By Richard King

Introduction

This is my ninth consecutive breeding report for Ladywalk and as the years progress it is easier to see patterns of birds' presence and breeding, with the counts (Appendix One) being particularly useful. I have continued to split the reserve into 12 transects and my methodology was again to list many of the birds in each transect by sound or sight on each visit. The reporting details that follow are largely from my visits, plus increasingly information from other  users of the reserve using the reserve’s Whats App and Twitter accounts. We have also benefitted from information from the ringers, and this year there was a greater ringing presence on the reserve than in 2023 as a trial Constant Effort Site was trialed on the reserve.. Additionally the ringers continue to monitor and record nestbox activity on the reserve and this information is included in the records of the species in the text.  I am sure that there are other peoples’ breeding records that can enhance this report and I welcome them via Richardking54@gmail.com.

The vast majority of the information in this report again relates to the Ladywalk reserve, accessible to members through the locked gate via a coded padlock. Whilst the Bourne and Blythe Meadows are  observed and reported on by Ladywalk visitors, they are not included in this report. 

The transects on the reserve remain the same as previous years and are as follows –

Transect 1 - from car park to the double gates, technically not part of the reserve but treated as the reserve in this report.

Transect 2 – from double gates to Hide A.

Transect 3 – at Hide A

Transect 4 - from Hide A to Rudd Hide *

Transect 5 – at Rudd Hide

Transect 6 – from Rudd Hide to Riverwalk Hide*

Transect 7 – at Riverwalk Hide

Transect 8 – from Riverwalk Hide to Bittern Hide*

Transect 9 – at Bittern Hide

Transect 10 – from Bittern Hide to B Hide*

Transect 11 – at B Hide

Transect 12 – from B Hide to Lock Up inc. the  fishing pools*

*Or vice versa

Fourteen survey visits were carried out in 2024,  normally between approx. 8am and early afternoon and were dated below. There are occasional reports from other dates as a result of my visits in addition to the survey dates and reports from other birders.

4 April                                                                                     31 May

11 April                                                                                    6 June                                    

18 April                                                                                    14 June                                  

26 April                                                                                    28 June                                  

10 May                                                                                     3 July

17  May                                                                                    18 July

23 May                                                                                    18 August                             

Weather

The 2024 breeding survey followed  a very wet winter with April and May rainfall continuing this theme, meaning that there was higher than average rainfall in the  seven months till the end of  May. Higher than average water levels across the reserve in spring meant that waders did not sucessfully breed with the exception of one pair of oyster catchers which fledged one bird  and survived high water levels at one stage..  The first three months of the surveys were plagued by in general cool temperatures and this also meant that butterfly numbers were very low. Butterflies increased in this area from July when temperatures improved, and rainfall was average or lower.

April with its high rainfall saw cooler temperatures  and less sunshine and May was the wettest of the five survey months.  There were days of heavy rain and my notes describe the month as dull and wet with a few warm days. The overall temperatures this month led to it being declared the warmest May on record.

June's total rainfall was the lowest in these five months and there was an improvement in the weather, evidenced by more sunshine than average. There were some hot days but it was the coolest June for ten years.

July rainfall was about average, a warmer month, with a hot day or two and these conditions saw improved butterfly survey results. 

August was another month of low rainfall, generally both dry and warm with several days of windy weather.

A  detailed summary of the 2024 breeding season

Canada Goose: an ever present on the reserve and the first likely nest was reported on the scrape on B Pool on 11 April, with a confirmed nest there on 26 April. Main Pool was hosting its first nest on 18 April. The first broods comprised of seven and two goslings on B Pool on 10 May and there were two adults with four goslings  on Main pool, with other broods recorded by the end of the month.

By June there were broods on the river but in 2024 there were no broods with more than seven young. This compares poorly with 2023 when  broods and / or family groups numbered up to13.

There was also little evidence of a post-breeding flock during the survey months so whilst there may have been the five or six broods normally seen on the reserve numbers of goslings were much lower.

Grey Lag Goose: the first breeding records for this species  were in 2022  and 2023 when five goslings were reported.  However  there was no evidence of breeding on or near the reserve in 2024.when there were less occurences of this goose. There was a pair on the meadow on 18 April but there were few records across the breeding season. There were post-breeding season records including two parties of approx. 25 on 18 August.

Mute Swan: there were  two pairs on the reserve this year but only one brood. On 23 May I recorded 2+4 cygnets on Main Pool, and eight days later there were three cygnets. This family stayed on Main and Rudd Pools and by 14 June there was only one cygnet. I have not known such a high cygnet loss  and there is no evidence to assist us in determining what happened to this brood. Cygnets are not normally predated, I am wondering if they died as a result of Asian bird flu.

Egyptian Goose:  this species breeds at RSPB Middleton Lakes and are potential breeders at Ladywalk. During the 2024 breeding season they were rarely present on the reserve, although there have been more records during the current winter (2024-25).

Shelduck:  in line with recent years a pair have been present in the early parts of the breeding season and this was the case on several dates in April, and up to 10 May when there were probably three.

Shoveler: There were approx. 30 on Main Pool during my first survey visit (4 April) but the following week there were only 1-2 pairs at B Pool. Individual birds were occasionally seen on the reserve throughout the breeding season but there were no reports of ducklings  or any other evidence of breeding in 2024.

Gadwall: breeding numbers seem to have declined since 2021 and 2022 when there were estimates of ten broods. On 24 June there was a brood on Main Pool, when several other broods were reported. On 3 July there was an adult and small duckling seen from B Hide and on 18 July there was a line of fledged ducklings swimming on the same pool. On this date other fledged ducklings were reported from Main Pool.

I am inclined to state approx. five breeding pairs.

