30th November 2011
– Sunny, cool south westerly wind.
The bright but noticeably cool morning saw a fair number of Thrushes on the Reserve. At least 30 Fieldfares dropped into the Old Road to feed on the Hawthorn berries and ten Fieldfaresand approximately five each of Redwing and Blackbird, along with two Song Thrushes were at the west end of the causeway, feeding on the Hawthorne berries there. The was alsoGoldcrest and Bullfinch on the causeway, a Kingfisher on the adjacent Reedbed and 40 to 50 mixed Finches and Buntings in the crop field.
A Heron managed to catch a particularly large fish (probably a Carp) from the margins on Car Park Pool, but had a real problem swallowing it. The Heron kept leaning right forward resting the fish and the tip of its bill on the bank until it eventually swallowed it. The fish left a large bulge in the Heron’s neck, which involved the bird repeatedly stretching its neck up to hasten the swallowing.
29th November 2011
– Mostly wet, south, south-westerly wind.
No records.
28th November 2011
– Sunny intervals, south, south-westerly wind.
No records.
27th November 2011
– Strong north-westerly wind, sunny.
The north-westerly winds suited the Gulls with a noticeable movement of birds either passing overhead or dropping into the pools to bathe. Common Gulls were at their highest numbers for the autumn with 25 by 10 a.m., and 36 by 11 a.m. At least another six went over to the north. Five Herring Gulls dropped in to bathe and at least another 15 went over; similar numbers of Lesser Black-backs also passed through and 13 were roosting on Car Park Pool at 11 a.m., with 14 in the afternoon. The rarest of the Gulls was a Great Black-back which flew through during the afternoon.
There were again at least ten Yellowhammers around the crop field, a pair of Bullfinches on the railway embankment and a few Siskins and Redpolls flying overhead. Linnet numbers reached about 90 with 40 along the Old Road and 50 in the crop field, along with about 20Chaffinches. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were all seen.
The mild weather is still good enough for Common Darters with four along the concrete road.
26th November 2011
– Sunshine and showers, blustery westerly wind.
The Peregrine again put on an excellent display, but unfortunately only to a single viewer. It took a Lapwing over Car Park Pool, killed it in mid-air but could not catch it before it hit the water. After three or four unsuccessful passes, it eventually managed to pluck it from the water and took it off to feed.
Golden Plovers were up to 130 and there were at least 40 Fieldfares on the Railway embankment. 30 mixed Siskins, Goldfinch and Redpoll were along the concrete road and the first returning Shelduck, a male, fed on Car Park Pool.
Other counts were as follows: two Dabchick, 17 Cormorants, three Herons, two Mutes, oneBlack Swan, 45 Greylag / Canada Cross, a drake Shelduck, 179 Wigeon, 53 Teal, 52Gadwall, 53 Mallard, 20 Shoveler, six Pochard, 16 Tufteds, 12 Moorhen, 53 Coot, 437Lapwing, seven Snipe, 87 Black-headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, two Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Meadow Pipit on the tip.
The best bird on the west side was a Woodcock which was accidentally flushed from the small damp area by the northern pedestrian gate. There was a male Grey Wagtail which showed well in the pumping station and another Grey Wagtail flew over. Redwings were dropping into the scrub just north of the mobile phone mast all morning, and there were at least 50 there with a handful of Fieldfares and Song Thrushes. In the wood, Great Spotted andGreen Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Goldcrest were all prominent and easily seen with a few Siskins feeding in the Alders around the periphery.
25th November 2011
– Overnight rain, sunny a.m., but cloudy p.m., with a west, south-westerly wind.
The Golden Plover flock continues to vary day by day, with only 25 birds. The Peregrineappeared again and other Raptors including Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards.
24th November 2011
– Mostly cloudy, south-westerly wind. Overnight rain.
The Golden Plover flock had increased to 112 and 50 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings flew south in the early morning. The Linnet flock remained at about 60. The Lapwing flock has increased to about 500 birds and Wigeon numbers are up to 160. Two Water Rail was seen from the north causeway screen.
23rd November 2011
– Mostly overcast, southerly wind.
The only record was of two Goldcrests in the scrub around Packhorse Bridge.
22nd November 2011
– Heavy overnight rain, slowly clearing.
