News from the Marsh 12/07/2009

What an eerie morning! I know that for many people, summer has not yet reached its height but for serious birders, we are on the cusp of Autumn as even as you read this recently fledged wader chicks are already beginning to depart from their arctic breeding sites.

Today you could almost hear them moving, it was so quiet. The breeding season is definitely coming to a close and we now seem to be in the interregnum between that and Autumn Migration proper. Although there were one or two birds still singing, they were just that, one or two in the last few hundred yards of my walk.

Despite the breezy start to the day there were still a good number of butterflies active including a couple of recently emerged Gatekeeper. Tufted Duck on the Marsh seem to have raised just one chick successfully but there were six recently fledged Black Headed Gull on the Mere. In contrast to this the Common Tern Numbers already seem to be decreasing although this years birds are far more apparent at the moment - get in quick, they will be gone soon.

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Clayhanger Marsh (am)

One female Tufted Duck with chick, one each of Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat, two singing Yellowhammer and a Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the woods today.

Ryders Mere (am)

Common Tern active included four adults and six chicks, only one male Tufted Duck was in evidence and one Great Crested Grebe was seen.

That's it until next weekend, I have a busy week ahead and to be honest don't anticipate much change in the next few weeks. It might be worth keeping an eye on the Chasewater Website though as low water levels could support some interesting wader passage.

Have a good week - Chaz

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An unusual visitor 11/07/2009

I DIDN'T DO THE MARSH TODAY - BUT I HAVE AN EXCUSE!
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This young Male Kestrel was rescued from a puddle on Ryders Mere by Kim and Trevor. It didn't seem to have any specific damage but was dirty and waterlogged. After a good clean up and careful drying it was handed over to the R.S.P.C.A. who are keeping it in for observation as it was a little under-weight and had quite stained under tail coverts that could have indicated a bowl or dietary disorder, but hopefully it will be released back to the wild in a day or so.
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In the meantime, it is probably unique in being the only Kestrel in existence to have sat through the whole Kenneth Moore version of "The 39 Steps".
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Well done Kim for surrendering your Tee-shirt in a good cause! - Chaz

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IMPORTANT WARNING TO DOG WALKERS

DOG WALKERS PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!
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THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ON RYDERS MERE.

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ONE DOG WALKER HAS ALREADY HAD THEIR DOG MADE VERY ILL BY SWIMMING IN THIS AND YOUR DOG IS AT RISK. THE OUTBREAK HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED BUT IF YOU CARE FOR YOUR PET DO NOT LET IT SWIM IN THE MARSH OR MERE UNTIL THIS THREAT HAS BEEN DEALT WITH.
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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
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Chaz

Going Senile

Don't let it be said that I don't put my hand up when I am wrong. In my recent blog posting I mentioned that the juvenile Black Headed Gulls were a first breeding record for the site. Kev Clements has been kind enough to remind me that we had successful breeding last year, and to prove it, here is a photo THAT I TOOK!
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I love my real ale and malt whisky but I have seriously lost some braincells! - sorry folks but at least the record is straight.
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Now did I remember to tell you all about the Pratincole.....?

News from the Marsh - 04/07/2009

Small Skippers have emerged in the last few days - but no sign yet of the rarer Essex Skipper.

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I do get 'the Blues' at this time of year, walking over the marsh means 'running the gauntlet' of all the rubbish that people have dropped and witnessing the disturbance that is going on.

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A good example of this came to me from Ray at Pelsall (Hi Ray!), he has found where a pair of Little Grebe are nesting but apparently every night they are disturbed by a guy with a canoe.

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I am sure that this disturbance is not deliberate, but the truth is that most disturbance is usually the result of thoughtlessness rather than malice. Stroll-on the winter I say!

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Those of you who are regulars will know that we have a compadre in Canada who keeps an eye on the marsh and mere (Hi Mike!). Well the other week I had the pleasure of meeting his Brother (Hi Arthur! - blimey, its like 'four-way family favourites this week! - Younger blog readers, ask your mom!).

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Arthur has found the Oystercatchers feeding on the recreation ground during the week, which probably accounts for why they are waking me up at five-o'clock in the morning. It should be good news as it suggests that they are still feeding young but I must admit that, although there are still regularly four adults about I have not seen the young one since its brief appearance a couple of weeks ago. I am quite glad that Ray also got to see the bird on that occasion as he can corroborate that breeding actually occurred this year.

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On the subject of Oystercatchers, I bumped into a nice lady from Bloxwich today (Hi Catherine!) -

(Now I really am worried, four hello's in one posting! Do you think Chaz has been kidnapped and a more sociable clone has replaced him?)

- who was looking for the Oystercatchers and we were comparing notes on Hirundine. We seemed to be in agreement that Swallow and House Martin numbers were down this summer and I will add to that Sand Martin as there has only been a handful of records for the marsh and mere this year. It will be interesting to see if this is a local phenomenon or is reflecting a national trend?

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Clayhanger Marsh (am)

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Among the dragonflies today there was an obvious increase in Black Tailed Skimmer and amongst the many Meadow Brown and Ringlet butterflies there was still the odd Painted Lady and Red Admiral.

