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 2026
Saturday 7th November – 2.00pm
Saturday 12th December – 2.00pm (Please note change of date)
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.
NOTIFICATION OF FORTHCOMING ROAD CLOSURE – A452 KENILWORTH ROAD
Following the installation of the contraflow on the new southbound carriageway of the A452, work is to be undertaken to install streetlights and signage, clear vegetation and undertake surveys between Bradnock’s Marsh and Meriden roundabout.
On the weekends of Friday 2 October to Monday 5 October and Friday 9 October to Monday 12 October the road will close at 10.00pm on Friday night and reopen at 6.00am on Monday morning.
A fully signposted diversion route will be in place.
Additionally, the during the night of Saturday 10 October, from 10.00pm (until 6.00am on Sunday 11 October), the road closure will be extended to Park Lane roundabout so that repairs to the carriageway of Bradnock’s Marsh roundabout can be carried out.
31st October 2026
Overcast start, brightening to sunny spells, light south-easterly.
As is usual, the Red-crested Pochards were ‘day birds’ and there was no sign today.
A full count ofother birds today, courtesy of Graham and Dave were 157 Canadas, a Canada/Greylag cross, only 17 Greylags, five Mute Swans, 17 Shoveler, 17 Gadwall, 220 Wigeon, eight Mallard, a measly 34 Teal, two drake Pochard, 11 Tufted Ducks, 19 Cormorants, seven Little Grebes, two Herons, one each of Little Egret and Great White Egret, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay channels, 12 Moorhen, 27 Coot, 78 Lapwing, four Snipe, the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, 95 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls, 18 Herring Gulls,15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a female Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, one Ring-necked Parakeet, a pair of Stonechats, two Nuthatches (Railway Embankment) and two Siskins over Patrick Farm.
In the late afternoon, a Tawny Owl called from the Central Stream as dusk fell.
30th October 2026
Overcast start, brightening to sunny conditions with a light south-easterly.
More Wood Pigeons moved this morning, and an increase on the 28th, with 2,425 counted going south-west between 09.00 – 10.30. There would have been others before this time, and there were others after, so this count only represented a snapshot. Nineteen Redwings also went over to the south.
The larger gull count included an impressive 25 Common Gulls, along with 33 Lesser Black-backs and nine Herring Gulls.
A relatively late Chiffchaff was seen between the Causeway and Oak Hide, and a further highlight came in the form of three Red-crested Pochard, two males and a female, which were joined by a drake Pochard.
Other wildfowl today included 232 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Ducks, 10 Little Grebes, four Snipe, the Dark-bellied Brent Goose and two Egyptian Geese, whilst other birds of note included the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Skylarks, four Little Egrets, a pair of Stonechats by Railway Hide, two Siskins over to the south, and late Migrant and Common Hawkers.
Red-crested Pochard – Photograph by Chris Heyworth
29th October 2026
Anti-cyclonic conditions, still, high cloud, occasional sunny intervals.
Early morning action came in the form of 33 Red-headed Goosanders and the Brent Goose, all of which departed early. The Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Stonechats were visible from Oak Hide, two Otters were seen briefly on the Reedbed Pool, and a further three Stonechats were present along the Old Road.
There is a turnover of big gulls at the moment, with birds coming in to wash and preen before moving on, and this morning, at 09.30, there was the regular adult Greater Black-backed Gull, 20 Lesser Black-backs, five Herring Gulls, and two Common Gulls. A Meadow Pipit and three Linnets went over, along with a Redwing, and 20 Wood Pigeon, but yesterday’s passage was not replicated.
28th October 2026
Overcast and high cloud, clearing to sunny conditions at 09.00 with some cloud moving over by 11.00 and some showers later.
Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves were on the move between 07.40 and 08.45 this morning, with 525 of the former and 16 of the latter.
In addition, there were small flocks of migrating finches, most of which were too distant to identify, but those that were in range included two Siskins low over the Reedbed, 12 Chaffinches and 12 Goldfinches over Railway Pool, the latter turning and landing in the Back Gate Copse, 60 Starlings, seven Redwings plus two along the Old Road, five Meadow Pipits and 17 Skylarks.
