[forgetfulelephant]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

good an informative debate Brian and Tim, I am sure we have all learned something , and no fall out - that's what it is all about.

Yes I've learned NOT to post gull pics anymore my head's spinning!

Seriously though I have learned that gulls are such a difficult subject that I don't feel bad about my lack of knowledge which by the way is increasing from the info on here!

[Woodchat]

No LRP's reported yet at Upton?

Gert, who's still left with a chance of scooping the beer? - Sy, me, Andy P, Phil, Cooky and Jim are the ones I can remember.

[Sy V]

I think I blew my chances yesterday, Dave. Yours is today IIRC (you went for the Ides of March, didn't you?).

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Sy V

I think I blew my chances yesterday, Dave. Yours is today IIRC (you went for the Ides of March, didn't you?).

Today is the 13th, Sy - you have 14th (tomorrow) and I've got the Ides (which is a very painful condition )

BTW, JTB reports a Sand Martin and Chiff on the moors.

[Sy V]

Oh, I knew I'd avoided the Ides, but forgot which way. It'll be great if the 14th came up trumps as it's my brother's birthday (the one who has had such a torrid time of things lately).

[timmyjones]

Originally Posted by Brian Stretch

And no further forward. I've had an email from a keen gull watcher who is reluctant to provide an opinion on the Upton bird but reckons that at least two of these are not Yellow-legged Gulls!

There you go you see, ask 10 birders for their views on an individual gull and you'll probably get at least 10 different opinions.

Brian
___________
Birding Today

Seems like we may be a few steps closer to a firm ID

See some replies to this thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=224931

I really like birds like this because you end up learning a lot more on gull identification especially in plumages that we don't necessarily see a lot like 2w.

Hopefully if the large gulls keep dropping into the Moors then you guys might stand a chance at Iceland Gull with the amount that are in the country of late! Got a minimum of 11 in York at the moment!

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

No LRP's reported yet at Upton?

Gert, who's still left with a chance of scooping the beer? - Sy, me, Andy P, Phil, Cooky and Jim are the ones I can remember.

Now then mate here's whose left - Gavo, John, Mike, me and Trevor now out of the game.

Not many LRP arrived anywhere yet as far as I can tell. South westerlies needed - could be a few days yet..


14th - Simon (Sy V)
15th - Dave (Woodchat)
16th - Andy (Spoonbill Finder)
17th - Phil Andrews
19th - Chris (Cooky1)
20th - Jim (HenHarrier)

[timmyjones]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

Now then mate here's whose left - Gavo, John, Mike, me and Trevor now out of the game.

Not many LRP arrived anywhere yet as far as I can tell. South westerlies needed - could be a few days yet..


14th - Simon (Sy V)
15th - Dave (Woodchat)
16th - Andy (Spoonbill Finder)
17th - Phil Andrews
19th - Chris (Cooky1)
20th - Jim (HenHarrier)

Can I squeeze in for the 18th please? Be a shame for the beer to go to waste!

[upstarts1979]

Today 12 of us continued the island clearing and much more.
1. The grassy bank below the east hide was strimmed
2. The bramble hedge to the south of the hide was thinned out to encourage
thicker growth.
3. The bramble patch and course grassy area to the right of the hide was
thinned out to allow the area to become wetter.
4. The east island was strimmed for the breeding waders
5. The brash pile by the lagoon promontory was removed to the southern border.
6. The broadmeadow pool east bank peninsula was strimmed.
7. Along the salwarp track towards the Swan Inn where we coppiced some
willows in October, today we planted nearly 50 thorn bushes mostly
hawthorn, with a few blackthorn.

Photos
1. To the right of the east hide
2. bank in front of east hide
3. East island
4. To south of east hide
5. planted up area

[upstarts1979]

Spent a good time after the work party around the Moors. A cool cloudy miserable day (weather wise) with a NW breeze was not the conditions to expect any migration but a couple of species did appear.
My first 2 migrants were a Sand martin and a singing chiffchaff.
Even on the work party plenty of birds were about with snipe, avocet and oystercatchers flying about.
A large flock of passerines fed in the field behind the east hide, they later spread over and around the seasonal pool. They included 60 each of redwing and fieldfare, several blackbird, singles of mistle and song thrush, 25 goldfinch and 20 starlings. The BHG colony had decreased to about 80 birds by 5pm
Species counts at the MOORS
GCG 5, Little grebe 3 poss 4, cormorant 8, mute swan pr, shoveler 20 (12 males), Teal 2, shelduck pr, gadwall 6 (3prs), Pochard 4 (2 males), Tufted 45,
Oystercatcher 5, Avocet 3, snipe 10, lapwing 1, curlew 2, water rail singing in the car park reed bed,
A pair of stock dove displayed in a nearby oak tree. A green woodpecker fed on the freshly cut grass below the east hide.