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The first post-breeding creche flocks have started to appear with a flock of between 70 and 100 Starling over the village and an impressive flock (I counted 68) of Lapwing, many of which were youngsters. One Oystercatcher was on the south side of the swag pool, eight Tufted Duck were looking the worse for partial eclipse plumage and a young Green Woodpecker with an adult was evidence of more breeding success.

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Warblers are still singing and I am never sure if this is a good thing (second brood) or a bad thing (nest predated) but it is nice to hear them anyway. Today there were; Chiffchaff (1), Whitethroat (2), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Reed Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler (1). add to this a singing Chaffinch and one active Buzzard and it was a better than average visit for the time of year.

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Ryders Mere (am)

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Common Tern are still a nightmare to count because of the vegetation but at least sixteen were active today. As the young ones have fledged it is also becoming a little more challenging to separate them from the adults at any distance.

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Two Little Grebe and two Great Crested Grebe were seen today but only four Tufted Duck were on show. Another pair of Mallard have a young party of chicks (this weeks birds I would suggest) and regardless of how you feel about it, the Black Headed Gulls have certainly been successful in their first confirmed year of local breeding.

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Three chicks were on the island and were already bigger than the neighbouring Common Tern. While more interesting was the presence of two recently fledged Black Headed Gull in attractive juvenile plumage. This is really quite noteworthy as it is not a stage of plumage regularly encountered in the midlands (I remember when you had to be at coastal breeding sites to experience this!)

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The only other thing to say if you are local, keep your ears open at night as there has been a bit of Tawny Owl activity around the south side of the Marsh in the last couple of weeks (usually around midnight it must be admitted).

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I do have a bit of work on at the moment so a 'Midweek Hello' posting is unlikely, so have a good (and hopefully cooler!) week and I will do another update at the weekend - Chaz

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BREEDING SUCCESS! - 28/06/2009

One of the rarest birds on the site has raised young

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The biggest news of the day has to be successful breeding by our local Nuthatches. As well as adult birds calling and showing on the south side of the wood, a recently fledged juvenile, still showing some downy plumage was creeping along a branch at the woodland edge. For almost a year the birds had apparently disappeared but this year they have occasionally been seen and heard. Breeding was to be hoped for but not expected though - a great surprise.

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Otherwise a quiet day but with a couple of highlights. Butterflies are dominated by Ringlet at the moment which are outnumbering Meadow Browns at least three to one. Good numbers of Large Skipper are present and at least two, possibly three Red Admiral were seen. Small Tortoiseshells (The beginners Red Admiral) are also in evidence though, particularly along the footpath at the south side of the site.

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I obtained distant views of a Sandpiper in flight which I assumed to be a Common Sandpiper, but Anita Scott saw it well and assured me that it had a prominent eye-ring and a white rump so Green is the colour of the day (it was a Green Sandpiper).

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Finally - as I returned to the village hot and bothered I spied an elegant looking falcon high above and sure enough, my first local Hobby of the year was hunting. It showed well for a couple of minutes before gliding off high across the Marsh.

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Altogether a good morning walk, It would have been wonderful if I hadn't been bitten by a 'clegg' (BLOODY SUMMER!) - Chaz

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Clayhanger Marsh (am/pm)

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Singing warblers (yes - still singing!) included Whitethroat (5), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (1) and Blackcap (1). A Cormorant was on the marsh briefly before flying out across the mere. Two Oystercatcher were on the Marsh and just two Tufted Duck on the main swag pool. The Mallard were almost all in full eclipse plumage now.

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Grange Farm woods had the Nuthatch Family, Treecreeper and a young Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling (apparently from its nest hole)

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Ryders Mere (pm)

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Common Tern today were more apparent with at least eleven adults and twelve chicks on show. Eighteen Tufted Duck were in various stages of moult and a juvenile Black-Headed Gull was a rare site as it sat on a rock being tended by an adult. A single Great Crested Grebe was on the pool, four Oystercatcher were on the far shore and the Green Sandpiper was around for a short while. Two Stock Dove flew through and a Willow Warbler was singing.

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Cinnabar Moths seem to have been replaced by a good showing of Six-spot Burnet Moths (very similar) and there was still a couple of Small Heath present.

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That's probably it until the weekend - its getting to damn hot for me. have a good week - Chaz

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Mid-Week Hello 24/06/2009

One of our newest colonists is back for the 2009 season

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Not a lot to say, have been giving the Marsh a bit of a miss as its so quiet over there (although I did do a litter-pick the other day and managed to fill three carrier bags! - and you wonder why I hate summer?). Have paid a couple of visits to Cannock Chase in the last week and had good views of Nightjar, Wood Warbler and Redstart as well as some good Butterfly emergence.

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Locally the first Meadow Browns have emerged this week and today I saw my first Ringlet (see above) of the year on Clayhanger Common. Fortunately these sooty black butterflies with a white fringe look better at the moment than the sun-faded specimen illustrated. I am waiting for the Small Skippers to emerge so that I can hopefully confirm last years reports of Essex Skipper on the Marsh.

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I suppose you are enjoying the weather at the moment - well I am seriously grumpy (got sunburn yesterday) so I am looking forward to the weekends thunderstorms.

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Don't forget to turn over when one sides done! - Chaz

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