[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Hope they stay put for the weekend... I'm planning to stay local for a change! :)

hope they do stay,might see you there if you come saturday evening

[Duck_Pond]

Spotted crake at the Moors today. Seen from the West Hide initially, then later from the Water Rail hide. Hope it stays around for tomorrow - I know Kay would love to see it.

Going through my pics of it now.

Added one now - will add more to my gallery tomorrow.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

Hi Duck Pond more wishful thinking.
But there are four records for the reserve
Sept 1981 at the north moors
oct 1994 at the sluice area at the moors after the area was cleared
july 1999 at the flashes to right of main hide
aug 2001 in front of the concrete hide again just days after it had been cleared

So anytime from August to October it is worth looking in the quiet reed fringed areas, preferably where there are no moorhens which always chase water rails let alone spotted crake. At the moment the best habitat is in front of the concrete hide (hopefully the kingfisher photographers will come across one) Hen Pool and the reeds around the 2nd Flash and also in front of the 1st Flash hide
Patience is the name of the game and mornings and evenings are best they are pretty rapid when moving in the open. Obvious pitfalls are juveniles water rail which always show a long bill as opposed to the short one of spotted crakes. You usually need several views to be 100% as above the colours are similar apart from white edging to coverts and scapulars. If you do see a water rail type bird with a yellowish short triangular bill make others aware no one will criticise you for that. More pairs of eyes makes it easier.
Good hunting
Cheers John

Hi Duck Pond
Nice pic. The story behind todays bird was two birders were unsure of its ID and told one of the regulars (Terry Norledge) who ID 'd it for them. It also appeared this evening in front of the concrete hide
cheers John

[Duck_Pond]

Hi John

(It's Pete, btw) - We watched it initially from the West Hide, then someone called to say it was visible from the Water Rail (concrete) hide, so we all scuttled over there... but the light was poor.

I left just after 6pm when it was still pottering about on the fringe of the cut-back reeds.

[upstarts1979]

Now that the breeding season is almost finished apart from fresh moorhen and duck species, we can look at the success or otherwise. All the surveys are not yet complete but amongst the more conspicuous species the toals are as follows:-
Waders
Avocet - 10 adults were present 4 breeding pairs laid eggs but only one clutch hatched - (4 chicks) three of which fledged.
Redshank- 2 pairs one incubated for almost the full term but no chicks were seen. Lapwing - 4 pairs incubated two lots of chicks hatched BUT just one chick fledged
Oystercatcher - 2 pairs successfully raised 3 chicks between them
LRP - 4 pairs laid eggs and two clutches hatched but none fledged
Waders all over the country can have great breeding success one year then in the same habitat another year can comletely fail. At Upton this year predation of eggs was a factor. But Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Avocet and LRP all lost chicks
Gulls and Terns
Some would say that Black Headed Gulls are a nest predator But this year there was no evidence of this.
BHG - This species has only been breeding on the reserve for three years. This year the 2 colonies totalled 40 pairs wth many non-breeders in tow. They raised 45+ chicks.
The knock on effect of this increase in the BHG's is the increased protection for other species against both mammalian and avian predators. Common Tern have had the most benefit so much so that this year at least 7 pairs raised 12 chicks between them.
As and when the results come in I will inform you
cheers John

[senatore]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Spotted crake at the Moors today. Seen from the West Hide initially, then later from the Water Rail hide. Hope it stays around for tomorrow - I know Kay would love to see it.

Going through my pics of it now.

Added one now - will add more to my gallery tomorrow.

Well done Pete.

Max

[StarainBoy]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

Avocet - 10 adults were present 4 breeding pairs laid eggs but only one clutch hatched - (4 chicks) three of which fledged.
Redshank- 2 pairs one incubated for almost the full term but no chicks were seen. Lapwing - 4 pairs incubated two lots of chicks hatched BUT just one chick fledged
Oystercatcher - 2 pairs successfully raised 3 chicks between them
LRP - 4 pairs laid eggs and two clutches hatched but none fledged
Waders all over the country can have great breeding success one year then in the same habitat another year can comletely fail. At Upton this year predation of eggs was a factor. But Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Avocet and LRP all lost chicks

Useful information (if a bit depressing). Thanks.

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Spotted crake at the Moors today. Seen from the West Hide initially, then later from the Water Rail hide. Hope it stays around for tomorrow - I know Kay would love to see it.