[upstarts1979]

The BHG roost had dropped a little but it is still worrying that there are so many birds around at this time of year - as the non-breeders spend much of the time harrassing breeding waders.
Apart from the displaying Lapwing there was no other breeding activity, until 2prs of Oystercatchers squared up to each in a noisy territorial dispute. The 4 Avocet were asleep all the time I was there. A single redshank noisily flew around between feeding bouts. 9 snipe roosted in the wet grass around the 2nd Flash. Only 14 curlew roosted amongst the 850 BHG's and a single adult herring.
Also present were 12 Teal and a pair of gadwall.
300 starling roosted in the pines below the SE farm house and a 100 winter flushes moved north just before dark.
John

[Sy V]

Flushes = Thrushes?

[rollingthunder]

The Gull ID has been interesting - i had them both down as LBB's probably more by luck than judgement but that was an initial 'gut' judgement. Also peoples own eyes perceive colour tones differently, a friend of mine can see in colour but cannot distinguish any tones whatsoever, fortunately he is not a birder otherwise mantle and leg colour on Gulls would have had him ringing The Samaritans every 5 mins. Also peoples' digital cameras, Pc's and printers will render birds differently - all important to bear in mind. Frustratingly i seem to spend very little time actually studying the thousands of Yellow Legged Gulls i see in Morocco!

Must try harder........

Laurie -

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Flushes = Thrushes?

Freudian slip

[Sy V]

Thought so, mate.
C'mon Des, make that LRP call...

[midlands birder]

Just thought i'd add a few photo's from the 3/03

Video's on Blog
MB

[UW82]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Thought so, mate.
C'mon Des, make that LRP call...

Sorry Sy, it's 18.06 and still no LRP. Over to you Woodchat.

Des.

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by UW82

Sorry Sy, it's 18.06 and still no LRP. Over to you Woodchat.

Des.

Will the ides of March be the winner - et tu Brute 'n all that

Revised remaining list with late entry by Tim 'gull man' Jones

15th - Dave (Woodchat)
16th - Andy (Spoonbill Finder)
17th - Phil Andrews
19th - Chris (Cooky1)
18th - TimmyJones
20th - Jim (HenHarrier)

[Sy V]

... fünfzehntes, sechzehntes, siebzehntes, neunzehntes, achtzehntes, zwanzigstes! Where did you learn to count?

[Sy V]

Originally Posted by UW82

Sorry Sy, it's 18.06 and still no LRP. Over to you Woodchat.

Des.

I'm sure you tried hard, Des. Cheers mate!

[UW82]

Today's highlights which include no Avocets.

MOORS:

Sand Martin-----------------Shelduck (2)
Shoveler (16)---------------Tufted Duck (47)
Pochard (4)-----------------Gadwall (pr)
Snipe (4)------------------- Teal (4)
Oystercatcher (4)-----------Little Grebe (2)
G C Grebe (3)---------------Sparrowhawk (f)
Herring Gull (3)-------------L B B Gull (2)
Common Gull (1W)---------Fieldfare (35)
Redwing (5)-----------------Lesser Redpoll singing

FLASHES:

Oystercatcher (2)*----------Green Sand (2) late.
Lapwing (11)----------------Curlew (16)
Siskin------------------------Chiffchaff singing
Goldcrest--------------------Common Gull (1W) as above.

* Min of 6 possibily 7 across the reserve.

SAILING POOL:

G C Grebe (8)---------------Little Grebe reported.

Des.

[upstarts1979]

We have got the OK from John H at the sailing centre and Andy H at the Trust, to try and rejuvenate the 'top' reed bed in the Education reserve.
I haven't thought of a date yet, but we might be able to do it on our Tuesday work party a long as we achieve all our 'goals' first.
In its present state it will be useless for reed warblers and water rail. If we could do it before mid early April they might have a chance of using it.
Des have you got the photos of the site.
John

[UW82]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

We have got the OK from John H at the sailing centre and Andy H at the Trust, to try and rejuvenate the 'top' reed bed in the Education reserve.
I haven't thought of a date yet, but we might be able to do it on our Tuesday work party a long as we achieve all our 'goals' first.
In its present state it will be useless for reed warblers and water rail. If we could do it before mid early April they might have a chance of using it.
Des have you got the photos of the site.
John

I've got the images John, but I may have to do something about the file size.


Des.

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Sy V

... fünfzehntes, sechzehntes, siebzehntes, neunzehntes, achtzehntes, zwanzigstes! Where did you learn to count?

Ah, when you put it like that I see where I've gone wrong

[upstarts1979]

Here are a couple of shots ( courtesy of Des UW82) of the Education reed bed. Nothing a strimmer a few rakes and a few willing souls couldn't solve.
John