30th September 2014
– Sunny intervals, light westerly wind.
Both the Garganey and the Pintail were present again today but elusive at times. The former initially hugged the shore under Car Park Hide before swimming out to preen and show well below the hide. The Pintail seems to be spending a lot of time asleep on the islands!
Two Water Rails showed from the north causeway hide, two Ravens went over and fiveSwallows flew south. At least eight Snipe fed on the grass around Car Park Hide.
29th September 2014
– Sunny intervals, light south-westerly wind.
A couple of new birds in today with an eclipse male Garganey joining the female Pintail on Car Park Pool and a male Stonechat showing well from the Oak Hide. The unringed adultMediterranean Gull again appeared in the Black-headed Gull flock and some overhead passage included 10 Skylarks, 10 Meadow Pipits, six Swallows and Grey Wagtail. TwoNuthatches and three Goldcrests fed along the stream by Oak Hide and a Water Rail was its usual elusive self at the causeway hide.
28th September 2014
– Sunny and warm.
On a glorious day, birding was second best to the weather. A Water Rail showed and called regularly around the north causeway area, possibly as a result of the presence of a Mink. Presumed Blackcaps called from the railway embankment and by the car park and there wwere four single Chiffchaffs spread across the Reserve.
The female Pintail showed from time to time on the islands on Car Park Pool and other totals from Car Park Pool included 70 Shoveler, 60 Wigeon and 17 Pochard. Two Ravens and twoSkylark went over, two Kestrels hunted the Reserve and at least seven Buzzards were using the warm conditions to thermal up over the Reserve.
Lots of Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers were on the wing but there hasn’t been a record of a Hobby in the last few days and they may have now departed.
27th September 2014
– Again an overcast start, with some sunny periods later. Light south-westerly wind.
A probable Honey Buzzard flew low, over the crop field, prior to 9 a.m. and headed off towards Hampton. Other Raptors during the day included two Common Buzzards, aSparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Also prior to 9 a.m., overhead passage included the first two Siskins of the year, one Grey Wagtail, four alba Wagtails and at least 40 Meadow Pipits. Five Chiffchaffs and fourGoldcrest were spread around the Reserve and other birds in the early morning includedKingfisher, eight Snipe and a Water Rail.
Counts later in the day comprised six Little Grebes, four Herons, 17 Cormorants, six Mute Swans, 215 Greylags, one Farmyard Goose, 78 Wigeon, 15 Gadwall, 151 Teal, 87Mallard, 91 Shoveler, 29 Tufted, 11 Moorhen, 16 Coot, 148 Lapwing, 186 Black-headed Gulls, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the first-winter Yellow-legged Gull.
At least 11 Swallows went south during the day and also the first Skylark.
26th September 2014
– Westerly wind, initially overcast, sunny periods later.
Similar to yesterday with the Yellow-legged Gull, eight Snipe, Water Rail, at least 300Black-headed Gulls, a Kestrel and a single Chiffchaff to the rear of Oak Hide. The latter species has really cleared out over the last few days.
At least one Fox has been a fairly regular sighting around the Reserve and one showed well around Railway Pool this afternoon. On one occasion, recently, it was hassled by six Magpieswho raucously “chased” it away.
25th September 2014
– Partly overcast, occasional sunny intervals, light westerly wind.
The first-winter Yellow-legged Gull showed again on Railway Pool at 12.45. It is far from an obvious bird. A Kingfisher was also an afternoon highlight showing well and hovering over the Dragonfly Pond. There was also a Hobby, six Snipe, two Nuthatches on the Oak Hide feeders, and a Water Rail from the north causeway screen.
24th September 2014
– Overnight rain clearing by 8 a.m., sunny intervals, blustery north-westerly wind.
31 Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer were present in the crop field, a good early season count and a further five to ten Reed Buntings were also present on the causeway. The causeway also held two Chiffchaffs and at least one Blackcap (a male) and there is anotherChiffchaff around the back gate copse with at least one Goldcrest.