Mallard: continues to breed in good numbers and the first reports of ducklings were in a brood on the river on 3 April. (PL).  This was followed by an adult +10 at the Angling Pools on 8 & 11 April.  There were then reports via Whats App of eight ducklings on the river on  (PF) followed by seven ducklings in the ditch by the reserve gate on 13 April (PL). Also by late April there were reports from the river by T1 of a family of five and 1+1 as well as 1+5 on Main Pool.

More detailed information about broods  as follows -

10 May – 1+4 were seen which was probably one of the above broods and there was a report of a brood in the brook near to the reserve gate. (PL). There was a brood 1+2 on the river between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides and an adult with six large ducklngs on B Pool and this remained at this Pool being seen there again on 23 May. At least five ducklings were on the Angling Pools.

30 May – broods of five and three were at the same location as the brood of  two on 10 May.

17 May -  1+5 small ducklings on Main Pool

31 May  -broods of six, four and one were seen by me, inc. a pure white duckling and this was again seen on 6 June but this was not reported again. On this date there were multiple broods including three medium sized ducklings on Rudd pool.  Also seen elsewhere a fledged brood of six  and nine smaller ducklings as well as six young ducklings again on the river  between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides. To complete the list there were two other broods of six and five.

14 June -  two  broods sighted comprising six & five.

1 July – 1 + 7 at the Angling Pools and on 18 & 19 August there were ducklings on these  Pools and towards the end of the breeding season there were probably other broods of fledged ducklings present but unsighted due to the tangle of fallen trees across the pools. Obviously this is a successful breeding species on the reserve, able to use the river and the variety of pools, particularly the Angling Pools  and for these reasons they may be less susceptible to predation. No doubt there is much  duplication of records in the above numbers and it is difficult to quantify nos. of breeding pairs or the breeding success rate.

Teal –there is a presence of this species on the reserve throughout the summer, especially at B Pool but like shoveler there was no evidence of breeding in 2024.

Tufted Duck: pairs were regularly present throughout the breeding season as usual but as is normal there were few records indicating breeding. On 28 June there was an adult with at least 4 small ducklings on the river at T6 and by July there was a presence of ducklings including 2 + 11 medium sized ducklings on B Pool. This brood was probably the one at the same location on 18 July, and there was also a brood of of four at Main Pool on 6 August. As I have stated in the past breeding returns for this species have been inconsistent and these records make 2024 a poor year, certainly compared with 2023.

Goosander:  this remains regular on the reserve, invarably found on the river with a breeding presence in the owl nestboxex. An example of this was one that flew from the box near to the front of Hide A on 4 April, and also present there four days later.

The ringers ' summary of nests in nestboxes is that five boxes held eggs and birds fledged from at least two of those nests.

On 3 May 1 + 1 were present  on the river at T8, on the following day there was a brood of five on the river and. on the following week four ducklings were on the river. From the same brood?

 On 6 May  Carl reported a brood of approx. ten ducklings off the reserve where the Edison outfow and Tame meet.. On 6 June  there was an adult with approx. 13 full sized ducklings also on the river. This brood may have been the  full sized ducklings seen on 6 & 28 June on the river near to Rudd Hide. Again this may have been  the brood of  approx. 14 fully grown ducklings on the river at T6 on 3 July.

There were high numbers of ducklings on or near the reserve  until 2022 when numbers decreased. Reflecting this,  2023 and 2024  breeding activity has been lower, with the above information  meaning there there were only 3-5 families.

Common Pheasant:  this species is less evident on the reserve than when I started these surveys in 2016 with the area around the Hide A feeders still being the best place to see them. In 2023 a brood was reported via Whats App whilst this year all I can report is a broken egg  found on 17 May on the path between Riverwalk  and Bittern Hides. It was probably more likely there due to predation than a successful hatching.

Cuckoo: my first records on the reserve were on 10 May when there were three on the reserve inc. a male and female.  Birds of both sexes were seen and heard on many of my visits including 3 June when a male and possibly two females were on the reserve.

Regarding juveniles on 2 June DC found a predated juvenile in the ringing area and on 6 August a juvenile was seen in the area of Rudd pool.

Feral Pigeon: remain  regular on the reserve but there was no evidence that they nested in any nestboxes this year, unlike stock dove.  Feral pigeons nest locally on man made structures such as Whitacre waterworks and the bridges over the Tame.

Stock Dove:  this species  often feeds on the short grass on the meadow, such as four on 17 May. Birds are widespread across the reserve as evidenced by their nesting in owl boxes as follows -

• on 26 April two flew from the nestbox by Rudd and the birds were often present here

• on 10 May noted at the old nestbox on a pole behind Hide A

• on 28 June one flew from the box by the ringers' gate and they were often perched near this box

• the ringers found nests in four boxes between the main gate and Rudd Hide on 1 August

• it is likely that they nested in other boxes such as behind Bittern Hide

It is of little surprise that the owls do not use the owl boxes when they are so often used by stock doves and squirrels.

Stock doves also remain regular in transect 12  as this is the area with the poplars beside the brook that lend themselves well as breeding sites. With the number of owl boxes being used plus the poplar trees  as providing good holes for nests I eatimate approx. ten nests / breeding pairs.

Wood Pigeon:  as usual this species was constantly on the reserve, where it is sure to have bred in several locations. I disturbed a bird from a bush in T 12 so it is likely that they bred in this area. Numbers  appear to be stable.

Water Rail:  Riverwalk Hide is now the best location to hear or see this bird throughout the year, eclipsing the area in front of B Hide which in past years has been the best location to see water rail young. No young birds were reported this year but the regularity of  water rails being heard and the size of the reedbeds would suggest that breeding is taking place and its is likely that there two / three breeding pairs on site.

Moorhen: this species is a regular breeder across the reserve and again Keyhole scrape (in front of Hide A) normally produces the early young birds. On 17 May there was an adult with two small young birds and it appears one fledged. On 18 July there was 1 + 2 as well as the juvenile and on this date there was an adult with a stick so possibly breeding was continuing.

