[upstarts1979]

At Flashes tonight.
Gadwall 3, Tufted c20 (the only species that is getting the upper hand during the Avocet attacks)
Green Sand, redshank, LRP 6, Avocet 36 chicks could be 37. Oystercatcher 2,
Little owl 2 on pollard below Hobden Hall. Kestrel,

[Sy V]

Originally Posted by John Layj

A crumby phone picture of the roe deer. Typical, I didn't have my camera with me. The deer found its way out fairly easily through the South East corner - perhaps worth checking the fox-proofing in that corner?

This recent talk about mammals being spotted on the reserve reminds me that, as of Thursday 20th June Aldi are offering Camera Traps @ £79.99 a throw.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuy...ldlife-camera/

[keithr]

Originally Posted by Sy V

This recent talk about mammals being spotted on the reserve reminds me that, as of Thursday 20th June Aldi are offering Camera Traps @ £79.99 a throw.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuy...ldlife-camera/

Already on to it...getting some up in the hides ...can see whose getting better pics than me....EVERYONE.....
Was thinking about one to see if a kingfisher shows up when I am not waiting by my stream...lol

Keith

[upstarts1979]

live update
at Moors
common tern poss 8 pairs wth 5 or 6 sitting and others prospecting. sadly both chicks have been lost. Med gull 1st sum briefly. otherwise chicks doing well including 4 each of oycs and lapwings. plus plenty of reed and a few sedge warbler chicks.
Also water rail seen in sluice basin area. A cuckoo called from the SW marsh and later flew to the NE corner of the pool.

Tern activity: This morning, a frenzied attack by a pair of terns on a BHG sitting inside one of the rafts, resulted the pair taking it over. They were scraping and looked all sorted, but 2 hours later the BHG was back inside!! I am sure several terns arrived today, as pairs were frantically scraping and 'fish passing'. There were at least 14 possibly 16 birds, the failed pair were also pair bonding and will have plenty of time to re-lay. An adult on the North Island showed signs that it could have chicks within the thick vegetation.

[upstarts1979]

update from flashes.
oystercatcher has hatched . not seen chicks but worms taken to nest in undergrowth.
Avocet sadly 2 chicks lost 1 each from pair O - 9 days old.
and pair N - 13 days old. the latter pair are in an area lacking in food, as they are not sweeping only surface picking and 1 of the remaining 3 chicks is much smaller than the remaining 2.
Also 6 LRP and 2 redshanks. several more sedge w (4 on the Flashes). The recent increase of sedge wablers, could be birds moving in from elsewhere to have second broods, or it could be that they are just breeding later this year.
4 gadwall, shelduck 4,

BHG a minimum number of pairs on the reserve is 220. Many (c20) have nested on the mainland amongst the reeds and on top of grass cutting piles.

[Kingfisher-kid]

1=the cake rebel
2=the Upton Birder

[keithr]

Tuesday 3pm-9pm...Moors.
So quiet on both East and west sides this afternoon....but a lot of LBJ activity with Sedge and Reed Warblers showing themselves a lot in the reeds from Concrete hide.

At 8.10 we saw a tiny movement in the bottom corner of the thistles growing in front of the feeder Logs...frantic jittery movements from a tiny Shrew...it kept it's back to us and scuttled back in the undergrowth to quick for decent pic.
It was Black on top and White underneath...long snout and longer pale tail.
Looked on line and got WATER SHREW.

While still discussing what it could be a female Kingfisher flew from right - went to land on main perch then on to far one in left Channel then off round corner and across to far corner of pool.Here for about 10 secs

Keith

1..Baby Robin patrolling the start of East Path
2-5 Reed Warblers.

[keithr]

More pics...
1..Reed Bunting escaping.
2-3 sedge warbler.
4...Water Shrew
5 ..Mrs King