Upton Warren (149 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

Bingo!

sy
what a pity they weren't both standing straight and the water wasn't still for the reflection.
nice shot though:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Final work-party on the Flashes - at least 23 attended and worked very hard to get all the work done, which we managed to do despite some half-wit strimming too close to the fox-fencing and creating more holes :eek!:

John has the 'before' pictures but, as yet, no 'after' pics. Thinks we'll have to wait until Tuesday for those, but I can say the whole area is looking good and hopefully spring migration will kick in shortly.

Birds seen todat during work-time were few and far between - one Shelduck briefly, three Oystercatchers during the lunch-break, when there were also two Ravens over, c.15 Teal and an unspecified nyumber of Snipe during the walk-round to check the fencing (I'm sure John will provide numbers).

WE went over to the Moors Pool for the final hour and a half, which sadly didn't provide any views of the Bittern, although it had apparently showed earlier in the day. Wildfowl count on the Moors (unless stated) was - Mute Swan 2 (plus 4 on the Sailing Pool), Canada Geese few (plus 18 briefly on the Flashes, Greylag Goose c.18 over the Flashes, Shelduck 2, Gadwall 3 (although we didn't go to the east hide), Mallard (uncounted), Teal 20 (plus 30 on Hen Brook), Shoveler 19, Pochard 20, Tufted Duck 28, Great Crested Grebe 4, Little Grebe 1. One Avocet departed shortly after we arrived, no doubt heading back to the Flashes. Most of the Cormorants had left to roost by the time we arrived at the Moors, so only saw one, Coot and Moorhen were uncounted, there were c.150 Black-headed Gulls in a pre-roost, plus a pair of LBB Gulls. The feeders held a minimum of 12 Reed Buntings, 2 o3 Chaffinches, a pair of Bullfinches, 5 LT Tits, a few each of Blue & Great Tits, 4-5 Dunnocks, a Robin, male & 2 female Pheasant and a brief appearance from a Water Rail. Rattus numbered only 2. A few winter thrushes were seen over the barn conversions and a Kestrel cruised through.

Flashes:
Teal 30 from hen brook, oystercatcher 3, lapwing 80+,
I think the team flushed Jack Snipe 4, commons 6.
also siskin 2, song thrush,
kingfisher an 8 GCG on sailing pool B John

 

[Sy V]

sy
what a pity they weren't both standing straight and the water wasn't still for the reflection.
nice shot though:t:

Yeah you're right John. It was still a little hazy too, but hey, there should be a few more through in the near future.
Here are another couple that I took on Saturday and came out of the recovery process...

 

[upstarts1979]

Yeah you're right John. It was still a little hazy too, but hey, there should be a few more through in the near future.
Here are another couple that I took on Saturday and came out of the recovery process...

That green sand shot is great mate:t: just a pity we removed that plank yesterday
8-P the plank isn't a reference to you though - honest:-O:-O

 

[Sy V]

Good, I was going to ask about that plank - glad it has been removed.
I'll ignore the slur but thanks for the positive bit of feedback. Are you down UW later?

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

6 Avocets at Flashes (found by Wicker Man at 8am).

 

[Sy V]

Excellent news! I'll be down later when the light improves.

 

[upstarts1979]

Good, I was going to ask about that plank - glad it has been removed.
I'll ignore the slur but thanks for the positive bit of feedback. Are you down UW later?

Not today mate (unless you find something later), but will be on the Moors Tuesday work party as normal and then birding till dark:t:john

 

[upstarts1979]

6 Avocets at Flashes (found by Wicker Man at 8am).

may be they were waiting until the habitat was right:t: - it certainly is now.

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Everything lifted off Flashes-Sewage worker banging about & spooked it all.

Rob

 

[DaveJones]

6 Avocets at Flashes (found by Wicker Man at 8am).

Great news!

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Redshank reported Moors earlier. Flew off North.

 

[forgetfulelephant]

5 Avocet at Moors + 1 at Flashes when I left 13.30pm. 4 Oycs.

Rob

 

[upstarts1979]

Pics before wok party at Flashes

1.The 'delta'
2. The phragmites before it was dug out.
3. The 'central area'
4. The hide channel
5. view from north side of hide - blackthorns obscurring views
Sy V will be posting 'after' shots

 

[Sy V]

Here are some photos showing the vista after yesterday's work party... (in perfectly opposite order to John's!)

 

[Sy V]

The Flashes were pretty quiet today. But, here are a few snaps anyway, Some of the 24 Greylags that were on the Sailing Pool on arrival. A pair of Teal in the nearest channel from downstairs. The water level currently. Some corvid vs Buzzard aerial jousting. A Song Thrush on a handy perch (shame about the twigs though).

 

[Sy V]

I'll show the view out of downstairs now...

 

[Sy V]

... and the last three.

 

[J_Caswell]

The Flashes were pretty quiet today. But, here are a few snaps anyway, Some of the 24 Greylags that were on the Sailing Pool on arrival. A pair of Teal in the nearest channel from downstairs. The water level currently. Some corvid vs Buzzard aerial jousting. A Song Thrush on a handy perch (shame about the twigs though).

The water level is a cracking image,nice and sharp:-O:-O

 

[AlanH46]

Moors Pool 7.00am to 12.15pm

On arrival the 4 Oycs were piping and displaying as 2 pairs.

At approx. 9.15 a Redshank came in from the north west before disappearing after about half an hour.

4 Avocets, quickly followed by another 2, dropped onto the Moors at 10.30.

Plus a couple of today's pics for good measure. With so much wader activity you could almost convince yourself that spring was on its way.