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.
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
WORK PARTY DATES
Saturday 8th November – 2pm
Saturday 6th December – 2pm
Marsh Lane Traffic Arrangements
Starting from March/April 2026, and lasting about 9 months, there will be amended traffic arrangements on the A452/Kenilworth Road. These relate to the alterations that are taking place whereby the dual carriageway will rise over the forthcoming (God only knows when!) HS2 and a new junction with Marsh Lane is being formed. Use of the new section will commence shortly.
At that junction, a roundabout is due to be constructed and, in due course, Marsh Lane will be accessed off that roundabout. In the meantime, some lane closures will take place, but Marsh Lane and the Lorry Park will always be accessible. Signposting will hopefully mention the Nature Reserve but if not follow the signs for the Lorry Park.
28th November 2025
Breezy and cool, south westerly, sunny with showers later.
In the early morning there was a female Pintail in the south-east corner of Car Park Pool, but it soon departed, with other ducks also pretty mobile today commuting both between the pools and the Flood Plain.
Opposite Car Park Hide a flock of about 12 Goldfinches were feeding in the Alders, whilst there were 10 Redwings in each of the Back Gate Copse and along the Causeway. At the latter location there was also a Goldcrest, and at the former there were two Siskins. A Kingfisher called from Car Park Pool, at least 40 Wood Pigeons went over, and amongst the gulls there was a particularly large, darkly streaked Herring Gull which was probably argentatus.
27th November 2025
Dull, damp and windy but mild with temperatures at least 13°.
A decent variety of birds making the log included Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Goldfinch and four Redwings and a Fieldfare in the Causeway area where winter thrushes are seemingly ever-present on the hawthorn berries.
26th November 2025
Sunny, light southerly, pools 90% iced over.
An unseasonal Black-tailed Godwit appeared on Railway Pool initially and was then later seen on Car Park Pool. Bizarrely, this is our first record of the year and continues a run of late November waders.
The Bittern was again in the Reedbed, along with a calling Water Rail.
Three Stonechats did not include the black-ringed male. Instead, there was an unringed female by the Dragonfly Pond and a pair on the Flood Plain fences.
A Kingfisher was seen at Patrick Bridge, with a male Goosander on the pools, along with 34 Gadwall and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull. Six Skylark flew over.
25th November 2025
Sunny, light northerly.
A Lesser Redpoll flew low over the Causeway, but by and large there have been few of this species so far this autumn. At Patrick Bridge there was a Grey Wagtail with two House Sparrows, whilst on the pools or along the margins, there was just a single drake Pochard, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and 10 Snipe.
24th November 2025
Overcast, light northerly, flooding at Patrick Bridge.
Other than plenty of geese – 362 Canadas, 214 Greylags and two Egyptian Geese – there was little else of note.
23rd November 2025
Persistent overnight rain into the early morning but clearing to sunny periods, cool west/south-westerly. Some flooding at Patrick Bridge.
Whilst there was nothing particularly unusual, there was a good selection of birds today with counts as follows: 16 Skylarks, seven over and nine on the Tip Field, 24 Redwings spread around the Reserve, with a single Fieldfare joining a few of them along the Old Road, 25 Linnets in the Crop Field, Treecreeper with Goldcrest in a tit flock by the cottages, Water Rail in the Marsh, and four Pied Wagtails and two Meadow Pipits around the Tip Field.
The slightly milder weather this morning encouraged a number of Song Thrushes to sing, with at least two on the Central Streamline, and one heard from over in Siden Hill Wood, with a fourth along the Old Road north of the Reserve.
22nd November 2025
Overcast, grey and light south-westerly.
The full count of today’s birds, care of Graham and Dave, were as follows: Six Mute Swans, 203 Canadas, 14 Greylags, seven Shoveler, only six Gadwall, 284 Wigeon, 43 Mallard, 164 Teal, a drake Pochard, eight Tufted Ducks, 50 Cormorants, two Little Grebes, two Water Rail (North Causeway Bay and the Reedbed), four Moorhen, 16 Coot, 32 Lapwing, 13 Snipe, 101 Black-headed Gulls, four Common Gulls, four Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull.
Fourteen Redwings were feeding on the berries in the Back Gate Copse, and nine Meadow Pipits were seen around the margins or on the islands of Railway Pool.
21st November 2025
Sunny spells, fresh and cold northerly.
The persistent cold weather had led to a partial freeze up this morning with at least 60% of Car Park Pool iced over, and 90% of the Reedbed iced over.
