Work Party Dates:
November 10th – 2 pm
December 8th – 2 pm
Updates:
Railway Pool and Islands: Further to previous updates, the water level on Railway Pool has been lowered in order that access can be gained to the islands on that pool starting on Monday 29th October. It is proposed that the vegetation and the top few inches of soil will be removed and taken away, and the islands will be re-gravelled.
22nd and 23rd October – Photographs added.
15th October – record updated.
31st October 2018
Sunny but cold.
There were at least 12 Redwings showing well and feeding on the Railway embankment this morning and a further ten flew west over the flood plain. Singles of Skylark and Meadow Pipit also went over.
At least one Green Sandpiper and a Common Snipe were feeding around the margin of Railway Pool and at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a male Yellowhammer came into the Car Park feeder.
A further 50 Redwings with a number of accompanying Blackbirds were feeding on the berries along the Old Road and a Treecreeper showed with a Long-tailed Tit flock by Oak Hide.
30th October 2018
Mostly cloudy, light north westerly.
No records.
29th October 2018
Early mist, sunny, cold north easterly
There was no sign of the Whooper Swans this morning but the Jack Snipe gave prolonged views in the North Causeway bay and there was a Water Rail also seen there occasionally.
There were six Little Egrets, a Kestrel, an adult Great Black-back Gull and at least one Common Snipe seen this morning. Other birds later in the day included at least five Redwings along the Old Road, a male Yellowhammer in the crop field and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker with at least one Stock Dove feeding at or under the Car Park feeders.
Work commenced today on stripping the surface of the Railway Pool islands. Despite regular spraying and weeding, the breakdown of vegetation and 20 years of principally goose droppings has created a substantial organic layer which has defeated one of the purposes of the former gravelling of the islands namely the breeding of waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and Lapwing.
It is hoped that by stripping the vegetation and re-gravelling the islands will be more attractive to these waders although there will be the continuing ‘battle’ with the Black-headed Gull colony. It is hoped that the majority of work will be finished by the end of this week.
28th October 2018
Mostly sunny, remaining cold, light north north easterly
The make up of birds early this morning was similar to yesterday with still at least four Green Sandpiper favouring Railway Pool and best visible from River Hide where a Water Rail also showed well.
Later in the morning, two Whooper Swans flew in to Car Park Pool and spent most of their time asleep, a likely indication of some distance travelled prior to landing. A Jack Snipe also showed well from the Causeway Screen, an adult Peregrine went over and other raptors included at least two Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.
A Kingfisher was seen from both pools and other birds of note included five Snipe, a Redpoll, two Siskins and a Cetti’s Warbler.
27th October 2018
Cold, sunny, light north westerly, occasional wintery shower
The low water levels in preparation for the re-gravelling of the Railway Pool islands next week, continue to favour Green Sandpipers with at least four again present. The adult Greater Black-back Gull continues to come into Car Park Pool to roost and was joined in the morning by a first-winter together with at least three Herring Gulls, eight Lesser Black-backs and two Common Gulls.
20 Redwings and two Fieldfares fed on the berries along the Old Road and both Buzzard and Raven were seen over Siden Hill Wood.
Other counts today included three Mute Swans, 290 Greylags, ten Canadas, a Greylag-Canada hybrid, 192 Wigeon, eight Gadwall, 249 Teal, 18 Mallard, 51 Shoveler, two Pochard, five Tufted, 22 Cormorants, five Herons, only one Little Grebe, 21 Moorhen, 15 Coot, 234 Lapwing, two Snipe, 141 Black-headed Gulls and a Siskin along the Old Road.
26th October 2018
Mostly sunny with a cool north westerly winds, occasional heavy showers
No records.
25th October 2018
Mostly overcast, north-westerly wind.
The Great White Egret was back on the Reserve tody but was mobile and there were at least two Little Egrets and two Green Sandpipers along with the now regular Greater Black-backed Gull. The Wigeon flock stood at 184 and other birds of note included Raven, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail.
24th October 2018
Fine and sunny, north-westerly wind.
A Barn Owl was seen around the car park at 7.05 am and there were, as in the previous days, four Green Sandpipers and a Water Rail from River Hide.
A female Sparrowhawk was seen well from Oak Hide, jousting with a Common Crow and at least two Skylarks moved south-east at 10 am. One of the male Cetti’s Warblers was along the causeway today with at least three Blackbirds, quite possibly migrants.
23rd October 2018
High cloud with some sunny intervals and a light westerly wind.
