30th September 2023
Sunny intervals, mostly still, cloudy pm.
Two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper, along with 10 Snipe and a few Lapwings were the waders on site. Other birds included 15 Wigeon, three Little Egrets, 20 Swallows over to the south, along with two Skylarks, a Kingfisher, at least two Jay and a singing Chiffchaff by the Back Gate with another around the Car Park.
29th September 2023
No records.
28th September 2023
Sunny, fresh south-westerly
A full count of birds today, care of Graham Rowling, was as follows: seven Mute Swans, 74 Greylags, 15 Canadas, 45 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 15 Wigeon (including a colour-ringed bird, being one of those ringed in February 2022), 34 Mallard, 50 Teal, eight Tufteds, three Herons, four Little Egrets, 15 Cormorants, 12 Little Grebes, 14 Moorhens, 71 Coot, 73 Lapwing, a Snipe, 104 Black-headed Gulls, one Herring Gull, 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Peregrine over north at 11.45, 14 Skylarks, all south-west in small groups, six Swallows south and three singing Cetti’s Warblers. Lastly, a Common Sandpiper was present on the doughnut pool below Railway Hide in the afternoon.
27th September 2023
Overcast, fresh southerly
Twenty Swallows, 25 House Martins, 10 Skylarks and five Meadow Pipits flew over south this morning, whilst a Grey Wagtail went in the opposite direction. At least 100 Goldfinches were present in the Crop Field and there have been a few Linnets as well. A Coal Tit was present in the Back Gate Copse, along with four Bullfinches.
26th September 2023
Overcast with rain, brightening to sunny spells, fresh southerly
The Whooper Swan (presumably the Packington bird) had an awayday and appeared on Car Park Pool this morning. There were 12 Wigeon, seven Tufteds, 16 Little Grebes, 18 Snipe, a single Green Sandpiper, three Cetti’s Warblers and a rather late Reed Warbler, the latter visible in the North Causeway Bay.
25th September 2023
Sunny after overnight rain, light south-westerly
Three Green Sandpipers were visible together from Railway Hide this morning and there were five Little Egrets, including the returning colour-ringed individual ringed near Welwyn Garden City, having come to site in both 2021 and 2022. A small amount of overhead migration included five House Martins, at least 12 Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, a Skylark and a Starling.
The presumed returning adult Greater Black-backed Gull was present on Car Park Pool this morning, but there were only two Tufted ducks on the whole of the site. Roving Cetti’s Warblers in song included birds in the Reed Bed and a second between Oak Hide and the South-West Pond.
24th September 2023
Showers, blustery wind
The inclement weather was obviously conducive to hirundines with 20 Swallows and 15 Sand Martins, the latter quite late in the season for this species. Fifteen Meadow Pipits also went south and there were 14 Common Snipe on the pool margins.
23rd September 2023
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly
Today’s undoubted highlight was a Harvest Mouse which was seen in the reeds from the North Causeway Bay Hide. It was feeding on seedheads on the left-hand side of the channel and then climbed down the stems and out of sight. This is the first record for the Reserve.
The warm weather was good enough for plenty of insects to be out and about with 16 Red Admirals, most of them flying south, a Speckled Wood, three Commas, four Green-veined Whites, 11 Common Blue Damselflies, two Small Red-eyed Damselflies, one Southern Hawker, 20 Migrant Hawkers, a Black-tailed Skimmer and 21 Common Darters.
Wildfowl and other bird counts included 16 Mute Swans, 24 Canadas, 94 Greylag, 45 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, seven Wigeon, 26 Mallard, 51 Teal, 20 Cormorants, nine Little Grebe and a well grown chick on Railway Pool, one Great Crested Grebe, two Herons, four Little Egrets, 17 Moorhen, 62 Coot, a Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay, 34 Lapwings, two Green Sandpipers, five Snipe, 59 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, an adult Greater Black-backed Gull, three Cetti’s Warblers (Reed Bed/North Causeway Bay, South-West Pond and top stream), a Reed Warbler also in the North Causeway Bay and five Meadow Pipits over.
22nd September 2023
Sunny spells, light south-westerly
The Greenshank was back on Railway Pool this morning and six Skylarks and nine Swallows went over.
Counts later in the day were as follows: 11 Little Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, 11 Wigeon, 95 Shoveler, 77 Teal, at least 40 Gadwall, 12 Tufteds, two Green Sandpipers, two Snipe, 47 Lapwing, two each of Swallow and House Martin and a mixed flock of Linnets, Goldfinches and Chaffinches in the Crop Field, half of which were Goldfinch and most of the rest (at least 30) were Linnets, with just a handful of Chaffinches.
