Updates
3rd October – photographs added
18th October – Record Updated
15th October – Record Updated
13th October – Record updated
5th October – Photograph added
8th October – Record updated
29th September – Photograph added
1st October – Record updated
30th September 2021 – Record added
29th September 2021 – Record updated
31st October 2021
Torrential rain overnight and into the morning until 10:30am when there were subsequent sunny intervals.
With the river expanding onto the Flood plain, it was no surprise that some of the duck were in that area including all of yesterdays Wigeon which reached 206 today. 91 Shoveler were on Car Park Pool with 20 on the Floodplain and the adult Greater Black–backed Gull was present on Car Park Pool this morning. At least 30 Linnets were feeding on the Railway Pool islands and two Jay flew over.
Two early returning Shelduck arrived in the late afternoon along with the adult Whooper Swan, a female Goosander, six Snipe, eight Pochard and about ten Redwings.
30th October 2021
Sunny after early heavy rain, fresh south-westerly.
Good numbers of duck today were noted in the weekend count, as will be seen below. Away from the Wildfowl, there were two Grey Wagtails, (one flew over Railway Pool and one was by the underpass), 300 Starlings which flew over from the south – west, presumably having roosted elsewhere, nine Skylark including six over and three east over the A452, 40 Linnets on the Railway Pool islands including one with a white head; and it was sufficiently mild for there to be five Common Darters still on the wing.
In the late afternoon, there was a murmuration of Starlings of at least 180 birds but they left at 5:35pm and were presumably roosting just east of the Reserve.
Counts were as follows: seven Mute Swans, 126 Greylags, one Greylag/Canada Hybrid, 75 Canadas, 38 Gadwall, 203 Wigeon, 153 Mallard, 105 Shoveler, 226 Teal, five Pochard, ten Tufted, 23 Cormorants, two Little Egrets, five Herons, two Little Grebes, 15 Moorhen, 52 Coot, 119 Lapwing, three Snipe, 57 Black–headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, two Lesser Black–backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls and two Red–legged Partridge east of the A452.
In the late afternoon, there were 13 Long–tailed Tits around the car park, along with 12 Redwings which were flushed by a Sparrowhawk which took one of them and the adult Greater Black–backed Gull again roosted on the Car Park islands.
29th October 2021
Blustery with showers and sunny intervals, 13 degrees.
Birds initially making the log today were limited to Dunlin, a Little Egret and six Common Gulls. In the late afternoon, a Curlew came in to roost on Car Park Pool at 5:30pm. There were also six Pochard on Railway Pool and a handful of Redwings along the Causeway.
28th October 2021
Dull with a few bright spells, remaining mild at about15 degrees.
No records
27th October 2021
Overcast and windy
The drake Red–crested Pochard was present for it’s second day, allowing a few Reserve year listers to catch up with it !
Six Meadow Pipits , three Skylarks and a Lesser Redpoll flew over and as yesterday a Migrant Hawker was seen.
Wildfowl counts included 80 Shoveler, 140 Wigeon, at least 60 Teal and 15 Gadwall. The adult Greater Black–backed Gull was also on site
26th October 2021
Patchy cloud gentle SW , remaining mild at 15 degrees
Today’s unlikely visitor was a drake Red–crested Pochard , found just after 1pm , on Railway Pool , the first since November 22 2014. It showed well for the rest of the day.
17 Common Gulls came into Car Park Pool , with other larger gulls including the adult Greater Black–backed. A Migrant Hawker was still on the wing in the mild conditions.
Red-crested Pochard – Railway Pool – Photograph by John Hunt
25th October 2021
Sunny intervals and a light SW breeze . 14 degrees.
An adult Whooper Swan was present on Car Park Pool this morning, between 9 and 10 am, probably the annual returning bird. Also there was the adult Greater Black–backed Gull, 11 Common Gulls and eight Pochards . A pair of Stonechats were feeding in the rough ground north of the farm and three Skylarks flew over .