The pools still held a drake Pochard and two female Goosanders, with the latter species being scarce so far this winter. Sixteen Snipe were seen on the margins of the pools, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay channels and on the Flood Plain, the mobile pair of Stonechats were present, along with two Mistle Thrushes and a Kingfisher on the River.
Four Fieldfares fed on the berries along the Old Road, and ten Skylarks comprised one over and nine around the HS2 workings.
20th November 2025
Sunny spells, fresh, cold northerly.
The Bittern was seen again on Reedbed Pool this morning, and a Green Sandpiper was heard flying over at dawn. Seven Collared Doves were also present around the Back Gate, presumably birds from Corrie Farm.
There were again a few Redwings around the Causeway, feeding on the good crop of berries there, with at least seven seen. Six Common Snipe were present to the left of Car Park Hide, along with a Green Woodpecker which has taken a liking to both this area and the Tip Field. Towards the end of the day the Bittern flew across the Reedbed to roost.
Snipe – Photograph by Jason Lewis
19th November 2025
Sunny spells, fresh and cold northerly.
Two members of Packington Estate staff started work today, with further work tomorrow, using a digger to remove some of the emerging willows from around the margins of Railway Pool.
The receding water line on Car Park Pool held its attraction again today for a mixed flock of Wagtails and Pipits, with at least 13 Pied Wagtails, 10 Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail there, whilst on the shoreline 12 Snipe were flushed as the work was inspected. Nineteen Redwings came out of the Back Gate Copse and flew off to the south. Later in the morning, an adult Whooper Swan appeared on Car Park Pool, possibly the roving, long-staying and visiting bird that seems to wander around the area, although its visits to Packington have been pretty infrequent over the last 12 months. It was joined by 334 Canadas, three Canada/Greylag hybrids, 199 Greylags, just two drake Pochard, 50 Cormorants, eight Common Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull.
A Green Sandpiper was still on the Patrick Farm flashes.
18th November 2025
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly, turning cold.
The Bittern was again seen on the Reedbed early morning – for those wanting to see it you really need to be there before 07.00 at the moment.
Six Meadow Pipits and nine Pied Wagtails were feeding on the ‘tide line’ below Railway Hide this morning, three Ring-necked Parakeets were seen flying around Siden Hill Wood, and there were still four drake Pochard.
17th November 2025
Sunny, light northerly.
A Dunlin was a surprise visitor to Car Park Pool, although over the years of the Reserve, a few late migrant waders have appeared in November.
There was a Green Sandpiper on the Patrick Farm flashes, and on the Flood Plain there were six Skylarks and 12 Meadow Pipits. The adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted on the Car Park Pool islands and there was a late Common Darter seen on the Concrete Road.
16th November 2025
Dry, light north-easterly, mostly sunny.
The Bittern was seen from the Reedbed Hide at 06.49 this morning moving from its roost to its favoured feeding areas.
The female Pintail was still on the pools with five Pochard, a Great White Egret, 12 Snipe and a Raven which flew over. Seven Redwings were enjoying the hawthorn berries on the Causeway.
15th November 2025
Overcast, cool, severe flooding both on the Blythe and from the Blythe into both pools.
It is not uncommon for Railway Pool to flood direct from the Blythe. The bank levels on the west side of Railway Pool are relatively low compared to the high water line and the river does flood, both west and east. It is much rarer for Car Park Pool to flood and only occurs when the volume of water coming down Bayleys Brook meets the river, and the combination of the quantities of water means that there is a back-up over Car Park Pool. That is what occurred overnight with the torrential rain from Storm Claudia.
Despite the rain, there were a few birds making the logbook, with at least 18 Meadow Pipits, mostly around the periphery of Railway Pool, a flock of 20 Goldfinches and 15 Linnets in the Car Park hedges, 16 Long-tailed Tits through the Car Park, Grey and Pied Wagtail on the pool margins, 32 Snipe below Car Park Hide, three drake Pochard, 11 Redwings in the trees on the far side of Car Park Pool, together with 27 Starlings, and a Kingfisher.
Seven Collared Doves came into the Car Park feeders, there was a Great White Egret again, two Egyptian Geese and 15 Tufteds.
14th November 2025
Overcast, heavy rain, blustery north-easterly. Commencement of Storm Claudia.
It really was a pretty dismal day with heavy rain for most of it. Despite that, a few records made the logbook including the long-staying female Pintail, an increase in Gadwall to 43, 17 Meadow Pipits on the Railway Pool islands, a Great White Egret and a drake Pochard.