Ten Goldfinches were feeding in the Alders along the central stream with at least another four elsewhere on site. A Grey Wagtail was present in the orchid field, a Coal Tit called along the Old Road and other birds included a Kingfisher calling from the north causeway area, sixStock Doves, two Meadow Pipits, a Common Gull on Railway Pool and nine Snipe on the grass to the right of Car Park Hide.
The female Pintail reappeared on Car Park Pool later in the morning and a first-winterCommon Gull dropped in with the Blackheads on Railway Pool. A Water Rail showed again from the north causeway hide.
23rd September 2014
– Cool start, sunny, some cloud appearing from the north and still.
Quiet overhead with no obvious visible migration.
The causeway was the busiest area with a male Blackcap, at least two Chiffchaffs, eightReed Buntings, a pair of Bullfinches, plenty of Tits, Dunnocks and Wrens and at least two ticking Song Thrushes and a number of Blackbirds. There were an additional ten Reed Buntings in the willows by the dried up pond on the edge of the crop field.
At least two Water Rails were calling against each other in the north causeway marsh, threeMeadow Pipits were flying around the car park, there was a Goldcrest on the railway embankment, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Stock Dove by Oak Hide and at least 14Snipe were also present. In the afternoon the regular Little Egret appeared again on Railway Pool, the Green Sandpiper was also present and five Swallows and two House Martins flew south.
A first-winter Gull, present since the 21st September, has now been confirmed as a first-winterYellow-legged Gull. The back feathers, in particular the scapulars, have started to mault through to grey and, as such, this early appearance is consistent with mault of Yellow-legged Gull. The other features such as a bulky bill, eye mask, head shape, long black wings and white rump are also present.
22nd September 2014
– Cool start, sunny, west, north-westerly wind.
A Pintail was a new arrival this morning on Railway Pool and the adult Mediterranean Gullagain came in with the Black-heads before flying south towards Bradnocks Marsh at just after 9 a.m. A Reed Warbler was again present in the Marsh and there were at least threeChiffchaffs on the causeway.
In the afternoon, a Ruff dropped into Railway Pool for a few minutes before flying back to Car Park Pool and did not appear to have been seen later. A Raven went over and, in the warm conditions, a late Black-tailed Skimmer was of note.
21st September 2014
– Clear night, cool start, sunny and warm, light north-westerly wind.
The un-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was still present on Railway Pool today, along with aLittle Egret. Wigeon had reached 63 and Shoveler to at least 83 amongst the other wildfowl.
Two Ravens over Siden Hill Wood flew east to chase off another pair over towards Berkswell. 16 Swallows went south and there was a Treecreeper by the south-west pond. Later in the afternoon a second Little Egret came in to join the first and a Yellow Wagtail went over.
20th September 2014
– Overcast, light north-easterly wind.
A reasonable selection of birds today with probably the highlight being an un-ringed adultMediterranean Gull that spent much of the late morning and afternoon around Railway Pool. In addition there was a rather late Common Sandpiper and at least four Yellow Wagtails, aRaven, at least three Grey Wagtails over, up to 20 Swallows south, up to 14 Chiffchaffsaround the Reserve, a Blackcap on the Old Road and two Little Egrets.
Other counts today comprised six Heron, 11 Cormorants, five Dabchicks, 12 Mute Swansincluding the aberrent juvenile, one Black Swan, 244 Greylags, three Canadas, 56 Wigeon, 37 Gadwall, a significant increase in Teal to 268, 151 Mallard, 79 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 106 Tufted, 14 Moorhen, 19 Coot, 122 Lapwing, six Snipe, 560 Black-headed Gulls (birds were coming and going all day and this is probably an absolute minimum count), eight Lesser Black-backs, a Kestrel and a Buzzard.
19th September 2014
– Mostly wet and overcast, north-easterly wind.
