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Marsh Lane News - November 08
30th November 2008
Although quieter on the pools, the increase in Bunting numbers saw impressive counts of at least 60 Reed Buntings, 30 Yellowhammers, eight Tree Sparrows and a female Brambling, although the latter proved ellusive later in the day. There is almost certainly quite a turnover of birds taking place, and the flock is worth monitoring. Yesterday’s Siskin count was replicated again today, and there were some Thrushes present along the Old Road, although at the moment I have no counts.
29th November 2008 - Cold, misty and still.
A definite increase in Bunting numbers with counts of 10-15 Yellowhammers, over 40 Reed Buntings and yesterday’s two Tree Sparrows remained. Perhaps also as a result of the colder weather, the Siskin flock centred around the Old Road / concrete road junction and had increased to at least 80 and probably 100 birds.
Other birds of note included the male Goosander on Car Park Pool for part of the morning, and a Water Rail right in front of Car Park Hide.
28th November 2008 - Fine.
I understand that it was relatively quiet, but that there were two Tree Sparrows in the crop field.
27th November 2008 - Sunny start, progressively clouding over and an increasing north-westerly wind.
However, today’s excitement came in the shape of an adult Bewick’s Swan on Railway Pool for much of the afternoon, and I think is only the fourth record for the Reserve. Amusingly, it was identified initially as one of the hybrids! It has been very vocal. It finally left the Reserve at 3.50 p.m.
250 to 300 Golden Plovers were flying around this afternoon as well, but did not appear to land.
Half a dozen Siskin and two Lesser Redpolls were present along the Old Road, near the concrete road junction in the afternoon, whilst nine Lesser Redpolls were seen there earlier in the day.
26th November 2008
Yellowhammer numbers increased significantly to 15 but, regrettably, there were no Reed Bunting counts. Five Bullfinches was a reasonable count and 100 mixed Fieldfare/Redwing flew over. Of particular note were 10 Lesser Redpolls feeding with a flock of 20 Siskins on the Old Road
25th November 2008 - Heavy frost, cold and sunny with a north-westerly wind.
No records.
24th November 2008 - Cold and sunny.
Birds of note included threeShelduck, 40 Golden Plover (on the far side of the underpass), one Lesser Redpoll, 40 Siskins, six Yellowhammers, a Grey Wagtail flying over, and Water Rail calling from the Marsh.
23rd November 2008 - Cold strong north-westerly wind with heavy wintery showers
No records.
22nd November 2008 - Fine but cold north-westerly.
A female Peregrine was present before 9 a.m and 40 Siskin, spread across the Reserve, exceeded yesterday’s count. Five Herring Gulls flew over (a significant count for the Reserve).
An afternoon’s work party removed the young Alders from the orchid field and large ones from the Marsh, in so doing flushing 35 Common and Three Jack Snipes (with another of the latter on the Dragonfly Pond).
There were still c.25 Siskins at the south end of the orchid field in the afternoon whilst, at first light, a Little Owl called from approximately the same location.
Thrushes included over 10 Blackbirds across the Reserve and 30 Fieldfare and 10 Redwing either flying over or along the Old Road. A Grey Wagtail was also seen.
21st November 2008 - Showery / fine intervals.
Little of note. 34 Siskin (nine Railway Hide and 25 central streamline) was about the only significant record.
20th November 2008 - Sunny, cool northerly wind.
No records.
19th November 2008 - Weather generally fine and sunny, but with a cool north-westerly wind.
The only new birds were three Shelduck, (two drakes and a duck) and only five Snipe could be found. There were 20 Redwing and five Fieldfare feeding on Hawthorne berries on the Old Road, but little by way of overhead passage.
Brief excitement came by way of a report of a Bewick's Swan but, unfortunately, this proved to be one of the Whooper / Mute hybrids. There was also a second hand report of two Godwits, but no details were put in the book and I can provide no further clarity on this somewhat unseasonal record.
18th November 2008 - Cool north-westerly wind, drizzly start.
44 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings flew north between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. A walk through the crop field yielded 23 Reed Buntings, nineChaffinches, twoYellowhammers, two Pheasants and a Greylag Goose!
17th November 2008 - Grey and overcast and drizzly all day.
The best bird was a male Goosander on Car Park Pool, whilst 11 Meadow Pipits around the car park was a noteworthy count for this time of year. Mixed numbers of Thrushes (Redwings and Fieldfares) exceeded 100 and three flocks of Golden Plover were also seen flying over, but no numbers were given.
