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Upton Warren (28 Viewers)

I am conscious that we havent fixed a date for the Autumn All-Day birdwatch; how does Saturday 3rd September (the weekend after the Bank Holiday) sound to everyone? I am sure Mike will advise from the stats of previous years if this is likely to be more productive date that the 10th.

The slight fly-in-the-ointment is the replacement of the Tower Hide at the Flashes with a new double-decker facility which is due to take place in August, during which time it will be unavailable for approx two weeks. I will try to establish from the Trust next week the exact dates proposed; hopefully it will be completed by the Bank Holiday weekend.

Phil

Steve N / Geoff W - are you up for a rematch at Belvide and Middleton respectively? (Upton will win one eventually!)

Having liased with the Trust today there is still some uncertainty as to when the new Flashes hide will be erected so I think for the minute I would suggest that interested participants in the All-Day Birdwatch should keep both 3rd and 10th September free. As soon as there is more news I will let you know.

Phil
 
Well my travels are over for a week so I will be popping to Upton to catch up with old friends hopefully new birds. Seems like I've missed out on lots of Upton ticks :-C However I can't believe Mark still has'nt connected with a Hobby ;)
 
Ringing records

On a slow news day I thought it would be informative to set out the ringing records over the years relating to the reserve (either birds ringed at Upton that have been recaptured elsewhere or birders ringed at other sites that have then been observed at Upton):

BLACK-HEADED GULL
A juvenile noted in the Flashes roost with white 2V02 on 8th August 2009 was ringed as a nestling at Cotswold Water Park on 28th May 2009.
A first summer noted at the Flashes with yellow 2Y32 on 15th May 2010 was ringed at Somerford Keynes, Cotswold Water Park on 12th June 2009
A juvenile with white T5AH ringed near the River Notec, Poland was observed 750 miles west at the Flashes just 32 days later on 22nd July 2010 (and again on the 9th August 2010)
An adult with 9F9 was noted in the roost on 26th February 2011; this had previously been seen at Upton Warren on the 4th July 2010.
A first winter with white 20C9 on its left leg was at the Flashes roost on 2nd March 2011; this had originally been ringed in the nest at Hosehill, Berkshire on the 7th June 2010.
An adult with white 2H72 on its right leg was at the Flashes on 29th April 2011; this was ringed in the nest at Somerford Keynes, Gloucestershire on 2nd June 2008.
An adult with white 2N22 on its left leg (and a small silver ring on its other leg) was at the Moors Pool on 30th April 2011; this was ringed in the nest at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire on 22nd June 2009.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL
A juvenile recorded at Upton Warren on 6th August 2000 was originally colour-ringed as a chick in Saint-Kruis-Winkel in Belgium on 1st June 2000 before being recorded again in Cork, Ireland on 21st February 2001. This bird had also been seen at Westwood Pool in 2000.
A juvenile ringed at the Pas de Calais on 6th June 2001 (green ring on left leg – E54) was observed at the reserve some seven weeks later on 21st July; this bird was also observed in 2001 at Grimley. Another juvenile (green ring on left leg – E90) also ringed on the same day at Pas de Calais was noted at Upton Warren on 30th July 2001.
An adult with a green colour-ring (63A) that was recorded at Upton Warren on 22nd and 25th July 2002 was well travelled. It was ringed in Belgium on 24th June 2001 and was also seen at Belvide Reservoir, Staffs on 22nd September 2002 and the Borth / Aberystwyth area of Wales before being seen again in Belgium in April and May 2003.
A moulting juvenile seen at Upton Warren in late August 2005 with a white ring “2C57” was also ringed in Belgium on 26th May 2005.
A bird ringed as a chick in Poland during July 2006 (sporting a red ring “PAR1” on its left leg) was seen at both the Flashes and the Moors Pool on 27th September 2006 and again at the Flashes on 2nd October 2006.
A juvenile ringed at Noordelijk Insteekdak, Belgium on 21st June 2008 with EO29 was noted at the Flashes on the 6th August 2008.
A bird ringed as a nestling at Langstone Harbour, Hants on 26th June 2001 with yellow 2C31 was noted at the Flashes on 18th July 2009. In the meantime the bird had been observed in the North Devon estuaries, County Dublin, Gijon in northern Spain, near La Rochelle in France, back to County Dublin, again near La Rochelle, Berkshire, Titchfield Haven in Hampshire and again in France.
A bird ringed as a nestling in Belgium in 1999 with white 3N93 was observed at Upton Warren on 28th and 30th July 2009; in the intervening years it had been noted in Belgium and Gloucestershire.
A juvenile carrying a Polish ring was at the Flashes on 23rd July 2010.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
A ringed second summer bird, pink HZC on a blue ring on its left leg, was at the Flashes on 14th May 2011; this had been originally ringed at Gloucester landfill on 24th April 2010 and has been recorded at the same location on 11th October 2010 and 13th June 2011.

