31st December 2010 - Misty again.

With the milder weather, Skylarks appeared to be returning with 34 passing over to the east during the morning. Siden Hill Wood was disappointingly quiet but just to the east and in the fields there was a flock of 50 Linnets on the recently sown wheat field and a mixed flock of 20 Greenfinches and 20 Chaffinches in the adjacent hedges. 150 Wood Pigeons and 50 Jackdaws were in the trees on the edge of the flood plain.

On the flood plain fields there were 40 mixed Thrushes, 300 Greylags, 200 Wigeon together with two Gadwall on the river itself. The crop field held no more than bout 30 Chaffinches as the fall-off in numbers there continues.

29th & 30th December 2010 - Mostly foggy but milder with temperatures in the 5-10°c bracket

Despite the milder weather there is still no significant open water. The ice is slowly melting around the margins and in the marsh but as yet there is little to attract any significant numbers of wildfowl. The Wigeon flock remains along the river and a few Shoveler and Teal have been coming and going to roost on the ice or feed along the margins.

With the melting of the snow the Thrushes are taking advantage of the open ground and on the 30th 50 Redwing and 11 Fieldfare fed opposite the horse paddock. There were only ones and twos along the hedge line.

The milder weather has precipitated a fall off in Finch and Bunting numbers with no more than 40 Linnets, 40 Chaffinches and 25 Reed Buntings and just a single Yellowhammer. Six Tree Sparrows were at the Oak Hide feeder on the 29th but there were none reported on the 30th.

28th December 2010 - Foggy, milder 2-5°c

Heavy overnight rain had melted most of the snow by this morning and seven attended the work party (including a new member only a week into his membership!). Gravel was bagged ready to boat across to the islands for Tern and Wader nesting areas.

Bird wise, nine Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder was the best count of the autumn but aside from 22 Shoveler on the ice (or a puddle of melted water) on Railway Pool, there was not a great deal else to report.

27th December 2010 - Overcast, slightly milder, light southerly

A female Merlin both along the top stream and perched in the Old Road oaks was the highlight of the day. A Curlew showed well to the right of Car Park hide, feeding on the grass and a Kingfisher along the central streamline was a welcome sight.

Linnets and Chaffinches totalled around 100 but Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer numbers did not rise to more than 20-30 of each. 40 Siskins in the alders by the south west pond was the best count of the month.

80 Wigeon were still feeding along the River and a few geese came and went in the search for open water and feeding areas.

26th December 2010 - Watery sun, remaining cold

The Barn Owl was again roosting at the southern end of the crop field and, later in the morning, it hunted the grassland margins around the pools. A Curlew fed in Lower Siden, a male Brambling showed well by the Car Park feeder and a Little Egret flew in from the east and dropped on to the river to feed.

12 Bullfinches on the Reserve and along the Old Road and a further four near Siden Hill Wood represented an excellent total. 12 Siskins fed in the alders by the top gate but Thrush numbers again did not exceed more than 20-30 on the Old Road and a further 40 around Siden Hill Wood.

Late on in the afternoon more Chaffinches arrived in the crop field, apparently from the North and perhaps from the Old Road game crop. Numbers were back up to 150 with the male Brambling amongst them.

25 December 2010 - Sunny but cold -8°c

Two Curlews fed in Lower Siden field again, presumably taking advantage of slightly softer conditions arising from the insulating properties of the snow. Three Ravens flew over and a Woodcock was accidentally disturbed from the Concrete Road streamline.

200 mixed Finches fed in the crop field, mostly Chaffinches and Linnets, but later in the morning numbers again increased, and Yellowhammers reached 46.

Other birds included four Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 114 Lapwings, two Siskins and a Treecreeper.

24th December 2010 - Intermittent sunny intervals, light cold, northerly wind.

The most surprising find of the day was a Barn Owl that was roosting on the western edge of the Old Road hedge south of the car park. I would imagine that it is finding life tough at the moment, and I am not sure whether it was in good health or not.

The Finch and Bunting totals seemed lower than normal this morning, but birds do increase as the day progresses. Counts today included 70 Chaffinches, 50 Linnets and 30 each of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer with a handful of Greenfinches as well. A probably adult Yellow-legged Gull flew over with four adult Lesser Black-backs.

