable consequence of the high water levels, an Otter was seen on the Reedbed Pool at 9 am this morning. The young on site were as follows: seven Mute Swan cygnets, five Canada goslings, 20 Greylag goslings, eight Mallard ducklings, two partly fledged Little Ringed Plovers, three Lapwing chicks, six Oystercatcher young, 256 Black-headed Gull chicks, five Common Tern chicks and five Moorhen young in front of Oak Hide.
Five Sand Martins flew north, purposefully, during the lunch period when Willow Warblers on the causeway and in the back gate were still in song; the one on the Old Road has not been heard for some days. A Raven flew over calling.
27th May 2021
Some sunny weather today as the day unfolded and yielded one Small Copper, two female Brimstones, a Peacock, eight Orange-tips and two Green-veined Whites with Odonata extending to six Large Red Damselflies, 64 Azure Damselflies and three Blue-tailed. There were also five Four-spotted Chasers.
A Cuckoo flew south over Railway Pool at 10.55 and the first two Common Tern chicks have hatched out. Young waders are as per the previous days.
26th May 2021
Some sunny weather today meant that there were at least a few Damselflies on the wing, with one Large Red Damselfly, eight Azures and one Blue-tailed all seen as the weather improved.
The two Egyptian Geese were still on the flood plain and there were two Little Egrets there as well and a Raven flew over at 11 am.
A Tufted Duck is nesting in one of the Tern boxes on Car Park Pool.
Roe Deer – Railway Hide – Photograph by Alan Rich
25th May 2021
Overcast and damp start, brightening from mid-day with more cloud building in the afternoon, increasing north-westerly wind.
The best bird of an otherwise relatively quiet day was an Osprey that went south over the Reserve at 11.35 and seems likely to have been a bird seen earlier over Maxstoke at 11.14.
Swifts and hirundines were also on the move, certainly once the weather improved and, at mid-day, there were at least 25 Swifts, 15 House Martins, two Swallows and ten Sand Martins on site, but birds were coming and going all the time.
The Lapwing near Oak Hide has hatched out three young which were feeding in the Marsh this morning, together with the nearly fledged Oystercatcher from the nearby pair. The other pair on Railway Pool were protecting their single youngster in front of Railway Hide whilst, on Car Park Pool, one pair and their young were still on the islands (with the young regularly sheltering in one of the Tern boxes) and the other pair with three on the shore in front of Oak Hide.
In the meantime, the Little Ringed Plover, plus two young, are surviving on the island in front of Oak Hide.
The drake Teal and the female Wigeon are still on site and one of the first-summer Mediterranean Gulls was in amongst the Black–heads.
Other birds recorded as the day unfolded were a pair of Egyptian Geese and a Redshank on the flood plain where the heavy rain has caused some flooding. There was 65 Swifts over the Reserve in the evening, along with 20 House Martins over Siden Hill Wood. A Little Egret flew into Siden Hill Wood at 9 pm, presumably to roost when the Redshank from the flood plain had relocated to Car Park Pool.
24th May 2021
Heavy showers all day, occasional sunny intervals, cool northerly wind.
A Mallard with ten ducklings was present on Railway Pool this morning and the two Little Ringed Plover chicks and the five Oystercatcher youngsters were all still intact. 65 Black–headed Gull young were counted, there were two Shelduck, the first-summer Mediterranean Gull, together with the two second-summers, two Egyptian Geese on the flood plain and both male and female Great–spotted Woodpecker visited the car park feeder.
On the botanical front, Celery-leaved Buttercup, which was first spotted in 2018 by Russell Tonks was noted by the Dragonfly Pond.
23rd May 2021
Dry with high cloud in the morning, increasingly wet in the early afternoon. Brisk southerly wind.
In addition to the regular two first-summer Mediterranean Gulls, there were two first-summers on Railway Pool today, in amongst the Black-headed Gulls, but can sometimes take some finding.
Two Egyptian Geese, two Redshank and over 50 Swifts were present in the morning with a Hobby seen later in the afternoon. As the day unfolded, a Little Egret came onto site, there were ten Lesser Black-backs and four Herring Gulls loafing in the shore opposite Car Park Hide, two Shelduck were present and at least 40 mixed hirundines.
22nd May 2021
Wet a.m., showery but noticeably drier afternoon on a north-westerly wind.
The rain has caused the River Blythe to flood onto the flood plain and gulls and ducks were feeding there. The only unusual birds were six Oystercatchers with eight adults still on the pools.
