30th September 2025
Sunny after a cool misty start.
The Bittern flew across the Reedbed from right to left at 11.45 and promptly disappeared from sight again. There were three Ring-necked Parakeets in Siden Hill Wood, the three Pintails on Car Park Pool along with a single Common Sandpiper and six Snipe spread across the pool. A Peregrine flew over early on, five Swallows went south and there were at least 10 Linnets round the Car Park and a Kingfisher flew across Car Park Pool.
29th September 2025
Sunny and still.
Significant geese numbers were again present with 614 Canadas and 786 Greylags, along with two Canada/Greylag hybrids and the Swan Goose. Other wildfowl comprised 47 Wigeon, the three drake Pintails and 14 Tufteds. Waders included eight Snipe and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper. A Red-legged Partridge in the Horse Paddock was distinctly unusual, particularly with the demise of the Berkswell Shoot.
A Nuthatch was present at the Oak feeders and two Skylarks and four Siskins flew over. A Water Rail was heard from the Reedbed and Sparrowhawk and Buzzard went over.
28th September 2025
Overcast with occasional sunny intervals.
The juvenile Pink-footed Goose flew into Car Park Pool at approximately 10.30 this morning and joined the three Pintails still there.
The elusive Bittern was seen in flight briefly to the right of the Reedbed and there were again two Great White Egrets also on site. A Water Rail was heard in the Reedbed, a Skylark and two Siskins went over and there was a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool.
27th September 2025
Overcast, light southerly.
A full count of birds today, care of Graham Rowling, was as follows: 15 Mute Swans, 624 Canadas, four Canada/Greylags, 772 Greylags and, of note, a juvenile Pink-footed Goose which flew off alone just after midday.
The Swan Goose was again present, along with 26 Gadwall, 49 Shoveler, 31 Wigeon, 46 Mallard, three drake Pintails, 80 Teal, seven Tufteds, 12 Cormorants, six Little Grebes, six Herons, two Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets, five Moorhen, 36 Coot, 53 Lapwing, four Snipe, one Common Sandpiper, 145 Black-headed Gulls, an adult Common Gull, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the adult Greater Black-back. A significant and noteworthy 200 House Martins flew south in a single flock at 11.00 and three Meadow Pipits also went south.
26th September 2025
Overcast with occasional sunny spells, light northerly.
Great White Egret numbers were reduced by one (i.e. there were two left today) but still the three drake Pintails, and another jump in Wigeon saw 34 across the site. A flock of 50 Goldfinches in the Crop Field was an excellent count.
25th September 2025
Cold, but sunny periods.
Three Great White Egrets were together on Car Park Pool during the day, two initially and then three later. There were still three Pintails together on the same pool, and a Green Sandpiper also made the log.
At 13.30 a Red Kite flew over Car Park harassed by Crows. At least one House Martin also went south.
24th September 2025
Sunny spells, light north-easterly.
A full complement of the three eclipse drake Pintails were back on site today, and Wigeon numbers had increased to 18. An adult Peregrine put in a brief appearance and there were singles of Common and Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool. A Kingfisher hunted the river up by Patrick Bridge and there were two Common Gulls on site.
23rd September 2025
Sunny, light northerly after a cool start.
An interesting mix of migrants today with a single drake Pintail remaining on Car Park Pool with six Wigeon, three Swallows south over Siden Hill Wood at 10.20, and seven House Martins over the Car Park in the evening. A late Sedge Warbler was seen in the Reedbed, and a Grey Wagtail at Patrick Bridge might well have been a passage bird with this species beginning to move south.
Other birds of note included one Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper, two Snipe, Skylark, two Ravens and a Kingfisher.
22nd September 2025
Sunny, light northerly, cool dewy start.
There were two eclipse drake Pintails on Car Park Pool this morning and a female Pochard was new in. Singles of Common and Green Sandpiper joined 12 Little Egrets, a Great White Egret, the first Common Gull of the autumn and a Water Rail heard from the Reedbed, with a Treecreeper seen and heard by the back gate.
