30th November 2013
– Sunny, light north-westerly wind
A possible Iceland Gull flew north over the tip field this morning and was only visible with the accompanying Lesser Black-backs intermittently through a tree screen and could not be clinched. 400 mixed Redwings and Fieldfares continued to feed both along the Old Road and in the thorns along the flood plain and by the telephone mast. Two Water Rails have been regular in the Marsh and at least one called in the Reedbed. Finches along the Old Road included 20 Siskins, a Redpoll and 20 Goldfinches.
Graham’s other counts were: 20 Cormorants, three Herons, five Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 11 Greylags, 202 Wigeon, 220 Teal, 91 Gadwall, 48 Mallard, 69 Shoveler, 15Pochard, five Tufted, six Moorhen, 32 Coot, 12 Snipe, 234 Lapwing, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, eight Common Gulls, 100 Black-headed Gulls and a Meadow Pipit on the tip field.
29th November 2013
– Cool, blustery westerly wind, occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast, occasional rain.
About 10 a.m., John Oates found two Mealy Redpolls with a Lesser Redpoll feeding on willow herb, along the Old Road, near the junction with the concrete road. They flew to the alders along the concrete road but could not be re-located. One of them was a bright male and hopefully it will be seen again. There were also approximately 25 Goldfinches and 30 to 35Siskins in the area as well.
The adult Peregrine put in one of its regular appearances but there was no initial sign of theGoldeneye this morning. A Green Woodpecker showed particularly well in the car park andThrush numbers along the Old Road were estimated at 600 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings.
28th November 2013
– Occasional sunny intervals, mostly overcast, south-westerly wind.
The anti-cyclonic conditions continue with the wind predominantly north-westerly.
The female Goldeneye remained on Railway Pool and a flock of 12 Golden Plover circled Railway Pool at 11.30 but did not land. An estimated 500 mixed Fieldfares and Redwingswere along the Old Road and single figure counts of Yellowhammer joined about a dozenReed Buntings in the crop field. 16 Lesser Redpolls were feeding in the Alders along the Old Road and a single Tree Sparrow was found at lunchtime by the entrance gate.
27th November 2013
– Mostly overcast, occasional sunny intervals, light north-westerly wind, noticeably milder.
A good selection of birds today included a Golden Plover with 358 Lapwings which were regularly in flight due to the presence of an adult Peregrine. There was a Green Sandpiperon Railway Pool along with a Grey Wagtail and yesterday’s female Goldeneye also showed well on the same pool.
At least 15 Common Gulls were amongst the Black-heads with, as usual, a noticeable turnover of birds.
Thrushes are really coming through now in some numbers and including birds along the Old Road, as well as those flying over, there were an estimated 200 each of Fieldfare andRedwing.
26th November 2013
– Cold north-westerly wind, mostly sunny. Sharp frost.
A female Goldeneye on Railway Pool was a new arrival and two Water Rails were seen in the Marsh. Today’s Common Gull count reached 22. Over 100 Fieldfares were along the Old Road and a similar number of Redwings along the concrete road. An immature Peregrinewent over Car Park Pool at 10.30.
25th November 2013
– Sunny intervals, cold north-westerly wind.
A Water Rail called from the Reedbed this morning and good numbers of Thrushes saw over 300 Redwing and 50 Fieldfare noted in the book. Other birds included ten Reed Buntingsand three Yellowhammers plus 15 Goldfinches in the crop field, a Nuthatch and Mistle Thrush on the Old Road, Little Egret on both pools and another Water Rail in the Marsh.
24th November 2013
– Light east, north-easterly wind, sunny intervals.
A Little Egret flew north over Railway Pool late in the morning and Wigeon numbers had increased to 256 with most on Car Park Pool. There were also 69 Shoveler. Six Golden Plovers in amongst the Lapwing flock, with one lingering with the flock late in the afternoon east of the A452.
The Peregrine was again present, this time flushing everything off Car Park Pool, and threeWater Rails included two in the Marsh and one on the causeway.
Thrushes continued to filter through, with 80 Fieldfares going through south-west, 100Redwings on the flood plain and a further 40, at least, on the railway embankment on the west side. 30 Linnets, 40 Reed Buntings and six Yellowhammers frequented the crop field.
