31st August 2015
– Miserably wet all day, light northerly wind.
A Common Sandpiper and two Little Egrets (one of which was colour ringed) showed in the morning and, in the late afternoon as the rain eased there were four, none of which were colour ringed. The Teal count had jumped to 66 and there were 17 Little Grebes of which eight were adults and nine were juveniles. Other birds included two Kestrels, two Reed Warblers (Marsh and River Hide) a Sedge Warbler (in the Marsh), one Whitethroat by the south-west pond, a female and two juveniles also by the Marsh and 40 Swallows and fiveSand Martins flew through. There was a Green Sandpiper on the Dragonfly Pond and, in the evening a trickle of Swallows and House Martins continued to move through whilst Warblers included at least two Blackcaps by the back gate, two Willow Warblers in a large Tit flock on the causeway and at least nine Chiffchaffs between the causeway and Railway Hide.
30th August 2015
– Mostly overcast, light northerly wind, rain in the middle of the day.
Wildfowl counts were similar to yesterday and the Kingfisher showed well from Reedbed Hide. There was a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool, along with a Little Egret, and an adultWater Rail showed well from the causeway.
In a Tit flock at the far end of the Old Road there was, in addition to the normal Blue andGreat Tits, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coaltit, many Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. There was a Hornet by Car Park Hide.
29th August 2015
– Sunny, warm, light west north-westerly
To the west of the river, an elusive male Redstart spent all day hiding in a large Hawthorn tree near the sewage pumping station. The tree in question is one of four along the line of the pipeline running due east from the car park. The bird was picked up as it dropped from the tree on to the ground and then back up again but in the evening, for example, it did not show for over an hour yet remained unseen in the bush. It seems likely to be the bird found on Monday which was last seen moving west along the hedgeline nearby.
Also in the area was a flock of 14 Goldfinches (mostly young) feeding on the thistles along the central ditch and in the adjacent bushes to the car park, there was a Whitethroat, twoBlackcaps and two Chiffchaffs. Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the fields and were probably local birds. Two Green Sandpipers came off the river in the evening. Other counts will follow.
During the day, counts were as follows: nine Little Grebes (five adults, four juveniles and a new chick between Railway and the Sand Martin bank), 12 Cormorants, 11 Herons, oneLittle Egret, six Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 343 Greylags, 50 Canadas, a Wigeon, 122Gadwall, 38 Teal, 19 Mallard, 18 Shoveler, 28 Tufted, 15 Moorhen, 114 Coot, 20Lapwings, 85 Black-headed Gulls, two Lesser Black-backs, a Kingfisher (from the North Causeway Hide), Hobby, Peregrine, a juvenile Song Thrush at the causeway which had just fledged and a Water Rail there as well.
Insects included a Holly Blue by the back gate, a male Brimstone between Oak and the south-west pond, a single Migrant Hawker and a male Ruddy Darter, both on the causeway.
In the evening, over 100 Martins, mostly House Martins, were feeding over Siden Hill Wood and a Hobby showed particularly well hunting over the Reedbed.
28th August 2015
– Mostly sunny, occasional showers, increasing south-westerly wind.
12 Sand Martins and a single House Martin were feeding over the central streamline at 8 a.m., and at least 40 House Martins were feeding over the flood plain north of the wood. On Car Park Pool there was a single Pochard and Wigeon.
A Kingfisher, Water Rail (causeway), Hobby (hunting in front of Railway Hide), three Green Woodpeckers (by Railway Hide) were additional birds during the day and, in the evening, 20House Martins and 30 Swallows moved south, nine Blackcaps, at least 20 Chiffchaffs, twoWillow Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat (the latter by Railway Pool) moved through or were present in the bushes. A Peregrine put in a brief appearance as well.
27th August 2015
– Periods of rain, south-westerly wind, occasional sunny intervals, fine early evening.
The main birds today included two Little Egrets, two Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and three Kingfishers. The latter probably consisted of two adults and a juvenile which flew past the Causeway Hide. A Hobby spent 30 minutes from 2.15 catchingDragonflies over the Reedbed Pool and showing very well. A Water Rail again showed from the north causeway screen.