Thrush numbers were down to about 15 each of Redwing and Fieldfare.

As seems to be the case over the last few days, Finch and Bunting numbers in the crop field increased as the day wore on. Chaffinches increased to 150 and Yellowhammers to 60. Both male and female Bramblings showed well, preferring the hedge line in the field near the car park feeder.

23 December 2010 - Mostly overcast, cold northerly

Crop field numbers were again similar to the previous few days and only the male Brambling could be found this afternoon.

Most surprisingly, a Curlew was feeding in Lower Siden and was successfully catching worms, nevertheless finishing with a very snow covered face! Surprisingly too there were still 180 Wigeon along the river and the flock few in and landed on Car Park Pool.

22nd December 2010 - Cold, light northerly, snow showers and occasional sunny periods towards the end of the day.

The crop field counts were similar to yesterday with at least 80 Yellowhammers, 100 Chaffinches, at least two Bramblings and 150 Linnets. 91 Reed Buntings were counted as they perched up in the reeds prior to roosting but there were probably more than this.

Thrush counts were down as most of the berries appear to have been consumed. 200 Wood Pigeons also attempted to feed in the crop field and 80 Canadas and three Mute Swans were present along the riverbank. 128 Lapwings looked very forlorn in the icy landscape. Nine Skylarks flew south west at 4pm, presumably looking for warmer climes.

21st December 2010 - Cold and overcast.

Another increase in Yellowhammers saw the flock reach at least 95 birds with similar numbers of other Finches and Buntings as in the previous days. There were also two Bramblings with both male and female showing on or at the car park feeder. Lapwings still exceeded the 170, though quite what they are finding to feed on, I do not know. Two Whooper-type Swans flew over to the north during the afternoon, but the possibility that they were the two hybrid mute Whooper crosses could not be ruled out.

20th December 2010 - Mostly overcast, light cold northerly wind, afternoon snow showers. -12 degrees at dawn.

Another change in proportions within the crop field today. Today’s rather disappointing 30 Linnets had increased first thing to 100 and then 150 by the afternoon. The Chaffinch flock seemed lower than yesterday with no more than 100 birds but a female Brambling was amongst them. Reed Buntings were similar to yesterday but Yellowhammers had increased to at least 60.

Along the Old Road hedgerows approximately 80 Fieldfares out-numbered the few Redwings. A flock of 15 dropped in to the hedgerow high up over the Reserve and a further four later flew south down the valley, all suggesting birds are on the move in the colder weather as berries get consumed. A solitary male Bullfinch fed on the Guelder Rose berries north of the car park gates, with three females up by the farm.

Opposite the horse paddock there were 90 Lapwings and 225 Canadas looking rather sorry for themselves in the field, and later on 142 Lapwings were roosting on Railway Pool where now there is just a tiny pool of water, in which only two Coot lingered.

With the lack of water, a number of birds were seen to take and swallow snow off the branches.

19th December 2010 - Sunny.

The crop field was as busy as I have seen it this winter as the cold weather and snow has driven in the birds.

Chaffinches totalled at least 150 and Reed Buntings had increased to a minimum of 75 and Yellowhammers to 25. There were also 20 Greenfinches, 30 Linnets and five Goldfinches.

To the east of the A452, a mixed corvid flock totalled at least 200 birds and there were at least 150 Wood Pigeons and a further 70 over Siden Hill Wood. 30 Yellowhammers and ten Skylark have also been drawn to the stubbles.

In the afternoon, the Wood Pigeons finally found the crop field with over 300 disturbed on the edge of the field. Finally, a flock of 40 Long-tailed Tits worked there way along the margins of the crop field, the highest single count that I can recall.

18th December 2010 - Cold and snowy all day.

The Finch and Bunting flock was similar to yesterday and still at least 70 mixed Thrushes feeding on the ever diminishing berries along the Old Road. A very pale Common Buzzard caused a few heart flutters which the dreadful weather made difficult to identify, initially.

