Upton Warren (6 Viewers)

[Sy V]

Still very misty when I left the Flashes at 0800hrs this morning but I can confirm 7 Avocets and 1 LRP seen. I got a whole bunch of weather data so I'll look at that later...

When I got there the handrails on the steps were covered in ice. Thanks to whoever it was that left the window wide open overnight - it was freezing (literally) in the hide this morning. :-C

Photos today were very much of a moody/scenic nature... I now have three visits worth to play with.

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Good spot John! Thought the reflection came out quite good so I'd see if anyone noticed!

Too add to my previous post, what I always see as an iconic Upton sight is the Peregrines on the transmitter masts at the flashes. Regularly there and today there were 2, an adult male and a imm (3cy?) female. Perched up on either mast and then a bit of aerial combat where it appeared the male was trying to chase off the female, awesome!


Some delightful shots of them both perched up attached, can't remember ever seeing a photo of the perched up! Maybe because there so far away that it's impossible to get a decent shot of them!

Good to see some pics of them Tim. Whenever I see them
they are in shadow with the sun behind them & they are just a blob!

I was told that there had been three chasing around yesterday.

Rob

Rob

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Cheers Rob.
I'm guessing you're also using the Collins insect book.

Simon P :t:

No it's not Collins it's MINE!

 

[forgetfulelephant]

the special moments

Very smart & interesting images. Mating Avos are always good news. :t:

Rob

 

[upstarts1979]

Still very misty when I left the Flashes at 0800hrs this morning but I can confirm 7 Avocets and 1 LRP seen. I got a whole bunch of weather data so I'll look at that later...

When I got there the handrails on the steps were covered in ice. Thanks to whoever it was that left the window wide open overnight - it was freezing (literally) in the hide this morning. :-C

Photos today were very much of a moody/scenic nature... I now have three visits worth to play with.

Soz mate|:$|
I moved from one end to the other last night to check the field for wheatears and get better shots of the Avocets.
8-PJohn you wuss:-O

 

[Sy V]

Soz mate|:$|
I moved from one end to the other last night to check the field for wheatears and get better shots of the Avocets.
8-PJohn you wuss:-O

You're forgiven, mate... it was probably an age thing!

Here are three shots from today's misty morning...

 

[Whoever]

Chaps: With the weather being so warm, are there any warblers around already? Or is there any other activity at the Hen Pool Hide in particular?

 

[Phil Andrews]

Chaps: With the weather being so warm, are there any warblers around already? Or is there any other activity at the Hen Pool Hide in particular?

Up to six Chiffchaffs singing around the reserve this morning. Will post the average return dates later so people will know when things may be turning up; I suspect the fine eweather means a lot of stuff is just passing over, as indicated by the small numbers of Sand Martin. I will be looking to cut a channel or to into the Hen Pool reeds this Sunday before the Reed and Sedge Warblers (and Bluethroats) return.

 

[Sy V]

Phil

Hi - welcome back. How's Mrs Andrews?
I'll come down and help you (if only to hold towels etc). I'm sure JTB will want to pass on his plan for the Hen Pool vista, too.

SJV

 

[upstarts1979]

You're forgiven, mate... it was probably an age thing!

Here are three shots from today's misty morning...

Where was the 1st Pic taken, Bejing :-O
They are nice though

 

[Sy V]

A certain hirsute birder tackled me in the car park on Saturday and demanded graphs! So, here you go, but some are more poignant/worrying than others (graphs, not birders). Furthermore, I still haven't worked out how to change the axes on these Weather Station software-generated graphs to make ones like the wind graph a bit more usable. Bear with me...
All graphs show from 1st March (station up and running on the 4th) to date:
Humidity
Rainfall
Temperature (Vs. Dew Point)
Wind

 

[upstarts1979]

Up to six Chiffchaffs singing around the reserve this morning. Will post the average return dates later so people will know when things may be turning up; I suspect the fine eweather means a lot of stuff is just passing over, as indicated by the small numbers of Sand Martin. I will be looking to cut a channel or to into the Hen Pool reeds this Sunday before the Reed and Sedge Warblers (and Bluethroats) return.