The Common Sandpiper had wandered up to golf club.
16th November 2008 - Drizzly start, slowly clearing to a fine still afternoon.
Snipe numbers shot up dramatically today, with at least thirty and probably twice that number. A Green Sandpiper was heard, and a Water Rail called from the hedge behind Oak Hide.
An escaped Australian? Shelduck was on Car Park Pool.
Four Linnets dropped in to roost in the Blackthorn by the car park.
15th November 2008 - Overcast start, but slowly clearing. Brisk southerly wind. Mild.
The most notable observation today was 135 Lesser Black-backed Gulls that flew north-east in four main parties around 10.15 a.m. Migrants or local birds?
Other Gulls included one count of 180 Black-headed and singles of Common and Herring
Graham Rowling’s wildfowl count included 411 Greylags, one Canada, 135 Wigeon, 29 Gadwall, 77 Teal, 155 Mallard, 29 Shoveler and nine each of Tufted and Pochard. Coot numbers have fallen to 20. The Lapwing flock totalled 408, slightly down on last week. 27 Golden Plover flew over.
Of local note, five Collared Doves were at Patrick Farm and two more at the cottages. Thrushes continued to move south-west in good numbers. Most were Redwings and of an estimated 200 birds through by 10.30 a.m, all but 30 were of that species, the balance being Fieldfares.
Only small numbers of Siskins and Goldfinches were seen and Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were also in low numbers, due to the mild weather.
The area east of the underpass was very quiet, a lone Grey Wagtail feeding on the mud there and earlier along the poached shore of the Dragonfly Pond.
14th November 2008 - Generally sunny, south-westerly.
A police helicopter that hovered over or near the Reserve between 3 and 4 p.m., caused panic amongst the wildfowl. After speaking to the pilot on the 15th (the aptly named Andy Shanks), the Police were unaware of the presence of the Reserve and will try and give it a half mile wide berth from now on, criminals permitting! The two offenders being searched for were not apprehended.
Before the above, the best bird of the day was a male Peregrine which took a Pigeon in front of Siden Hill Wood and then flew off to consume it.
The Golden Plover flock is progressively falling and only 13 were seen today.
Yesterday’s Siskin flock today contained a single Lesser Redpoll.
13th November 2008 - Generally wet, south-westerly
Yesterday’s Coal Tit was again present, this time with a pair of Nuthatches, whilst 30 Siskins along the Old Road was a notable count. 50 Redwing south-west were the only thrushes recorded.
12th November 2008 - Sunny, light south-westerly
Thrushes continue to move south-west, with 80 Redwing and 30 Fieldfare recorded during the day. 12 Siskin were in the Alders on the concrete road and a Grey Wagtail flew over. Two Muntjac provided the “entertainment” on the railway embankment whilst a Coal Tit was amongst the birds visiting the Oak Hide feeders.
11th November 2008 - Generally fine but a strong south-westerly wind.
Perhaps the most surprising bird of the day was a Redshank which was roosting with the wildfowl on the far bank of Car Park Pool, before moving to the floods. There were plenty of Gulls on the move with one count of 270 Black-headed Gulls, six Lesser Black-backs and four Common Gulls. A possible adult Yellow-legged Gull was amongst them but, after much deliberation, its structure (lack of bulk and large bill) and relatively small size, was insufficient to outweigh its paler back and seemingly different wing pattern (compared to Lesser Black-backed).
The Wigeon flock totalled 176, with further birds down towards Patrick Farm, on the floods. The Teal flock stood at 48 but, again, birds were also feeding on the floods. The over-wintering Common Sandpiper reappeared for the first time this month.
10th November 2008 - Generally wet in the morning, improving in the afternoon on an increasing south-westerly wind.
The main birds of note were a jump in Snipe numbers to 25, no doubt as a result of displacement due to the wet weather. Indeed, the river must have flooded into Railway Pool as the islands are partly submerged. 200 to 300 Golden Plovers were seen again.
9th November 2008 - Cool blustery weather discouraged all but the hardy visitors and birds. Hail and rain showers in the afternoon on a strong south-westerly wind meant few small birds were seen.
A female Goosander was the most noteworthy bird of the day. It was on Railway Pool, being harassed by Black-headed Gulls before giving up and flying off to Bradnocks Marsh.
Only a single flock of Fieldfares (35) was recorded in the log and just a handful of Redwings and Blackbirds could be found on the Old Road where 10 Long-tailed Tits were about the only small birds seen. Two male Bullfinches on the railway embankment joined a few more Redwings there.