A Water Rail showed very well at times from the north causeway hide during the day, as did aFox, hunting around the Reedbed and the crop field and stalking and jumping on small mammals.
Both Little Egret and Hobby were present on site and Shoveler and Wigeon numbers had again increased with 97 and 40 respectively.
Snipe numbers were also up with at least 15 present; two Grey Wagtails went over, aKingfisher again showed well and there was an aberrant juvenile Mute Swan, generally pale but with brown in the plumage, and pink bill and legs.
18th September 2014
– Murky start, slowly brightening, north-easterly wind.
A Greenshank came in from the north at 8.40 calling and dropped into Railway Pool where it then spent 1 ½ hours feeding along the channels before moving back towards Car Park Pool at 10.15. A Little Egret also spent part of the morning on Railway Pool and was joined by a second one in the afternoon.
There had obviously been an arrival of Song Thrushes overnight with at least six ticking along the Old Road between the cottages and the car park, two of which subsequently departed to the west. There also seemed to be an increase in Blackbirds along the same hedgeline, with at least four noisy individuals interacting with the Song Thrushes. Three Mistle Thrushescame in from the north as well, landed in the top of the dead Ash tree by Oak Hide and then moved on. It is less clear whether these were migrants or local birds.
Other overhead passage up until 10 a.m. comprised four Swallows, four Meadow Pipits and a single Alba Wagtail. Subsequently, a Grey Wagtail and 11 Swallows went through.
A few Chiffs and Blackcaps continue to linger with Blackcaps calling by the cottages and on the railway embankment and there were a pair of Bullfinches there as well. Two Kestrelswere hunting around Railway Pool and there were at least two Buzzards present as well.
There were again plenty of wildfowl spread between the pools and, amongst them, were at least 225 Teal and over 70 Shoveler, whilst a steady stream of Black-headed Gulls came and went in the first couple of hours with a maximum at any one time of 250. A couple ofStock Doves and a pair of Collared Doves also went through in the morning.
17th September 2014
– Misty start, clearing early on, sunny and warm temperatures over 20°, north-easterly wind.
Both Little Egret and Hobby showed well again during the day, lingering Warblers included two Reed Warblers, though the location was not given. Overhead passage included threeSwallows and a Grey Wagtail, whilst other birds of note comprised two Ravens, ten Snipe,Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Kingfisher.
16th September 2014
– Early cloud, slowly clearing, sunny intervals, easterly wind.
A Little Egret was present on Railway Pool for much of the morning and an adult Hobby has put in a now almost daily appearance over Railway Pool, hunting dragonflies. There were threeGreen Sandpipers, two on Railway Pool and one on Car Park Pool and five Snipe all on Railway Pool.
In the evening, what was probably the same adult winter Mediterranean Gull as Sunday (though the legs were not seen to confirm the colour rings) appeared in the evening on Car Park Pool before disappearing. There were at least 37 House Martins over Siden Hill Wood, moving, and at least three Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap by the railway car park and two very vocal Treecreepers further down the track towards the wood.
The adult Hobby put in another appearance in the early evening.
15th September 2014
– Light drizzle, mostly overcast, north-easterly wind.
Overhead passage today comprised two Grey Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail and ten Meadow Pipits with a Little Egret, a Green Sandpiper and an adult Common Gull on the pools. FourBlackcaps, including a male, and a pair of Bullfinches showed well on the railway bank. There was a lingering Reed Warbler in the Marsh, a Song Thrush by the car park, a maleKestrel and a juvenile Hobby over and around the pools and a Weasel showed well just east of the A452.
14th September 2014
– Initially overcast, clearing sunny intervals. Easterly wind.
A colour ringed adult Mediterranean Gull was today’s highlight. It appeared on Railway Pool at 3.55 p.m. and stayed for about a quarter of an hour before moving on. There was also an impressive count of six Yellow Wagtails on Railway Pool, a mixture of adults and juveniles. A single Green Sandpiper continues to linger, there was a Kingfisher again around Railway Pool and Hobby and Kestrel also showed well.
