NEW 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.
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) – Updated 15th April 2021
The Reserve remains open. Members have been helpful and responsible during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Please continue to co-operate by:
- Remembering social distancing – 2m minimum between people.
- No more than three people, per hide at any one time, subject to (1) above.
- For the time being, please leave two hide flaps open permanently, one on each side, to allow for air flow.
- A spray and cloth has been put into the six main hides so that if people wish to, they can wipe down doors, flaps, shelves etc.
- A mask is preferred for people using hides.
Can all visitors please ensure they follow HM Government guidance in respect of hand sanitisation and social distancing, and ensure they avoid the Reserve if they or any family members (or anyone else you may be in contact with) are showing any symptoms associated with Covid-19.
Work Party Dates
October 9th – 2 pm
November 6th – 2 pm
December 4th – 2 pm
Link to West Midland Bird Ringing Group: https://www.westmidlandsringinggroup.co.uk/
Updates
29th September – record updated
20th and 23rd August – Photographs added
5th, 7th, 18th and 19th September – Photographs added
10th September – Photograph added
28th August – photographs added
15th September – photographs added
12th September – final paragraph added
3rd September – Photograph added.
10th September – Record updated.
4th September – Full list of birds added.
3rd September – Record Updated.
9th September – Record Updated
30th September 2021
Wet and windy all day.
It was not surprising perhaps with such a wet day that there were no records in the log until late in the afternoon when a brief visit in squally showers revealed a female type Garganey in the channel at the back of the island in front of Oak Hide. 15 Meadow Pipits were in flight over the Tip Field at a similar time.
29th September 2021
Sunny all day with occasional light showers first thing after overnight rain. Westerly wind.
Early showers were mostly confined to north of the Reserve with fine rainbows on offer but, compared to yesterday, visible migration prior to 9 am produced paltry results limited to two each of Meadow Pipits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and one Linnet.
Treecreeper and Goldcrest were both calling around the car park, a Grey Wagtail showed well in the Marsh from Oak Hide, as did a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay. At least one more called from the Reedbed and one Cetti’s Warbler was in song.
Calling Chiffchaffs were seen on the streamline and on the railway embankment, a Blackcap with six Goldfinches and at least 12 Long-tailed Tits was present by Oak Hide, a male Sparrowhawk went over the pools with a female landing and remaining perched in Siden Hill Wood and the drake Mandarin appeared again on Car Park Pool before flying to Railway Pool. Six Dabchicks comprised four on Car Park Pool and two on Railway Pool.
Further birds making the log during the day were as follows: an adult Greater Black-backed Gull on Car Park Pool, a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool, seven Snipe spread between the two pools, a Raven over along with 25 Meadow Pipits and two House Martins. In the afternoon, Hobby, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper and approximately six further House Martins were seen. A Mink was also briefly visible in the North Causeway Bay.
Great Spotted Woodpecker – South West Pond – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
28th September 2021
Cool start but sunny, with a southerly wind. Rain from mid-afternoon.
Some visible migration was on offer this morning with one flock of ten Meadow Pipits, three flocks of Swallows totalling 17 birds, four Goldfinches, two Pied and a single Grey Wagtail all through prior to 9 am. Other Meadow Pipits went south in the morning and 36 were counted in the Tip Field bringing the morning’s total to at least 60. Other birds were more distant over the wood but could not be specifically identified.
A broad selection of other birds included the Eclipse drake Mandarin on Car Park Pool at 11 am, which then flew to the river, and singles of Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper and two Snipe on the margins.
Four Grey Wagtails included two in the Marsh (an adult and this year’s juvenile) and two on the flood plain. Raven, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, three Skylarks over, a singing Chiffchaff in the Back Gate Copse along with Blackcap, Bullfinch and Goldcrest were other birds making the log in the morning.
A Hobby showed well several times on both pools between 1 and 3.30 when the rain arrived. There were also 42 Wigeon, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, two Ravens over Siden Hill Wood, 98 Black-headed Gulls and the drake Mandarin returned from the river.
27th September 2021
Some overnight rain, followed by sunshine and heavy showers on a south-westerly wind.
