[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by Grayman

Phil,

I do hope your using a hands free voice to text phone.

Please keep safe.

Graham

Thats what Ive got a wife for

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Gertatron

They're not at the Moors :(

Hi Gert
any new ducks there today...there's been a bit of waterfowl movement in the last few day's.

There are a lot of garganey around at the moment, so everyone check out those funny small mallard

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

Thats what Ive got a wife for

Is that all mate

[upstarts1979]

In light of the overgrown grass at the Flashes, we will be strimming in front of the new hide.
To minimize the disturbance, we will limit the work to 1 hour. The viewing from the ground-floor of the hide is non-existent. I appeal to the photographers especially: we can reinstate the photographic opportunities from here for the autumn. But also there are a few 'lens hoods' dropped by your fellow togs, hidden in the grass. You could help us retrieve these and return them to their rightful owners. This area will best be tackled with shears, so as not to to damage the camera equipment.
We plan to use two strimmers flat out on the rest of the grass, for the hour and rake up as much of the cuttings as possible during the 'cut'.
We will also cut the blackthorn on the sides of the hide, this is limiting the views of the hedgerows. It's not due to the rapid growth, but is due to the hide being 3 feet lower than the old one.
So if you could help out we will be starting at about 10am and finish at 11am. What's not cut will be left until late September, so we will do our best to clear as much as possible.
If you have got shears bring them along. Afterwards we will hopefully cut the hen pool reeds, in front of the hide.John

[upstarts1979]

Now raining in Redditch , I will be there in an hour

[woodwolf]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

Now raining in Redditch , I will be there in an hour

Had a feeling I had 'mistimed' my brief visit to the flashes this morning, especially as the rain started as I left..

[Birder Gladys]

just a note harvesting is starting ,keep an eye out in the fields both sides of the road down to the Moors car park,this is where andy spotted a Grey Partridge earlier this year (april),maybe a bit of disturbance may flush them out?

[Woodchat]

There is a Spotted Redshank on the second flash now. Earlier seen by the Upstart on the moors.

[Woodchat]

Record Shot of this afternoon's Spotted Redshank attached.

Two juvenile Water Rails also showing well this afternoon plus Snipe, 15+ Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sands, 1 juv LRP and Little Owl on Hobden Hall chimney.

[Spoonbill Finder]

Here are a couple of record shots of this morning's Greenshanks, which were at the Flashes when I arrived at about 6am this morning. The first shot shows both birds.

[upstarts1979]

Started at the North Moors at 1pm and spent a good 1 and a half hours there. There was a noticeable increase in both 'chacking' blackcaps (5) and chiffchaff (5), reed warblers called from the NW scrub. In the yew tree plantation were 4 goldcrests, willow warbler and 2 chiffs. Also heard were water rail, great spotted woodpecker and treecreeper. A couple of notes from a high flying passerine, was almost certainly coming from a crossbill, but I would want to see or at least hear it a bit clearer, as it would be a new bird for my Upton list.
At 3.15pm approx while in the concrete hide, I heard the unmistakeable 'chewit' call of a spotted redshank, luckily it circled the moors and then headed to the Flashes - trace (binus 63) managed to get a flight shot.

At the Flashes from 6.15. till 8.45pm. Water level - 0.43
In the 'saucer' close to the hide were 13 green sand, the spotted redshank, snipe, 2 common sand, 24 curlew, 75 lapwing and 1 LRP. This area is only 30 x 40 metres and certainly looked a bit rammed to say the least. The attraction is not only the shallowness (2 inches mostly) but the water and mud was alive with flies and other food items.
Totals for the whole of the Flashes were:
Teal 7, shoveler 2, tufted 2 broods of 1:10 . mallard 255, Green sand 17 min, BHG 800+, water rail 3 juvs, stock dove 35, Mistle Thrush perched next to sewage works, swallow - small movement of less than 10 birds,
John

A little Egret was at the Flashes early AM Dave J

[Phil Andrews]

Didnt I say there was something in the air this morning!

