Ringing Update

Dave Riley was joined by Sam Bailey on the Saturday morning when the two nets caught 51 birds, among the 15 new were 7 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tits, 5 Greenfinches and the first new Dunnock of the year, sightings during the session included a Green Woodpecker, 4 Snipe, 2 trilling Little Grebes and 8 Pochard.

The No3 bed team caught 50 birds with 22 new including 2 Willow Tits and 5 Bullfinches, sightings during the session were 1 Siskin, 12 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Fieldfares.

Other sightings during the week included an excellent Starling roost of up to 150,000 birds, 30+ Pied Wagtails also roosting, March Harrier, up to 4 Sparrowhawks, 2 Ravens, Peregrine, Kingfisher, 2 Woodcock, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and 150 Redwings.

Dave Riley was on No1 bed on the Wednesday, catching 11 birds with the four new including 1 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinches and a Reed Bunting, the highlight amongst the retraps was a male Chaffinch, originally ringed on 30th June 2006 as a 5M and not caught since! Sightings on the day included 2 Water Rails, 1 Kingfisher (near the traditional nest site) and an overflying Siskin.

The No3 bed team were out on the Saturday catching 43 birds with the 24 new including another 6 Mallard, 2 Chiffchaffs and 11 Lesser Redpolls, amongst the retraps was a returning Chiffchaff, and Robin with a brood patch.

Other sightings on the reserve during the week included 5 Black-necked Grebes (possibly 6), 20 Sand Martins, 1 Peregrine, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 9 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Willow Tits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 17 Chiffchaffs and 7 Meadow Pipits (all on 23rd), 12 Buzzards, 59 Chiffchaffs and a Green Woodpecker (on 26th), 90 Herring Gulls, 2 Great black-backed Gulls, Ruddy Duck, 2 Grey Wagtails and 2 Little Ringed Plovers (all on 30th).

There was no ringing on No1 bed during the week, while on No3, the success of the new duck trap continues with 10 Mallard and a Teal caught, other new birds include the first Chiffchaff of the year and a Great Tit.

Sightings included up to 6 Black-necked Grebes and 20 Sand Martins.

Ringing records and sightings from 3rd to 16th March

Dave Riley was on No1 bed on 9th, catching just nine birds which were all retraps, sightings on the day included 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Water Rails, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Redwing and 1 Siskin, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies were also on the wing. He was also there on 13th, when he had a more successful day, with 34 birds caught the 9 new included 3 male Chaffinches, including one with a fat score of 3 and weighing 24.8 grms, 15% heavier than the other two. Amongst the retraps was a Willow Tit, originally ringed on 14th August 2009 and not caught since, while a Blackbird was originally ringed on 27th November 2010. Sightings during the morning included 2 Lesser Redpolls, 4 Shoveler, 3 Snipe, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Fieldfare and 1 Redwing, there was also Yellowhammer and Mistle Thrush singing just to the south of the MSC.

The team on No3 bed were out on 8th and 15th, catching 30 new birds, with the new duck trap being used for the first time and catching 6 Mallard, 1 Teal and 1 Coot along with a retrap Mallard and two domestic type Mallards. Sightings on the 15th included 50 Shoveler, Meadow Pipit, Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Black-necked Grebes.

Other sightings included up to 150,000 roosting Starlings, 3 Sand Martins, Jack Snipe, and 3 Chiffchaffs.

All of the pictures were taken on the between 10th and 12th March 2014.

Black-necked Grebe

My second visit in 5 days and as I sat down in the Tower Hide to look for the Ruddy Duck, everything took to the skies in a mad panic as this female Marsh Harrier glided in soon to be followed by another. I had great views for about half an hour before peace was restored. Didn’t see the Ruddy Duck though!

Such a loud song from such a small bird

This was my first visit to the reserve in 12 months and it was worth the wait, however I will not leave it as long next time and will be back in a few days. I was greeted with the sound of the black headed gulls and immediately saw a pair of Black Necked Grebes, I saw 5 in total and all the usual species including a Peregrine from the John Morgan Hide. On the walk back from the Rotary hide I spotted a pair of Bullfinches in the trees. While trying to get a photo, something caught my eye and I was able to get a photo of this lovely Lesser Redpoll. On the walk back a Wren posed for me while singing its heart out and even at the car I was treated to a dozen buzzards circling overhead, kindly pointed out to me by another member. A wonderful first visit

Photo of one of the Little Gulls taken this morning.

