30th September 2013
– Mostly overcast, brisk easterly wind.
Two Common Gulls, (a first-winter and a second-winter), joined at least ten Lesser Black-backs and 350 Black-headed Gulls on Car Park Pool. The Bar-headed Goose again joined the Greylags on Railway Pool and a Grey Wagtail also frequented the islands.
Visible migration was thin, with ten Meadow Pipits over. Other birds of note included 12Snipe on the Car Park Pool islands, Green Woodpecker around Railway Hide, 14 Stock Doves, five Rooks, 100 plus Jackdaws (all on the flood plain) and six Goldfinches around the Car Park. Later in the day, two Hobbies again were feeding on Dragonflies, the Snipecount had increased to 15, there were 84 Wigeon and at least two Chiffchaffs were present.
29th September 2013
– Sunny intervals early on, clear unbroken sun in the afternoon, temperatures up to at least 20 degrees, brisk south-easterly wind.
Visible migration between 9 and 11 was relatively thin but included: four Swallows, six House Martins, 11 Pied Wagtails (including one flock of eight), eight Meadow Pipits, fourChaffinches and three Linnets. A Wheatear also appeared to drop in towards Railway Pool, thought twice about landing and carried on over the railway line.
A Little Egret joined at least six Herons and an ever increasing number of wildfowl with Tealup to a remarkable 178 today. A Green Woodpecker showed particularly well from Railway Hide on one of the adjacent fence posts and at least seven Buzzards were up in the air. TwoHobbies again hawked the pools and a male Kestrel worked its way along the Old Road and tip field.
There were two Chiffchaffs in a mixed Tit flock in the back gate copse, along with twoTreecreepers.
On the butterfly front, along with widespread numbers of Commas again, a Painted Lady flew north through the car park at 9 a.m. and a pristine Small Copper showed really well on the sole Ragwort flower between the back gate drive and Railway Hide. Along with plenty ofCommon Darters and Migrant Hawkers, a late Brown Hawker was on the wing by the Dragonfly Pond.
28th September 2013
– Cool overnight. Sunny, mostly light east, north-easterly winds. Warm.
The warm weather has proved conducive to late Butterflies and a count across the Reserve of 32 Commas is nevertheless extraordinary. Eight were counted on the causeway, 20 along the ripening Blackberries by the south-west pond, three along the Old Road and at least one on the concrete road. There was also a single Red Admiral whilst a number of Whites and Speckled Woods remain on the wing.
On the bird front, Bar-headed Goose was again present, with other Duck numbers showing increases eg., 85 Wigeon, 107 Teal and 90 Mallard. Snipe were up to 18 and amongst the nearly 200 Black-headed Gulls, was a Common Gull. A Siskin went over, three Hobbieshawked the pools and other Raptors were represented by Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and sevenBuzzards. A Little Egret was also present.
Other counts were as follows: one Great Crested Grebe, an adult and fledged juvenile Little Grebe, nine Herons, seven Cormorants, the Black Swan, five Mute Swans, 290 Greylags, 83 Canadas, 85 Wigeon, 43 Gadwall, 107 Teal, 90 Mallard, 19 Shoveler, 12 Tufted, 26Coot, eight Moorhen, 48 Lapwing, 197 Black-headed Gulls, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, five Meadow Pipits over, and three Chiffchaffs spread across the Reserve.
At least four Blackcaps (three males and a female) were feeding in the lush crop of Elderberries on the railway embankment just south of the railway car park (west side) and, on the flood plain, over 100 Jackdaws were joined by 12 Crows and 13 Rooks.
27th September 2013
– Mostly sunny, light easterly, remaining warm
Light but regular visible migration this morning between 7.15am and 8.30am with the following counts; 26 Swallows, one House Martin, ten Pied Wagtails, one Grey Wagtail (though this was frequenting Railway Pool and then flew off low to the west) 24 Meadow Pipits, tenLinnets, one Chaffinch, one Goldfinch, one Skylark, five Wood Pigeons, five Starlings, two Reed Buntings and a few birds that were too distant to identify. A further 30 Swallowswent through between 8.35 and 10.15.
