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
November 12th – 2 pm
December 10th – 2 pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Updates
25th November – Photograph Added.
22nd November – Photograph Added.
17th November – Record Updated.
13th November and 18th October – Photographs added
3rd November – Photograph added.
31st October – Record added
30th October – Photograph added
30th November 2022
Foggy and overcast, slowly clearing by 10am.
The anti-cyclone continues to dominate proceedings but the weather has gone a bit drier and some of the cattle remain, wandering from the flood plain over to Oak Hide. When farmer Tom came to feed them in the lunchtime period, the disturbance saw 25 Redwings, 27 Goldfinches, two Little Egrets and 160 Wood Pigeons put up from the flood plain and Siden Hill Wood respectively. A further 120 Redwings flew over Siden Hill Wood and appeared to land at the south end and there were 40 Redwings behind Railway Hide. 13 Chaffinches were feeding in the crop field.
A Grey Wagtail was feeding near the cattle in the early morning and on the Pools there were 14 Pochard and 36 Cormorants. A pair of Stonechats were in the fields around the mobile phone mast.
29th November 2022
Foggy start, lifting to generally overcast conditions. Still.
The quiet weather has not proved particularly good for anything unusual and today’s birds were similar to previous. The pair of Collared Doves were back at the feeders and there were 289 Canadas either on the Pools or feeding on the flood plain. 14 Pochard, 28 Tufteds, 12 Common Gulls and the regular adult Greater Black backed Gull were on the pools or the islands and two Ravens flew over. Lastly, there has been some thrush song and a Song Thrush was in full song on the crop field oaks. 40 Redwings were feeding around Railway Hide and the embankment.
28th November 2022
Foggy start, lifting slowly to sunny spells, light southerly
At least one Woodcock was seen today at the north end of Siden Hill Wood. A single bird flew over the wet field near the mobile phone mast and was probably the same bird flushed from the north end of the wood which then flew back over the mast a few minutes later. There were also a pair of Stonechats in the wet field with another pair just east of the tip field on the track to Mercote Mill.
On the Pools there were a pair of Egyptian Geese, 14 Pochard and a drake Goosander.
A Mistle Thrush was perched in a tree by the horse paddock along the Old Road and there were two Grey Wagtails on the flood plain. Two Water Rails and a Cetti’s Warbler were around the Causeway area and 20 Redwings around the Car Park feeding on the thorn berries.
27th November 2022
Sunny periods after overcast start
A mini raptor-fest today included the highlight, a male Merlin, seen around the Railway viaduct in the mid morning period. A female Kestrel had flown over Car Park Pool to the Railway and, in looking for this, the Merlin was spotted, perched in thorns on the railway embankment before it flew towards the railway arches and over to Bradnocks Marsh.
A Sparrowhawk attacked birds on the Car Park feeders and the Oak Hide feeders and there was a Buzzard in Siden Hill Wood.
Birds around the Car Park feeders included seven Greenfinch, three Reed Buntings, pairs of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Collared Doves, a Moorhen, four Starlings, eight Redwing and three Fieldfare.
There were four Little Egrets feeding on the flood plain, Water Rails were seen from River Hide and the Causeway Hide and a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper were present in the back gate copse.
Green Woodpecker in the Orchid Field – photograph by Ray Allen
26th November 2022
Mostly overcast, fresh westerly wind.
Much of the more interesting activity took place in or over Siden Hill Wood this morning. Mid-morning, a Woodcock was flushed from the side of the track between the car park to the railway and the wood itself, and there were at least 30 Redwings feeding in the thorns along the same track. Another 20 to 30 were in Siden Hill Wood, with plenty of flocks crossing the Flood Plain at one stage or another (details to follow). The adult male Peregrine was interacting with both Ravens and Jackdaws over the wood and Lapwing numbers have dropped as a result of the harassment.
The new scrapes were well up with water but have yet to attract much in the way of birds. Most of the Geese had moved out of the field and were on the Flood Plain where at least 180 Canadas included a few Greylags. Actually on the scrapes were two rather bored looking Herons and a few Jackdaws.
25th November 2022
Sunny, fresh southerly wind. It became wet towards the end of the day and overnight.
A count of 12 Egyptian Geese today was a record for the Reserve. A Red Kite went low over Car Park Pool at 13.40 and the adult male Peregrine put on superb hunting display over Car Park Pool, again hunting Lapwing. There were ten Pochard, a drake Stonechat remained in its favoured area around the Dragonfly Pond, there was still a drake Goosander present, a Water Rail showed in the partially cleared north Causeway channels and was again a Raven about. 30 Redwings, a pair of Bullfinches and a Jay were in the Back Gate Copse area.
