upstarts1979
Well-known member
Dunnock male or female ?
no difference between sexes mate
Dunnock male or female ?
no difference between sexes mate
Arrived just after 7.30am this morning the weather a little overcast but mild and even before I could get my camera and bins out I managed to see a Whitethroat on the sailing club car park, where I decided to head straight to the flashes and do the Sailing pool count a little later.
At the Flashes (tower hide) I was surprised to see no one was tier but hey what a day they missed the Black Tailed Godwits were in and out for a few hours (think this could have been due to a Kestrel showing interest in them) , a Green Sandpiper never returned after the first fly by from the kestrel and then the Sanderling arrived (08.55) a wonderful bird after a few minutes it left heading back towards the Moors but did return after around 10 minutes this time to be joined by a Dunlin.
After doing my counts I had noticed a few smaller birds moving around the Islands a White Wagtail and 3 Little Ringed Plovers which were moving from Island to Island at pace this morning didn’t seem to settle at all.
Only managed to see one Lapwing I would have thought they may have returned by now but here’s still hoping did notice many insects around and just before I left the hide a few Swallows and Sand Martins were flying across the pool.
Heading back towards the Sailing pool I managed to see a few Warblers mainly Willow and Sedge with quite a few Chiffchaff at the entrance to the Flashes counts and full list will follow at end of this little ditto.
Sailing Pool was a nice surprise today 3 Common Sandpiper were the highlight until (a lifer for me) the Artic Tern turned up in the afternoon plenty of Whitethroat and Blackcaps around the entrance to the flashes on the sailing pool side today.
Onto the Salwarpe walk through now and what a change from my last visit this place was alive Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, wrens, finches and for a change butterflies – Peacock, Brimstone, Orange tip, Small White, small blue also ladybirds both red & black bodied.
As for insects they were everywhere looks like being another busy one in this wonderful little area again this year.
Now for the Moors not quite as lively bird species wise as the Flashes but did manage a lifer with the Whinchat also heard the Grasshopper Warbler & Cetti’s Warbler but didn’t connect with the camera, did have 2 Common Sandpiper drop in around 1pm (I wonder if these were the guys moving around on the flashes earlier).
It was great to see that Spring was actually arriving with many trees and bushes now showing signs of budding and the reeds actually turning green again round the North moors there were even Forget Me Not’s in flower also just around by lifestyles
I would like to thank everyone for their help today and especially to the gentleman with the scope in the new hide (on the moors) for letting me look through to see the whinchat.
TODAYS COUNTS –
FLASHES POOLS (7.55am) –
Blackbird, Robin, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blue tit, Linnet, Great tit, Reed bunting, Song thrush, Mallard (14), Coot (11), Moorhen (5), Magpie, Wood pigeon, Shelduck (2), Black headed gull (250+), Tufted duck (4), Little ringed plover (3), Black tailed godwit (5), Lesser black backed gull (3), Avocet (25), White wagtail, Sanderlin (1), Dunlin (1), Mute swan (2), Canada goose (5), Green sandpiper (1), Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Oystercatcher (1), Swallow, Grey heron, Carrion crow, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sand martin
SAILING POOL (10.10) –
Great crested grebe (7), Mallard (6), Canada goose (7), Coot (2), Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper (3), Black headed gull (14), Blackbird, Robin, Swallow (7), Sand martin (3) got these counts as they rested on the wires just by the outdoor barbi, Artic tern (later in the day)
MOORS POOLS (11.20) –
Robin, Wood pigeon, Blackcap, Blackbird, Long tailed tit, Wren, Great tit, Common sandpiper (2),Mallard (11), Canada goose (23), Moorhen (9), Lesser black backed gull (6), Black headed gull (140+), Tufted duck (37), Blue tit, Reed bunting, Magpie, Bullfinch, Whinchat, Dunnock, Pheasant, Kestrel, Peregrine falcon, Shoveler (2 pairs), Lapwing (1), Teal (1 pair), Coot (36), Shelduck (2), Oystercatcher (2 pairs), Little grebe (2), Great crested grebe (4), Kingfisher, Gadwall (1pair), Cormorant (5), Cetti’s warbler (heard), Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Jay, Grasshopper warbler (heard), Buzzard
Dave J has broken 'crofty juniors' (Paul C, aka oriole boy) record of 81 species in a day. Well done mate you certainly have put in the hours and thoroughly deserve it.
Now Paul no excuses, back in the field a bit more, to regain your title.:t:
At this rate Dave's :king:annual record total could be at risk, although Jarad is also steaming along.
With another 5 year ticks today I am on 110 for the year at Upton.
OMG!! - WHAT AN ABSOLUTE STONKING DAY AT THE MECCA!!
CONGRATULATIONS DAVE!!
As Jon say's, it's well deserved mate, I know you've put in some serious hours over the years. We will have a roll of honour on the all-dayer where i will officially hand over my top day-lister crown. However, I will be guns-a-blazing to get it back off you by the end of the day!
Any chance of your day list being published? And what was today's reserve list by the way?
I will put my list on in the next 24 hours-min of 200!
Des.
Hi Des,
The other members of the Wednesday crew must also have decent UW lists - Mike Inskip, John Ridley, John Sirret and Bob Power. Some of whom were visiting Upton before it was a WWT reserve.
For instance John R found the Richards Pipit in the late 60's (a real blocker for us relative newbies) plus heard Corncrake in the early 70's etc.
Just looked up my own current list - 192 seen and 1 heard only (Golden Oriole).
LISTS, LISTS, LISTS....
and remember, the more you put in, the more you get out
Dave J has broken 'crofty juniors' (Paul C, aka oriole boy) record of 81 species in a day. Well done mate you certainly have put in the hours and thoroughly deserve it.
Re blue butterflies on the wing this month:-
I have seen one each of holly blue and common blue in my Worcester garden in the last week (the first blues I have seen this year), so I wouldn't discount common blue.