On Main Pool on 28 June there was 1 + 2 small young and a fledged juvenile, on 18 July there were two juveniles present and on 18 August there was an adult with a small chick.

The river is not normally seen as a nest site due to its size and varied flows so it was unusual to see an agitated moorhen near a low branch over the river  on 6 June  and seen behaving similarly there on subsequent visits. I did not see a nest there but the bird's regular presence suggests that there was a nest nearby.

The Angling Pools are undisturbed compared with other parts of the reserve so are a good breeding ground for moorhen and I came across agitated birds there on 26 April and 17 May so  it is likely that  breeding was taking place, evidenced by a family of four young on 28 June.

It is possible that the no. of fledged birds has declined over the years despite there being a good presence of adults on the reserve.

Coot:   the most  easily identified breeder on the reserve and breeding activity per pool is as follows -

Rudd pool – there was a nest in use throughout my April visits and on 10 May there was a family of 2 + 4.  Also at Rudd in a different position  on 23 May there was a bird on a nest and this was occupied on my next three  visits until 28 June when there was a young bird present. Rudd Pool has always produced coot families, with a further brood of young birds seen on 3 July.

Main Pool – on 11 & 18 April there were three nests in use or being constructed.

10 May – there was a nest in use very near to that of a GCGrebe, and another large nest sighted from Hide A.

17 May – nest by grebe's nest still in use plus another. The former was again seen on 23 May although the grebe's nest had disappeared.

31 May – 2 + 4 small ones were in new Bay where one of the above nests was reported.

28 June  - four juveniles present (may have been those seen on 31 May)

18 July – nest on New Bay and several juvenile birds on the Pool.

B Pool  -  there was a nest seen from Bittern Hide on 11 April, 18 April and 26^th.

17 May  - there was a young bird by the above nest.

3 July – 1 + 3 small ones

18 July – an adult and a medium sized chick were there.

Angling Pools -  this is where there is so much deadwood in the water it is very difficult to see what is in the pools but this year like in 2023 there was no evidence of young birds.

There is a lot of easily recorded information about nests but less easy to codify the no. of broods or juveniles seen. There is a discrepancy between the number of small coots seen in broods and the no. of fledged birds which suggests that this species is susceptible to predation. However in the light of this it appears that coot numbers on the reserve are stable.

Little Grebe: birds were seen throughout the summer on all the pools,  particularly Main Pool  / New Bay and the Angling Pools. It has been difficult to find specific evidence of breeding success despite many sightings of adults. However a photo was taken of an adult and two young from Riverwalk Hide on 25 April but this brood was not reported again. Successful breeding was reported from B Pool and they almost certainly bred on the Angling Pools. They were regularly heard or seen here, with likely young birds  heard on  3 & 18 July. These pools are so overgrown with fallen trees  it is very difficult to see such birds and thet dive under water or take cover rapidly if disturbed. Overall it is likely that there were two / three pairs present on the reserve.

Great Crested Grebe:  Birds were present throughout the survey on both pools. At Main Pool there was a pair present on 4 April and they were nest building on 18 April. This was viewable from Riverwalk Hide, very close to a coot's nest, with two birds hatching in late May. One of the young was reportedly taken by a gull and the one young bird was seen regularly with the adults, successfully fledging.

At B Pool there was a bird on a nest opposite Bittern Hide  on 10 May but this nest had disappeared (flooded out?)  by 23 May. The loosestrife, best seen from B Hide, is a regular location for breeding with a bird on a nest here on 26 April. This nest, or another was being used through June and July, and on 6 August there were 2 + 3, (PS), and on 18 August I saw 2 + 2 on this pool, suggesting that one youngster had been predated.

On the above dates there were often three adults seen, but two pairs were present on 3 July – the pair at the loosestrife and a pair “loved up”on an island.

On the basis of this information there were three /  four pairs on the reserve but only evidence of two young fledging, a similar result to 2023.

Oyster Catcher: This species successfully bred in 2022 for the first time in at least nine years with one bird fledging. There was no success in 2023 but this year oyster catcher was the only wader that successfully bred on the reserve. The chick was first seen on the path when water levels were high and it survived (via PS on WhatsApp) , and this chick was seen again on 31 May at B Pool.  It grew very rapidly, was well protected by its parents successfully fledging in late June, and finding its way to RSPB Middleton.

The successful  nest had not been located and was probably the only breeding attempt as my survey records only refer to there being a sole pair on the reserve.

Avocet: in 2024 there were no records of this species, compared with 2023 when there was only one record. Optimism that avocet might nest on the reserve based on their increased presence in 2022 has evaporated, and to add to this picture they did not nest at RSPB Middleton for the second year running. There the birds left after a short stay and there were no attempted breeding attempts and this was probably due to high water levels on the reserve.

Lapwing: this species, although regular on the reserve throughout the year, failed to successfully breed in 2024. This is a real contrast to the previous two years when approx. 15 young  fledged,  originating across Main Pool, the meadow and B Pools. On 4 April I recorded  two nests on B scrape but nothing came of these nests. Additionally there were birds on the meadow during the early parts of the breeding season and on 2 June PS referred to two adults with 4 flightless young at this location but these young disappeared. On 6 June PS also reported three pairs nesting on the meadow but there was no evidence of young from these nests.

The theory is that these failures were  due to high water levels throughout the breeding season.

Little Ringed Plover: as in the past this species was present throughout the breeding season, normally at B Pool such as a pair on 26 April and “several” on 3 July. This year there were no reports of birds on nests,  probebly due to the water levels, or of  juveniles on the reserve from elsewhere.

