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Marsh Lane News - October 07
31st October and 1st November 2007
Generally fine and remarkably mild, with a light south-westerly. Birds remain similar to the previous days with at least one Tree Sparrow present on site. Yellowhammer numbers appeared to have increased but due to their flightly nature, a specific count was impossible. At least 30 Redwing, ten Fieldfares and six Blackbirds were in the Old Road hedges, by the top gate, feeding on the Hawthorn berries. Two Green Sandpipers were present as has the Common Sandpiper.
30th October 2007
Another generally fine day with a light north westerly and increasing high cloud in the late afternoon. Having not been recorded since last Wednesday, the four Tree Sparrows were again present and vocal in the hedge adjacent to the car park. Reed Bunting and Yellowhammers were similar to last week, Linnets were up to 17 in the crop field, but the Stonechat has not been seen since it was ringed.
80 to 90 Golden Plover flew around the Reserve at lunch time and appeared to land on the field east of the A452.
25th to 29th October 2007
Still weather slowly gave way to more breezy conditions over the weekend, though it remained mild.
Wigeon and Teal numbers continue to rise, to 210 and 59 respectively, and the best counts of the autumn so far up to 150 Golden Plover were seen in the newly sown field east of the A452. Single Green and Common Sandpipers were seen daily and a Peregrine was recorded on the 27th.
Some Thrush movement was noted on the 27th (50 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing and an impressive 11 Mistle Thrushes) and three Redpolls were present on the railway embankment. Single figure counts of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were made on most days.
24th October 2007
Relatively quiet on the birding front. A sunny morning gave way to a cloudy afternoon and a cold light easterly wind. There are now 4 Tree Sparrows! They are very vocal and this characteristic is perhaps why another two have joined the original two. At lest 14 Yellow Hammers were with them plus the usual Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits.
On the pools, the Common Sandpiper remains and by this late date may well be the bird which has overwintered since 2002. Wigeon numbers have risen to 140.
23rd October 2007
In continuing fine anticyclonic weather, the regulars showed well, including the two Little Owls, Green and Common Sandpipers. The two Tree Sparrows were in the Old Road hedges again, with 10 Yellow Hammers. The Stonechat moved between the car park and the marsh and was caught as part of a ringing session when it came into the Reed bed to roost.
Over 50 birds were ringed altogether, including 34 Reed Buntings and at least 20 more were seen but not ringed. At least 100 Starlings came into the Reed bed to roost and a Peregrine put up all the Gulls in the late afternoon before flying off south. 19 Pied Wagtails congregated on the Railway Pool islands in the late afternoon, with 1 Grey Wagtail, before flying off to roost.
The most unusual record of the day was a Black-tailed Godwit, which was seen at lunchtime but had gone by the late afternoon. This is a late record (though is the second for October) as most move through in July and August.
Both Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters were still present.
22nd October 2007
Disappointingly, no records after yesterday’s quality birds.
21st October 2007
The fine weather continues and with it some good birds . One of the best birds of the autumn in the shape of an adult Bewick’s Swan, was present from 10.45 to 11.20 before flying off low east. It is the Reserve’s third record after pairs in 2003 and 2005.
With the additional birders present, other finds included a late Chiffchaff by the Dragonfly pond, a probable Rock Pipit which flew over, along with a single Golden Plover and one of the two Tree Sparrows was again present around the Car Park crop and on the feeder. A first winter Yellow-Legged Gull dropped in and at least 30 Reed Buntings and 8 Yellow Hammers were spread between the crop field and the edge of the Blythe, in the area opposite Oak Hide. The Stonechat was again present, though elusive at times and a Green Sandpiper was seen in the afternoon.
20th October 2007
Another gorgeous still autumn day, after an overnight frost and early mist. The highlight was a pair of Tree Sparrows in the crop field. This species is much more of a wanderer than its cousin, House Sparrow. We get seasonal Tree Sparrows on migration and in 2005, they bred west of the railway.
Also in the crop field, Yellowhammers were up to at least 6, whilst the resident 15-20 Reed Buntings were joined by at least 6 Meadow Pipits. Two Jack Snipes were present on the Dragonfly pool.
The first Golden Plover flock (27) were seen and now the large arable field east of the A452 has been ploughed, I hope they will be regular over the winter.
Visible migration included 290 Wood Pigeons over by 9.15 (when passage dried up) and 48 Fieldfare, with 20 plus Redwings, 4 Song Thrushes and 2 Blackbirds on the Old Road hedges.
19th October 2007
Another lovely day after frost. The Stonechat was seen again, this time in the marsh in front of Oak Hide. The Peregrine appeared again and, from the jumpiness of the Gulls and Lapwings, is a regular visitor.
18th October 2007 - No records.
17th October 2007
After heavy overnight rain, water levels were up and whether associated with this or not, Pochard (37) and Lapwing (300) numbers were at their highest for the autumn.
Late yesterday, the first-winter Stonechat (last seen on the 12th) reappeared around the car park and today was on the reedmace opposite Oak Hide. One Common Sandpiper was still present.