The hedgerows were relatively quiet but there were at least five migrant Song Thrushespresent on site with three ticking together with at least three Blackbirds by the Cottages at 7.15am. The Song Thrushes flew off to the north east at 8.30am (a fourth was present by the Car Park and a fifth dropped into the central streamline. There was an arrival of Song Thrushes on the east coast in the middle of the week so it would appear that some are already filtering through.
Other birds in the hedgerows included two Chiffchaffs, four Goldcrests and a pair ofBullfinches by the Cottages.
The Pools appeared quiet early on but, by late morning, the first Jack Snipe of the Autumn had been found in the Marsh (where it was stalked by a Heron before flying to Tern Island) and a Curlew flew over and appeared to land on the flood plain. At least two Hobbies were present for much of the day, hawking Dragonflies over the pools.
26th September 2013
– Dry, still, occasional sunny intervals, light easterly
The Bar-headed Goose reappeared on Car Park Pool with 137 Greylags and 138 Canadas.Other birds of note included a pair of Hobbies, a pair of Peregrine and a Little Egret, whilst by the Oak Hide feeders a small group of Tree Sparrows were heard but not seen, the first of the Autumn. Other counts today included 50 Wigeon, 25 Shoveler, 60 Teal, 12 Pochard and only eight Tufted, seven Cormorants, two Little Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, fourMutes and a cygnet and six Snipe.
25th September 2013
– Initially misty, drizzle slowly clearing, sunny intervals, light easterly
The Pools remained quiet although a Green Sandpiper appeared on Car Park Pool briefly at 2.15pm.
Once the mist had cleared around midday and the sun slowly came out, a very impressive 17Commas were counted between Oak and Railway Hide, most of them on a single bramble bush. There were 101 Lapwings and then a male Blackcap and three Chiffchaffs showed on the Railway embankment and in the evening there were two bats (species not known) feeding low over the causeway at dusk.
24th September 2013
– Mostly overcast, light south easterly
A single Peregrine flew over the Railway Pool towards Bradnocks Marsh at 2.55pm and hirundines continued to move through with 60 Swallows and House Martins moving south in the morning. There were three Chiffchaffs calling by the horse paddock, a Siskin along the causeway, a Skylark east of the underpass and a further five Chiffs elsewhere. A Grey Wagtail also flew low north.
23rd September 2013
– Drizzly, murky, light south easterly
A Redshank was an unexpected passage wader seen on Car Park Pool in the morning and aWater Rail called from the reedbed. Another unexpected visitor was a Bar-headed Goose on Railway Pool with Greylags. At least four Chiffchaffs called around the Reserve and 14Meadow Pipits, a Swallow and a Grey Wagtail went south.
Two Green Woodpeckers showed by Railway Hide and Mink was an unwelcome visitor to the Marsh. At least 14 Snipe were feeding around Car Park Pool.
22nd September 2013
– Warm, light south, south-westerly wind, increasingly sunny.
Yesterday’s Meadow Pipit passage continued with, for example 15 south in half an hour between 10 and 10.30 a.m. They were joined by two Swallows. Five Pied Wagtails paused briefly to feed on the floodplain before also moving off south. At least six Chiffchaffs called between the cottages and the horse paddock, and a Raven went over calling to the west.
Two Hobbies were again very showy in the afternoon, preferring the area along the central streamline. Ten Commas on a bramble between Oak and Railway Hide was noteworthy and there had obviously been an arrival of Wigeon overnight as numbers had increased to 37.
21st September 2013
– Mostly overcast, mild light south-westerly wind.
Notable visible migration occurrence today with the following moving south between 8.30 and 10.45 a.m: 72 Meadow Pipits (several small groups, the largest of 17), 49 Swallows, 22House Martins, and one Yellow and one Grey Wagtail (with a further two moving south later in the morning).