First of all Philip welcome back...
On the subject of reeds, tomorrow we are going to resurrect the Education reserve main reed bed. So if you have a bit of spare time you are welcome to give us a hand, we will only spend the one day on this project, so we will do our best.
The Hen Pool reed bed, spent a bit of time in there yesterday..very quiet. I will send you both (Phil and Sy) a diagram of the plan of action, for your approval.
B John

 

[Phil Andrews]

First of all Philip welcome back...
On the subject of reeds, tomorrow we are going to resurrect the Education reserve main reed bed. So if you have a bit of spare time you are welcome to give us a hand, we will only spend the one day on this project, so we will do our best.
The Hen Pool reed bed, spent a bit of time in there yesterday..very quiet. I will send you both (Phil and Sy) a diagram of the plan of action, for your approval.
B John

Cheers John - will be interesting to see how the ER reed-bed will responding to any works; as has previously been commented (by Des?) it has looked very dry in recent years.

This morning's sightings were as follows (I will assume that Sy's wader counting skills were hampered by the mist):

SAILING POOL
11 GC Grebe, 1 Coot, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe

FLASHES
11 Avocet, 4 LRP, 2 Oyks, 9 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 7 Lapwing, 14 Teal, 2 LBB Gull, c50 BH Gull

MOORS POOL
2 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 12 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 33 Tufted Duck, 4 Oyks, 1 Little Grebe, 3 GC Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Moorhen, 27 Coot, 2 LBB Gull, c350 BH Gull, Raven over

As stated earlier, there were at least 6 (more likely 7) Chiffchaffs singing this morning and that was without venturing into the Education Reserve. Nice to hear the singing "properly" and not the Cetti's style song of thei Canary Island counterparts (now split as a full species).

 

[Sy V]

Phil

I'm not 100% sure about the LRP count, I could hear calling but could only ever connect with a single bird at a time. I am confident about my Avocet count though, so there's been an influx sometime after 8 a.m. this morning (which mirrors what happened yesterday morning) - good news. B

 

[Phil Andrews]

Phil

I'm not 100% sure about the LRP count, I could hear calling but could only ever connect with a single bird at a time. I am confident about my Avocet count though, so there's been an influx sometime after 8 a.m. this morning (which mirrors what happened yesterday morning) - good news. B

Three of the LRP were in front of the hide or in the channel that runs to the left; one was on the beach in front of the third flash. I would estimate that I arrived at the Flashes about 09:30 so there must have been an Avocet movement in that 90 minute gap.

 

[Sy V]

Phil

That's almost exactly the same time of the increases yesterday, as Brian will testify by my numerous amended texts! So it looks like they are roosting elsewhere.
Here's an Excel-generated bar chart of the month's Wind Speed (showing the highest hourly average speed count per day).
Next one is a Temperature chart since we got going (remember that today's temperature is the highest hourly reading after midnight and I took the data at about 07:30 this morning).

 

[Gavo]

firstly, welcome back Phil and congratulations :t:

Regarding Chiffchaffs on the reserve I counted 10 singing individuals yesterday, that was over the whole reserve, top stuff not long before the other summer migrants turn up.

 

[Phil Andrews]

firstly, welcome back Phil and congratulations :t:

Regarding Chiffchaffs on the reserve I counted 10 singing individuals yesterday, that was over the whole reserve, top stuff not long before the other summer migrants turn up.

Thanks Gavo. Whilst we dont keep such stats, I dont ever recall so many singing Chiffys (Chiffies just doesnt look right!) before March is out.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Looks like I should have scanned the field more thoroughly whilst I was there :-C

Nice find so early in the month. No doubt Phil will do us a graph on early Wheatear sightings when he gets back, unless he's sufficiently bored on his honeymoon to do it now ...

I could say that Wheatear was the 93rd species for the year, but I'd be making it up 'cos I've no idea what the count is at the moment. :-O

Hi Mike - just caught up with the above post; I had better things to do on my honeymoon (like finding megas for Spain :-O).

This would be the joint third earliest Wheatear in Upton's recorded history. HOWEVER, there is a record of a male in the West Hide log-book at the Moors Pool for the previous day (16th) which would be joint second earliest record.

The Flashes log-book has a record of a Willow Warbler near the steps down friom the Sailing Pool on the 11th; anyone know anything more?

 

[forgetfulelephant]

You're forgiven, mate... it was probably an age thing!

Here are three shots from today's misty morning...

Moody & magnificent Sy. The images that is!:t: Almost makes me want to get out that early. Almost!

Rob