[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by PeterE

This is very good news, Phil. Did anyone get a good enough sighting to confirm they were a pair (m & f)? Can we hope to hear the patter of tiny claws?

Peter

Hi Peter - it was reported in the Moors' West Hide log book as a male and female

[midlands birder]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

Hi Peter - it was reported in the Moors' West Hide log book as a male and female

Pete Hackett (birder from sandwell valley) mentioned to me he saw both male and female in the eddy on the previous sunday, while i was watching smew at sandwell
MB

[upstarts1979]

Unfortunately I have to break with tradition and talk negative about the work party today. Nothing to do with us but this picture say's it all really.

[upstarts1979]

Anyway less of that S..T. and the scum involved
Now on to the real peoples work.
We have now reached the final leg of the work in Amy's marsh. Today we had to cut the willow/alder saplings on the eastern bank of the Broadmeadow with loppers instead of our stolen strimmers. Very hard going but once again thanks to all 13 of us today. The cuttings were piled up and placed behind the sand martin bank, this will hopefully build up the bank behind and help it blend in.
The cut willows piled up along the fence line of the old east hide track, were moved into the bramble patch to thicken it up. This area was extremely wet and with a little tinkering will become a very interesting wetland in its own right.
The eastern border fence was also strengthened with thorn branches.

[upstarts1979]

A real spring feel to the day was augmented by a cacophony of sound from Song (4) and, Mistle Thrushes, Goldcrest as well as many common species which included several reed buntings. Long Tailed tits were building nests BHG were already holding territory on the tern rafts.
Moors counts
GCG 3, Little grebe, shoveler 31, teal c50, shelduck pr, Pochard 21 (15 males), tufted 50 (28 males), Lapwing 200+, Curlew 11, snipe 20,
kingfisher 2 chasing one another, water rail 2 or 3, coot 120,
fieldfare c10 roosted, goldcrest,

Flashes
Teal c20, Curlew 22 (the first sign's of wader passage), Oystercatcher.
redwing

[Phil Andrews]

Absolutely gutted - cant say much more. Mixture of anger and sadness

Did anyone see anything unusual on the reserve yesterday?

[Whoever]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

Absolutely gutted - cant say much more. Mixture of anger and sadness

Did anyone see anything unusual on the reserve yesterday?

What's wrong?

[Sy V]

See post #8728, above...

[Gertatron]

By way of distraction from recent events what are the predictions for the first arrival back of LRP ?

The prize is a bottle each of Natural Blond, Black Widow Stout, and Thunderbird from the appropriately named Bird's Brewery of Bromsgrove supplied by your truly.

I'll get it going with 10th March (but won't claim the prize!)

By the way, this highlights the importance of getting the islands ready and grass cut on the bigger one's on the next work party to ensure the little blighters have got a pristine display area

[Sy V]

14th March... you can give me the beer now, Gert!

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

By way of distraction from recent events what are the predictions for the first arrival back of LRP ?

The prize is a bottle each of Natural Blond, Black Widow Stout, and Thunderbird from the appropriately named Bird's Brewery of Bromsgrove supplied by your truly.

I'll get it going with 10th March (but won't claim the prize!)

By the way, this highlights the importance of getting the islands ready and grass cut on the bigger one's on the next work party to ensure the little blighters have got a pristine display area

My guess would be 15th March (the median date over the past 10 years). However, the standard deviation is 4.2 days and they are one of those species which has tended towards earlier arrival. Therefore, 95% confidence interval = 7th March - 23rd March.

Sy's guess of 14th March is also very likely and there is about a 1 in 2 chance of LRP arriving on or before that date (z= 0.23, Q=0.41).

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by Whoever

What's wrong?

The breaking and entering of our storage shed at the Moors Pool and associated theft of various tools.

[Sy V]

Dave

I was going to go for 15th March but due to it being Idus Martii, I decided to beware!

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Dave

I was going to go for 15th March but due to it being Idus Martii, I decided to beware!

Et Tu Brute.

[woodwolf]

I'm getting more Up Pompeii than Julius Caesar...Lurcio to scoop the ale

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by woodwolf

I'm getting more Up Pompeii than Julius Caesar...Lurcio to scoop the ale

I'm getting more 'Carry on Cleo'. Infamy, they've all got it in for me!

[upstarts1979]

Gert
12th March. no scientific calculation just a guess

[Gavo]

Ok I'll go for the 13th March, unlucky for you all

[discors]

My prediction for the return of the LRP would be the 9th March. based on Daves deviation never being standard. All I know is that this is more likley than the return of stolen tools or even the Cetti's.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by discors

My prediction for the return of the LRP would be the 9th March. based on Daves deviation never being standard. All I know is that this is more likley than the return of stolen tools or even the Cetti's.

ouch Trev
After a pretty depressing winter, No bitterns, no cettis, no hide, and now no tools, we are due a 'goodie' this spring.
I predict a southern European wader I wont elaborate but also a rare heron.
John

[Veracocha]

Has anyone heard of any reports of Wildcat's in the vicinity of UW?. I know it sound silly but yesterday I watched a long thin cat hunting Mallard just behind the racks of canoe's at the sailing centre. I squeaked it to get a good look at it's face and it clearly had markings which I have never seen on the domestic variety. I googled Wildcats in Worcestershire and low and behold someone reported seeing same at UW but I cannot validate when the comment was posted on the internet. The pictures of wildcats on the internet tell me this was too close to dismiss it out of hand. I hadn't been drinking in case someone asks :)

[Gavo]

Well I've never heard of a wildcat anywhere outside of their habitat, considering there are only c200 in the wild and that it is Britains rarest mammal I would be extremely surprised, however I would never say never

[wheatearlp]

11th March for returning LRP.

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

My guess would be 15th March (the median date over the past 10 years). However, the standard deviation is 4.2 days and they are one of those species which has tended towards earlier arrival. Therefore, 95% confidence interval = 7th March - 23rd March.

Sy's guess of 14th March is also very likely and there is about a 1 in 2 chance of LRP arriving on or before that date (z= 0.23, Q=0.41).

Trust you Dave! All entries will go in my little black book so watch this space

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

Trust you Dave! All entries will go in my little black book so watch this space

Dave has the advantage of all the raw data for LRP returns. Will post some stats tonight which might assist in people's thinking.