There were at least five Green Sandpipers and two Little Egrets on Railway Pool today and a Kingfisher showed well in front of River Hide along with at least one Water Rail. There was no sign of the Great White Egret up until 10 am.
Three Song Thrushes and a Redwing flew out from the tree line between Oak Hide and Railway Pool and two Meadow Pipits and a Skylark went over, all three going east. A second Water Rail showed in front of Oak Hide. There were also five other Redwings on the railway embankment.
One of the five Redwings on the railway embankment – Photograph by Max Silverman
22nd October 2018
Initially sunny and then some cloud from the west.
A Stonechat was a new arrival on Railway Pool today and there were 12 Pochards together on Car Park Pool.
In addition to the Great White Egret and eight Little Egrets, there were also at least four Green Sandpipers, two Water Rails and a Kingfisher. A Fieldfare and six Redwings were feeding on the haws along the Old Road. Two Treecreepers were seen together with a small Tit flock by the horse paddock gate and a Peregrine was also seen again.
At least 30 Starlings joined the regular Finches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the car park feeders.
Last, but not least, two Ravens went over the Aeromodellers field.
Kingfisher from River Hide – Photograph by John Hunt
21st October 2018
Cool start, but sunny.
Along with the regular Great White Egret there were eight Little Egrets and five Green Sandpipers today. Four Water Rails included two along the central stream and two on Railway Pool and two male Cetti’s Warblers were heard today, one along the railway end of Railway Pool and the other at the top end of Car Park Poo. 12 Fieldfare fed around Patrick Bridge, a Grey Wagtail went over Railway Pool and there were five Siskins and a Yellowhammer round the crop field. A Greater Black-backed Gull and a Common Gull were on Car Park Pool, a Kingfisher along the River Blythe at Patrick Bridge and 51 Shoveler and a Pochard on Car Park Pool.
20th October 2018
Cool start but sunny.
Similar birds today as yesterday, with the addition of two Pochard being new in. The Great White Egret was joined by seven Little Egrets, three Green Sandpipers on Car Park Pool and the other counts today, spread across the Reserve were as follows: four Mute Swans, 275 Greylags, one Greylag / Canada, six Canadas, 134 Wigeon, six Gadwall, 180 Teal, 18 Mallard, 33 Shoveler, five Tufted, 23 Cormorants, seven Little Grebes, 22 Moorhen, 35 Coot, 226 Lapwing, a Snipe, 314 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, five Lesser Black-backs, four Herring Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a Cetti’s Warbler near Oak Hide, a Kingfisher both in the Reedbed and along the central stream, a Grey Wagtail over Railway Pool and three Siskins along the concrete road.
19th October 2018
Dry, sunny and warm.
Along the Old Road this afternoon there was a Chiffchaff, 35 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 14 Siskin and a Grey Wagtail. On Car Park Pool there were two female Goosander and, on Railway Pool, four Green Sandpipers.
The Great White Egret was on site with at least four Green Sandpipers and six Little Egrets. A Water Rail regularly appeared out of the reeds to the left of River Hide, looking towards Railway Hide and another one was seen in front of Railway Hide itself. The adult Greater Black-backed Gull was on Car Park Pool again this morning and both adult Peregrine and Sparrowhawk put in appearances. There were over 100 Wigeon, 120 Teal, Snipe, Kingfisher, one Herring Gull, seven Little Grebes and a Red Admiral by the main entrance gate.
18th October 2018
Mostly sunny.
A Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, six Herons and at least three Green Sandpipers fed on the margins of Railway Pool and a Great Black-backed Gull joined the Black-headed Gulls on Car Park Pool. A Kestrel hunted the pool banks and at least one Cetti’s Warbler was as vocal as ever.
17th October 2018
Sunny and warm with temperatures up to at least 15 degrees.
At least three Green Sandpipers were on site today, quite probably four, and both the Greater Black-backed Gull and the Great White Egret were also present. An adult Peregrine hunted the pools and the flood plain in the morning.
There was another excellent sunset this evening – Photograph by Nick Barlow.
16th October 2018
Misty and overcast.
An influx of Green Sandpipers saw four today and the Great White Egret was also present along with the occasional visiting Greater Black-backed Gull. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were both seen today.
15th October 2018
Cool and wet, south-westerly wind.
The gap in the rain did not last long, another batch moved up from the south-west today. Nevertheless the Great White Egret had returned and was on the gravel bar this morning and was joined by four Little Egrets. A Kingfisher showed from time to time and there were two Grey Wagtails on Car Park Pool. Water Rails were seen or heard in the north causeway bay and by Railway Hide with Chiffchaffs by the south-west pond and by River Hide.
