Local Birding at Marsh Lane NR

It was another mild and sunny Spring-like day again today so B and I went along to Marsh Lane for a walk this afternoon.

There were a few berries left on this ivy.

We spent most of the time in River Hide which overlooks both Railway Pool and

Car Park pool.

Sorry no close-up photos of birds - as mentioned before they are just too far away in the main for the 70-300 lens and I am not going to mention the Bridge Camera again until I've got to grips with it!! I saw my first Great Crested Grebe of the year - sadly a lone bird rather than a pair - it would have been nice to see their very endearing courtship display. There were plenty of Lapwings, Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Teal, Cormorants, Gadwall and Shovelers on the pools and the coots were spending most of their time chasing each other. Greylag and Canada Geese were grazing fields next to the River Blythe.

Alder catkins and cones

Speedwell was in flower along the path - I think this is probably Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica) It appears that finally (after about 5 years when I couldn't get them to work) I can insert italics! Sorry the aperture was on the wrong setting - will try and get a better photo next time I visit.

Greater Reedmace is starting to go to seed.

There are far more flowers now on the Gorse bushes.

I was watching a pair of Long-tailed Tits flitting around the shrubs and trying to get closer to get a photo when I spotted this Tree Bumble Bee (Bombus hypnorum). Sorry another rubbish photo as the camera was still on the wrong settings :(

This orangey-yellow lichen was coating the branches of many trees around the car park. I think it is probably Xanthoria parietina or Golden Shield Lichen - a yellow foliose lichen. Am still awaiting confirmation from i-spot on the id.

Lichens are formed by two organisms - a fungus which forms the body of the lichen and a single-celled green alga which provides the nutrients via photosynthesis. The two organisms live together in a symbiotic relationship. In Xanthoria parietina the spores are produced by the fungus in the golden orange cups and the orange colour (parietin) protects the alga from uv.

This species is found in sunny exposed places and is tolerant of high levels of nitrogen, especially ammonia, and it is therefore often common in trees and buildings around farmland. X.parietina and the very similar X. polycarpa can be used to monitor nitrogen levels in the atmosphere.



Teasels growing around the car park.

I was hoping to see a few early returning Sand Martins at the Reserve today but none were around. Perhaps they will have arrived by the time we next visit.

Garden Moths have started to arrive and a Trip to the Theatre

The Garden Moth Scheme which runs from March to November started on Friday, 6th March. Fortunately the night was mild and dry so out went the moth trap. I was really pleased to trap 3 species - all new for the year (not surprisingly)!



Friday 6th March - GMS Week 1

Minimum Temperature 7.2 degrees centigrade

15w Actinic Skinner Trap


Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) - (the females of this species are flightless) x 1

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) x 1

and the very beautiful Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) with the most beautiful antennae! x 1

The last photo was taken with the Canon Bridge SX50HS on the macro setting. Am still trying to get to grips with this camera - I am not keen on the view finder which is hopeless but can't get used to focusing using the fold out screen. In desperation I have finally given in and have started to print off the manual which comes on a cd and opens as a pdf on the computer. I am also going through a forum with a thread on the Canon bridge, recommended by another Blogger, which is very useful although time consuming!


I ran the trap again last night

Saturday, 7th March

Min Temp 5.7 degrees centigrade.

Just one moth this time also new for year!

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) x 1

This brings the species total for 2015 up to six - not a bad start for my garden. I also potted a small, brown, exceedingly non-descript micro which won't keep still and is likely to remain unidentified!!





Theatre

On Thursday D and I went along to Birmingham Rep to see The King's Speech. I was that worried about the roadworks near the theatre in Birmingham City Centre that we left far too early and ended up arriving 90 minutes before the performance began. Normally, we eat sandwiches in the car but we left these and had a meal at the Handmade Burgers Restaurant which does the most delicious veggie burgers. I rarely go to this part of the City Centre but Brindley Place and the canal looked lovely at night. One of these days I'll go in the daytime and try to get some photos of this area.

The performance, a production between the Rep and Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Jason Donovan and Raymond Coulthard was excellent.

Signs of Spring at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

B and I made a brief visit this afternoon to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens - it was such a lovely day it seemed a shame not to go out. The 10 acre Gardens are a rare example of an English Baroque Garden and are being restored by the Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens Trust as near as possible to the period 1680 - 1762 when the Gardens were in their prime. 600 plants from the Period can be found around the gardens.

Looking towards the Melon Ground.

Holly Walk with the Summer House in the far distance.

The Green House built around 1729.

There will soon be blossom along the hedgerow surrounding the North Orchard.

The Snowdrops and Winter Aconites were still looking lovely in the Lower Wilderness although perhaps a little past their best.

Snowflakes and Winter Aconites and my first bee (honey, I think) sighting of the year.

Lungwort is coming into flower.

Witch Hazel - tiny but covered in flowers.

There was a wonderful display of Hellebores.

This Black Hellebore was particularly beautiful.

A miniature "bee hotel"

The first daffodil I've seen in flower this year - found in the Nut Ground

The North Pond (in the Extra Gardens)

The recently restored Mirror Pool

The South Kitchen Garden based on a plan by Batty Langley in his book "New Principles of Gardening" published in 1728.

The Summer House

Castle Bromwich Hall - now a hotel.

A Brief Visit to Marsh Lane NR - Snipes Galore - and Another Garden Moth

It was a beautiful day today - dry and sunny with a definite Spring-like feel - so B and I went along to Marsh Lane NR for an hour or so this afternoon.



We stopped off at one of the small pools where there is a viewing screen/hide - there were a few Tufted Ducks

and this Coot.

Robin by one of the feeding stations.

We spent some time in Oak Hide which overlooks Railway Pool - where we watched Tufted Ducks, Lapwings, Mute Swans, Grey Herons, Pochard and Black-headed Gulls, some of which are now acquiring their black heads. The Coots were being very territorial and there was a lot of chasing and splashing taking place and it was good to see the Black Swan as I haven't seen it for a while.

Mute Swan

Part of the view from Oak Hide - the channel in the foreground attracts Common Snipe (and the occasional Jack Snipe).

Common Snipe

You can see in this photo (there are two) how well camouflaged Snipe are.

Alder Catkins and Cones

Dandelion and Gorse in flower.

I knew there were beehives on the Reserve but I finally found out today where they are located - on the edge of the crop field.

One of my favourite trees looking very colourful.

We finished off the visit in Car Park Hide which overlooks Car Park Pool. As we opened the shutters in the hide it was apparent that there were at least ten Snipe feeding not far away. At first they flattened themselves low into the grass

but within seconds were happily feeding away again. I don't think I have ever been so close to Snipe before.

Lapwing

We didn't see the Pintail or Goosanders which have been seen recently at the reserve but I did add 8 species to the year list - Jackdaw, Little Grebe, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Oystercatchers (yes a pair have already returned) and Greylag Goose.





Garden Moths



I spotted a Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) on the garage window earlier this week.

I did put the moth trap out on Wednesday night between 6.30 p.m. and midnight (had to bring it in then as heavy rain was forecast later that night) as it was so mild but failed to trap any moths.