31st March 2011
A drake Goosander and five females roosted – the only notable record
30th March 2011
– sunny and warm morning with late afternoon showers
The bird of the day was an Egyptian Goose which arrived on Car Park Pool in the late afternoon and was still present in the late evening together with a Green Sandpiper. A singleSwallow was again with 60 Sand Martins over the pools, five Little Ringed Plover were again present with three on Car Park Pool and a pair on Railway Pool, with three RingedPlover. At least four Chiffchaffs sang around the Reserve with two by the cottages and a male Blackcap was seen (no location given).
29th March 2011 –
sunny and warm morning, late afternoon showers
The first Swallow of the year was with 60+ Sand Martins over Car Park Pool after late afternoon showers. Five Little Ringed Plovers sparred for territory on Car Park Pool, the pair of Goosander again roosted. A male Kestrel was seen – Kestrels have been relatively scarce on the Reserve so far this year. At least four pairs of Redshank look set to breed and fourChiffchaff were spread around the Reserve.
28th March 2011
A pair of Mute Swans were building a nest by the causeway screen, four Buzzards spiralled over the crop field and three Little Ringed Plover were present.
27th March 2011
The first Water Rail for some time was seen from the causeway screen and the first WhiteWagtail of the year was on Car Park Pool. The pair of Goosander re-appeared and the Dunlinremained on Railway Pool. A Yellow Wagtail was reported on Car Park Pool around lunchtime, but could not be found later in the afternoon – this is a very early record. A Grey Wagtail flew over, 14 Sand Martins moved through, as did 33 Fieldfare. Little Ringed Plover increased to four on Car Park Pool.
26th March 2011
The weekly wildfowl count was as follows: four Great Crested Grebe, seven Little Grebe, one Grey Heron, seven Cormorant, five Mute Swans, two Greylags, four Canada Geese,25 Shoveler, 39 Wigeon, 29 Gadwall, six Teal, 11 Mallard, four Pochard, 29 Tufted Duck, 32 Coot, two Moorhen, three Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plover, three Little Ringed Plover, 28 Lapwing, one Dunlin, eight Snipe, 106 Black- headed Gulls, one Common Gull, five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and eight Redshank. 42 Sand Martins roosted in the Reedbed in the evening.
25th March 2011
– Remaining sunny and warm, light easterly wind.
Not a great deal of change this morning. There were at least six Redshanks, twoOystercatchers and a Ringed Plover on the Railway Pool islands, half a dozen Snipeopposite Oak Hide on the shore line where Jack Snipe was seen on Wednesday. A scattering of Pochard, Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler was spread across the pools, but there was no sign of any Wigeon this morning.
At least two Tree Sparrows were very vocal along the ditch line just east of the Oak Hide feeder. The corn crop is already showing in the newly sown field behind Car Park Hide.
In the afternoon, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and the first Wheatear of the year all put in appearances on or around Railway Pool. The female Wheatear was seen to fly across Railway Pool and land on the pile of willow logs, almost opposite Oak Hide, and may wander from there to Lower Siden.
24th March 2011
– Remaining sunny and warm, temperatures up to 17 degrees
A Little Egret showed well for much of the afternoon and two Sand Martins appeared briefly around the middle of the day. Three Mistle Thrushes were by the Oak Hide, the Green Sandpiper put in its regular daily appearance, five Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder and six Yellowhammers in the crop field.
23rd March 2011
– Sunny and warm.
Waders were much the same as the previous few days namely, four
Oystercatchers
, at least four Redshanks, a single Ringed Plover, one Green Sandpiper and 49 Lapwings. There were again at least ten Snipe around Car Park Hide
Two Common Gulls and a single Herring Gull joined the throng of Black-headed Gulls on Railway Pool. At least 28 Wigeon were still on site, but all duck numbers are now falling off as birds depart, the notable exception to this being Tufted Ducks. Numbers of this species rise at this time as year as returning birds drop in on their way up north or linger to breed.
In the afternoon, Jack Snipe showed with at least six Snipe on the shore opposite Oak Hide. At least five Tree Sparrows were present at the Oak Hide feeder and at least sevenBrimstones were counted on the wing.
