28th February 2013
– Sunny intervals, light north-easterly wind.
No records.
27th February 2013
– Grey start, clearing to give a sunny day, light north-easterly wind, temperatures up to 7 to 8 degrees.
A single Curlew appeared on Railway Pool in the afternoon before moving to Car Park Pool and then departing. There was also a Shelduck on Car Park Pool with two Snipe.
26th February 2013
– Grey, overcast, occasional drizzle, north-easterly wind.
No records.
25th February 2013
– Grey, overcast, occasional drizzle, north-easterly wind.
No records.
24th February 2013
– Mostly overcast, light but cold north-easterly wind.
A single Little Grebe, in breeding plumage, was a new arrival on Railway Pool today with a pair of Great Crested Grebes on Car Park Pool. The Bittern showed on and off during the day, as did the drake Mandarin, the latter again opposite Oak Hide.
Other birds of note included an increase in Common Gull numbers, with 13 seen today amongst 250 Blackheads and at Bradnocks Marsh, 16 Great Crested Grebes, threeRedpolls, a Siskin, two Oystercatchers and a Grey Wagtail were found in the unproductive search for the Shag.
23rd February 2013
– Overcast, cold but light north-easterly wind.
The drake Mandarin showed on and off for most of the day, on Railway Pool, visible mostly opposite Oak Hide but sometimes up towards River Hide. The Bittern also showed during the day on the left hand side of the Reedbed (the east and crop field side).
Other records of note included a Kingfisher by the causeway, at least two but probably threeShelduck, two Oystercatchers, both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, at least 1000 Wood Pigeons east of the A452, a singing Coal Tit in Siden Hill Wood and the paleBuzzard over it, whilst other counts included five Herons, 29 Cormorants, five Mute Swans,the Black Swan, four Canadas, a Greylag, 210 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 33 Gadwall, 41 Mallard, a drake Shoveler, 31 Pochard, 23 Tufted, 29 Coot, five Moorhen, 11 Snipe in the Marsh, 247 Lapwings, 125 Black-headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Siskin along the Old Road and five Redwing, also along the Old Road.
The undoubted highlight of the day, however, came late on when an adult Shag was found amongst a small number of Cormorants on Car Park Pool at 4.50 pm but unfortunately it did not linger and flew off towards Bradnocks Marsh shortly after being found. This find, by Simon Roper, took the Reserve list to 194.
22nd February 2013
– Overcast, cold north easterly.
Plenty of birds again today but nothing particularly out of the ordinary. The Wigeon andLapwings were spread between Car Park Pool and the flood plain with a drake Shelduck on Car Park Pool and at least 25 Cormorants, mostly on Railway Pool. There were no Snipevisible in the Marsh this morning but at least eight were hunkered down in the grass to the right of Car Park Hide.
On Railway Pool, there was just a single Common Gull amongst 115 Black-headed Gulls and two Lesser Black-backs dropped in briefly.
21st February 2013
– Mostly overcast, cold south easterly.
A drake Mandarin was the early highlight of the day showing well on Railway Pool to the left of Oak Hide at about 9am, but it could not be found later.
There was at least one Oystercatcher and a single Shelduck also present, but otherwise relatively quiet.
20th February 2013
– Mostly overcast, cold south easterly.
No records.
19th February 2012
– Sunny, mild south-easterly wind, sharp frost.
The Bittern showed again briefly this morning in the Reedbed, fishing in small sections of open water or patches that it had kept unfrozen itself.
It also re-showed late in the afternoon between 4.30pm and 5pm. On the Marsh, there were at least a dozen Snipe together with two Jack Snipe. Total counts of the former species reached about 50, including birds either flying over, or in the grass to the right of Car Park Hide.
A Water Rail also showed in the Marsh and there were two Shelducks, threeOystercatchers and a female Goosander. The Tree Sparrow visited the Oak Hide feeder during the day and there were at least two Yellowhammers in the crop field.
18th February 2012
– Mostly sunny, light but cold south-easterly wind.
The Bittern showed today on the right hand side of the Reedbed, that is the stream side, but was elusive as ever. A Water Rail also called from the Reedbed. The Tree Sparrow was back at the Oak Hide feeder and there was a single Shelduck and seven Snipe.
17th February 2012
– Frosty start, initially some list and then later south-easterly wind.
A good variety of birds today included the Bittern which showed well in the Reedbed and was seen to catch a fish, a Kingfisher on the opposite side, seen on the causeway, a Little Egreton Railway Pool, a Goosander on Car Park Pool, a Ringed Plover briefly on Railway Pool before being driven off by Lapwings, two Green Sandpipers in the flash north of Patrick Farm.