Other birds included the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, plus a Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool where there were two Grey Wagtails and a Pied Wagtail on the margins, a Red Kite over, a juvenile Buzzard mewing in Lower Siden, two Song Thrushes on the Causeway and one on the Railway Embankment, three Jays over, and on Car Park Pool, the gulls consisted of the adult Greater Black-backed, three Lesser Black-backed, seven Herrings and a Common Gull.
27th October 2026
Fine and sunny, no records.
26th October 2026
Overcast rain, fresh southerly.
The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit remains, and on Car Park Pool there were 11 Herring Gulls, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed and four Common Gulls.
Three Stonechats included a male at the Dragonfly Pond and a pair on the Flood Plain.
Wildfowl on the Pools included 263 Wigeon, 37 Shoveler, 95 Mallard, and a Grey Wagtail on the margins. Eight Collared Doves flew over east.
25th October 2026
Strong westerly, Storm Beolo, sunny after heavy overnight rain.
The wind was whipping the trees today, but there was gorgeous visibility. At dawn 47 Red-headed Goosanders and the Brent Goose were on Car Park Pool, but nearly all flew off early, leaving just one Red-head at midday. Also on Car Park Pool was the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, with 53 Cormorants, six Herring Gulls, nine Lesser Black-backed, and a calling Green Woodpecker. One of the Herring Gulls had a yellow ring on it, and the identity of its source is ongoing.
The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit remained on Railway Pool.
24th October 2026
Overcast, heavy rain, fresh southerly.
The first two significant storms of the autumn went through over the 24 hours from the 24th leading into the 25th, with Storm Euston and Storm Beolo. Despite the rain, Graham and Dave undertook the wildfowl counts which were today (excluding the Flood Plain) five Mute Swans, nine Canadas, a single Greylag, 117 Wigeon, 23 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 19 Mallard, 143 Teal, four Tufteds, 28 Cormorants, seven Little Grebes, 12 Moorhen, 16 Coot, 87 Lapwing, six Snipe, 118 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls, four Herring Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and, last but not least, a female Sparrowhawk, which unsuccessfully attempted to take a Green Woodpecker.
23rd October 2026
Overcast, light north-westerly, strengthening.
The highly mobile Stonechats included a male by the Dragonfly Pond and a pair around Car Park Pool.
The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and the eclipse drake Pintail remain on site and in addition, there were 178 Teal, 207 Wigeon, five Pochard, five Tufteds, three Common Gulls, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls, five Pheasant, 18 Mute Swans, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay, and a mobile Kingfisher.
22nd October 2026
Overcast with light rain, turning to sunny but with a brisk south-westerly.
The early morning visitors were rewarded with a Brent Goose on Car Park Pool, which flew off at 07.40, an adult and two Otters on the Reedbed Pool, the Black-tailed Godwit on Railway Pool, and a female Stonechat there.
Later in the day five Ring-necked Parakeets (which had been seen before around Siden Hill Wood) flew over the Car Park. The eclipse drake Pintail was joined by an impressive array of 38 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls and six Common Gulls, all subsequently disturbed by a Peregrine.
21st October 2026
Overcast, showers, light south-westerly.
The second Rock Pipit of the autumn was a brief visitor to the Car Park Pool islands between 11.15 and 11.22 when it seemed to vanish.
Considering this is an irregular species, two in an autumn is of significant note.
Other birds making the log today were a single eclipse drake Pintail, 31 Shoveler, 109 Mallard, two drake Pochard, two Egyptian Geese, a single Great White Egret, the long-staying juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, at least nine Meadow Pipits, 37 Lapwing, eight Linnets along the Flood Plain, five Common Gulls, a Water Rail in the North Causeway bay, both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, 50 Starlings, 45 Redwings over south, and a Skylark over. In the afternoon the number of Lapwing increased to 155.
20th October 2026
Overcast, rain.
