Marsh Lane News - July 09

31st July 2009 - Sunny intervals, dry southerly wind.

After a cool night, temperatures quickly increased in the sunny intervals. The rain on Wednesday and Thursday have certainly increased water levels with the shingle bar in front of River hide now under water.

Three Shovelers were new in and five Swifts went south west at about 8am. Adult Water Rails showed well in the Marsh and in front of the north causeway screen. Passerines were vocal but elusive on the railway embankment but included a Sylvia Warbler, a Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Goldfinches and Linnets. However birds were much more accommodating on the central stream crossing where migrants include two smart looking juvenile Willow Warblers, juvenile Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat and a number of Reed Warblers including one carrying food. There was also a female or juvenile Bullfinch there.

As the temperatures warmed up between 7am and 8am a number of butterflies were quickly on the wing including at least five Painted Ladies and a number of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.

30th July 2009 - Sunny intervals and showers on a blustery westerly wind

25 Common Terns included 14 juveniles, whilst three Oystercatchers and two Redshanks were the only waders noted. The female Shoveler was still present with the single duckling chick and two female Ruddy Ducks appeared briefly but again disappeared.

In the warmer intervals between the showers, at least 15 Painted Ladies were on the wing together with four Common Blues and two Commas.

29th July 2009 - Unrelentingly wet

The only news today was of a single Common Sandpiper

28th July 2009 - Mostly sunny all day, strong south westerly

Waders today included Dunlin, adult Little Ringed Plover, an adult and a juvenile Ringed Plover, at least five Redshanks and five Oystercatchers. The female Shoveler still has one remaining chick. Two female Ruddy Ducks appeared briefly but flew off later in the day.

The warmer weather attracted a reasonable selection of butterflies and dragonflies including at least three Painted Ladies, four Common Blues and ten Common Darters.

27th July 2009 - Wet morning, fine and sunny afternoon, south westerly

Relatively little to report. A Water Rail and at least one chick showed well from the Causeway where the Linnets were again present. A Nuthatch visited the Oak Hide feeder, the first record for some time and at least six Redshanks continued to linger on site. Both Hobby and Kingfisher put in brief appearances.

26th July 2009 - High cloud, rain from late afternoon, south westerly

Despite the hassles of two escaped horses from the adjacent paddock and two trespassing kids, a few noteworthy records included Hobby, yesterday’s Dunlin, a Common Gull through, over 100 Sand Martins and three Teal.

25th July 2009 - Sunny, south westerly wind

Noticeably more interest today with wader passage including a Black-tailed Godwit early on, a Dunlin, three Common Sandpipers, two juvenile Ringed Plovers, whilst five Oystercatchers, two adult and five juvenile Redshanks together with 186 Lapwings were also on site.

Later in the day two adult Ringed Plovers and three Green Sandpipers dropped in, though none lingered. At least 250 Swifts fed over Bradnocks Marsh in the middle of the day and a Hobby flew over.

Waterfowl and other counts included a single Great Crested Grebe, ten adult and five juvenile Dabchicks (this included two broods, totalling three, on Railway Pool, a single on Dragonfly Pool and what appears to be only a single remaining chick on the Reedbed Pool), six Herons, two adult Mute Swans and five cygnets, 102 Mallard, a female Shoveler and one duckling, 43 Gadwall (including a number of fledged young) and five ducklings, 31 adult Tufted with six ducklings from an estimated 12 broods (the best season so far) and 66 Coot.

Water Rails showed well from the north causeway screen with at least three adults (suggesting two pairs) and two juveniles. The Old Road was at its liveliest just north of the top gate where at least four Whitethroats (including one very fresh juvenile) a pair of Lesser Whitethroats, four Chiffchaffs (including two juveniles) and a Willow Warbler, all fed in close proximity. There were at least two pairs of Bullfinches on the road and near the Car Park gate an adult Willow Warbler was seen to be carrying food.

The brighter weather brought out plenty of butterflies with the most noticeable ones, aside from Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, being Common Blues with at least six males near the Aero Modellers Club and a similar number between Car Park hide and the causeway.

Painted Ladies have just started hatching out with at least four near the causeway. I am informed that the Butterfly Conservation Society are estimating millions will be on the wing in early August following the immigration earlier this year.