In the afternoon, there was a Peregrine over Bradnocks Marsh and a steady stream of hirundines with Swifts and a sample of these were as follows: 15 Swifts and two House Martins through in front of the rain at 3.45, seven more House Martins at 4.08 with a Swallow, four more House Martins at 4.15 plus ten Sand Martins, 12 more Swifts at 4.25 and there were at least 20 Swifts over the central stream at 4.45 with some hirundines.
Counts of Swifts and hirundines in the morning were 50 and 25 House Martins respectively.
Other counts were as follows: eight Mute Swans and seven cygnets, 31 Greylags and 21 goslings, two Shelduck, eight Canada and five goslings, a female Wigeon, 36 Gadwall, 22 Mallard, a male Teal, 127 Tufteds, two Great Crested Grebes, three Little Grebes, one Little Egret, one Cormorant, ten Moorhen, 36 Coot and two chicks, four Little Ringed Plovers and two chicks, nine Lapwings and a chick of about ten days old on Car Park Pool in the Yellow Flag, two Redshanks including the colour-ringed bird, 1250 Black-headed Gulls, two second-summers and one first-summer Mediterranean Gull, 22 Lesser Black-backs and two Herring Gulls, 19 Common Terns and two adults and one fledged juvenile Grey Wagtail.
21st May 2021
Mostly wet on a south-westerly wind
Two Egyptian Geese and three Mediterranean Gulls were seen today, the regular two-second summers and a first-summer. Male Teal and male Wigeon were present, along with 50 hirundines, mostly House Martins and at least three Swifts.
However, the most interesting news, perhaps, relates to a probable Bluethroat that was seen for a few minutes on the fence-line and on the top of the brambles below Railway Hide, with the blue throat, white supercilium and cocked tail all noted. Unsurprisingly this will be the first record for the Reserve, if accepted.
20th May 2021
Patchy rain on a brisk southerly wind.
An early start was not rewarded with the Spoonbill which must have departed overnight, but the Barn Owl was seen at dawn. Two Egyptian Geese, two Muntjac and a Roe Deer were also noted.
19th May 2021
Bright and sunny for the most of the day on a cool, north-westerly wind.
Sunset – 19th May 2021 – Photograph by Nick Barlow
The highlight of the day came in the evening when John Hunt, checking on the Terns, was suddenly aware that a first-summer Spoonbill had appeared at the north end of the islands on Car Park Pool and promptly roosted. It seems quite possible that this is the same bird that had roamed the Tame Valley a few days ago.
Two female Goosanders roosted along with an Egyptian Goose and there was a Redshank on site.
Six Swifts appeared briefly and the Barn Owl was also seen. 40 Sand Martins were feeding together and then formed into a tight flock and disappeared, either to roost or to carry on migrating.
Of the Terns, two that were ringed in 2018 and which were also sighted last year were back on site this evening. C25 was seen last year at the Reserve and C13, which was sighted last year at Grimley.
Earlier in the day other counts were as follows; two Shelduck, a female Wigeon, two male and one female Teal, the colour-ringed Redshank, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls, the first Black–headed Gull chicks (7) and the following broods of young waders: Oystercatchers (Car Park: 1,3; Railway Pool: 1,1;) Lapwing (Car Park 3; Railway Pool 1), Little Ringed Plover (Railway Pool 3).
The Mute Swans still have seven cygnets, there are five Canada goslings, 21 Greylag goslings in four broods and in the warmer periods both male and female Brimstone were seen, the former along the Concrete Road and the latter by the Car Park feeders.
18th May 2021
Sunshine and showers, light north-westerly wind.
A pair of Little Ringed Plovers on Railway Pool were seen with two very newly hatched chicks this morning. There were a pair of Egyptian Geese, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls and two Redshanks whilst, in the evening, the Common Tern count reached 36. There was a female Goosander, six Swifts and 40 Sand Martins towards dusk when the rain was torrential at times.
In the sunny periods, three Azure Damselflies and two Large–red Damselflies were seen along the Concrete Road and a Brimstone was also noted.
17th May 2021
Occasional sunny periods with more clouds and showers, north, north-westerly wind.
A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing in the flood plain bushes this morning and a Hobby flew over Car Park Pool at 12.15.
The adult Mediterranean Gull, plus the two second-summers were seen, as were a pair of Redshanks.
16th May 2021
Sun and showers, but mostly overcast.
