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Upton Warren (26 Viewers)

Matt Smith reports from the Flashes this morning:

1 Dunlin, 2 LR Plover, 2 Common Sand, 5 Green Sand, 2 adult Common Tern + 1 juvenile, 3 adult Avocet + 7 juveniles, 16 Curlew.
 
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Hobby from today 29-07-2017
 

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I have been a bit quiet on the chart front in recent weeks so here is a few for anyone who has been pining in their absence.

The first one for a Sunday morning is the sad and continued decline of the roosting summer flock of Curlew at the Flashes which continues to plumb new depths - unfortunately it is difficult to foresee any deviation away from this depressing trend in forthcoming years.
 

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Another concerning trend - perhaps one a little more under the radar - has been the recent decline in the numbers of Green Sandpiper numbers. Not since the mid 1970s (now 40 years ago! |8.|) has there been such a low annual peak count or three year average count.

Personally it doesn't feel like there has been a significant drop in numbers nationally so its more likely to be local factors. Clearly the ever increasing Avocet colony doesn't help matters but one does wonder if there is an over-riding issue with the quality of the mud and the invertebrates contained within - certainly something to bear in mind if the Trust proceeds with its intentions to lower the water level at the Flashes.
 

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From the Flashes this morning Dave J reports:

14 Avocet (5 adults + 9 juveniles), Dunlin, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, adult + juvenile Mediterranean Gull, juvenile Redstart, 5 Shoveler, 5 Teal, Gadwall, Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 LR Plover (1adult + 1 juvenile).
 
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And now for some charts on the scarcer waders of recent weeks, starting with Wood Sandpiper. After records in eight consecutive years, Andy's bird of the 30th June was the first sighting since 2014. Oddly after the expected principle peak of records in Spring and a secondary spike in August on return passage there is a third blip in late June - possibly early returning failed breeders?

Always a great bird to see and one year a report of a "Wood Sand" will prove to be a Lesser Yellowlegs! :t:B :)B :)
 

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In contrast Turnstone are a much rarer bird than Wood Sandpiper at Upton Warren with records approximately just over every other year (although it was noted annually for 9 years in succession from the early 1990s into the Noughties). Occasionally there are productive years with multiple records such as 1988, 1994 and 2013.

The spread of records shows a very strong concentrated peak in the first half of May but a much more spread out return passage with spikes in both late July and late August. Vern's bird at the Moors Pool on the 9th November in 2013 is vey much an out-of-range record in this distribution chart.
 

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Dave J reports from the Moors Pool:

Hobby, Yellow Wagtail flew South, Egyptian Goose, Common Sandpiper, 2+ Coal Tit, Otter, 2 young Common Tern (1:1), 2 juvenile Gadwall, juvenile Shoveler, 6 Tufted broods, 4 Little Grebe broods with 6 young (1:2:1:2).
 
Other random bits & pieces from this morning - Coal Tit with tit-flock at Sailing Pool, L.Whitethroat 5, Whitethroat 2 flashes area, GCG chick still on S.Pool, G.Sand 5 @ flashes. Only 68 species for me 6.50-11.45
 
Early morning at the Flashes Andy A reports:

Lapwing c150, Oystercatcher 4, Avocet 9, Common Sand 3, Green Sand 2, Common Tern 2 (adult + juvenile)

From the Moors Pool Andy P reports a Garden Warbler along the west track
 
Early morning at the Flashes Andy A reports:

Lapwing c150, Oystercatcher 4, Avocet 9, Common Sand 3, Green Sand 2, Common Tern 2 (adult + juvenile)

From the Moors Pool Andy P reports a Garden Warbler along the west track

Andy A further updates from the Flashes:

LR Plover 1, Curlew 9, Green Sand 6, Black-tailed Godwit 1
 
July finished with a total of 94 species; slightly down on totals for previous Julys. August should be an increase in activity as return passage gets into full swing -- 104, 106 and 108 species have been recorded in the last three years.
 
Work party today

Today 10 of us carried a bit of maintenance work around the Moors.
Along the causeway we have opened a small viewing opening.
Along the Salwarp path we removed large areas of Himalayan balsalm and cleared the overgrown areas of the path.
The west hide was cleaned out and all rubbish removed ( please take home your empty bottles, cups and any other items of yours).
The feeder post was repaired and an area of rank vegetation in front of the west hide was strimmed back.
Thanks to Bob O. Bobby P. Jim B. John C. Keith M. Paul M. Ray C. Terry W. Tony B and me.

PLEASE NOTE:
On TUESDAY 15th AUGUST
We will be clearing the area in front of the East hide. Including the islands and east bank the hide will also be cleaned out.
This will ultimately mean high disturbance. But as the breeding terns will have fledged by then no breeding birds will be disturbed.
Rationale: As we are now nearing peak wader passage time we want to create as much good habitat for them as possible . With the added complication of seriously low water levels at the Flashes rendering it unsuitable for waders by late August. This makes the work even more vital and it is imperative that the work is done.
If you can help us that will be great, if not apologies in advance for the disturbance.
John:t:u
 

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