13th September 2014
– Occasional sunny intervals, light north-easterly wind.
A fFurther increase was evident in wildfowl numbers today with Teal up to 165 and Tufted 123 together with 25Wigeon. Other counts are set out below.
Other birds of note included a Wheatear on the cattle feeder on the flood plain at mid-morning (but not there later in the day), a Yellow Wagtail around Car Park Hide at 6 p.m., two Green Sandpipers and two early Common Gulls on or over the pools, two Kingfishers, at least 20Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, two Snipe, five Mistle Thrushes along the concrete road, Hobby and Raven. Overhead migration was fairly limited with three Grey Wagtails south in the morning along with a small number of Meadow Pipits, a House Martin and threeSwallows.
Other counts comprised 15 Cormorants, 15 Herons, five Dabchicks, three Mute Swans, theBlack Swan, six Greylags, four Canadas, 17 Gadwall, 143 Mallard, 49 Shoveler, 19Pochard, 14 Coot, 20 Moorhen, 136 Lapwing, two Snipe, 155 Black-headed Gulls, threeLesser Black-backed Gulls, a Kestrel, four Buzzards and a Hobby.
On the Old Road there were two Goldcrests and a Nuthatch with a 14 strong Long-tailed Titflock. There was also a flock of 20 Goldfinches.
12th September 2014
– Mostly overcast, some sunny intervals, light easterly wind.
Remaining relatively quiet; Hobby and Kestrel both showed well, the former over Railway Pool hawking Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters in particular and the latter hovering over the crop field. A Raven went over the car park area at 1.30 and there was a single Green Sandpiper on the pool.
11th September 2014
– Sunny intervals, light easterly wind.
A Peregrine flew over Railway Pool at just after mid-day and a Hobby also put on another good display hawking dragonflies over Railway Pool.
Overhead migration was limited to a single Grey Wagtail, four Swallows and a few Meadow Pipits.
In the afternoon a Hummingbird Hawk Moth showed briefly along the causeway and is only the second recorded for the Reserve.
10th September 2014
– Mostly sunny, light north-easterly wind.
Although nothing particularly out of the ordinary, still a good selection of birds with a Little Egret on Railway Pool, an adult Hobby hawking Dragonflies over both pools, a female or an immature Kestrel and a male, three Green Sandpipers and four Snipe. Birds on the move overhead included two Grey Wagtails, at least ten Meadow Pipits, 15 House Martins and two Swallows whilst lingering passerines comprised a Reed Warbler at the causeway, twoWhitethroats on the railway embankment and one in the Marsh, a Blackcap also on the railway embankment, at least five Chiffchaffs spread around the Reserve, two Goldcrests on the causeway and a juvenile Bullfinch also around Railway Hide. A Water Rail was heard from the causeway area.
9th September 2014
– Sunny and warm
What were probably a pair of juvenile Black-necked Grebes, put in a frustratingly brief appearance for one observer this morning, initially in the deeper water near River Hide before moving to Railway Hide and then vanishing.
Warblers were active either on their own or in mixed tit flocks with still plenty of Chiffs about, a Reed Warbler in front of River Hide and Blackcap and Whitethroat behind Railway Hide.
At about midday a female Stonechat appeared and showed well around Railway Hide and was still present at 2pm.
A few Meadow Pipits and House Martins went over high, along with a single Pied Wagtailand both Little Egret and an adult and juvenile Hobby also showed well during the middle of the day.
A single Green Sandpiper and two Snipe were present on Car Park Pool in the morning at least, with a second Green Sandpiper in the afternoon.
Thanks to the eight who attended the Work Party. Despite frustrations with strimmers and hedge cutters much was achieved, including reduction in the height of the reeds from the south causeway hide, further opening up of the Marsh, some strimming of the Railway Pool islands and further clearance of the back of Railway Hide.