Going through my pics of it now.

Added one now - will add more to my gallery tomorrow.

a little beauty wasent it,it was from the concret(spider) hide that me and my dad watched it from,it shown well for a bit but then dissapeared,i didnt get any photos as every time a locked onto the bird someone got in the way.i wouldlike tosk for a copy for memories and my blog(credited in your name) but is this asking too much.looks as if you left as i was there,were you the person that was coming out of the hide and a teenager asked if you had any good photos,if so that was me.this whole borrowing photos is becoming for to often for my liking.
any way other birds seen were water rail(and at the flashes) the wood sand was still there as was the black tailed godwit giving stunning views,42 curlew,9 snipe,10c green sand,4 common sand,800+ b h gull in the roost,400+ canadian geese over(and i mean at least,huge amounts toninght) and posibly better than the wood sand an adult 'not so' common gull,will add photos here later after ive uploaded them.
im suprised nobody has alredy mentioned this but what about that montys harrier that flew over the flashes.as i said on friday,upton is going through a purple patch.
no sign of spotted crake today
MB

[upstarts1979]

High MB
I don't mention any recent news as Worcester Birding is the news service for us all. But now you have mentioned it yes a very albeit brief bird on Saturday morning that was my 19th consecutive early start on a Saturday since April. Like the early bird catches the worm the early 'birder' catches the bird.
cheers John

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

High MB
I don't mention any recent news as Worcester Birding is the news service for us all. But now you have mentioned it yes a very albeit brief bird on Saturday morning that was my 19th consecutive early start on a Saturday since April. Like the early bird catches the worm the early 'birder' catches the bird.
cheers John

and the late birder catches the spotted crake
MB
SO was it you who saw it must have been an amazing bird.
i find it funny only a couple of weeks ago we were saying a spot crake could turn up and it did so,the water leval at the flashes looks good for a least sandpiper dont it.
pss.did you see the common gull

[Emma]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Spotted crake at the Moors today. Seen from the West Hide initially, then later from the Water Rail hide. Hope it stays around for tomorrow - I know Kay would love to see it.

Going through my pics of it now.

Added one now - will add more to my gallery tomorrow.

Super shot of the Spotted Crake Pete...you always seem to be in the right place at the right time!!!

Went to Upton Warren this afternoon, we visited the Flashes first and managed to see the Wood Sandpiper (which was still at the back of the pool!! ), the lone Dunlin, the lone Black Tailed Godwit, 20+ Curlew, 2 Common Snipe and Green & Common Sandpipers...they seemed to be everywhere today!!!

Surprisingly the Moors car park was near enough empty when we arrived apart from 3 cars which was a bit of a shocker after yesterdays find! We had the spider/concrete hide to ourselves and managed to see a Juv Water Rail that was quite happily fishing on the edge of the reed bed in open water and we also managed to see the Little Egret having a good old preen in the lovely sunshine!!

Visiting Upton was a lovely end to a super weekend for us!!!!

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Emma

Super shot of the Spotted Crake Pete...you always seem to be in the right place at the right time!!!

Went to Upton Warren this afternoon, we visited the Flashes first and managed to see the Wood Sandpiper (which was still at the back of the pool!! ), the lone Dunlin, the lone Black Tailed Godwit, 20+ Curlew, 2 Common Snipe and Green & Common Sandpipers...they seemed to be everywhere today!!!

Surprisingly the Moors car park was near enough empty when we arrived apart from 3 cars which was a bit of a shocker after yesterdays find! We had the spider/concrete hide to ourselves and managed to see a Juv Water Rail that was quite happily fishing on the edge of the reed bed in open water and we also managed to see the Little Egret having a good old preen in the lovely sunshine!!

Visiting Upton was a lovely end to a super weekend for us!!!!

he better not have been there saturday,cause i didnt see him,but the spotted crake was amazing.glad you saw the egret,it was there too but despite searching it didnt show.nice photos,i love the juv water rail
MB
MB

[Duck_Pond]

Not sure if I saw you MB - I raced over from the Flashes, straight to the West Hide (stilts) to get it initially. Then someone called to say it was visible from the Water Rail hide, so we legged it over there.

I stayed until about 6:15pm, but it was getting a bit dark for shots then. You can normally spot me as I wear a stupid floppy green hat (North Face).

