[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

Here are a couple of shots ( courtesy of Des UW82) of the Education reed bed. Nothing a strimmer a few rakes and a few willing souls couldn't solve.
John

I noticed this last week. I'd be up for a Sunday work party if there were enough numbers

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

I noticed this last week. I'd be up for a Sunday work party if there were enough numbers

cheers Gert.
I will have a word with the Tuesday crew and see what we can come up with, Ray, John and Paul are the only ones I have spoken to about it and they think it is worthwhile. If we finish the tasks this coming Tuesday, we will still have 2 or 3 weeks before the warblers are due to return.
We are also OK to burn off the debris, which will certainly make it more sustainable for the long term.
John

[Sy V]

I'm sure you have it in your master plan John, but just a reminder that before they [the warblers] return it'd be good if we [royal, naturally] could address the Hen Pool hide plan as discussed and agreed.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Sy V

I'm sure you have it in your master plan John, but just a reminder that before they [the warblers] return it'd be good if we [royal, naturally] could address the Hen Pool hide plan as discussed and agreed.

Not forgot that one Sy, did you get your strimmer sorted.
I/we and others can sort the Hen Pool out in a couple of hours, before 6th April.
I am not sure how long Paul is keeping the Tuesday's going for this season, but a few of these little jobs can be sorted no probs.
We will have to agree what we want at the Hen pool to accomodate the reed birds and the Bluethroat
John

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

.......
We will have to agree what we want at the Hen pool to accomodate the reed birds and the Bluethroat
John

No LRP's reported yet so my chances of winning the ale are disappearing fast. Never mind, another Bluethroat for when I get back in 2 weeks will do nicely. Don't get anything too good in the meantime though (like a Night Heron for instance).

[Sy V]

7 Avocets and... Get the beers in for Dave - 1 LRP. (DRA (?) Reports 2 LRPs @ 1100...

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Sy V

7 Avocets and... Get the beers in for Dave - 1 LRP. (DRA (?) Reports 2 LRPs @ 1100...

Ha!! I spoke too soon. The Ides have it..

Cheers Sy,

I'll claim my prize when I get back from my birding odyssey in Israel.

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Sy V

7 Avocets and... Get the beers in for Dave - 1 LRP. (DRA (?) Reports 2 LRPs @ 1100...

Where has the news come from Sy

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

Ha!! I spoke too soon. The Ides have it..

Cheers Sy,

I'll claim my prize when I get back from my birding odyssey in Israel.

Have a gud en mate John

[Gavo]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

Ha!! I spoke too soon. The Ides have it..

Cheers Sy,

I'll claim my prize when I get back from my birding odyssey in Israel.

Well done Dave, it looks like all those hours slaving over Kruskal-Wallace have paid off

p.s. happy birthday

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

Ha!! I spoke too soon. The Ides have it..

Cheers Sy,

I'll claim my prize when I get back from my birding odyssey in Israel.

Did I mention that if it's not on Brian's web site it don't count

Looks like stats don't lie after all - nice one Dave.

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

Did I mention that if it's not on Brian's web site it don't count

Looks like stats don't lie after all - nice one Dave.

To be fair, four days either side of the mean date would've been within my limits of expectation. I'd better text Brian....

Sy said he was going to post a distant record shot later..

[Sy V]

I also sent a text and received and reply from Brian.
DRA (?) Has an entry of 2 in the log book at 11am. There was only 1 showing between 2 and 3 pm.
Record photo to follow when I get home...

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

To be fair, four days either side of the mean date would've been within my limits of expectation. I'd better text Brian....

Sy said he was going to post a distant record shot later..

Either way the ale's yours - will be waiting for you when you get back

[cooky1]

Congrats Dave.I started to think at the beginning of the week my date of the 19th was looking good,then the reports yesterday on BG changed my mind.
Try again next year.

Enjoy the beer mate and have a good trip.

[upstarts1979]

He is an egg collector that has an ASBO not to enter any wildlife trust or RSPB reserve, he is also banned from Scotland during the breeding season.
His name is Matthew Gonshaw
amongst other species he specialises in Avocets

[Woodchat]

Cheers guys. Early start tomorrow so I'm turning in - see you down at Upton in a couple of weeks time.

[Sy V]

Due to the fog and general gloominess, the imagery is total crap. Trust me, the bird's there.
Oh, apparently, because there's beer involved I should try. Here's a hybrid goose that, until today I hadn't noticed either...

[timmyjones]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Due to the fog and general gloominess, the imagery is total crap. Trust me, the bird's there.
Oh, apparently, because there's beer involved I should try. Here's a hybrid goose that, until today I hadn't noticed either...

Nice one Sy, had my first LRP on my campus this morning!

Hybrid goose is a Canada x Greylag

[rollingthunder]

Gonshaw is also THE most-jailed egger on record - he obviously does not learn from his mistakes..........the sad little turd!

Laurie -

[Whoever]

What does the secret Hen Pool Hide plan consist of?

[upstarts1979]

Just back from the Mecca.
I intended to spread myself equally between the Moors and flashes today. The Fatal mistake of going to the Flashes 1st saw me spend nearly 6 hours there and only allowed me 15 minutes at the Moors before my permit ran out.
It certainly was a worth while session at the Flashes though.
8 species of waders appeared and I had 3 year ticks.
The force 3ish southerly wind made it feel un-spring like, however there was a bit of 'Vis Mig' going on.
An adult Ringed plover accompanied the 2 LRP's, 2 redshanks appeared at different times and later joined up as a 'couple'. The 5 Avocets looked a little more settled than any of the previous groups. Both Oystercatcher and Lapwings mated, the latter species totalling 18 birds, although still a bit early this would represent the highest breeding numbers for many years. Amongst the flock is a pale, not quite leucistic female. A couple of snipe and 9 curlew were the remaining wader species.
In front of the hide Linnets , pied wagtails, goldfinch dropped onto the short grassy areas to feed. A 'darkish legged' pipit momentarily appeared but was soon lost when a pied wagtail chased it, 2 other pipits also showed on the 'grassy knoll' but they were both meadows. A case of the one that got away.
More linnets moved through with at least 10 seen in one flock. A flock of c30 thrushes and 60 starlings moved through.
Also recorded today were: Teal 32, mallard c30, BHG 40, herring gull, coot 10, Buzzard, green woodpecker, stock dove 2, wood pigeon 60,

The brief visit to the Moors revealed
GCG 4, little grebe 3, cormorant 6, Shoveler 6 (4 males), teal 12, gadwall 4 (2 prs), shelduck pr, pochard 4 (2 prs), tufted 50+, Oystercatcher 4 (2 prs), lapwing 3 (2 males), snipe 4, BHG 160, Herring gull c5,
John

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Whoever

What does the secret Hen Pool Hide plan consist of?

can't tell you, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret

Only Joking Daniel...Its no secret, we are toying with creating a few more channels in the reeds. These will be positioned so they can be seen from the hide. This will also provide more reed warbler territories by creating physical borders for the birds to defend.

[upstarts1979]

This diagram might make a bit more sense, re the hen pool channels. The 2 channels in front already exist, the 2 going off at an angle will be new ones.

[Sy V]

Thanks Rolf "Can you tell what it is yet?" Belsey!

Yes, this is what John and I have discussed, Daniel. Typically, the Sedge Warblers will arrive first but they will get ousted to the rank vegetation on the fringes of the reed beds by the later-arriving Reed Warblers (a mutual friend of ours - Fergus Henderson wrote a paper on this behaviour). The cut channels are an attempt (by us) to allow more separate Reed Warbler territories in the immediate vicinity of the hide.