31st October 2023
Generally dry with occasional light showers, overcast; light east/south-easterly
Collared Dove put in an appearance for the second day in a row, with two at the Car Park feeders and five over the Crop Field. The nine Pochard were still present and there was a second returning colour-ringed Wigeon noted. Both Fieldfare and Redwing produced records: 11 of the former and 60 of the latter. Finally, there were four Cetti’s Warblers around the site, locations being: Top Stream, the small pond in the Car Park, North Causeway Bay and on the north shore of Railway Pool.
30th October 2023
Sunny start then clouding over with patchy light drizzle; light south/south-easterly
The sunny start produced some insect activity with two Red Admirals, four Common Darter and a single Migrant Hawker on the wing. The first and third of these are a bit later than their average last dates but not yet close to site records, while the Common Darter’s average final date is Nov 4.
Collared Dove is surprisingly rarely logged at the site so a record of one at the Car Park feeders was notable. A pair of Stonechats, probably the same pair as on 28th, was mobile in the area of the Horse Paddock and Dragonfly Pond and eight Meadow Pipits were present on the Tip Field. Log entries from the pools were Water Rail (North Causeway Bay), two Egyptian Geese and, presumably, the same nine Pochard as previously.
29th October 2023
Overcast with occasional showers; light south-easterly
A female Goldeneye was first located in the morning on Railway Pool and was still around early afternoon. Winter Thrushes were in evidence with 40+ Fieldfares seen going south over Siden in the morning and then, later, eight to ten Redwings along the Causeway with four Fieldfares.
Three Water Rails were heard (Reedbed and North Causeway Bay) and on the pools there were seven Snipe, four Little Grebes and two Common Gulls. A Tit flock in the Back Gate Compounds included at least three Goldcrests as well as a Treecreeper, with Goldcrests also along the Causeway (1+) and by Oak Hide (1+) where there was a Cetti’s Warbler too. Two Linnets were in the Crop Field, 15+ Goldfinches along the Central Stream, 11 Starlings feeding on the Car Park Pool islands, five Little Egrets on the Flood Plain and seven Skylarks went over.
Goldcrest – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
28th October 2023
Misty, light south-easterly breeze
The pair of Stonechats was by Car Park Hide this morning and a Green Sandpiper flew over. Common Gulls had increased to 15 and six Siskin and five Skylark flew over.
The regular Saturday count by Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan produced the following: five Mute Swans, 261 Greylag Geese, a Canada x Greylag hybrid, 165 Canada Geese, two Egyptian Geese, 153 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, nine Gadwall, 91 Mallard, 139 Teal, nine Pochard (five male, four female), 30 Tufted Duck, 20 Cormorants, two Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, five Little Grebes, six Moorhen, 39 Coot, 60 Lapwing, six Snipe, 24 Black–headed Gulls, 15 Common Gulls, eight Herring Gulls, 28 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, Grey Wagtail (over Railway Pool) and four Cetti’s Warblers (North Causeway Bay, Old Road, Railway Arches, Oak Hide).
27th October 2023
Misty, light south-easterly
Six Lesser Redpolls flew over to the south this morning and there were 15 Redwing on site, 13 Snipe, 26 Cormorants, 40 Tufteds and eight Pochard.
26th October 2023
Morning rain, brightening to sunny intervals later, light southerly
Not a great deal of change in the birds today, and the counts were as follows: Six Pochard, four Herring Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Common Gulls, five Snipe and three Redwing in the bushes around the Causeway.
25th October 2023
Overcast, light northerly
The cattle were taken in today, which was hardly surprising considering much of the feeding area was still under water.
The only birds making the log today were six Pochard, eight Little Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, four Common Gulls and 12 Snipe.
24th October 2023
Misty start, still high water levels and the tops of the islands are barely visible.
What was presumably the same Otter as the 21st spent nearly an hour entertaining a handful of people in Car Park Hide, as it fed around the margins of Car Park Pool. It was obviously successful in its hunt, but it was difficult to see what the prey was. With the water level in Car Park Pool so high, the marginal vegetation is under water, particularly the rushes and reedmace, and pretty well all the hunting that the Otter was doing was in and around the partially submerged vegetation. It was last seen in the north-east corner and appeared to disappear either into the northerly stream or off towards the Dragonfly Pond.