In the evening a Kestrel was hunting the Railway Pool islands and there were 185 Lapwings roosting on Car Park Pool.
14th October 2018
Cold, wet and windy. North-westerly wind.
What a change in the weather as yesterday’s high temperatures took a plunge to no more than 10 to 12 degrees, in a cool north-westerly wind.
A Fieldfare was feeding on the causeway before moving onto the central stream, a Great Crested Grebe was a new arrival on Car Park Pool and there were ten Snipe on the margins of the islands. A Kingfisher flew across Car Park Pool mid-morning and there was a Song Thrush in sub-song by Oak Hide (this bird has been singing in a subdued way now for at least a fortnight).
Three Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit on the Railway Pool islands were all new in and there was an additional Meadow Pipit in the crop field. Three Little Egrets fed together on Car Park Pool.
In the late morning, a Great White Egret came into the Reserve, a Greater Black-backed Gull joined the others on Car Park Pool, 16 Redwing went over, a Chiffchaff was seen and heard in the back gate copse and one of the Water Rails showed in the north causeway channels.
As the rain cleared in the early evening, the Great White Egret flew from Railway Pool and perched in a half dead Alder at the north end of Car Park Pool, along with a Heron and 50 Jackdaws, before being disturbed by a footpath walker. Kingfishers were vocal and showed on both pools in the evening and two Redwings were feeding on the berries on the causeway.
13th October 2018
Early rain, clearing quickly to give a warm (23 C ) windy day. Cloud building from late afternoon and shifting from south to north-west.
A Dunlin was about the only new arrival today being difficult from time to time on Car Park Pool. An adult Peregrine went over and on the move were 13 Redwings south (in small groups of three, eight and two), and eight Meadow Pipits (two over and six in the crop field).
The warm weather was more than good enough for there to be some insects still on the wing with a Small Copper on the concrete road, a Speckled Wood on the Old Road, at least 20 Common Darters in sheltered areas, particularly around the concrete road and three Migrant Hawkers as well.
Other counts today comprised eight Mute Swans, 451 Greylags, 209 Canadas, a Greylag / Canada cross, 83 Wigeon, 19 Gadwall, a jump to 221 Teal, 27 Mallard, 49 Shoveler, only three Tufted Ducks, 24 Cormorants, three Herons, five Little Egrets, eight Little Grebes, 26 Moorhen, 26 Coots, 154 Lapwing, 150 Black-headed Gulls, one Common Gull, a noteworthy 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Herring Gulls and an active Cetti’s Warbler around the Reedbed.
Six attended the afternoon Work Party and strimmed and cleared the Car Park Pool islands, painted the floor to Car Park Hide to seal the surface and carry out mowing and maintenance to the paths and in front of Railway Hide. Thanks to all those who attended.
In the meantime, now that the pump is proving more reliable, the water level on Railway Pool is slowly diminishing and producing quite wide margins. The cattle have enjoyed the grazing on the Railway Pool islands in advance of the appearance of diggers and hopefully their re-gravelling in the next few weeks.
12 October 2018
Wet and windy from the south.
The first two Fieldfares of the year dropped out of the sky and onto the causeway this morning but there was precious little else on the move. Two Water Rails were seen in the channel in the Marsh and another from the north causeway bay.
11th October 2018
Increasing westerly wind, mostly cloudy but no rain.
Skylark passage continues with at least 40 south this morning and other birds on the move included 20 Redwings, 10 Meadow Pipits and a Mistle Thrush. On or over the islands and the pool margins were four Little Egrets, a Common Gull, 15 Lesser Black-backs, 56 Wigeon, 40 Starlings and a Raven. There were also two Chiffchaffs recorded today.
10th October 2018
Cool start, even hotter today with temperatures up to 23 degrees, south easterly airflow
20 Skylark and a Lesser Redpoll went over this morning and up to five Little Egrets and a Green Sandpiper were about for much of the day. A Water Rail was seen below Railway Hide and there was a Herring Gull amongst 190 Black-headed Gulls on Car Park Pool. The warm weather was more than suitable for at least ten Common Darters to be seen today including half of those around the bench by the back gate.
9th October 2018
Cool start but sunny and warm with temperatures up to 18 degrees.
An adult male Peregrine went over Car Park Pool this morning and both Grey Wagtail and Green Sandpiper were on site. There were just two Little Egrets today but no sign now for a few days of the Great White Egret.