Redshank: was again a non breeder. There were birds on the reserve, but not particularly

prominent such as a pair on 4 & 11 April at B Pool. I saw single birds on several other dates but was never certain of a second bird being present and we had no evidence of any nesting attempts.

This contrasts with 2023 when three birds fledged.

Black-headed Gull: in 2023 there were nests at Main Pool for the first time, and B pool for the second year. Breeding was affected by avian flu. This year breeding was affected by factors that we did not understand, probably, as with the waders, by high water levels as predation was not witnessed by observers or via the siting of a camera.

Most of the gull records were from B Pool, particularly B Hide which overlooks the scrape where they started nesting. On 4 April there were c120 gulls here, and on this date and the following week amongst c90 gulls some were on nests on the scrape, with evidence of mating birds.

On 18 April there were approx. three nests on each raft and about 38 nests counted from Bittern Hide, mainly on the scrape. By 22 April most birds had abandoned their nests, to the extent that four days later only ten nests could be seen plus those on the rafts. Throughout May there was a maximum of approx. six nests on the scrapes. By the end of the month there may have been some nesting in the long grass on the islands in front of Bittern Hide but this was thought unlikely.

The gulls nesting on the tern rafts appeared to be living a charmed life and on 31 May there were four young on each raft. By 14 June there were young birds on the islands in front of B Hide and  c13 on 28 June  - and it is likely that these all originated  from the rafts.

It remains a mystery why no young originated from the scrapes or islands.  It is ironic that the the rafts were to encourage the nesting ot terns at Ladywalk but as they were in position in April, before the terns arrived, the terns had no opportunity to use them. RSPB Middleton positioned their raft in 2024 at a time to encorage gull nests as they had had such a poor breeding season there in 2023 due to avian flu. This year Ladywalk hope to put their tern rafts out later to increase the terns' chances of using them, but perhaps we should not be concerned if the gulls take then over because they are amber listed.

Common Tern: terns successfully bred here in 2022 and whilst there was a good presence of this species in 2023, including on the tern rafts, they did not successfully breed.  In 2024 there were very few visits from common terns: my records are of one on 9 April, two in flight on 14 June and a pair at Main Pool on 18 July.  This paucity of records was reflected from other regular visitors. 

Cormorant:  nested in the same location as in recent years and during my visits I made regular counts from Hide A. Counts started on 3 April when there were c45 nests, some with young. Other counts were up to  approx. 51  nests and when it was difficult to count the nests  approx. 80 birds would be present in the colony. These figures suggest a further increase in the no. of breeding birds: it would be interesting if research was done on where these birds source their fish.

Grey Heron: ever present on the reserve and as the summer progressed juveniles were seen from one or two local heronries as was the case in previous years.

Little Egret: this species is increasingly seen across the reserve and river and they have nested in the heronry at RSPB Middleton for about four years. Last year I stated that if they breed at Ladywalk it would be within the cormorant colony and there was definite nest building there on 20 May and a nest was present three days later. However viewing this was obstructed by cormorant nests and there are no suggestions of successful breeding in 2024. Surely this will come and as a postscipt an adult at the Angling pools was seen briefly on 14 June which would be a quiet location for a breeding attempt.

Sparrow Hawk:  a regular at the reserve and encountered on three of my survey visits. On 11 April there was one in a bush by the Hide A feeders consuming a bird, identity not known.  A female was in flight at Hide A  on 6 June and another was in flight at T4 on 28 June. Despite these sightings they did not breed on the reserve again in 2024 as there was no consistent presence in one area or young heard.

Red Kite: on 17 May one of this species was being mobbed by two peregrines by T1. Kites are being seen more regularly in North Warwickshire including over the reserve and they are potential breeders in the area. Possibly they may prefer areas of mixed agricultural land with sporadic trees so the bird reserve and its willows and poplars may mot lend themselves as a potential breeding site for kite.

Buzzard: this species is  regularly seen over and heard off the reserve  but again there is no evidence of breeding. They are occasionally seen in the woodland around the brook and Angling Pools whish would be a good breeding area.

Barn Owl:  this is the second consecutive year that this species has not nested on the reserve, not helped by the owl boxes being taken over by stock doves and squirrels. During the previous winter a barn owl was roosting in an owl box behind Bittern Hide, this box was susequently taken over by stock doves.

The only compensation for the lack of nests on the reserve is that this species did well in owl boxes elsewhere in the Tame Valley inc. the Environment Agency premises at Lea Marston.

Tawny Owl: there was no  proof of breeding on the reserve in 2023 despite the presence of tawny owls.  Across both years a bird has roosted in a hole in a tree over the river (off the reserve)  viewable from the entrance track but this was not a breeding site. However there was evidence of breeding on the reserve in 2024, probably in T12 near the Angling Pools. A young bird was recorded at night on 25 May (PS) and a young bird photographed on 20 June. Almost certainly the same bird(s) were seen by BE when he saw two at the Angling Pools on 24 June  and finally I heard a young owl in daylight on 28 June at the same location.

Noting that five tawny owls were present at the end of the year (PS)  but no owl boxes were used for breeding in 2024 there may have been more than one breeding pair on the reserve as there is an abundance of natural nest sites.

Kingfisher: in the past few years I have estimated two pairs nesting on or near the reserve and this is likely to be the case in 2024.  This is on the basis that on many of my survey visits I heard or saw three birds. Many of the sightings were along the river, particularly Transect 8 ie between Riverwalk & Bittern Hides where they have nested, and most likely did in 2024. Birds were seen to enter and leave the bank here on 26 April and one flew to the nest area on 23 May. Transect 6 was another area where they were regularly encountered, this being in the area where the Bourne joins the Tame.