Graham’s normal counts included: five Cormorants, a Heron, Whooper Mute Hybrid, 412 Greylags, Greylag / Canada Cross, one Canada, eight Farmyard Geese, one Wigeon, two Gadwall, two Mallard, six Shoveler, one Tufted, one Pochard, 78 Coot, three Moorhen, 142 Lapwings, two Snipe, 38 Black-headed Gulls, one Common Gull and one Lesser Black-backed Gull. The ever diminishing totals are an indication of the contraction of the open water.

17th December 2010 - Very sharp overnight frost, with temperatures down to -8. Sunny intervals with snow showers.

In the crop field an estimated mixed Finch and Bunting flock of 160 comprised of about 75 Chaffinches, 60 Linnets, 20 Reed Buntings and five Yellowhammers. There were also three Skylarks in the crop field. A further 20 Chaffinches fed around the Oak Hide feeder along with two Coal Tits, two Nuthatches and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

The open water on Railway Pool has started to contract again, but there was still enough water for 20 Teal, 30 Shoveler, three Tufted Ducks and two Pochards.

16th December 2010 - Cold north-westerly wind, rain for much of the day turning progressively colder. Odd snow flurries.

A Mink was seen to fish under the ice near the north causeway screen this morning. Open patches of water on both pools held a reasonable array of waterfowl including 23 Teal, 12 Shoveler, four Gadwall, eight Pochard, two Tufted Duck, 72 Black-headed Gulls, two Common Gulls and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 60 Lapwing rested on the ice and two Snipe fed in the Marsh. At the Oak Hide feeders, two Coal Tit, Jay and two Tree Sparrows fed from time to time and a Little Egret dropped in briefly during the morning but did not linger.

In an increasingly cold afternoon, with some snow flurries, Chaffinches had increased to at least 130 birds with 40 at the Oak Hide feeder and 90 in the crop field. Common Gull numbers had increased to 14.

15th December 2010 - Sunny start, variably cloudy and drizzly with some sunny periods, cool light northerly wind.

The highlight this morning was a male Brambling in the crop field. The crop field and the Old Road hedges were lively today, with at least 60 Linnets present and a flock of another 100 to the west of Siden Hill Wood. 30 Chaffinches, 20 Greenfinches, 20 Reed Buntings and ten Yellowhammers made up the other birds in the crop field by the car park. At least 20 Redwings and a similar number of Fieldfares were in the Old Road hedges or feeding on the tip field.

In the patch of open water on Railway Pool, a Shelduck joined similar numbers of wildfowl to the two previous days, and there was also a Herring Gull and three Common Gulls. Lastly, a Meadow Pipit flew over.

In the afternoon, a Weasel showed really well on the causeway embankments, playing hide and seek in and out of some small mammal runs.

14th December 2010 - Drizzly.

As the area of open water on Railway Pool slowly increases, so do the number of Pochard, with numbers today up to ten. There were also two Tufted Ducks, 20 Shoveler, five Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backs and 80 Black-headed Gulls.

In the crop field, Linnets were up to 60 and there were also 30 Chaffinches. Three Tree Sparrows were again at the Oak Hide feeder. Along the Old Road there were at least 20 each of Redwing and Fieldfare, and also 20 Reed Buntings.

The usual Wigeon flock estimated at about 200 were feeding along the river south of Patrick Farm. 300 Wood Pigeons were mostly over towards Siden Hill Wood and a Redpoll flew over.

13th December 2010 - Misty, light north-westerly wind.

In the murk and mist this morning at 7.40 a.m., a Barn Owl ghosted around the car park and the adjacent banks before vanishing into the gloom.

As the mist slowly cleared, the following counts were made: 16 Teal, 18 Shoveler, two Pochard, three Common Gulls, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, 80 Black-headed Gulls - all on Railway Pool. There were a reduced number of Linnets in the crop field, only 20 today. Three Tree Sparrows and a Coal Tit visited the Oak Hide feeder, there were three Bullfinches on the railway embankment and a Sparrowhawk and two Buzzards were generally in attendance.

12th December 2010 - Mostly sunny, light north-westerly wind.