A Song Thrush was in full voice just north of the cottages this morning, obviously enjoying the wetter conditions as were Teal which were enjoying the wetter margins of Car Park Pool. Numbers were up to 65 from the 41 at the weekend. There was a single Dabchick on Car Park Pool and, on the wader front, there were 390 Lapwings spread between the two pools, 13Golden Plover flew in at 8.45 a.m., a Green Sandpiper flew over and there were four Snipein front of Car Park Pool.
Yesterday’s mixed Finch flock (mostly Linnets and Greenfinches) were again flying around the Reserve and, at one stage, perched in the trees behind Oak Hide. There were at least 20Jackdaws on the feeders there. In the game crop below the car park Yellowhammernumbers were up to 20 with a similar number of Reed Buntings. At least 15 Siskins and aRedpoll were along the central streamline where a male Sparrowhawk put them to flight. There was also a Muntjac feeding along the central streamline.
In the middle of the morning a Peregrine showed extremely well in front of Car Park Hide before flying off, and Golden Plover had increased slightly to 15.
21st November 2011
– Generally misty all day.
There were 81 Golden Plovers on Car Park Pool at mid-day today and the 100 strong mixedFinch flock was roving up and down the Old Road between the two game covers. Three Mistle Thrushes, six House Sparrows and two Redwings were by the cottages.
20th November 2011
– Foggy all day.
The Finch flock was similar to yesterday, although the Yellowhammer numbers had increased to a minimum of 14. Yesterday’s two female Goosanders were also present in the morning but not in the afternoon, and 35 Golden Plover flew over. Both Nuthatch andTreecreeper were by the south-west pond.
19th November 2011
– Misty start, south-easterly wind. Light frost, very slowly clearing.
Yesterday’s pair of Whooper Swans were present at first light but flew east at 7.30 a.m. One of the birds had a Dardic ring on the right leg, the inscription on which appeared to CAT.
The Finch flock had increased to good numbers with an estimated 200 Linnets, 40Greenfinches and a few Chaffinches. A few of the birds wandered down to the main crop field where there were at least 15 Reed Buntings and seven Yellowhammers as well.
20 Siskins and three Redpolls were along the central streamline with six Siskins on the concrete road. At least 40 each of Fieldfare and Redwing were along the river banks either dropping to feed below the bank on fallen Hawthorne berries or drinking and washing.
The usual counts were as follows: two Dabchicks, three Mute Swans, the Black Swan, 40Greylags, the Greylag Canada Cross, 19 Farmyard Geese, 158 Wigeon, 41 Teal, 48Gadwall, 36 Mallard, seven Shoveler, 15 Tufted Ducks, the first Goosanders of the year (two females), ten Moorhen, 26 Coot, 55 Golden Plover over at 10.20, 235 Lapwing, 18Cormorants, four Herons, a Kingfisher, 15 Meadow Pipits on the tip, 20 Snipe on the margins, 150 Black-headed Gulls, seven Common Gulls and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
A new bird for the Reserve saved itself until the late afternoon. Stuart Hares was on the car park when he picked up an Egret flying up river and then dog-legging north-east towards Packington. The lack of yellow feet, slower wing beats and overall size confirmed it as a Great White Egret, the first for the Reserve.
There was also a Green Sandpiper.
18th November 2011
– Sunny intervals, southerly
A single Golden Plover was with the Lapwing flock this morning but the Plovers and Gullswere all very nervy. Whilst there was no sign of any Raptors, there was a female Peregrineat Meriden Quarries yesterday.
There was a slight increase in Yellowhammer numbers around the crop field with at least seven birds together, but probably more than this. There 10-15 Reed Buntings and, in the Old Road game crop, 80-100 mixed Greenfinches and Linnets.
13 Meadow Pipits and a Skylark went over low to the south, there was a Kingfisher on the small pool by the Car Park and both Robins and a Song Thrush were in song on the Old Road.
Later in the day, the Barnacle Goose appeared briefly with the wandering Canada Gooseflock; and, even better than that, a pair of Whooper Swans were present on Car Park Pool in the afternoon.
17th November 2011
– Warm, sunny, south westerly
No records.
16th November 2011
– Overcast.