The first Small Red-eyed Damselflies were found on the Dragonfly pond.

Lastly, in the evening, there was a Starling roost in the Reedbed but unfortunately most of the birds had arrived and so there was no count.

24th July 2009 - Sunny intervals and occasional showers.

Two Ringed Plovers were new in on the spit in front of River Hide and the first for a week. Whether there were migrants or returning adults were not clear. There was Linnet with nesting material on the causeway and again Martins, Swifts appear to be moving through with at least 20 of the latter at 8 a.m. The footpath on the opposite side of the river supported a good array of warblers including Lesser Whitethroats.

23rd July 2009 - Mostly sunny, occasional showers, south-westerly wind.

At least 15 Swifts, 10 Sand Martins and three House Martins were hawking the pools at 8 a.m., and a Kingfisher flew along the river.

On the Old Road, both an adult and a juvenile Willow Warbler were in song, and a first juvenile Goldfinch of the year was near the car park gates with at least three adults. The pair of Greenfinches were also in the same locality again.

Waders during the day included an adult Ringed Plover, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, a pair of Oystercatchers and 10-12 Redshanks, the latter suggesting some migration.

22nd July 2009 - Sun and showers, strong southerly wind.

There was a juvenile Yellow Wagtail on Car Park Pool at lunchtime, and in the afternoon a Common Sandpiper appeared. A Hobby was again present, at least one Tree Sparrow visited the Oak Hide feeder, and the Linnet family was again along the causeway.

I am pleased to report that the new scrapes against Siden Hill Wood were generally wet and some were holding water.

21st July 2009 - Wet, light south-easterly wind.

They Greylag flock reached the highest of the summer so far (155) and at least 32 fledged or nearly fledged. Gadwall young were feeding on Railway Pool. The wet weather caused 90-100 Sand Martins to feed over the Reserve, virtually all confined to Car Park Pool.

Most of the young Terns have dispersed now, (though many return to roost) and both adults and juveniles have been seen north up the Blythe and Tame Valleys. There were at least seven fledged or newly fledged young still on site, however, this morning. Two Redshank chicks showed well in front of Oak Hide but the others were not instantly obvious.

Linnets, Bullfinches and Goldfinches were calling along the causeway, and an adult Sedge Warbler showed well below Railway Hide.

Three newly hatched Dabchicks were being fed by one adult on the Reedbed, but the other adult and the fourth chick were not visible. There was also a fledged bird there. A Water Rail called by the north causeway screen, but remained out of sight.

The numbers of Sand Martins remained into the evening and a Hobby was also seen briefly.

20th July 2009 - Sunny most of the day, dry south-westerly wind.

The Linnet family of four was again on the causeway, but otherwise nothing of note.

19th July 2009 - a Mostly dry morning, heavy showers in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, but the north-west wind eased as the day went on.

Yesterday’s Dunlin remained and pleasingly, five Redshank chicks were seen again - they are elusive! At least four Water Rail chicks dashed across in front of the north causeway screen, the small areas cleared by the work party making views easier. A Kingfisher was only the third sighting this month. Hirundines were again kept low by the conditions and numbers included 15 House Martins over the river meadows.

18th July 2009 - Cloudy, showers and north-westerly wind.

In the early morning, a Curlew tried to land on Railway Pool but the Terns, perceiving a threat, drove it off. A Dunlin was also new in, an adult and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were still present but the Ringed Plovers seem to have gone as none were seen over the weekend. The post-breeding Lapwing flock again totalled over 150, and up to six Oystercatchers were seen.

A pair of Hobbies were perched in Siden Hill Wood for some of the morning, and at least one Tree Sparrow again visited the Oak Hide feeders - in the time after “top-up” before the wretched Jackdaws raided them again!

The water fowl counts included eight Dabchick and four new chicks on the Reedbed, five adult Mute Swans and five cygnets, 62 Greylags, 108 Mallard, a female Shoveler and two ducklings, 19 Gadwall but only nine ducklings, 20 Tufteds and 55 ducklings (nine broods), an increase in Pochard from six to 14 and 48 Coot.

Of the 25 juvenile Terns, most are now on the wing though four chicks are still to fledge.

On the Old Road, a Spotted Flycatcher was seen again, and a juvenile Willow Warbler suggests successful breeding on the road. Four juvenile Whitethroats have been fledged by the pair near River Hide. In the blustery conditions, at least 60 Swifts and 80 Sand Martins fed low over the Reserve.

