[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Pam_m

I signed the petition this morning on the 'Conservation' board.

Here is a link about the horrific 'hunting' that happens in Malta.
http://www.birdlifemalta.org/

One day hopefully the Maltese Government will stop this horrific hunting for good and I hope it is soon.

Nothing to do with upton but if you care about migrant birds I'm sure you will want to sign
http://www.birdlifemalta.org/petition/sign/

cheers John

please forward it to all your contacts

just tweeted it out on twitter

[Pam_m]

Originally Posted by midlands birder

just tweeted it out on twitter

Nice one, MB!

[upstarts1979]

A bit of a random one
but this is the rarest bird ever to appear on the reserve.
Its the cutting from one of the local papers.

[wheatearlp]

I'd forgotten just what utter rubbish journalists can come up with when confronted with a topic they know little or nothing about!

[UW82]

At least (sorry) you lot saw the bird, I was in Turkey at the time. Very unlikely to get that one back!

Des.

[wheatearlp]

I thought the same about the Wilson's Phal, so perhaps not totally out of the question! Don't forget there was one at Dosthill a few years ago - fairly close.

[upstarts1979]

I thought the same about the Slav grebe - not had a 2nd chance.
And the Shore lark but that one I got back

oops sorry Des double wammy there

[timmyjones]

Male Goshawk reported over the moors by Phil Andrews this morning. There has been 11 accepted records the latest being 2002 which incidentally was the 23rd January same as todays bird!

Also there are reports from 2007 of a Male over the Sailing pool 21st December but has not been submitted to the county recorder.

Also a record from 2008 of a female over the education reserve 15th April from Dave Walker and Phil Andrews.

The only record of a bird lingering was 31st October to 15th November 1994 when a male was seen on 3 different dates. Will this one do the same?

[upstarts1979]

At last the ice has gone, but surprisingly less birds were in evidence.
The birds were well spread over the pool with the majority of the diving ducks at the north end where 27 Pochard and 10 Tufted gathered. Six Great crested grebes fished all over the pool and one unusually in the shallows below the hide. The snow melt had raised the water level considerably and was probably the reason for the exodus of Shoveler that were down to 16. The teal flock had also dropped to 46 a single Shelduck was asleep all the time I was there. A honking flock of 13 Greylags flew through, shortly followed by 13 Curlew that had previously been feeding on the A38 field. Common snipe fed on the east island and the western bank of the scrape totalling 18 in all. A steady overhead passage of Herring gulls numbered 25 and several BHG were nearing summer plumage.
Very few passerines were seen or heard today.
Other species recorded seen by me were Kingfisher, Jay and redwing

Also on the reserve today but seen by others were Goshawk after I left the hide and
Bittern

cheers John

Pic showing Amy's Marsh free of ice for the first time in 4 weeks.

[upstarts1979]

For anyone doing an Upton Year list mine is 60 ( 5 new ones today - Greylag, Feral pigeon, Jay, redwing, and pheasant)

cheers john

[UW82]

John, you noticed what I saw on Wednesday at the Moors-- fewer birds. Nevertheless, there were small parties of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll along the Salwarpe and the 13 Greylags were in the field adjacent to the Sailing Pool. I also heard the most boring song in the bird world- answers on a postcard.

Des.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by UW82

John, you noticed what I saw on Wednesday at the Moors-- fewer birds. Nevertheless, there were small parties of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll along the Salwarpe and the 13 Greylags were in the field adjacent to the Sailing Pool. I also heard the most boring song in the bird world- answers on a postcard.

Des.

what villa villa villa

or reed bunting

john

[wheatearlp]

Agree with John, must be a reed bunting!

I also missed the goshawk today by a few minutes - that'll teach me to leave the hide before everyone else.

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

At last the ice has gone, but surprisingly less birds were in evidence.
The birds were well spread over the pool with the majority of the diving ducks at the north end where 27 Pochard and 10 Tufted gathered. Six Great crested grebes fished all over the pool and one unusually in the shallows below the hide. The snow melt had raised the water level considerably and was probably the reason for the exodus of Shoveler that were down to 16. The teal flock had also dropped to 46 a single Shelduck was asleep all the time I was there. A honking flock of 13 Greylags flew through, shortly followed by 13 Curlew that had previously been feeding on the A38 field. Common snipe fed on the east island and the western bank of the scrape totalling 18 in all. A steady overhead passage of Herring gulls numbered 25 and several BHG were nearing summer plumage.
Very few passerines were seen or heard today.
Other species recorded seen by me were Kingfisher, Jay and redwing

Also on the reserve today but seen by others were Goshawk after I left the hide and
Bittern

cheers John

Pic showing Amy's Marsh free of ice for the first time in 4 weeks.

that bloody bittern, it shown as we were leaving the hide, but


GOSHAWK half way up the path, we had a large raptor, flying south over the moors, it was quickly identified as the male goshawk, and we watched it as it got lower and lower untill t seemed to drop into the education reserve, we power walked to the causeway and we saw a birder, YES, i quickly scooted over and asked 'did you see it' 'see what' 'the goshawk' 'BUGGER', we explained that the bird had passed over no less than 30 secs before but he missed it....
and again this AM the bird was seen(not sure where from or nothing)
MB
P.S- the purple smily is ment to symbolise, yay ness

[UW82]

Reed Bunting wearing a Claret and Blue kit is correct and because John was quickest to the buzzer, he wins a free ticket to Villa's next home game sitting in the Holte End!!

