30th April 2011
– Bright and sunny, cold easterly wind.
Waders today included a Greenshank, four Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiperand the Grasshopper Warbler continued to reel.
Graham’s Saturday counts were as follows: two Great Crested Grebes, five Dabchicks, twoHerons, three Cormorants, four Mute Swans, one Black Swan, 12 Greylags, six Canadas, 26 Gadwall, seven Teal, nine Mallard and four ducklings on Railway Pool, a pair of Shoveler, a male Pochard, 39 Tufted Ducks, 36 Coot, no Moorhens!, four Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers, 17 Lapwing and five chicks, five Redshanks, twoShelducks, 95 Black-headed Gulls, eight Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 23 Common Terns, a Peregrine (which caused havoc when it quartered Railway Pool), a female Sparrowhawk,Kestrel and four Buzzards.
On the insect front, a Small Copper flew along the concrete road, a Red Admiral was along the causeway, a Holly Blue showed along the Old Road and there were a number of Small Whites, Green Veined Whites, Orange Tips, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshell on the wing.
Odonata: there were at least three Broad-bodied Chasers on the Reserve with singles on the pond by the car park, one along the Old Road and one by the Dragonfly Pond. Blue-tailed, Azure and Common Blue Damsels were also seen.
Later in the day, one Moorhen did show on the Dragonfly Pond! A Garden Warbler sang at the top gate and possibly a second Greenshank appeared later in the day after the first one had disappeared.
29th April 2011
– Overcast start after light overnight showers, turning sunny, north-easterly wind.
A substantial national movement of Bar-tailed Godwits took place today and, luckily two, possibly three males graced the Reserve during the middle of the morning. A Whimbrel also put in a brief appearance. Other waders included two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, five Little Ringed Plovers and two Ringed Plovers. The Grasshopper Warblerreeled again from the west bank of the Railway Pool and at least 14 Reed Warblers, eightSedge Warblers, eight Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler (south-west pond) were also evident.
A Swift moved north during the morning and another singleton in the afternoon and singleYellow Wagtails and Grey Wagtails were also present.
28th April 2011
– Initially overcast and cold, quickly brightening up but with a cold north-easterly wind.
Five male Yellow Wagtails lingered briefly on Railway Pool at 10.30 a.m., but quickly moved on. Virtually all the records this year have been of males and whilst many of those in the record book simply refer to the species, I am not aware of any females being recorded so far.
A Common Sandpiper showed well in front of Oak Hide and the first Lapwing brood (four) was also feeding there. A Garden Warbler sang again by the south-west pond and the Lesser Whitethroat by the car park. In the evening, the Grasshopper Warbler had relocated from the Marsh to the west bank of Railway Pool.
Seven Teal, a male Shoveler and a male Pochard were of note on the bird front and the firstAzure Damselfly and Small Copper Butterfly of the year were around the Dragonfly Pond together with a Slender Groundhopper.
27th April 2011
– Cool, cloudy start, sunny from mid-morning, increasingly strong cold north-easterly wind.
After two reeling Grasshopper Warblers last year, and good numbers elsewhere, it was rather depressing that none had been recorded at the Reserve but the matter was righted today with one reeling in the Marsh to the right of Oak Hide in the morning and again briefly in the afternoon, but not in the evening.
A Peregrine quartered Railway Pool early on, a Yellow Wagtail was again around Car Park Hide in the car park area, and the Lesser Whitethroat sang from time to time on the Old Road.
At around 9 p.m., there were at least 36 Common Terns roosting on Railway Pool, five Snipeleft the Marsh and flew off to the south east, and what was probably a Jack Snipe was disturbed by a Common Snipe from the Marsh and dropped straight back onto the shore line out of sight.
26th April 2011
– Cool, cloudy for most of the day, light north-easterly wind.
The first Swift was seen today at around 2 p.m., and there were at least three Yellow Wagtails present from time to time during the day. In the evening, a Cuckoo called from Siden Hill Wood. With the increasing scarcity of this species it is a relief that one has now been seen on consecutive days. A Common Sandpiper lingered around the margins of Railway Pool and 25 Swallows flew through to the north at 8 p.m. A Garden Warbler sang by the south-west pond and aside from a trickle of Swallows and Sand Martins, there were also twoHouse Martins which have been relatively scarce so far this year.
A small mammal swam backwards and forwards across the Marsh with the identification currently uncertain.