In the evening, 14 Sand Martins dropped in to feed over Railway Pool with 60 mixed hirundines (appearing to be mostly House Martins) feeding at the north end of the flood plain. Plenty of Chiffchaffs were still calling around the Reserve with at least two Blackcaps by the back gate copse.
26th August 2015
– Overnight rain continuing into the early morning thereafter mostly overcast, blustery south-westerly wind.
Hirundines were again on the move. At 8 a.m. ten Swallows, all adults, were in amongst the cattle on the tip field but by 9 a.m. this number had increased to 25 with a mixture of adults and juveniles together with at least five House Martins. Over the flood plain and in the lee of the wood, 80 to 100 equally mixed House Martins and Swallows were slowly moving south about 8.30 and there were at least three Sand Martins in with the group. Judging by the change in the numbers on the tip field, birds were moving through all the time.
The blustery wind did nothing to help the finding of passerines in the hedges along the Old Road but the regular calling of the Chiffchaffs meant that at least eight birds were counted from the cottages to the Old Road game crop. There was a single Willow Warbler, threeGoldcrests near the car park and a separate family party by the top gate.
There was a Green Sandpiper on the Dragonfly Pond and Bullfinches by the bale store and the car park, with a juvenile Green Woodpecker at the latter location as well.
On Car Park Pool yesterdays Wigeon remained.
In the evening, counts were as follows: two Little Egrets, nine Herons, the Canada /Greylag hybrid, eight adults and two juvenile Little Grebes, singles of Common and Green Sandpiper, a single Water Rail from the Causeway Hide and at least four Chiffchaffs behind Railway Hide, of which three were un-ringed and one was ringed.
25th August 2015
– Mostly wet, south-westerly wind.
The ringers were back this morning, ringing around the back gate copse compounds and south-west pond and today’s results were as follows:
Robin 4 (2 adult, 2 juvenile)
Blackcap 8 (4 adult, 4 juvenile)
Wren 1 adult
Chiffchaff 3 (2 juvenile, 1 unknown age)
Bullfinch 1 juvenile
Goldcrest 2 adult
Blue Tit 8 (1 adult, 7 juvenile)
Great Tit 3 (2 adult, 2 juvenile)
Reed Warbler 1 adult
Total 31
The ringers set up shortly after 5 a.m. and found the site quiet and cold, and it was not until about 7 a.m. that birds started to be caught as it warmed up and the sun came out.
The last ringing on the 18th included five Blackcaps and the eight birds today were all new, suggesting turnover. No Willow Warblers today – they have probably departed – but three new Chiffchaffs as well and with a juvenile Bullfinch caught this suggests local breeding. TheReed Warbler was caught in a mist net just on the edge of one of the fenced off compounds by the back gate.
Birds in the afternoon and evening included three Little Egrets one of which was ringed, threeCommon Sandpipers, one Green Sandpiper, the first returning Wigeon of the month, a juvenile Hobby which showed well over Car Park Pool at 10.50 and around 7 p.m. 70 House Martins, four Sand Martins and two Swallows moved south.
24th August 2015
– mostly overcast and increasingly wet. South-westerly wind.
The best bird by far today was a male Redstart which was found in the Old Road hedge by the steps up to the Aeromodellers. There was also a Willow Warbler there and a little later this afternoon, either the same Redstart or another was in the hedge on the opposite side of the river running south-west, north-east from the river bridge. Also a female Redstart was seen in the scrub around the car park during the morning, the first occasion for two birds being seen in the day.
On the opposite side of the railway from Railway Hide a juvenile Whitethroat showed well in the scattered bushes there and there were at least 20 Chiffchaffs on the Reserve today, mostly on the Old Road.
Other birds included three Little Egrets, a Treecreeper on the central streamline, a singleCommon Sandpiper on Railway Pool and a Green Sandpiper on Dragonfly Pond.
23rd August 2015
– Warm and humid start, light south-easterly wind, progressively clouding over with rain in the afternoon.