A Chiffchaff on the causeway was the most unusual bird of the day. From the call (slightly more chicken like note than the usual one), suggests that it is probably one of the “abietinus” individuals from northern Scandinavia. Five Herring Gulls flew east and there were threeMeadow Pipits around the car park. There was a mixed Greenfinch and Linnet flock wandering up and down the road, but I am afraid no counts this morning.
15th November 2011
– Mostly sunny, light south-easterly wind.
No records.
14th November 2011
– Mostly overcast, light south-easterly wind.
The Dunlin remained and the Common Sandpiper reappeared. There were 362 Greylags.
13th November 2011
– Initially overcast, clearing quickly, sunny, light south-easterly wind.
A Dunlin was the most unusual bird of the day, although Common Gulls reached 15. 30Fieldfares and 40 Redwings were recorded along with eight Snipe, a Kingfisher and aGoldcrest on the causeway.
12th November 2011
– High cloud, remaining mild, some sunshine later, south-easterly wind.
Early morning birds of interest included a Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, 26 Siskins (22 by the back gate and four on the central stream), a loud and noisy Redpoll (? Mealy) along the central streamline as well. Treecreeper on the Old Road by the car park, 17 Wood Pigeons south-west, four Skylarks over, six Redwings and a Song Thrush in the back gate copse and two more Song Thrushes on the central stream, Bullfinches on the Old Road and by the back gate and at least 40 Fieldfares on the central stream.
12 Reed Buntings, two Yellowhammers and at least 20 Chaffinches were in the main crop field with at least 40 Linnets and similar numbers of Greenfinches in the Old Road game cover.
Perhaps the best birds of the day were two male Pintail and a female which flew south down the river at 11 a.m. A minimum of 21 Golden Plover were also recorded although the flock split into three and there may have been more.
The waterfowl counts included two Dabchicks, 26 Cormorants, eight Herons, ten Mute Swans, the Black Swan, 459 Greylags, 19 Farmyard Geese, a Canada Greylag hybrid, increases in Wigeon and Teal to 162 and 112 respectively, 59 Gadwall, 79 Mallard, tenShoveler, a Pochard, ten Tufteds, 18 Moorhen, 61 Coot, 310 Lapwing, 18 Snipe, 340Black-headed Gulls, 15 Common Gulls and three Lesser Black-backs.
Eight attended the afternoon Work Party and a lot was achieved. The Guelder Rose and Dog Rose scrub behind Railway Hide was opened up to improve the view back onto the railway embankment. The gravel patches on Car Park Pool were sprayed against weeds. Some of the Ragwort was dug up, bagged and removed from opposite Car Park Hide and the paths through the back gate copse were opened up. Thanks to all those who attended.
11th November 2011
– Remaining overcast with an increasing south-easterly wind.
At least 30 Fieldfares were about the tip field this morning, and a trickle of Linnets andGoldfinches moving down the Old Road, presumably to the crop field. Birds on Car Park Pool were very flighty this morning with no immediate sign of any predators.
Other counts during the day were a minimum of ten, maximum of 15 Snipe, minimum of ten, maximum of 15 Golden Plovers, 25 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 120 Lapwings and 80 Fieldfares.
There is a good crop of puff balls at the moment in the small dried up pond south of the car park, with others along the path to River Hide. The mild weather is also to the delight of all the ducks, but Mallard in particular, and pairs were mating on Saturday.
In the late evening, at about 5.30 p.m. a bat species, probably a Pipistrelle, was out hawking insects over the car park.
10th November 2011
– Overnight rain, mostly overcast, south-easterly wind.
Some good counts today with the following recorded. 137 Wigeon, 31 Shoveler, 88 Teal, 58Gadwall, eight Pochard, 14 Tufted, three Dabchick, 33 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, a minimum of 550 Lapwing, 13 Golden Plover over and then subsequently they landed, 11Common Gulls, at least 250 Fieldfares of which 50 were feeding opposite Car Park Hide, 20Redwings went over, a Grey Wagtail was seen and heard along with a Kingfisher and, in the evening, at least 300 Starlings went to roost.
9th November 2011
– Overcast south-easterly wind.
The Starling roost is building with at least 580 going into the Reedbed this evening. There was a Water Rail at the causeway and ten Reed Buntings also present. So far the counts of Reed Buntings have been disappointing this autumn.
8th November 2011
– Overcast and drizzly, light south-easterly wind, remaining relatively mild.