Hobbies showed increasingly well as the day warmed up and the sun came out later in the afternoon with a juvenile, in particular, performing very well over the Reedbed, orchid field and the car park, capturing Dragonflies.
Various counts from Graham were as follows: one Great Crested Grebe, four Dabchicks, nine Coromorants, ten Herons, six Mute Swans, the Black Swan, 220 Greylags, 40Canadas, 14 Wigeon, 52 Gadwall, 70 Teal, 78 Mallard, 20 Shoveler, 14 Tufteds, 11Moorhen, 52 Coot, 169 Lapwings, 15 Snipe, 14 Lesser Black-backs, 112 Black-headed Gulls, 22 Goldfinches by Railway Pool, nine Reed Buntings in the crop field and 18 Rookson the floodplain. Red Admiral and Comma Butterflies showed along the concrete road and there were plenty of Common Darters and a few Migrant Hawkers present as well.
In the late afternoon, two Ruff appeared on Railway Pool, but were flighty and did not linger. Ten Swallows also went south over Siden Hill Wood at 5.50.
John Oates, complete with “Bat detector” was able to pick up on Short-winged Coneheadcalling in the rushes behind Oak Hide, lots of Long-wing Coneheads, Lesser Marsh Grasshopper by the causeway screen and a number of Rossells Bush Crickets.
20th September 2013
– Mostly cloudy, south-westerly wind.
An hour between 7.30 and 8.30 the following were noted: six Chiffchaffs and a Blackcapalong the Old Road between the cottages and the horse paddock, five Meadow Pipits, twoGrey Wagtails, one Yellow Wagtail and a single flock of 60 House Martins, south. There were also 12 Rooks on the floodplain.
Later in the morning, further singles of Yellow and Grey Wagtail went through, but hirundines were generally scarce thereafter with just a single Sand Martin. A Peregrineperched in Siden Hill Wood before slipping away and a Water Rail showed well, but briefly, from the north causeway screen. An adult and two juvenile Hobbies performed well later in the day.
19th September 2013
– Periodic rain, west, north-westerly wind.
As the rain eased, from lunchtime onwards, a single Hobby showed over the car park with subsequently two over Siden Hill Wood.
A few birds were on the move with a single Grey Wagtail over the car park, one House Martin, ten Sand Martins and three Swallows south. Three Buzzards were counted and a male Sparrowhawk perched briefly on the railway bridge.
18th September 2013
– Cloudy, north-westerly wind.
A juvenile / first winter Whinchat showed well around the Dragonfly Pond from at least 12.30 to 2.45, although it could go missing occasionally.
Other birds of note included two Yellow Wagtails in the tip field, with cattle, at 8.15 and one of those or a third bird were over Railway Pool at 9.30. Hirundines were well on the move with at least 50 House Martins, 10 Swallows and a Sand Martin south prior to mid-day along with ten Meadow Pipits.
The Dunlin remained on Car Park Pool, a Kingfisher showed around the margins of Railway Pool and aside from a number of Buzzards, both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were also recorded. A Hobby too showed well hunting across the front of Siden Hill Wood around lunchtime and a further 60 House Martins and six Swallows went south between 2 and 3 p.m.
17th September 2013
– Cold north-easterly wind, turning to south, south-easterly and then south-westerly.
The Dunlin was present for its 5th day and Wigeon numbers were up to 11 this morning. AKestrel fed by the railway bridge. After few records during the summer, birds are being seen almost daily at the moment.
Between 7.30 and 8.30 am., a Yellow Wagtail went over and four single Swallows went through together with seven other distant hirundines. A Chiffchaff was in song along the Old Road and on the railway embankment, a mixed Tit flock held four Chiffchaffs, a Blackcapand a Lesser Whitethroat, whilst a Treecreeper joined a smaller Tit flock along the stream line by Oak Hide.
