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31 May 2010 - Sunny intervals, increasingly blustery north westerly wind
Two Little Egrets were the best birds of the day, pausing briefly on Railway Pool in the middle of the morning before departing. Ten Little Ringed Plover was a significant late May count as were three pairs of Shovelers. The Dunlin lingered for its third day.
Swifts and hirundines were again in evidence with at lest 60 Swifts and 30 House Martins.
Lapwings have begun their early summer build-up with 38 today on the west shore of Car Park Pool and up to 25 on the ice rink field (that north of Tower hide) over the previous two days. The flock probably includes failed breeders and those still involved - for example at least four birds are still sitting but if they fail they are unlikely to relay. A pair has two young in the crop field.
Other family parties include three Dabchicks on Railway Pool and at least three Long-tailed Tits by the top gate. The first Banded Demoiselle fluttered around the margins of Dragonfly Pool.
30 May 2010 - Sunny intervals, increasingly blustery north westerly wind.
Yesterday’s Dunlin remained in the increasingly blustery conditions and House Martins and Swifts built up, initially with 30 of each but over 150 of the latter later in the day.
The male House Sparrow at the entrance gate has got a mate as the pair are now feeding young! Later, as I walked back from River Hide, a female Pheasant became very aggressive towards me, presumably because she had young in the long grass on the embankment.
29 May 2010 - Prolonged rain. Cool south westerly
A Dunlin and five Yellow Wagtails (two males) were present on Railway Pool early on but had gone by 8.15am. One of the male Wagtails was displaying to a female.
Good numbers of hirundines and Swifts again, with 150-200 Swifts in advance of the worst of the rain and at least 100 Swifts, 60 House Martins and a few Swallows and Sand Martins for much of the morning. House Martins, Swifts and Swallows are still moving through as the Portland Bird Observatory website testifies.
In Siden Hill Wood, both Treecreepers and Nuthatches were feeding young.
The Wildfowl and other counts were four Dabchick and at least one young on Railway Pool, four Great Crested Grebes, three Cormorants, one Heron, four Mutes, 14 Greylags and 11 young, three Canadas, two Shelduck, 11 Gadwall, 45 Mallard and two young, male Pochard, 61 Tufted, seven Moorhen, 13 Coot, five adult and the two young Oystercatchers, five Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, 32 Lapwing, one Dunlin, eight Redshank, 25 Black-headed and 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 27 Common Terns.
28 May 2010 - no records. Cloudy. Westerly wind
27th May 2010 - Cool northerly wind, but sunny after light overnight rain.
The drake Garganey was present again today, best viewed from Railway Hide on the right hand end of the largest island - asleep! A male Yellow Wagtail fed nearby and then flew off to the south. At least 80 Swifts were feeding over the pools. Later in the day, three Dunlin arrived.
I am pleased to say that the west side with the two new hides is now open, but members will require their keys in a number of places, including for the hides themselves. Details on access are contained within the Newsletter which has been posted today, and an extra copy of the Newsletter is, as usual, in the record box at the main car park. The west side can be accessed on foot fron the existing reserve or via car parks which are accessed (a) from the gateway on the east side of Hampton in Arden, just east of Lapwing Drive or (b) at the south end from Marsh Lane, Hampton in Arden - follow Marsh Lane from the bad bend by the Church and just after it meets and runs parallel with the railway, there are gates under the railway which lead to a car park and the start of the track.
For updated site plan, see General Information.
26th May 2010 - Cloudy, cool north-easterly wind.
A male Garganey flew into the shallow water in front of Oak Hide at about 8.45 a.m., and was not surprisingly the first of this species for the year. There were at least 40 House Martins present at about 7.30 a.m., (increasing to 80 by 9.30 a.m.) and 60 or 70 Swifts had joined them an hour later. A male Yellow Wagtail fed on the island in front of Oak Hide and there were two male Shovelers and a female.
25th May 2010 - Warm, sunny intervals, east north-easterly wind.