Despite my estmate of two breeding pairs there was no evidence of breeding success as there were no reports of juveniles.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: this species was not recorded on the reserve during the 2023 breeding season and in 2024 there was little improvement. I and two visitors were privileged to briefly see a bird on the reeds beside Rudd Hide on 18 April. It was probably finding insects rather than taking nest material and the only location in the Tame Valley where they are regularly seen and probably breed is RSPB Middleton.

Great Spotted Woodpecker: it seems that over the last two seasons there have been less sightings of great spotted woodpecker.  They remain regular users of the bird feeders, for example a female at  Hide A feeders on 18 April. The only nest I located was in a poplar by the brook (T10) on 23 May, when young were calling and by 31 May the young had left. This is the only nest reported in 2024,  a concern as nests can be quite easy to identify due to noisy nestlings. Also I have no records of juveniles, although the cessation of  using feeders during the breeding seasom means a loss of opportunity to see youngsters and confirm breeding success.

Green Woodpecker:  this bird is encountered on and near the reserve, but there may have been a decline.  The only significant information about breeding was on 14 June  when a female and juvenile were on T11.  Possibly another piece of behaviour suggesting breeding was a  noisy green woodpecker near the gravel pile close to T12. Two breeding pairs would be the maximum evidence based on sightings in 2024.

Kestrel:  in contrast to last year, there was no evidence of breeding on the reserve, indeed I saw no kestrels during my 14 survey visits in 2024. on 4 May there was a report via WhatsApp of a bird on a wire behind Riverwalk Hide, off the reserve. This bird may be the  one that remains at the Whitacre Meadows, adjacent to the reserve.

Hobby: there were no records during the breeding season and seemingly few post-breeding.   It is hoped that they bred reasonably near to the reserve.

Peregrine: for the second consecutive year peregrines did not nest adjacent to the reserve and therefore were less often on the pylon near to the car park and there were fewer reports of juveniles over the reserve during the breeding season.  They are still present at Hams Hall and probably nested further from the reserve.

Ring Necked Parakeet: was increasingly reported  across the reserve. The white poplars potentially provide many nest holes and it is not surprising that the  area where they are regular is T12. Additionally birds were often around the willows at the entrance to the ringing area and it was thought that they might have bred here. They were often present, and this is likely to happen in 2025 as birds are regularly on the reserve.

Jay: they are regularly seen or heard, more often the latter. On 6 June three were seen across the reserve and on 3 July I recorded a likely family at T6.

The status of  this bird on the reserve probably remains the same ie  that one or two pairs again bred.

Magpie:  these are regular and numerous on the reserve, with the meadow being a regular location for them.  Evidence of breeding is listed -

-        3 April – likely nest in a hawthorn, T12.

-        23 May – this species very noisy on the track at T8 whre there was a likely family. On my next survey visit they were even noisier at this location, again suggesting family activity.

-        6 June – juvenile at T2.

-        14 June – also on T8 three were heard at the same time and a young bird was seen.

-        3 July – there were possibly two families present, again at the above location .

-        18 July – three juveniles at Hide A feeders.

As last year T8 (between Riverwalk & Bittern Hides) was the area with most reports of Magpie, probably because there are a lot of large trees in the ringing area and riverside.

I suspect that there are three / four breeding pairs on or close to the reserve.

Jackdaw: continue to be regular across the reserve paricularly at the Hide A feeders.  They are thought to nest in the trees adjacent to the cormorants' nests  – this area still  needs checking for evidence of breeding.

Carrion Crow: regularly recorded across the reserve, and their nests are commonly seen. A pair were noted  at a nest in a birch between Hide A and Rudd but their nests are somewhat under-recorded

Raven: this species is seen or  heard over the reserve but there is no sign of it as a breeding location.

Coal Tit: was not encountered on my survey visits but I heard one at T2 on 8 July,  roughly in the area where I heard one in 2023. They are thought not to have bred on the reserve for two years and there is a decreasing presence at the reserve feeders. We probably need more coniferous trees to attract them.

Marsh Tit: I  had no evidence nor reports of this species on the reserve during 2024

 so it is likely that they no longer breed here.

Willow Tit: despite all the work to encourage this declining bird on the reserve there was no evidence of the species on the reserve in 2024 and  no successful breeding here for the fourth year running.

All is not lost for this bird in the Tame Valley as there was information about two pairs in the RSPB Middleton / Kingsbury Water Park area.

Blue Tit:  I am grateful for records of nest boxes, including tits,  from the Ladywalk ringers. Please see the ringers’ returns below for 2024 and the previous year.

Blue Tit,                      2024                            2023                                                   

Number ringed:           135                              155                                         

Number of nests:         18                                18                                           

Average:                     7.5                               8.6  nestlings per box

These figures are generally similar across the two years and during my visits there was blue tit activity by many nestboxes. The most unusual nest site was again in the roof of Rudd Hide, above the door, with young being fed on 10 & 23 May, with a large green caterpillar a food item on the latter date.  On 31 May there were three or four families evident on T12, a date earlier than 2023, and other family groups were observed on subsequent dates.

Great Tit: The nestbox records for this species are as follows -

Great Tit,              2024                                   2023                                       

Number ringed:       68                                    40                   

Number of nests:     11                                    6         

Average:                  6.6                                   6.6  nestlings per box 

Ringing returns from great tit nestboxes  have improved compared with the last two years although  blue tits remain  the majority tit on the reserve in 2024. Great tit family parties with young birds were recorded on my visits such as at T2 on 14 June, when five juveniles were together. From this date young of this species were regular at the bird feeders.

Sand Martin: this is the fifth season that the sand martin nestbox by Rudd Pool has been  in position,  with some success in 2024!  We again ran the sound of sand martin calls from the box for a few hours each day in an attempt to tempt them away from the adjacent riverbank.

Birds appeared to be delayed returning to the riverbanks at Ladywalk, with the first presence at two sites on 18 April. This delay was evidenced by a flock  being observed prospecting a mound of sand / gravel between Coleshill and Chelmsley Wood (HS2) on 10 April. Nothing came of this and I suspect that these were Ladywalk's birds.