Cheers David

Photo of mating Black-headed Gulls taken this morning.

Cheers David

Photo of a Willow Warbler, taken this morning.

Cheers David

It was one of those special Spring mornings on No.3 bed, with warm south-easterlies blowing and the chance of some nice migrants. Straight away a single Jack Snipe and an Oystercatcher were flushed by an incoming Grey Heron. Then a Black-tailed Godwit flew onto the Morgan Hide scrape, while a Willow Warbler started singing and a Marsh Harrier flushed 100+ Shovelers and 130 Teal. Eight Black-necked Grebes and 3 Ruddy Ducks were showing well, while a couple of Sand Martins passed through. tThen the morning’s highlight was the arrival of two adult Little Gulls, which fed actively in front of the Morgan Hide for the rest of the morning.

Photo of a Black-tailed Godwit, taken this morning.

Cheers David

Lots of gulls on No.3 bed this morning. About 1100 Black-headed whilst about 50 Herring Gulls drifted east and 22 Lesser Black-backed on the water. There were 9 Black-necked Grebes, 8 Little Grebes and 6 Great-crested Grebes. A male Ruddy Duck and 3 displaying Lapwings were present whilst a male Brambling was seen briefly under the feeders. On No.1 bed 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a pair of Lapwings were calling noisily. At the viaduct were a pair of Grey Wagtails. Butterflies included Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. In all a very productive morning!

Over the past few days there has been a significant passage of larger gulls with c90 Herring Gulls observed on Saturday and one or two Great Black-backed Gulls. This individual was photographed on Friday the 28th.

Great Crested Grebes, spotted on the Wier between Beds No2 and No3

Robin (Erithacus rubecula) singing a delightful song

Wood Anemone, No3 Bed

Cowlslip (Primula veris) Meadow of No3 Bed

As usual, plenty of activity on Bed 3. Nice to see a pair of Buzzards overhead, although a bit distant for my lens

This Black-headed Gull appeared to have only one leg I noticed

Called at the reserve today 1400hrs after a morning at pennington flash.We had a sighting of three black necked grebes in front of the morgan hide.After looking for an hr they just appeared after looking in all the nooks and crannies.On the far side by the reed beds we had two seperate sightings of a male ruddy duck.We also saw two great crested grebe and two little grebe aswell as the shovelers pochard and the usual others.Feeders a bit quiet sawe the willow tit greenfinch and woodpecker.Look forward to our next visit.Roger Riley

A very pleasant spring day, although a cold wind at times. Chiffchaffs continue to arrive and I counted 59 singing males across the reserve. There were 8 Black-necked Grebes on No.3 bed, all paired up. A Green Woodpecker was calling noisily on No.1 bed. A few butterflies were on the wing in late morning - 4 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Peacocks including one near the footbridge on No.3 bed. Photo; daffodils on Butchersfield Tip

Blackthorn Blossom (Prunus spinosa)

Spring time on Bed 3.

Black-necked Grebe

A pleasant Saturday morning on Nos.1 and 3 beds produced: 5 Black-necked Grebes (possibly 6), 20 Sand Martins, 1 Peregrine, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 9 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Willow Tits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 17 Chiffchaffs and 7 Meadow Pipits along with many commoner species.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird and Les Jones)

4 Black-necked Grebe , one pair displaying late this afternoon. 1 Ruddy Duck male 1 Buzzard mobbed by Black-headed Gulls All the usual ducks , Tufted , Pochard . Shoveler , Shelduck , Mallard. 1 Chiffchaff in Willow close to hide. Fewer Starlings roosting than last week. The first few hundred to arrive perched in nearby Poplar tree waiting for the others to arrive.