Red Kite over Crop Field – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Shoveler on Railway Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Sparrowhawk from Railway Pool – Photograph by Steve Taylor
24th November 2022
Dry, cloudy, south-westerly wind and breezy.
The drake Goldeneye was present for its fourth day and it was again joined by a drake Goosander. The Peregrine was again present, hunting the Flood Plain or perched in Siden Hill Wood, and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull joined other roosting Gulls on the Car Park Pool islands. There were also two Egyptian Geese and six Snipe.
23rd November 2022
Sunny after overnight and early rain, brisk south-westerly wind.
The drake Goldeneye was present again, joined today by a drake Goosander and ten Pochard. Tufted Duck numbers were up to 28.
A Peregrine was feeding on prey on the Flood Plain, quite possibly a Lapwing, as the species has been targeting this wader.
Other birds making the log were Raven, 42 Cormorant, a single Egyptian Goose, two pairs of Bullfinches in the Back Gate Copse and a male Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond. Last, but definitely not least, a Yellowhammer was under the Car Park feeder.
22nd November 2022
Mostly overcast, but dry. Unsurprisingly the Flood Plain was well under water and the levels in the pools nearing top height.
The drake Goldeneye was still feeding away happily on Car Park Pool, to the left of Car Park Hide, towards the north Causeway Bay.
There was, however, no sign of the Pink-Footed Goose though many of the geese had dispersed across the Flood Plain and were distant.
30 Fieldfares were feeding along the margins of the floods with ten Redwings on the Old Road, together with ten Chaffinches and a Treecreeper. There were nine Pochard on Car Park Pool.
Flood Plain from Patrick Farm – Photograph by Nick Barlow
21st November 2022
Overcast start, heavy rain thereafter all day, fresh south-easterly wind.
Two good birds for the year started with a drake Goldeneye, found on Car Park Pool and present all day. Later in the morning, a Pink-footed Goose was found in amongst the other Geese on Railway Pool.
Nine Pochard on Car Park Pool, 37 Snipe mostly on Railway Pool, 29 Cormorants and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull made up the other records.
20th November 2022
Fine beginning and end to the day, wet in the middle.
A juvenile Peregrine hunted over Car Park Pool this morning and put the Lapwing flock up. There was an adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosting on the islands along with a scattering of other Gulls, including eight Commons.
Other records making the log were a drake Goosander, ten Pochard, 30 Shoveler, a single Egyptian Goose, two Great Crested Grebes on Car Park Pool, a pair of Bullfinches and a male Sparrowhawk behind Railway Hide, 14 Snipe in the Marsh, a Kestrel and Raven over the north end of the Flood Plain and a Lesser Redpoll around the Car Park.
19th November 2022
Bright, sunny, light north-westerly wind.
There were three Stonechats found today, a pair by the mobile phone mast and a male by the Dragonfly Pond. At least 150 Redwings were in and around Siden Hill Wood with 100 Fieldfare. Three Grey Wagtails included one by the railway arches, one west of Siden and one along the Old Road. Nuthatches called from both the wood and around the Pumping Station. A Raven flew over Patrick Farm and two Siskins were feeding in the Alders by the Back Gate. A female Sparrowhawk hunted the Flood Plain around Patrick Bridge.
Other counts included 19 Mute Swans, 83 Canadas, 29 Greylags, a single Egyptian Goose, one Shelduck, 43 Gadwall, 295 Wigeon, 43 Mallard, 22 Shoveler, 240 Teal, a Canada / Greylag cross, 11 Pochard, 22 Tufted, a drake Goosander, 26 Cormorants, three Heron, two Little Egrets, two Little Grebes, six Moorhen, 75 Coot, 207 Lapwing, five Snipe, 73 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Common Gulls, seven Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Great Black-backed Gull (which robbed a fish from a Cormorant and promptly consumed it) and, finally, six Meadow Pipits along the Concrete Road.
18th November 2022
Sunny, clouding over, fresh south-westerly wind, cool.
Counts today care of Graham Rowling and John Belsey comprised 21 Fieldfare, 35 Redwing, a pair of Bullfinch, a Redpoll, a Grey Wagtail, four Pied Wagtails, at least 150 Starlings, a Linnet, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and three Stock Doves plus eight Snipe and a Raven whilst wildfowl, other water fowl included 340 Wigeon, 40 Shoveler, 322 Teal, 73 Gadwall, nine Pochard, 11 Tufted, 72 Coot, 27 Cormorants, 195 Lapwing, two Little Grebes, two Little Egrets, three Mute Swans, a drake Goosander, 12 Tufted, seven Common Gulls and eight Herring Gulls. A Common Darter along the Concrete Road was increasingly late, albeit the autumn remains mild to date.
Pied Wagtail – Railway Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
17th November 2022
Wet, south-easterly wind.
