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Upton Warren (16 Viewers)

Today at the MOORS

The North Moors was totally frozen and very little activity other than. A kingfisher flying relatively high over the reeds a kestrel hovering over the rough areas, also water rail calling. A Jay flewover and a few passerines foraged including bullfinch chaffinch, fieldfare and a small group of tits ...what a contrast this area is at this time of the year compared to summer.
I then moved on to the East hide for 3 hours and the last hour until dark I spent in the west hide.
At 12pm the main pool was 50% open, as the cold north wind increased the ice melted and I departed with The pool 70% ice free.
Considering the continued icy conditions there were a lot more waterbirds present than I would have expected, sadly the only wader was a flyover curlew.
The Shoveler numbers had increased enough to peform their mysterious 'gyrating feeding dance. The ever increasing teal numbers formed into mostly male groups where they tried to woo any unattached females with their head and tail bobbing display. The swans were still mainaining good numbers and it's probably this that has kept the water from freezing totally during the last few days.
Species Count Moors:
Little grebe 3.
Mute swan 34. WHOOPER SWAN. Canada geese 20. Cormorant 47. Shoveler 53. Teal 94. Gadwall male. Mallard 70+. Pochard 14. Tufted 12.
Coot 190. Water rail 2. Grey heron.
Curlew. BHG 80. Common gull 1st winter. LBBG 3. Herring gull.
Kestrel fem . Buzzard. Sparrowhawk.
Kingfisher. Raven 2. Stock dove 2.
Fieldfare .Redwing 3. song thrush .
Chaffinch 5. Bullfinch. Goldfinch 20. Redpoll 3.
Reed bunting 2.
 
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Moors Pool

Although it was good to be out again, after being snowed in most of the week, the comfort levels across the reserve were very marked.
Spent the first few hours freezing in the east hide then moved on to the balmy conditions of the west hide; it felt a good 10 deg. warmer.

Plenty of activity on the feeders with a marked increase in Greenfinch numbers.
 

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At the half way point of December the monthly total stands on a meagre 75 species, no doubt added by the lack of coverage of the last week due to the adverse weather. The immediate target is the lowest ever monthly total for reserve (81 species). Possible additions in the next 16 days include (year ticks in bold):

Pintail, Mandarin, Goldeneye, Bittern, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Jack Snipe, Redshank, Woodcock, GBBG Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Brambling, Linnet, Yellowhammer
 
At the half way point of December the monthly total stands on a meagre 75 species, no doubt added by the lack of coverage of the last week due to the adverse weather. The immediate target is the lowest ever monthly total for reserve (81 species). Possible additions in the next 16 days include (year ticks in bold):

Pintail, Mandarin, Goldeneye, Bittern, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Jack Snipe, Redshank, Woodcock, GBBG Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Brambling, Linnet, Yellowhammer
Linnets were seen at Flashes by a birder I spoke to yesterday
 
At the Moors Pool this morning Lloyd Evans reports:

Whooper Swan still, 31 Mute Swan, c90 Teal, 34 Shoveler, 11 Pochard, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, c120 Coot, just 4 Cormorant, 4 Gadwall, 1 Snipe, 77 Mallard, 2 Coal Tit
 
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Just been contacted by Phil and Marjo Lewis who recorded Woodcock at the Moors Pool at dusk last Monday (11th December). One flew along the Salwarpe then veered off into Education Reserve. Two minutes later, 2 more Woodcock flew up from the Moors Pool sluice area / overflow channel and flew off towards north east corner of main pool.

Makes you wonder how more regularly they would be encountered if access was permitted into the Education Reserve.
 
Just been contacted by Phil and Marjo Lewis who recorded Woodcock at the Moors Pool at dusk last Monday (11th December). One flew along the Salwarpe then veered off into Education Reserve. Two minutes later, 2 more Woodcock flew up from the Moors Pool sluice area / overflow channel and flew off towards north east corner of main pool.

Makes you wonder how more regularly they would be encountered if access was permitted into the Education Reserve.

Was checking around the North Moors plantation and seasonal pool for woodcocks yesterday. Ironically I started to walk up the Salwarp but the track was pretty treacherous so gave up:-C so spent the evening hoping to see a Bittern
 
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From the Moors Pool this morning Dave J reports:

Whooper Swan, 15 Pochard, 5 Gadwall, 35 Mute Swan, 47 Shoveler, 55 Teal, Little Grebe, Skylark, Redpoll, Siskin, Linnet
 
Last Work Party of Year

On Tuesday 19th December we will be concentrating all our efforts in and around the North Moors.
Main work will be clearing an area within the plantation for the new feeding station. The idea is to create it in an area that can be viewed from the north side of the hide and be approached from Arthur's bench for topping up the feeders.
There are other jobs we can tackle such as plugging the gap in the causeway hedgerow with hawthorn and willow. Repairing the dead hedge where the old hide used to be. It has collapsed due to the weight of the snow. Time and people allowing we will clear in front of the viewing screens. A bit more scrub management in NW corner. Also shovelling the leaf litter along the road from causeway to east gate... during the snow this area was very sloppy and was quite dangerous. We can push it on to our new hawthorn saplings and act as a mulch.
Any other ideas on what needs doing in the North Moors let me know.
Meet at Car park 9ish:t: johnB :)
 
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An evening stake-out for Woodcock yesterday by Andy A and JTB produced none of the target species but the following:

Shoveler 52, Gadwall 4, Little Grebe 3, Coot 180, Greylag Geese 2 flocks totalling 80+ birds.
Singles of Siskin, Redpoll & Goldcrest. Fieldfare 3.
 

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