In the evening there were two male and a female Yellow Wagtail, a pair of Shoveler, a Hobby, a Kestrel, three Sparrowhawks and at least 65 mixed hirundines and 20 Swifts. 17 sitting Terns was a very encouraging count.
24th May 2010 - Warm and sunny.
130 Starlings roosted in the reedbed in the evening, a Cuckoo called and there were two Yellow Wagtails.
23rd May 2010 - Remaining hot.
The best bird today was a Red Kite which flew over to the east at 9.30 a.m., but otherwise there was nothing else of note reported in the log.
22nd May 2010 - Hot!
The early birders scored with the best birds. A Wood Sandpiper was present from dawn, was regularly harassed by Lapwings and eventually departed at 8 a.m. An Osprey then flew over and headed off north-east, but neither of the birds unfortunately were seen again. A Cuckoo flew over and regular counts included three Great Crested Grebes, six Dabchick, 16 Greylags with seven young, six Canadas, two Shelduck, 13 Gadwall, 20 Mallard plus a brood of six, the regular male Pochard, a commendable 75 Tufted Duck, 26 Coot, seven Moorhen, six Oystercatchers plus the two chicks, 28 Lapwing, a single Ringed Plover, four Little Ringed Plover, seven Redshank, 20 Black-headed Gulls, four Lesser Black-backs and 25 Common Terns (a number of which are sitting).
A Hobby put in a brief appearance, no doubt spurred on by Odonata, which showed well in the sun, including at least five Four Spotted Chasers and Red-eyed Damselflies on the Dragonfly Pond, and a number of Common Blue-tailed Damsels were present around the Reserve as well.
21st May 2010 - Increasingly warm.
Yesterday’s Dunlin remained and the first Greenshank of the year was a welcome addition to the wader list.
20th May 2010 - Mostly sunny.
A Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper were new in, with Little Ringed Plovers up to six and the (or an) elusive Cuckoo was heard again. Two Oystercatcher young remain untouched by the marauding Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a pair of Linnets were seen mating around the railway embankment. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard near the causeway, although I am unclear on the precise location.
19th May 2010 - Warm, sunny start, slowly clouding over from the south-west.
Interest was limited mostly to breeding birds today. There are at least four Garden Warblers still singing on site, two on the Old Road and two either side of the south-west pond. The one on the central stream was not audible this morning. A presumed Lesser Whitethroat was sub-songing just north of the cottages, but Whitethroats were much less prominent than recently, with only three to four pairs singing.
Two Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers were still in song and although there are between eight and ten pairs of Reed Warblers, I think more are still to come in, as I would expect a high density in the Reedbed by the end of May.
Two pairs of Bullfinch are frequenting the area around Railway Copse and the embankment, and there are probably two pairs on the Old Road, one at either end. At least four pairs of Goldfinches on territory, but there may be more as on some occasions they can nest loosely as a dispersed colony.
The warmer weather encouraged out a number of butterflies with Common Blue, Brimstone, Peacock and Green-veined White recorded.
18th May 2010 - Occasional sunny periods, light south-westerly wind.
The only records were in the evening. Yesterday’s Hobby and Common Sandpiper were still present, with four Yellow Wagtails (two on each pool), whilst a Lesser Whitethroat was heard between the car park and the top stream.
17th May 2010 - Mostly sunny, wind west, later north-west.
Migration appears to have stopped, at least for the time being, and there is nothing new on the migrant front. The weekend’s Greylag chicks appear to be intact, despite the presence of a Fox, which ambled passed Railway Hide. Two well grown Moorhen chicks fed underneath the car park feeder, 25 Jackdaws were on the newly seeded crop field, but the Cetti’s has not been heard since Thursday evening. Fortunately the two young Oystercatchers were still present on Railway Pool.
An estimated Reed Bunting pairs count totalled 13 birds - any advance?
In the evening, a male Yellow Wagtail frequented the Railway Pool islands. There was a single Common Sandpiper on site and a Hobby showed.