8th September 2014
– Cool morning with some mist quickly burnt off, sunny light north westerly
Both adult and juvenile Hobbies showed particularly well today, one bird putting on a fine aerial display catching dragonflies in front of Oak Hide. There was also a single Green Sandpiper, six Snipe (including a very grey bird in the marsh), a Kestrel, a Reed Warbler(marsh), five Meadow Pipits over and the first Yellowhammer of the autumn in the crop field.
7th September 2014
– Warm, sunny, light south, north-westerly wind.
A Mediterranean Gull was amongst 275 Black-headed Gulls on the gravel bar at midday and a Clouded Yellow was seen well along the causeway in the afternoon. . Other than Lapwingsand a few Snipe, a Green Sandpiper was the only other wader.
There was also a Little Egret present on Railway Pool, a Hobby over both pools along with two Ravens and two Dunlin flew through at 11.40am. Other counts, with noticeable increases on yesterday, were as follows: 14 Herons, 20 Cormorants, 103 Teal, 57 Shoveler, 12Wigeon and 20 Pochard.
A juvenile Whitethroat fed along the edge of the crop field and there was a juvenile Blackcapbehind Railway Hide. A Yellow Wagtail went over at 6pm and a Red-eared Terrapin, first seen a few days ago, was again sunning itself on the far bank of Car Park Pool (an unwelcome visitor).
6th September 2014
– Misty start, slowly clearing as the day wore on, sunny intervals, light north-westerly wind
The only obvious new arrival was a male Stonechat which showed well in the Reedbed from about 10.05 to 10.30 but could not be found subsequently. Overhead, passage was limited to one or possibly two Grey Wagtails and some hirundines. In respect of the latter, one flock of 36 Swallows went through at about 9.30 and at least a further 35 birds followed during the rest of the morning, including a group of about 25 at Patrick Farm with five House Martinsand a Sand Martin. A few more House Martins also moved through, totalling 10.
On a walk around the Reserve, up the Old Road and back through the wood, there were at least 25 Chiffchaffs including 10 in two roving Tit flocks across the flood plain.
A scattering of Blackcaps, totalling about five were widely scattered and there were still twoWhitethroats, one behind Oak Hide and one behind Railway Hide. Two Reed Warblers also showed well in the causeway area.
Around 1 pm an adult Hobby was hawking Dragonflies over the pools, a Kestrel andSparrowhawk showed well, there were at least four Buzzards on the flood plain including the mewing juvenile and a Little Egret dropped in to Railway Pool to roost.
With thanks to Graham Rowling for the counts, the build up in wildfowl that had occurred during the week was evidenced in the following counts: 12 Cormorants, ten Herons, 13Little Grebe, five Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 66 Greylags, 40 Canadas, ten Wigeon, 72 Teal, 88 Mallard, ten Gadwall, 36 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 75 Tufted, 21 Coot, tenMoorhen, 135 Lapwing, one Green Sandpiper, five Snipe, 350 Black-headed Gulls and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A few butterflies were on the wing, including a Small Copper near Railway Hide and there was also a Hornet there.
5th September 2014
– Sunny intervals, light north-easterly / north-westerly wind
A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull left Car Park Pool at about 8 a.m. this morning and flew off south, but there did not appear to be any sign, initially at least, of the long-staying Dunlin andLittle Ringed Plover. There appeared to be an increase in wildfowl with at least 29 Shoveler, eight Wigeon and at least 50 Teal. There was still seven Dabchicks on Car Park Pool. ThreeGreen Sandpipers fed along the far side of Car Park Pool this morning.
Two young Reed Warblers were in the Marsh and at least four Chiffchaffs, including a singing bird, were spread between the railway embankment and Car Park Pool. Four Meadow Pipits came over and appeared to drop around Car Park Pool at 8 a.m.