The Flood Plain is still partly inundated and there were again good wildfowl counts, including 130 Wigeon, 249 Mallard, eight Pochard and 37 Tufteds. Eighteen Snipe were seen around the margins of the pools, nine Redwings in the Back Gate Copse, a pair of Stonechats on the Tip Field, seven Little Egrets and five Fieldfares on or around the Flood Plain and vocal Goldcrest on the Causeway and in the Back Gate Copse.
Last, but not least, the Stoat showed well, if briefly, on the Old Road.
23rd October 2023
Sunny spells, light south-easterly
Today’s counts were as follows: 125 Wigeon, six Pochard, 41 Tufted Ducks, six Little Egrets, six Common Gulls (now beginning to appear), 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Herring Gull, two Egyptian Geese and 11 Meadow Pipits on the Flood Plain.
22nd October 2023
No records.
21st October 2023
Overcast, light northerly, extreme flooding.
The volume of water overnight has caused the river to breach its banks into Railway Pool. Also, the amount of water going down the Central Stream (aka Bayley’s Brook) is such that with the water levels so high in the Blythe, the Brook has pushed into Car Park Pool. Thus, both pools are at top level with only the very tops of the islands visible.
There were lots of wildfowl and gulls on the Flood Plain, and the counts below give an indication of what was present.
However, the highlight was undoubtedly an Otter seen relatively briefly, but on a number of occasions on Car Park Pool. Initially spotted by Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan in front of Car Park Hide, it then went over towards the Causeway and then was seen to go up the bank, presumably over the Central Stream and away.
Counts today were nine Mute Swans, 157 Canadas, 514 Greylags, two Egyptian Geese, 14 Shoveler, 49 Gadwall, 42 Wigeon, 181 Mallard, 171 Teal, six Pochard, 34 Tufteds, eight Cormorants, one Little Grebe, two Heron, six Little Egrets, seven Moorhen, 37 Coot, 35 Lapwing, 28 Snipe, 190 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, at least 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 12 Herring Gulls, a Kingfisher in the Reedbed, a Siskin in the Back Gate Copse, a least four Meadow Pipits along the Flood Plain along with 14 Pied Wagtails, a Kestrel to the north of the Reserve and a Sparrowhawk by the Oak Hide feeders. In the evening, many of the Geese had moved to the floods on Lower Siden and the Canada count had increased to 291. There were also nine Little Egrets on the Flood Plain.
Railway Pool from Oak Hide – Photograph by Graham Rowling
Flooded Flood Plain – Photograph by Nick Barlow
20th October 2023
Heavy overnight rain, and periods of heavy rain throughout the day.
Unsurprisingly, there was extensive flooding by Patrick Bridge today.
There were six Pochard and 35 Tufteds on the pools, a female Stonechat on the Flood Plain, along with five Meadow Pipits, five Bullfinches on the Railway Embankment and two Water Rails in the North Causeway Bay.
19th October 2023
Early rain, light south-easterly.
The only birds making the log today were a single Snipe in front of Oak Hide, and a Little Egret.
18th October 2023
Sunny spells, fresh easterly.
A Great White Egret flew north over Railway Pool this morning heading upstream. Pochard numbers had increased to five and there were two Egyptian Geese, again on the Flood Plain. Thirty Redwing and a Fieldfare were seen flying over and the female Stonechat was in the nettle patch from the Flood Plain gate. Gulls included the adult Greater Black-backed, eight Herring Gulls, 14 Lesser Black-backed and a Common Gull. There was a single Grey Wagtail on the Flood Plain.
17th October 2023
Sunny, cool, light south-easterly.
Three Pochard were new in this morning, two females and a male, and a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen to drop into Siden Hill Wood at 09.30, only the third record for the Reserve. A few Thrushes were seen going over, or could be heard in the bushes on site, with three Redwings on the Causeway, a similar number in the Back Gate Copse, at least one Song Thrush was calling regularly by Oak Hide, with another by the Back Gate Copse, and there were two Fieldfares on the Flood Plain. A flock of 40 Wood Pigeons went over, there was still a mewing juvenile Buzzard along the Flood Plain, two Collared Doves and 12 Greenfinches at the feeders, and 89 Wigeon on the pools.
16th October 2023
Overcast, hazy sun, light easterly, light overnight frost and a cold start.