Saturday and Sunday 15th and 16th May 2010 - Sunny intervals, warmer south-westerly wind.
The main highlights of the Saturday were a late female Wheatear on the crop field, a Yellow Wagtail around Car Park Hide and the first Dragonfly of the year, a Four Spotted Chaser which lingered around the Car Park Pond.
Graham Rowling’s counts of water fowl and waders were as follows: four Great Crested Grebes, six Dabchicks, four Mute Swans and the seemingly ever present Black Swan, 36 Greylags (which now have two broods totalling 13), six Canadas, a male Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 22 Mallard, a male Pochard, an exceptional 84 Tufted, 22 Coot, six Moorhens, four Oystercatchers, five Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, 22 Lapwing, eight Redshank, 22 Black-headed and six Lesser Black-backed Gulls (the latter on this occasion taking Coot chicks from Railway Pool) and 23 Common Terns.
On the Sunday, the Oystercatcher pair on Railway Pool hatched out at least two young, although the female appeared still to be brooding further eggs
14th May 2010 - no records.
13th May 2010 - Mostly sunny with the wind shifting from the north to the south-west, but remaining cold.
A Yellow Wagtail was seen on the fields north of Patrick Farm in the morning and, in the afternoon, two were present on the Railway Pool islands. A Common Sandpiper continues to linger and, in the evening, aside from a good count of Terns (38), there were at least ten Swallows, ten Sand Martins and five House Martins.
Six roving Lesser Black-backed Gulls were cruising the Reserve and at least one was seen to predate a Mallard chick which it passed to its partner to swollow.
12th May 2010 - Generally sunny intervals, with continuing cold north-westerly wind.
Yesterday’s two Common Sandpipers and Yellow Wagtail were again present on Car Park Pool. At least 50 Swifts moved through and a juvenile Song Thrush was present on the Old Road.
11th May 2010 - Sunny intervals continuing cold north-westerly wind.
Aside from a displaying pair of Common Sandpipers on Car Park Pool and a single Yellow Wagtail, there was little else out of the ordinary.
10th May 2010 - Sunny intervals, with the cold north-easterly remaining.
A Cuckoo showed well and called frequently around all sides of Railway Pool, but was not popular with the Jackdaws, in particular, and eventually disappeared off under the railway arch.
Other than the remaining Shovelers, there were just a continuing movement of Swifts and hirundines with at least 50 Swifts and 20 House Martins in the morning.
Later in the day, a pair of Goosander flew through, Little Ringed Plovers totalled six (three on each pool), there were two Common Sandpipers, a lingering Snipe, three Yellow Wagtails and the Grasshopper Warbler reeled again on Railway Pool.
9th May 2010 - A better day, mostly dry with sunny intervals but still the lingering north-easterly wind.
Aside from a steady trickle of Swifts and hirundines, the male and female Shoveler, there was sadly little else to report today.
8th May 2010 - Generally wet all day on a cold north-easterly wind.
A little bit more of interest today with the highlights being a first summer Kittiwake which flew through to the north-east, low over the pools at 10.50 a.m., (there were others across the Midlands today as well), a Spotted Flycatcher briefly in the back gate copse and a Dunlin for most of the day on Railway Pool.
Other birds of note included three male and a female Yellow Wagtails (a male was seen to feed the female, perhaps an indication of local breeding I hope), and a female Goosander whilst at least one Grasshopper Warbler could just be heard reeling on the west side of Railway Pool.
The other counts included four Great Crested Grebes, six Dabchicks, five Cormorants, four Mute Swans, seven Greylags, four Shelduck, 23 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 52 Tufted, two male Pochards, a pair of Teal, 18 Coot, seven Moorhen, three Oystercatchers, one Ringed Plover, five Little Ringed Plover, 15 Lapwings, five Redshank, 27 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, nine Common Terns, two Collared Doves, six Shoveler and a male Kestrel.