The track between the central stream and Oak Hide is in the course of being improved, so please take care when approaching this area.
22nd March 2011
– Sunny intervals, warm light northerly wind. Anti-cyclonic.
Two Green Sandpipers flew in from west of the river at 8.30 a.m. and were working their way, together, around the islands on Railway Pool. Other waders included fourOystercatchers, four Redshanks, a Ringed Plover and the usual scattering of Lapwing, 19Snipe were either below Car Park Hide in the irises, or in the rushes to the right of the hide.
There were at least three Chiffchaffs in song, one by the south west pond, one by the car park and one by the top gate. 33 Fieldfares, ten Redwings and about 60 Starlings were feeding on the tip field before moving north to the flood plain. Five Meadow Pipits also went over.
An adult and a first winter Common Gull were present, briefly, and two Herring Gulls went over. Finally a pair of Nuthatches seemed to be prospecting along the top stream, along the concrete road.
Later in the morning a single Dunlin was also present.
21st March 2011
– Generally sunny intervals, light northerly wind.
A Green Sandpiper was again present on the small flash in front of the tower hide. Later in the morning there was a report of a Common Sandpiper on Railway Pool for a few minutes, which would be amazingly early.
20th March 2011
– Overcast start, sunny periods thereafter, light south-westerly wind.
Potentially as many as 11 Sand Martins today, with one for five minutes between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., two briefly at 11 a.m., then one at 2 p.m. and one at 2.45 p.m., and six at dusk. It is of course possible that there were no more than two birds but at this time of year the birds moved through quickly and it seems mostly likely that at least five birds were present.
A few winter thrushes moved through, with 15 Fieldfare and two Redwing over north-east at 10 a.m., and eight Fieldfares on the flood plain on the afternoon. Five Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder, three Chiffchaffs sang in a variety of places across the Reserve but, otherwise, waders were similar to the preceding days.
At dusk, at around 6 p.m., six Sand Martins appeared to feed over Car Park Pool and were, along with about 60 Starlings, assessing the Reedbed, presumably to roost.
19th March 2011
– Beautifully sunny, light south-westerly wind
Probably the best bird of the day was a Little Egret, which flew north over Railway Pool at 5.35 p.m. A Jack Snipe showed well in front of Oak Hide and the warm weather enticed out the first butterflies of the year, with a male Brimstone on the concrete road and two Small Tortoiseshells, one along the concrete road and one by the car park.
There were at least five Chiffchaffs today, spread across the Reserve, whilst waders were again similar to the previous few days. Graham’s usual counts were as follows: eight Little Grebes, seven Cormorants, three Herons, two Mute Swans, one Canada, five Greylags, six Shelduck, 74 Wigeon, 34 Gadwall, 19 Teal, eight Mallard, four Shoveler 18 Pochard, 53 Tufted, 38 Coot, three Moorhens, four Oystercatchers, three Ringed Plover, 12Lapwing, a Dunlin, eight Redshank, 29 Snipe, 225 Black-headed Gulls, 17 Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backs and two Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder.
A partly eaten Brown Trout was on the right side of the causeway – presumably a Mink was the culprit.
18th March 2011
– Mostly sunny.
Fairly similar to the previous few days. Wader counts were as follows: two Dunlins, threeOystercatchers, eight Redshank, 19 Snipe, two Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper. Four Chiffchaffs included three along the Old Road and one by the back gate. The small trickle of Pied Wagtails continues, with ten this afternoon, mostly on Car Park Pool. Other birds included a pair of Bullfinch along the Old Road, six Buzzards, a Kestrel, four Shelduck, three Green Woodpeckers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
17th March 2011
– Overcast start, clearing to sunny conditions mid-morning. North westerly wind.
Two Dunlin remained on Railway Pool, but there appeared to be only two Redshanks and twoRinged Plover this morning. A Curlew, which flew over, could only be heard. 23 Snipe were on Car Park Pool.
A flock of 120 birds, which flew east over the lorry park, were thought to have been Skylarks. Between the tip and the flood plains, there were 17 Fieldfare, 25 Redwings and over 100Starlings, and three Chiffchaffs were present around the Old Road / concrete road junction.
