March 31st

The top field produced yet another male Wheatear this morning, although this individual did not linger. The bird was seen at 9:45 on the telegraph wire above the field before flying off north over the main pool, it circled the horse paddock to the north briefly and may have dropped down on the other side of the road. Yesterdays Blackcap was joined by another singing male. An Oystercatcher flew west early morning before flying back east 20 mins later. A Reed Bunting singing along the streamline was notable, as records of this species on site are surprisingly sparse. Other species noted included 2 Gadwall, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreeper, 7 RL Partridge and 3 Sand Martin.
L Johnson...

March 30th

Two site year ticks this morning; the first being a pair of Shelduck at the western end, which were present early morning before being flushed by a dog walker and heading off towards Ladywalk. The second came in the form of the first returning Blackcap of the year, a male singing along the streamline. A notable passage was taking place with 5 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 15 Meadow pipit and a mixed flock of 35 Fieldfare and Redwing all heading north. Only the second Oystercatcher of the year flew east mid morning and possibly came down on the small pool. Friday's pair of Gadwall had moved to the main pool and a Tree Sparrow was again present.
L Johnson...

March 28th

A Red Kite was reported to have flown over the western end heading north west at 1pm

March 27th

The sites first Swallow of the year flew through heading west early morning. A single Sand martin was present later on and 4 of yesterdays Chiffchaff were still in song. As many winter thrushes have now moved on 3 Redwing were notable. Other species included Nuthatch, Treecreeper and 7 RL Partridge.
L Johnson...

March 3rd

Although long overdue the first House Martin to be recorded this year was present for just 5 minutes early morning low over the main pool. A third male Blackcap was present, this time in the car park. 2 Shelduck were at the western end mid morning. Also noted were RL Partridge, 4 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin.
L Johnson...

March 26th

Very little of note in the strong winds this morning. Chiffchaff numbers were back up to 5, with most birds along the river. A pair of Gadwall were on the small pool. Other species noted were Kingfisher and 8 RL Partridge.

Goosander roost:
I have had several reports in the last few days about the roost. A count early morning on the 25th March of 11 birds, and a peak count in the evenings of at least 30 on one date a few weeks ago. Most birds usually have dispersed within half an hour of sunrise.
L Johnson...

March 24th

A Willow tit calling from the streamline early morning was the first record of the species for over a month. 11 Sand Martin were around the western end at 8:00 but didn't linger. Still only 2 Chiffchaff were singing and there was no sign of last weeks Goldeneye.
L Johnson...

20th March

Cloud this morning brought down a group of 37 Sand Martin, which departed as soon as the sun broke through. The female Goldeneye was still present on the main pool, as were a drake and 2 female Goosander. Two Chiffchaff were still singing along the north shore and a Yellowhammer flew over.
L Johnson...

March 19th

Heavy fog this morning made viewing difficult. Just 2 Chiffchaff were singing this morning, both along the north shore of the main pool. Yesterdays single Tree Sparrow was still present. The only other species of note was a Kingfisher.
L Johnson...

18th March

The top field finaly delivered what I had been hoping for in the last few days with a male Wheatear, the first for the site this spring. The fog early on brought down 3 Sand Martin, while Chiffchaff numbers were now up to 5 singing birds. Yesterdays female Goldeneye was still present on the main pool, although simillarly to yesterday it proved to be surprisingly ellusive. After an absence of a week a single female Pochard was on the main pool. Other species noted included 13 RL Partridge, 18 Siskin, Green Woodpecker and a Jay.
L Johnson...

March 17th

A female Goldeneye was present in the centre of the main pool mid morning. The Chiffchaff from Saturday was still present, with a second bird singing by the small pool.
L Johnson...

March 14th

Spring had arived this morning with a Chiffchaff singing from the hedgeline running north towards Hogrill's end, and 2 Sand Martin, which dropped in for several minutes at the western end mid morning, before continuing on north up the valley. The third addition to the site year list was an Oystercatcher, which flew in from the west before circling low over both pools and heading off in the direction of Coleshill. 35+ Meadow pipit flew north. Other species noted included Kingfisher, 25 Siskin and 5 Buzzard.
L Johnson...

March 11th

Yesterdays 4 Goosander were joined by another 2 females this morning, and respresented the largest count of this winter period. It would be interesting to know if the count refers to birds from Ladywalk or if it is as a result of some passage of the species through the area (a female has also arived in the Marsh Lane area in the past few days). Siskin numbers around the site have decreased in the last week or two and now number around 20 birds. 2 Redpoll were still present amongst the largest siskin flock at the eastern end. Species also noted today were 2 Yellowhammer (over), 10 RL Partridge and a Treecreeper.
L Johnson...

March 10th

A more productive morning at the res today. 4 Goosander were present at the western end for most of the morning, consisting of 1 female, 2 1st winter drakes and an adult drake. A curlew called once over the eastern end at around 9am but could not be located, this or a second Curlew then flew high south over the sailing club 45 minutes later. Red legged Partridge numbers rose to 17, with a flock of 30 Linnet and 15 Pied Wagtail also along the lane. A Kingfisher was again noted along the river.
L Johnson...

March 9th

With the strong westerly wind and good numbers of Kittiwake reported in the severn estuary yesterday afternoon, I went to the res in the hope that one had dropped in. There was no such luck. In fact there was very little present. Due to the high winds most passerines kept a low profile and Duck numbers on the two pools were down again, with no Pochard present today and only around 5 Wigeon. Single Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher were the only species of note.
L Johnson...

March 8th

A Peregrine flew over the eastern end mid morning heading south, this represents the second site record this year. At least 6 Lesser Redpoll were present around the small pool with small numbers of Goldfinch. 6 Red legged Partridge were again in fields south of the lane.
L Johnson...

March 6th

Not a lot of change today from the past couple of days. A small flock of Redpoll were still at the eastern end with a couple of Siskin. 1 Grey Wagtail and a Yellowhammer flew over. A Kingfisher was present along the Blythe although proving to be rather elusive. A total of 5 Red legged Partridge were present in fields along the southern boundary of the site.
L Johnson...

March 5th

A Curlew feeding in the field south of the lane this morning was a nice surprise and represents the first record of the species on site this year. After an absence of nearly two months, 4 Tree Sparrow were in the horse paddocks. 5 Redpoll flew west over the eastern end of the small pool along with a single Grey Wagtail. 30+ Siskin were scattered around the site. Pochard numbers were down to just 5.
L Johnson...

March 4th

At least 1 Grey Wagtail was present this morning. Several Siskin flew over as well as single Skylark and Yellowhammer. The site was otherwise relativly quiet with only a few Wigeon and Pochard left on the small pool. 2 Greylag's were still on the main pool.
L Johnson...