More birds of note today with a Ruff at 9 a.m., which was unfortunately chased off byGreylags, a Hobby over Siden Hill Wood also at 9 a.m. and again at dusk (when it came from the wood and flew low over the stream line and away over the lorry park), four YellowWagtails over Car Park Pool south in the late morning, two Green Sandpipers by Patrick Bridge and later also on the river towards River Hide and particularly good counts of wildfowl with, for example, 107 Gadwall (including 97 on Car Park Pool), 35 Teal, and eight Shoveler.
In the evening, 280 Starlings flew into the Reedbed to roost (thank you to Simon Roper for the diligent count) and at 8 p.m., just as dusk was falling, at least 13 Sand Martins and eightSwifts dropped in and appeared to move on, whilst a single Swallow dropped out of the sky and roosted in the Car Park Pool. Two juvenile Water Rails showed well from the north causeway hide and another one called on the east side of the Reedbed. In front of the Reedbed there were at least three Reed Warblers showing well at dusk and there were two Little Egrets on Railway Pool.
22nd August 2015
– Warm, humid, light easterly wind, slowly clouding over p.m. Temperatures up to nearly 30 degrees.
Warm, settled weather today was not particularly conducive to anything unusual occurring. The warm weather, however, did mean that a male Ruddy Darter showed well by the north causeway hide and there were at least three Holly Blues recorded, two by the back gate and one by the bale store.
Other counts today included four Herons (at least six yesterday), nine Cormorants, sevenLittle Grebes (four adults and three juveniles), three Mute Swans, the Black Swan, 237Greylags, three Canadas, 97 Gadwall, 31 Teal, 55 Mallard, seven Shoveler, 34 Tufted, 24Moorhen, 108 Coot, nine Black-headed Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, oneHerring Gull (as can be seen from the low Black-headed Gull counts these have moved on quickly as have the Common Terns this year), 20 House Martins, a Kingfisher and threeBullfinch.
21st August 2015
– Overcast morning, slowly clearing pm, south westerly
The breezy conditions this morning were keeping Warblers fairly well hidden but there were plenty of calling Chiffchaffs with, for example, six between the Car Park and the Concrete Road; along the Road there was a mixed Tit flock which included a Whitethroat, a Blackcapand a Willow Warbler and three Bullfinches flew in to the streamside vegetation at 8.30am when three Swallows dropped in before moving on South. A juvenile Green Woodpeckershowed well by the Car Park.
20th August 2015
– Mostly overcast
No records.
19th August 2015
– Sunny am, clouding over pm with rain, south westerly
Birds this morning included a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool at 10.40am and on Railway Pool a little later, three Little Egrets (one of which was colour ringed) and nine Grey Heronswith a Hobby overhead.
In the evening, 20 Sand Martins dropped in to feed, the Water Rail showed at the causeway hide and there were 22 Teal, two Shoveler and a Pochard.
18th August 2015
– Bright but hazy sun, light north westerly
Both Greenshank and Snipe dropped into Railway Pool about 8.30am with the former feeding in the bay by River Hide.
Hirundines continued to move through with 15 House Martins and two Sand Martins around 8am, in two flocks, with five Swallows moving north east a few minutes later. 40 mixed hirundines could be seen at the north end of the flood plain and just west of Patrick Farm at 8.30am but they may have been local breeders.
14 Teal and four Shoveler were on the Pools with the other wildfowl including over 400Greylags and approaching 200 Lapwing.
Ringing around the back gate copse yielded, six Great Tits, six Blue Tits, one Wren, twoRobins, five Blackcaps, one Whitehthroat, one Garden Warbler, three Goldcrest and oneSong Thrush.
The Garden Warbler, at least one Blackcap, the Willow Warbler, Song Thrush and Wrenwere all juveniles, suggesting they have all bred successfully here. Two further Blackcaps, twoWillow Chiffs and a Whitethroat were behind Railway Hide and a Reed Warbler was feeding in the reeds in front of the Hide. Two Willow Warblers, three Chiffs and a Blackcapfed along the streamline behind Oak Hide and at least three Chiffchaffs were in the willows around the Car Park.
