a good morning on number 3 bed between the showers, with Blackcaps, chiffchaff, 2 whitethroat only poor views of B N Grebebs. 3 Great black backed Gulls 2 lesser Black backs and 2 Common Terns viewed from JM hide it was raining when i took the photo so its not great. good amount of cowslips on the meadow

there was 2 shellduck sat together in harmony till another male came in and a fight broke out it lasted for nearly 5 minutes and as soon as it started a coot went straight over to get a good view almost joing in, this was followed by a second coot, they were both getting excited then at one point a a third duck had a quick go before the intruder fled and all calmed down,

First Greylag chics ive seen on the reserve this year (only 3 chicks)

I started the day with a common bird survey on the northern section of No.4 bed. After early frost had cleared it was a beautiful morning and ideal conditions for a count. Good numbers of warblers were present including 12 Willow Warblers, 17 Blackcap, and 15 Chiffchaff whilst 16 singing male Whitethroat was an encouraging total given that this species has been late to arrive this year. A single Grasshopper Warbler sang briefly in the centre of the bed. Other sightings of interest today were my first Sedge Warbler of the year on No.1 bed and a Cetti’s Warbler in the flooded fields to the north of No.2 bed. Broods of Canada Goose and Moorhen were on No.3 bed and at the Locks a pair of Mallard had 12 tiny young. Six Black-necked Grebes were on No.3 bed.

Adverse winds made for a quietish morning, in terms of spring passage,today, though still with plenty of good birds to see. The only real movement through was of all three species of hirundine , in small numbers, though a sprinkling of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats were probably new arrivals. Highlights on No.3 bed were 6 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 1 male Ruddy Duck, 9 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Willow Tits and a marauding male Peregrine (probably the same male, seen earlier guarding the nest site on the Viaduct.). On No.1 bed two Cetti’s Warblers were in song, bringing the number of territories across the Reserve to a minimum of eight. Six species of butterfly were a hint of things to come, with 7 Orange-tips, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Red Admirals, 2 Speckled Woods and 1 Peacock noted.

Cheers David Bowman (with David Spencer, Alan Warford, Helen Wynn, Kelly Ainsworth, George Dunbar, Brian Baird, Dave Steel, Sue Haddock, Les Jones and Alison and Ian Waller),

This morning’s highlights included 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Dunlin and 2 Mediterranean Gulls. Other sightings in the week have included 6 Mediterranean Gulls and a Wheatear yesterday and a male Marsh Harrier on Tuesday.

Another beautiful spring day after a cold start. Two Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler were on No.2 bed whilst on No.1 bed were a single Little Ringed Plover and a Cetti’s Warbler. A Mallard brood of nine very small young was on the Loop of No.4 bed where 25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were less welcome. Reserve-wide warbler counts included 21 Willow Warbler, 22 Blackcap and 42 Chiffchaff. The warm weather brought out an excellent selection of butterflies and nine species was an excellent showing for mid-April. Reserve-wide totals were 21 Orange Tip, 19 Small Tortoiseshell, 15 Peacock, 9 Small White, 8 Speckled Wood, 2 Green-veined White and singles of Brimstone, Holly Blue and Comma.

The only sign of migration this morning was of a steady stream of Sand Martins, with a sprinkling of Swallows and House Martins as accompaniment, over No.3 bed. Two Mediterranean Gulls, the drake Ruddy Duck, plus plenty of Black-necked Grebes were the stand-out birds, while singing warblers included: Grasshopper, Cetti’s, Reed, Sedge, Willow and Chiffchaff.

Photo of an immature Herring Gull from this morning.

Cheers David Bowman (with George Dunbar and David Spencer)

Another rewarding morning on No.3 bed, starting early with a systematic breeding wildfowl survey and then a relaxed few hours scanning for migrants. High points were: a Hobby flying along the north bank through the steady stream of hirundines which moved north, totalling 21 House Martins, 18 Swallows and 370 House Martins, a Marsh Harrier which came in at lunchtime and showed well, the drake Ruddy Duck skulking at the back of the bed, newly arrived Sedge, Grasshopper and Garden Warblers, 2 Cetti’s Warblers and 6 Reed Warblers in full song, a pair of fly-over Ravens, 12 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Oystercatchers which settled on the Morgan Hide scrape, 1 Snipe and 2 Water Rails.

Photo of the view, looking west, over No.3 bed.