Jackdaws a proving a nuisance to the nesting birds on the Railway Pool, with birds pressurising the Black-headed Gulls, seen to take some eggs from the island in front of Railway Hide, although the species of which the eggs were taken, was unclear.
25th April 2011
– Sunny, but light cool northerly wind.
The first Cuckoo of the year showed briefly and sang occasionally around the car park at 9.30 a.m. A Common Sandpiper was briefly on Car Park Pool and a male Yellow Wagtail was around the hide. At least one Tree Sparrow visited the Oak Hide feeder. In the meantime, at least three Broad-bodied Chasers, a number of Blue-tailed Damselflies were seen around the Dragonfly Pond with a Large Red Damselfly by the pond adjacent to the car park.
I have never seen so many Tadpoles as there are currently in the Dragonfly Pond. Presumably because the water has warmed up there has been a good hatch out but there are thousands in the margins. Historically, the pond has been preferred by Toads to Frogs and the jet black nature of the Tadpoles suggests Toads.
In the late afternoon there were 27 Terns and a Hornet was recorded around the car park.
24th April 2011
– Mostly overcast and cooler light north-easterly wind.
The female Wigeon reappeared today, having been either elusive or absent since the 15th. AGarden Warbler again sang on the Old Road but was elusive and a Yellow Wagtail went over.
23rd April 2011
– Warm, sunny 25 degrees, the easterly wind swinging to the north in the late afternoon and going decidedly cooler.
With the change in wind direction there was relatively little out of the ordinary on the bird front, but the first Odonata were on the wing with both Blue-tailed Damselflies and aBroad-bodied Chaser around the Dragonfly Pool. These incredibly early records are the earliest in Warwickshire by seven days. There were also plenty of Butterflies around the Reserve, particularly Orange Tips, Small and Green-veined Whites and Speckled Woods.
The slightly more unusual birds consisted of two separate male Yellow Wagtails, two Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide, a Raven over, a Kingfisher for the third consecutive day, Lesser Whitethroat on the Old Road and at least nine each of singing Reed and Sedge Warbler. Other counts were as follows: one Great Crested Grebe, seven Dabchicks, one Cormorant, three Heron, four Mute Swans, one Black Swan, four Greylags, two Canadas, twoShelduck, 24 Gadwall, five Teal, ten Mallard and nine ducklings on Railway Pool, a maleShoveler, a male Pochard, 47 Tufted Ducks, two Moorhens, 43 Coots, fiveOystercatchers, four Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, 24 Lapwing, eightRedshank, 30 Common Terns, 85 Black-headed Gulls, five Lesser Black-backed Gullsand 30 Sand Martins.
22nd April 2011
– Sunny, light easterly wind.
The second Greenshank of the spring dropped into Railway Pool at about 8 a.m. and fed briefly before moving on. A Green Sandpiper also fed on the pool and a Peregrine put in a brief appearance.
A fine male Greenland-type Wheatear was on the dried mud on the flood plain just west of the horse paddock and two slightly more elusive females were on the north shore of the Dragonfly Pond. The Lesser Whitethroat continues to sing along the Old Road along either side of the car park gates.
As the day progressed, other birds of note included a Hobby which quartered over Siden Hill Wood before departing to the south, a male Yellow Wagtail around Car Park Hide, a Garden Warbler singing by the cottages, the first Coot chicks (seven) on the Reedbed and 18Common Terns. A Kingfisher showed briefly around the causeway, a male Pochardreappeared back on Car Park Pool and, of many Butterflies on the wing, there was again Holly Blue along the central stream.
21st April 2011
– Sunny and still
The first Garden Warbler of the year was singing intermittently by the horse paddock on the Old Road and the Lesser Whitethroat was also in intermittent song between the Car Park gates and the Dragonfly Pond. There was obviously an influx of Whitethroats over night as at least seven were in song between the Cottages and the horse paddock.
A Kingfisher flew up stream and a Grey Wagtail flew over low south east towards the Dragonfly Pond from the direction of Patrick Bridge.
Two Dunlins in summer plummage were feeding along the margins of the islands on Railway Pool. Unfortunately there was no sign of yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper.