The best birds for some time were two Waxwings which flew over to the east just over the Old Road paddock at 12.45. They were both seen and heard but, unfortunately, did not appear to come down to feed. A Curlew also flew over to the north east and there was a Redpoll to the rear of Oak Hide.

11th December 2010 - Milder, mostly overcast, fresh north-westerly wind. Pools mostly still frozen.

Slightly better wildfowl counts as the milder weather has slightly enlarged the more open area on Railway Pool but, otherwise, not a great deal new to report.

The more noteworthy birds included a male Goosander which flew over to the north and four Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder. The crop field numbers were somewhat disappointing, with 80 Linnets, 20 Reed Buntings and 30 Chaffinches, the best counts of the day.

Graham Rowling’s usual counts included six Cormorants, one Heron, 100 Greylags, eight Farmyard Geese, one Canada Greylag cross, 200 Wigeon, ten Teal, three Gadwall, 38 Mallard, 33 Shoveler, three Pochard, one Tufted Duck, a Drake Goosander, 25 Coot, seven Moorhen, nine Lapwing, five Snipe (over tip field) 186 Black-headed Gulls, eleven Common Gulls, four Lesser Black-backed Gulls and one Herring Gull.

There were also four Bullfinches on the Old Road.

10th December 2010 - Milder, occasional sunny periods, westerly wind.

No records.

9th December 2010 - Initially overcast, subsequent sunny intervals, light northerly wind.

It was marginally warmer this morning - only -3 on the car park, but it is all relative!

A walk along the Old Road yielded about 90 Linnets with the majority in the game crop by the Aeromodellers. Ten Yellowhammers at least and a similar number of Chaffinches, together with a few Greenfinches were also in the Old Road hedge. The game crop by the car park is often relatively quiet at first light, with numbers increasing as the day progresses. The number of birds there was probably not helped by a juvenile male Sparrowhawk.

There were plenty of Thrushes along the Old Road, 50 to 60 Redwings and about half that number of Fieldfares. Birds along the Old Road included a Treecreeper with a Long-tailed Tit flock, totalling about ten.

As the day progressed, Fieldfare and Redwing numbers increased to about 150 on the Old Road and there were approximately 200 Starlings on site as well. Seven Herring Gulls flew over.

8th December 2010 - Cold, light northerly wind, overcast start but becoming sunny for the remainder of the day.

The Linnet flock has again increased in size with an estimated 300 birds present this morning. The flock was sufficiently attractive to draw in the male Merlin again which flew in low at about 3.30 pm and dived into the crop field after one of the passerines. It was not seen to leave but must have “stolen away” from the watchers.

At least one Curlew was again along the flood plane this afternoon, seen and heard. It appeared to depart low to the east, perhaps to roost.

Thrushes were again in evidence along the Old Road hedgerows with estimated numbers of 60 Fieldfares, 50 Redwing and two Song Thrushes. A Mistle Thrush flew along the central streamline and appeared to drop in to roost by River Hide. Three Bullfinches were also along the Old Road.

7th December 2010 - Cold and sunny, light north easterly wind, minus 10 degrees centigrade.

The resonant call from four Curlews echoed around the Reserve at 8 a.m. this morning. I am not sure where the birds came from as they were picked up as they circled over Railway Pool, but actually dropped into the field opposite that pool known as Lower Siden. Quite what they were intending to feed on I am unsure, but about 8.45 a.m., a further ten appeared and then drifted over to Bradnocks Marsh. This is the highest count for the species at the Reserve and a very unseasonal record, presumably a cold weather movement of some sort.

The Linnet flock in the crop field did not appear to exceed 100 this morning, and the numbers of Finches and Buntings seemed lower than of late. There were still plenty of Thrushes scattered around the Reserve and a few Siskins as well, but no counts I am afraid.

In the small patch of open water on Railway Pool there were 62 Canadas, 14 Shoveler, eight Teal and on the icy surround, 17 “frosted” Lapwings. Four Common Gulls also dropped in to bathe before moving on.

Later in the afternoon the Chaffinch flock had increased substantially from the previous days to number at least 80 birds. A Woodcock was disturbed from the ditch along the concrete road and flew only a short distance before dropping down in the adjacent horse paddock.

6th December 2010 - Remaining very cold with fog lingering for most of the day.