8th October 2018
Mostly overcast, light westerly . Mild.
We have started to drain Railway Pool to undertake some essential maintenance on the islands.
Nine Redwings went over the back gate copse this morning and a Siskin also went over. Aside from this there were three Little Egrets on Railway Pool and a Water Rail on the north causeway bay. A Small Copper was feeding along the Concrete Road in the mild weather.
7th October 2018
Cold and misty start, frost, sunny for most of the day.
A juvenile Peregrine appeared on a few occasions during the morning and there was a notable movement of Skylarks. It was difficult from the counts to be totally sure how many were involved but at least 50 moved south up until 12.30. A Grey Wagtail also went through, together with the first five Redwings of the year, two Mistle Thrushes and a juvenile Swallow.
A Raven appeared over Car Park Pool during the morning and other more notable birds included two Kingfishers along the river by Patrick Bridge, at least three Nuthatches (one in the back gate copse and two in Siden Hill Wood), two Coal Tits (one in the back gate copse and one in Siden Hill Wood), at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Common Gulls, a Siskin over Car Park Pool, five migrant Song Thrushes in the back gate copse along with a Chiffchaff and two Meadow Pipits in the stubble field near Bradnocks Marsh.
6th October 2018
Generally cold and wet.
A cold front moved through, over night, and caused temperatures to drop noticeably.
The change in the weather did bring in two Black-tailed Godwits this morning but, otherwise, there was relatively little change.
The counts today were as follows: eight Mute Swans, 212 Greylags, a Greylag / Canada, 65 Canadas, 43 Wigeon, 15 Gadwall, 143 Teal, 30 Mallard, 43 Shoveler, nine Tufted, 24 Cormorants, seven Little Grebes, four Little Egrets, four Herons, 25 Moorhen, 37 Coot, 132 Lapwing, three Snipe, 235 Black-headed Gulls, a Common Gull, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a male Cetti’s Warbler singing in the Marsh and two Chiffchaffs, one on the railway embankment and one on the Old Road.
5th October 2018
Warm and mostly sunny, clouding over in the evening, temperatures to 16 degrees.
Aside from a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool, two Little Egrets on Railway Pool and a Siskin over Oak Hide, it was quiet during the day.
A Water Rail called from the Marsh in the evening and over 100 Jackdaws came in to roost in Siden Hill Wood but, otherwise, there was relatively little to report.
4th October 2018
Overcast am, sunny pm. Temperatures up to 18 degrees still.
The Great White Egret was again on Railway Pool, joined by two Little Egrets. Blackcaps were seen with a Tit flock along the causeway and on the railway embankment and a Golden Plover went over to the south at 8.45 am and was the first of the autumn. Six Skylark and a Siskin were other birds on the move.
Wigeon numbers have now reached 42 and there were also two Common Gulls amongst the turnover of Black-headed Gulls and Lesser Black-backs.
In the evening, a Green Sandpiper was feeding on the car park pool and there was a ticking Song Thrush in the adjacent hedge, the usual sign of an autumn migrant.
3rd October 2018
Mostly sunny and warm, light westerly wind. Temperatures up to 15 degrees.
The Great White Egret remains attached to Railway Pool and there were two Little Egrets with it today.
At 3pm there were 296 Black-headed Gulls along with four Lesser Black-backs and a Common Gull but birds were coming and going all the time and this was a minimum count.
A Kingfisher showed well hovering over the Reedbed Pool near the causeway screen and, later in the afternoon, both Great White Egrets were seen jousting over the flood plain area before settling on the island in front of River Hide.
Other birds included a circling Raven, at least 30 Goldfinches and ten Starlings at the car park feeder and a very noteworthy 30 Greenfinches were there as well.
2nd October 2018
Overcast, patchy drizzle, mild, light north-westerly wind.
There were thin pickings today with, aside from the Great White Egret, not a great deal to report. 150 Black-headed Gulls, four Lesser Black-backs and a Common Gull were on the Car Park Pool islands with a turnover of Gulls throughout the morning.
Although there were few birds in the Old Road game crop, the Ivy flowers were proving very attractive to insects where, amongst other things, there were lots of Wasps and a few Hornets.
1st October 2018
Cloudy, west, north-westerly wind.
The Great White Egret was again on Railway Pool this morning and two Swallows went through there as well. Amongst the Gulls on Car Park Pool there was a first-winter Common Gull and a Herring Gull and also a Great Crested Grebe.
At the car park feeders there were at least 30 Goldfinches and 20 Starlings.