COMMON TERN
A bird, which was colour ringed (yellow on right leg) as a chick at Kingsbury Water Park in 1998 was recorded at Upton Warren on 10th July 2001.

GREEN WOODPECKER
One ringed as an adult at the reserve on 11th January 1978 was recovered nearly six years later just two miles away at Hanbury on 23rd December 1983, proving both the relative longevity of the species and their sedentary nature.

SAND MARTIN
One rung as a juvenile at the reserve on 30th August 1974 was recovered the following year at Sandiway, Cheshire on 21st June 1975.

SWALLOW
Ringed on 27th August 1971 at Bedworth, Warwicks - recovered on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 18th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 22nd May 1972at Tentenhill, West Mids
Ringed on 18th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 15th June 1972on a North Sea oil rig
Ringed on 24th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 12th May 1972at Whipsnade Zoo, Beds.
Ringed on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered in June 1972 at Madely, Staffordshire
Ringed on 16th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 2nd September 1972 near Huddersfield
Ringed on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 16th April 1974 at Ouezzane, Morocco
Ringed on 31st August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on11th September 1974 at Hemswell, Lincs
Ringed on 20th August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on 20th April 1975at Arrou, France (as a corpse in a nest)

CETTI'S WARBLER
A bird ringed as juvenile on the reserve on 3rd June 2004 was re-trapped at Icklesham in West Sussex on 2nd October 2005
A female ringed at Upton Warren in July 2009 was recovered at Rostherne Mere, Cheshire on 20th May 2010.

SEDGE WARBLER
Ringed on 16th August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on 1st September 1974 at Thatcham, Berkshire
Ringed on 9th August 1995 as a juvenile in Berendrecht, Belgium - recovered on 27th April 1997 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 15th August 1995 as a juvenile in Hoddesden, Hertfordshire - recovered on 5th May 1998 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 25th April 1998 at Upton Warren - recovered on 20th May 1998 at Newark, Nottinghamshire
Ringed at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire on the 29th August 2009 - recovered 24th April 2011 at Upton Warren

REED WARBLER
Ringed on 7th August 1991 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 27th July 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 17th August 1991 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 8th August 1993 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 8th August 1994 (juvenile) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 11th July 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 8th August 1994 (juvenile) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 10th May 1997 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 1st August 1995 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 5th May 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 28th March 1996 (adult) in Senegal - recovered on 1st June 1996at Upton Warren
Ringed on 23rd June 2001 (adult) at Upton Warren - recovered on 13th August 2004 at Grimley, Worcs
Ringed on 16th August 2008 at Saint Froult, Charente-Martine (western France) - recovered on 1st May 2011 at Upton Warren

BLACKCAP
An adult ringed on the reserve on the 28th August 1992 was trapped 29 days later on 26th September 1992 at Worthing, East Sussex.

REED BUNTING
A bird ringed as a juvenile on the reserve on 28th August 1973 was recovered three years later on 10th October 1976 at Littleton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire.
 
On a slow news day I thought it would be informative to set out the ringing records over the years relating to the reserve (either birds ringed at Upton that have been recaptured elsewhere or birders ringed at other sites that have then been observed at Upton):