21st September 2023
Sunny intervals and showers, strong south-westerly
A Great White Egret was present, along with a Little Egret on Railway Pool this morning, and the Greenshank reappeared, also on Railway Pool. Four House Martins, 10 Swallows and six Meadow Pipits went over, and a Cetti’s Warbler was seen and heard in front of River Hide on the Railway Pool side.
20th September 2023
Overcast, rain, heavy at times, strong southerly
Snipe numbers had increased to 17 today but there was no sign of the Greenshank during the morning. Fourteen House Martins and two Swallows went over and there was a Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool in the afternoon.
19th September 2023
Overcast, showers, strong southerly
The Greenshank was still showing well today and the Wigeon numbers had risen to 15.
One of the highlights was a Stoat seen chasing rabbits along the path by Railway Hide, though the outcome was not clinched.
18th September 2023
Sunny spells, showers, fresh south-westerly
The Greenshank was still on site today, along with 11 Wigeon, a single Great Crested Grebe, six Little Egrets and two singing Cetti’s Warblers, one on the top stream and one by the South-West pond. Later on, 11 Snipe were seen on Railway Pool and two Ravens went over.
17th September 2023
Overcast morning with rain from mid-afternoon onwards, light north-easterly.
Early morning (07.00-09.00) records from Railway Pool were Great White Egret, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and seven Snipe. Later in the day there were also 28 Shoveler, seven Wigeon three Little Egrets and a Great Crested Grebe as well as two Ravens over. Migration included four Skylarks and 15 Meadow Pipits going south, along with four Swallows.
16th September 2023
Generally overcast but dry, light north-westerly.
The Saturday count this week logged the following: eleven Mute Swans, 248 Greylag Geese, a Farmyard Goose, 119 Canada Geese, a female Wigeon, 53 Shoveler, 21 Gadwall, 74 Mallard, 42 Teal, seven Tufted Duck, 21 Cormorants, four Little Egrets, six Grey Herons, eight Little Grebes plus a chick (Railway Pool), a single Great Crested Grebe, 19 Moorhen, 42 Coot, Water Rail (North Causeway Bay), 42 Lapwing, juvenile Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, ten Snipe, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper (Patrick Bridge), 68 Black–headed Gulls, 10 Lesser Black–backed Gulls, 17 Swallows (going north!), 50+ Goldfinches and three Cetti’s Warblers (North Causeway Bay, River Hide and Car Park gate).
15th September 2023
Sunny intervals, light south, south-westerly.
A Greenshank, presumably the one seen on 13th, was again present early in the morning. Other records from the pools included Green Sandpiper, Great Crested Grebe, a single female Wigeon and, surprisingly although not for the first time, a Red–eared Terrapin on Car Park Pool. Migration sightings involved 25 Swallows going south and four Meadow Pipits. Finally, there were up to six Buzzards, a Raven over and Cetti’s Warblers both behind River Hide and in the North Causeway Bay.
14th September 2023
Overcast and cooler than of late, light southerly.
No records.
13th September 2023
Overcast and largely still conditions.
The day’s highlight was a Greenshank, an increasingly rare visitor to the site, which was initially found on Car Park Pool but soon relocated to Railway Pool. Also on the pools were Common Sandpiper, up to 10 Snipe, nine Wigeon and Great Crested Grebe. Small numbers of hirundines were passing through with six House Martins and a single Swallow logged while a Water Rail was seen in the North Causeway Bay, a Kestrel hunted over the Crop Field and a flock of 26 Goldfinches was noted. In terms of Butterflies, Red Admiral (two), Comma and Common Blue (m + f) were seen.
Greenshank on Railway Pool – Photograph by Stef Fraczek
12th September 2023
Overcast with rain and still conditions.
A number of summer visitors were still around with Lesser Whitethroat along the Causeway, Whitethroat behind Oak Hide and four Chiffchaffs along the Causeway. A Treecreeper was also noted behind Oak Hide with Grey Wagtail over Railway Pool and both Common Sandpiper and two Redshank on Car Park Pool.
11th September 2023
Sunny start then becoming overcast, light south-westerly.
An eclipse male Pintail on Car Park Pool was a good start to the day. Geese numbers look to be on the increase across the Reserve with 262 Canada and 326 Greylag as well as a Greylag x Canada hybrid and a Farmyard Goose. A Common Gull on Railway Pool was notable for Sep and other records were both Common and Green Sandpiper, seven Little Egrets, adult and juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 13 Little Grebes plus a half-grown chick, two Snipe, seven Wigeon and two Ravens.
10th September 2023
Sunny, warm, very light south-easterly.