Spotted Redshank is part of the classic trinity of return passage waders at Upton Warren which also features Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper; it tends to be the first to pass through the reserve.

First reported at Upton Warren on the 13th September 1964 this attractive but uncommon passage migrant can be difficult to connect with, often only staying short periods and currently averaging less than one record a year. Nevertheless Upton Warren is still by far the most regularly visited site in Worcestershire and only just behind Blithfield and Belvide Reservoirs in terms of regional occurrence. Breeding on the tundra and boggy taiga of arctic Eurasia and wintering in tropical Africa, most records relate to juvenile birds from mid-August onwards; spring records are rare. The below chart clearly demonstrates that Spotted Redshank has become much more rarely encountered at Upton Warren in recent years, with five blank years from 1997. The earliest record is a bird which spent five minutes at the Flashes on the 21st April 1988, with the latest being a partially winter plumaged juvenile on the 27th October 2000, which was first observed on Amy’s Marsh before relocating to the Flashes for approximately an hour, then heading south.

There have been several notable long-staying individuals. Two birds frequented both the Moors and the Flashes in their 43 day stay in 1985 between the 3rd September and 15th October, whilst a juvenile with an injured wing was present for a total of 39 days between 13th August and 20th September 1989 (the year’s West Midland Bird Club report stated the final day was the 24th September). The longest staying bird within the last 15 years was a juvenile at the Flashes between 22nd September and the 5th October 2000, a total of 14 days.

Most records relate to solitary birds but there have been some impressive historic flocks. A maximum of seven birds was noted on 26th August 1966 as part of a prolonged presence between 21st August and the 3rd October that year, with six birds observed in the late evenings of the 2nd and 3rd September 1973 and five on the 13th May 1965. More recently four juveniles arrived at the Flashes on the 20th August 1987 (one of which stayed until the 22nd August).

The records of occurrence shows a limited spring passage peaking in early May but then a much stronger autumn passage lasting between late July and late September with a pronounced peak of records in August and early September. Many of the records later in the year relate to juvenile birds; July and August offer the best opportunity to connect with a stunning fully summer plumaged adult bird. On the 22nd August 1973 two birds were noted carrying out the unusual behaviour of catching fish between 1 and 1½ inches long and appearing to up-end like dabbling ducks.

[rollingthunder]

I like Desmond Nethersole-Thompsons' name for it in 'Highland Birds' - Dusky Redshank, referring to the sp in breeding plumage.....

Laurie

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

Didnt I say there was something in the air this morning!

Spotted Redshank is part of the classic trinity of return passage waders at Upton Warren which also features Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper; it tends to be the first to pass through the reserve.

First reported at Upton Warren on the 13th September 1964 this attractive but uncommon passage migrant can be difficult to connect with, often only staying short periods and currently averaging less than one record a year. Nevertheless Upton Warren is still by far the most regularly visited site in Worcestershire and only just behind Blithfield and Belvide Reservoirs in terms of regional occurrence. Breeding on the tundra and boggy taiga of arctic Eurasia and wintering in tropical Africa, most records relate to juvenile birds from mid-August onwards; spring records are rare. The below chart clearly demonstrates that Spotted Redshank has become much more rarely encountered at Upton Warren in recent years, with five blank years from 1997. The earliest record is a bird which spent five minutes at the Flashes on the 21st April 1988, with the latest being a partially winter plumaged juvenile on the 27th October 2000, which was first observed on Amy’s Marsh before relocating to the Flashes for approximately an hour, then heading south.

There have been several notable long-staying individuals. Two birds frequented both the Moors and the Flashes in their 43 day stay in 1985 between the 3rd September and 15th October, whilst a juvenile with an injured wing was present for a total of 39 days between 13th August and 20th September 1989 (the year’s West Midland Bird Club report stated the final day was the 24th September). The longest staying bird within the last 15 years was a juvenile at the Flashes between 22nd September and the 5th October 2000, a total of 14 days.

