Marsh Lane News - June 08

30th June 2008 - Mostly sunny, south-westerly.

With patience, at least one juvenile Water Rail is visible occasionally from the north causeway screen, together with Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Bunting and nesting Little Grebes.

28th and 29th June 2008 - Mostly dry and sunny, hot on 28th, occasional showers on the afternoon of the 29th. Brisk south-westerly wind.

The breeding birds remain much as before, though the larger brood of Gadwall remains at nine (not eight as reported). 13 Common Tern chicks are now on the wing, with a further five still to fledge and other adults still sitting.

What was presumably the same Grasshopper Warbler as earlier in the month reeled from behind Railway Hide in the evening of the 28th.

Migrants included two adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover yesterday. The Lapwing flock rose to 135 yesterday and over 40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over during the day.

Brown Hawker and Common Darters were recorded for the first time this year (28th and 29th respectively), and Meadow Browns and Ringlets are now much in evidence.

27th June 2008 - After wind and rain overnight, sunny start but quickly clouded over.

Waders this morning included four adult Ringed Plover, plus the juvenile. One pair were displaying. Male Teal and Ruddies were on each pool and both Gadwall broods were as yesterday. A Coal Tit called in amongst a roving Tit flock on Marsh Lane, the flock including Nuthatch and Treecreeper.  A Green Sandpiper put in a brief appearance later in the day.

26th June 2008 - Mostly sunny but cool brisk south-westerly,

Of the Gadwall broods, at least eight of the larger brood remain, but only two of the six from the other brood were visible this morning, the female having moved to Car Park Pool. In total, 11 adults were counted.

The Lapwing, two Oystercatcher and three Redshank juveniles were also present, but there was no sign of any Ringed Plovers on Railway Pool, and just a single adult on Car Park Pool. However, the longer vegetation does make it difficult to find some birds.

At least 80 Swifts fed over the Reserve, with the majority again over the top gate. Three male Teal were scattered across the pools and a female Ruddy on Car Park Pool was the first recorded since the 19th.

Later in the day the Lesser Whitethroat on the Old Road sang briefly, two Little Ringed Plovers were present on Railway Pool and most unseasonally, a Meadow Pipit appeared briefly in the car park.

25th June 2008 - Sunny, south-westerly breeze, quickly clouding over. Wind increasing.

Three male Teal, one Shoveler and a migrant Little Ringed Plover were on Car Park Pool and the flock of Starling juveniles has reached 60. This morning they were on Railway Pool islands.

24th June 2008 - Sunny and still.

The summering pair of Teal fed on Railway Pool this morning, whilst at least two Redshank chicks wandered elusively in and out of the grass on Big Island. The Lapwing and Ringed Plover juveniles are both close to fledging. Only the first of the two Gadwall broods was visible this morning, but all nine of those were still intact.

The Great Crested Grebe juvenile on Car Park Pool has either died or flown - it appeared to have fully fledged when last seen - and the two on Railway Pool are now well grown.

Plenty of passerine activity, too, this morning. Whitethroats sang on the railway embankment, central stream and to the rear of Oak hide. Both Garden Warbler and Blackcap were “scolding” a Kestrel by the south-west pond where Nuthatch, Treecreeper Stock Dove and Chiffchaff all called or sang.

Both Willow Warbler and Wren are feeding young near the back gate and a Willow Tit called from the railway copse and embankment. A Goldcrest in song on the central stream was new in this location.

In the evening Teal numbers had risen to four all males, the Shoveler were again present and three Redshank chicks were seen. One Water Rail chick at least remains, giving a brief view from the causeway screen.

23rd June 2008 - Occasional sunny intervals and light south-westerly.

Virtually a daily occurrence now, a Hobby was seen, this time over Car Park Pool at lunchtime. A Tree Sparrow fed on the car park feeders and what was either the southern-most Whitethroat from the Old Road or that from the causeway sang in the car park scrub.

A Skylark has also taken up territory over the car park and at about 4 pm was singing, in snatches, from the grass bank.

The first Ringlets of the year were in flight around the car park, with at least five present in the afternoon.

22nd June 2008 - Mostly sunny. Strong and blustery south-westerly wind but warm.