No records
9th September 2023
Sunny, very warm and still.
The regular Saturday count, courtesy of Graham Rowling, Dave Scanlan and Glen Giles comprised: nine Mute Swans, 151 Greylag Geese, eight Canada Geese, five Wigeon, 40 Shoveler, 19 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 26 Teal, three Tufted Ducks, 12 Cormorants plus another eight over going south, eight Little Egrets, five Grey Herons, seven Little Grebes, a single Great Crested Grebe, 11 Moorhen, 62 Coot, Water Rail (North Causeway Bay), 49 Lapwing, juvenile Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, two Snipe, 16 Black–headed Gulls, six Lesser Black–backed Gulls, two Ravens, four Meadow Pipits, two Swallows, three Yellow Wagtails (two over Car Park Pool and one briefly on the Flood Plain before flying south), White Wagtail (Car Park Pool) and three Cetti’s Warblers (Top Stream, North Causeway Bay, River Hide).
8th September 2023
Hazy sunshine, largely still.
Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Great Crested Grebe were again in evidence, although Wigeon numbers were down to three. Other records of note included both Water Rail and two Cetti’s Warblers in the North Causeway Bay, two Ravens over and Treecreeper along the Central Stream.
7th September 2023
Sunny and very warm, light north-easterly.
Both Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper were present, along with a juvenile Ringed Plover, Great Crested Grebe, five Snipe and 15 Wigeon.
6th September 2023
Generally sunny and very warm, light south-easterly
In the continuing late heatwave, the only entries in today’s log were Kingfisher along the stream, Water Rail in the North Causeway Bay and Ringed Plover, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard and Little Egret on Car Park Pool.
5th September 2023
Sunny and warm, light north-easterly
Good numbers of both Butterflies and Odonata on the wing with the following counts courtesy of Graham Rowling: Common Blue (two males), Peacock, Red Admiral (three), Speckled Wood (16), Green–veined White (14) and Large White (four). In addition, Banded Demoiselle (one male), Blue–tailed Damselfly (two), Small Red–eyed Damselfly (26), Common Blue Damselfly (32), Brown Hawker (2), Migrant Hawker (20), Common Darter (24) and a single Ruddy Darter.
Other log entries included juvenile Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Great Crested Grebe on the pools with two Ravens over. Also of note were both Snipe and Green Sandpiper which were flushed from the new settling pools which have been created next to the Old Road as part of the HS2 works.
A sunny and warm work party was attended by six people. Two concentrated on opening up the channels in the North Causeway bay, three carried on with the strimming of the Railway Pool islands and one mowed up and around Railway Hide, and River Hide, and pulled up some Himalayan Balsam in various places.
Most of the two larger islands were strimmed, with the small one in front of Oak Hide having been done at the previous work party, and it is just the island in front of Railway Hide that now needs attention. Thanks to all those who attended.
4th September 2023
Sunny, warm.
A Dunlin and a juvenile Ringed Plover remained on site, along with a Common Sandpiper. Black-headed Gull numbers have increased from very low levels in August and there were 62 this morning. Two Ravens flew over. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen briefly in the hedge line at the north end of Car Park Pool and two Meadow Pipits flew over at 13.27, after the first on the all day bird watch.
3rd September 2023
Bright and sunny.
Yesterday’s Dunlin remained and was joined by a juvenile Ringed Plover and singles of Common and Green Sandpiper. A Cetti’s Warbler was in song by the Reed Bed, a Yellow Wagtail flew over going south, a Whitethroat was still around the Railway area, and there was still a drake Pochard and Great Crested Grebe on the pools.
In the last two years, efforts by the West Midlands Ringing Group (WMRG) have demonstrated a late August/early September passage of Nightjars through Marsh Lane. The WMRG have been undertaking ringing work on Cannock Chase and it was hoped that there might be some linkage between the two.
After two unsuccessful evenings, Ben Dolan caught two different birds in the early hours of Sunday morning and a fuller report is set out below.
‘During 2021, we were pleased to see Nightjar feeding at Marsh Lane Nature Reserve, across the lake and grass margins.
The reason we were so pleased is that we’ve been monitoring Nightjars on Cannock Chase, Staffs since 2010 and wondered if the Nightjar moving through the Reserve could be ‘ours’.
During an evening session in 2021 we were lucky enough to catch one of the Nightjars seen, which was unringed and a juvenile bird.
In 2022, we caught and ringed a further two Nightjars on separate occasions, which were both unringed juveniles.
So in 2023 we decided to make an effort to monitor the Nightjar moving through the Reserve, using thermal imaging.