There were four Redshanks this morning, a pair on Railway Pool which later flew off north and a pair on Car Park Pool. A Yellow Wagtail was present on the flood plain and it was pleasing to discover that the pair of Oystercatchers on Car Park Pool had not in fact lost a youngster as originally thought.
An immature Peregrine went over the Car Park Pool, briefly in the late morning and, in the evening, a Kingfisher flew over Railway Pool, a Hobby made its way up and down the Old Road and there were two Egyptian Geese on Car Park Pool.
15th May 2021
Mostly overcast with occasional sunny intervals, periodic heavy showers, light south-easterly wind.
Today’s highlights were undoubtedly a pair of Black Terns that flew over fairly high at 9.15 having come in from the south. Those at Railway Pool did not see them, only those at Car Park Pool. One was a full adult and one was a moulting adult.
Hirundines were passing through all day with the make-up changing as the morning evolved. One group of 15 House Martins appeared around 11.30, before which there were 40 plus Sand Martins and a little later, 20-30 Swallows.
Three Yellow Wagtails flew over, going south-east, at 12.45 and other counts today were as follows: nine Mutes with the seven cygnets, 18 Greylags, ten Canadas and five Goslings, a female Wigeon, 30 Gadwall, seven Mallard, a pair of Teal, 84 Tufted, ten Moorhen, 29 Coots and a brood of two on the Reedbed, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, only two visible Little Grebes, one Cormorant, four Little Ringed Plovers, eight Oystercatchers and three broods (the pair on Car Park Pool appear to have lost one), 14 Lapwing and two broods of four on each pool, a Dunlin, 1250 Black–headed Gulls, two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls, two Herring Gulls, 11 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, 19 Terns of which 13 are sitting and three Collared Doves by the entrance gate cottages.
14 May 2021
Sunny intervals, light south-easterly wind.
The May Blossom is beginning to emerge and the smell of the pollen was carrying on the light south-easterly wind today.
The adult and two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls were noted and it appears there are still three Garden Warblers on site but there was no sound of the Lesser Whitethroat this morning.
11 Terns appear to be sitting now, on Car Park Pool.
Other birds today included one Dunlin, two Redshank (including the colour-ringed bird) and a female Shelduck. An immature Peregrine went over at lunch-time.
Young birds included the seven cygnets on Railway Pool, a brood of five Canadas there as well, 20 Greylag goslings on Car Park Pool, still three broods of Oystercatchers (two lots of singles on Railway Pool and one of three on Car Park Pool) a brood of four Lapwings on Railway Pool and a new emerging brood of two on Car Park Pool.
13th May 2021
Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast with showers, north-easterly wind.
The Egyptian Goose was in amongst other Geese on the flood plain today whilst two female Goosanders spent part of the morning on Car Park Pool.
A wide ranging Cuckoo toured the Reserve.
635 Black-headed Gull nests were counted and, in amongst them, was an adult and two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls.
12th May 2021
Mostly overcast, south-westerly wind, showery.
In the Back Gate Copse at least one Willow Warbler, together with a Garden Warbler were in good song and a Cetti’s Warbler sang regularly around the Packhorse Bridge area south of Railway Pool.
On the main Reserve there were 27 Common Terns, six Little Ringed Plovers, three pairs of Oystercatchers with young, at least 14 Lapwings, the Snow Goose, four Mediterranean Gulls and at least three Swifts.
11th May 2021
South-westerly wind, sunny intervals with very heavy showers.
An additional Mediterranean Gull joined the other three birds today; this was a first-summer. The Common Tern count reached 28. The Snow Goose remains and along with a pair of Teal and a female Wigeon. There were also two Shelduck and the single Common Sandpiper.
A Hobby went over Car Park Pool at 11.30 when an Egyptian Goose appeared. In the evening there was a Cuckoo.
A Work Party of eight undertook work around Siden Hill Wood, including clearance of vegetation around the smaller Lower Siden Hide (completed) and around Railway Hide (work still to complete). The paths were also cleared and spiral guards to the hedge tidied up. Sheltering from showers was necessary! Thanks to all those who attended.
10th May 2021
South-westerly wind, sunshine and heavy showers.
The pair of Mute Swans on Railway Pool have hatched out seven cygnets and there were still three Oystercatcher broods as follows: one of three on Car Park Pool and ones of a single each on Railway Pool. There is also still a Lapwing brood of four there.