Despite the change in the weather, it was still warm enough for butterflies with Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Comma all seen throughout the day. Birds on Car Park Pool extended to the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. There were also three Pochard there.
On Railway Pool a single Little Egret joined two Snipe and a Common Sandpiper and there was a Kestrel hovering over the railway bank.
A total of ten Herons was noteworthy.
26th September 2021
The sky and the sunset in the late afternoon and evening were a picture as the cloud was beginning to build in advance of the forecast rain.
In the Back Gate Copse there is a good crop of Alder Buckthorn berries this year and the Rowan berries have lasted much longer than normal. In most years, the Thrushes, particularly the Blackbirds, strip these almost before they are ripe but this year they have lasted and Thrushes seem to be in short supply, perhaps the reason they have lasted so long.
Probably the best bird today was yesterday’s adult Hobby which performed well over Railway Pool for much of the early afternoon. A Ringed Plover flew over, calling, at 6 pm but did not land.
40 Swallows went south between 9.30 and 12.30, along with 110 Meadow Pipits. A further ten Swallows went over in groups of six and four at 6.45 pm.
Other birds today comprised the adult Greater Black–backed Gull for part of the morning, along with 26 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, 65 Shoveler, 45 Wigeon, two Ravens (which were perched in Siden Hill Wood in the afternoon after a rolling display), at least two Little Egrets, two Snipe, singles of Common and Green Sandpiper, Treecreeper (Oak Hide), Goldcrests (Causeway) and 50 to 60 Starlings at dusk.
Two Skylarks, two Jay, a Song Thrush, Stock Dove, seven Herons, Kestrel, Buzzard and Green Woodpecker were the other birds that made the log.
25th September 2021
Bright but overcast start with a light westerly wind, turning sunny and warm later.
After a quiet few days there was much more on offer today.
Not long after first light, a flock of 60 Goldfinches and a single Linnet were found in the Alders just by Oak Hide, feeding on the seed heads. There was also a male Blackcap there with two further Blackcaps, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Back Gate Copse.
Two different Cetti’s Warblers were in song, one to the west of River Hide and the other around the Reedbed.
Between 8.30 and 9.30 the adult Whooper Swan was present on Car Park Pool and at 9.15 a Great White Egret landed on the shore line of Car Park Pool and then flew off towards Cornets End at 9.35. There was also a Kingfisher present.
A Barn Owl was perched on the outside of the box in the North Causeway Bay area (on the large Oak tree near to River Hide) and an adult Peregrine put in an appearance along with singles of Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper. Two Stoats showed well by the South-west Pond.
Wildfowl counts amounted to:- 16 Mute Swans, 211 Greylags, two Farmyard Geese and a Greylag / Canada Cross, 112 Canadas, 47 Wigeon, 29 Gadwall, 19 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 51 Teal, 25 Tufted Ducks, 12 Moorhen, 41 Coot, five Little Grebes, nine Cormorants, four Herons, four Little Egrets, 80 Lapwing, 122 Black-headed Gulls and ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A colour ringed Little Egret that was also seen on the 16th September was seen again today, and although I have not been provided with precise details, I think it was ringed in the nest at Welwyn Garden City earlier this year.
An evening visit yielded three Swallow at 5.15, three Meadow Pipits over at 5.50 and a initially unidentified pale bird, perched in the dead tree on the front of Siden Hill Wood. From various angles with binoculars it appeared to be a Kestrel or a Hobby. Care of Stef Fraczek a photograph taken on site and enlarged on the computer screen later, proved that it was in fact an adult Hobby, a nice late record.
24 September 2021
Bright, but cloudy, fresh west, south-westerly wind.
A tardy Reed Warbler was present in the north Causeway vegetation this morning and there were two male Cetti’s Warblers in song, one by the South-west Pond and one on the north shore of Railway Pool.
Other birds today were a single Common Sandpiper, four Snipe, ten Herons, a drake Pochard, eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 56 Black-headed Gulls.
23rd September 2021
Initially misty and overcast, brightening on an increasing south-westerly wind.
