Stockbridge Nature Reserve Newsletter – Autumn 2018
This is a summary of sightings during the period September to the end of November. We had a few working parties and it was nice to see that the area cut and raked has been used by birds. Three Teal were seen feeding there probably picking up the seeds deposited during the cutting. With the weather dry and mild some willow pruning also took place.
At the end of September, a Water Rail was on site with two seen by 14th of October. The bird is fairly regularly seen from the hide as it searches under the feeder for scraps. Last record for Whitethroat was a typical date on 6 September when a bird was seen feeding amongst the cotoneaster.
Evening bird activity became interesting with 128 Mallard counted and for a short while, a Starling murmuration took place involving up to 2000 birds on 4 November.
Other records include a Snipe flushed near the stream, a Tawny Owl calling at 19.30 in mid October and of a mystery bird on 11 November. A brief sighting was of a white bird flying low between the reeds near the stream. Little Egret has been recorded before but the observer was not convinced. A few days later the bird re-appeared – a 100% white Pheasant!
As the months moved on, more sightings of Goosanders were noted with a male displaying to two females near to the end of November. During a day of gales, a Wigeon flew in to stay just 10 minutes, an uncommon species at the Reserve. A dead Tufted Duck was discovered and must have collided with the overhead power cables.
It is obvious that House Sparrows had a successful breeding year with double figures of birds at the feeders with one day 15 counted. This has been noted by the local Sparrowhawk who was a regular visitor. A Little Grebe also visited for a week.
Some other records included two records of Little Egret, a dead young hedgehog, and during the clearing of the small pond, a great diving beetle was seen. A bank vole enjoyed the small handful of seed scattered on the wall. From the hide it was seen darting out periodically to snatch a feed.
Stockbridge Nature Reserve Newsletter – Summer 2018
Some weather conditions can produce a knock-on effect in months ahead. For certain, the terrible flooding which took place a couple of years ago brought more Himalayan Balsam seeds on to the Reserve. The snow falls last winter plus the cold Spring caused the Meadow Sweet to be late in growing. How did these two matters affect the birds? In May, there are normally three Whitethroat males singing and eventually nesting amongst the Meadow Sweet. This year, just one pair settled and by June were taking food to their young but the nest was situated amongst brambles.
Control of the increase in Himalayan Balsam plants began when they were first seen but because birds were nesting and to keep disturbance down to the minimum, pulling out the plants was undertaken by just one person. Clearance was successful over the majority of the Reserve but difficulties arose in the reed bed. A pair of Reed Warblers had been seen in the bed so only small areas of work could be done. Also in June, there were a few days of gusty gales which could have destroyed any nests. However, a Reed Warbler was heard singing by the end of June. A Mallard produced five ducklings this month. Also seen were Ringlet Butterflies, a Comma and the beautiful Broad-bodied Darter.
During July, there were two male Blackcaps singing whilst House Sparrows had a successful breeding time with up to a dozen counted around the feeders. A fresh- looking young yellow Willow Warbler was recorded in the willows on 22nd and a Tawny Owl flew out of cover when it was mobbed by Blackbirds in a laurel bush.
With the sighting of an adult Reed Warbler seen twice at the start of August, it was great to see a juvenile with the adult on 5th. It looks like the species is becoming established on the Reserve. Nuthatch is an irregular visitor but one was heard calling from the trees near the river in this month. With the daily visit of so many House Sparrows to the feeders, sightings of Sparrowhawk increased. Recording a Kingfisher on 28th was welcome along with Chiff-Chaff and a juvenile Bullfinch.
A Whitethroat searched for food on the small cotoneaster bush at the beginning of August. Evening roosts of Mallards increased with 67 recorded. A Grey Wagtail was a good record with a bird searching one of the islands for food. It stayed for about an hour which is a lot longer than the Little Egret which arrived on the Reserve on 14th and stayed about 30 seconds before flying up the valley. A Snipe was flushed as the month came to an end but the final day brought the welcome sighting of a Water Rail. It quietly searched below the feeder in front of the hide and below the willows. It was a shame to find a dead young hedgehog next to the path with no obvious injury.