Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Now up to 131 with today's Ruff and the Yellowhammer from the All-Dayer that I forgot to include :-C
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Upton Warren (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
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Now up to 131 with today's Ruff and the Yellowhammer from the All-Dayer that I forgot to include :-C
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Avocet hatching dates
Yesterday (14th May) saw the emergence of the first Avocet chick of the year. In a seemingly lacklustre breeding performance to date it is worth commencing this year's hatching date with those of previous years:
2016 - 14th May
2015 - 4th May
2014 - 2nd May
2013 - 11th May
2012 - 24th May
2011 - 28th April
2010 - 6th May
2009 - 12th May
2008 - 13th May
2007 - 30th April
2006 - 1st June
2005 - 26th May
2004 - not documented
2003 - 23rd May
Whilst its difficult to draw a definitive pattern from this data set I think there is a broad overall trend that hatching is becoming earlier as the colony becomes larger / more established.
The poor performance to date this year could be down to three potential reasons (or any combination thereof):
- The early return of breeding Black-headed Gulls to the Flashes with nests occupying many of the sites often used by Avocet on the foreshore and small islands
- A poor food supply created by a cold April
- A poor food supply created by the low water levels over the autumn and winter period as part of the Trust's management scheme
In respect to the second and third items I cant remember seeing Avocet feeding by swimming out into the first Flash so regularly this late into the Spring.
Yesterday (14th May) saw the emergence of the first Avocet chick of the year. In a seemingly lacklustre breeding performance to date it is worth commencing this year's hatching date with those of previous years:
2016 - 14th May
2015 - 4th May
2014 - 2nd May
2013 - 11th May
2012 - 24th May
2011 - 28th April
2010 - 6th May
2009 - 12th May
2008 - 13th May
2007 - 30th April
2006 - 1st June
2005 - 26th May
2004 - not documented
2003 - 23rd May
Whilst its difficult to draw a definitive pattern from this data set I think there is a broad overall trend that hatching is becoming earlier as the colony becomes larger / more established.
The poor performance to date this year could be down to three potential reasons (or any combination thereof):
- The early return of breeding Black-headed Gulls to the Flashes with nests occupying many of the sites often used by Avocet on the foreshore and small islands
- A poor food supply created by a cold April
- A poor food supply created by the low water levels over the autumn and winter period as part of the Trust's management scheme
In respect to the second and third items I cant remember seeing Avocet feeding by swimming out into the first Flash so regularly this late into the Spring.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Ruff flew off north at 08:43 as per Dave J.
Link to Dave's pictures here: https://twitter.com/davejredditch/status/731783678632853504
Link to Dave's pictures here: https://twitter.com/davejredditch/status/731783678632853504
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Skeleton man
Well-known member
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Results of last week's Spring All Dayer across the sites in the West Midlands region that participated - hopefully all will join in again when we do the Autumn All Dayer in early September (exact date to be confirmed).
Edit: thanks for the 110 views so far - now updated to include full details of Clayhanger / Stubbers Green / Ryders Mere
Edit: thanks for the 110 views so far - now updated to include full details of Clayhanger / Stubbers Green / Ryders Mere
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Pied Flycatcher
Well-known member
An evening walk was on the cards yesterday and while strolling down the path at the Moors trying to get a better glimpse of the Black Tern the local Hobby passed overhead, lucky me!
Two more pics of the Black Tern showing very differently to each other.
Two more pics of the Black Tern showing very differently to each other.
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Stunning Hobby image Lee
Skeleton man
Well-known member
Lovely pictures :t:
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J advises there are now 2 broods of Oystercatcher at the Moors Pool (each with three chicks) plus at least 12 Common Terns.
Stone Snapper
Warrener till i snuff it
Birder Gladys
Well-known member
Ok more poor photos from yours truly.
first 3 of Black Terns a few minutes before they flew yesterday, in my defence it from the west hide. 4th of Cetti's alone the west track,thank goodness for Vern quality photo mate good to see you back on the forum. 5th Linnets presume male offering food to female? lots going on, birds very busy all over the place,finally seen a Lesser Whitethroat just by the gate past the hen brook.
first 3 of Black Terns a few minutes before they flew yesterday, in my defence it from the west hide. 4th of Cetti's alone the west track,thank goodness for Vern quality photo mate good to see you back on the forum. 5th Linnets presume male offering food to female? lots going on, birds very busy all over the place,finally seen a Lesser Whitethroat just by the gate past the hen brook.
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keithr
Relapsus resurgam
YEP....:t:
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
At the half way point in May the monthly list stands at 103 species - possible additions include Garganey, Osprey, Curlew (no records in May last year :-C), Black-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Little Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, any owls, Redstart and Whinchat.
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Periwinkle
Tame Valley Birder
Green Sandpiper in May are very rare in my experience.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Phil W has 2 Redshank and a Blackwit at Flashes.. Blackwit is the 14th wader in a week.
AlanH46
Well-known member
Very quiet at the Moors except for dog Otter catching a fish of at least 12 inches and dragging it into the NW reed bed.
The 2 Redshank, at the Flashes, spent a good half hour prospecting for nest sites in front of the hide but were being chased off by the Lapwing. Nesting Redshank - too much to hope for??
Also Brown Argos butterfly along the Salwarpe path.
The 2 Redshank, at the Flashes, spent a good half hour prospecting for nest sites in front of the hide but were being chased off by the Lapwing. Nesting Redshank - too much to hope for??
Also Brown Argos butterfly along the Salwarpe path.
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upstarts1979
Well-known member
Work party Tuesday Moors
Tomorrow we will be building and repairing tern rafts. The work will be carried out away from the pools.
We plan to float the rafts in the next 2 weeks or so. This is to prevent any late breeding BHG from using them.
B
john
Tomorrow we will be building and repairing tern rafts. The work will be carried out away from the pools.
We plan to float the rafts in the next 2 weeks or so. This is to prevent any late breeding BHG from using them.
B
john
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Hopefully Alan when the reeds are removed they will return:t:
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Pied Flycatcher
Well-known member
A flying visit today and a lot of activity in the reed beds, a number of Reed Warblers busily gathering nesting materials.
Looking forward to the return of the Terns!!! (More Terns, I know we already have some early arrivals). I'm sure their newly refurbished homes (rafts) will be quickly occupied.:t:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piedflycatcher/
Looking forward to the return of the Terns!!! (More Terns, I know we already have some early arrivals). I'm sure their newly refurbished homes (rafts) will be quickly occupied.:t:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piedflycatcher/
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