In the evening, at about 6 p.m., a dozen each of House Martin and Swallow were feeding over the oaks along the Old Road and some at least roosted in the Car Park Pool.
Only four were able to attend the work party with some regulars on holiday. As a consequence, also, of a dodgy strimmer, only the Islands on Car Pool were strimmed, with occasional patches of denser vegetation left for the Snipe. The paths were also cut and some hedge cutting was undertaken. Thanks to all those who attended.
16th September 2013 –
Windy, sunny intervals and showers, south-westerly wind.
Records today were limited to a few hirundines that were on the move (20 House Martins and a
Sand Martin
) and a juvenile Herring Gull roosted on Car Park Pool.
15th September 2013
Yesterday’s Dunlin was again present, though was at times elusive and two Hobbies appeared on and off throughout the day, hawking Dragonflies.
Small flocks of water fowl flew in from the Bradnocks Marsh area during the late morning and included at least 65 Teal, 85 Mallard and 29 Shoveler. Wigeon numbers had increased to ten.
A male Kestrel caught a small mammal by the railway arches and this particular bird has been showing well up and down the railway embankment over the last few days.
Four juvenile Shelducks flew in at 12.45 and 154 Canada Geese also dropped in.
14th September 2013
– Mostly overcast, cool, south-westerly wind.
A Dunlin on Car Park Pool was a new arrival. Other counts today were as follows: one Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebes (two adults and one juvenile), eight Cormorants, sixHerons, five Mute Swans (five adults and cygnet) the Black Swan, six Greylags, 271Canadas, 59 Gadwall, ten Wigeon, 52 Teal, 39 Mallard, 25 Shoveler, 19 Tufted, sixMoorhens, 65 Coot, 264 Lapwing, 17 Snipe, one Green Sandpiper, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 112 Black-headed Gulls, a Hobby, a Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, fiveBuzzard, 85 House Martins, one Sand Martin, eight Swallows, seven Meadow Pipits, three Ravens and a Collared Dove.
Two Commas fed along the Old Road.
13th September 2013
– Rain in the afternoon, north-westerly wind.
The only records today were two Hobbies over Car Park Pool between 2 and 2.30 p.m.
12th September 2013
– Still, overnight rain slowly clearing.
The heavy rain of yesterday afternoon and evening have flattened all the reeds around the Reedbed and possibly because of that, a Reed Warbler showed in front of the causeway screen briefly. There was also a “tacking” Sylvia Warbler nearby.
Otherwise it was generally quiet with just a few Meadow Pipits going over out of sight in the gloom before the cloud cleared and the sun began to emerge.
11th September 2013
– Cool, northerly wind, dry a.m., wet p.m.
No sign of the Spotted Redshank this morning, sadly, and the only other waders were at least 200 Lapwings, eight Snipe and a Common Sandpiper.
A small amount of visible migration between 7.30 and 8.10 a.m., yielded two Swallows, 24House Martins, five Meadow Pipits, two Grey Wagtails and two Reed Buntings, with a trickle of further hirundines, Meadow Pipits and a single Yellow Wagtail over by 10.30 a.m.
On the pools there were 35 Teal, 18 Shoveler, eight Wigeon, 75 Black-headed Gulls and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls whilst, on the flood plain, at least 100 Jackdaws, 30 Crowsand four Rooks were very vocal. Apparently, at least 100 Jackdaws flew over from the south quite high at 6.30 yesterday evening and may have supplemented the birds on the flood plain.
At least four Chiffchaffs were calling around the Reserve with two Treecreepers and aNuthatch between Oak Hide and the back gate.
In the afternoon the Greenshank reappeared to feed on Railway Pool.
10th September 2013
– Sunny morning, generally overcast in the afternoon, increasingly cool northerly wind.