Wigeon and Cormorant numbers have increased over the last few days with 44 of the former and 22 of the latter. Six Little Egrets and eight Herons were spread across the pools, a Cetti’s Warbler sang in the Causeway area and a Raven went over west at 12.15, with two Skylarks at a similar time. Five Meadow Pipits were feeding in the grass around the Dragonfly Pond.
22nd September 2021
Remaining sunny and warm.
The adult Whooper Swan returned today after some time away, including periods at Packington. It was present by Patrick Bridge for a small part of the morning.
The adult Greater Black-backed Gull joined 17 Lesser Black–backed Gulls on Car Park pool and, on Railway Pool, there were two Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and five Linnets on the weeds on the islands. At least one Chiffchaff was present in the Back Gate Copse along with a Nuthatch.
21st September 2021
Sunny and warm, light north-westerly wind after a cool start.
A ringing session this morning, around the back gate, yielded 35 new birds comprising 27 Blackcaps, singles of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, two Goldcrest, two Robins and two Blackbirds.
The Willow Warbler had a defect with the flight feathers, as shown in the pictures below from Ben Dolan. The current suggestion this is caused by Mallophaga, which is a lice that feeds on birds wings.
Willow Warbler with defect in flight feathers – Photographs by Ben Dolan
Of the birds caught, all but one was a juvenile and the remaining bird was a large female Blackcap with a 79mm wing and a 24g weight, which is the longest winged Blackcap that Ben Dolan has ever caught.
Whilst ringing at the back gate, two birds dropped in, one of which turned out to be a Spotted Flycatcher and the other a Chaffinch. Two further Chaffinches and at least two Meadow Pipits and a Skylark also moved over prior to 9 am and there were 21 Greenfinches by the car park, the largest flock for some time.
One to two Blackcaps were present around the Back Gate Copse, 105 Lapwings were counted on Railway Pool and a Raven went over.
20th September 2021
Sunny, warm and remaining dry.
Two juvenile Stonechats were present around the Dragonfly Pond this morning, initially just one with a second one late morning joining it. There were also four Meadow Pipits in the Tip Field there.
Grey Wagtail and Little Egret were present at Patrick Bridge with a further two Little Egrets and a Great White Egret present briefly on Car Park Pool in the early morning.
In the afternoon, there were two Green Sandpipers in front of Oak Hide, a late Whitethroat along the Causeway and also a Water Rail in the channels in the North Causeway Bay.
19th September 2021
Rain early on, clearing away quickly to mostly sunny intervals and showers.
Wigeon numbers increased to 27 today and Snipe to 12. There was a Common Sandpiper present around the pool margins, a Kingfisher on the post in front of Oak Hide and Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler in the Marsh.
Snipe – Railway Pool – Photographs by Stef Fraczek
At least 15 Meadow Pipits went over and both Hobby and Kestrel were seen on a number of occasions throughout the day.
A Raven flew over Siden Hill Wood, two Green Sandpipers and five Snipe were present later in the afternoon.
18th September 2021
Sunny and warm after a misty start.
The warm weather was particularly good for Dragonflies today with an estimated 60 Common Darters, 15 Migrant Darters, one Southern and three Brown Hawkers, a male Ruddy Darter, 12 Common Blue Damselflies, one Blue-tailed Damselfly and one Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Butterflies included a male Common Blue, seven Speckled Woods, nine Small Whites and three Red Admirals.
Four Sand Martins and a Swallow went through early on, but the pulse of hirundines did not seem to materialise in the same way today. However, a Hobby was seen on a number of occasions.
24 Mute Swans, 165 Canadas, 370 Greylags, 23 Shoveler, 23 Gadwall, 49 Mallard, 16 Wigeon, 64 Teal, 24 Tufteds, seven Moorhen, 35 Coot, five Little Grebes, 72 Lapwing, at least six Snipe, singles of Green and Common Sandpiper, 255 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, seven Herons, four Little Egrets, nine Cormorants and at least 16 Rooks made up some of the other counts.
Ten Linnets were feeding on the Car Park Pool islands, two Water Rails were seen in the North Causeway Bay and around the Back Gate Copse there were Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff.