In the afternoon, at least two and possibly three Hobbies were hawking dragonflies over the pools and a young Cuckoo came out from the causeway and flew north over Car Park Pool, possibly the bird from the 29th August, but it is most likely to be a new one.
4th September 2014
– Low cloud initially, light north-easterly wind soon burning it off.
The Dunlin and juvenile Little Ringed Plover were still present along with a Green Sandpiper and a Common Snipe. There were at least four Chiffchaffs calling along the Old Road and a Blackcap calling by the car park. A flock of 11 Goldfinches were again down the Old Road by the horse paddock but the hedges seem relatively quiet and, as previously reported, many of the warblers seem to have moved on.
A Hobbyagain showed well but hirundine passage has definitely slowed up with just 20 House Martins today. In the brighter and warmer weather at least five Buzzards were in the air and a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also seen. A Sedge Warbler showed well on the railway embankment in the afternoon.
3rd September 2014
– Misty morning.
The misty start brought in two Greenshanks briefly onto Car Park Pool this morning where they joined a Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, two Hobbies (an adult and juvenile) and Kingfisher. At 10.19 a Tree Pipit was seen over the Orchid Field.
Other birds of note today were two Kestrels, two Meadow Pipits around the car park, the returned Bar-headed Goose (which has been around for a few days), at least fiveChiffchaffs, the Treecreeper in the south-west copse, a Goldcrest on the central stream, ten Swallows, ten Sand Martins, at least 15 House Martins mid morning (but only oneSwallow over in the evening and no roost), eight Pochard, a Water Rail and two Reed Warblers along the causewa.
2nd September 2014
– Warm, sunny, light south-easterly. A relatively still morning
Despite there still being some Chiffchaffs about and a Reed Warbler on the causeway, there was a general feeling that many of the breeding warblers have now left site. Waders from the previous few days remain, namely two Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Snipe.
As the morning warmed up, aerial prey clearly went higher. An adult and a juvenileHobbyshowed really well both around River Hide and above the pools, catching insects on the wing and joining Jackdaws, Black-headed Gulls and some high hirundines. There were still plenty of Swallows at Patrick Farm but only ones and twos seemed to be on the move, low enough to see. Five Sand Martins around Car Park Hide, at about 8am soon moved on.
The best bird of the day did not appear until about 3pm when a female Marsh Harrier circled the pools and dropped into the reeds opposite Oak Hide before lifting off shortly after and disappearing to the south west.
Other birds of interest include a couple of Goldcrests along the Old Road, a Nuthatch by the south-west pond, at least three different Great Spotted Woodpeckers spread across the Reserve, seven Dabchicks on Car Park Pool, and amongst the usual wildfowl, 20 Shoveler,nineWigeon, seven Pochard and 36 Teal.
In the afternoon, a Grey Wagtail went over Car Park Pool, along with a Meadow Pipit and aWheatear showed on the west bank of Car Park Pool. There was also a Little Egret on the Car Park Pool islands. In the evening, a Water Rail was calling from the north causeway hide.
1st September 2014
– Drizzly and overcast start, slowly clearing from about lunchtime onwards, north-westerly
A Dunlin was a new arrival today and was, somewhat belatedly, the first of the autumn. Other waders comprised two Snipe and the long staying juvenile Little Ringed Plover.
At least eight Chiffchaffs were recorded between Car Park and Railway, four Willow Warblers along the streamline to River Hide and a Reed Warbler on the causeway itself. Other passerines included a Goldcrest by the Car Park and a Treecreeper on the causeway, whilst birds overhead included a Grey Wagtail, 15 Swallows, five House Martins and 20Sand Martins. Wigeon were up to six, there were five Pochard and 310 Greylags.
In the dead Ash tree just beyond Oak Hide, there were four Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the afternoon, perhaps a family party, and with the advent of autumn, Jays were more conspicuous with at least two there and two on the Old Road.