17th July 2009 - Sporadic overnight rain.  Wind turned to the north-west, showers during the day.

A Green Sandpiper was flushed from the river and flew up stream towards Car Park Pool, where two Oystercatchers were roosting.  Waders on Railway Pool this morning included two adult Ringed Plovers, one juvenile Little Ringed Plover and at least one Redshank adult and juvenile.  There were plenty of wildfowl of which two Pochard, a single Teal and a female Ruddy Duck were of particular note.

16th July 2009 - Westerly wind, some cloud and sunny intervals.  Heavy rain from 5 p.m.

Water Rails have raised another clutch of six youngsters, this time by the north causeway screen. At least one young was seen here a few weeks ago, and it therefore seems likely that the same pair have second brooded.

Two Common Sandpipers were around the pool edges, with a Marbled White Butterfly seen again around the car park, and an Essex Skipper along the concrete road.  Odonata around the Dragonfly pond included three Brown Hawkers, three Red-eyed Damselflies, a few Emerald Damselflies and one Emperor.

Later in the afternoon there were five Little Ringed Plovers (two adults, three juveniles) with wildfowl including six Pochard a Teal and the Shoveler with two remaining chicks.

15th July 2009 - Sun and showers.

Three well grown juvenile Water Rails showed in the reedmace on the promontory to the left of River Hide . In the meantime the female Shoveler had taken what appeared to be two remaining chicks onto Car Park Pool with another female on Railway Pool. Two new Black-headed Gull chicks were seen hatched on Railway Pool where five Redshank chicks remain together with the two Little Ringed Plovers.

14th July 2009 - sun and showers, brisk south-westerly.

The only news on the passage front is that yesterday’s Dunlin and Common Sandpiper were both seen again.

In the evening, at least 28 mixed adult and juvenile Common Terns were feeding over the car park pool.

Five attended the work party (we could do with more volunteers if possible please), and Ragwort was cleared from many of the areas to the east of the central stream. Some strimming was done to open up views from Railway Hide and some clearance was done in front of Oak Hide to facilitate views over to the shingle bar and the islands.

Thanks to all those that attended.

13th July 2009 - Warm, west - south-westerly, increasingly showery as the day progressed.

New waders in today included Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and a juvenile Ringed Plover, whilst a male Peregrine (later seen over Meriden) and a Hobby were over the site.

Between 4 and 4.15 p.m., 145 Swifts, at least three Sand Martins, a couple of Swallows and a House Martin went south-west and at about 4.25 p.m. a similar number reappeared going north-east. The birds moving south-west were, in many cases, moving through very purposefully so whether birds are simply passing through or moving to avoid the rain storms is not clear.

12th July 2009 - Cloudy, damp start, slowly clearing to sunny intervals in a brisk west, south-westerly wind.

The blustery wind hampered sightings of small birds and on the Old Road, activity was limited to the dip at the concrete road junction, where a congregation included at least five Whitethroats, three each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, pairs of Bullfinch and Reed Bunting and three each of Blue and Great Tit.

Activity on the pools remained similar to yesterday, but as the day warmed up, with temperatures in the mid 20 degrees centigrade, plenty of butterflies and dragonflies were on the wing. In addition to the plentiful number of Meadow Browns and Ringlets and increasing numbers of Gatekeepers, a few Commas and Peacocks were also on the wing and a single Common Blue showed well by Railway Hide. On the Dragonfly Pool, Odonata included two Red-eyed Damselflies, seven Emerald Damsels (Spreadwings), a number of emerging and flying Common Darters, two Four Spotted Chasers and single Emperor and Brown Hawkers.

11th July 2009 - Clouding overnight with showers on and off. Wind north-easterly, turning to south-westerly.

No sign of yesterday’s Godwit or Garganey with passage birds limited to a Common Sandpiper during the morning and a Curlew briefly in the afternoon.

An increase in Dabchicks to 11 suggested some local dispersal. Wildfowl counts included 70 Mallard, seven Teal, 11 Gadwall and 42 ducklings (in six broods), six Pochard, 21 Tufted and 43 ducklings (seven broods) and a female Ruddy Duck. The female Shoveler’s brood was down to three - the young seemed quite happy to wander up the shore of the marsh and in and out of the vegetation, making them much more susceptible to predation than, say, the Gadwall which tend to keep the young together, tighter and more in the middle of the pools.