Birds remained at up to three areas of riverbank during May but they were flooded out on approx. 23 May when they were flying low over the river.  By 6 June they were back at their nest holes,

Sand martin activity at the Sand Martin Bank (SMB) commenced earlier and there were reports of martins in and out of the box from 6 April. On 11 April the top left hole was being entered, including nest material on 20 April. This hole was consistently used and is thought to be the only hole from which birds fledged. Throughout May and June  there were sightings and reports of birds at various holes in the SMB, with a faecal sac being removed on 20 May. Birds were seen at various holes, particularly in the top row of the box but when the box was cleaned, and holes inspected on  10 February 2025 there were one or two eggs in these holes but no evidence that they were part of  egg clutches.

Our conclusion was that only one pair produced young from the SMB, despite other martins using the box. Throughout the summer there were always more sand martins at the riverbanks on the reserve than SMB. By 3 July most birds had left..

Swallow:  as usual this species at the stables opposite the reserve with birds being observed over the river between the stables and the reserve.

House Martin:  small nos. of this species would be seen over the reserve such as in

several locations on 28 June but did not breed at the reserve.

Cetti’s Warbler: from Appendix A it appears that this species is still increasing on the reserve with highest counts generally in the early part of the season. This is probably as a result of birds calling to attract a mate and as the breeding season commences birds are quieter.  Birds seemed to keep to the same areas as in 2023 such as a territory between A and Rudd Hides; territories in front / below Riverwalk Hide and  one / two in New Bay (T8).

In 2024 the ringing in the reedbed was to the Constant Effort Site (CES) procedures and it appears that numbers of birds ringed at Ladywalk as well as other CES sites were lower this year. Six adult Cetti's warblers were ringed  and three juveniles and using the above information I believe nos. are stable at about ten breeding pairs.

Long-tailed Tit:  is regular and widespread on the reserve and groups of this species including young are a common sight across the reserve. A flock of juveniles was recorded at T6 on 18 July.  There is no evidence of a change of status on the reserve and I continue to estimate between five and seven breeding pairs.

Willow Warbler: there has been a further slight increase in nos. of this species and as usual the highest numbers were in the early part of the season, notably during April. However birds were rarely seen during the main part of the breeding season, unlike 2023 when rhere were birds regularly heard in three areas of the reserve, which made me conclude that there may have been three breeding pairs, In 2024 there were not the birds to mirror this so I conclude that there may have been only one breeding pair on the reserve.

Chiffchaff: there were less chiff-chaffs on the reserve in 2024 compared with 2023, when I saw more evidence of successful breeding during my visits. The peak number was 19 on my last visit, 18 August, and many of these would have been identified via contact calls, and may well have been birds passing through. The strongest areas for chiff-chaff are Transects 1 & 2 especially on 18 April where there was evidence of courtship  by two pairs at the former transect, with five birds at T2 on the same date.  An excellent 23  juveniles were ringed,  but compared with 2023 I saw no family groups.

Sedge Warbler:  the highest count on a date was seven on 17 May, and there were no more than two during other visits. In previous years sedge warblers were often in one area by the bund at T10 but they were not consistently here this year. Two below Riverwalk Hide on 17 May was significant in terms of a potential breeding site.

My figures may appear depressing compared with the ringers' records as they ringed 23 and 4 juveniles.the former figure much higher than the ten in 2023.

 I again estimate two / four breeding pairs on the reserve, possibly the lower number .

Reed Warbler: reed warblers are always more plentiful than sedge on the reserve and 2024's nos. emphasised this. The top total was 17 on 14 June (top was 11 in 2023)  and there were three other dates with ten+. These figures are reflected by the ringing nos. - 34 adults and 20 juvs. 

Reed warblers were reliably seen at some locations such as Keyhole Scrape  (T3). In June there were good nos. at Rudd Hide  such as six on 14 June which clearly evidenced breeding here. On 31 May, 3 and 6 June there was a lot of  reed warbler activity  below Riverwalk Hide with flight runs with food seen on the latter date. There was a family seen on T10 on 28 June.

The area in front of B Hide was a stronghold with five seen here on 10 May, three a week later and four the following week.

In 2023 I estimated 10-12  pairs breeding on the reserve and in the light of the ringing figures the breeding numbers may have been higher this year.

Grasshopper Warbler: there has been no evidence of this species breeding on the reserve since 2021 and I cannot find any reports of reeling birds on the reserve in 2024.

Their presence is very influenced by habitat changes such as the size of bushes in a specific area.

Blackcap: in 2023 I reported lower nos. of blackcap across the reserve but this year there has been a rapid increase making this species the most numerous warbler on the reserve. 25 was the highest count on 6 June, the midst of the breeding season, and there were three counts of 17+: this number was the top 2023 count. However the ringing nos. were poor: one adult and two young. Perhaps the ringing area reedbeds do not support blackcap, whilst they seem to thrive elsewhere on the reserve whatever the size of the trees and bushes.

The entrance track (T1) has always been a stronghold for blackcap with a likely three pairs on 11 April and at this location on 3 July there was an agitated female, a male with juveniles and another adult with food.  Later in the season again on this transect there was a female and juvenile (18 August).

On 6 June at T2 there were a pair near to a nest site  and a likely family nearby  and also on this date an agitated male at T8.

In 2023 I suggested 15-20 pairs across the reserve and for 2024  this number is likely to have increased.

Garden Warbler: over the last four years nos. of garden warbler on the reserve have declined.  This year I recorded four on one date, 28 June, with three being encountered on five other dates in the breeding season. Two adults were ringed, and two juveniles which suggests successful breeding on the reserve. To add to this I  recorded a likely family at T8  on 28 June and on 18 August there appeared to be a juvenile garden warbler in a mixed flock of tits by the entrance track.