There was a Nuthatch in the back gate copse yesterday and a Treecreeper today.
In the late morning, there were six Little Egrets on Railway Pool and in the afternoon aHobby, and two juvenile Water Rails from the causeway hide.
17th August 2015
– Mostly overcast, after a cool start, mostly northerly though variable winds
There was a definite autumn chill first thing and there seemed to be fewer small birds along the Old Road today. Nevertheless, one Tit flock held at least five Chiffchaffs and another flock on the central stream included a possible Pied Flycatcher which sadly was not clinched. There was a bird opposite Patrick Farm many years before the Reserve opened and it is a long awaited species to add to the list since opening.
On the Pools, there were three Little Egrets today along with a Common Sandpiper. In the dead Ash beyond Oak Hide, an adult and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were feeding in the branches there and a Green Woodpecker was on the Bank nearby. Hirundine passage continued although not in significant numbers, for example, 15 House Martins went south in half an hour around 2.30pm.
Along the Old Road, there was a flock of ten Linnets in the late morning and a Ringed Ploverdropped into Railway Pool where there were two Common Sandpipers later in the day. FourKingfisher also showed as did both male and female Sparrowhawks.
16th August 2015
– Sunny am, increasingly overcast pm, variable wind
Two Little Egrets showed well on Railway Pool during the afternoon, one of which was the ringed individual. This has been seen for a few days and was ringed as a nestling on the 16th May 2015 at Verulamium, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, being first seen 79 days later at Marsh Lane, 119km north-west of its ringing site. Thanks to Graham Rowling for that information.
Two Kingfishers showed well both on Car Park Pool and the Reedbed around the lunchtime / early afternoon period and at least one Hobby was hunting high over the Pools and the flood plain during the day with a Sparrowhawk and Buzzard also visible.
Other counts in the morning were as follows: six Herons, seven Little Grebes and two juveniles, seven Cormorants, three adult Mute Swans and four cygnets, a Black Swan, 297Greylags, the Greylag / Canada hybrid, three Canadas, 75 Gadwall (including fledged or nearly fledged young) 13 Teal, seven Shoveler, 37 Mallard, two Pochard, 38 Tufted(including fledged or nearly fledged young) two juvenile Water Rails around the causeway (which were seen to be fighting at one stage), 19 Moorhens, 78 Coot, two Lesser Black-backs, 84 Black-headed Gulls, a Green Sandpiper, 153 Lapwing, two Swifts south at 1pm and a Sedge Warbler by Oak Hide.
Two Ruddy Darters showed well on the west side of the pond by the Car Park where there also a Small Copper briefly.
15th August 2015
– Mostly sunny, warm, light south westerly
Migration was definitely on the move today with both hirundines, Gulls and Warblers to the fore.
In the morning there were 40 Swallows and 25 House Martins around Patrick Farm and in the afternoon, the following birds went through as follows; 14 Sand Martins south at 2.30pm, 50 Swallows and about ten Sand Martins at 4pm along with three Swifts, 30 mixed hirundines, mostly Swallows at 4.15pm and a further 15 mixed hirundines, mostly Swallows, at 4.30pm. In addition, 15-20 House Martins from the colony in Hampton-in-Arden were feeding over the fields, east of Siden Hill Wood.
At least 40 Lesser Black-backs and a single Herring Gull moved south during the mid afternoon period as well.
A significant flock of warblers along the central stream at 9.30am included a Spotted Flycatcher as well as 12 Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and two Blackcaps, with other Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat along the Old Road, a further Lesser Whitethroat by the Railway car park on the west side and a good scattering of Chiffs both along the Old Road and across the flood plain. Also on the flood plain there was a significant count of 182 Jackdaws together with ten Rooks, whilst in the air there were at least sixBuzzards including what appeared to be two juveniles raised from or near the Wood.
On the Pools, there were two Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers and threeSnipe together with a single Little Egret.