Having become pessimistic about the fate of many of the Redshank chicks, it appears that they had just dispersed into thick vegetation as six were spotted again today. The only surviving Little Ringed Plover chick is close to fledging.

At least 20 Common Tern chicks have fledged and another five chicks are close to fledging.

10th July 2009 - Sunny this morning with a north-westerly wind.

New birds in this morning included a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit and an eclipse drake Garganey on Railway Pool. Little Ringed Plovers and Redshanks were still present and clearly guarding young.  A newly fledged Whitethroat was present by the top gate along with two fledged juveniles and two adults, two Chiffchaffs and a singing Sedge Warbler with a further Chiffchaff and Blackcap nearer towards the cottages.

9th July 2009 - Blusterly northerly wind, high cloud but dry.

A Shoveler with nine chicks was found on Railway Pool this afternoon, and follows suspected breeding last year.   This species is a scarce local breeder and the success is therefore particularly noteworthy.

Two Ravens were again present briefly over Siden Hill Wood, Little Ringed Plover totals included four adults, a juvenile and a nearly fledged chick, a pair of Oystercatchers and their fledged young were on Railway Pool and the Redshank pairs appear to have at least one each. As to the probable cause of predation, it may well be the aforementioned Hobby as, this afternoon, it was seen to have a go at a Lapwing, a juvenile Coot and a Stock Dove, the latter escaping minus a few feathers.

In the early morning approximately 25 Swifts were feeding over the Reserve and two fledged Dabchicks were new in but, otherwise, there was little new to report.

8th July 2009 - Cool, but light northerly wind, occasional showers, mostly cloudy.

Birds on the Old Road included a variety of warblers, a pair of Bullfinches and at least two Spotted Flycatchers.  Whether these were the adults that were further along Marsh Lane in the previous days is not known, but it seems likely.   A very brown backed, presumed sub-adult Hobby, flew from the Reserve to perch in the top of the tree in Siden Hill Wood.  

A Raven appeared over the causeway in the afternoon, but it appears as if one pair of Redshanks is down to two chicks, and the fate of the other pair is at the moment unknown.

7th July 2009 - Regular showers and north-westerly wind.

News phoned in to me today all came from a watcher on the car park, who had two Ravens over at mid-day, a Hobby at 1 p.m. and approximately 85 Swifts moving north-east at roughly the same time in front of a rain shower.  Of the Ravens, one circled Railway Pool and went east and the other flew off to the south.  

In the evening, although there were six adult Redshanks only two chicks could initially be found and hopefully the remainder are hiding in the grass.  There were three Pochard, two Teal and a new brood of eight Tufted Ducks.  Hirundines included 50 plus Swifts, 30 plus Sand Martins and two House Martins.  Of seven Little Ringed Plovers, five were adult, one was a fledged juvenile and one was a chick.  There were two adult Ringed Plovers and two adult Oystercatchers and the fledged juvenile.  Over 100 Starlings went to roost in the Reedbed and a Water Rail called in the Marsh.   

6th July 2009 - Showery and south-westerly wind.

The Spotted Flycatchers with two, probably three young, had moved slightly further along Marsh Lane towards the gate to Corry Farm.

On the Reserve there were eight Little Ringed Plovers in total, five adults, two fledged juvenile and the partially grown young bird reared on the Reserve. A Hobby, initially found preening in Siden Hill Wood, hunted over the Reserve later in the afternoon and constantly “spooked” the Lapwing flock.

An adult Common Gull on Railway Pool was a particularly early record for the Reserve.  Two adult Herring Gulls and at least 20 Lesser Black-backs also flew over.

There are now at least three Marbled White butterflies around the car park.

5th July 2009 - Hot with increasing cloud later in the day and an increasing south westerly wind

Some movement today included two full summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, one of which lingered well on into the afternoon. A Snipe also dropped into Car Park Pool and there appeared to be a movement of Swifts with 70 through about midday and a flock of between 70-100 off the south end of Siden Hill Wood an hour later, presumed to be different birds.