20th April 2011
– Hot and sunny, light south easterly
With temperatures above 25°c it was a pleasant surprise to be called by David and Pat Treadgold to say that there was a Wood Sandpiper on Car Park Pool and fortunately the bird was present for most of the day. A Dunlin lingered briefly on Railway Pool, the Lesser Whitethroat sang occasionally along the Old Road and a male Yellow Wagtail was again present in front of Car Park Hide.
In the evening an impressive 26 Common Terns roosted on Railway Pool and 25 Sand Martins roosted in the reedbed.
19th April 2011
– Hot and sunny, light south easterly
Firsts for the year, consisted of a Lesser Whitethroat which sang by the entrance gate at 8.30am and a Hobby which flew over at 12.45pm and was then seen half an hour later perched along the Concrete Road. The male Pintail continues to linger, unattached, and theCommon Terns were in noisy display flight over the Pools in the morning. A Reed Warblersang from the Old Road hedge between the cottages and the car park feeder.
In the early afternoon, at least two females, and a male Wheatear were feeding on the dried mud on the flood plain opposite the horse paddock with an additional female in the crop field. A late Fieldfare perched along the Concrete Road in the evening, a Common Sandpiper fed around the margins of Car Park Pool along with a Yellow Wagtail, the first brood of Mallardducklings (nine) were on Car Park Pool, a Water Rail called from the causeway, Common Tern numbers had risen to 15 and 34 Swallows flew through in one group at dusk.
18th April 2011
– Warm and sunny in the morning, more cloudy in the afternoon.
Aside from Common Tern numbers increasing to 11, it was all rather routine fare today, with two Shelducks, two pairs of Shoveler, three Teal, drake Pintail, drake Pochard, two Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, four Redshank, four Oystercatchers, four Swallows, a Sand Martin and at least two Reed Warblers in the reedbed.
17th April 2011
– Hot and sunny, light south easterly
A little bit more to arrest the attention. A Curlew flew through early on and a femaleGreenland-type Wheatear was present in the crop field all day. By early afternoon, there was a fine male showing very well around Car Park Hide and it was joined from time to time by a male Yellow Wagtail.
It is noticeable that the Greenland-type Wheaters often arrive over night and stay, not only for the day in question, but regularly for an additional day, whereas the British birds usually arrive in the middle of the day and often depart before dusk.
At least three Sedge Warblers were in song today, two in the Reedbed and one on Railway Pool and at least two Reed Warblers sang in the Reedbed.
A new Whitethroat sang from behind River Hide and there were, again, two Snipe present in front of Oak Hide.
Four Tree Sparrows visited the Oak Hide feeder and a pair of Treecreepers showed well on the central streamline.
16th April 2011
– Fine and sunny, light south easterly
A few more warblers in over the weekend and Common Terns increased to ten. Otherwise, not a great deal of change. The weekly counts were as follows: Two Great Crested Grebes, eight Dabchicks, two Herons, a Cormorant, four Mute Swans, a Black Swan, tenGreylags, one Farmyard Goose, two Canadas, a female Wigeon, 25 Gadwall, three Teal, 11 Mallard, male Pintail, two Shoveler, male Pochard, 63 Tufted Ducks, 40 Coot, sixMoorhens, four Oystercatchers, one Ringed Plover, three Little Ringed Plover, eightRedshanks, two Snipe, 40 Lapwings (with at least eight sitting), 55 Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Herring Gull, ten Common Terns and a Kestrel.
Blackcap numbers increased to eight and Whitethroats to two, and there appear to be now five singing Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers.
There were plenty of butterflies on the wing in the warm weather, including Holly Blue, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange-Tip, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell andSpeckled Wood.
In the late afternoon, two Yellow Wagtails were present.
15th April 2011
– Overcast, cool light southerly
The day started with the first Common Sandpiper and Greenshank of the year. The latter flew over calling and did not linger, but the Common Sandpiper was present for most of the day. The female Wigeon, male Pintail and male Pochard continued to linger. There was only a single Ringed Plover today but four Little Ringed Plovers and, as the day progressed, Hirundines included eight Housemartins, two Swallows and 40 Sand Martins. A singleYellow Wagtail was also present again.
14th April 2011
– Overcast, cool, light south-westerly wind.
A Water Rail called from the reeds in front of the north causeway screen this morning, and a single Swallow drifted through. There were four Common Terns and a new singing Blackcapon the Old Road. A Sedge Warbler continues to sing from the Reedbed.
