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Marsh Lane News - May 08
15th May 2008 - High cloud, cool north-easterly.
Noticeably cooler conditions this morning meant that there were more Swifts and hirundines about, with at least 60 Swifts present mid morning, about 40 Sand Martins and single figures of House Martins and Swallows. The Ruff was present for its third day, whilst two Dunlins were new in overnight, and the Common Sandpiper was still present. A Hobby flew through, west, about 8.30 a.m., and a pair of Shoveler dropped in at 11 a.m.
Other wildfowl included at least 50 Tufted Ducks, four Ruddy Ducks and a male Gadwall. The pair of Great Crested Grebes on Car Park Pool have still got four chicks, but there is no sign of Redshank chicks this morning.
14th May 2008 - Sunny, but with a cool north-easterly.
The Ruff was present all day, and aGreenshank was seen at 2 p.m., but there were no records subsequently. A single Common Sandpiper lingered and a Herring Gull was on Car Park Pool. A Redshank chick was spotted on Car Park Pool, which is exceedingly early.
The Greenshank represented the 19th species of wader, so far this year.
13th May 2008 - Sunny, but noticeably cooler in a brisk east north-easterly wind.
Two Common Sandpipers were new in this morning, and a Yellow Wagtail flew through. The cooler weather encouraged Swifts lower, with at least twenty present at 9.30, but much toing and froing of this species, together with a scattering of hirundines.
A Ruff moulting into summer plumage arrived in the mid-afternoon and was still present in the evening. Common Terns were up to another new record of 4.
The additional game cover is in the course of preparation today, so the field is worth a check over whilst freshly turned or sown.
12th May 2008 - Hot and sunny, but increasing easterly wind.
Other than a count of 40 Common Terns, nothing else of particular note was recorded.
11th May 2008 - Hot.
The hot weather is not conducive to visible passage as birds generally carry on through so a Wood Sandpiper on Railway Pool was an unexpected bonus. First found at 2.45 p.m., it was present until about 5.30 when two teenagers with dogs came down the river and went for a swim in Railway Pool. Needless to say everything was flushed and the Wood Sandpiper departed. Thanks to those that evicted them.
Common Terns reached a new record of 39, presumably including many displaced Kingsbury birds. Two Hobbies were seen again.
10th May 2008 - Hot, high cloud, humid.
Little of note. Lesser Whitethroats continue to be heard occasionally from both the Old Road and the Railway embankment and a Cuckoo was seen and heard from the Oaks in the field but departed over Railway Pool. My impression is that numbers are low this year and indeed this was the first record I have for May.
9th May 2008 - A weak front moved across overnight and into the day, bringing light showers.
An early visit yielded nothing more than displaying Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers over the Car Park Pool.
Whilst the pair of Great Crested Grebes continue to sit conspicuously on Railway Pool, a discrete pair on Car Park Pool were found to have hatched three young. This species has had little success on the Reserve over the last few years.
A pair of Shoveler arrived on Railway Pool in the evening, the only May record so far.
8th May 2008 - Hot, but an increasingly strong south-easterly wind.
Since the “British” Wheatears in late March / early April, there have been none of the Icelandic / Greenland types until today, with a single seen (no location).
A Water Rail was seen on the causeway and although the Dunlin had moved on, Common Sandpipers had risen to four and Common Terns to 32.
7th May 2008 - Hot (25°C) light south-easterly
A male Teal has been present since the start of the month, but this evening there were two males and a female, and also three pairs of Ruddy Ducks.
The warm weather encouraged the raptors, with counts from the car park of eight Buzzards, five Kestrels, two Sparrowhawks and a Hobby.
Yesterday’s Dunlin remained and there were two Common Sandpipers. A Yellow Wagtail fellow over and Grey Wagtails continue to be seen in a variety of locations.
Warbler counts were: 14 Reed, seven plus Sedge, 10 Whitethroats, three each of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap, five Garden and two Lesser Whitethroats. A possible Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the scrub at the north end of the Old Road, but there was no sign later.
6th May 2008 - Warm and sunny, with a south-easterly wind.
One Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper remained from yesterday, whilst a Hobby hawked insects over Siden Hill Wood at lunchtime, joined by a second later in the afternoon. A very mobile Lesser Whitethroat sang again along the Old Road. There was both Swift and hirundine movement, but most of it was too high to record accurately.
5th May 2008 - Overnight rain persisted to the early part of the day and it was misty. The wind had turned to the east, before the day brightened and warmed up.
The good run continued with a Little Tern and two Arctic Terns on Railway Pool during the morning. The former was only the second record for the Reserve and lingered until 5 p.m., when it flew off. A count of 37 Common Terns was a record and presumably included some migrants over and above the 13 to 14 pairs which appear to be regular. The year’s second Hobby chased hirundines over Car Park Pool at 9 a.m.
4th May 2008 - Mostly high grey cloud on a light south-westerly turning to the south-east and regular showers developing into overnight rain.
In guessing the next rare bird to provide the excitement, the species that did occur was totally unexpected. Paul Johnson and Chris Heyworth had just rescued an injured Buzzard (which sadly had to be put down) when the latter pointed out an odd looking bird overhead which Paul (who was the only one with binoculars at the time) was amazed to discover was a Beeater. It flew over slowly, without calling, and disappeared to the north-east. It is the first in the West Midlands since one at Minworth in 1955.
A summer plumaged Black Tern later in the afternoon was some compensation for the rest of us, and was part of a movement across the country. Two Dunlin and two late Goosanders were also seen and many Swifts were on the move with at least 200 recorded, but no doubt many more over the course of the day.
3rd May 2008 - Mild with hazy sunshine.
Birds of note included Peregrine, a Little Owl along the Old Road, 30 Swifts, a male Yellow Wagtail, four Garden Warblers and six Whitethroat.
2nd May 2008
Minimum of 12 singing Sedge Warblers, eight singing Reed Warblers and pair of Lesser Whitethroats on railway embankment. Common Terns were up to 28. A fine Roebuck ran across the field below Siden Hill Wood.
1st May 2008 - Mostly sunny, light but cool south-westerly.
Yesterday’s Garden Warbler was still present and in addtion there were two others, one on the railway embankment and one by the top gate on the Old Road. Four Common Sandpipers were still present and aCurlew was seen and heard flying up from the flood meadows, just north of the Reserve, at 9.40 a.m.
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