The wandering migrant juvenile Little Ringed Plover was present together with four adults, three Pochard were present again as was a Kingfisher, an estimated minimum 20 juvenile Common Terns were counted, together with one as yet unfledged chick.  A Tree Sparrow was at the Oak Hide feeder.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were feeding two newly fledged young on the bend in Marsh Lane just past the lorry park. This is an excellent local breeding record of this increasingly scarce species.

4th July 2009 - Remaining hot but with the wind in the south west; slightly cooler

The weekend was considerably more lively for birds generally than the previous few days. In the early morning the section of the Old Road between the car park gates and the Dragonfly Pond was particularly busy with mixed Warblers and Tits. There were at least four Chiffchaffs (a family party?); adult Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, at least three juvenile Whitethroats and an adult, juvenile Blackcap and juvenile Song Thrush. A pair of Bullfinches were also in the area.

Later in the morning the water fowl and other counts included an adult Great Crested Grebe, six Little Grebes, nine Cormorants, ten Herons, 42 Greylags, six Gadwalls plus 24 young (four broods), four adult Mute Swans and five cygnets, 73 Mallard plus a new brood of eight on Car Park Pool, four Teal, 24 Tufted and 35 ducklings (five broods), singles of Pochard and Shoveler and 23 Coot.

Waders included four adult Ringed Plover and a migrant and fledged juvenile, three adult and one juvenile Oystercatcher, at least 100 Lapwings whilst 21 adult and 12 juvenile Common Terns were recorded.

Perhaps the most noteworthy occurrence was a Red-veined Darter around the Dragonfly Pool at around lunchtime. This is only the second confirmed siting (third record) at the Reserve.

3rd July 2009 - Heavy showers in the morning, slowly gave way to better conditions later in the day.

The most noteworthy record was the “reappearance” of the partially fledged Little Ringed Plover chick which was thought to have been predated last weekend. The bird and its parents had moved to the island one back from Oak Hide and had obviously remained inconspicuous in the more dense vegetation. There was still a pair of Ringed Plovers present and on the wildfowl front three Pochards, three Shovelers and four Teal were scattered across the Pools. A Hobby showed well in the afternoon.

A further Marbled White butterfly was on the wing around Railway Hide whilst the two around the car park were still present.

The spread of Common Spotted Orchids is encouraging with new flower spikes found to the right of Car Park Hide, on the path to Car Park Hide and along the Concrete Road.

2nd July 2009 - Remaining hot and humid.

The post-breeding flock of Lapwing totalled at least 150 birds spread across both pools and whilst only three Redshank chicks could be found, there was still plenty of alarm calling from another pair suggesting that both family parties are at least partially in tact. The adult Oystercatchers were feeding the nearly fledged young, and further broods of Coot and Moorhen are appearing, seemingly by the day, with one pair of Moorhens with seven young, in front of Oak Hide.

Wildfowl of note today included four Teal, two female Shovelers and a female Ruddy Duck. By the back gate at least two recently fledged Goldcrests were being fed by an adult.

Two Marbled White butterflies were together around the car park whilst totals for the reserve included at least 30 Small Skippers, 10 Large Skippers, two Gatekeepers and a single Painted Lady. (Last year a number of Essex Skippers were found, particularly in the grassland around the Concrete Road, but I am informed that their flying period is slightly later and that they may not yet be on the wing).

Plenty of Dragonflies were also in evidence including over eight Four Spotted Chasers, ten Black Tailed Skimmers, two Emperors and one Brown Hawker.

1st July 2009 - With temperatures over 30 degrees, it remains hot and humid.

Little to indicate that any passage is taking place, but young birds continue to be found and post-breeding dispersal is also taking place. The highest count of Heron so far, 14, were mostly concentrated on Car Park Pool and Greylag numbers were up to 22, including juveniles. At least four broods of Gadwall, totalling 30, were present on the Reserve, together with three broods of Mallard totalling 21: only two broods of Tufted have so far been seen.

Two fledged broods of Pheasants, totalling eight birds, were split into two family parties on the banks on both pools, and plenty of young Coot and Moorhen were on site.

There was still a single adult Little Ringed Plover in the evening, and at least three adult Ringed Plovers still undertaking display flight. At least 13 adult and seven juvenile Terns were counted, and a new brood of at least two juvenile Reed Buntings were present around the car park.