21st September 2025
Sunny, light northerly, chilly start.
The Osprey caught a fish in Railway Pool at 09.45 and flew off south. The additional excitement today was an Avocet on Car Park Pool for much of the day, along with singles each of Common and Green Sandpiper and Snipe.
A trickle of hirundines comprised 10 Martins, two Sand Martins and two Swallows, whilst a Skylark also joined them on the move. Four Ring-necked Parakeets and a Raven were present in Siden Hill Wood, and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull was recorded for the first time for a few days. The Great White Egret was also on site.
In the afternoon 20 Meadow Pipits dropped in onto the islands in front of Oak Hide and a Greenshank made a brief visit, along with a female Peregrine which had an unsuccessful hunt and flew off to the north-east.
20th September 2025
Cool, overcast and dry.
The Osprey was again on site and joined a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards providing this morning’s raptor entertainment. Also, a Barn Owl was flying around the Car Park at 06.00, and Martin Durkin, the viewer, also saw the Osprey catch a fish and fly off south at 08.30 shortly after feeding. Twenty Swallows went south in small groups, and there was a single Snipe, a Great White Egret and two Little Egrets.
In the Back Gate Copse, 15 Siskin were feeding in the Alders there, a Reed Warbler was seen in the margins of Car Park Pool, a Water Rail around Railway Pool, a Green Sandpiper in various locations and five Skylarks went south.
Additional counts care of Graham were 14 Mute Swans, 271 Canadas, 736 Greylag, the Swan Goose, three Canada/Greylag hybrids, 75 Shoveler, 51 Gadwall, the eclipse drake Pintail, eight Wigeon, 63 Mallard, 41 Teal, 11 Tufteds, 13 Cormorants, 10 Little Grebes, five Herons, seven Little Egrets, Great White Egret, 14 Moorhen, 46 Coot, 136 Lapwing, one Common Sandpiper, one Snipe, 37 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Water Rail in the Reedbed and five Swallows south. Six Linnets were in the trees around the Car Park later in the day.
19th September 2025
Overcast start, brightening to sunny spells, light south westerly.
The Osprey was back again! It was first found at 08.10 by Glen Giles, perched on a tree on the central streamline before flying off south. As far as I can recall, this is the first record of a perched bird at the Reserve.
It was back again just after 10.00, when it came in high from the south and drifted slowly north, before returning 15 minutes later and fished over Railway Pool where it pulled out of the first dive, but caught a fish on the second and carried it off south over the railway to Bradnocks Marsh.
Noticeable visible migration today comprised 189 Swallows south between 08.10 and midday, together with 11 House Martins, a Sand Martin, 15 Meadow Pipits and 14 Goldfinches. Twenty Linnets and 10 Greenfinches were blogging around the Reserve and the first Siskins of the year totalled six, mostly favouring the Alders behind Oak Hide.
In the warm weather there were seven Willow Emeralds, three Common Blues and a Small Copper, and other birds making the log were the eclipse drake Pintail, Great White Egret, two Common Sandpipers, five Green Sandpipers, five Cetti’s Warblers, two Ravens and a Kingfisher, the latter favouring Railway Pool this morning.
18th September 2025
No records.
17th September 2025
Overcast with occasional light showers after overnight rain. Fresh southerly.
Today’s highlight was an adult Osprey which circled high over Siden Hill Wood at 11.00 before drifting north over the Flood Plain where it was lost to view.
A few more hirundines moving south comprised 18 Sand Martins, five House Martins and four Swallows, and three Meadow Pipits also moved through.
The drake Pintail joined five Wigeon, 74 Shoveler and the Swan Goose on the pools and a Raven flew over. Lastly, there were three Collared Doves at the Car Park feeder.
16th September 2025
Sunny spells, fresh westerly.