There were half a dozen each of singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in Siden Hill Wood, together with two Willow Warblers. A roosting Tawny Owl was also visible from Tower Hide in a hole in a tree, looking south from the hide on the edge of the wood.
In the afternoon, the cooler weather was sufficient to bring in some Sand Martins and the flock built up to over 50 in the middle of the day, but there were no more than 20 by the evening. In the afternoon, a pair of Goosanders roosted on the shingle spit in front of River Hide, a male Yellow Wagtail showed round Oak Hide and the drake Pintail was on view again.
13th April 2011
– Overcast, cool westerly wind.
Relatively little to report today, with just singles of Yellow Wagtail and Common Tern, twoSwallows and a drake Pintail.
Eight attended the work party and the following jobs were achieved. The Hollies on the Old Road and by the back gate that had died in the dry spring last year were replanted; a bridge put in to access the Oak Hide feeders; hides swept; Owl box put up in Siden Hill Wood and the Tower Hide floor painting was completed.
At dusk, a Little Owl called along the Old Road which is the first record for over a year.
12th April 2011
– Sunny, but cool, blustery north-westerly wind.
Despite the cool wind, there were a fair selection of decent birds this morning, the highlight being a Red Kite which drifted over at 9.30 a.m. to the south-east, mobbed by at least threeBuzzards. The first Reed and Sedge Warblers of the year were also present. A single Reedand a single Sedge Warbler sang on the east side of the Reedbed near the causeway and the second Sedge Warbler sang on Railway Pool, just where the causeway splits to go to Oak and Railway Hide.
At least 30 Sand Martins with a single House Martin were present along the north shore of Car Park Pool and it appeared that birds were supplementing this number as the morning progressed. A pair of Ravens soared over Siden Hill Wood and then drifted east towards Berkswell, when a third one followed close behind. Three male Yellow Wagtails were present on the pools first thing, but had disappeared by about 10 a.m.
The drake Pintail remains on Car Park Pool and there were a pair of Shoveler and eight Teal, but no immediate sign of the drake Pochard.
Of the waders, there appear to be at least six sitting Lapwing, two pairs of Oystercatcherswith one sitting, displaying Little Ringed Plovers on Railway Pool but only a single Ringed Plover at the moment. At least four pairs of Redshank are on site, possibly five.
Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcap seem to be coming and going with varying numbers, but there were at least five singing Chiffchaffs and three singing Blackcaps this morning, but only one Willow Warbler actually on the Reserve.
In the afternoon a Green Sandpiper put in a brief appearance, two male Yellow Wagtailswere on the grass around Car Park Pool and, at 6.30 p.m., a small congregation of Swallowsformed with numbers rising from single figures to 12.
Apologies for the brief absence of the Record Book which was being copied for the quarterly Newsletter. Also, a
pair of spectacles
have been found and they are in the record box.
11th April 2011
– Sunny and warm, but with a cooler north-westerly wind.
Common Tern numbers had risen to six and there were two male Yellow Wagtails in the late afternoon, along with three Little Ringed Plovers but only a single Ringed Plover. An adult male Peregrine flew over Railway Pool and drifted off east. 80 Sand Martins dropped down to feed in the cooler conditions of the late afternoon, the solitary Whitethroat remains along the Old Road and there were a pair of Bullfinches by the Railway Hide.
10th April 2011
– A warm sunny day with a light south, south-easterly wind.
The Garganey had unfortunately moved on, but three smart Yellow Wagtails spent most of the day around Car Park Hide and on the islands with an accompanying Pied Wagtail which, at times, looked remarkably like a female White. The Pintail lingers on as does the drakePochard. A pair of Goosander flew through low, south over Car Park Pool at 5.40 in the evening, when 23 Sand Martins also dropped in for no more than 30 seconds, had a drink and then moved on rapidly to the north.
Three Common Terns put in brief appearances again and two Swallows likewise in the early afternoon.
Warblers were much as the preceding day and at least three Tree Sparrows continued to visit the Oak Hide feeder.
9th April 2011
– A warm sunny day with a light south, south-easterly wind.
Temperatures reached over 20 degrees but, pleasingly, there were some decent birds on show, the highlights of which were a pair of Garganey that were found at first light and were present all day. The drake Pintail lingers on and the usual spring surge of Tufted Ducks saw numbers jump to 79. Breeding waders were much as usual, but passage birds included a Curlew mid afternoon, which circled up to an estimated 1000ft before drifting off south, and a Green Sandpiper.