Please, please record your records: a number of records today came to me second hand because people could not be bothered / did not get around to putting them in the record book.
23rd November 2013
– Hard overnight frost, light northerly wind, sunny periods.
Probably the best birds of the day were early on, with a Woodcock accidentally flushed from the back gate enclosures at dawn and four Water Rails were either seen or heard with two birds calling from the Reedbed and two seen in the Marsh.
Fairly good counts of Thrushes were found along the Old Road with at least 60 Redwings, 25Fieldfares, ten Blackbirds and a Song Thrush. At least ten Chaffinches and six Reed Buntings were in the Old Road game crop but the crop field was relatively quiet this morning.
Other counts today, courtesy of Graham Growling, included 20 Cormorants, three Herons, four Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 226 Greylags, four Farmyard Geese, a Shelduck, 239Wigeon, 224 Teal, 80 Gadwall, 41 Mallard, 69 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, 19 Tufted, 11Moorhen, 25 Coots, 38 Lapwings, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, 90 Black-headed Gullsand a Peregrine, which was perched on the flood plain opposite Car Park Hide.
22nd November 2013
– Mostly sunny, cool northerly wind.
Yesterday’s Shelduck was present again, this time feeding between the islands on Railway Pool. Wildfowl counts included at least 68 Gadwall (just on Railway Pool), 12 Pochard and 18Tufteds. There were also 23 Cormorants and eight Common Gulls amongst the Black-heads. A scattering of Finches and Buntings in the crop field included single figure counts ofGoldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer, plus 15 Linnets.
21st November 2013
– Mostly sunny, cool northerly wind.
The more noteworthy birds today were represented by a Jack Snipe showing well in the Marsh, a Green Sandpiper which flew down river, a Peregrine which was seen on a number of occasions throughout the day and last, but not least, the first returning Shelduck of the autumn. A flock of 50 Fieldfares went through as well.
20th November 2013
– Cool blustery north-westerly wind, overcast with showers.
Yesterday’s Dunlin was feeding amongst the Lapwings on the island in front of Car Park Hide where there were also 30 Cormorants roosting. Seven Fieldfares flew over and appeared to land in Siden Hill Wood
19th November 2013
– Mostly sunny, light north-westerly wind after overnight frost.
A Tree Sparrow was recorded at the Oak Hide feeder in the afternoon and there were sixCommon Gulls with the Black-headed Gulls on the pools. 34 Cormorants roosted on the islands on Car Park Pool and Raven and Mistle Thrush were seen by Patrick Farm.
18th November 2013
– Overcast, cool north-westerly wind.
What was presumably the Dunlin from Saturday re-appeared on Railway Pool until 9 a.m. when it flew towards Car Park Pool with the Lapwings and was not subsequently relocated. There was also a Little Grebe on Railway Pool.
Other birds of note included a Grey Wagtail, Redpoll and five Siskins over, a male Kestrelinitially around Railway Pool and then in the crop field and a Green Woodpecker again showed well by Railway Hide.
17th November 2013
– Murky, light drizzle, calm
27 Common Gulls on Railway Pool in the late morning was the best count of the autumn by far. Other counts made included 48 Gadwall, 89 Shoveler, 13 Pochard, and a mixed flock of 30+ Fieldfares and Redwings on the flood plain along with two Mistle Thrushes. A Green Sandpiper and Grey Wagtail both flew downstream and the male Kestrel again frequented the car park area.
I have received a second hand report of a probable Bittern along the causeway this afternoon. The viewer apparently found it walking down the causeway when it then flew over the embankment and probably came down in the Reedbed but there was no subsequent sign.
In the crop field there were 15 Chaffinches, four Greenfinches and ten Goldfinches with at least 30 Reed Buntings commuting between the crop field and the Reedbed. Ten Snipe were spread across the Reserve and a Muntjac showed at dusk outside Oak Hide.
16th November 2013
– Mostly overcast, light west north westerly
The better birds today included a showy Jack Snipe in the Marsh (it was apt to appear and disappear), a Dunlin through extremely briefly mid morning, two Green Sandpipers on the flash east of the river along with at least 50 Skylarks on the adjacent winter wheat and aNordic Jackdaw in amongst the flock on the flood plain. This latter bird had an obvious pale patch on the sides of the neck.