Warblers were generally well in song with most of the common species well represented across the site, although I do not think Lesser Whitethroat was heard today.
Small numbers of Swifts and hirundines continued to move through for much of the day.
7th May 2010 - Mostly overcast, cold north-easterly wind.
More Swifts trickled through, a Tree Sparrow visited the car park feeder, at least 10 Sedge Warblers were in song, but little else of note.
6th May 2010 - Overcast, occasional showers, light north-easterly wind.
Remaining pretty quiet. Aside from a Common Sandpiper on Car Park Pool, a male Yellow Wagtail in front of Car Park Hide, a lingering pair of Teal and a few Swifts through, there is not much else to report in the morning.
In the afternoon the male Yellow Wagtail was joined by two females and the returning Blue-headed. In the evening, there were five Little Ringed Plovers and at least 50 Swifts.
5th May 2010 - sunny, cold north-easterly wind.
A morning census along the Old Road yielded six Whitethroats with a further two along the Concrete Road, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Garden Warblers, two Blackcaps, two Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs.
There seem to be little else on the move aside from up to 20 Swifts.
The only other record in the log was of a Cuckoo calling from Siden Hill Wood. I am hoping that others of this species are still to arrive, as aside from the fact that I have yet to hear one, they seem particularly thin on the ground this year.
4th May 2010 - A continuing cold northerly wind starting off sunny and slowly clouding over.
The wind is undoubtedly affecting migration, and aside from Swifts and hirundines, there was relatively little change in the birds; the best were a Greater Black-backed Gull in the morning and, in the early evening, three male Yellow Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper were on Car Park Pool. Three late Snipe were spread between the two main pools. In the evening, there was one group of at least 70 Swifts over Siden Hill Wood, approximately a further 30 over the Reserve, with a similar number of Swallows and Sand Martins. Common Terns also reached 40 in the evening.
3rd May 2010 - Cold north-easterly wind continued, sun and showers.
A maleWheatear was on the flood plain, up to four Yellow Wagtails and the female Blue-headed Wagtail were around Car Park Hide, the female Goosander was roosting on Railway Pool, a Common Sandpiper was on Car Park Pool and there were plenty of Swifts and hirundines coming and going throughout the day.
A slightly unseasonal Meadow Pipit paused around Car Park Hide during the day, and was also heard to sing.
2nd May 2010 - Strong, cold north-easterly wind, heavy overnight rain and then showers.
On a thoroughly cold day, the two male Yellow Wagtails and female Blue-headed type continued to linger around Car Park Hide. The Hobby was seen again and a female Goosander was on the floods at Patrick Bridge. 30 Swallows hawked over there and a steady trickle of Swifts moved through, with the most at any one time being 15. Reed Warblers continued to come in and there were at least three singing in the Car Park Pond alone.
1st May 2010 - Sunny morning, more cloud in the afternoon, wind becoming appreciably colder and brisker as it moved from the south-west through to the north-west and then the north-east.
Two Grasshopper Warblers were audible in the early morning, one opposite Oak Hide and one to the west of Railway Hide. The female Blue-headed Wagtail and Wheatear were again present with two males and a female Yellow Wagtail. Whitethroat pairs appear now to have increased to 11.
Graham’s weekend counts were as follows: two Great Crested Grebes, ten Dabchicks, two Herons, one Cormorant, four Mute Swans, two Canadas, 15 Greylags, two Shelduck, 16 Mallard, 24 Gadwall, two male Pochard, 59 Tufted, 25 Coot, six Moorhens, 34 Lapwings, seven Little Ringed Plover (which suggests some migration), two Ringed Plovers, four Oystercatchers, nine Redshanks, three Common Sandpipers, 29 Black-headed Gulls and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Garden Warblers have increased to three and there was some hirundine and Swift movement during the day, with at least 40 Swifts, 20 Swallows and three House Martins. A Kingfisher was seen again and a Stoat showed by the concrete road / Old Road junction.
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