There was just the eclipse drake Pintail this morning, along with the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit. A Water Rail called from the Reedbed, with a second drake Pochard, a Grey Wagtail in front of Oak Hide and five Meadow Pipits on the Car Park Pool islands.
In the afternoon a pair of Stonechats were visible from Railway Hide, at least 50 Redwings were feeding in the Back Gate Copse, and 15 Meadow Pipits that were flying over decided to drop in by the Dragonfly Pond. A Sparrowhawk was also seen.
19th October 2026
A wider array of animals and birds today with an Otter on the Reedbed Pool at 08.00, two Foxes in the afternoon in front of Oak Hide, and a Marsh Harrier hunting in front of Oak Hide during the early afternoon. Added to this, a juvenile White Wagtail was photographed by the cattle feeders on the Flood Plain and a Peregrine went over. Forty-three Redwing flew north-west in two flocks of 20 and 23, and a pair of Stonechats were present again on the Flood Plain fences, and joining the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit was a late Redshank.
The configuration of Pintails had changed with an eclipse drake and a female. Other birds making the log were the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, 32 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Herring Gulls, an increase in Wigeon to 151, 133 Teal, four Common Gulls, three Linnets on the Flood Plain and a Ring-necked Parakeet in Siden Hill Wood.
Marsh Harrier – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
18th October 2026
Sunny, but cold north-westerly.
Today’s highlight in the late afternoon was an adult Yellow-legged Gull which showed well on Car Park Pool with the adult Greater Black-backed Gull. The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit had relocated to Railway Pool, and there were two Pintails again on site with two Grey Wagtails, two Meadow Pipits, two Skylarks over, a Kestrel, and five Ring-necked Parakeets over Siden Hill Wood.
17th October 2026
Sunny spells, fresh northerly.
The number of Stonechats seems to vary by the day with a pair on the Flood Plain fences, and a male opposite Car Park Hide. A full count of the other birds today, care of Graham Rowling, were 173 Canadas, a Canada/Greylag hybrid, 48 Greylags, seven Mute Swans, 19 Shoveler, 13 Gadwall, 74 Mallard, 103 Wigeon, 123 Teal, a drake Pochard and three Tufted Ducks, but there was no sign of the Pintails this morning.
Other counts comprised 31 Cormorants, 11 Little Grebes, six Herons, three Little Egrets, 14 Moorhen, 20 Coot, 79 Lapwing, the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 91 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull.
16th October 2026
Sunny, fresh north-westerly, some cloud at 12.30.
The Estate staff have carried on undertaking work around the Reserve, including digging out gaps in the reeds in various places, trying to improve parts of the Reedbed, and taking out some Willows and Alders that were beginning to encroach on the pools. A big thanks to them.
The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit remains on site, and there was a male Stonechat opposite the Car Park on the fence across the Tip Field. At least four Reed Buntings were in and out of the Reedbed during the works, a Grey Wagtail was on the margins of Car Park Pool and a Raven went over.
Wildfowl extended to the two eclipse drake Pintails, a drake Pochard, 112 Teal, and in addition, there were 10 Little Grebes, one Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull and a Kingfisher on the Reedbed.
15th October 2026
Sunny, but blustery south-westerly.
Only two Stonechats were visible today, a male on the Flood Plain and a female by the Dragonfly Pond. The juvenile Black-tailed Godwit extended its stay and has been present throughout October. The two drake Pintails were also showing well in the channels in front of Car Park Hide. Fifteen Redwings were seen east of the A452, with a further three in the Causeway area. A handful of Meadow Pipits went over. At least one Water Rail was heard calling from the Reedbed.
14th October 2026
Mild with a light south-westerly.
Today’s undoubted highlight, as part of some light overhead passage, were two Pipits that dropped into Car Park Pool around 10.40. They were clearly not Meadow Pipits but were slightly against the light from Car Park Hide, and on the far side of the Car Park Pool islands.
The initial identification was of two Rock Pipits but, as a result of some helpful photographs by Steve Pattison, they have subsequently been identified as one Water Pipit and one Rock Pipit. The last Rock Pipit was on the 17th October 2020, and the last Water Pipit on the 21st October 2022. Other overhead passage included 15 Linnets, seven Skylarks, eight Greenfinches and a handful of Meadow Pipits.