A small trickle of Martins moved through this morning, 18 House and five Sand but there are still no big flocks on the move. However, it is noticeable that at both Packington Hall and the Forest of Arden where there are decent colonies, there are only one or two pairs of House Martins still feeding young. It seems likely that the hot summer may have meant that it was difficult for broods to survive in the nest, or difficult to get mud to make or repair the nests.
A male Pheasant at the Car Park feeders was Graham Rowling’s first of this species since March 27th. The cessation of the Berkswell Shoot is no doubt a reason for this.
Seven Ring-necked Parakeets in Siden Hill Wood was not particularly welcome, whilst other birds making the log were singles of Green and Common Sandpiper, the drake Pintail, Swan Goose, seven Wigeon, 12 Tufteds and the Great White Egret. Six Willow Emeralds were still present on the path to the ringers’ bridge.
15th September 2025
Sunny spells, strong blustery south-westerly.
Huge numbers of Geese have started to visit the Reserve with 616 Canadas today.
The drake Pintail was still present, along with 60 Shoveler, seven Wigeon, 71 Teal, a Great White Egret, six Herons, just eight Tufted Ducks and one Common Sandpiper.
Fourteen House Martins, a Swallow and two Sand Martins were battling the wind on their way south, and two Ravens went over.
Now that Robins have finished their moult, they have begun to sing and are enlivening the hedgerows which are heavy with autumn fruit. The excellent dry spring has allowed most flowers to produce fruit, and along with huge quantities of acorns, sloes, hawthorns, a few left over blackberries, rosehips, guelder-rose berries and spindle berry are all full of fruit.
14th September 2025
Grey overcast morning, rain from 12.30.
An increasing south-westerly blew in heavy rain during the late afternoon but, despite this, the first three Meadow Pipits of the autumn went south. Three Swallows appeared during the day, one at 12.30 just as the rain started, and two after the rain had started, both of those feeding with the cattle to the right of Car Park Hide and using the Oak tree as partial shelter.
A large mixed Tit flock of over 20 birds, moving slowly north along the Old Road, included a Blackcap and there were at least five Chiffchaffs spread across the Reserve, with some still in song.
Thirty Linnets were feeding in the Crop Field during the morning and at least 10 Greenfinches and six Chaffinches were moving between the Car Park feeders and the Old Road.
An eclipse drake Pintail, Great White Egret, seven Wigeon, two Common Sandpipers, two Snipe and at least 57 Shoveler were spread across the pools.
Two Water Rails were heard in the Reedbed, and there was a Nuthatch near Oak Hide.
13th September 2025
Sunny spells, blustery southerly, occasional heavy showers.
There were over 1,000 geese on site this morning, with 468 Canadas, three Canada/Greylag hybrids and 612 Greylags. The Swan Goose was amongst them. The numbers perhaps reflect feeding movements to currently unplanted stubbles.
Other wildfowl comprised 13 Mute Swans, 43 Shoveler, 39 Gadwall, six Wigeon, the eclipse drake Pintail, 53 Mallard, 68 Teal and four Tufteds.
In addition, there were 26 Cormorants, seven Little Grebes, the Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, four Heron, 13 Moorhen and 42 Coot, with waders seemingly limited to just 69 Lapwing and two Common Sandpipers.
Gulls were small in number with just 18 Black-heads, three Lesser Black-backs and two Herring Gulls. A Kingfisher was moving between the Reedbed stems where a Water Rail called. Six House Martins and four Sand Martins were the only hirundines noted throughout the morning.
Lastly, there were three Willow Emerald Damselflies in the usual place.
12th September 2025
Sunny spells, fresh south-westerly.
A few hirundines were on the move this morning, comprising eight House Martins, two Sand Martins and a Swallow, though passage of all species has been low.
The drake eclipse Pintail was still present on Car Park Pool, along with a Great White Egret and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull. Singles of Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper were seen, but they are not only mobile, they also move backwards and forwards from the river.
A Kingfisher showed nicely outside Oak Hide and there were two male Willow Emeralds on the ringers’ bridge.
11th September 2025
Dry, sunny periods, fresh southerly.