Other counts today included one Great Crested Grebe, two Herons, 22 Cormorants, sevenMute Swans, a Black Swan, 82 Greylags, a Bar-headed Goose, a single Canada, 215Wigeon, 120 Teal, 36 Gadwall, 56 Mallard, 82 Shoveler, seven Pochard, 11 Tufted, sixMoorhen, 27 Coot, 388 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 75 Black-headed Gulls, seven Common Gulls, six Lesser Black-backs, 30+ Fieldfare, 20+ Redwing, 20 Long Tailed Tits along the Concrete Road and a further 15 by the south west pond together with a Treecreeper, tenSiskins along the Concrete Road and a pair of Bullfinches, 12 Reed Buntings and at least four Yellowhammers in the crop field or the adjacent hedges. A second winter Herring Gullalso went over.
15th November 2013
– Sunny intervals, cool north-westerly wind.
A Little Egret was present on Railway Pool during part of the morning before flying off south, and a Water Rail showed from the causeway.
Thrushes were on the move with 100 Fieldfares north of the causeway and at least 50 over, five Redpoll were feeding in the willow herb near Oak Hide, with five Siskins in the alder on the central streamline and further Siskins, with some Linnets, in and around the crop field.Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were all seen or heard, the young Buzzard again mewing plaintively for food from its parents.
14th November 2013
– Sunshine and showers, blustery north-westerly wind.
Despite the windy conditions, there were still Thrushes and Wood Pigeons on the move. Between 8 and 8.45 a.m., 34 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, 155 Wood Pigeons, 13 Stock Doves and also five Redpolls were seen.
Some larger Gulls were also on the move, all flying into the wind, with at least 20 Lesser Black-backs and a Herring Gull over, whilst four Common Gulls joined a few Black-headed Gulls on the Car Park Pool islands.
60 Jackdaws and at least ten Crows were very mobile on the flood plain. A Green Woodpecker showed well by Railway Hide and there was a Grey Wagtail by the south-west pond.
At 11.15 a Raven flew over and at 11.35 a probable Merlin flew south across the front of Siden Hill Wood. The Bar-headed Goose was again present.
13th November 2013
– Sunny, frosty start, cool, west north-westerly wind.
After a clear night there was no sign of either of the Pintails this morning. There were a fewWood Pigeons still on the move with over 200 south-west prior to 9 a.m. There were only a few Chaffinches in the Old Road game crop this morning but up to 40 Linnets were present and there were ten Goldfinches on the Old Road. A Mink was also seen in the Marsh.
12th November 2013
– Sunny, mild, light westerly wind.
On a gorgeous morning, the drake Pintail showed well from Car Park Hide, preening in front of the car park islands. In the afternoon, the female reappeared to join the male. A Water Railalso showed briefly in the Marsh.
There was precious little on the move overhead with just the odd Skylark and Pied Wagtail.Six Reed Buntings were on the reeds in the Car Park Pool and two Yellowhammers in the crop field. In the afternoon a Peregrine put in an appearance and there were up to 300Lapwings on Car Park Pool.
11th November 2013
-Wet morning, drizzly overcast afternoon, light south-westerly wind.
A drake Pintail was a new arrival today, initially being on the Car Park Pool islands and subsequently roosting in the deeper water just to the north.
Within the crop field there were 13 Goldfinches, ten Linnets, eight Reed Buntings and aYellowhammer and as the rain ceased temporarily at lunchtime, 50 Redwings went over and a further six joined 20 Fieldfares on the bushes along the river opposite Car Park Hide.
The male Kestrel was again hunting over the crop field and 18 Snipe were scattered around the shore below Car Park Hide and on the Railway Pool islands.
10th November 2013
– Sunny, mild, light south-westerly wind.
The light frost quickly cleared to give a sunny and mild day, and warm enough for a Red Admiral and three Common Darters to be on the wing along the concrete road.
On the pools, Shoveler numbers reached 105 and other changes saw Pochard numbers dropped to six, Wigeon fall to 138, Teal drop to 115, but Canadas rise to 273 and Gadwallto 46.