The first returning Green Sandpipers of the autumn put in an appearance on Railway Pool in the morning, and the (a?) Snipe was visible from Oak Hide.  A second Gadwall  brood of six was seen, together with the original nine from the 20th.

21st June 2008 - Wet all day, but warm south south-westerly wind.

The first two Common Tern chicks (out of 14) were on the wing today and yesterday’s nine Gadwall chicks remained (with 12 adults).

A Water Rail was heard along the causeway, the Red-legged Partridges were seen again and much less usual, a Willow Tit wandered along the railway embankment.

20th June 2008 - Hazy sun, cool, decreasing south-westerly.

This year’s first Gadwall brood (nine ducklings) were seen briefly from Railway Hide this morning. The moulting pairs of Shovelers were on the same pool and yesterday’s impressive “cloud” of Swifts were again present over the top gate, with at least 100 there and over 50 spread across the Reserve.

The Grasshopper Warbler reeled at dusk and again this morning, to the west of Car Park Hide, though its precise location is difficult to ascertain.

At least one juvenile Nuthatch has been seen and heard between Oak Hide and the south-west pond, both yesterday and today, whilst singing Warblers included the Garden Warbler on the railway embankment.

Other birds of note included Hobby, two Ravens, Little Owl, eight adult Oystercatchers and two Nuthatch on the Oak Hide feeder.

19th June 2008 - Sunny, south-westerly.

Still plenty of song along the Old road between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. this morning. Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush were singing by the cottages and Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting sang by the top gate.

At least two of the Whitethroat pairs along the road have raised young. One “scolded” me just north of the top gate and the female of the pair, just north of the car park, was feeding at least two recently fledged young, whilst the male sang nearby.

At least 100 Swifts fed in a tight flock over the road, only parting to allow a Hobby through, which did not trouble them.

18th June 2008 - Overcast increasingly windy from the overnight rain.

No records.

17th June 2008 - Sunny but north-westerly wind.

A pair of Hobbies showed well on and off for much of the day. 13 Common Tern chicks were counted but the predatory Magpies from near Railway Hide were seen stealing a Tern egg, surprisingly in some ways considering the number of birds present. In the evening, four male and one female Shoveler were counted together with a male Teal. A pair of Red-legged Partridge showed well by the car park gates at about 6 p.m.

16th June 2008 - Sunny with nort-westerly breeze.

The Grasshopper Warbler could be heard reeling distantly and occasionally from Car Park Hide at 9 a.m., and yesterday's Dunlin was still present.

15th June 2008 - Mostly sunny, but cool overnight and cool north-westerly breeze.

A Dunlin was new in and the female Goosander put in one of her sporadic appearances, but there were no other records in the log.

13th and 14th June 2008 - Mostly sunny, but cool overnight and cool north-westerly breeze.

The Grasshopper Warbler continued to be heard distantly from Car Park Hide, and the Snipe was seen again on both days. The cool mornings brought Swifts and hirundines down with an estimated 258 and 100 respectively early on the 14th, but few remained visible as the day warmed up.

The most exciting news of the weekend was the discovery of the second confirmed successful breeding of Water Rail, with three young being seen by the north causeway screen on Sunday.

Female Beautiful Demoiselles were recorded from both Railway Hide and the Dragonfly Pond.

12th June 2008 - Cooler, north-westerly. Heavy showers and sunny periods.

The young of the last few days remain. 12 Gadwall and a pair of Shoveler were present on Railway Pool and a pair of Red-legged Partridges were flushed from the field behind Oak Hide. A pair of Greys were noted yesterday, but with no location.

Plenty of Warbler song today, suggesting the advent of second broods.

In the evening the Snipe reappeared on Railway Pool and what was presumably the same Grasshopper Warbler as was in the car park, was heard distantly in the field west of the river below Siden Hill Wood.

11th June 2008 - Sunny, though cooler brisk north-westerly wind.

In sunny weather, the Dragonfly Pool is the place to be, now migration has stalled. Sheltered from the north-westerly wind, there have been good counts of dragonflies in the last few days - up to 30 Four-spotted Chasers, five Emperors and Black-tailed Skimmers, and four Broad-bodied Chasers. Damselflies include Azure, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Large Red and Large Red-eyed. More unusually, a female Beautiful Demoiselle wandered across from the river yesterday.

Of course, this is manna from heaven for Hobbies and one was feeding there today at 1.30 pm., and birds have been regular, especially in the warmer parts of the day.