In the late afternoon a Weasel hunted the Marsh.
16th March 2011
– Grey, misty, cold north-easterly wind.
Despite the weather, the Reserve seemed particularly noisy and active with Black-headed Gulls displaying on Railway Pool, chasing each other on Car Park Pool and mobbing a Crow on the Old Road. Redshank numbers increased to six and three pairs were in display flight, as well, to add to the cacophony.
The first Sand Martin of the year lingered from 10 a.m. to 10.15 a.m. but, as is usually the case at this time of year, this bird moved through quickly. Little Grebes had also increased with at least ten on site. A Dunlin remained on Railway Pool and there were three Ringed Plovers, four Oystercatchers and a Little Ringed Plover. Two Chiffchaffs were feeding along the concrete road near to the top gate, with one in occasional song.
15th March 2011
– Cool easterly wind and misty.
Waders remained similar to the preceding day and the best birds were a female Merlin, which flew through over Railway Pool, a pair of Goosander which roosted again, at least 15 Snipe on the shoreline below Car Park Hide, 32 Chaffinches and a male Yellowhammer in the crop field and at least 18 Stock Doves at Lower Siden.
14th March 2011
– Generally sunny for most of the day, the wind having switched from west to east.
Dunlin were up to two today and Redshank up to three with three Jack Snipe showing in the Marsh together. Other waders included a single Little Ringed Plover, three Ringed Ploversand two Oystercatchers.
Pied Wagtails remain on the move with six in the morning and at least eight in the afternoon, feeding on the mown grass strips in front of Car Park Hide.
Other birds of note included ten Yellowhammers in the crop field, an increase of Dabchickpairs from three to four (now two pairs on Car Park Pool), five Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, an active and very disruptiveSparrowhawk, four Buzzards and 15 Stock Doves in the crop field.
13th March 2011
– An initially overcast start with occasional drizzle clearing to warm and sunny with a light south-westerly wind.
As the sun came out plenty of insects appeared on the causeway and Chiffchaffs were initially seen and heard by the back gate and along the Old Road. In addition to these birds, by mid afternoon, three more were found at the junction between the Reedbed and the central stream. Unlike the other two birds these three were silent and were eye catching in the sunny weather.
In addition to the Chiffchaffs, there was a selection of other good birds today. The juvenileWhite-fronted Goose spent much of the day on the far bank of Car Park Pool. It is now further advanced than when it appeared in January with more of a white blaze at the base of the bill, and a single bar across the breast.
A second Little Ringed Plover joined yesterday’s bird in the afternoon, and there were threeOystercatchers, three Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks and a Dunlin, the latter spending most of the day on Railway Pool. A Green Sandpiper fed in the northerly scrape on Lower Siden.
Both female Goldeneyes were still present and other birds included at least 13 Common Gulls with the Black-headed Gulls, six Yellowhammers with 30 Chaffinches in the crop field and four Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder, 18 Stock Doves in the crop field and a singing Treecreeper along the stream near Oak Hide.
12th March 2011
– Mild, sunny intervals, showers and then heavy rain in the late afternoon and evening.
The first Chiffchaffs of the year were singing and fly catching, with two on the causeway and one by Railway Hide.
The juvenile White-front flew in with 18 Greylags early on in the morning, but did not linger. A Little Ringed Plover, the first of the year, appeared for 20 minutes mid-morning and again at 5.30 p.m. A sole Meadow Pipit, the first of the year, flew over and 20 Fieldfares moved north. The weekend counts included two Great Crested Grebes, five Dabchicks, 11Cormorants, a Heron, two Mute Swans, 18 Greylags, three Canadas, four Shelduck, 172Wigeon, 23 Gadwall, 12 Teal, eight Shoveler, 12 Mallard, 18 Pochard, 33 Tufted, two female Goldeneyes (a second one joined the first today), 40 Coot, three Moorhen, 34Lapwing, three Oystercatchers, 22 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, 324 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backs, four Tree Sparrows, and aLesser Redpoll were along the Old Road.
