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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Upton Warren (12 Viewers)

Sounds a bit more promising for the hide. Especially when the avocets seem to arrive earlier each year...

Pete,

This has been a total disaster from start to finish (whenever that finish may actually end up being), all for what should have been a week's job if undertaken by a professional and experienced hide builder. For those of us who have had the "pleasure" to liase with the Trust as this project as lurched from error to error it has been a stressful, draining and demoralising experience. Yet we keep plugging away to try to salvage something from this episode so we have a useable facility to view one of the best birdings sites in the Midlands before our precious and rare breeding birds (particularly the waders) return; remember Avocets were back by the 19th Feb last year.

In light of the above, we are more than grateful for the continued (and indeed growing) support and enthusiasm for those who contribute their time to the Tuesday and Sunday work parties where we try to make a difference based on our knowledge, experiences and observations of the habitats and how the wildlife interacts with it. This has proved hugely rewarding with the marked improvement of the breeding status of recently targeted species such as Willow Warbler. Long may this input from the many and its stunning results continue!!

Phil
 
Sounds pretty much like Bob's (Hart) description of it all, when I bumped into him yesterday. You'd think, with it being the flagship reserve, they'd get it sorted professionally, wouldn't you?!

Given how stressful and demoralising my own work has been of late, I'd best give it a wide berth until it's finished!
 
This has been a total disaster from start to finish (whenever that finish may actually end up being), all for what should have been a week's job if undertaken by a professional and experienced hide builder. Phil

Phil,

It's my theory that the Trust is committed to a policy of giving preference to local suppliers; it seems be the only explanation.

Peter
 
Phil,

It's my theory that the Trust is committed to a policy of giving preference to local suppliers; it seems be the only explanation.

Peter

All I can say is that it is a flawed, naive policy. If it was up to me, I'd have chosen a leading specialist supplier with a proven track-record. I suggested this to the Trust in an email back in July. They disregarded my advice with a typical condescending 'we know best' attitude. The whole thing makes me feel sick to be honest.
 
Phil,

It's my theory that the Trust is committed to a policy of giving preference to local suppliers; it seems be the only explanation.

Peter

From what we have been told this approach has been more from carbon footprint perspective than stimulating the local economy, and because the Trust wanted a bit "different" (believe me, they've got it!!).

It doesnt take a genius to work out which is going create more emissions - a company from miles away who would probably have the hide prefabricated, loaded onto one truck and thrn most likely stay in local B&Bs for the week long building, or a local firm who gi back and forth for three months with the need for various meeting on site and at Trust HQ.
 
From what we have been told this approach has been more from carbon footprint perspective than stimulating the local economy, and because the Trust wanted a bit "different" (believe me, they've got it!!).

It doesnt take a genius to work out which is going create more emissions - a company from miles away who would probably have the hide prefabricated, loaded onto one truck and thrn most likely stay in local B&Bs for the week long building, or a local firm who gi back and forth for three months with the need for various meeting on site and at Trust HQ.

A thorough 'carbon audit' would've also considered comparative lifetime estimates. Other manufacterers use kiln-dried, tanalised wood which is durable and resistant to rot. What we've got is untreated rough-sawn 'green' timer that isn't going to last long. My question was / is 'What's going to be better for the environment? - having a hide built once that will last 30 years or one which will have to be replaced in less than 20 years?'

It really doesn't take a genius to work this one out - and this is what I mean by naive. As far as I can tell, no diligent processes were pursued in the procurement of this hide. All we ever get is patronising b******t and I'm thoroughly sick of it.:C
 
On a much more positive note, JTB just texted to say there's a Knot on Amy's marsh, Moors Pool - presumably viewable from east hide.

At last, some good news.....
 
Knot

Today's Knot was only the 17th record of this species at Upton Warren and the first since November 2004. It is also the first in January.

Sightings tend to go in little runs (including five records in just over two years in the mid/late 1990s) so hopefully another record will follow closely.
 
Unfortunately the work party was rained off today, this will give us a chance to charge our batteries and start again next week.

Birding at the East hide of the Moors.
The heavy rain certainly brought out the snipe , they fed close to the hide on the bank and nearby islands, totalling 30+, The lapwing flock had certainly increased and by this afternoon at least 450 were nervously flying between the flashes and moors. The 17 curlew continued to commute between the A38 field and Amy's marsh. But wader of the day was undoubtedly the winter plumaged Knot. It remained on the main shingle island of the scrape from 9.45 until it flew north at 10.30.
Duck numbers were slightly up with 70 Teal , 11 shoveler, 2 male shelduck (same as 2 weeks ago), 7 Pochard ( 5 males), 27 Tufted. 4 GCG, 2 Little Grebes.
Also seen today were:
Water rail 2 called, Kingfisher, Green woodpecker, 200 mixed flock of redwing and fieldfare, Treecreeper, goldcrest 2, Bullfinch at least 10 at feeding station, good numbers of reed bunting on east island and feeding station,

At the Flashes, Teal 25, BHG 300 roosted, c50 starling, and a redpoll flew over.
B :)John
 

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So was that 2 little egrets 8-P

Quite relieved the work party was called off as we did'nt turn up due to the inclement weather and now we don't feel as guilty.

John, when will you be over UW next? I would like to return your stuff to you.
 
So was that 2 little egrets 8-P

Quite relieved the work party was called off as we did'nt turn up due to the inclement weather and now we don't feel as guilty.

John, when will you be over UW next? I would like to return your stuff to you.

Hi Gav
Yes the weather was too bad, we tell all the crew that if weather is really bad then make your own decision. However sometimes the weather forecast is totally wrong. And anyway we can always go birding, as we did yesterday, even in that torrential storm 6 people turned up with Glenn getting there later. Just shows the commitment :t:

I will hopefully be going Friday - will text you if I do.
B :)John
 
Hi Gav
Yes the weather was too bad, we tell all the crew that if weather is really bad then make your own decision. However sometimes the weather forecast is totally wrong. And anyway we can always go birding, as we did yesterday, even in that torrential storm 6 people turned up with Glenn getting there later. Just shows the commitment :t:

I will hopefully be going Friday - will text you if I do.
B :)John

Ok mate, will hopefully see you then
 
Knot

good job you had your new camera with you.
Just brightened up the photo a bit, to show a little detail.
Not sure I would have been able to identify this, I would have just thought sandpiper. Learn new things everyday.
 

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