Cheers David Bowman (with David Spencer,Alan Warford, Dave Steel, George Dunbar, Brian Baird, Kieran Foster and Les Jones)

Chiffchaff (Phyllocopus collybita) on car park

An Osprey was reported flying over No.3 bed late this afternoon - the fifth sighting of the spring.

Cheers David

Another early start paid dividends this morning, with some good birds moving through despite the cool westerlies. The morning opened with the drake Ruddy Duck forlornly displaying to itself from the Morgan Hide. Sand Martins were moving through constantly, totalling 425 by mid day and bringing 21 Swallows with them. The appearance of two Black-necked Grebes near the north-east channel suggested new arrivals, which was confirmed when our coordinated count found a minimum of 13 on the bed. In the process we twice had brief view of a Jack Snipe in front of the Linley Hide, along with a handful of Common Snipe. Back in the Morgan Hide, four adult Mediterranean Gulls showed well, out near the gull nesting rafts. Pleasingly, the pair of Oystercatchers which have been haunting the new shingle island for a couple of weeks, started getting serious, with the male usurping the male Lapwing from its nest-scrape, displaying and then mating half a dozen times with the female. Lunchtime at this time of year is usually good for moving raptors at Woolston. Yesterday brought Hobby and Osprey, today it was a Marsh Harrier, dropping in and panicking the gulls and wildfowl, cruising around the bed and then spiralling up to continue its northward journey.

The link is to a video clip showing the Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier and Oystercatchers.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=aOnB6QcgmIw

Cheers David Bowman (Alan Warford)

Despite the fresh westerlies there was a strong northward movement of Sand Martins yesterday morning. 760 had passed by the time I left at 1.45pm (counted jointly with Daniel Owen). Amongst them were 1 Swallow and 7 House Martins. In their wake they brought through an early Hobby, which sent about 100 balling up in panic. The last sighting of the day was the best, though, with an Osprey ‘scoped hovering over the river to the east of No.3 bed before drifting south-east towards Thelwall Viaduct. Other sightings of note included: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Snipe and 1 Water Rail.

Cheers David Bowman

Comma (Polygonia c-album) on path from footbridge.

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) from the John Morgan Hide

Chiffchaff (Phyllocopus collybita) taken at thecae park.

WeBS Count for 08/04/2017 Little Grebe 21, Great Crested Grebe 7, Black necked Grebe 9, Cormorant 6, Mute Swan 27, Grey Heron 4, Greylag Goose 6, Canada Goose 38, Shelduck 26, Gadwall 59, Teal 24, Mallard 54, Shoveler 40, Pochard 42, Tufted Duck 283, Ruddy Duck 1, Water Rail 6, Moorhen 30, Coot 54, Oystercatcher 1, Lapwing 4, Snipe 3, Black headed Gull 600, Mediterranean Gull 2, Lesser Black backed Gull 2. Kingfisher 1, Buzzard 2, Peregrine 2, Sparrowhawk 1.

Many thanks to all who helped to ensure full coverage of the Eyes for this important Survey: Dave Hackett,Derek Britch,David Bowman,David Spencer,Brian Martin,Les Jones, Brian Baird and Al Warford.

Brian Martin

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) from the Rotary Hide

Spring days don’t come any nicer than today. Arriving on the No.3 bed car park at 6.30 am to hear a Green Woodpecker yaffling across the Ship Canal, then walking onto the bed with the sun pushing its way through the mist to the cacophany of hundreds of milling Black-headed Gulls. No time for the usual breakfast but straight into a Water Rail survey. Reasonable results, too, with five territories and six birds located plus Reed and Cetti’s Warblers in song. Then a relaxed breakfast in the Morgan Hide, with the male Ruddy Duck putting in an appearance, before completing the last Wildfowl Count of the season, trekking as far as Bollin Point in rising heat. The male Peregrine was still standing guard at the Viaduct nest-site, two more Cetti’s Warblers were in song and Water Rail and Snipe were also noted. Then back to the Morgan Hide for a few hours of scanning for non-existent visible passage, though two adult Mediterranean Gulls and a handful of Swallows were sufficient reward.