The now regular Green Sandpiper was on the nearly dried up pond by the car park this morning, and a single Golden Plover joined over 200 Lapwings on Car Park Pool. There were 28 Fieldfares and 20 Starlings in the trees and on the embankment opposite Car Park Pool and at 9 a.m., the Little Egret was seen on the river just north of Patrick’s Bridge.
Later in the day the Snipe count reached 17 and there were two Coal Tits and Green andGreat Spotted Woodpecker at our about the Oak Hide feeder.
7th November 2011
– Overcast and drizzly all day, light south-easterly wind, remaining relatively mild.
There were two Green Sandpipers present on and off during the day and nine GoldenPlovers flew over. A Little Egret was seen to fly in and land on the river, as viewed from Tower Hide.
6th November 2011
– Light northerly, light frost, sunny all day
There were around 150 Linnets in total again, mostly along the Old Road but with a smaller group favouring the game cover to the south of the Car Park. A Water Rail again showed from the causeway screen and at least one Common Darter was on the wing.
5th November 2011
– Light northerly, mostly overcast
An unexpected surprise (especially as it flew at the observer) was a Little Owl was perched on the causeway screen at first light before flying into the trees on the central streamline. BothGreen and Common Sandpipers were present early on and the mixed Linnet andGreenfinch flock again totalled about 150 birds. The current preference appears to be for the game crop nearest to the Aeromodellers and this was despite the presence of a Sparrowhawkfirst thing.
The slightly wetter margins were probably the reason for a small increase in Snipe numbers to 11 and near to the Snipe on the far bank of Car Park Pool was a flock of about 15 Goldfinchesand a similar number of Fieldfares.
Four single Redpolls and a Siskin flew over and Bullfinch, Treecreeper and a handful ofFieldfares and Redwings were along the Old Road.
The wildfowl and other counts were as follows: Three Dabchicks, seven Cormorants, fourHerons, seven Mute Swans, the Black Swan, the Black X Mute Hybrid, 439 Greylag, 18Farmyard Geese, the Greylag Canada Hybrid, 137 Wigeon, 71 Gadwall, 74 Teal, 55Mallard, 56 Shoveler, five Pochard, 20 Tufted, 12 Moorhen, 57 Coot, 454 Lapwing, 195Black-headed Gulls, six Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backs, a Herring Gull and aKingfisher. The latter were particularly mobile.
4th November 2011
– Overcast start, sunny then heavy late afternoon rain into the evening. South easterly, turning northerly
The Barnacle reappeared without about 50 Canadas and one of the Hybrids and tenCommon Gulls was the best of the autumn so far. A Peregrine flew east over the Reserve in the afternoon and a Water Rail showed to the left of River Hide looking out onto Railway Pool. The Linnet flock totalled about 100 birds and Teal numbers had also risen to 100 birds, the best count of this autumn.
In addition to the Linnets, there were about 40 Greenfinches and the warmer weather brought out 3 Migrant Hawkers and two Common Darters.
3rd November 2011
– Mostly overcast, remaining mild, south-easterly wind. Heavy overnight rain between the 2nd and 3rd.
The Common Sandpiper made one of its sporadic appearances this morning being seen initially on Railway Pool, but quickly disappearing probably onto the River. A Water Rail also showed well from the north-causeway screen (it is often most visible on the left-hand side) and a Raven flew over.
2nd November 2011
– Sunny intervals, south easterly
No records
1st November 2011
– Overnight rain slowly clearing, sunny intervals, light south-westerly wind.
The overnight rain obviously helped and the early morning birders were rewarded with aBlack-tailed Godwit and two Dunlin on Car Park Pool and an Egyptian Goose on Railway Pool. The Godwit was flighty and had moved to Railway Pool by about 9 a.m.
There were plenty of other birds about and these included a pair of Ravens that flew low west at 7.45 a.m., a Grey Wagtail again near the Dragonfly Pond and another good flock ofFinches at the Old Road game crop with a minimum of about 150 mixed Greenfinches andLinnets. At least ten Goldfinches and five Siskins were along the concrete road and a further 20 Goldfinches and a similar number of Fieldfares were on the west bank of Car Park Pool.
80 Wood Pigeons went west with three Collared Doves prior to 8 a.m. and about 105 flew east at roughly the same time. Dribs and drabs on the move overhead included three PiedWagtails, three Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit.