Water Rail from Causeway – Photograph by Steve Pattison
17th September 2021
Warm and sunny.
A movement of hirundines got going mid-morning with 25 Swallows and a late pulse of Sand Martins, 15, went through between 11 am and 2 pm and the numbers increased in the afternoon with at least 100 Swallows, 30 House Martins and 12 more Sand Martins through, mostly between 2.30 and 3 pm. There was at least one Hobby in attendance for the passage.
Other counts, care of Graham Rowling, were as follows: 30 Mute Swans, 260 Greylags, two Farmyard Geese, a Greylag / Canada cross, 208 Canadas, 24 Shoveler, 14 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, 51 Mallard, 67 Teal, 30 Tufted, 20 Moorhen, 44 Coot, six Little Grebes, three Little Egrets, 13 Cormorant, eight Herons (one of which caught a large Tench on Car Park), two female Pheasants with three half grown juveniles by the Car Park, 99 Lapwing, at least three Snipe, one Green Sandpiper, one Common Sandpiper, 106 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Cetti’s Warbler singing from the Causeway area where there was also a Water Rail and four Meadow Pipits on the Tip Field.
A Kingfisher was also seen on a number of occasions, often frequenting the posts in front of both Oak or Railway Hides.
Plenty of Dragonflies were on the wing, mostly Common and Migrant Darters and Butterflies extended to Seven Speckled Woods, at least five Red Admirals, two Green-veined Whites and one Small White.
16th September 2021
Sunny and warm.
No records.
15th September 2021
Overnight rain, initially overcast, becoming sunny and warm.
Early birds making the log today were a Kingfisher on Car Park Pool, a Grey Wagtail showing well in the Marsh in front of Oak Hide, a Sedge Warbler and two Chiffchaffs in a Tit flock on the central stream, two Meadow Pipits over and six Greenfinches and a Jay at the car park feeders.
As the day unfolded, a Lesser Whitethroat was found along the Old Road with a Treecreeper. Two Shelduck went over (an unusual record for this time of year) and there were two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and two Snipe on the pools.
Probably more than one Kingfisher was present throughout the day with records coming from the river, Car Park Pool, Railway Pool and the Causeway and, in the latter, a Water Rail showed in the channels there.
Other bits and pieces included four Linnets, a Nuthatch and both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Green Sandpiper – The Marsh – Photograph taken by Paul Casey
Little Egret on Railway Pool – Photograph by Paul Casey
14th September 2021
Rain or drizzle for most of the day, light south-easterly wind.
Singles of Green and Common Sandpiper were present on the pool margins today and a Kingfisher was seen on both pools. Two Little Egrets, a Sparrowhawk and a drake Pochard were the other birds making the log on another relatively quiet day.
13th September 2021
Light cloud, mostly overcast with a light south-easterly wind.
A quiet day yielded just a pair of Pochard on Car Park Pool, a Sparrowhawk at the car park feeder and a Kestrel hunting the crop field.
A rather slow ringing session in the Back Gate Copse yielded 15 Blackcaps, a Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, two Great Tits, three Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest and a Blackbird. All birds ringed were juveniles. In addition, there was a re-trapped Long–tailed Tit.
12th September 2021
Sunny start, clouding over and light drizzle in the late afternoon and overnight, south-easterly wind.
The eclipse drake Mandarin Duck was visible from Oak Hide this morning and there were three Green Sandpipers and a single Common Sandpiper. A Lesser Black-backed Gull caught and ate an early fully grown Tufted Duck in front of Oak Hide.
Ten Meadow Pipits went over in an hour this morning, the first of the autumn movements.
Less usual birds included a late Sedge Warbler in front of the Causeway Hide and a mixed flock of Finches on the car park feeder included five Siskins. A Peregrine perched on the front edge of Siden Hill Wood, there was a Water Rail in the causeway channels and other counts today comprised ten Wigeon, six Little Egrets, a Snipe, a drake Pochard and 32 Shoveler.
A trail cam placed on the Central Stream is proving revealing with, this evening, an Otter captured. Plenty of birds and a Muntjac have also been recorded.