The rather sporadic Tree Sparrow again visited the Oak Hide feeder and there were a pair ofGrey Wagtails on the Old Road which will hopefully be returning to breed.
A female Goosander roosted for part of the day on Car Park Pool, along with at least oneShelduck. A Water Rail called from the Reedbed, three Bullfinches were feeding along the Old Road and Black-headed Gull numbers increased with at least 350 present in the afternoon.
16th February 2012
– Frosty start, sunny, becoming mild.
After a cold and frosty start the weather became progressively warmer and reached a barmy 9 degrees before falling away again in the late afternoon and overnight.
There was no sign of yesterday’s Ringed Plover, but the three Oystercatchers were again on site and the milder weather, exemplified by the flowering Coltsfoot by the causeway screen and Cherry Plumb blossom by Railway Hide.
A single Kingfisher showed well at the north-east end of the Car Park Pool, lingering east of the A452, there were 12 Linnets in the crop field with at least ten Reed Buntings and a single Yellowhammer. Pochard, Tufted and Lapwing numbers had increased with 44, 51 and 216 respectively.
Other counts were four Heron, 23 Cormorants, five Mutes, the Black Swan, threeGreylags, 33 Canadas, a drake Shelduck, 239 Wigeon, 141 Teal, 33 Gadwall, 37 Mallard, a pair of Shovelers, 63 Coot, two Moorhen, 30 Snipe, 200 Black-headed Gulls, twoCommon Gulls, eight Lesser Black-backs and six Herring Gulls.
Ten attended the afternoon work party. Much was achieved including further stoning up of the paths, some holly and thorn planting on the Old Road and by the back gate, more vegetation control and nest box cleaning. Many thanks to Don Nettleton for some new nest boxes which were all erected. Thanks to all that attended.
Lastly, the Bittern showed elusively at dusk on the left hand side of the Reedbed.
15th February 2013
– Sunny but frosty start, clouding over later, south-westerly wind.
Yesterdays extensive floods had significantly subsided this morning and with the sunny start there was a spring like feel in the air with considerably more bird song than of late, withDunnock, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting joining Skylark, Song Thrush and various Tits in song.
The high water level in the Marsh had receeded significantly for at least 18 Snipe to be hiding in the vegetation and the single Jack Snipe showed particularly well on the left of the channel. Both Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls were beginning to show signs of territorial display as well despite the fact that the majority of the latter have not acquired black heads. There was only a single Common Gull amongst them this morning and also a second-winter Herring Gull, whilst a pair of Lesser Black-backs landed and also undertook display.
Later in the morning the milder conditions were sufficient to encourage back to the Reserve three Oystercatchers and a male Ringed Plover, with the former undertaking display flight. At least two Kingfishers showed on site, the Little Egret re-appeared, the Bittern showed well in the Reedbed in the late afternoon and a female Goosander put in an appearance.
14th February 2013
– Mostly sunny, noticeably milder, rain quickly clearning in the morning, some showers in the late afternoon.
The Bittern showed on the left side of the Reedbed during the morning, the Little Egretreturned and a Jack Snipe was visible in the Marsh from Oak Hide.
Also in the Marsh were at least 15 Snipe with a further nine to the right of Car Park Hide.
At least 30 Siskins were feeding in the alders along the central streamline and other birds of note included a pair of Shelduck, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and one Green, 27Cormorants, a Sparrowhawk and three Redpolls along the Old Road.
13th February 2013
– Snow and rain.
No records.
12th February 2013
– Overcast, light easterly wind.
Not a great deal of change; there was a flock of 20 Siskins in the Alders on the central streamline along with a singing Treecreeper and a small flock of five Long-tailed Tits. There were one or two Snipe both in the flooded Marsh and to the right hand side of Car Park Pool and a male Shelduck on Car Park Pool. 15 Pheasants were in the crop field along with a handful of Reed Buntings and one Yellowhammer and ten Stock Doves flew over.
Later in the day, there was a flock of 100 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings on the flood plain and the flock of finches on the streamline had increased with 50 Siskins and ten Redpolls. The Little Egret was feeding on the Dragonfly Pool.
11th February 2013
– Wintery showers, overcast, light cold easterly wind.
No records.
10th February 2013
– Very wet all day.
The Bittern showed on the left-hand side of the Reedbed in the late morning and there threeShelduck on Car Park Pool, and a total of 32 Pochard across the Reserve. Singles ofCommon and Herring Gulls joined the Black-headed Gulls and there were 25 Cormorantsand 12 Canadas.
9th February 2013
– Snow showers early on, with lying snow soon melting; thereafter still and dry, mostly overcast.