A female Stonechat and 50 Meadow Pipits were at the north end of the Flood Plain near Patrick Bridge this morning. Sixteen Snipe and a Water Rail were in the Marsh and two Collared Doves were at the Car Park feeder. Later in the day a Painted Lady butterfly was seen around the Car Park.
15th October 2023
Cold, sunny, light winds.
There was a female Stonechat around the margins of the Dragonfly Pool this morning, six Little Egrets and five Common Snipe spread around the Reserve, two Lesser Redpoll, four Siskin, 50 Goldfinch, ten Skylark and five Meadow Pipits, together with two Water Rails, were the other birds making the log.
Little Grebe – Photograph by Steve Pattison
14th October 2023
Sunny early on, clouding over later. Flood Plain flooded.
A Great White Egret was present on the Flood Plain between 09.20 and 09.45 this morning and was seen later there and around the Reserve.
A Jack Snipe was in the Marsh, north of Siden Hill Wood, along with four Snipe there and a further four Snipe on Railway Pool. A flock of 30 Siskin were present along the Concrete Road in the alders and a pair of Stonechats on the Flood Plain. Passage over included a single Redpoll, five Skylark, five late Swallows at Patrick Bridge, whilst on the pools or elsewhere around the Reserve, there were seven Little Egrets, a Grey Wagtail, two Sparrowhawks, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls and the pair of Egyptian Geese.
Wildfowl counts not covered above included:
Eight Mute Swans, 328 Canadas, 474 Greylags, 47 Shoveler, 76 Gadwall, 61 Wigeon, 144 Mallard, 152 Teal, 17 Tufted Ducks, four Cormorants, five Herons, nine Little Egrets, twelve Moorhen, 76 Coot, 48 Lapwing and 226 Black-headed Gulls.
One hundred Goldfinches and 10 Linnets were feeding in the Crop Field.
13th October 2023
Wet periods, strong south-westerly, remaining mild. Wet overnight between 12th and 13th.
There were at least two Redwings in the Back Gate Copse and two Song Thrushes and two Blackbirds on the Causeway, along with a pair of Goldcrests. A Cetti’s Warbler, in song, roved between the Crop Field and the east side of the Reedbed. There were at least 20 Goldfinches around the Car Park.
Three male and three female Stonechats were present on the HS2 fencing on the Flood Plain near Patrick Bridge during the morning, with at least two still present early afternoon, along with a Grey Wagtail. Four Cetti’s Warblers were in song around the Reserve.
12th October 2023
No records.
11th October 2023
Overcast, freshening from the south.
The juvenile female Peregrine made repeated passes over Railway Pool this morning, but it was not seen to make any successful catches. Six Snipe were present in the Marsh, and 100 Redwings went over south-west in the morning with a further 37 over in the afternoon.
10th October 2023
Sunny, light south-westerly.
The grass banks have been cut today, baling to follow. The cattle have grazed most of the grass area in front of Car Park Hide and enjoyed the banks and the Orchid Field. Nevertheless, the cutting of these should help in removing any other surplus vegetation which reduces the competition between the flowers and the grasses.
A Great White Egret was on show this morning, along with a pair of Egyptian Geese, two Ravens, nine Redwings and seven Skylark over, and 51 Wigeon.
Later in the day a Woodcock was disturbed by the grass cutting on the edge of the Crop Field.
9th October 2023
Overcast start, brightening, light south-westerly.
A Ruff on Railway Pool was the best bird today by a long stretch, although the first marked movement of Redwings came a good second with at least 250 birds seen. This included 190 over to the south or south-west between 09.00 – 10.15 and a further 50 in Siden Hill Wood at 11.45.
The Geese numbers had increased today with 403 Greylags, 145 Canadas and a single Canada and Greylag cross. A Water Rail showed in the Marsh, three Cetti’s Warblers were in song, and 11 Skylarks went over.
8th October 2023
Fine, light south-westerly.
Today’s highlight was undoubtedly two Red Kites which went over Car Park Pool heading south together at approximately 12.30. One was subsequently chased back to the north by Jackdaws.
The returning adult Great Black-backed Gull came into roost, whilst other birds included seven Redwings south-east over the HS2 workings, a Green Sandpiper on the river by Patrick Bridge, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay, just two Snipe in front of Oak Hide, four Little Egrets, 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two Herring Gulls on the pools, two Raven over Siden Hill Wood, and literally dozens of Red Admirals heading mainly south.