Lilac Bonnet – Photograph by Bob Breach
Pleated Inkcap – Photograph by Bob Breach
Mute Swan taking off – Car Park Hide – Photograph by Ray Allen
24th October 2021
Partly cloudy with light rain showers , SW
The adult Greater Black–backed Gull was back on Car Park Pool today , after an absence of 19 days (assuming that no-one has forgotten to put it in the logbook), along with 11 Herring and six Common Gulls. A Water Rail scurried across the cut channels in the North Causeway Bay and two Cetti’s Warblers were in song – causeway and behind Oak Hide.
A female Sparrowhawk was plucking a Pigeon behind Railway hide in the afternoon when a flock of 16 Linnets were feeding on the seeds on the railway islands and two redhead Goosanders came into roost in the evening as did a few Redwings.
23rd October 2021
Mild and mostly cloudy.
There was another early morning movement of Wood Pigeons with 836 counted moving south-west between 8.30 and 9.30. The main morning counts were as follows : 18 Mutes (one adult and one juvenile), 403 Greylags, three farmyard Geese, 52 Canadas, one Canada/Greylag cross, 44 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 149 Wigeon, 78 Mallard, 210 Teal, six male and four female Pochard, 19 Tufted, six Little Grebe, 32 Cormorants, two Herons, one Water Rail (Causeway), 14 Moorhen, 51 Coot, 91 Lapwing, 327 Black–headed Gulls, ten Common Gull, four Herring Gull, four Lesser Black–backed Gull, one Sparrowhawk (Causeway), two male and 1 female Stonechat (east of A452), six Siskin (over car park) and 36 Redwing (over Flood Plain)
In the afternoon, a Dunlin appeared with the Lapwing flock and is the first of the autumn. A Green Sandpiper was feeding on the Blythe by the farm and 25 Meadow Pipits foraged in the grass and rushes nearby.
22nd October 2021
200 Wood Pigeons came out from Siden Hill wood just after dawn and headed south-west with another 100 over shortly after. A male Stonechat was feeding in the rough ground opposite Patrick Farm and two Little Egrets flew upstream towards Bradnocks Marsh.
21st October 2021
Cold northerly but sunny all day.
Following the very heavy rain yesterday the Blythe had broken it’s banks and much of the floodplain was underwater. With the change in wind direction, the temperature had dropped but there was some movement throughout the Midlands and the Reserve benefitted with 18 Whooper Swans, eight on Car Park Pool and a further ten on the floods towards Patricks Bridge. All were adults bar four juveniles on Car Park Pool. A single Egyptian Goose flew through, there was a female Goosander at dawn and a total of 13 Pochard around the pools plus 30 Redwings by the mobile phone mast.
Whooper Swans – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Whooper Swan – Photograph by John Coakley
Little Egret – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
20th October 2021
Bouts of very heavy overnight and early morning rain slowly clearing by 8:30am, sunny intervals light south-westerly remaining mild.
The causeway was busy with birds this morning. The Hawthorn bushes are still full with berries, despite the presence of a few Redwings and Blackbirds and a smart male Blackcap. There were also a number of Tits, Goldcrest and Linnets present.
On the margins of Railway pool both male Cetti’s Warblers were heard either side of Oak Hide. Two Grey Wagtails were feeding on the margins there and there was a flock of 12 Linnets on the islands.
With the heavy overnight rain, there was more water on the Marsh and the Teal and Mallard in particular had moved in in some numbers. The Mallard are now in full plumage and are looking particularly smart. The Teal and Wigeon are taking longer to come back into breeding plumage.
17 Mute Swans and nine Pochard were counted across the pools and other bits and pieces included a pair of Goldcrests by the Back Gate along with a Bullfinch. A Lesser Redpoll flew over the Car Park going west and a male Sparrowhawk over Siden Hill Wood was being harassed by Corvids.
Following one of the biblical downpours that caused all hide flaps to be shut, four Mandarin Ducks appeared on the far shore of Car Park Pool late morning, comprising three males and a female. Unsurprisingly this is the largest count for the Reserve and one pair was still present early afternoon.