Most records relate to solitary birds but there have been some impressive historic flocks. A maximum of seven birds was noted on 26th August 1966 as part of a prolonged presence between 21st August and the 3rd October that year, with six birds observed in the late evenings of the 2nd and 3rd September 1973 and five on the 13th May 1965. More recently four juveniles arrived at the Flashes on the 20th August 1987 (one of which stayed until the 22nd August).

The records of occurrence shows a limited spring passage peaking in early May but then a much stronger autumn passage lasting between late July and late September with a pronounced peak of records in August and early September. Many of the records later in the year relate to juvenile birds; July and August offer the best opportunity to connect with a stunning fully summer plumaged adult bird. On the 22nd August 1973 two birds were noted carrying out the unusual behaviour of catching fish between 1 and 1½ inches long and appearing to up-end like dabbling ducks.

Very informative PhilipJohn
perhaps you could write a book on the birds of Upton.......oh yes you have already . Time for a second edition me thinks

[CorvusCorax]

Any sign of the spotted redshank today at all?

Phil

[rollingthunder]

First described by the famous German zoologist Pallas - who has loads of stuff credited to him including the following.....

A number of animals were described by Pallas, and his surname is included in their common names, including: Pallas's Cat, Pallas's Long-tongued Bat, Pallas's Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, Pallas's Squirrel, Pallas's Warbler, Pallas's Cormorant, Pallas's Fish-eagle, Pallas's Gull, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Pallas's Rosefinch, and Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler. Also he is honored in the specific epithet of scientific names of animals described by others, including: Pallas's Pika (Ochotona pallasi), Pallas's Reed Bunting (Emberiza pallasi), and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii).

I do'nt suppose he needed another one such as Pallas' Redshank...

Laurie

[John Layj]

I thought I'd take a walk around the Moors footpaths yesterday before they close for a while. There were literally hundreds of dragonflies and damselflies and I took a few pictures. I would appreciate confirmation or correction of my rather tentative identifications.

1. Male Banded Demoiselle
2. Female Banded Demoiselle
3. Ruddy Darter
4. Female Southern Hawker

I also saw Brown Hawkers, but no photo.

[shhh]

Originally Posted by CorvusCorax

Any sign of the spotted redshank today at all?

Phil

spent a couple of hours at the flashes this morning - no sign

jon

[shhh]

not a great day for pics but i took some anyway

-

[UW82]

Originally Posted by John Layj

I thought I'd take a walk around the Moors footpaths yesterday before they close for a while. There were literally hundreds of dragonflies and damselflies and I took a few pictures. I would appreciate confirmation or correction of my rather tentative identifications.

1. Male Banded Demoiselle
2. Female Banded Demoiselle
3. Ruddy Darter
4. Female Southern Hawker

I also saw Brown Hawkers, but no photo.

Spot on!


Des.

[CorvusCorax]

Don't know if you've seen this, but I think it's pretty cool...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...g-windows.html

Phil

[John Layj]

Originally Posted by UW82

Spot on!


Des.

Thanks Des.

[forgetfulelephant]

Just a further reminder to all. The West track at the Moors is now closed to all visitors from the gate opposite the carpark right through to the gate onto the A38 for safety reasons. It will remain closed until the old Bittern hide has been replaced by the contractors. Bulletins on progress as & when we have an update. The rest of the reserve remains open.

Rob

[forgetfulelephant]

Originally Posted by shhh

not a great day for pics but i took some anyway

-

Good quality pics in spite of the conditions. The Snipe one is particularly good.

Rob.

[forgetfulelephant]

Originally Posted by John Layj

I thought I'd take a walk around the Moors footpaths yesterday before they close for a while. There were literally hundreds of dragonflies and damselflies and I took a few pictures. I would appreciate confirmation or correction of my rather tentative identifications.

1. Male Banded Demoiselle
2. Female Banded Demoiselle
3. Ruddy Darter
4. Female Southern Hawker


I also saw Brown Hawkers, but no photo.

Very nice work John. The North Moors walk will still be open & affords some goods photo ops of insects.

Rob