11th September 2021
Sunny intervals, light but increasing south-westerly.
The eclipse drake Mandarin had moved to Railway Pool this morning where it was joined by one Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers. A Parakeet species, presumably Ringed-necked flew over the Back Gate Copse and other records today comprised a pair of Kestrels, a Cetti’s at the Causeway Screen and a Nuthatch in the Back Gate Copse.
10th September 2021
Overcast and drizzly start, clearing to sunny intervals with some showers, humid.
A juvenile Nightjar caught and ringed by the back gate at 05:45 this morning was today’s highlight. It seems likely that it was the bird from last week and was a good weight, perhaps suggesting that it has been feeding up on site before it moves on. Upon release a few minutes later it flew into the trees by the south-west pond. Photos to follow.
Nightjar – Photograph by Nick Barlow
The cumulative totals, excluding the Nightjar, were 57 new birds, all of which were juveniles except one Blackcap. The totals were 44 Blackcap, one Garden Warbler, six Chiffchaffs, one very smart immature Willow Warbler, two Blue Tits, a Robin, a Long-tailed Tit and a Bullfinch.
In the late morning an eclipse drake Mandarin duck was found on the Car Park Pool islands and was still present into the early afternoon. A juvenile male Peregrine went over just after 2.00pm and other counts today, care of John Belsey, were eight Little Grebe, three Little Egrets, 45 Gadwall, 35 Shoveler, 50 Teal, 15 Wigeon, 20 Tufted Ducks, 21 Mute Swans, a Water Rail in the Causeway, 130 Lapwing, two Green Woodpeckers, five Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs and a Bullfinch.
In the afternoon, a Kingfisher was seen around the Car Park Pool margins and a Redshank was an unexpected migrant wader today.
9th September 2021
Overnight rain, misty but still start.
A particularly hormonal male Mute Swan was causing some disturbance to all the birds on Railway Pool in its attempts to drive off other cobs. Nevertheless, there were three Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper and three Snipe were flushed by the Swan. There was a Great Crested Grebe on Car Park Pool and seven Wigeon overall. Chiffchaffs were calling in a number of places along with Blackcaps and a Cetti’s was in song near the Causeway.
Birds in the afternoon included both Hobby and Kestrel hunting over Railway Pool and two Ravens over Car Park Pool.
8th September 2021
Hot and sunny.
Some more interest on the bird front today with a Red Kite over to the south at 10.15 and a juvenile Black–tailed Godwit present on Railway Pool for some of the morning, although it was not seen after 10.45.
There was a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool along with three Little Egrets, ten Wigeon, two drake Pochards and ten Swallows flew through to the south. The back gate copse held Nuthatch, Reed Warbler and Blackcap.
13 Grey Herons were in the air over Railway Pool in the late afternoon and at the work party in the evening, attended by six of use, two Green Sandpipers were calling regularly around Railway Pool and moving between the pool and the river.
The work party concentrated on opening up the rides from the North Causeway Screen and commencing strimming of the islands.
7th September 2021
Hot and sunny.
The only records making the log today were 12 Herons and four Little Egrets.
Common Darter – Dragonfly Pond Photograph by Ray Allen
6th September 2021
Hot and sunny.
Two Green Sandpipers and a Little Egret were present at Patrick Bridge with a further eight Little Egrets and two Snipe on Railway Pool. Migrant Hawkers were enjoying the Causeway area with at least six present.
Around lunchtime, there were 12 House Martins feeding over the flood plain, probably the Hampton pairs and there was a Kingfisher seen as well.
5th September 2021
Sunny, calm, with temperatures in the upper 20s.
The main bird of note today was a Great White Egret which was present on Railway Pool for much of the morning; it left at 11.45. There were also four Little Egrets and 14 Grey Herons at one point.
The warm weather was good for insects with plenty of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters about, along with two Brown Hawkers. Butterflies included three Speckled Woods, three Small Tortoiseshells, a Common Blue and two Small Coppers.
Common Hawkers mating – photograph by Bob Breach
Great White Egret from Railway Hide – Photograph by Bob Breach
4th September 2021
Overcast start, sunny intervals, more overcast weather until early afternoon when the sun came out when it became warm. Temperatures reached 21 degrees.