Despite the wind, there was enough warmth in the sun for there still to be at least one Willow Emerald by the ringers’ bridge, where presumably it was sheltered from the wind.
On the pool margins there were two Common and a single Green Sandpiper, along with two Snipe, and the adult Greater Black-backed Gull dropped in to roost.
10th September 2025
Sunny spells after overnight rain.
Two Garganeys were present today, along with the remaining eclipse drake Pintail and the Wigeon numbers had increased to nine. A Hobby was again present, along with a single Snipe and two Common Sandpipers.
Six Jay (perhaps a family party) were together opposite Car Park Hide with a bountiful crop of acorns no doubt of interest. A Painted Lady flew south over the Dragonfly Pond and there were two Willow Emerald Damselflies today.
In the damp and blustery conditions, there was some notable hirundine passage with 35 Swallows and 45 Sand Martins through during the morning, whilst during the evening work party, five Sand Martins appeared at dusk hunting over the south end of Car Park Pool and the Central Stream.
Five attended the work party, with thanks to all of those present, considering the rather damp conditions. More strimming was undertaken on the Railway Pool islands, and the banks to Car Park Pool were also cut back. Tern boxes were brought in, and the hedges on the path to River Hide were also trimmed.
9th September 2025
Sunny start with increasing cloud, light southerly.
Only one Pintail was present this morning and there was still a single drake Wigeon, along with 34 Shoveler and 64 Teal.
The regular Great White Egret was on site, along with six Little Egrets, six Herons and 11 Little Grebes.
A Hobby was again seen around the pools, favouring Railway Pool more often than not. A Kingfisher was initially seen on the margins of Railway Pool and then later, Car Park Pool. A Reed Warbler showed in the North Causeway Bay, the Great Black-backed Gull was again roosting on site, and there were at least four Common Sandpipers.
Two Nuthatches were in a Tit flock along the Old Road, and a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen in Siden Hill Wood.
Five Willow Emerald Damselflies were on view, in the warmer weather on the path to the ringers’ bridge, and a Small Copper was on the Concrete Road. A few Common Blues have been seen here and there, with the Dragonfly Pond a favoured area. In the afternoon both Wigeon were seen, there was a Kingfisher at Patrick Bridge, two Green Sandpipers on the Dragonfly Pool margin, a Snipe on Car Park Pool and two Blackcaps, Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the Back Gate Copse, with three Green Woodpeckers by Railway Hide.
8th September 2025
Sunny, mild, light south-westerly.
Three Common Sandpipers were present on the southern end of Car Park Pool this morning, along with three drake Pintails. Two drake Wigeon were new in, one on each pool, and there was a Kingfisher feeding from the reeds at the North End of Car Park Pool before moving to the Dragonfly Pool.
The adult Greater Black-backed returned to Car Park Pool for the first time this autumn and was joined by two Herring Gulls.
At least six Chiffchaffs were in song across the Reserve with three other birds taking the total to nine. A Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Treecreeper and six Long-tailed Tits were found along the path to the ringers hide.
A pair of Linnets along the Old Road at 07.30 were supplemented by a flock of 12 along the central streamline later in the morning. Four Skylarks and a Kestrel flew over, as did six Rooks. At least three Cetti’s Warblers were heard in song, and possibly as many as four.
A Hobby and a Red Kite showed later in the morning, the former on the Railway Embankment and the latter south along the Old Road. A Snipe was seen along the edge of the Reedbed, and there were seven Willow Emerald Damselflies visible as the temperatures improved.
In the afternoon, a juvenile or female Marsh Harrier flew low across the front of Siden Hill Wood – perhaps the same bird as the 6th? There were eight Blackcaps in the Back Gate Copse and a Raven flew over.
7th September 2025
Sunny spells with some rain showers.
Three eclipse drake Pintails were new arrivals on Car Park Pool today where there was also a Great White Egret, one Common Sandpiper, two Common Snipe and a Kingfisher.
Thirteen Greenfinches, a Collared Dove and Great Spotted Woodpecker were all seen on or around the feeders.
