Rob Williams
Well-known member
Went down to Upton Warren today hoping to catch a glimpse of waxwings as they have evaded me so far this winter. Arrived, parked the car and got out to put on my boots. I looked up and across the road towards the huge garden centre opposite the reserve. There, at the top of a bush was my prey. A quick look to confirm and I resumed putting on my boots. That was the one and only view of a waxwing today!
I went round the reserve and heard a water rail, my first in 3 years and then proceeded to the far side of the Moors pools to be told there was a jack snipe in amongst all the common snipe. Sure enough, there it was bobbing up and down. Three year ticks in one day at the end of the year...excellent news indeed and caps off my second best year ever, just under 100 behind my best, 2008.
The water levels at UW were very high, especially as this time last year some of the pools were virtually dry, what a difference 9 months of rain makes.
Roll on 2013 and what I expect will be an excellent year for birds!
I went round the reserve and heard a water rail, my first in 3 years and then proceeded to the far side of the Moors pools to be told there was a jack snipe in amongst all the common snipe. Sure enough, there it was bobbing up and down. Three year ticks in one day at the end of the year...excellent news indeed and caps off my second best year ever, just under 100 behind my best, 2008.
The water levels at UW were very high, especially as this time last year some of the pools were virtually dry, what a difference 9 months of rain makes.
Roll on 2013 and what I expect will be an excellent year for birds!