The Greenshank showed on Railway Pool at 11 a.m., and a possible Yellow-legged Gull was also seen, although there were three very varied juvenile Lesser Black-backs about in the afternoon as well. A Hobby showed over the causeway at 2.30, a Kestrel was hovering over the crop field and 15 Herons on Railway Pool was the best count of the autumn so far.
At dusk, a Spotted Redshank appeared and was feeding around the margins of Railway Pool. Found by Graham Rowling at 8 p.m., it is only the fourth record for the Reserve. It was too dark to age conclusively. The previous three have been juveniles. One was seen in August with the other two all around this time in September.
At least 40 Swallows were feeding around the car park in readiness for roosting in the pond there.
9th September 2013
– Showery morning, sunny afternoon, light north-westerly wind.
A female or juvenile Wheatear around Car Park Hide at 10.15 this morning was the first of the autumn. Hirundines were still on the move with at least 20 House Martins and two Swallowsaround Car Park Hide mid-morning before moving on. The Canada flock reached 150. Other records included a female Kestrel on the railway embankment and family parties of Goldfinchand Greenfinch by Oak Hide.
8th September 2013
– Mostly sunny, occasional showers, cool start on a light westerly but warming up as the day went on.
Two Little Egrets this morning on Car Park Pool were new arrivals and the first of the month and as the day warmed up, two Hobbies performed over the Pools catching Dragonflies.
Snipe numbers increased to 20, four Meadow Pipits, four House Martins, four Sand Martins and two Swallows went through in the early morning but in the very good visibility the birds that were moving were generally out of sight.
In the south-west plantations there were at least 20 Long-tailed Tits and two lingeringWhitethroats showed well on the Old Road.
Both Common Sandpiper and Greenshank showed in the afternoon and a Grey Wagtailwent over.
7th September 2013
– Mostly sunny, occasional showers, cool start on a light westerly but warming up as the day went on.
Four female or juvenile Pintail were new arrivals in the early morning but could not be found after 7.30am. A Tree Sparrow went over to the south, a Water Rail showed in the Marsh and 40 House Martins went through by 8am.
The composition of hirundines changed as the day went on. Swallows took over with a count of at least 70 birds, together with 13 Sand Martins but only a single House Martin.
A Hobby appeared from time to time during the day and a number of Buzzards took advantage of the warm conditions.
The area along the railway embankment between there and Lower Siden hide, was particularly lively during the mid morning with at least four Blackcaps, probably two different Lesser Whitethroats and five / six Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch andTreecreeper.
Other counts today were four Cormorants, nine Herons, one Great Crested Grebe, fiveLittle Grebes (four adults and a fledged juvenile plus a chick on Car Park Pool), five Mute Swans, a Black Swan, 16 Greylags, 117 Canadas, 38 Gadwall, four Wigeon, 68 Mallard, 35 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 20 Tufted, a Pochard, 65 Coot, five Moorhen, 270 Lapwing, 17Snipe, 24 Black-headed Gulls, at least 40 Lesser Black-backs and a Herring Gull.
6th September 2013
– Wet, cool, light north-westerly wind.
The periods of prolonged rain this morning clearly caused the delayed departure of six SandMartins which had roosted overnight on the reeds surrounding the small pond by the car park. They only flew out at 7.30 a.m.
The rain had brought little new to the pools – Wigeon numbers have increased to eight – and the only birds on the move were a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull and a Yellow Wagtail.
There were plenty of small birds in the hedgerows and undergrowth but the dull and wet conditions meant seeing them was tricky. Nevertheless, a Sedge Warbler was calling in front of Oak Hide, a male Blackcap was gorging itself on the now ripe Elderberries by the feeder there and a further three, plus a Whitethroat were calling and feeding on the railway embankment. A few Chiffchaffs were also heard.
At least twenty each of Teal and Shoveler were spread across the pools along with twoPochard, an adult Great Crested Grebe and young and well grown Dabchick juveniles were audible on both pools.