The Linnet flock has increased to approximately 200 birds, again mostly in the crop field south of the car park. There were at least eight Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder and a mobile flock of 20 Siskins were heard and seen in various places around the Reserve during the morning. A Water Rail showed again in the stream along the side of the concrete road.

5 December 2010 - Cold, sunny and icy

Totals of birds were similar to the previous day save that Linnets have increased to 150 (spread between the two game crops) and the Yellowhammers were up to 20. At least 100 Fieldfares and 50 Redwings were spread around the Reserve but concentrated mostly on the Old Road. 20 Goldfinches were towards Patrick Farm, a Treecreeper showed well on the central streamline and a Goldcrest fed by the south west pond.

4 December 2010 - Slightly milder, drizzly on and off all day

As usual, the game covers in the Old Road are the busiest locations at the moment. 100 Linnets, 50 Chaffinches, 12 Yellowhammers and 30 Reed Buntings were principally in the crop field south of the car park. On the Old Road, 100 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings increased in the afternoon to 120 and 80 respectively, all of them feeding on the slightly softer ground along the edge of Car Park Pool.

The wildfowl counts were, unsurprisingly, low; five Mutes, 247 Greylags, two Canadas, 14 Farmyard Geese, four Shoveler, four Teal, four Gadwall, 260 Wigeon, 49 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 65 Black-headed Gulls, five Common Gulls, three Lesser Black-backed, two Snipe around the Dragonfly pond and four in the Tip field.

A total of five Ravens were seen: This consisted of one over to the north and four (a family party presumably) west along the Railway.

3rd December 2010 - Cold and sunny.

It was bitterly cold this morning with temperatures down to minus 9 degrees. Surprisingly there is still a small area of open water on Railway Pool but this appears to be shrinking all the time and the Marsh is now frozen up.

On the open water, there were four Mute Swans, three Shovelers, 46 Coot, three Moorhen and 40 Lapwing and ten Black-headed Gulls around the margins.

There are still plenty of Thrushes along the Old Road with at least 60 Redwings and 15 Fieldfares, together with a handful of Blackbirds and two Song Thrushes. Both Bullfinch and Treecreeper were also present and along the top stream by the Dragonfly Pond there was a single Snipe and a single Teal.

Within the crop field the 100 strong Linnet flock was still present, together with an estimated 30 Reed Buntings, 20 Greenfinches and ten Chaffinches, but the birds were difficult to count this morning.

In the afternoon Fieldfare numbers had increased to over 100, split between the Old Road and the Railway Embankment. Pairs of Bullfinches were on the Old Road and the Railway Embankment. A Water Rail called from the stream parallel to the Concrete Road.

2nd December 2010 - Cold and sunny, light north-easterly wind.

There were again plenty of Thrushes around with a minimum of 150 Redwings, 30 Fieldfares and three Song Thrushes. Two Siskins and a Treecreeper were along the central stream, five Tree Sparrows at the Oak Hide feeder and six House Sparrows at the entrance gates. At least 70 Linnets were in the crop field, 120 Wigeon along the river and a male Kestrel east of the Old Road.

1st December 2010 - Cold northerly wind, mixture of snow showers and sunny intervals.

The crop field this morning, at just after first light, held 110 Linnets, 45 Reed Buntings, 30 Chaffinches, 10 to 15 Greenfinches and one or two Goldfinches. There were also a dozen Pheasants, 20 Wood Pigeons flushed from the field and a further 12 Goldfinches on the central streamline. Conversely the Old Road game cover held very little.

East of the A452 there were 50 Skylarks and a corvid flock of at least 400 birds, of which over half were Rooks with the balance being mostly Jackdaws but some Crows as well.

The Old Road held 30 Redwings and 25 Fieldfares, a pair of Bullfinches and a Treecreeper.

Later in the day, Chris Laight cleared the overflow on the Dragonfly Pond and a Woodcock flew over. Three Snipe were flushed from the edge of the Dragonfly Pond.

The spinner feeder has been moved into the crop field and although there was no time for counts, more birds appeared to be present than earlier in the day. 52 Fieldfares flew over in two flocks.