A very successful work party, attended by ten people, got a substantial amount done in three hours (2 to 5 p.m.). The gravel patches on the two large islands on Car Park Pool were topped up and 50 to 60 Elder plants were planted on the causeway and the Old Road to replace those that, by and large, died in the dry spring last year. The work was concluded with a celebratory beer, just as the rain started.
There was an arrival of Pied Wagtails in the afternoon, with two at 2 p.m., ten at 4 p.m., and 15 at 5 p.m. The proportion was ten males and five females.
11th March 2011
– Mostly sunny, cool strong westerly wind.
No sign of the White-fronted Goose this morning, but there were still three Ringed Ploverson site together with at least two Oystercatchers, but only a single Snipe. There were again 150 – 200 Black-headed Gulls with a scattering of Common Gulls, on Railway Pool.
There are, at the moment, only three pairs of Dabchicks, one on each of the main pools. TheWigeon flock was all spread across the far bank and totalled 139 and Shoveler were up to 14 but, of these, only two were females. A single Shelduck and a female Goldeneye were also present.
Finches were dropping on to the newly ploughed field and there were 30 to 40 Linnets, approximately ten Chaffinches and a pair of Yellowhammers, but birds seemed to be dropping in or moving on all the time and the flock is worth more than a passing glance.
10th March 2011
– Blustery, westerly wind, sunny intervals.
The best bird of the day was an immature White-fronted Goose found in the afternoon with the Greylags and is presumably the bird from earlier in the year. A male Blackcap sang in the Old Road hedge, sheltering from the blustery wind behind the container before it stopped singing and moved south down the road. As the date is pretty early and there has been little sign of Blackcap movement, it seems more likely that this is an over-wintering bird making its way back to Central Europe.
Ringed Plovers were up to three and other birds of note included a pair of Oystercatchers, the Goldeneye, 11 Tree Sparrows, 21 Common Gulls, 60 Linnets and a continuing turnover of Black-headed Gulls, with at least 200 on site at any one time but birds coming and going all the time.
Shoveler numbers had increased to nine from just a single at the weekend, and there were still at least 140 Wigeon feeding on the far bank opposite Car Park Hide, mid morning.
9th March 2011
– Sunny intervals, breezy from the west.
There were 80 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings on the tip field and about 50 Linnets with a few Chaffinches by the car park gates at 8.30 a.m. The female Goldeneye remains.
Later in the morning there were four Oystercatchers and an impressive 40 Common Gulls. The male Brambling again appeared in the continuing healthy Linnet flock which, in the afternoon, increased to 180 birds. There were 11 Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder.
8th March 2011
– Sunny all day, wind direction changed from east to west, remaining cool.
A pair of Ringed Plovers were making a scrape in one of the new gravel patches on Railway Pool this morning. Hopefully the “freshening up” of the gravel path (the first time in three years), will be encouraging for both these and Little Ringed Plovers.
Other waders included a single Redshank and four Oystercatchers. 60 Linnets remained around the Old Road crop field areas and, later in the day, two Jack Snipe showed well in front of Oak Hide.
Common Snipe totalled 14 and there was a pair of Great Crested Grebes, six Dabchick and the female Goldeneye.
7th March 2011
– Cold light north-easterly wind, sunny after frost.
Waders this morning amounted to six Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plovers, one Redshank, one Green Sandpiper and 17 Snipe, the latter as usual in the grass or the irises in front of Car Park Hide. One of the birds in particular was bobbing like a Jack Snipe.
The mixed Finch and Bunting flock along the Old Road hedge between the car park and the cottages, included a fine male Brambling again. The total flock was probably in the region of 50 to 60 birds and included Chaffinches and Linnets.
A Nuthatch was calling down by the south-west pond and seems to be setting up territory there again.
6th March 2011
– Grey, cold start, sunny afternoon.
Another rather miserable start to the day, with the cold north-easterly wind remaining, but a bit more to liven the interest as Oystercatchers jumped from four to eight and the firstRedshank of the year appeared. 28 Common Gulls was a small increase over the preceeding day and two Ringed Plovers were present in the morning, but not later in the afternoon. ARaven also went over.