There were also two Great Crested Grebes, three Green Sandpipers on the flash opposite Patrick Farm Barns and there were also 30 Stock Doves on the flood plain. In the grain crop, 20 Linnets joined a few Reed Buntings.
9th November 2013
– Sunny start, wet a.m., fine p.m., light south-westerly wind.
Despite the changeable weather, Thrushes stayed on the move all day with 110 Fieldfare and 70 Redwing over throughout the morning, joined by a Grey Wagtail.
Chaffinch numbers are slowly building up in the Old Road game crop with at least 40 this morning together with an elusive Brambling. Two pairs of Bullfinches showed well, one by the back gate and one by the Old Road and there was a Green Sandpiper, east of the A452 along with 106 Lapwing and three Mistle Thrushes.
On the pools, the female Pintail appeared briefly, the first time it has been seen since the 27th October. Quite where it has been in the meantime is anybody’s guess. Some interesting changes in wildfowl numbers, with Pochard up from three to 12 and Tufted up from three on the 3rd to seven yesterday and 11 today, quite possibly because of the higher water levels.
Today’s counts, courtesy of Graham Rowling and Dave Scanlan were: three Heron, 19Cormorants, a Great Crested Grebe, two Little Grebe (on the floods by Patrick Bridge), seven Mutes, the Black Swan, 184 Greylag, a Bar-headed Goose, 83 Canadas, 198Wigeon, 37 Gadwall, 154 Teal, 38 Mallard, 87 Shoveler, six Moorhen, 31 Coot, 215Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backs, 40 Siskin along the Old Road and 40 over (probably different birds) and two Yellowhammers in the crop field.
Nine attended the Work Party and a lot was achieved: the remaining islands on Railway Pool were strimmed, as was the entire path through Siden Hill Wood, emergent alders and willows were removed from either side of the north causeway screen and around the Dragonfly Pond and the sluices were also cleared. Many thanks to all those who attended. As a result of the disturbance over 50 Snipe were put up from the Marsh and the trip around to the sluice, all on Railway Pool, and a Jack Snipe was flushed from the shore of the Dragonfly Pond.
8 November 2013
– Sunny start, wet later.
Before the rain came and spoilt it all, it was a lovely still morning and between 8.10 and 8.40 over 150 Wood Pigeons moved south, along with small parties of Fieldfare totalling 25. TwoSkylarks, a Meadow Pipit, five Linnets and a Snipe also went over with three furtherMeadow Pipits and a Snipe on the tip.
A Kingfisher showed well on the Dragonfly Pond where it initially perched on the north fence before being driven off by a Chaffinch. There were again 15 to 20 Chaffinches in the Old Road game crop and half a dozen Siskins along the concrete road.
A single Green Sandpiper was feeding to the east of the A452, on the flashes there, with a further three at the north end of the Old Road, opposite Patrick Farm Barns.
A pair of Bullfinches and at least four Goldcrests were counted between the cottages and the top gate on the Old Road.
In the afternoon, 63 Snipe were feeding, in the rain, by Car Park Hide and on Car Park Pool alone, there were 87 Shoveler, 70 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 90 Lapwing, two Tufted, threePochard and a Great Crested Grebe. At dusk, 300 to 400 Starlings flocked over the Reedbed but were disturbed by a Sparrowhawk and flew off towards the A45.
7th November 2013
– Sunny, reasonably still
More Wood Pigeons were on the move this morning with over 300 seen. There were twoGreen Sandpipers on the flash opposite the Patrick Farm Barns and after yesterdays deluge the river was over its banks at Patricks Bridge with the usual proliferation of wildfowl around the margins.
In the evening, at least 80 Shoveler were counted on Car Park Pool and there were a pair ofBullfinches along the central stream.
6th November 2013
– Wet all day.
On a generally appallingly wet day, the only records in the book were a Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, six Snipe and a single Pied Wagtail.
5th November 2013
– wet start, variable winds.
There was no sign of the Dusky Warbler in poor light and persistent rain during the early part of the day and with thanks to those who have updated me subsequently, it has not been seen at all today.