Other bits and pieces comprised two Common Gulls, a single Little Egret, 28 Cormorants and a female Sparrowhawk.
19th October 2021
Overcast and drizzly all day but mild. Strong south-westerly wind.
Counts on Car Park Pool this afternoon included 11 Pochard, five Lesser Black Back Gulls, four Herring Gulls and three Common Gulls. A Raven and a Buzzard were over Siden Hill Wood and a Nuthatch and Coal Tit visited the old Oak Hide feeders.
Despite the weather, it was mild enough for a Common Darter to be on the wing.
18th October 2021
Overcast.
At least 40 Redwings were seen over the Back Gate Copse with another 10 feeding in the Hawthorns on the Causeway. One was ringed in the Back Gate area. Both Yellowhammer and Skylark went over, there were at least 120 Wigeon on Car Park Pool, 25 Linnets on the Railway Pool islands and other birds ringed in the Back Gate on a quiet morning; four Goldcrest, two Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and a Robin.
Wildfowl counts during the day yielded 463 Greylags, 415 Canadas, 120 Teal, 73 Wigeon, 45 Shoveler, 14 Pochard, 68 Lapwings., 33 Cormorants, 25 Lesser Black Back Gulls, eight Herring Gulls and 197 Black-headed Gulls.
17th October 2021
Wet AM, clearing late morning, dry afternoon.
150 Mallard flew into the pools from the floodplain mid-morning before eventually dispersing and Pochard numbers had increased to 13 today. There were also 40 Shoveler.
Six Common Gulls included four adults and two second-winters. There were a pair of Ravens over Siden Hill Wood again and Water Rails were seen or heard both from the Reedbed and in the Marsh.
Male Cetti’s Warblers were vocal along the Causeway and at the north end of Car Park Pool with a female type heard in the Marsh. 30 Skylark were present in the stubbles east of the A452 and a Coal Tit was a surprise visitor to the Oak Hide feeders. There was a regular Grey Wagtail present as well and a Sparrowhawk terrorised the Car Park feeders.
Sparrowhawk – Car Park Hide – Photograph by Alan Rich
16th October 2021
Sunny and warm with a light Southerly.
Movement today comprised at least 320 Wood Pigeons south before 9:30am, along with ten Skylarks and six Meadow Pipts. A total of 110 Redwings consisted of 50 along the Old Road, 40 by the mobile phone mast, ten in or around Siden Hill Wood and a similar number on the Railway Embankment. A pair of Stonechats were on the fence posts by the mobile phone mast and there were two Grey Wagtails on the Railway Pool margins and a pair of Mistle Thrushes in the Hawthorns by Railway Hide.
21 Siskins comprised 14 over the Car Park, six along Central Streamline and one on the Railway Embankment and there were three Lesser Redpolls over Oak Hide. Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Treecreeper were seen or heard in Siden Hill Wood.
In the afternoon, three Grey Wagtails, a Common and a Jack Snipe and two Green Sandpipers were all seen from Oak Hide.
Wildfowl counts today were as follows; nine Mute Swans, 169 Canadas, two Canada / Greylags, 649 Greylags, three Farmyard Geese, 36 Shoveler, 83 Mallard, 21 Gadwall, 159 Teal, 122 Wigeon (including a bracket with a metal ring on the right leg), nine Pochard, 12 Tufted, six Little Grebes, 24 Cormorants, four Herons, one Little Egret, 16 Moorhens, 64 Coot, 90 Lapwing, 135 Black–headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, two Lesser Black Back Gulls and two Ravens over the floodplain.
Green Sandpiper – Photograph by Mike Pugh
15th October 2021
Initially overcast with some bright spells before it became sunny and warm on a light north easterly.
The Avocet returned to Car Park Pool this afternoon and at least 80 Redwings had gone through by 9:00am (with a further 30 feeding on berries on the Causeway) with this total reaching 280 by 10am. Four Siskins also flew over the Causeway and the 13 Goldfinches dropped into the riverside willows.