Photo of a Buzzard over No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David Bowman (with Alan Warford, David Spencer, Brian Baird, Helen Wynn, Diane Shepherd and Les Jones)

A much colder day than recently after a sunny start. My walk began with a Grey Wagtail carrying material to a nest site at Latchford Locks. The male Peregrine was on the western viaduct and on Butchersfield Tip a pair of Mistle Thrushes flew over calling loudly. On the east pool was a possible Otter; it seemed too large for a Mink but I only got a brief view as it disappeared into the reeds. Small numbers of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were singing across the reserve but Chiffchaffs were less numerous than last week’s record totals. A single Cetti’s Warbler was in song on No.1 bed. A Kingfisher was on the canal near to a possible nest site and a second bird was seen briefly on No.3 bed. Black-necked Grebes totalled nine including one still in winter plumage. At least seven Lesser black-backed gulls were on the Loop of No.4 bed.

Update on Darvic code for the Black headed Gull 2BJA details as follows: Originally ringed on 18/06/2016 as a chick at Marsh Lane Nature Reserve, Meriden, West Midlands, B920LS This is the first sighting of this bird, which is 77 miles from your sighting.

A relaxing dawn till mid-afternoon wander today, completing a Breeding Bird Survey of No.2 bed and then scanning for migrants from the Morgan Hide. Totals of migrants were: 2 Dunlin, 10 Black-necked Grebes, 40 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 7 Swallows and 15 Sand Martins. In addition, 3 Cetti’s Warblers were in song, a Snipe dropped in and of the three Oystercatchers on the scrape, a pair mated several times giving hope that they might breed there. The male Lapwing which has been occupying the scrape for the past week or so, managed to pull in a female but when he started displaying and making a nest scrape, she was unimpressed and soon left. Raptors included 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels and 8 Buzzards, while a Kingfisher flew past twice past the hide.

Photo of the pair of Oystercatchers.

Cheers David

Photo of what I think is a Buff-tailed Bee from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Photo of a Willow Catkin from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Photo of a Teasel from No.3 bed this morning.

Cheers David

Chiffchaffs everywhere ! this is one of them

Black-headed gull - Darvic ring 2BJA which I have reported. From what I can ascertain online it may be from Marsh Lane Nature Reserve near Coventry (2016) http://www.brewoodringers.com/black-headed-gulls/4592515757

female Kestrel hunting over No.3 Bed.

record shot only of a Ruddy duck drake seen from Rotary Hide this morning

A fine Sunday which began with a visit to the Loop of No.4 bed. The work carried out by Ash Radford and his volunteers has created a fine wetland. Two Pairs of Little Grebes were displaying as well as a pair of Great crested Grebes and a third individual that may well have been on a nest. The cleared islands have attracted three Lapwings two of which appeared to be sitting. Along the centre path there were 5 singing Willow Warblers and very bush and tree seemed to have a singing Chiffchaff. With 8 singing Willow Warblers on No.3 bed clearly there had been an influx overnight. On No.3 there were 10 Black necked Grebes (the highest number so far) including 2 winter plumaged birds that appeared to be paired. Most were on the north west pool. There was,unfortunately, no sign of the two adult Mediterranean Gulls seen earlier. With 15 Little Grebes on No.3 and one on the Oxbow the grand total of 20 is impressive.Others could be present on the river and No.1 bed.

Today, after arriving at 6.30 am for breakfast in the Morgan Hide, we set off to do the Breeding Bird Survey for No.1 bed. There had clearly been an arrival of migrants, as evidenced by a single male Wheatear, 5 Willow Warblers in song and 7 Little Ringed Plovers on territory. One of the resident Cetti’s Warblers was also in song (with 2 more on No.3 bed), as were 16 Chiffchaffs and one Blackcap. On the Viaduct, the male Peregrine was standing sentinel,with the female presumably on eggs. while a Kingfisher was present at a nest-hole on the Canal Bank. Early April is also a good time to witness a kind of “cross-over” migration, when the last winter visitors are departing and summer visitors arriving. This was well-demonstrated by the constant eastward movement of Redwings, totalling 460 (along with a few Fieldfares) at the same time as 170 Sand Martins and 18 Swallows headed north-west. As far as our breeding Grebes are concerned, 8 Black-necked, 17 Little and 12 Great Crested were decent counts, though we hopefully await the arrival of quite a few more Black-necked in the next week or two. There was also, yesterday afternoon, a third sighting for the spring of an Osprey on No.3 bed. Cheers David Bowman (with Dave Steel, Alan Warford, Helen Wynn, George Dunbar, Sue Haddock, Brian Baird, and Les Jones.)