An impressive six Stonechats included a pair by Railway Hide, a pair on the Dragonfly Pond and a third pair on the Flood Plain.
In the late morning, a Goldeneye was a new arrival on Car Park Pool, probably a first-winter male.
13th October 2026
Overcast start, brightening to sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
Essentially the birds today were much the same as yesterday, with the Brent Goose, the Pintails and the Black-tailed Godwit all continuing their stay.
12th October 2026
Overcast, drizzle, fresh south-westerly.
Not a great deal of change today with the Brent Goose, two Pintails and the Black-tailed Godwit all still on site. A Red Kite was flying over Siden Hill Wood this morning, and there were four Stonechats seen with a pair at the Dragonfly Pond and second pair on the Flood Plain.
11th October 2026
Sunny.
The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still present, and a juvenile Peregrine had caught prey and was consuming it on one of the Car Park Pool islands. The Pintails were also still on site.
10th October 2026
Sunny spells, strong westerly.
The adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose was present again on the Reserve, joining 235 Greylags, three Canada/Greylag hybrids, 158 Greylags and six Mute Swans. The other wildfowl counts included six Egyptian Geese, 45 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 79 Wigeon, 13 Mallard, two eclipse drake Pintails, 78 Teal, just a single Tufted, 32 Cormorants, six Herons, two Little Egrets, a single great White Egret, eight Moorhen, 16 Coot and four Little Egrets. Waders included the long-staying juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, 85 Lapwings and a single Common Sandpiper.
The gull counts comprised 220 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, three Herring Gulls, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-backed. Three Skylarks went over and there were two Grey Wagtails on the Flood Plain.
9th October 2026
Sunny spells, westerly/south-westerly.
A Dunlin was new in and joined the remaining and long-staying juvenile Black-tailed Godwit. There was also a Common Sandpiper. Fifty-six Redwings went over south-west in small parties and, overnight, a small number of Fieldfares were heard on the move.
The eclipse drake Pintails remain, and a Green Sandpiper put in a brief appearance.
8th October 2026
Sunny.
A dawn visit from Martin Durkin was productive, yielding a flock of 14 Pink-footed Geese which were present on Car Park Pool in the brightening light with other geese, but flew off north at 07.15. They could be seen turning east in the distance. The flock included at least two juveniles. Other birds on site today were two Stonechats, two Redwings, two Pintails, a Little Egret and five Skylarks south.
7th October 2026
Overcast with some rain, brightening, cool northerly.
The full count of today’s birds comprised 102 Wigeon, the two eclipse drake Pintails, 144 Teal, 24 Moorhen, 90 Lapwings, two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits, one Common Sandpiper, three Snipe, one Great White Egret, three Little Egrets, seven Herons, 289 Black-headed Gulls, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, three Herring Gulls and a pair of Stonechats at the Flood Plain.
6th October 2026
Misty start, with drizzle lifting slowly to warm, sunny spells.
A second juvenile Black-tailed Godwit appeared today, this one favouring Car Park Pool, whilst the long-staying bird was present on Railway Pool. The steady increase in Wigeon continued with 81 today and there were 50 Shoveler, together with four Great White Egrets, nine Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, an adult Common Gull, a female Stonechat on the Flood Plain and a juvenile Grey Wagtail in front of Oak Hide.
5th October 2026
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
In addition to the long-staying drake Pintail, there was a second eclipse male and also a female this morning, and the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit continued its stay. Whilst there was no sign of the Brent Goose, the Nocmig sound recorder picked up a Brent Goose flying over at 00.36 this morning, presumably the long-staying bird departing for elsewhere.
The adult Greater Black-backed Gull was back on Car Park Pool having not been recorded for a few days, and other birds making the log included 19 Gadwall, 72 Wigeon, 44 Mallard, 17 Moorhen, four Tufted Ducks, nine Little Grebes, one Common Sandpiper, three Snipe, three Egyptian Geese, eight Herons, two Little Egrets, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay, and two Stonechats on the Flood Plain.