Today was the all day bird watch at various locations in the Midlands, including Marsh Lane. I was on site from 5.15 am in the hope of some Owls and, in more hope than expectation, of seeing yesterday’s Nightjar. That was not to be. Robins and Wrens were in good song and Cetti’s Warblers were calling, (as opposed to singing), by River Hide and along the Causeway at first light.
As the day unfolded, 72 birds had been seen by 11.30 but, as is usually the case, the last few have to be earned and Hobby, Collared Dove, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk and female Goosander completed the total.
Migration was limited to a few Swallows and a Sand Martin south throughout the day, a male Marsh Harrier which appeared briefly about 9.30 but only showed to one individual, and a juvenile Whinchat that appeared in the Tip Field about 11.30 which had definitely not been there earlier.
Birds that can be difficult in the spring, such as Kingfisher, gave themselves up more readily now that breeding has stopped, with birds seen along the Central Stream, up at Patrick Bridge and by Packhorse Bridge. Waders were limited to a single Green Sandpiper, four Snipe and 106 Lapwing.
There were plenty of Chiffchaffs about and a few Reed Warblers called from the Reedbed area. A roving Tit flock on the Old Road yielded three Common Whitethroats and a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat and there were Blackcaps to be found in most of the Alder bushes. However Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler could not be found and, by the end of August, pretty well all our Willow Warblers had left.
It was good to find what may well have been a family party of Yellowhammers (six altogether) just north of Patrick Farm and there were 14 House Sparrows in the area there as well.
The full list of the 78 species was as follows:
Mute Swan, Greylag, Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.
3rd September 2021
Cool, drizzly overcast start, light north easterly, sunny intervals in the afternoon.
The West Midland Ringing Group were on site this morning and almost the first bird seen was a Nightjar, a new bird for the Reserve. The ringers were standing at the west end of the Causeway against Railway Pool when it appeared over the bank from the direction of Oak Hide, and then turned and disappeared in the same direction.
The highlight of a generally quiet ringing session, in the Reedbed and along the Causeway, was a juvenile Kingfisher, identified from the adults by the orange, as opposed to black legs. Photos will follow. Additional birds caught were eight Reed Warblers, all juveniles, one adult and one juvenile Sedge Warbler and then juveniles of the following: two Chiffchaff, five Blackcap and singles of Garden Warbler and Whitethroat.
Kingfisher – Photograph by Nick Barlow
Other birds first thing were a Green Sandpiper on the shore in front of Oak Hide, a family party of Greenfinches and a calling Cetti’s Warbler on the Causeway and two Little Egrets.
Further counts during the day included 344 Canadas, 215 Greylags, the Greylag / Canada Cross, five Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 45 Teal, seven Snipe, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, a Whitethroat along the Old Road, a Nuthatch over the Concrete Road and a small passage of hirundines which included 20 Swallows and 12 Sand Martins.
Insects noted in the log book were two Southern Hawkers, two Brown Hawkers, eight Migrant Hawkers, 30 Common Darters, 11 Green-veined Whites, three Small Whites and three Small Tortoiseshells.
2nd September 2021
Overcast, light north easterly
Today’s highlights were undoubtedly two juvenile Spotted Redshanks, for half an hour from just after 9.00am to 9.35am. They were originally seen on Railway Pool, flew to Car Park Pool and then flew off west.
Other birds today were Green Sandpiper, along with 33 Mute Swans, five Little Egrets, six Wigeon, seven Sand Martins, two Swallows, adult Greater Black-backed Gull and a Nuthatch along the central stream. Butterflies and odonata comprised eight Green-Veined Whites, two small Tortoiseshells, a female Common Blue, ten Common Darters, four small Whites and a migrant Hawker.
1st September 2021
Overcast, light north easterly
Two Sandwich Terns flew north over Car Park Pool this morning at 9.30am but did not stop unfortunately. Additional birds in the log were one Green Sandpiper, the adult Greater Black-backed Gull, three Snipe and four Wigeon.