Some Wood Pigeon movement was also underway with at least 180 through by 9:00am including one flock of 110. Other bits and pieces included a Bullfinch and five Reed Buntings, Skylark, two Meadow Pipits and three Pied Wagtails, all over in one direction or another.
Other records throughout the day comprised eight Pochard, three Common Gulls, three Ravens, an adult Peregrine, two different Cetti’s Warblers, a Green Sandpiper, three Grey Wagtails and at least 20 Linnets.
14th October 2021
Principally overcast.
Further Redwing movement yielded at least 800 through between 9:00 and 11:00 this morning. This included one flock of 120 and another of 80 with the rest comprising of 10-20 birds. They were all heading south-west. Three late Swallows also moved through and there were 15 Siskins around the back gate area. Other birds on the move included four Meadow Pipits and three Skylarks.
13th October 2021
Weather has been mostly overcast , light NW.
Twitter was busy with comments on audible overnight Redwing passage though only one flock of 17 was seen early on , by daylight.
Other passage included an Avocet which was present on Car Park Pool at 8.20am, left and then returned for a fly around Railway Pool. Three Pintail soon rose to six , all on Car Park Pool (with a record 788 Greylag and eight Pochard) . They were all thought to be females or juveniles. Later in the day however, more Redwings were recorded with at least 300 in the period from 15:40 to 17:45. This included 60 in the Back Gate Copse and then flocks of 85, 15, three and 140 over Railway flying West between 16:30 and 17:00.
The Avocet returned to the pools in the late afternoon though it remained mobile. The six Pintail were also still present until 17:45 at least. Additional birds included two Redpoll over Railway, a Treecreeper in the Back Gate Copse, a Green Sandpiper from Oak Hide, where there was also at least one Snipe, 20 Linnets on the Railway Pool Islands and two Common Gulls.
12th October 2021
Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast , light NW.
No records
11th October 2021
Overcast start, warm and sunny later, westerly.
A male Stonechat was present around the Dragonfly pond for the day and a Peregrine put in a number of appearances during the day. Pochard numbers increased to six. A Nuthatch visited the Oak hide feeders , a Water Rail called from the north causeway bay and two Great Crested Grebes were present on Car Park Pool.
The warm weather suited some late insects and included a Comma, a Red Admiral , at least 25 Common Darters and 10 Migrant Hawkers.
Stonechat – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
10th October 2021
Light overnight rain, sunny intervals in the morning with a cool north westerly clearing to warm sunshine as the day progressed.
A productive ringing session centred on Oak Hide this morning led to 47 new birds and 3 re-traps being caught. The totals were as follows, 12 Reed Buntings, eight Chiffchaffs, seven Blackcaps, two Robins, a Dunnock, two Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, three Song Thrushes, two Black Birds, 2 Wrens and singles of Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher and Stonechat, the latter, a male, at Patrick bridge (which was colour – ringed).
The first visible Redwings went over today with six south and seven south west prior to 10am followed by two more, late morning. John Hunt’s audio recording equipment picked up a Redwing going over on the night of the 8th October.
Other visible migration this morning included; a trickle of Wood Pigeons with at least over 100 going south-west, quite high, along with 6 Stock Dove. 35 Meadow Pipits, five Skylarks, three Pied Wagtails, one Grey Wagtail, one Jay and one adult Herring Gull were all on the move prior to 10am.
50 Linnets fed on Railway Pool islands and on Car Park Pool, there were two Pochard and an adult and first-winter Common Gull.
Later in the day, three female / juvenile type Stonechats were found on the HS2 fences, across the flood plain, west of Patrick Farm. A single Egyptian Goose was amongst the Geese along the riverside north of Car Park Pool.
Kingfisher – Photograph by Ben Dolan, West Midlands Ringing Group
Reed Bunting – Photograph by Ben Dolan, West Midlands Ringing Group
Grey Wagtail – Photograph by Ben Dolan, West Midlands Ringing Group
9th October 2021
Sunny still and warm.