13th November 2025
Dry, bright, sunshine, light wind.
A female Pintail was again seen, as was the Great White Egret and adult Greater Black-backed Gull. Eight Skylarks went south and there was a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay. In the afternoon, there were six Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backs, at least five Herring Gulls with a further three over, and seven Snipe were flushed by the cattle towards the end of the afternoon from the shoreline in front of Car Park Hide.
Other birds making the log were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, two Buzzards, eight Siskin, Song Thrush, Redwing in the Back Gate Copse with a further two coming into the Central Stream to roost, and a late Common Darter.
12th November 2025
Dull, rainy.
A surprisingly late pair of Blackcaps were seen in the bushes just north of Oak Hide, alongside the Marsh. Twenty-five Meadow Pipits were present in the Marsh or around the small pools, and a Kingfisher flew over the north screen.
There was just a single drake Pochard, the female Pintail, Great White Egret, a late Chiffchaff along the Old Road, two Grey Wagtails on the Flood Plain and 10 Snipe, whilst in the Crop Field there were 30 Goldfinches and three Linnets.
11th November 2025
Overcast, fresh southerly. Flooding at Patrick Bridge from the rain yesterday and overnight.
There were eight Egyptian Geese this morning, but just a single female Pintail. The Pochard count was nine today and a Green Sandpiper was seen at Patrick Bridge. Four Collared Doves were underneath the feeders and, on the pools, there were five Common Gulls and a Great White Egret.
10th November 2025
Sunny start but clouding over to rain, light southerly.
There was no sign of any Otters this morning, but the Bittern was seen in the Reedbed in the early morning. There was a Great White Egret on Railway Pool and a pair of Pintail on Car Park Pool, along with 16 Pochard. Counts for the latter are very variable on a day by day basis.
Other birds included a Kingfisher, Water Rail, a pair of Pheasants and 35 Redwing.
9th November 2025
Overcast, light south-easterly.
A Peregrine flew over this morning and there were at least six Fieldfare in the Back Gate Copse, whilst 40 Redwings went south. Twenty Meadow Pipits were spread around the Railway Pool islands or in the Marsh, and other birds included just a female Pochard, Great White Egret, an Egyptian Goose over, a Water Rail from Oak Hide, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull with seven Common Gulls on Car Park Pool, and a Ring-necked Parakeet over Siden Hill Wood.
8th November 2025
Overcast, light south-westerly.
The afternoon work party was attended by only four, but many thanks to those. The bramble encroachment around the Orchid Field was cut back, a start was made on removing the emerging Alders at the south end of the Reedbed, and more bramble was cut back or controlled on the banks around Railway Pool. One of the results of this work was to flush at least 30 Snipe from the Marsh. One hundred Starlings came into roost in the Reedbed, two Redwings dropped into the Back Gate Copse at a similar time, and a Tawny Owl was heard calling on the Bradnocks Marsh side of the Railway Embankment at 17.15.
Counts earlier in the day, care of Graham and Dave, were 17 Mute Swans, 26 Greylags, 123 Canadas, 24 Shoveler, seven Gadwall, 210 Wigeon, 10 Mallard, a pair of Pintail, 148 Teal, seven Pochard, 10 Tufteds, 18 Cormorants, two Great Crested Grebes, five Little Grebes, two Herons, two Great White Egrets, four Little Egrets, five Moorhen, 18 Coot, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay, 119 Lapwing, three Snipe, 96 Black-headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a Fieldfare in the Back Gate Copse along with two Redwings, and a further two Redwings along the Old Road, two Siskins, one in the Back Gate Copse and one along the Old Road Alders, a pair of Stonechats by Patrick Bridge, and a pair of Grey Wagtails, with one on Railway Pool and one by Patrick Bridge.
Grey Wagtail – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
7th November 2025
Overcast, light southerly breeze, turning to light drizzle.
A Sparrowhawk made at least one pass at the Car Park feeders this morning but was not seen to catch anything.
Counts included two Goldcrest, 20 Greenfinches, eight Chaffinches, three Reed Buntings and a Redwing in and around the feeders, whilst on the pools there were 13 Pochard, two pairs of Pintail, Great White Egret, one Little Egret, two Herons, a Buzzard, three Pied Wagtails, four Meadow Pipits, Water Rail from the North Causeway screen, a Green Woodpecker in the similar area and two Ring-necked Parakeets over Siden Hill Wood.