In 2023 I estimated five breeding pairs on the reserve, this year it may have been two pairs on the basis of the infirmation I have.

Lesser Whitethroat: as was the case in 2023 I did not encounter this bird on  the reserve during my visits.  However again there were reports of this species on the bramble bank, opposite the car park. It is possible, again replicating 2023, that lesser whitethroat did breed here.

Common Whitethroat: looking at the bare statistics there were less birds on the reserve in 2024 than the previous year when I stated that its status  was “stable”. The peak number was seven, inc. three pairs on 26 April and on two dates six birds were encountered  (max. in 2023 was 11).  On 26 April there were two pairs in tall nettles on T10 and it appeared that one pair was nest building.  The area around Rudd Hide (T4) was as usual a consistent site for whitethroat and there were four in song between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides (T8)  on 17 May and  on this same transect several birds inc. a juvenile were seen on 6 June. Finally on 18 July an adult was seen with a caterpillar on T5.

It is pleasing that there was clear evidence of breeding and birds are ofter conspicuous on the reserve. Last year I estimated  approx. 11 breeding pairs on the reserve but it appears there were less in 2024.

Goldcrest:   this species continues to hold its presence on the reserve and its status is unchanged.  There were three locations where birds were encountered and it is possible that they bred at all three -

-        on 28 June a possible family was at T1 and it is likely that they bred on the corner immediately prior to the reserve entrance.

-        also on the above date one was seen on T6, by the holly in the copse

-        encountered quite regularly at T12, beside the brook.

Wren: again the most numerous woodland breeder on the reserve, with the most heard or seen being 34  on 17 May (compared with 36 in 2023 and 35 in 2022 ) so numbers have been very similar in the last three years. Breeding activity was a bird with nesting material at T1 on 11 April and also in this area a possible family was heard on 28 June and another family (or the same one?)  here five days later.

I again estimate 25-30 breeding pairs.

Nuthatch: this species was not seen during my survey visits in 2024, replicating 2023.

Tree Creeper:  this species continues to do  well, no doubt benefiting from the poplars on the reserve, and the tendency of their branches coming away, leaving splits in the trees' structure. Therefore transects 1 & 2 are strongholds for this species with three in this area on on 18 July. Also on this date there were two additional birds in the poplars at T10 meaning that five birds were encountered on this date.

Of note there was a juvenile ringed on the reserve and it is likely that there has been no change in status with the estimate 4-6 breeding pairs on the reserve.

Starling: are not commonly seen within the reserve in the breeding season and in 2024 I saw none on my survey visits to the reserve. In 2021 I was informed that a pair nested in a tree near the ringing area, which had happened in previous years, but I have had no reports for the last three years.

Song Thrush:  the maximum encountered was only three on 10 May, which is lower than in recent years when four was a typical number, and seven in 2021. Song thrush appeared less often on the reserve and song is ofter heard over the river such as on 31 May when it was seen in an elder over the river by T8.  On my next visit possibly the same bird was in song by the Ringers' Area (T8).

Other examples of this species in song was on 4 April at T6, 10 May at T10 and the following week  when one was at T12 where one was seen on 18 July.

I estimate approx.three breeding pairs on or adjacent to the reserve.

Blackbird:  widespread across the reserve partic. in the wooded areas. The most birds seen or heard was 23 on 6 June and this no. compares favourably with 24 , 21 and 24 over the last three years. Despite the large no. of birds present there is never much information specifically about breeding, with the exception of a male being disturbed from branbles between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides (T8) on 11 April. Nearby there was an alarmed blackbird so this suggests breeding here.

This species is holding its status on the reserve so my estimate of 15 pairs remains.

Robin:  the maximum I recorded in 2024 was 14 on two dates in  late May, which is a reduction from  17 in both 2024 and 2023,  and 24  in 2022.  In last year's report I speculated about a  potential reduction of robins on the reserve. In 2024 one or two birds were present at the woodyard on most visits which suggests it is a breeding location but there were no reports confirming this theory.  The area between Bittern and B Hide (T10) is beleved to be a strong area for this species.

 Specific details of breeding are as follows -

-        31 May, a likely family at T10.

-        18 July, a family at T2.     

My estimate remains 12 - 15 pairs on the reserve

Dunnock:  the most recorded  was 11 birds on 26 April and maximum nos. have been very similar over the last four years.  The  stronghold on the reserve this  year was transect 1 and birds are often associated with brambles such as at T8.  A bird flew from  a likely nest site at T10 on 26 April. PS reported  that three birds fledged from a nest  by the beehives (T10) on 8 May.  There was a pair regularly in the little orchard  (T5) by Rudd where a nest was found by a working party in June. On 6 June at T12 there was a bird with food, whose nest was probably in a birch stump.

 On the basis of my figures  I would estimate at least ten pairs across the reserve.

Grey Wagtail:   these are regular along the length of the river adjacent to the reserve although possibly not as regular in 2024. Records of  their presence include one on 18 April on bricks opposite the copse (T4) which is a good nesting spot for this species. Also on this transect birds were seen on the far bank of the river by Rudd Hide on 26 April and 10 May.  A bird was also present at T6 on 6 June where there are rocks at the river edge and overhanging trees, again a likely nest site.

Whilst three locations have been listed I suspect that this does not mean three pairs so I again estimate  two breeding pairs.

Pied Wagtail:  this species is more plentiful than grey wagtail and is often at the river edge or the still water of the pools. Birds can be found along the length of the river. The river beside the copse is a regular haunt (T4) with birds here on three visits in April / May inc. two with a grey wagtail  on 18 April. Birds were also regularly recorded on the river at T6 (between Riverbank & Bittern Hides) where on 6 June an adult and two juveniles were seen. These were amongst the stones on the far bank and would have nested there.