The adult Mediterranean Gull and the two second-summers continue to commute in and out of the Railway Pool islands and there were two female Goosanders on site this morning. A Hobby went south to north along the Old Road at 2 pm.
In the evening, the Barn Owl was again hunting around Car Park Hide at just after 9 pm when the Common Tern count reached 27th. The two female Goosanders were back and the Snow Goose remains on Car Park Pool.
Common Sandpiper – Photograph by Paul Casey
9th May 2021
Overnight rain, clearing by 7.30 becoming warm (temperatures up to 17.5 degrees) with sunny periods and a variable west, south-westerly wind.
Sanderling on Car Park Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
The overnight rain began to clear at about 7.30 am and revealed a partially summer plumaged Sanderling on Car Park Pool in the company of four Ringed Plovers, the long-staying Dunlin and at least one Common Sandpiper.
At 10 am, a first-summer Little Gull appeared on Railway Pool before moving to Car Park Pool for an hour, when it flew off high to the east.
Four new Lapwing chicks have hatched out on Railway Pool on Tern Island, the three Mediterranean Gulls were still present and at least 11 Swifts moved through in the morning and a Cuckoo flew over the field beyond the A452 heading towards the car park.
Grey Wagtails were seen around the tip field and east of the A452, a Yellow Wagtail fed on the flood plain amongst the cattle, there were three female Goosanders along the river on the flood plain, a Redshank spent much of the day on Car Park Pool, the Snow Goose continued to linger on site and both the female Wigeon and a pair of Teal were present on Car Park Pool. A Kingfisher also flashed across Car Park Pool whilst, in the evening, three further Swifts moved south, a Greenland Wheatear was seen along the concrete road, along with a Barn Owl.
The Ringed Plover and Sanderling flew off high to the north-west at 8.10 pm, leaving the Dunlin behind.
Little Gull – Car Park Pool – Photograph by Steve Taylor
8th May 2021
Wet for most of the day on a westerly wind.
The anticipated fall of birds in advance or during the passing front did not materialise, probably because the rain, which did not start until about 5 am was probably too late to effect most of the migrating birds.
The long-staying Dunlin (assuming it is the same bird from the 4th) lingers on and there were two Common Sandpipers and a female Goosander on Car Park Pool. Yesterday’s Snow Goose remained.
Today’s full counts, excluding the above, comprised ten Mute Swans, 14 Canadas, 24 Greylags and three broods (six, six and eight), a female Wigeon, two pairs of Teal, 31 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 85 Tufted, two each of Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, one Cormorant, ten Moorhens, 37 Coot, 12 Lapwing, eight Oystercatcher and now three broods (Car Park: three, Railway Pool: one and two) eight Little Ringed Plovers, 1175 Black-headed Gulls, seven Herring Gulls, 24 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, only eight Common Terns in the morning, three Mediterranean Gulls (one adult and two second-summers), three Shelducks, three Swifts, two Grey Wagtails, at least ten Swallows, 20 House Martins and 40 Sand Martins, a pair of Cetti’s Warblers by River Hide and two singing Lesser Whitethroats, one by the south-west pond and one opposite Car Park Hide. Garden Warblers included birds at the back gate, along the causeway and along the Old Road.
Greylag Geese and chicks – Photograph taken 7th May 2021 by Stef Fraczek
7th May 2021
Sunny, but cool start. Cold, light westerly wind, increasingly cloudy.
After a seemingly quiet start, the discovery of an Avocet and a Snow Goose on Car Park Pool certainly increased the interest. The provenance of the Snow Goose can be debated for ages, but there are feral birds around the country so it seems unlikely to be a truly wild bird.
Gulls were clearly on the move with at least 54 Lesser Black–backs by 11 am, together with six Herring Gulls and two very late Common Gulls, an adult and a second-summer. Two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls and an adult were also present on Railway Pool and waders, aside from the regulars, included a rather elusive Dunlin on the far shore of Car Park Pool and two Common Sandpipers.
The vocal Garden Warbler that has been along the causeway for a few days showed well and the Willow Warbler, which was in the crop field Oaks seems to have moved down to the other end of the causeway.
Whitethroat from Railway Hide – Photograph by Paul Casey
A male Kestrel was at the north end of the Old Road, a Buzzard flew over, a few Swallows and House Martins were moving north and the female Wigeon continues to linger. Lastly, a late male Pochard appeared on Car Park Pool in the late morning.
In the evening, the Common Tern count reached 33, the highest so far this year. Also of particular interest, a Barn Owl was flying over the field to the right of Car Park Hide at 9.05. There was no sign of the Avocet in the evening but three Swifts flew over.