7th October 2023
Sunny, warm, fresh south-westerly.
A bit more by overhead passage this morning, with 23 Skylark and 29 Meadow Pipits through. Later in the day, eight attended the work party, with four tidying up the Car Park Pool islands, removing some of the more invasive weeds and bringing the Tern boxes in, three finishing off strimming the Railway Pool islands and one cutting back some of the vegetation around Railway and Oak Hide. There was a single Skylark on the Railway Pool islands that was reluctant to move and kept hopping from island to island whilst the maintenance work took place. Six further Meadow Pipits went over during the work party.
At 08.00 there were 49 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Herring Gulls and 68 Black-headed Gulls all present on the pools, together with seven Snipe in the Marsh in front of Oak Hide.
Graham and Dave’s other counts were as follows:
Seven Mute Swans, 89 Canadas, 325 Greylags, two Egyptian Geese, again on the Flood Plain, 42 Shoveler, 60 Gadwall, 36 Wigeon (including the green colour-ringed bird, FX), 29 Mallard, 83 Teal, 12 Tufteds, nine Little Grebes, eight Cormorants, two Herons, seven Little Egrets, nine Moorhen, 64 Coot, 60 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, and an increase during the day of Black-headed Gulls with the total peaking at 145.
Last, but not least, a juvenile female Peregrine was present which was colour-ringed, but it was too far away to read the combination.
Mute Swans fighting – Photograph by Mark Waring
6th October 2023
Some cloud, but bright and breezy from the south-west.
At first light there were two singing Cetti’s Warblers, one opposite the Back Gate in the gorse patch, and one in the North Causeway Bay. Thirty-two Starlings flew low over Railway Pool, coming from a nearby roost, perhaps the Reedbed, and Goldcrests were heard by Oak Hide and in the Back Gate Copse. A small amount of overhead migration included three Meadow Pipits, two Pied Wagtails and six Skylark, with two Siskins present in the alders by Oak Hide. On the Flood Plain, there were a pair of Egyptian Geese, a Water Rail showed in the channels in the North Causeway Bay, and up to ten Goldfinches were present around the Car Park. Lastly, the Lapwings were again flighty. They totalled 80.
5th October 2023
Watery sun, light south-westerly.
At least 20 Goldfinches came out of the Crop Field being chased by a male Sparrowhawk this morning and two Skylarks and two Meadow Pipits went over with a Chiffchaff singing down by the cottages.
4th October 2023
Sunny spells, fresh southerly.
A first-summer Grey Wagtail was present on Railway Pool and six Little Egrets, including the colour-ringed individual. Two Ravens went over. A Sparrowhawk was showing an interest in the Goldfinches around the Crop Field, and there was a small group of eight Starlings.
3rd October 2023
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
The best bird today was a Wheatear which was perched on the Car Park Hide roof at 09.00, but slipped off and disappeared and was not re-found. Wigeon numbers had increased to 28 and overhead passage included 15 Skylarks, 30 Swallows, a House Martin and two Meadow Pipits. There were again 100 Goldfinches in the Crop Field, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and 12 Little Grebes, 34 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed on or around the pools.
2nd October 2023
Watery sun, still.
The main bird today was a calling Golden Plover which came in from the south and disappeared over to the north. Four Skylarks were flying about and there were 50 Linnets in the Crop Field and six Greenfinches by the Car Park Feeders. Eighty Lapwings were mostly airborne throughout much of the morning as they were extremely flighty.
As the day unfolded, there were two Water Rails in the North Causeway Bay, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull came in to roost on Car Park Pool, there was a single Green Sandpiper present and at least five singing Cetti’s Warblers. A Kingfisher flew across Railway Pool and showed from Railway Hide.
Along the track to Oak Hide there was a Painted Lady at 13.00.
Reedbed Pool – Photograph taken by Nick Barlow
1st October 2023
Mild, mostly overcast.
Counts today were as follows: 12 Wigeon, 45 Shoveler, (several observed diving for food), two Collared Doves over, 82 Lapwing on Railway Pool, a single Little Egret, a Kingfisher from the Causeway, a Kestrel hunting around the Flood Plain with two Mistle Thrushes present there, at least 30 mixed Swallows and House Martins over to the south, and a Grey Wagtail and two Meadow Pipits over or around Car Park Pool.