On the flashes to the east of the underpass two Green Sandpipers were joined by five Pied Wagtails and three Meadow Pipits whilst nine Fieldfare and four Redwings went over and a few of each were scattered along the hedgerows. There were also more Blackbirds of late with at least ten around the horse paddock / concrete road / Old Road area and much interaction between presumably resident birds and migrants.
4th November 2013
– Sunny, cool, light north-westerly wind.
The Dusky Warbler moved slightly to frequent the stream running along the north side of the concrete road. It was still shunning the bright light but did favour the ivy covered trees at the junction between the concrete road and the horse paddock. It was relatively cooperative all day and showed up until dusk.
There was a passage of 350 Wood Pigeons prior to 8 am, with ones and twos of Skylark,Siskin and Redpoll as well. In the warmer and stiller weather, a male Common Blue Damselfly, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker and a Comma Butterfly were all on teh wing.
There were five Green Sandpipers on the flash opposite Patrick Farm Barns this afternoon.
3rd November 2013
– Mostly sunny, but breezy from the west, north-west.
Whilst it was still this morning, the Dusky Warbler was calling fairly frequently and showed briefly, but only occasionally up until about 8.30, when it again became extremely elusive as the wind got up, showing very briefly only once or twice and calling less often and, from about 1.30, it does not appear to have been heard or seen subsequently.
There were still many visitors who came to try and see it but sadly many went away disappointed.
Today’s supporting cast was less varied, though prior to 9 am at least 500 Wood Pigeonsmoved south, along with eight Skylark, three Pied Wagtails, two Redwings and aFieldfare.
A more thorough series of counts today yielded one Great Crested Grebe, three Herons, 18Cormorants, two Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 245 Greylags, 287 Canadas, 189 Wigeon, only 141 Teal, 38 Gadwall, 20 Mallard, 78 Shoveler, eight Pochard, three Tufted, 15Coot, six Moorhen, 140 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, 270 Black-headed Gulls, three Common Gulls, six Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Herring Gulls, three Meadow Pipits (on the tip field) a female Sparrowhawk and the male Kestrel.
Thanks to all those who helped collect money from visitors throughout the last three days when over 125 visitors were noted.
2nd November 2013
– Murky start, still, becoming brighter and very windy with heavy showers.
The Dusky Warbler showed well, albeit in poor light, on and off for the first hour and then sporadically until the middle of the day, after which the strong wind and occasional heavy showers drove it to ground and it was not seen for the rest of the day.
A steady stream of visitors saw that the car park over-flowed onto the Old Road and the extra coverage saw a reasonable supporting cast.
At first light a male Blackcap was found in the same hedge as the Dusky, two separateBramblings went over the car park in the murk and it was clear that there was some overhead movement as firstly one and then 12Golden Plovers went through followed by Grey Wagtail, at least eight Skylark, ten Meadow Pipits, ten Pied Wagtails, over 100Fieldfares, 65 Redwings, 40 Chaffinches, 20 Siskins (plus a further 40 on the concrete road) and two Lesser Redpolls. Per Bird Forum, a “Commic” Tern also went over the Old Road. At this late date it seems most likely to have been an Arctic.
Two Green Sandpipers flew over the car park in the morning and later on in the day, six were feeding on the flash to the north of Patrick Farm.
A Parakeet species was heard calling by the Lorry Park, a Peregrine went over and 89Shoveler and 210 Teal with just a single Pochard were the main wildfowl counts.
During the early part of the day the crop field was quite lively with at least 15 Reed Buntingsdropping down from the hedge to feed and at least four Song Thrushes were spread along the Old Road.
1st November 2013
– Cool, overcast, south-westerly wind.
Glen Giles made the astonishing find of a Dusky Warbler this morning in the horse paddock beyond the top gate.
The bird was initially found at just after mid-day, clinched in the next hour, and after arranging access with the farmer and wardens, the news was released. Regularly elusive, nevertheless it called fairly frequently (like a Wren) and showed on and off until 3 pm, when it disappeared into the Blackthorn clump on the east side of the field and became elusive. It became active again at about 4 pm and showed on and off for another half an hour before going to roost. A steady stream of admirers came to view it and a few also saw a Little Egret which spent part of the afternoon on Car Park Pool.