In the afternoon, the (or a) Greenshank reappeared on Railway Pool for a short while. TheSnipe count reached 17 and there was a mixed hirundine flock of about 40 birds, mostlySwallows and House Martins but still a few Sand Martins on the move.
5th September 2013
– Sunny and still.
Both Common and Green Sandpipers were present this morning and a very brief view of a wader on Car Park Pool before it vanished was probably of a Ruff. Ten Swallows and a Sand Martin moved through by 8.10 a.m., with a further four at 9 a.m., but, as yesterday, birds were often high and out of sight.
There were ten Reed Buntings, a Bullfinch and a male Blackcap by the Rowans on the Old Road, just north of the top gate. The large female Sparrowhawk was again present around the central stream area before flying over to Siden. A single Meadow Pipit also went over and there were seven Snipe. Both singles of Mistle Thrush and Meadow Pipit also went over.
A Hobby over Car Park Pool at midday was joined by a second over Railway Pool in the afternoon. A Willow Warbler was amongst the Long-tailed Tit flock by the car park gates in the afternoon.
Both Toads and Frogs have been seen in good numbers on the paths over the last few days, including a number of small Frogs on the causeway.
4th September 2013
– Hot, light westerly wind.
The first Meadow Pipit of the year flew over at 8 am this morning and a small passage of hirundines between 7.30 and 8 am saw totals of 18 Swallows and 16 House Martins. In the fine weather the birds were moving through relatively high and were often only picked out as they called. There seemed to be fewer warblers than of late with some clear out in the warm conditions. Seven Chiffchaffs and a Whitethroat were seen or heard on the Old Road and there was a Reed Warbler on the causeway. Bullfinches were by both the top gate and the Old Road game cover and there was a Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker at the latter.
The Lapwings were fidgety and many were displaced from the floodplain where a Buzzardflew in and perched up in the solitary alder there. A Peregrine also caught prey and flew off south. The prey was presumably still alive as the bird spent much time gliding, bending its head to deal with it.
Other records of note saw a reasonable build up of Black-headed Gulls with 128 counted this morning, four Snipe, six Goldfinches and at least two Linnets, with a Kingfisher on the river.
A Hobby showed well at mid-day and in the evening, the Peregrine reappeared over Car Park Pool flying towards Siden Hill Wood. 40 Swallows came in to feed and subsequently roost in the small pond by the car park. Canada numbers reached 123.
3rd September 2013
– Overcast start, sunny and warm thereafter, light westerly wind.
A roving Greenshank was seen on both pools in the late afternoon and evening, and there was a Green Sandpiper on Car Park Pool. 15 Swallows and two Sand Martins were feeding over the pools in the evening.
2nd September 2013
– Mostly sunny, cool westerly wind.
Warblers today included Whitethroat and Garden Warbler by the car park, Reed Warbleron the causeway and male and female Blackcap on the railway embankment. Other birds of note were eight Snipe and a Green Sandpiper on the river scrapes.
Most of the Swallows seem to have gone from Patrick Farm and, indeed, there seems to be an early departure of hirundines generally.
In the afternoon, at 4.30, 30 Swallows and six Sand Martins moved south and 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moved east. A trickle of Swallows continued into the evening.
1st September 2013
– Hazy sunshine, cool north-westerly wind.
Both Green and Common Sandpipers were present on Railway Pool just after dawn with sixSnipe on Car Park Pool. As the day warmed up, firstly one and then subsequently a pair ofHobbies were feeding on dragonflies, initially around the causeway and subsequently over Railway Pool. Indeed, as the weather warmed up there were plenty about, particularly MigrantHawkers and Common Darters, but also at least three Brown Hawkers and four Southern Hawkers. Plenty of butterflies, aside from the Small and Large Whites, included Green-veined Whites, Speckled Woods, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue.
Aside from the Hobbies both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen, along the concrete road, and at least seven Buzzards were “kettling” over Railway Pool.