10th June - Sunny, warm but slightly cooler with an increasing north-westerly wind.

Most noteworthy bird today was a Snipe on Railway Pool, on the bank below Railway Hide.   This was presumably a failed or an early completing breeder.   The three Oystercatcher chicks remain, as does the single Ringed Plover chick.   Only 11 Common Tern chicks could be counted, though some may be hidden in the vegetation.  One was seen to be grabbed by a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and after intense mobbing by the Terns, dropped it into the pool where presumably it drowned.

9th June - Sunny and hot.

An estimated 20 Common Tern chicks were counted this morning, suggesting a mass hatching! The pair of Oystercatchers may have lost another of their young, although they have swum across to the bank and Railway Hide, and may be hiding in vegetation. Three pairs of Ringed Plovers was a noteworthy count. The Grasshopper Warbler was not heard at all today and has either gone or attracted a mate.

6th to 8th June - Sunny, light northerly wind.

The Grasshopper Warbler continued to reel and showed very occasionally in the car park scrub. Otherwise, activity was restricted to breeding birds. Little Owls along the Old Road now has one young (at least) and Chiffchaffs nearby were feeding three fledged juveniles. Lesser Whitethroats, also along the Old Road and near the top gate, were carrying food but of the four Ringed Plover chicks, only one remains. Meantime the Mute Swans have produced six cygnets on Car Park Pool.

On the Lepidoptera front, a Dingy Skipper around the car park on the 8th was a new species for the Reserve, whilst the first Large Skipper for the year was also recorded.

5th June 2008 - Sunny, light south-westerly.

Most unexpected was the arrival of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the small patch of scrub by the car park. Found by David and Pat Treadgold, the bird reeled on and off and showed well occasionally from 9 a.m., when it was found, until the end of the day.

Most Grasshopper Warblers arrive in mid to late April and although it is possible it is a late arriving bird (some Reed Warblers arrive in late May and early June for example), it seems more likely it is a male, displaced by the floods last week.

Two male and one female Shoveler flew over at 10.15 a.m.

Three Hobbies were seen together chasing Swifts in front of Siden Hill Wood, and a pair of Ravens were seen distantly to the north. The Red-legged Partridges were
present in the field again, and one bird was heard calling.

4th June 2008 - Sunny with a westerly wind.

Birds of note included a Grey Partridge in the crop field in the morning and a Curlew at lunchtime. The latter may have been on the wet flood meadows with gulls and Lapwings (40+). It flew low over Car Park Pool at 12.45 and seemed to land on Railway Pool.

Still plenty of Gadwall whilst other wildfowl of note included two female and one male Ruddy, drake Teal and a pair of Shovelers.

Over ten Four-spotted Chasers were counted on the Dragonfly Pond and a Hummingbird-Hawk moth was an excellent early season find as it flew over the car park.

A Holly Blue showed well, also by the car park.

The good orchid show (in the field behind Oak Hide - stick to the path close to the west hedge to view), continues to cause consternation as to their specific identity. There are definitely 30 spikes of Southern Marsh, but the Spotted Orchid sp may be Heath Spotted.

3rd June 2008 - Wet all day.

The “caged” Ringed Plover eggs finally hatched out, yielding four chicks. Pleasingly, the three Swan, three Oystercatcher, four Great Crested Grebe (three railway, and one car park) and six Tern Chicks remain un-predated.

The Red-legged Partridge was seen again in the crop field, whilst a Hobby braved the improving evening weather along with 200 Swifts.

2nd June 2008 - Overcast warm. Occasional sunny intervals turning wet overnight.

A Tree Sparrow sang on the Old Road at lunchtime and is probably additional to the pair seen occasionally by Oak Hide.

Hobby, Shoveler, male and female Shelduck, two Red-legged Partridges, 60 Starlings and a count of 40 Common Terns were the other main birds of note until the evening, when a female White Wagtail on the crop field was a somewhat unseasonal find.

1st June 2008 - Overcast but bright. Light northerly. Warm.

Relatively little to report. Three Shelducks suggest the floods or other reasons may have caused breeding losses. 80 Starlings around the car park was noteworthy and plenty of Swifts (c.120 plus) and hirundines (c.85) were again visible in the evening.