80,000 Starlings at tonight’s roost, along with 85 Pied Wagtails, 5 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Redshanks, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Water Rails, 7 Little Grebes, 66 Shoveler and 5 Sparrowhawks.

Cheers David (with Al Warford, Jane Cullen and Helen Lacey

No1 Bed sightings - Barn Owl resting outside of the western box at approx 08:30 this morning was seen to enter as the bird detected us.Four trilling Little Grebe, two on each of the pools mid morning.

3 Martins at 5:15pm on Friday evening were seen by Ian and Margery McGurren. Recorded as Sand Martins it would be appreciated if any other visitor observed the birds at the time to confirm the species.

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) - from Morgan Hide

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) - from Morgan Hide

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) from Rotary Hide

Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) from Rotary Hide

Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) from Rotary Hide

Strolled onto No.3 bed a bit later than usual. Four Black-necked Grebes, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Snipe, 8 Redwings, 3 Common Gulls, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Goldcrest in song and 50 Shoveler were good sighting on a breezy spring morning.

Photo of mating Toads, of which there a few!

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst and Brian Baird)

Ringing on No1 bed this morning, sightings included 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing and 2 Lesser Redpolls. Singing to the south of the bed were Mistle Thrush and Yellowhammer.

Dave Riley

Shelduck on No 3 bed

Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeders at No 3 bed.

Lesser Black-backed Gull circling No 3 bed

Called at the reserve on Saturday 4pm we saw two Ruddy duck males and two black neck Grebe my first (ever)sighting along with the usual variety of water fowl.We stayed to see the murmuration of starlings brilliant lasted for approx 45mins spectacular well worth the effort.Look forward to our next visit roger riley

A Ruddy Duck, 1 Brimstone and 1 Peacock butterfly.

Two Black-necked Grebes reported on No.3 bed this morning by David Spencer

Cheers David

Went onto No.3 bed this afternoon to see if any migrants had arrived. No luck but found a Jack Snipe just a few yards from the Morgan Hide. Eleven Common Snipe, 3 drake Ruddy Ducks, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Water Rail and 640 Black-headed Gulls were also noteworthy.

Photo of a feeding Greylag Goose from the Morgan Hide

Cheers David

Another fantastic day birdwatching which started of a quick visit to pennington flash where we saw kingfisher water rail goosander and merganser and the usual small birds on the feeders.We arrived at Woolston eyes around 1 o’clock we saw from the morgan 2 pochard 2 male ruddy duck pair of gadwal and the usual shellduck shovelers and lots of the gulls.The feeders really quiet just woodpeckers and a few bluetits.Had a nice chat with Brian Ankers who updated us on what was happening on the reserve.Recommended that we see no:4 bed which we will do on our next visit.Just a Quick mention we called at Marbury park and saw 2 bitterns and a kingfisher.Look forward to our next visit Gill and Roger Riley

Lots of birds in song today including 40 Robin and 29 Dunnock across the reserve. Tufted Duck totalled 303 and a count of 68 Pochard was, as far as I am aware, the highest of the winter. Of these 23 were on the west pool of No.1 bed. Also on No.1 bed were 2 Green Woodpeckers and a third on Butchersfield Tip. Photo; Primroses and Snowdrops on no.3 bed

Photo of a Great Crested Grebe on the river by the No.3 bed footbridge.

Cheers David

Visit to Nos.3 and 4 beds this morning, with representatives from the RSPB to show them the results of the recent work, which they had advised on. 15 Snipe were on the Loop of No.4 bed and 3 Ruddy Ducks, all drakes, were reported on No.3 bed by David Spencer.

Photo of the current habitat on the Loop.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna

Starling Roost Saturday evening

A cracking morning with an early frost before becoming surprisingly warm. Nice sightings for the day included a Marsh Harrier and 2 Ravens on No.3 bed, a pair of Peregrines at the nest site on No.1 bed, Kingfisher and Goldeneyes at the Weir Pool. Additional sightings from the ringing team included: 1 Siskin, 15 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares and 12 Redpolls.

Photo of a Pied Wagtail in front of the Morgan Hide

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird, Sue Haddock, Ste Dodd and Les Jones)