6th November 2025
Remaining mild but overcast, with temperatures around 15°.
Plenty of action around the Car Park feeders as usual, and aside from the ever-present Tits, Greenfinches and a few Chaffinches, there was also Pheasant, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Robin.
Other birds making the log included Green Woodpecker by Oak Hide.
5th November 2025
Showers and overcast with the rain clearing away to occasional sunny intervals by 09.30 – 10.00. Light south-easterly.
The Otters were on the Reedbed this morning, and the Bittern was seen leaving its roost at 06.45, along with approximately 200 Starlings which left about 30 minutes later.
A Brambling was seen and heard calling along the Causeway before heading off low south at 09.20. Twelve Redwings, a Skylark and five Starlings also went south. The male Pintail was present, but there was no sign of the female. There were also five Pochard. Thirteen Meadow Pipits were counted on the Railway Pool islands, a pair of Stonechats were near Patrick Bridge, and a Great White Egret and Kingfisher were seen.
4th November 2025
Overcast, fresh south-westerly.
The pair of Pintail were still present on site, and the mobile flock of Meadow Pipits, this time 12 in number, were on the Railway Pool islands.
Eighteen Redwings included 12 by Patrick Farm, and the rest scattered around the Reserve, with just a single Fieldfare along the Old Road. A Lesser Redpoll flew south over the Reedbed.
A Great White Egret was present, along with eight Common Gulls, five Herring Gulls and nine Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
3rd November 2025
Sunny spells, blustery south-westerly. A tree could be heard falling in Siden Hill Wood.
There were again two Otters on the Reedbed Pool in the very early morning, visible in the half light.
The HS2 Flood Plain held both Stonechats this morning, along with two Grey Wagtails and 12 Meadow Pipits. There were six Siskins in the South-West Pond area, eight Redwings went over, and the Bittern flew across the Reedbed at 11.55 this morning.
Other counts today included a pair of Pintail, four Pochard, nine Gadwall, 208 Canadas, 84 Greylags, four Little Egrets, three Herons, seven Little Grebes, 11 Common Gulls, six Herring Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull. There were also two Egyptian Geese seen.
2nd November 2025
Cool but sunny, light west/south-westerly.
Impressive Wood Pigeon passage this morning between 07.15 – 09.45 produced an estimated 5,290 birds, along with 24 each of Redwing and Fieldfare, 194 Starlings, six Reed Buntings, three Meadow Pipits, two Skylarks, 10 Chaffinches, a Snipe, 13 Herring Gulls and a Song Thrush. Quite often there is little supplementary passage but today it was good to see other birds on the move aside from the Pigeons.
Additional Thrushes included eight Redwings on the Causeway and six in the Back Gate Copse, four Fieldfares in the Back Gate Copse, and two Mistle Thrushes which flew over into Siden Hill Wood; additionally 300 Starlings left the Reedbed roost very quickly at dawn, a male Blackcap was seen on the Causeway, with Bittern and Otter visible in first light on the Reedbed. The smart male Pintail remained on Car Park Pool and two male Sparrowhawks thermalled high over the Reserve. Eleven Long-tailed Tits on the Railway Embankment was the highest count noted so far this autumn.
As the day wore on, further counts of birds over included eight Skylarks and three Ravens. Ninety Lapwing and seven Snipe were present on Car Park Pool. In a search along the Old Road there was a Treecreeper present, and the male and female Stonechats had split up, with the male on the HS2 Flood Plain fences the female at the Dragonfly Pond.
1st November 2025
Sunny spells, blustery south-westerly.
Three Stonechats today included a pair on the HS2 Flood Plain fencing, the male bearing the Black XB ring applied originally in November 2022. There was a separate female on the Dragonfly Pond.
Other counts included 18 Mute Swans, 92 Canadas, 75 Greylags, two Egyptian Geese, 36 Shoveler, seven Gadwall, 223 Wigeon, 94 Mallard, pair of Pintail, 297 Teal, 14 Tufteds, 37 Cormorants, six Little Grebes, three Herons, two Little Egrets, four Moorhen, 24 Coot, 89 Lapwing, a Snipe, 107 Black-headed Gulls, eight Common Gulls, 12 Herring Gulls, 28 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-back.
Siden Hill Wood held one Ring-necked Parakeet, there were 11 Meadow Pipits on the HS2 Flood Plain, a female Willow Emerald on the edge of the Reedbed, along with a single Common Darter and four further Common Darters along the Concrete Road.