BLACK-HEADED GULL
A juvenile noted in the Flashes roost with white 2V02 on 8th August 2009 was ringed as a nestling at Cotswold Water Park on 28th May 2009.
A first summer noted at the Flashes with yellow 2Y32 on 15th May 2010 was ringed at Somerford Keynes, Cotswold Water Park on 12th June 2009
A juvenile with white T5AH ringed near the River Notec, Poland was observed 750 miles west at the Flashes just 32 days later on 22nd July 2010 (and again on the 9th August 2010)
An adult with 9F9 was noted in the roost on 26th February 2011; this had previously been seen at Upton Warren on the 4th July 2010.
A first winter with white 20C9 on its left leg was at the Flashes roost on 2nd March 2011; this had originally been ringed in the nest at Hosehill, Berkshire on the 7th June 2010.
An adult with white 2H72 on its right leg was at the Flashes on 29th April 2011; this was ringed in the nest at Somerford Keynes, Gloucestershire on 2nd June 2008.
An adult with white 2N22 on its left leg (and a small silver ring on its other leg) was at the Moors Pool on 30th April 2011; this was ringed in the nest at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire on 22nd June 2009.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL
A juvenile recorded at Upton Warren on 6th August 2000 was originally colour-ringed as a chick in Saint-Kruis-Winkel in Belgium on 1st June 2000 before being recorded again in Cork, Ireland on 21st February 2001. This bird had also been seen at Westwood Pool in 2000.
A juvenile ringed at the Pas de Calais on 6th June 2001 (green ring on left leg – E54) was observed at the reserve some seven weeks later on 21st July; this bird was also observed in 2001 at Grimley. Another juvenile (green ring on left leg – E90) also ringed on the same day at Pas de Calais was noted at Upton Warren on 30th July 2001.
An adult with a green colour-ring (63A) that was recorded at Upton Warren on 22nd and 25th July 2002 was well travelled. It was ringed in Belgium on 24th June 2001 and was also seen at Belvide Reservoir, Staffs on 22nd September 2002 and the Borth / Aberystwyth area of Wales before being seen again in Belgium in April and May 2003.
A moulting juvenile seen at Upton Warren in late August 2005 with a white ring “2C57” was also ringed in Belgium on 26th May 2005.
A bird ringed as a chick in Poland during July 2006 (sporting a red ring “PAR1” on its left leg) was seen at both the Flashes and the Moors Pool on 27th September 2006 and again at the Flashes on 2nd October 2006.
A juvenile ringed at Noordelijk Insteekdak, Belgium on 21st June 2008 with EO29 was noted at the Flashes on the 6th August 2008.
A bird ringed as a nestling at Langstone Harbour, Hants on 26th June 2001 with yellow 2C31 was noted at the Flashes on 18th July 2009. In the meantime the bird had been observed in the North Devon estuaries, County Dublin, Gijon in northern Spain, near La Rochelle in France, back to County Dublin, again near La Rochelle, Berkshire, Titchfield Haven in Hampshire and again in France.
A bird ringed as a nestling in Belgium in 1999 with white 3N93 was observed at Upton Warren on 28th and 30th July 2009; in the intervening years it had been noted in Belgium and Gloucestershire.
A juvenile carrying a Polish ring was at the Flashes on 23rd July 2010.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
A ringed second summer bird, pink HZC on a blue ring on its left leg, was at the Flashes on 14th May 2011; this had been originally ringed at Gloucester landfill on 24th April 2010 and has been recorded at the same location on 11th October 2010 and 13th June 2011.

COMMON TERN
A bird, which was colour ringed (yellow on right leg) as a chick at Kingsbury Water Park in 1998 was recorded at Upton Warren on 10th July 2001.

GREEN WOODPECKER
One ringed as an adult at the reserve on 11th January 1978 was recovered nearly six years later just two miles away at Hanbury on 23rd December 1983, proving both the relative longevity of the species and their sedentary nature.

SAND MARTIN
One rung as a juvenile at the reserve on 30th August 1974 was recovered the following year at Sandiway, Cheshire on 21st June 1975.

SWALLOW
Ringed on 27th August 1971 at Bedworth, Warwicks - recovered on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 18th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 22nd May 1972at Tentenhill, West Mids
Ringed on 18th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 15th June 1972on a North Sea oil rig
Ringed on 24th August 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 12th May 1972at Whipsnade Zoo, Beds.
Ringed on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered in June 1972 at Madely, Staffordshire
Ringed on 16th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 2nd September 1972 near Huddersfield
Ringed on 6th September 1971 at Upton Warren - recovered on 16th April 1974 at Ouezzane, Morocco
Ringed on 31st August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on11th September 1974 at Hemswell, Lincs
Ringed on 20th August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on 20th April 1975at Arrou, France (as a corpse in a nest)

CETTI'S WARBLER
A bird ringed as juvenile on the reserve on 3rd June 2004 was re-trapped at Icklesham in West Sussex on 2nd October 2005
A female ringed at Upton Warren in July 2009 was recovered at Rostherne Mere, Cheshire on 20th May 2010.

SEDGE WARBLER
Ringed on 16th August 1974 at Upton Warren - recovered on 1st September 1974 at Thatcham, Berkshire
Ringed on 9th August 1995 as a juvenile in Berendrecht, Belgium - recovered on 27th April 1997 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 15th August 1995 as a juvenile in Hoddesden, Hertfordshire - recovered on 5th May 1998 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 25th April 1998 at Upton Warren - recovered on 20th May 1998 at Newark, Nottinghamshire
Ringed at Titchfield Haven, Hampshire on the 29th August 2009 - recovered 24th April 2011 at Upton Warren