A Clouded Yellow butterfly was flying around Railway Hide and there were two Willow Emeralds still on the Central Stream.
4th October 2026
Sunny and mild.
There were no records of the Brent Goose in the log today, but the Black-tailed Godwit was still present, favouring Railway Pool during the day. The eclipse drake Pintail remained on Car Park Pool and there were two Kingfishers visible on Railway Pool from River Hide.
The first Siskin of the autumn went over Railway Pool, a Water Rail was heard in the North Causeway Bay and other birds making the log were three Grey Wagtails, all on Railway Pool, Jay, Common Sandpiper and seven Snipe.
3rd October 2026
Sunny, light north-westerly, similarly warm as yesterday.
There was no immediate sign of the Black-tailed Godwit this morning, but during the afternoon’s work party it came into Railway Pool, flew around calling, and then seemed to go down on Car Park Pool.
Other less usual birds included a female Blackcap on the Causeway, and a Grey Wagtail and two Linnets by the HS2 crossing.
Also, during the work party, a Clouded Yellow butterfly showed well in front of Oak Hide and at least nine Red Admirals were making their way purposefully south, low over the pools.
Graham and Dave’s full counts today were as follows: Eight Mute Swans, 180 Canadas, 4,587 Greylags, the adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose, three Egyptian Geese (all on the Flood Plain in the afternoon), two Canada/Greylag hybrids, 41 Shoveler, eight Gadwall, 68 Wigeon, the eclipse drake Pintail, 28 Mallard, 83 Teal, three Tufted Ducks, 16 Cormorants, nine Little Grebes, eight Herons, three Great White Egrets, five Little Egrets, 14 Moorhen, 19 Coot, 71 Lapwing, one Common Sandpiper, three Snipe, 206 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Kingfisher on Railway Pool and four Skylarks, of which three went over and one was on the Tip Field.
Five attended the work party and the strimming of the Railway Pool islands was completed, along with the opening up of the view from Oak Hide looking towards the Marsh. Thank you to those who attended.
2nd October 2026
Sunny spells, fresh southerly, remaining mild with temperatures up towards 20°.
A juvenile Common Tern, which popped into Car Park Pool at 09.15 for just five minutes, before flying off north, was decidedly unexpected with late Terns usually being Arctics as opposed to Common.
The Brent Goose, eclipse drake Pintail and the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit were all present again, as was the juvenile Hobby.
Two Common Gulls were new in, an adult and a first-winter, and aside from a first-winter on the 27th September, represented only the second and third birds of the autumn.
Two female Stonechats were present on the Flood Plain fences, and nearby a Clouded Yellow was seen on the Old Road by the HS2 crossing.
A Tawny Owl was picked up on the RockCam along the Central Stream in the evening. This was a new species for the camera.
1st October 2026
Overnight rain giving way to warm and sunny weather for the rest of the day, light south-westerly.
The Dark-bellied Brent Goose had moved to the Flood Plain by late morning. In the meantime, the juvenile Black-tailed Godwit was showing well from Oak Hide early on but couldn’t be found later on and was not visible in the evening, suggesting it may feed/roost elsewhere at times.
In the afternoon, a first-year Hobby was hunting the Reedbed where there was also a Kingfisher, and Green and Common Sandpipers and Grey Wagtail were present on the pool margins.
In the evening, a single Great White Egret and the eclipse drake Pintail showed well from Car Park Hide, and a small Starling roost of just under 20 birds came in about 18.30 to the Reedbed. As the light was fading, 80 Jackdaws and 60 large Gulls (it was too dark to tell whether they were Lesser Black-backed or Herring Gulls) flew over the pools, the Jackdaws to roost in Siden Hill Wood, but the Gulls carried on north. There were two Chiffchaffs on the path to River Hide, a Goldcrest called in on the Causeway and a Water Rail squealed from the Reedbed.
Black-tailed Godwit – Photograph by Steve Pattison