Seven Shelduck on Car Park Pool this morning was the first of the returning birds and a note worthy count.
Other records today comprised six Pochard, two Little Egrets, two Snipe, five Common Gulls, two Ravens over Siden Hill Wood, a female Bullfinch behind Railway Hide and 20 Redwings.
Long-tailed Tit – Photograph by Steve Taylor
16th November 2022
Sunny spells, light southerly wind, clouding over by early afternoon with rain throughout the latter part of the afternoon and overnight.
The morning started with beautiful autumn light, still plenty of leaf cover to hide the birds. Eight Pochard on the pools this morning comprised seven males and a female. A Lesser Redpoll flew over the Orchid Field towards the Back Gate Copse, there was a male Stonechat around the Dragonfly Pond, a Grey Wagtail and five Meadow Pipits on the Flood Plain and 14 Common Gulls on Car Park Pool.
15th November 2022
Overcast, heavy rain until mid afternoon, light southerly wind.
A single Dunlin remained from yesterday, but the other goodies had departed. Pochard numbers had increased by one to eight, and there were 36 Snipe, a Raven and 20 Redwings feeding on berries along the Old Road.
14th November 2022
Misty, conditions lifting slowly to a sunny middle of the day, but more fog and mist towards the end of the day. Light south-westerly wind.
Ten female or immature Common Scoters on Car Park Pool this morning emerged from the fog to provide all but one member the opportunity to see only the second occurrence of this species at the Reserve. The last was a single drake on the 31st December 2018.
A number of Scoters recorded across the country, flying east to west, were presumably brought down by the foggy conditions. The Marsh Lane pools are not the optimum size for some of the bigger sea duck, grebes and divers, and the record was of added value due to the unexpected nature of it.
In addition, there were two pairs of Mandarins, a Dunlin and a Great Crested Grebe on Car Park Pool.
Two further Dunlin flew over Car Park Pool at 12.10 pm and were later seen on Railway Pool with the original still present on Car Park Pool at the same time.
Other counts today comprised, seven Pochard, 17 Tufted, a pair of Stonechats, at least 25 Snipe and 35 Shoveler.
Three of ten Common Scoter on Car Park Pool
only the second record for the Reserve – photograph by John Hunt
13th November 2022
Overcast at first, dry and sunny later, light winds.
Today’s highlight was a ring-tailed Hen Harrier which was seen, distantly, over the Flood Plain between the River Blythe and Siden Hill Wood in the late morning. It represents the 7th record with the last, also in November, in 2016.
Interaction between two Raptors together was the first thing, picked up by Glen Giles and then Steve Bradley, and the birds materialised into the Hen Harrier, which moved off to the north and a Peregrine which flew back into Siden Hill Wood, having mobbed the Harrier.
Other birds today included Water Rail, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, seven Common Snipe, five Meadow Pipits, five Pochard and 45 Fieldfare, the latter over the Car Park.
Water Rail – North Causeway – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Grey Wagtail from Oak Hide – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
12th November 2022
Overcast start, becoming sunny, fresh and an easterly wind.
Good counts of thrushes this morning around or over Siden Hill Wood comprised 180 Redwings and 20 Fieldfares. At least a further 30 to 40 Redwings appeared at dusk, seeking areas to roost. Further counts, care of Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan were as follows: 17 Mute Swans, 42 Greylags, 113 Canadas, 22 Shoveler, 65 Gadwall, 202 Wigeon, 33 Mallard, 135 Teal, two drakes and a female Pochard, 14 Tufted Ducks, a female Goosander, 21 Cormorants, a Heron, one Little Egret, three Little Grebes, ten Moorhens, 60 Coot, 122 Lapwing, 20 Snipe (with 40 later flushed from the Marsh by the Work Party), 260 Black-headed Gulls, 13 Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Kingfisher around Railway Pool and probably a different bird up at Patrick Bridge, one Raven, a male Stonechat by the Dragonfly Pond, six Meadow Pipits along the Concrete Road, two Grey Wagtails (one on the Marsh and one on the Flood Plain) and at least ten Common Darters.
Seven attended the Work Party. The sluice caps were fitted to increase water levels, progress was made in clearing the channels in the North Causeway Bay, the area round River Hide (as looking towards Car Park Pool) was opened up, the paths were mown, the feeders were cleaned and some emerging Alders were removed from the shore line by Oak Hide. Many thanks to those who attended.
Magpies fighting by Railway Hide – Photograph by Bob Breach
11th November 2022
Mostly overcast, but remaining mild with temperatures at 15 degrees centigrade at least. Strong southerly wind.
The deepening of the scrapes in Lower Siden was completed for this autumn. The existing seven scrapes have been deepened to the water table, with a further scrape made near to the railway bridge. The inter-linked ditch network between the scrapes has been deepened, as has the link back to the river.