14th August 2015
– Wet all day
No records.
13th August 2015
– Overcast, north easterly. Some rain.
The thick vegetation and increasing north easterly wind made finding the many passerines hard this morning but there were, nevertheless, at least three Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, twoWillow Warblers, a Garden Warbler and a Sedge Warbler, all seen. There was a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool, along with three young Dabchicks (a two and a one) a juvenileShelduck and a Pochard.
On the Old Road with the Warblers, was at least one Treecreeper, a Goldcrest and a juvenile
Green Woodpecker
and at 8.30am 21 Swallows and ten House Martins dropped in to feed around the top gate and the Tip field. 40 Starlings were feeding on the Railway Pool islands and the now emerging blackberries were becoming a source of interest to a number of species as are the now ripe Rowan berries.
A single Little Egret, two Common Terns and 330 Greylags made up the other records of note.
12th August 2015
– Warm and sunny
Nine attended the work party and were rewarded by a Greenshank which dropped in about 6.30pm but moved on quickly, a flyover Dunlin, a roost of about 20 Starlings in the Reed bed and three Swallows which dropped in to the Car Park pond at just before 9pm.
A juvenile Water Rail was again on view from the north causeway screen earlier in the day and a Little Egret was roosting on Railway Pool.
Work undertaken included further clearance around the Hides, some strimming of the Railway Pool islands and further Willow and Alder control. Thanks to all who attended.
11th August 2015
– warm with sunny intervals; light SE
Early on both Willow Warbler and Goldcrest were in song by the back gate and there were two Chiffchaff, three Whitethroat and a Bullfinch were noted around the Car Park.
Up to three Common Sandpipers were around during the day with a Little Egret seen flying over in the morning. Car Park Pool had four Little Grebe, ten Teal, a Tufted Duck with a brood of four and a Hobby was also seen high over the pool. Records from Railway Pool included a juvenile Shelduck, c20 Gadwall, Sedge Warbler and the Black Swan, which is currently sitting on a nest on the gravel bar. A young Buzzard was heard calling from Siden Hill Wood and, late afternoon, there was a spectacular flyover by some 300 Greylag Geese, most of which then settled on Car Park Pool.
Both Common & Brown Hawker dragonflies were recorded on the Causeway.
10th August 2015
– overcast a.m., sunny intervals p.m.; light SW
A Dunlin, presumably yesterday’s bird, and two Common Sandpipers were recorded from Oak Hide and a juvenile Water Rail was again seen from the north causeway screen. Car Park Pool had a group of Sand Martins with singles of House Martin and Swallow, as well as a possible Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid. There was a young Whitethroat recorded by Railway Hide together with a Chiffchaff and three Willow Warblers. Finally, two StockDoves were noted on the flood plain.
9th August 2015
– Warm & generally sunny; light S/SW
Lapwing numbers continue to be in three figures with 170 recorded and there were also threeShoveler, two Pochard and 15 Teal on Car Park Pool along with the first returning Dunlin of the season. Both Green (1) and Common Sandpipers (3) were again in evidence and there was a Hobby noted over Railway Pool.
8th August 2015
– Mainly sunny & warm; light SW
The regular Saturday morning survey produced the following counts:
Six Little Grebes with a single juvenile, 76 Coot, 26 Moorhen, 8 Heron, nine Cormorant, 208 Greylag Geese, 16 Canada Geese, two Mute Swans with four cygnets and the regularBlack Swan. There were 77 Gadwall, a single Pochard, six Teal, four Shoveler, just the one juvenile Shelduck, 44 Mallard and 25 Tufted Duck with a total of 9 broods comprising 27 young in total.
In addition, there were two juvenile Water Rails, two Common Sandpipers, a solitaryBlack–headed Gull, two Lesser Black–backed Gulls, a single Common Tern and a count of 147 Lapwings. Finally, there was a Grey Wagtail and a colour-ringed Little Egret was noted, possibly the same one as earlier in the week.
Other records were of a single Green Sandpiper, 11+ Buzzards and also 12 Red-EyedDamselflies.