Away from the river birds were  invariably at both pools such as three present inc. a male at Main Pool on 17 May and two at B Pool on 3 July.

Chaffinch:  whilst birds are quite regular at the Hide A feeders in winter and early spring this species does not appear to be common on the reserve in the breeding season. I have no records of sightings on the reserve in the main part of the 2024 breeding season and there  have been no reports about chaffinch breeding on the reserve for the last four years.

Bullfinch: when I started these surveys in 2016 this species  was commonplace on the reserve, or on the track above it at T2. In the last two years this species has been rarely seen on my survey visits: my one record in 2024 was one heard at T1 on 6 June. Of consolation they can still be  seen on Fishery Lane where the hedges are to their liking and I suspect they bred there or nearby..

Greenfinch:  this species continues to be regular at the feeders in winter / spring such as five on 11 April.  During the breeding season greenfinches  are often seen in flight across the reserve, notably Transect 1. They were also encountered quite regularly the other side of the river just off the reserve such as a pair on 31 May.

My impression was that they were a little more regular  on the reserve in 2024 and my  estimate  is that there are  two / three breeding pairs on or near the reserve.

Linnet: continue to be a regular on the reserve particularly in the area of river between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides where they can be found all year  and they probably nested in this area. On one visit (18 July) there was one in flight over the car park but I don't believe that this is evidence of the bird increasing its range around the reserve.

Goldfinch:  this species is regular on  or over the reserve and is often heard in flight  particularly T1. Birds have been recorded feeding on seeds around the reserve in previous years but seemingly not in 2024.  Whilst there is a regular presence of this species it is thought that they did not nest on the reserve. One of several species where more evidence is required.

Reed Bunting:   the maximum number for 2024 was 5 on 14 June, which included  a female at the Hide A feeders so it is likely that most ot these birds were involved with breeding.  It is possible that due to them nesting in the reeds, and lack of discernable song they are overlooked so nos. may be higher. Of significance four juveniles, presumably reared on the reserve,  were ringed on 13 July  but I saw no juveniles at the feeders although these were not in use during the latter period of my survey. My previous estimate of 4-6 breeding pairs may be high based on my survey numbers so perhaps this should be 3-4 pairs.

Conclusion

Generally 2024 was a disappointing season for breeding birds at Ladywalk, particularly waders, after several quite successful years. There was no evidence of successful breeding lapwings, nor redshanks and this is put down to continued high water levels after a very wet winter into spring.

Black headed gulls' breeding success was also poor and the reasons for this can only be speculated upon.  At one stage it appeared that the B Pool scrapes were going to host approx. 40  nests but overnight the breeding gulls left the site. This may have been due to high or potentially high water levels, as we positioned a trail camera to monitor predation but none was filmed. Again in 2024 the two tern rafts were used by gulls which had taken occupancy prior to the arrival of the terns and these rafts led to approx. eight gulls fledging.

In 2025 there is a plan to bring the tern rafts to the shore and launch them in mid April, by which date we hope that the gulls would have commenced  breeding, to hopefully coincide with the arrival of terns.

The ringing returns were also disappointing in terms of  attempts to work towards Ladywalk becoming a Constant Effort Site (CES). This meant that a specific target of ringed birds was not achieved and the ringers will continue this task into 2025. What is worrying is that the ringing returns from other sites were also poor and it makes me question whether there is a general decline in the number of small birds at Ladywalk.  As a guide I may count the numbers of aggregated birds in my charts over the last nine years in each report to ascertain  clues about any declines.

I continue to request information from Ladywalk birders about breeding birds on the reserve to develop pictures of species' breeding success. Particularly important is information about the non-water birds and for my breeding reports this is best forwarded via Whats App or the sightings page for Ladywalk on the newly revised West Midland Bird Club website.

If there are comments, additions or amendments to this report please contact me at ladywalk@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk

Richard J King

March 2025

Appendix A

TOTALS FOR SELECTED SPECIES PER VISIT

 (    = maximum no. per species)  Excluding young birds

Appendix B: Nestbox returns

1. Blue tit nestbox returns,  2024

Nest     Comments

1          Ringed 10

2          Ringed 10

3          Ringed 9

4          Ringed 10

5          Ringed 10

6          Ringed 8

7          Ringed 9

8          Ringed 6

9          Ringed 8

10        Ringed 5

11        Ringed 1 plus 6 cold eggs

12        Ringed 6

13        Ringed 7

14        Ringed 12

15        Ringed 2 plus 3 cold eggs

16        Ringed 9

17        Ringed 5

18        Ringed 8

            135 in 18 nests - max 12 min 1 Average 7.5

            4 nests abandoned at egg stage

            1 nest with dead half grown chicks

            1 nest predated at very young stage

2. Great tit nestbox returns, 2024

Nest     Comments

1          Ringed 3

2          Ringed 6

3          Ringed  5

4          Ringed 4

5          Ringed 7

6          Ringed 10

7          Ringed 9

8          Ringed 4

9          Ringed 8

10        Ringed 6

11        Ringed  6

            68 in 11 nests - max 10 min 3 Average 6.2

            1 brood fledged before ringed

            1 brood dead

            1 brood predated at half grown chick stage

3. Stock dove nestbox returns, 2024

Nest     Comments

1          Ringed 1

2          Ringed 2

3          2 warm eggs, subequently hatched

4          1 ringed

5          2 eggs

4. Goosander nestbox returns

Nest     Comments

1          4 unhatched eggs

2          1 old egg

3          13 eggs, subsequently fledged

4          8 eggs

5          5 unhatched eggs, subsequently fledged

Stock Dave nestbox returns, 1 August 2024

Nest

1  Eggs

2  Just hatched

3  Half grown youngsters

4  Fully grown youngsters