5th March 2011
– Overcast, cold north-easterly, drizzly.
The crop field was mown yesterday, in advance of ploughing and 17 Pheasants, 35Jackdaws, two Crows and five Mallards were taking advantage of the smashed up crop. 60Linnets were present early on, as were 40 Siskins along the Old Road. Only one pair ofOystercatchers were present, but a noticeable movement of Gulls included 336 Black-headed Gulls and 24 Common Gulls, although there were probably more than this with a turnover taking place all morning. 75 Fieldfares and 25 Redwings were on the flood meadows. Although Wigeon numbers only reached 101 in the morning and appeared to reflect the fall-off in numbers taking place, 226 in the afternoon was more in keeping with counts at the end of February.
Graham Rowling’s helpful Saturday count was as follows: three Great Crested Grebes, fiveDabchicks, seven Cormorants, three Herons, two Mute Swans, three Canadas, twoShelducks, 226 Wigeon, 34 Teal, 35 Gadwall, 24 Mallard, one drake Shoveler, 45Pochard, 29 Tufted Ducks, a female Goldeneye, 38 Coots, a single Moorhen, fourOystercatchers, 11 Lapwings, 18 Snipe, 336 Black-headed Gulls, 24 Common Gulls, sixLesser Black-backed Gulls, one Herring Gull, but only four Tree Sparrows.
Other birds of note included 30 Chaffinches, mostly along the Old Road, and both Green and drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
4th March 2011
– Cold and overcast start, light north-easterly wind. Sunny from mid-morning.
Two pairs of Oystercatchers were today prospecting the islands on both pools. A pair ofGoosanders were also on site for part of the day. A Lapwing was taken by a Sparrowhawkfrom in front of Oak Hide. The bird put up a fight and dragged the Sparrowhawk into the water, but was finally killed and the Hawk managed to take off and fly into the hedge by the south-west pond. The Green Sandpiper appeared briefly again, but unfortunately did not linger.
3rd March 2011
– Overcast, cold north-easterly wind.
Another rather dreary morning was enlivened by a pretty well full summer male Brambling, in with a flock of 15 to 20 Chaffinches near the car park feeder. The bird was perched in the top of one of the hedgerow trees, but did not remain long. The Chaffinches gave the distinct impression of being on the move, as did seven Fieldfares and 12 Redwings also along the Old Road. 18 Greenfinches at the Oak Hide feeder was the largest I have counted this winter, and also suggested some temporary immigration. There were only two Tree Sparrows this morning. There were only two Tree Sparrows this morning but a new record count this afternoon of 18, when at least 17 Greenfinches and 13 Chaffinches were also present. What was presumably this mornings Brambling was also heard in the area.
No sign of the Ringed Plovers by 9 a.m., but there were three Oystercatchers on Car Park Pool. Eight pairs of Lapwing have taken up territory, all on Railway Pool.
Black-headed Gulls were dropping in to wash during the morning, with a minimum count of 110. Included within the flock were four Common Gulls and two Lesser Black-backs.
At the back gate there were 11 Siskins in the plantation, along with a pair of Bullfinches, with another pair of Bullfinches by the cottages. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming again by the south-west pond. At 11.30 an immature Peregrine appeared at Car Park Pool and perched in the dead tree at the north end of the pool until 12 mid-day when it flew off. The female Goldeneye was present again and a Green Sandpiper apparently put in a brief appearance.
Aditional records later in the day included a Green Sandpiper and a new record Tree Sparrow count of 18.
2nd March 2011
– Mostly overcast but with some sunny periods towards the end of the day. Cool north-easterly wind.
A Green Sandpiper put in a brief appearance at lunch time but was driven off by Lapwingsand there were a pair of Goosander on site again. A pair of Buzzards displayed over Siden Hill Wood and a small mammal, possibly a water vole, was seen in the Marsh.
Other birds of note included 11 Common Gulls, the Goldeneye and eight Tree Sparrows.
1st March 2011
– Overcast start, sunny afternoon, cool north-easterly wind.
Very much the same as yesterday. Tree Sparrows were up to ten, as were Common Gulls,but not much else to report.