7th August 2015
– Sunny intervals, warm, light N
Sightings included both Common (4) and Green (1) Sandpipers together with anOystercatcher and a count of some 255+ Lapwing, the latter including two fully-fledged juveniles. There were three pairs of Little Grebes with broods (seven young in total), five broods of Gadwall (c 40 in total), nine broods of Tufted Duck, which included some very recent young, and a single juvenile Shelduck. Both Reed and Sedge Warblers were seen feeding young, the former on the Causeway and the latter to the right of Oak Hide. Other records included 14 Teal, singles of Shoveler (f), Pochard and an adult Water Rail.
6th August 2015
– Warm with sunny intervals; light SW
No records
5th August 2015
– Generally overcast; a few sunny intervals & occasional showers. Light S breeze.
A fascinating display involving four Buzzards, in what was probably a territorial dispute, was witnessed around midday over Siden Hill Wood. Lasting almost half an hour, this involved persistent attacks between the birds and ended with the ‘defeated’ pair flying off to the south.
Other sighting were: singles of both Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper, two adult and three juvenile Common Terns, a Kingfisher along the central stream and a juvenileWater Rail again spotted from the causeway screen. There were also 100+ Greylag Geeseand, on Railway Pool, four young Herons plus a Little Egret.
4th August 2015
– Cloudy & dry; SW breeze, fresh to moderate at times.
A number of sightings followed the general pattern of recent days: two Common Sandpipers,Little Egret, juvenile Water Rail from the causeway screen, Hobby, 11 Common Tern (inc. four juveniles), 10 Herons (Railway Pool), 14 Swift and 128 Lapwing.
Gulls were also in evidence with two Lesser Black–backed recorded during the day, with a further seven and also five Herring Gulls flying over during the evening. A juvenile GreatCrested Grebe was seen from River Hide with Teal (19) and& Shoveler (5) also recorded. Finally, there was a possible but very brief sighting of two Reed Warblers and some 60Starlings were present in the evening.
3rd August 2015
– Sunny intervals; light SW breeze.
An adult Water Rail, along with two juveniles, was again recorded from the north causeway screen and a Hobby was hawking dragonflies over Car Park Pool. Other sightings includedSparrowhawk, a single Common Sandpiper, two juvenile Shoveler and four CommonTerns. Two Linnets were also seen from Railway Hide. It was noted that one of the two LittleEgrets present was colour-ringed.
2nd August 2015
– Warm and sunny with a light SW breeze.
A record of an overflying Siskin was notable for the start of August. Other sightings included: three Common Sandpipers, a flock of 187 Greylag Geese, an early returning Snipe on Railway Pool and up to 20 Swift feeding over the pools. Raptors were in evidence with records of Hobby, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk – singles in all cases. Both Treecreeper andNuthatch were sighted together with a Willow Warbler.
Finally, and somewhat worryingly, there was a sighting of what was believed to be a group of three young Mink on the Causeway.
1st August 2015
– Cloudy with some sunny intervals; light SW.
Results from the regular weekend count in the morning were as follows:
Seven Little Grebes with three juveniles and two chicks, 104 Coot, 12 Moorhen, 13 Herons, three Cormorants, 102 Greylag Geese, 10 Canada Geese and the local Black Swan. There were 46 Gadwall with five broods totalling 29 chicks, a single Pochard, six Teal, just the one juvenile Shelduck, 31 Mallard with one brood (comprising two Mallard and 5 ‘adopted’Tufted ducklings) and 19 Tufted Duck with a total of 12 broods consisting of 33 chicks in total.
In addition, there was a juvenile Water Rail, 161 Lapwing, two Oystercatchers, a singleCommon Sandpiper, 26 Black–headed Gulls, three Lesser Black–backed Gulls, a singleHerring Gull, a single Common Tern with two well-grown chicks and a count of 161Lapwings.
Raptors records were of a Sparrowhawk, perched on a dead larch in Siden Hill Wood, and three Hobbies. Finally, there were 10 Rooks and seven Jackdaws on the flood plain.