There were at least five Common Terns which came and went throughout the day and a maleYellow Wagtail put in a brief appearance in the early morning. There were plenty ofWarblers with an estimated five Blackcaps, one Whitethroat, five Chiffchaffs and fourWillow Warblers.
The regular counts were as follows. Four Mute Swans, one broody Black Swan, 25 Greylags, three Canadas, two Shelduck, a single Wigeon, 33 Gadwall, six Teal, 18 Mallard, a drakePintail, a pair of Garganey, four Shoveler, a drake Pochard, 79 Tufteds, five Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, two Cormorants, two Herons, a Sparrowhawk, twoBuzzards, a Kestrel, five Moorhen, 32 Coots, four Oystercatchers, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers, 24 Lapwing, a Snipe, a Curlew, Green Sandpiper, nineRedshank, 48 Black-headed Gulls, and four Lesser Black-backs.
The warm weather was more than enticing enough for a number of butterflies to be on the wing, including the relatively scarce (with us) Holly Blue, Commas, Orange Tips, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Small Whites and Speckled Woods.
8th April 2011
– Warm and sunny all day.
The first Common Whitethroat was singing by the car park gate, three Willow Warblers, five Chiffchaff and three Blackcap also sang around the Reserve The pair of Goosanderroosted on Railway Pool, the Pintail remains on Car Park Pool with at least one Snipe still. The warm sunny weather is producing ideal conditions for butterflies with Orange Tips, Comma,Small White, Peacock, and Green-veined White, all on the wing, a FieldVole was seen collecting vegetation by the Dragonfly Pond.
7th April 2011
– Sunny periods, light northerly wind.
Two White Wagtails were on Car Park Pool , 80+ Sand Martin and a Swallow were over the pools, four redhead Goosanders roosted on Railway Pool later replaced by the usual pair. One Wigeon remains, six Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeders, 14 Buzzardsprobably contained some passage birds and, in the evening, a male Wheatear was in the crop field.
6th April 2011
– Sunny and warm all day.
The warmest day of the year so far produced very little in the way of entries in the log book. Butterflies were on the wing with two early Orange Tips, one on the Old Road and one on the causeway. Also seen were Peacock, Comma, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell. The drake Pintail remains on Car Park Pool.
5th April 2011
– Dry, but cool
Four Dunlin, two in summer plumage, were on Railway Pool in the morning but had departed by late afternoon when there were 11 Redshank, four Little Ringed Plover, 30+ Sand Martin and the Pintail.
4th April 2011
– Dry, but damp and cool.
The first House Martins appeared, two with three Swallows and 40 Sand Martins. A Stoatwas seen to the rear of Oak Hide and the Pintail remains on Car Park Pool.
3rd April 2011
– Sunny morning, light showers in the afternoon, south-westerly wind.
The drake Pintail remained on Car Park Pool, at least 10 Buzzards were seen around the Reserve as were 40 Sand Martin and four Swallows. A Willow Warbler was still singing, 10Redshank, five Little Ringed Plover remain.
2nd April 2011
– Cloudy, light showers, strong south-westerly wind.
A fine drake Pintail was on Car Park Pool, three Willow Warblers (the first of the year) were singing with one by the entrance gate and two on the causeway. Wigeon were down to three and Redshank up to 11. 30 Sand Martin were feeding over the pools early morning. A femaleWheatear was on the Car Park Pool islands later in the morning, a Curlew was briefly on Railway Pool and two Swallows flew through. The weekly count was as follows: two Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebe, eight Cormorant, three Grey Heron, four Mute Swans, one Black Swan, four Canada Geese, 11 Greylags, one Egyptian Goose (briefly), threeWigeon, 34 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 11 Mallard, seven Shoveler, four Pochard, 58 Tufted Duck,36 Coot, four Moorhen, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 59 Black-headed Gulls, four Oystercatchers, one Ringed Plover, three Little Ringed Plover, 23 Lapwing, 11Redshank, one Green Sandpiper and one Curlew.
A Collard Dove was by the cottages, three Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeders and fourBlackcaps around the Reserve.
1st April 2011
– Overcast, warm, 18 degrees, strong south-westerly wind.
A Blackcap sang in the back gate copse, eight Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk hunted around the Reserve. Chiffchaffs had risen to six, two Meadow Pipits flew over and six Little Ringed Plover were present