Later in the day a Peregrine was seen to carry away a kill and some Fieldfares flew through. 3 Kingfishers were also noted.
16th October 2007
Nationally, it appears to have gone slightly quieter and this is replicated at Marsh Lane where the only birds of note at lunch-time were one Green and one Common Sandpiper, the Aythya hybrid and 225 Black-headed Gulls with a single Common Gull. A MigrantHawker was hunting the Old Road near the top gate, but there were no Thrushes there as in previous days. The lack of coverage is also a feature at the moment.
15th October 2007 - No records.
14th October 2007
The first significant flock of Fieldfares was noted -75- and Redwings were more in evidence with two flocks totalling 59. A few Song Thrushes remained along the Old Road but most appear to have moved on. 20 Meadow Pipits flew south in the last hour of daylight and maybe some attention to visible mirgration would have yielded more. One Jack Snipe and two Common Sandpipers remained. Still very mild, with Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers in evidence and a Muntjac was seen again.
Some late news filtered out of a Black-tailed Godwit last Sunday, which was not put in the Record Book. Please note your sightings, with times, locations an dnumbers if relevant.
13th October 2007
Generally overcast again but remaining mild. A few more Song Thrushes this morning, with at least 15 along the Old Road, mostly by the top gate. Redwings totalled about 25. On the pools, still a Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers, with two Jack Snipe present. Finches were much more noticeable, with a flock of 40 Siskins and 30 Goldfinches along the Old Road and 25 Linnets went over. Three Yellowhammers joined the Reed Buntings in the crop field.
Only three could make the re-scheduled work party. Graham Rowling strimmed the Ternisland on Railway Pool and John Whitehurst and I weeded the islands generally. Some regravelling will be necessary but overall the gravel patches worked well and Common Tern pairs totalled at least 14 this year.
12th October 2007
Low cloud prevailed the scene but it remains mild and still. A small arrival of Thrushes has occurred this morning, along the Old Road, with at least 20 Redwings, eight plus Song Thrushes, three plus Blackbirds and a Fieldfare. Four Mistle Thrushes may have been part of a group of seven that have been feeding on the Whitebeams over the last few days. A flock of c.20 Goldfinches was in the Alders by the top gate. Two or three 'Crests were calling from the hedge by the bales, four plus Meadow Pipits went over and a Yellowhammer was in the Old Road hedge by the crop field.
11th October 2007 - no records.
10th October 2007
Seven Mistle Thrushes were again present on another warm October day. A single Fieldfare was only the third of the autumn, but only three Redwings indicates the current slowness of their arrival. Tufted Ducks have risen to 35 and 150+ Starlings fed either on the Whitebeam berries on the Old Road or on the various islands. A Grey Wagtail was present and an evening count of seven Pied Wagtails though not high, was the most notable daily number of the autumn. Two Siskins flew along the central stream line and a Chiffchaff was with a Tit flock around the car park. Finally, the Dunlin from two days ago remains, as does a Common Sandpiper.
9th October 2007 - no records.
8th October 2007
Another lovely autumn day yielded a Dunlin and single Common and Green Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail and Siskin. The Aythya hybrid is still present.
7th October 2007
Similar conditions to yesterday, but Wigeon had jumped from 87 to 127 and there were still good numbers of Black-headed Gulls with 327 counted. 27 Redwings flew over and an adult Shelduck was new in. The first Jack Snipe of the autumn was found on the Dragonfly pond, two Grey Wagtails flew through and a Bar-headed Goose of unknown origin was with the Greylags.
6th October 2007
The weather turned overcast but remained still and mild. Singles of both Siskin and Redpoll were heard to fly over and there were still at least 40 Meadow Pipits still in the field east of the A452, together with 10 Linnets. Seven Mistle Thrushes were present along the Old Road and a Water Rail showed well from Oak Hide. Five House Martins went through and may well be the last of the year. A male Blackcap was seen in the car park bushes.
5th October 2007
Similar weather to yesterday produced nothing out of the ordinary, although the Peregrine was again present. A pair of Ravens were seen to be harried by the local Buzzards.
4th October 2007
Sunny conditions with a light south-westerly produced nothing more than a good movement of Black-headed Gulls with at least 350 recorded. A Raven was seen again and Snipe were up to 15.
3rd October 2007
A Dunlin was new in and there were still two Common Sandpipers. Snipe totalled at least 10 birds. Seven Redwings flew north in the morning, and the Ferruginous x Pochard Hybrid was still present. A Coal Tit was only the third of the year. In the late afternoon, three Pintail were present but did not linger and the first Golden Plover of the autumn was seen.
2nd October 2007 - no records.
Monday 1st October 2007
An easterly, increasing in strength, brought light showers but the only new bird was an elusive bright female Leucorhoa- type Wheatear in the car park. A Grey Wagtail flew over. Duck numbers have increased over the last week. Wigeon and Teal are around 80, Gadwall around 40 and Shoveler, just over 20. Two Gannets over Shustoke did not, unfortunately, pass over the Reserve.
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