[upstarts1979]

In the field at 7.30am at the Flashes cold (3'c). heavy showers and moderate SE wind.
Pretty quiet to start with apart from the usual Lapwings and Curlews roosting. By 8.30am the rain stopped and the sun shone briefly with the wind moving to the SW. This respite enticed some of the Snipe out of cover and feed in front of the hide. A quick count reached 47 and a Jack Snipe fed in its usual area the southern part of 2nd Flash. 310 Lapwing whirled above after being flushed by a sparrowhawk. 40 BHG fed in the sewage works and small numbers of LBBG and a Herring gull passed overhead. For the first time in a long while there were no ducks on the lagoons. even by the end of the morning just a handful of teal and Mallard flew from the Hen Brook. A water rail called from the reeds and 12 Curlew flew off to feed elsewhere.
I switched my attention from the water to the fields and hedgerows, quickly picking up Redwing (12), Fieldfare (6) also small numbers of Goldfinch, Linnet and a single reed Bunting. In the ploughed field to the north I noticed a couple of passerines on the wires, scoping from a distance of c4-500yards I picked up a male Yellowhammer (an usual species at upton in recent years). More intensive scoping revealed a staggering 10 male Yellowhammer and some reed buntings.
I quickly rushed around to the side of the archery field halving the viewing distance . On route a mixed flock of finches (25) fed on alders and silver birch at the back of the Hen pool 9 lesser redpolls were amongst the goldfinches
Setting my scope up I checked the top of the hedgerow when suddenly a flock took to the air numbering a minimum of 100 birds. Although hard to count a minimum of 30 Yellowhammer where amongst the chaffinch and reed buntings this is the largest flock for a good few years. This flock was later located by Dave walker and Gordon greaves from the farmers path. Dave has just phoned to say that there were other flocks on the field including 20+ skylark good numbers of Linnet and the yellowhammers - I will up-date if anything to add.
cheers John

[upstarts1979]

A few shots from this morning

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

A few shots from this morning

Nice one John. Amazing numbers of Yellowhammer. I can't remember the last time I saw one at Upton W let alone this many.

[upstarts1979]

After spending all morning at the Flashes. I only had an hour or so before household chores beckoned.
Looking from the East (Lapwing ) hide I noticed that Tuesday's work party had cleared a large area of willow along the old path where the former east hide was. This now gives better views looking north from the hide.

On the bird front the Shoveler and indeed most of the waterfowl had declined directly as a result of the increase in water levels.
A lot more birds were feeding in front of the hide in what is known as Amy's marsh scrape.
Totals for the day were as follows;-
GCG 2
Little Grebe 3
Cormorant c20
Shoveler 65
Teal 56
Pochard 35
Tufted 40+
Snipe 11
Lapwing 125
water Rail called from several areas, and 3 Cettis warblers sang.
The Bitterns were seen earlier
cheers John

[upstarts1979]

I have copied these old 35mm photos from the my archives.
Red N phal 1999, Blue W Teal 1989, Bewick's swan 1990, Spotted crake 1981. Not national rarities just upton ones. Just to brighten up an otherwise cold winters night

[timmyjones]

Sounds like a good day John might see if I can get up there tomorrow morning and hopefully the yellowhammer will still be around. Where abouts were they? Do you just carry on walking straight after the sailing pool instead of going down the steps?

Cracking photos there especially like the bewick's, there can't be that many records of them landed or hanging around so a photos cracking!

[upstarts1979]

Prediction List - update

Tim Jones - Whiskered Tern
Trevor Jones - Green Winged Teal
Starain Boy - Glossy Ibis
Stuart Croft - Ring Billed Gull
Mike Wakeman - Red Necked Grebe
Midland Birder - Wryneck
Des Jennings - Common Rosefinch
Gert Corfield - Long Billed Dowitcher
Dave Walker - Cattle Egret
Phil Andrews - Night Heron
John Belsey - Lesser Yellowlegs
Simon Vickers - Cirl Bunting
RogerP(staffs)- Black Throated Diver
Andy Warr - Spotted Sandpiper

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by timmyjones

Sounds like a good day John might see if I can get up there tomorrow morning and hopefully the yellowhammer will still be around. Where abouts were they? Do you just carry on walking straight after the sailing pool instead of going down the steps?

Cracking photos there especially like the bewick's, there can't be that many records of them landed or hanging around so a photos cracking!

Hi Tim yes carry on to the end of the sailing pool then straight ahead past the canoe trailersthe Hen pool is on your rightkeep walking left of the archery field and stop where the field has been ploughed stay on rough grass archery field will be below to the right. Here is where the buntings were in the top of hedge. see pic hedgerow behind brown field. the bush at the base of the telegraph pole held 15 males in it
cheers john

[timmyjones]

Should be up there tomorrow morning then, what time does it get light? I try not to wake up that early!

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by timmyjones

Should be up there tomorrow morning then, what time does it get light? I try not to wake up that early!

Tim you had better get practising for the spring when its light at 4am. At the moment its light (birders light - ie 30 mins before non birders can see) at 7.20am. Tomorrow will be a misty start so I would leave it until after 8.30 passerines wont be active much before an hour after 1st light. Phil is meeting Gordon to check the flock out with gordon at 8.30. So give him a ring to find out whats happening. I think you have got his number he sent you a text re-work party.
cheers John
Lets hope they find a Cirl Bunting - simon will win the prediction list!! 2nd thoughts

[timmyjones]

Yep well i've got work at 9:30 so gonna try getting down there for about half 7ish and try and find the a cirl for simon!