Five Common Gulls and two Herrings were the only gulls of note, whilst 100 Golden Plovers fed with a smaller number of Lapwings east of the underpass.
8th November 2008 - Sunny periods. mild westerly wind after overnight rain.
The main feature of the morning was Thrush migration down the Blythe Valley, with an estimated 350 to 400 of each south between first light and 11 a.m. Some lingered briefly to feed on Hawthorn berries, mostly in the Old Road hedges.
Following notable arrivals of Blackbirds on the east coast, it was not surprising that numbers on the Reserve had increased, with 10 to 15 spread along the Old Road and railway embankment. A handful of Song Thrushes were also present.
Golden Plover numbers built up during the morning, with flocks arriving to feed east of the road and, by 11 a.m, the flock had exceeded 300.
28 Goldfinches flew south, with three to four Siskins, but only about 20 Reed Buntings and four Yellowhammers fed in the crop field.
The weekend wildfowl counts included 426 Greylags, two Canadas, (three hybrids of these two species) female Shelduck, 105 Wigeon, 34 Gadwall, 73 Teal, 112 Mallard, 26 Shoveler, 15 Pochard and 6 Tufted Duck. 435 Lapwings was the best count since September 20th.
A Jack Snipe showed well in the marsh during the afternoon.
Other birds of note during the day were Grey Wagtail and a pair of Bullfinches (Old Road).
7th November 2008
A late report has been forwarded to me of birds seen today, which included, of greatest note, a Greater Black-backed Gull from Car Park Hide. A Water Rail showed in front of Oak Hide and a Green Sandpiper in front of Railway Hide.
Thrushes included 13 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare; a Nuthatch was seen between Oak and Railway Hides, and two Bullfinches were on the railway embankment.
6th November 2008
A late report concerns a female Brambling which visited the Car Park feeders during the day.
5th November 2008 - Still, grey and drizzly.
Two Dunlin were the best birds of the day. The main Wader migration ceases by the end of September but, in most years, a few Dunlin are recorded in November. The last was a single on September 23. Other birds included seven Snipe, one Common Gull, 17 Fieldfare and seven Redwings.
4th November 2008 - Generally grey and overcast in the morning, but sunny intervals and noticeably warmer than of late in the afternoon. Light easterly wind.
Plenty of birds, but by early afternoon nothing of particular note had been recorded.
3rd November 2008 - Generally grey and overcast with some drizzle and a damp evening.
The two female Goldeneye from the day before remained on Car Park Pool and, more unusually and particularly early, was the presence of a female Shelduck. There was a noticeable influx of Thrushes with up to 100 along the Old Road, together with about 20 Fieldfares, and a further 50 Redwings and ten Fieldfares flew over to the south-west. A Grey Wagtail also flew over, as did 80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a significant total. The Common Sandpiper put in one of its irregular appearances, and the Pochard flock totalled 20 birds.
2nd November 2008 - Grey and cold all day, and occasional showers.
A second female Goldeneye joined yesterday’s bird on Car Park Pool. 60 Golden Plover fed with a similar number of Lapwings in the field east of the underpass, where at least 100 Chaffinch fed in two flocks, but nothing unusual was visible with them.
The most notable bird of the day was a Short or Long-eared Owl that flew over at midday but, regrettably, carried on south. It seems more likely to have been the former and if so would have been only the second record for the Reserve. Long-eared has yet to be recorded.
1st November 2008 - A sunny start but a cold north-easterly wind made for a cold morning. Progressively clouding over and heavy rain fell from late afternoon and through much of the night.
It was lively with Finches and Buntings in the field, trees and bushes near the car park feeder. Approximate totals included 30 plus Reed Buntings, 25 plus Chaffinches, 15 plus Linnets and six Yellowhammers. Four Meadow Pipits also fed in the crop field and around the car park. 25 plus Siskins and a Redpoll fed along the concrete road and a Brambling called briefly from the trees by the cottages before flying off.
Raptors included male Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk and one or two Buzzards.
350 Golden Plover was a good count and a Green Sandpiper flew up from the river and flew south towards the Reserve. Only a handful of Snipe now remain on view on a regular basis.
Late in the morning a female Goldeneye on Car Park Pool was the first of the autumn. Visible migration included only 25 Wood Pigeons, 50 Fieldfare, 40 Redwings and 60 Starlings.
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