Worcestershire Record No. 25 November 2008 p. 31

Kemerton Lake
The new section of permissive path – open to ‘Friends’ of Kemerton was opened. A new access track into the arboretum and woodlands has been laid.
1st April – first Swallow, 4 Gadwall, 20 Sand Martin, c.150 Common Gull overhead.
4th April – first Willow Warbler
10th April – Pair of Kingfisher prospecting
12th April – Wheatear, Common Sandpiper present and 50 Golden Plover flew over.
17th April – Oystercatcher on eggs, pair Pochard, c.50 Greylag, Mallard with 9 young
18th April – 3 pairs Pochard – later one pair raised 7 young, 2nd pair raised 2 young
19th – 2 male Garganey present and first Reed Warbler heard
20th April – 4 Common Scoter, Whimbrel & Common Tern
21st April – 2 Whimbrel, first Sedge Warbler heard
24th April and again on 28th - Little Ringed Plover
25th & 27 April - an Arctic Tern was present
27th April – Grasshopper Warbler heard
28th April – 50 Greylag, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, 8 Lapwing, first Swifts (15)
29th April - a Hobby and 2 Black Tern were recorded. Also Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Whitethroat
Ruddy duck were present during early spring but ‘the men from the ministry’ culled them.
5th May – 3 Common Tern, Grey Heron tagged GA
6th May - 22 singing male Reed Warbler, 2 singing Sedge Warbler and a Reed Bunting.
7th May – 2 Black Tern, 3 Common Tern, the tagged Grey Heron (ringed as a pullus Frampton)
8th May – 7 Black Tern, 1 Woodcock
9th May - Black Tern
10th May – 30 singing Reed Warbler (max count 34), 5 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 singing Reed Bunting, Kingfisher, 4 Grey heron
17th May - tagged Grey Heron still present
26th May – 2 Hobby
Sightings of Kingfisher were regular throughout the spring and summer
10th June – 3 adult Redshank, tagged Grey Heron
16th June – c.30 Lapwing in post-fledging flock
27th June – post-fledging flock of c.120 Jackdaw
3 pairs of Little Grebe and 2 pairs of Great-crested Grebe bred. The Little Grebe are thought to have reared at least 3 broods, the Great-crested Grebe also reared 3 broods.
14th July first returning Wigeon, Kingfisher, c.150 Lapwing
21st July – first returning Wigeon
24th July – first 4 returning Shoveler
25th July – c.150 Lapwing
Little Egret - from 1-5 present frequently June to September
The pair of Oystercatcher failed to breed.
Water Rail heard calling regularly June/July
1st August – Teal, Shoveler, Common Sandpiper (regular around this time)
7th August – 2 juvenile Yellow Wagtail
2nd September – 9 Teal, 180 Lapwing, 14 Little Grebe, 285 Canada Goose, 101 Greylag, 12 Barnacle, 2 Red-crested Pochard.
10th September – first Snipe
15th September – 5 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon, Little Owl, Water Rail, late Sedge Warbler, 18 Siskin
26th September –20 Shoveler, 16 Little Grebe, first Jack Snipe, late Reed Warbler, 2 Pintail, 3 Snipe
28th September – 2 Gadwall
There were several sightings of Barn Owl in the area but no breeding found.
In spring over 200 Southern Marsh Orchid, 285 Bee Orchid & 95 Pyramidal Orchid.
Campanula glomerata was found in several sites.
A hornet was seen on 26th September.
Mike Averill has been recording dragonflies and has now found 19 species at the lake

Elsewhere on the estate
7th April – 18 Snipe in a field of beans, first Swallow visiting local nest site. Later at least 3 pairs bred there and on 31st July 34 on wires.
11th May – Wood Warbler seen and heard but did not stay
13th May – Male Whinchat near Kinsham
During surveys Whitethroat and Bullfinch were widespread and fairly common but few Willow Warbler heard.

Around Bredon Hill area
3rd May – Red Kite over Conderton/Beckford
28th May – Red Kite over Kemerton
7th June – Burnet Rose found on hedge bank above Kemerton
9th June – Red Kite over Kemerton
12th July – Red Kite over Beckford
14th September – min. 12 Buzzard circling/displaying above Kemerton

The Carrant Catchment area is included in the Severn and Avon Wader Survey and away from Kemerton Lake Reserve a part survey found 22 pairs Lapwing, one pair Curlew, four pairs Reed Warbler, four pairs Sedge Warbler and three pairs Reed Bunting.

Local volunteers carried out a survey of Glow-worm on Bredon Hill and the results can be seen at www.kemerton.org

Local donations paid for 15 bat boxes sited across the estate. They have not been checked for occupancy although one is reported to have been used.

Kemerton Conservation Trust is grateful to all contributors – in particular Rob Prudden.