SS15 wildlife watching: Visit to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve

Date: 30th April 2023

Time: from 7:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 7°C to 12°C

This morning, I had one of my best ever visits to Noak Bridge Nature Reserve.

The main highlight was a male Nightingale singing distantly from somewhere to the east of the path between the storage shed and the Eastfield Road entrance. However, frustratingly, this was outside the boundary of Noak Bridge Nature Reserve and therefore can not count as a site record!

During my visit, I was able to record 28 bird species, including 2 new records for the site, taking the total to 47 species, plus 6 new records for 2023 for the site, taking the total to 33 species and already more than my total for 2022 (30 species).

The 2 new records for the site were ….

Grey Wagtail: 2 seen flying over Meadow Pond

Stock Dove: a male heard but unseen calling from dense vegetation between Meadow Pond and Fox Pond

The 6 new records for 2023 for the site were ….

Common Tern: a single bird seen flying high and in a northerly direction over Meadow Pond

Common Whitethroat: singing male seen in bushes at the end of the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site

Lesser Whitethroat: singing male seen in bushes at the end of the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site plus a singing male heard but unseen between the storage shed and the Eastfield Road entrance and another singing male heard but unseen between the storage shed and the High Ridge footpath.

House Sparrow: single male seen in bushes bordering Thorny Wood

Starling: 2 seen flying over East Meadow

Greylag Goose: 1 heard but unseen flying over the Willow Pond/Oak Wood area

I was also able to upgrade Great Spotted Woodpecker from a “heard only” record, having seen a calling bird in the area of woodland between the Spanish Steps and the storage shed and another “drumming” male in trees at the back of Thorny Wood.

During my visit, I also had my first butterfly and amphibian records of the year ….

Orange Tip: male seen flying along the southern boardwalk in the eastern section of the site and another male seen flying between the storage shed and Eastfield Road entrance

Smooth Newt: 2 seen in Meadow Pond

Edible Frog: at least 3 seen in the centre-rear of Meadow Pond engaging in half-hearted calling and chasing

Other highlights during my visit included Blackcap (1 singing male seen plus at least 5 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (2 singing males seen and at least 3 other singing males heard), Moorhen (1 seen on Meadow Pond and another heard calling on Willow Pond) and Canada Goose (1 seen flying south over Meadow Pond possibly heading towards Gloucester Park lake)

I also saw a Grey Squirrel in the wooded near the Spanish Steps.

Finally, it was nice to see some spring flowers now emerging plus Hawthorn blossom.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Grey Wagtail

Common Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Wren