[midlands birder]

after a bit of an amazing time at the earlswood job(just say 1000 golden plover) we headed for the moors(not knowing about the yellowhammers).dropped in the north moors.after a minuite a cormorant flew in,then only a bit later the BITTERN was flying across the pool at 15:31.the views were magically close,but i was too slow on the camera front and despite,the bittern constantly moving the reeds above him,we never saw it again,but still glad i saw it,a curlew was on the islands and another(or the same) was heard,but none were in the A38,3 water rail were seen and another 2 heard,as the light was dropping i found it hard to count the ducks but estimated 60 shoveler,30 pochard,2 little grebe were feeding in the channels in front of the hide,a k-fisher perched briefly.
but none of this went in the log book as i couldent find a pen and i didnt have one on me.
on the walk back to the car,the flock of thrushes was there again,redwing,fieldfare and blackbird were in fair numbers(one redwing perched on the bush just outside the left hand side of the hide,could have reached out and touched it),a goldcrest was seen in the bushes and the 2 bullfinch were still along the path
MB

[upstarts1979]

MB
yes its getting a bit static at the moment but then again it is winter a bit of a cold spell and N/NE winds might stir things up a bit.
I am not sure how the lads got on today as I was watching the Blues beat wolves sorry (about that Simon - you dingle)
cheers John

Ps Work Party next Sunday details to follow

[upstarts1979]

Spoke to Phil Andrews late last night.
He and Gordon saw some big flocks (in upton terms) in the previously mentioned field. Species and numbers as follows:-
Yellowhammer 20+, Reed Bunting 40, Linnet 150, Skylark55, also 4 Ravens and A Yellow legged gull flew over.
john

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

Spoke to Phil Andrews late last night.
He and Gordon saw some big flocks (in upton terms) in the previously mentioned field. Species and numbers as follows:-
Yellowhammer 20+, Reed Bunting 40, Linnet 150, Skylark55, also 4 Ravens and A Yellow legged gull flew over.
john

any chance you can bait the field untill nxt saturday,hoping for the yellowhammers to stick around,or even better attract them to the flashes feeders,have you started putting food in them again for the winter,i could imagine the area plastered in yellow
and i still havent seen raven at upton,despite seeing 7 at my local patch in the last few weeks

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

any chance you can bait the field untill nxt saturday,hoping for the yellowhammers to stick around,or even better attract them to the flashes feeders,have you started putting food in them again for the winter,i could imagine the area plastered in yellow
and i still havent seen raven at upton,despite seeing 7 at my local patch in the last few weeks

MB funny you should say that watch this space
we have a plan we will be doing it on sunday - I will let you know as and when its sorted along the same lines that you mention. Mind you if you and your dad come to the work party - you will see and maybe help with the plan.
Either wat I will let you know
cheers John

[upstarts1979]

Prediction List - update
Tim Jones - Whiskered Tern
Trevor Jones - Green Winged Teal
Starain Boy - Glossy Ibis
Stuart Croft - Ring Billed Gull
Mike Wakeman - Red Necked Grebe
Midland Birder - Wryneck
Des Jennings - Common Rosefinch
Gert Corfield - Long Billed Dowitcher
Dave Walker - Cattle Egret
Phil Andrews - Night Heron
John Belsey - Lesser Yellowlegs
Simon Vickers - Cirl Bunting
RogerP(staffs)- Black Throated Diver
Andy Warr - Spotted Sandpiper
Kay D - Caspian Gull

[Brian Stretch]

The November review of sightings for the reserve written by Phil Andrews is now online:
http://www.uptonwarrenbirding.co.uk/...reviews_9.html

Brian
_________________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.uptonwarrenbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

[Sy V]

Thanks Brian (and Phil, of course).

[upstarts1979]

Over the years the wychavon ringing group have had several sessions at the reserve. Catching a variety of species some of the more interesting ones shown below. A colour scheme with the cettis warbler was instigated whereby individuals could be identified in the field.
There were several re-traps of various species from around the country I will try and get the info together and collate the records and post on here.
Sy your mentor in action

[midlands birder]

do they still ring at upton,never seen any ringers,would be nice to see if any of those redwings along the west moors path have rings

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

do they still ring at upton,never seen any ringers,would be nice to see if any of those redwings along the west moors path have rings

MB
Fergus the geazer pictured, used to ring fairly regularly. Most years he comes back to catch the juvenile cettis but the area he used to catch them in is a bit overgrown now. Simon (SyV) is training to be a ringer so hopefully they will be coming back more often in the future. I will post on here when they do, if you have never witnessed it its quite captivating to see.
John

[midlands birder]

nope never seen a ringing sesion,but would find it hard to count a bird in the hand

unless its a mega of course

[midlands birder]

i though about becoming a ringer a few years back for the main reason that i wanted to track movements of birds through lickhill being on the river an all,could pick up some things
but at this time would find it hard with my exam's an all,maybe when im older

[timmyjones]

Nice photos there John as usual but the 2nd photo you have labeled as a Cettis looks like a Gropper to me!

Unfourtunatly I might not be able to make the work party on sunday :( managed to get a job but I might pull a sickie