Early passage this morning comprised of eight Skylarks, at least five Meadow Pipits and a Swallow. There were four Siskins in the Back Gate Copse and 30 Linnets feeding on the islands. Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen along the Old Road. In the afternoon, two Jack Snipe were flushed by the work party; one from the Marsh and one from Tern island.
Wildfowl counts continued to improve and the Greylag count listed was new record. These were as follows; nine Mute Swan, 326 Canada, 707 Greylag, two Canada/ Greylag hybrids, 3 Farmyard Geese, 4 Egyptian Geese, 109 Wigeon, 28 Gadwall, 170 Teal, 57 Shoveler 75 Mallard, a female Pochard, four Tufted, four Little Grebes, 11 Cormorants, seven Herons, one Little Egret, 14 Moorhen, 54 Coot, 90 Lapwing, three Snipe, 210 Black-Headed Gulls, a Common Gull and nine Lesser Black-backs.
The warm weather was good enough to attract some late insects including a Comma along the Old Road and also a Red Admiral there, seven Common Blue Damselflies, eight Migrant Hawkers and 40 Common Darters.
Ten attended the afternoon work party in the warm sunshine. The Marsh was opened up and the islands on Railway Pool were strimmed and are now mostly clear. Thanks to all those who attended.
8th October 2021
Still and misty start.
Two Cetti’s Warblers were singing against each other this morning, one by the Oak Hide feeders and the other along the streamline. Ten Linnets were feeding on the islands and at least one Grey Wagtail was present around the Reserve.
In the murk, two Meadow Pipits, a Skylark and two Chaffinches were heard or seen flying over. There was a Common Gull on Car Park Pool and a Treecreeper by the top gate.
As the morning unfolded, a pair of Stonechats were found on the rough ground left by HS2, north of Patrick Farm. Wildfowl and other counts that were made between 1:30pm and 2:30 pm today yielded 12 Mute Swans, 320 Greylag, 108 Wigeon, 54 Shoveler, 79 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 18 Tufted, a pair of Pochard, 5 Little Grebes, 14 Cormorants and 20 Lapwings.
In the afternoon, a Green Sandpiper was feeding around the margins of Railway Pool along with four Snipe, a late Swallow went through along with 20 Meadow Pipits. An adult Water Rail showed well from the North Causeway Screen.
Tufted Duck – Photograph by Andy Ambrose
7th October 2021
Sunny and mild.
A Pintail was a new arrival on Car Park Pool this morning but was the only bird recorded in the log.
6th October 2021
Sunny and mild with a strong south-westerly wind.
A un-ringed male Stonechat was present around the Dragonfly Pond area which has become the favoured location for this species over the last few months. At least 35 Meadow Pipits were in the adjacent fields with a further 20 flying over.
The female Pochard had relocated to Railway Pool today and there were two Grey Wagtails feeding around the margins and ten Linnets on the seed heads of the Redshank and Persicaria, on the islands.
22 Swallows flew through, south, and two Water Rails were recorded in the pond by the Car Park. A Comma butterfly was seen along the Concrete Road and other birds making the log included a Common Gull, Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs and at least one Cetti’s Warbler.
Common Darter – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Comma Butterfly – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Grey Wagtails – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
5th October 2021
Heavy overnight rain, sunny start with periods of further rain later. Increasing south-westerly wind.
In the brighter weather in the early morning period, at least 15 Meadow Pipits went over with five further birds at least on the Tip Field. Three Jays included one that came over the flood plain from the north-east at some height and was then mobbed and appeared to drop into Siden Hill Wood. The other two flew over from the Reedbed towards the Back Gate area. There has been a noticeable influx of this species into Britain in the last few days.
13 Swallows and 15 House Martins also went through along with two Pied Wagtails. 50 Starlings emerged from a nearby roost (not on the Reserve) and flew over, low, towards the railway line just after dawn.