Avocet – Car Park Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
During the warmer periods of the day, the first Odonata of the year appeared along the Concrete Road in the shape of a Large-red Damselfly. Butterflies included 11 Orange-tips, a Peacock and a Green-veined White.
6th May 2021
Cool, north-easterly wind, sunny intervals, overcast in the evening and occasional showers.
Two Whimbrel flew north over Car Park Pool at 9.10 am and there was a male Yellowhammer on the feeders. A single adult Mediterranean Gull was present on Railway Pool. Three Lesser Whitethroats were recorded in song, one opposite Car Park Hide, one along the central stream and one along the Old Road. Cetti’s Warblers comprised two singing birds, one behind Railway Hide and one on the causeway. A female Roe Deer was seen opposite Car Park Hide and may have been the same animal that ran across the crop field on the 1st of May.
5th May 2021
Cold, north-westerly wind, with violent hail showers on and off throughout the day and some sunny periods.
One Dunlin, four Common Sandpipers, nine Little Ringed Plovers, 11 Oystercatchers and a chick, 22 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, six Herring Gulls, one adult Mediterranean Gull, 24 Common Terns and Lesser Whitethroats along the Old Road and by the south-west pond made up the counts today.
Of particular interest was that during the violent hail showers, both a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper were seen sheltering in the Tern boxes, with three Little Ringed Plovers sheltering in the lee of another.
Oycestercatcher Chick trying out its wings – Photographs taken 7th May 2021 – by Bob Breach
4th May 2021
Very cold north-westerly, showers.
The weather continues in an unseasonal mode as does the birding, with a Pink-footed Goose on Car Park pool and the grass surrounding the hide very unexpected this morning.
A single Dunlin and two Common Sandpipers were also present on the same pool, along with the female Wigeon, a pair of Teal and a drake Shoveler.
Other records today included two Swifts, three broods of Greylag, 19 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, six Herring Gulls, a first-winter Greater Black–backed Gull, three female Goosanders and one adult and two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls. The Common Sandpiper total had increased to three.
3rd May 2021
Dry, still start, wind increasing from the west and turning cold and wet.
Two second-summer Mediterranean Gulls present this morning, along with two Dunlin, briefly. Other birds included the long staying female Wigeon, a drake Shoveler, a pair of Teal, four Common Sandpipers, Hobby, Swift, White Wagtail, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and four Herring Gulls.
Plants in flower include Meadow Saxifrage on the east side of the verge to Car Park hide.
Sun setting over Car Park Pool taken by Nick Barlow
Dragonfly Pool and Concrete Road at dawn
2nd May 2021
Cold, light north-westerly, mostly sunny.
Birds missing yesterday which appeared today comprised two Hobbies over Car Park Pool at 12.30pm, two female Goosanders on Car Park Pool along with two Redshank, two Shelduck and a Cuckoo.
Other birds today were the adult Mediterranean Gulls, four Common Sandpipers, two Yellow Wagtails and a White Wagtail, at least 15 Common Terns and three Garden Warblers.
1st May 2021
Frosty, cold, misty start, light northerly, mostly sunny thereafter.
Today was the annual Spring all day bird race. The total by the end of the day was 84 species which was about par with previous years. Good coverage in the morning and 82 species were reached by 1.30pm but only Raven and Mistle Thrush were added in the afternoon. Notable absentees included birds such as Redshank, Hobby and Shelduck, all of which have been seen in days before.
There was a steady trickle of hirundines all day and by lunchtime a conservative estimate would indicate 40 Swallows, 25 House Martins and 40 Sand Martins through or on site. This migration continued all day, although many of the Sand Martins appeared to be local birds.
The area east of the A452 was initially quiet but by 1.00pm there was a male Whinchat and a female Greenland Wheatear in the rough grass there which shortly increased to two Whinchats, a male and either a dull male or more likely, a female. A Common Snipe was also flushed from there.
At the same time, Yellow Wagtails started appearing on the grass by Car Park hide, starting with two birds and increasing to seven shortly thereafter, four males and three females. They were joined by a male White Wagtail.
An early morning census yielded three Garden Warblers and one to two Lesser Whitethroats and in walking around the Reedbed, a Jack Snipe was a surprise find. The only other migrant wader was Common Sandpiper. The full list of birds is as follows:
Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Wheatear, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellow Hammer and Reed Bunting.