A Hobby was seen again and butterflies included Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White and Common Blue.
Red Admiral – Photograph by Paul Casey
6th September 2025
Sunny spells, fresh southerly.
An excellent start to the day commenced with an Osprey over Car Park Pool at 09.40, shortly followed by a female or juvenile Marsh Harrier over the same pool 20 minutes later. The latter moved towards Siden Hill Wood where it chased a Ring-necked Parakeet unsuccessfully.
A Reed Warbler was seen in the North Causeway Bay, 10 Sand Martins and 13 Swallows moved south, and there were 26 Rooks on the Flood Plain.
Other counts today included 13 Mute Swans, 206 Canadas, 466 Greylags, the Swan Goose, 25 Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 57 Mallard, 48 Teal, seven Tufteds and the first Goosander of the autumn.
In addition, there were 25 Cormorants, a Great White Egret, five Little Egrets, four Herons, seven Moorhens, 54 Coot, 61 Lapwing, a single Common Sandpiper, 23 Black-headed Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Hobby.
Seven Willow Emerald Damselflies were on the path to the ringers hide and there was a Small Copper on the Railway Pool side of the Causeway.
5th September 2025
Sunny, light south-westerly.
There was no sign of the drake Garganey today, but two Painted Lady butterflies were new arrivals, one seen on the path to Oak Hide and the other by the Dragonfly Pond. Six Willow Emerald Damselflies included two pairs in tandem.
The first Skylark of the autumn flew over Car Park Pool.
4th September 2025
Mostly overcast, some rain, light south-westerly.
A Hobby was perched on the Railway Embankment this afternoon and hunted the pools from time to time, with other raptors including Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. There were three Parakeets over Siden Hill Wood, the juvenile Little Ringed Plover remained on Car Park Pool, whilst singles of Green and Common Sandpiper were on the margins of Railway Pool. A Nuthatch was seen in the Back Gate Copse and a Willow Emerald Damselfly and a Red Admiral were on the path to the Reedbed, visible in sunny periods in the afternoon.
3rd September 2025
Overcast after overnight rain. Brightening to sunny spells, blustery south-westerly.
There was no sign of the Pintail this morning, but the Garganey was still present along with 20 Shoveler, 67 Teal and the regular Swan Goose.
A Hobby also showed well.
A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was new in this morning, and other waders included three Snipe, two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper.
During the morning five Swallows and 15 Sand Martins moved south. A male Kestrel hunted the pool margins, there were three Jay, two Buzzards, a Great White Egret and five Little Egrets.
2nd September 2025
Sunny spells, clouding over, fresh south-westerly.
The drake Garganey remains on Railway Pool and for part of the afternoon showed really well in front of Oak Hide. New in was an eclipse drake Pintail which was also present on Railway Pool.
Waders extended to two Common Sandpipers, a single Green Sandpiper, three Snipe and 66 Lapwing.
A Hobby was seen and a late Sedge Warbler showed nicely in the North Causeway Bay.
A female Willow Emerald Damselfly showed by the ringers bridge.
Other birds making the log were a Great White Egret, three Little Egrets, seven Little Grebes and a singing Cetti’s Warbler in the Reedbed
1st September 2025
Short sunny periods, blustery south-westerly interspersed with showers.
A pair of Willow Emerald Damselflies were again on show on the path to the ringer’s bridge. The drake Garganey remains, as does the Great White Egret. Seven Sand Martins at Patrick Bridge at 14.45, with a number of Swallows south on a day when there were hirundines on the move.
Lastly, there was a mewing juvenile Buzzard on the Old Road by the horse paddocks.
Thanks to Stef Fraczek for odd items of maintenance on the Reserve, including putting a new coach bolt on the gate by the cottages. Finally, a general thanks to all photographers who kindly post their photos and help improve the blog, Newsletter and Annual Report.
After the warmest summer on record for the UK, views from Car Park Hide showing the low water levels
Photographs by Nick Barlow