Other bits and pieces included a Grey Wagtail in the Marsh and a Chiffchaff which was working its way from the Causeway towards Oak Hide and the South-west Pond. The female Pochard was still present.
Rainbow from Oak Hide – Photograph by Nick Barlow
4th October 2021
Sun and showers on a south-westerly wind.
The Hobby was again present today, hawking Dragonflies over the Reedbed (the age of the individual was not actually recorded in the log but was presumably the juvenile from the last few days).
The adult Greater Black-backed Gull roosted on the Car Park Pool islands along with at least three Lesser Black-backs and there was a female Pochard in the deeper water of the same pool.
3rd October 2021
Blustery south-westerly wind, sunny intervals.
The bird of the day was undoubtedly a Golden Plover found amongst the wildfowl and other waders on Railway Pool by Martin Durkin at 10 am, but it did not linger.
When the Reserve opened, Golden Plover were a regular wintering bird, in their hundreds, but to get a single record now is unusual.
Morning migration included two House Martins, one Swallow, at least 15 Skylarks, 25 Meadow Pipits and the first Siskins of the year (the latter over the Back Gate Copse). There were a further 13 Meadow Pipits on the Tip Field and at 1 pm a first-winter Common Gull dropped into Car Park Pool for a bathe.
The juvenile Hobby was seen again and other birds making the log were a female Pochard, a Kestrel, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and two Buzzards.
Grey Wagtail – Oak Hide – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
Little Egret – Over Railway Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
2nd October 2021
Overcast with drizzly rain on and off from first thing, merging into a pretty steady downpour from 11.30, all day. South-westerly wind.
Early passage before the rain set in comprised 30 Meadow Pipits, five Swallows and five Pied Wagtails. Two Grey Wagtails were again present on the margins of Railway Pool, often frequenting the Marsh, where there were also ten Snipe. A Chiffchaff was singing by Oak Hide and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull put in an appearance on the Car Park Pool islands.
In the afternoon, a Redshank was a brief visitor to the same pool, both mobile and vocal but could not be found after 3 pm. The single House Martin also went south in the rain.
Morning wildfowl counts were as follows: 21 Mute Swans, 22 Canadas, 352 Greylags, the Greylag / Canada Hybrid, two Farmyard Geese, 41 Wigeon, 30 Gadwall, 53 Shoveler, 65 Mallard, 122 Teal, 17 Tufted, six Little Grebes, one Little Egret, four Herons, 20 Cormorants, 17 Moorhen, 43 Coot, 111 Lapwing, 51 Black-headed Gulls, nine Lesser Black-backed Gulls and, last but not least, a Sparrowhawk.
1st October 2021
Heavy overnight rain, clearing at dawn. Sunny, bright and still; south-westerly wind increasing quickly and bringing in rain by 11.15 am.
Yesterday’s female Garganey showed well, but briefly, in the channel between the island just in front of Oak Hide and the large island behind; it proved equally illusive last night.
Three Grey Wagtails were present, one flying over and two in the Marsh and three Skylarks also went over. Chiffchaffs were either calling or in song in the Back Gate Copse and along the Central Stream and there was a male Blackcap on the Railway Embankment. Bullfinches were heard in the compounds by the Back Gate and a House Martin went over at 8 am.
Three Ravens showed well over Siden Hill Wood with two subsequently flying towards Berkswell. Around 10.30, an immature Hobby appeared over the pools. This is confirmation that there have been at least two different birds over the last few days with the other bird being an adult. A Cetti’s Warbler was in song along the streamline in the North Causeway Bay area.
Afternoon counts care of John Belsey were as follows: 17 Mute Swans, 43 Shoveler, 108 Teal, 38 Gadwall, 59 Wigeon, 19 Tufted, a female Pochard, four Little Grebes, ten Cormorants, 158 Lapwing, an adult Greater Black-backed Gull, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 130 Black-headed Gulls.
Some work is being undertaken around the stream crossing to stabilise the bank over the next couple of days.