Upton Warren (20 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

From the Moors Pool Gert reports:

Redshank briefly (later at the Flashes), 5 Snipe, 4 Oystercatcher and Chiffchaff.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Now a second adult Med Gull at the Flashes as per JTB

 

[Phil Andrews]

WOODCOCK flew out from the Hen Pool as per Paul Croft.

Avocet 32, Lapwing 17, Curlew 3, Snipe 5, Teal 6, Redwing 12 and a Raven change-over on the nest at the Flashes with a Sand Martin on the Sailing Pool as per JTB.

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding reserve today

An early 5.40am start, mild but raining with NW breeze. Just as I started walking from the sailing pool car park something triggered the birds into action. First of all the BHG arrived en masse from the FLASHES accompanied by their incessant raucous calling. Though I did get a snatch of a MED Gull amongst the throng. Curlew and Oystercatcher called overhead and waterfowl on the pool scurried across the water. Not sure what was the cause but maybe it was just welcome to spring. In the NE corner little egrets roosted low down in an alder tree. At 5.55 the flew out and split up all but one went SW or South the other flew towards the Moors.
Sailing pool Count:
GCG 12+. Shoveler 2. Tufted c30. Coot 65. Little egret 6.
BHG c1200.

Moving on to the FLASHES I was greeted by singing chiffchaffs. Just as I approached the cuckoo hide the Barn Owl floated past escorted by a baying flock of BHG although it seemed un-concerned.
On to the main hide where the volume was at max as not only were the BHG in full voice but so were the displaying Lapwing and Avocets. A single Redshank called and fed away from the madding crowd joining a small group of snipe on the shore in front of the sewage works.
At 8.40ish I nipped into the cuckoo hide to count the Avocet. But unfortunately for me I made the wrong choice as Paul Croft sneaked off to the hen pool hide where on route a WOODCOCK flew past him.
Back to the rear of Avocet hide where we watched a flock of redwing foraging in the field in front of the raven's transmitter nest site. Today was my first proper spring day .
FLASHES count:
Teal 6. Shelduck 4. Gadwall. Tufted 4
Curlew 3. Lapwing 17. Redshank. Avocet 32. Oystercatcher 3. Snipe 5.
Med Gull 2 ads. BHG 1500. Herring gull 4. LBBG 10.
BARN OWL.
Stock dove 10. Raven 2.
Redwing 70. Song thrush 4. Starling 35.
Chiffchaff 3.
Woodcock Paul Croft.

A walk through the Education Reserve was sadly very unproductive. A few of the large willows have fallen over and the reed beds are in desperate need of major work.
Species Count
Chiffchaff 3. Treecreeper singing. Reed Bunting 4.

MOORS: GCG 2. Little grebe 8. Shoveler 15. Teal 12. Gadwall 2. Pochard 8. Tufted 35.
Snipe. Lapwing 4. Oystercatcher 2.
BHG only 140!!!
Peregrine. Kestrel.
Cetti's w sang per Matt S. Mistle thrush singing.
Reed Bunting 12.

 

[Dick-E-Dipper]

Phil
Re. your article on Corn Buntings. On the 8 March we visited the `Shenstone area` and counted a MIN of 50 Corn Buntings (34 Nr all sitting on overhead cables at one time). So hopefully all is not lost.

Richard

 

[Phil Andrews]

Phil
Re. your article on Corn Buntings. On the 8 March we visited the `Shenstone area` and counted a MIN of 50 Corn Buntings (34 Nr all sitting on overhead cables at one time). So hopefully all is not lost.

Richard

One of the problems for Corn Bunting survival is their highly sedentary nature - even birds just 30 kilometres apart have been found in sing in a different dialect. It's good to know the population at Shenstone remains strong but it's difficult to envisage how they will recapture their lost range.

 

[Gavo]

One of the problems for Corn Bunting survival is their highly sedentary nature - even birds just 30 kilometres apart have been found in sing in a different dialect. It's good to know the population at Shenstone remains strong but it's difficult to envisage how they will recapture their lost range.

I can envisage a similar programme of being introduced as with the Cirl Bunting, they seem to be going down the same path, being of a sedentary nature is certainly not profitable for farmland species. There is an article in the latest Birds journal (Stuart Croft) co author about the success of the breeding program that has been running for years down in the west country. If Corn Buntings continue this rapid decline, and I see no reason why they won’t then such drastic measures may have to be taken.

 

[Phil Andrews]

6 Little Egret again roosting at the Sailing Pool early morning as Dave J.

 

[Phil Andrews]

A productive morning at the Flashes for Dave:

34 Avocet, Dunlin, 3 Oystercatcher, Snipe, 6 Curlew, Yellowhammer flew over east at 07.40 (a rare bird these days, even more so in March), 2 Wigeon, 29 Meadow Pipit, 3 Shelduck, Redpoll, 3 Chiffchaff

 

[Phil Andrews]

A productive morning at the Flashes for Dave:

34 Avocet, Dunlin, 3 Oystercatcher, Snipe, 6 Curlew, Yellowhammer flew over east at 07.40 (a rare bird these days, even more so in March), 2 Wigeon, 29 Meadow Pipit, 3 Shelduck, Redpoll, 3 Chiffchaff

New for the year - #99 - Yellowhammer

 

[Phil Andrews]

Some obvious movement this morning with Dunlin numbers now increased to 4 at the Flashes as per Dave J.

 

[luckyosprey4]

Currently at the Flashes-

Avocet, Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher and 4 Shelduck.

Chris

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Moors Pool this morning Dave J reports:

Little Egret, Sand Martin, 4 Wigeon, 7 Oystercatcher, 5 Gadwall, 10 Pochard, 2 Siskin, Redpoll, Chiffchaff.

133+ Meadow Pipit over reserve this morning.

 

[Birder Gladys]

just some pics from the weekend. lots of birds singing and calling did anyone see or hear a cetti's.

 

[upstarts1979]

just some pics from the weekend. lots of birds singing and calling did anyone see or hear a cetti's.

Matt S had one singing briefly at West hide on Saturday:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Andy P reports from the Flashes this morning:

34 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 2 Oyks, 5 Shelduck, Shoveler, Curlew

 

[upstarts1979]

Final Work Party

Tomorrow will be the last one if the season.
Plenty of jobs still to complete but nothing major so will be split up into groups.
Main job is cutting the Secret Garden this hasn't been done for three years so it would be good to get it into good condition for the SPRING.
Also covering the tern rafts to stop BHG using them.
Installing screening fencing around new hide.
Installing nest boxes including more house Martin boxes.
Repairing East bank gate to stop FOX incursions.
Clearing vegetation around recently planted saplings.
I'm sure there will other things I've forgotten but will.go through the list tonight
Meet at the Moors car park c8.45am.

Any cake will be very much appreciated8-P:t::t:john

 

[israel]

Matt S had one singing briefly at West hide on Saturday:t:

Cetti's, in good voice from the causeway Sunday.:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Cetti's, in good voice from the causeway Sunday.:t:

At last Chris:t:

 

[luckyosprey4]

Here's my belated list from yesterday from, both sides of the reserve-

Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, 4 Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, 4 Wigeon, Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 5 Little Egret (3 at the Sailing Pool and 2 at the Moors), Cormorant, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Coot, Moorhen, Avocet, Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 3 Curlew, Snipe, Black-Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Raven, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Starling, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Linnet, 2 Lesser Redpoll along the causeway and Reed Bunting.

A good list of 52 species were seen- it was good to see a variety of waders present at the Flashes.

Also of note on my way home was a single Red Kite over Romsley.

Chris