REED WARBLER
Ringed on 7th August 1991 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 27th July 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 17th August 1991 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 8th August 1993 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 8th August 1994 (juvenile) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 11th July 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 8th August 1994 (juvenile) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 10th May 1997 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 1st August 1995 (adult) at Icklesham, West Sussex - recovered on 5th May 1996 at Upton Warren
Ringed on 28th March 1996 (adult) in Senegal - recovered on 1st June 1996at Upton Warren
Ringed on 23rd June 2001 (adult) at Upton Warren - recovered on 13th August 2004 at Grimley, Worcs
Ringed on 16th August 2008 at Saint Froult, Charente-Martine (western France) - recovered on 1st May 2011 at Upton Warren

BLACKCAP
An adult ringed on the reserve on the 28th August 1992 was trapped 29 days later on 26th September 1992 at Worthing, East Sussex.

REED BUNTING
A bird ringed as a juvenile on the reserve on 28th August 1973 was recovered three years later on 10th October 1976 at Littleton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire.

I have one to add. A bird which I managed to read the ring number.
Water Rail
8/9/1987 Brandon Marsh, Warks juvenile male
14/5/1989 Upton Warren, present since early April. Seen with 5 chicks.
 
Just for the record somebody with the initials BB reported a Cirl Bunting on the Moors feeders yesterday at 17.30.

Des.
 
Just for the record somebody with the initials BB reported a Cirl Bunting on the Moors feeders yesterday at 17.30.

Des.

Wow! If that is confirmed that is a regional MEGA!! Any detail as to whether it was reported as male or female? I would've bet against us ever recording that species anywhere near Upton Warren, given their highly sedentary nature in their UK range. Vagrants from the continent are extremely rare in the UK also. The last Worcestershire record was in 1981 I believe.
 
Last edited:
Cough...

Is this where I regret not having paid John my £1.00... lol!

Maybe, Sy. But.....

I wouldn't get too carried away just yet. The chances are that this report is erroneous. It will certainly need a very detailed description to get through. Photographic evidence would certainly help.
 
Dave mate... I had no plans to hold my breath, I can assure you. It would make for good banter (at my expense though)! B :)
 
Dave mate... I had no plans to hold my breath, I can assure you. It would make for good banter (at my expense though)! B :)

Sy,

I must admit that, when I saw your prediction bird, I thought to myself if one of those turns up at UW I'll give you the money myself :t:

In fact I'll stick to it - if this turns out to be a genuine Cirl Bunting and I manage to see it at Upton Warren I will gladly give you the £20 or so jackpot out of my own pocket. 8-P B :)
 
Hi.
I was in the concrete hide at about 7..pm yesterday when BB came in (jolly nice guy he is too)
He told me he had seen a Cirl Bunting. I mentioned the significance of such a sighting and subsequent discusssion revealed that BB was not particularly familiar with the plumage variations of Cirl, female Yellowhammer or female Reed Bunting.
I was of the opinion that BB may have been mistaken.
Best regards, Mike Nesbitt
 
Hi.
I was in the concrete hide at about 7..pm yesterday when BB came in (jolly nice guy he is too)
He told me he had seen a Cirl Bunting. I mentioned the significance of such a sighting and subsequent discusssion revealed that BB was not particularly familiar with the plumage variations of Cirl, female Yellowhammer or female Reed Bunting.
I was of the opinion that BB may have been mistaken.
Best regards, Mike Nesbitt

Cheers Mike,

I wonder - did BB give you a verbal description of what he actually saw? Did he say why he thought it was a Cirl Bunting?
 
Cheers Mike,

I wonder - did BB give you a verbal description of what he actually saw? Did he say why he thought it was a Cirl Bunting?

Nothing conclusive I'm afraid, although he was taken by the birds head stripes. Rob was there and looked at a field guide with BB and not much came of it.
When I left, Rob went over to the other hide to look himself. I don't know what the outcome was.
Mike.
 
Nothing conclusive I'm afraid, although he was taken by the birds head stripes. Rob was there and looked at a field guide with BB and not much came of it.
When I left, Rob went over to the other hide to look himself. I don't know what the outcome was.
Mike.

Sounds like it was most probably just a female Reed Bunting to me.

Cheers.
 
I have one to add. A bird which I managed to read the ring number.
Water Rail
8/9/1987 Brandon Marsh, Warks juvenile male
14/5/1989 Upton Warren, present since early April. Seen with 5 chicks.

Thanks CaveLight - I accidently overlooked this record; my info says that it was also noted on the North Moors in 1988.

Phil
 
Cirl Buntings bred in Worcestershire until 1976 but has only been recorded twice since, the last being at Hartlebury in February 1983. I'm keeping my quid in my pocket for the minute. Havent heard any update on a Rosefinch submission either :-C
 

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