Des.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by UW82

Reed Bunting wearing a Claret and Blue kit is correct and because John was quickest to the buzzer, he wins a free ticket to Vile's next home game sitting in the Holte End!!

Des.

You could not get anything more boring or sickly than anything in claret and blue. As for the free ticket they couldn't pay me to go there unless the BLUES were playing em.

Goshawk adult seen again today flew east over the Moors pool Dave W.
Des are you doing a year list at Upton just for fun ( no suppressing mind)
john

[upstarts1979]

For those that don't know Gary Prescott he is an Upton regular who is undertaking a tour of all the RSPB and Wildfowl and wetlands trust reserves throughout the UK. He is trying to raise as much money as possible for three charities Ashma uk, RSPB and WWT
He is cycling for the next 11 months having started on 1st Jan from Sandwell Valley RSPB
check his progress on :-
http://bikingbirder2010.blogspot.com/

[Neil-T]

Hi to all you guys and gals on here, I regulary look at neighbouring counties threads to see what is about. I am thinking of paying a visit to Upton Warren, but have never been before. Do I just turn up and pay a fee to go on the reserve. Or is it a closed membership which allows guests. I am a member of the RSPB (Actually work for them) and The WMBC. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Neil.

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Chrysophylax

Hi to all you guys and gals on here, I regulary look at neighbouring counties threads to see what is about. I am thinking of paying a visit to Upton Warren, but have never been before. Do I just turn up and pay a fee to go on the reserve. Or is it a closed membership which allows guests. I am a member of the RSPB (Actually work for them) and The WMBC. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Neil.

hi neil

if you arnt a member of the wildlife trust, then you will need to buy a permit from the sailing centre at flashes end of the reserve, or you could buy one off the wardens who you should be able to find in the hides, the fee is £3 i think, but trust me its well worth it
hope this helps
MB

[Neil-T]

Thanks for the quick response. 1 more question, does anyone have a postcode to get me there. Thanks again. Neil.

[Emma]

Originally Posted by Chrysophylax

Thanks for the quick response. 1 more question, does anyone have a postcode to get me there. Thanks again. Neil.

Hi Neil,

This website will give you more information re Upton Warren: http://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/...&reserveid=365

This is the post code for the sailing centre (B61 7ER) where you park for the Flashes, as soon as you see the Webbs of Wychbold Garden Centre you are in the right place...the sailing centre is on the opposite side of the road. For the Moors if you drive past the BP garage (on the same island), go past the scrap dealers and then look for a white sign with 'Lifestyles' on the right hand side of the road, then go down the track and the car park is on the left!

Hope you enjoy Upton!!

[Neil-T]

Thanks Emma, that's very helpful. Neil.

[Duck_Pond]

I was at the feeders at the Flashes all Sunday morning. Saw 2 gs woodies having a bit of a scrap over the rights to drumming on the dead tree. Also saw a green woodie, both on the tree and on the telegraph pole further back. Also seen were the usual finches, tits, wrens and robins, plus a treecreeper, buzzard and 2 sparrowhawks.

One of the latter I'm trying ever-so-hard to make into a goshawk having seen the reports, as it has that white eyebrow, but I reckon it's just a bit too much to hope for. Will post the image later tonight.

[timmyjones]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

I was at the feeders at the Flashes all Sunday morning. Saw 2 gs woodies having a bit of a scrap over the rights to drumming on the dead tree. Also saw a green woodie, both on the tree and on the telegraph pole further back. Also seen were the usual finches, tits, wrens and robins, plus a treecreeper, buzzard and 2 sparrowhawks.

One of the latter I'm trying ever-so-hard to make into a goshawk having seen the reports, as it has that white eyebrow, but I reckon it's just a bit too much to hope for. Will post the image later tonight.

Looking forward to the photos, it'll be nice to see if it is the Goshawk or not.

[Duck_Pond]

I reckon it's just a sprawk, but I'll wait for an expert to confirm it... both images have been brightened up as much as they'll take, as they were somewhat against a bright sky and came out as silhouettes.

Both of the same bird as it flew towards and over the hide.