There were fewer birds this afternoon, but a mobile group of at least five Chaffinches included a Brambling along the railway embankment, where there were also 20 Redwings. A Raven flew over the wood.
There were again a number of Rooks in amongst the Corvid flock on the Flood Plain with 15 counted today and the mild weather was good enough for a Migrant Hawker and four Common Darters to remain on the wing. Other birds included three Pochard on Car Park Pool, four Little Egrets moving between the east and west sides of the River, 18 Common Gulls in amongst the Black-heads and a Grey Wagtail in front of Oak Hide.
Photographs showing works at Lower Siden to deepen existing scrapes – Photographs by Nick Barlow
10th November 2022
No records.
9th November 2022
Sunny spells, blustery southerly wind.
The numbers of Mute Swans have increased over the last few days and there were 28 this morning, of which 22 were adults and six were juveniles. There were still three Pochard as well. Amongst the cattle this morning there were 18 Meadow Pipits and, nearby, 25 Rooks as well. A pair of Bullfinches were in the Back Gate Copse, seven Little Egrets were spread across the pools and the Gull count included nine Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backs and five Herring Gulls.
8th November 2022
Sunny intervals after heavy overnight rain and wind
A Woodcock was disturbed from the vegetation near the back gate copse mid morning, the first of the autumn.
Meanwhile an inspection of the works on Lower Siden (where the scrapes are being deepened), yielded at least 35 Pied Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits, 25 Starling and 50 Black-headed Gulls. A Raven flew over the wood and there were 15 Redwings and a Bullfinch along the railway side embankment.
7th November 2022
Overcast, light rain, fresh southerly
The first Goosander (a redhead) of the autumn visited Car Park Pool today where there was still a pair of Pochards. A juvenile Grey Wagtail was in the Marsh.
11 Pied Wagtails were feeding on the Flood Plain and there was a Bullfinch on the Guelder Rose berries behind Railway Hide.
6th November 2022
Overnight rain showers, light south westerly
Counts today included 21 Mute Swans a single Egyptian Goose, a drake Pochard, 15 Snipe in the Marsh, three calling Water Rails (two North Causeway and one in the Marsh itself), two Ravens and two Lesser Redpolls behind Oak Hide. A juvenile Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk both disturbed the birds on the Pools.
18 Meadow Pipits were feeding around Oak Hide and there were two Grey Wagtails on the Pool margins. A pair of Stonechats were again on the Flood Plain fencing and a Coal Tit visited the Oak Hide feeder.
5th November 2022
Overcast with showers, south westerly
No records
4th November 2022
Sunny fresh north westerly
Two Great White Egrets this morning took a liking to the shorelines of Railway Pool with four Little Egrets and 22 Snipe. The pair of Pochards were still present along with 13 Tufted Ducks. Other birds comprised a Kingfisher, eight Common Gulls and four Meadow Pipits on the Tip field.
Greylag Geese from Oak Hide – Photograph by Mike Pugh
Great White and Little Egrets from Oak Hide – Photograph by Mike Pugh
3rd November 2022
Mainly dry with sunny periods, light south westerly
A Great White Egret along with six Little Egrets was present on Railway Pool this morning with the pair of Pochards still on Car Park Pool. A Kingfisher was doing the rounds of the perches around Railway Pool and there were six Common Snipe in the Marsh.
On Car Park Pool amongst the increasing Black-headed Gull numbers, there was an adult Greater Black-backed Gull and six Common Gulls with birds on the move limited to three Redpolls and two Meadow Pipits.
Great White Egret (Background), Heron (Middle) and Little Egret (Foreground)
Photograph taken from Oak Hide by Graham Dyer
2nd November 2022
Fine, but cool and breezy start. Increasing southerly wind.
Early on, birds were limited to four Pied Wagtails on Car Park Pool, two Redwings over and the remaining pair of Pochard on Car Park Pool. The ducks are coming out of eclipse now into full breeding plumage and the Wigeon and Shoveler, in particular, look good.
1st November 2022
Overcast, prolonged heavy showers, occasional sunny intervals, fresh southerly wind.
The adverse weather today was not helpful in birding and records were limited to a fly-through Kingfisher, the pair of Pochard, three Little Egrets, six Herons and a Sparrowhawk.
Work on deepening the scrapes in Lower Siden is under way and a photograph of the work is shown below. The intention is to take the level of the pools down to just over 1m where we connect with the groundwater. This should help keep the pools wet for most of the year, contrary to their ephemeral nature up until now. The banks are a little steeper than intended and will be improved with some shelves of shallower water. The soil is being piled outside the flood area along the edge of the wood and once it has settled, it will be graded and seeded with a wildflower mix.
Lower Siden Scrapes work – Photograph by Nick Barlow