I spent most of this afternoon at the Hen Pool again, watching reed warblers and a pair of juv water rails.

Oh, and you can use any of my shots, as long as you credit me for them.

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Not sure if I saw you MB - I raced over from the Flashes, straight to the West Hide (stilts) to get it initially. Then someone called to say it was visible from the Water Rail hide, so we legged it over there.

I stayed until about 6:15pm, but it was getting a bit dark for shots then. You can normally spot me as I wear a stupid floppy green hat (North Face).

I spent most of this afternoon at the Hen Pool again, watching reed warblers and a pair of juv water rails.

Oh, and you can use any of my shots, as long as you credit me for them.

thanks for letting me use your images pete,much better than any i can get with my camera.were you at the moors at 6:15 as this is when i left the water rail hide after not seeing the bird for about 20 mins(but it might have been showing there was a lot of people in there).i wondered wether to pop into the hen pool hide(for bittern) but i said carry on,but i was a bit anxious as the last time i said this a bittern was being watched as we walked past.

[Pam_m]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

High MB
I don't mention any recent news as Worcester Birding is the news service for us all. But now you have mentioned it yes a very albeit brief bird on Saturday morning that was my 19th consecutive early start on a Saturday since April. Like the early bird catches the worm the early 'birder' catches the bird.
cheers John

Well done with the M Harrier, John! Nowt wrong with your sketch in the log book either!

A great pic of the Spotted Crake, Pete!

Well done with your juv Water Rail pic, Emma! Mine are just a blur!

[Duck_Pond]

Thanks Pam. My gallery has been updated now with the rest of the shots of the spotted crake.

[Pam_m]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

Thanks Pam. My gallery has been updated now with the rest of the shots of the spotted crake.

Very good they are too, Pete! Well done!

I have to say I was very surprised that the Moors Pools were so quiet, I almost didn't bother going there thinking it would be heaving with the news of a Spotted Crake! If it hadn't been for seeing what produce was being sold at 'Lifestyles' I probably wouldn't have ventured there as parking is at such a premium.

[Brian Stretch]

Gallery now online here: http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/sp...warren_69.html

Brian
___________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

[Pam_m]

Originally Posted by Brian Stretch

Gallery now online here: http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/sp...warren_69.html

Brian
___________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

Thanks for the link, Brian!

Luckily there were a few photographers around to see the Spotted Crake! All great photo's too!

I am still bemused as to how quiet it was at the Moors Pools after the Spotted Crake had been reported the day before. Weird!

[Duck_Pond]

I think it was from the reports that it hadn't been seen after 7:20pm that put folks off. And with no sign from those early risers either, people probably assumed it had gone.

Maybe everyone had the same thought as you though - I admit, I didn't go to the Moors because I thought it would be rammed, so went to the other side instead.

[Pam_m]

Originally Posted by Duck_Pond

I think it was from the reports that it hadn't been seen after 7:20pm that put folks off. And with no sign from those early risers either, people probably assumed it had gone.
Maybe everyone had the same thought as you though - I admit, I didn't go to the Moors because I thought it would be rammed, so went to the other side instead.

Mmm, you may be right, Pete. Yet when some will sit for hours waiting for a Kingfisher it just seemed spookily quiet there! Whatever, you were all very lucky being in the right place at the right time!

[Emma]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

For those interested in the habitat at upton warren.

.............and wishful thinking will bring a spotted crake.

Looks like the wishful thinking came true John!! Been looking at the photographs of the Spotted Crake and can't seem to get my bearings of which hide they were taken from as I can't recall seeing any muddy areas in front of the concrete hide, so could someone confirm which hide the pics were taken from please?

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Emma

Looks like the wishful thinking came true John!! Been looking at the photographs of the Spotted Crake and can't seem to get my bearings of which hide they were taken from as I can't recall seeing any muddy areas in front of the concrete hide, so could someone confirm which hide the pics were taken from please?

the photos were taken from both 'west' hides.from the concrete hide if you look right there is some reed stubble and this is where i saw him.it looks newly cut and is quite marshy.by the looks of it petes photo(and corrrect me if im wrong) looks to have been around the feeder area where it was initially found,hope this helps.
MB

[midlands birder]

bittern again at moors today

[Duck_Pond]

All my shots are from the West Hide (on stilts) - what's the new name for this one?

My shots from the Water Rail hide were blurred and a bit distant to bother processing.