An adult Peregrine, perched in the top of the dead tree on the river side opposite Car Park Hide in the morning was the pick of the birds and its pale front stood out in the grey morning.Wigeon numbers reached 270 which is certainly the best count this year and I think the best count this winter so far. Jack Snipe flushed around the Dragonfly Pond, a Kingfisher was again at the causeway and 25 Snipe were counted with most of them on the wet ground to the right of Car Park Hide. Other counts were nine Mute Swans, a Black Swan, nine Greylags, one Farmyard Goose, eight Canadas, 52 Teal, 25 Gadwall, 58 Mallard, 37 Pochard, 30Tufted, 45 Coot, two Moorhen, 184 Lapwing, 157 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, (15 to 20 large Gulls went over at a distance but can be split between Herring and Lesser Black-backs), seven Herons, 19 Cormorant, sixLinnet in the crop field, ten Siskins on the central streamline, a single Redwing on the Old Road, 30 Fieldfares east of the A452, a female Bullfinch, a House Sparrow and signingSong Thrush by the cottages. There was also a Fox in the crop field.
8th February 2013
– Mostly sunny, north-westerly wind.
No records.
7th February 2013
– Sunny intervals, cold light northerly wind.
No records.
6th February 2013
– Sunshine and wintery showers, cold northerly wind.
The footpath next to the Ammunition Dump has been significantly opened up and cleared and steps created up to the kissing gate by the mobile phone mast. The surface is quite muddy at the moment but will prove to be more accessible when it dries out.
On the Lower Siden field, (the location of the scrapes), there were 22 Canadas, three Mute Swans and 14 Mallard and a large flock of corvids which flew west to the south of the Reserve included at least a dozen Rooks.
5th February 2013
– Mostly sunny, strong, cold north-westerly wind.
The Tree Sparrow again visited the Oak Hide feeder and a Peregrine was perched in one of the trees on the flood plain. Gulls on Railway Pool totalled 203 Black-heads, seven Common Gulls and two Lesser Black-backs in the late morning. At Packhorse Bridge there were threeBullfinches and a Goldcrest.
4th February 2013
– Overcast, windy, west, north-westerly wind.
The Bittern showed on a number of occasions in the Reedbed during the day, flying from west to east at 11.50 and then showing on the crop field side at 4.15 pm. The Little Egret was again present on the banks of Car Park Pool, a Peregrine was perched on the flood plain, there were 30 Siskins on the central streamline, a Kingfisher by the causeway and good numbers of Gulls, with 26 Common Gulls, 12 Lesser Black-backs and 300 Black-headed Gulls.
Other records of note included the Tree Sparrow, Sparrowhawk, a Green Woodpeckeraround Railway Pool, a Grey Wagtail along the Old Road and 32 Pochard.
3rd February 2013
– Overcast, west, south-westerly wind.
There were three Goosanders today, a pair and an additional female. The pair were initially on Railway Pool and then later on Car Park Pool where they were joined by 12 Mute Swans and aBlack Swan in the afternoon.
There was an obvious movement of Gulls again, with 37 Lesser Black-backs, 24 Common Gulls and four Herring Gulls on Railway Pool in the late morning, with lesser totals in the afternoon.
The Little Egret was still present, the Pochard total reached 34 and both pairs of Peregrineswere perched on the flood plain opposite Car Park Hide.
The Tree Sparrow visited the Oak Hide feeder with at least 20 Chaffinches and there was aGreen Sandpiper on the flash in the field opposite Patrick Farm Barns.
The Bittern again showed well in the late afternoon, roosting in the Reedbed. Finally, there were at least 50 Siskins and a few Redpolls along the central streamline.
2nd February 2013
– Sunny, cool, northerly wind.
Perhaps the most noticeable feature of today was the movement of Gulls, with a number of these dropping onto the pools. In the early morning, the totals were 63 Lesser Black-backs, 12 Herrings, 15 Common Gulls and 250 Black-headed Gulls but by later in the morning these totals had increased with over 500 Black-headed Gulls, 54 Commons, 27 Lesser Black-backs and four Herring Gulls.
A pair of Goosander were present on and off during the day, along with the feral Pink-footed Goose, a Jack Snipe in the Marsh, a Treecreeper on the concrete road and the Little Egretand a Kingfisher by Car Park Hide.
Other totals during the day were 13 Cormorants, seven Herons, eight Mute Swans, theBlack Swan, 31 Greylags, three Canadas, two Shelduck, 104 Wigeon, 97 Teal, 30Gadwall, a Shoveler, 20 Mallard, 25 Pochard, 45 Tufted, 35 Coot, two Moorhen, 183Lapwing, three Snipe, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.
1st February 2013
– Cloudy, westerly wind.
The only news today concerned the regular Little Egret and a female Goosander on Car Park Pool.