Migration in previous years has been concentrated at the end of August and early September. Research published in The New Scientist, of tracked birds in Sweden, has shown that increasing numbers of Nightjars embark on migration as the moon wanes, peaking at 11 days after. So, based on previous dates of birds seen or caught, we decided to spend three consecutive nights at Marsh Lane, starting on Thursday afternoon when we had a short warbler session. Several birds were caught, including a juvenile Green Woodpecker. The evening came quickly, and we donned our disguises and sat with thermals in hand waiting; however, following a visit from a Barn Owl, no Nightjars were seen that night. It had been raining before a brief respite but then came the fog, so we weren’t surprised.
Another Friday afternoon session saw very few birds in the Back Gate area but as time moved towards Nightjar time, a round saw us ring 19 Chiffchaff in one net round. Again, the evening came, we sat, we waited through the night monitoring with the thermal, however no Nightjar were seen.
Saturday was our final day, and the weather was much better, giving us hope that the Nightjars would feel the same and turn up to reward the hours we’d spent waiting.
Again, we set up for a short warbler session which produced several birds, with the best being another Green Woodpecker juvenile and a Garden Warbler. Night drew in, thermal in hand and we waited.
Midnight passed without sight, which was a shame as no Nightjar appearance now would count towards the West Midlands all dayer.
Shortly after midnight the first Nightjar hawked over Railway Pool, gradually making its way on to the grass margins and was caught in the mist net. The bird was quickly processed as a juvenile Nightjar (not sexed) and released. We watched the bird fly over the lake, over Siden Hill Wood and out of sight.
Only a short time later, another bird was seen hawking over the lake and up on to the grass margins where it was safely caught; the bird was processed as a juvenile female.
Both birds had not been ringed previously so we still have a mystery to solve, but fantastic to see the Reserve being used by this species as a stop off point.
Even more interesting is that all five birds caught since 2021 at Marsh Lane have been juveniles.
We hope that with time, due to this species being monitored across the UK by ringers, one of the Marsh Lane birds will be caught on territory.’
The totals ringed over the 1st to 3rd were as follows: 20 Blackcaps, 23 Chiffchaffs, two Robins, two Chaffinches, a Blackbird, a Wren, three Long-tailed Tits, one Green Woodpecker, a Garden Warbler and two Nightjars. All of these were juveniles except one adult Chiffchaff.
Ben Dolan
West Midlands Ringing Group
2nd September 2023
Overcast and misty with light showers first thing and a light north-easterly. Weather slowly brightening and becoming sunny and warm towards the end of the day.
It was the West Midlands all day bird watch across a number of Reserves, with Marsh Lane finishing on 74 (after a recount), a higher total than the Spring number of 70. Unfortunately, it was another day with little passage for the Reserve. One or two Sand Martins and House Martins did go through during the day and there was a notable flock of 60 Swallows that was picked up over Siden Hill Wood heading north at 08.35. A Dunlin appeared around lunchtime, along with a Herring Gull/Yellow-legged Gull juvenile and there was a Grey Wagtail heard at Patrick Farm, but passage wise that was about it.
Ben Dolan from the West Midland Ringing Group was present overnight from the 1st into the 2nd and again, from the 2nd into the 3rd and counts are set out below.
Totals on the day of the count were low suggesting that there really was not much movement going on. Many of the Chiffchaffs that were recorded on the previous evening had clearly moved as the Back Gate Copse was quiet in the morning. However, two Tawny Owls in the Back Gate area and one calling from Siden Hill Wood were very active before dawn and a Barn Owl was seen over the pools in the evening.
The full list of birds seen was as follows: 10 Mute Swans, 227 Greylag (a Canada/Greylag hybrid and a Farmyard Goose as well), 151 Canada Geese, 29 Gadwall, 44 Teal, 48 Mallard, 27 Shoveler, a drake Pochard, six Tufted Ducks, Pheasant, five Little Grebe, a Great Crested Grebe, seven Cormorants, five Herons, three Little Egrets, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Water Rail, 12 Moorhen, 57 Coot, 32 Lapwings, Dunlin, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, nine Black-headed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring/Yellow-legged Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, 10 Rooks, Carrion Crow, two Raven, 36 Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting. Feral Pigeon has been excluded this year.
1st September 2023
Overcast and still.
Records today were limited to one Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and the long-staying Great Crested Grebe.
In the evening, having been quiet during the day, there was a sudden increase in Chiffchaffs with 19 caught in one net round just after 18.00. A second juvenile Green Woodpecker was also caught and an evening passage of Swallows saw two flocks of 60 and 30 over Railway Pool before moving south, one at 18.21 and the other at 18.43.