upstarts1979
Well-known member
Thanks John. You answered one of the questions in the PM I sent you.
Des.
Hi Des my inbox was full, so not received any of your PM's . I have emptied now, can you re-send it. B
Thanks John. You answered one of the questions in the PM I sent you.
Des.
I eventually got to the Moors Pool via the Education Reserve, having decided to park at the Sailing Centre when I discovered that the car park at the Moors was shut! The only notable addition to John's observations were a pair of Kingfishers that flew past me whilst I watched the Sailing Pool from the dell.
After walking along the Salwarpe I called into the Jacobs' hide, where I was joined by Bob Potter and Vern amongst others. Whilst there I saw the following:
Pochard 11 (8 drakes), Shelduck 6, Shoveler 56, GC Grebe 2, Little Grebe 2, Cormorant 31, Snipe 14 (in flight), Lapwing 250+, Water Rail, Kingfisher.
Vern and I then walked around to the West Hide, where, in addition to the above we saw 6 Gadwall (3 pairs). This was a UW year tick for me, taking my total up to 66 species (I think!).
I neglected to count the Teal but John (Upstarts) told me later that he had seen 80+ there.
Good to hear the voice of our own Biking Birder when Vern rang him earlier today. Great to hear you in such good spirits Gary. Most of us at the Warren are keeping up to date with your adventures via your Facebook and blogs. Great stuff mate!:t:
thanks for that phil felt bad enough as it was, alas 20 mins talking to the samaritans put me right. once again sorry guys do my best for march.Today eleven of us tackled a variety of tasks:
- A thorough sweep of the Flashes found no foxes inside the fence (Phil W mentioned two were inside on Friday)
- Three holes in the fox fence created by the cattle on the eastern side (approx 15 foot, 8 foot and 2 foot) were successfully repaired with additional meshing
- The gate by the "triangle" was shut and secured (any one know why this was open?)
- The gate to the sewage works was secured (John - is the grazier collecting his bits and bobs?)
- Posts hammered in to mark the current extent of the phragmites on the eastern shore; will make the measuring of spread easier
- Several small holes on the western side of the fence were plugged
- The secondary fox fence was checked over and gate secured (John - have have cut the roll of stock fencing that was left in the water and moved it to by the hide)
- The viewing gap at the rear of the hide was reinstated to its original size
- Re-shingling of a number of areas, particularly to assist breeding LRP (no salt plants were harmed in the making of this work party )
- The expansion of "flycatcher alley" at the rear of the feeding station into something meaningful this year
We weren't able to get out to de-vegetate the islands due to the high water level; this can wait to the March work party along with any Shelduck box (re)construction.
Many thanks to Craig, Mike W, Steve (its Christmas every day with your cake ), Tim, Mary, Des, Graham, John L, Phil W and Derek; special mention to JTB for getting the kit down onto the Flashes in advance. Tracey even out in an appearance to say he wasnt going take part!
Photos to follow.
thanks for that phil felt bad enough as it was, alas 20 mins talking to the samaritans put me right. once again sorry guys do my best for march.
Today eleven of us tackled a variety of tasks:
- A thorough sweep of the Flashes found no foxes inside the fence (Phil W mentioned two were inside on Friday)
- Three holes in the fox fence created by the cattle on the eastern side (approx 15 foot, 8 foot and 2 foot) were successfully repaired with additional meshing
- The gate by the "triangle" was shut and secured (any one know why this was open?)
- The gate to the sewage works was secured (John - is the grazier collecting his bits and bobs?)
- Posts hammered in to mark the current extent of the phragmites on the eastern shore; will make the measuring of spread easier
- Several small holes on the western side of the fence were plugged
- The secondary fox fence was checked over and gate secured (John - have have cut the roll of stock fencing that was left in the water and moved it to by the hide)
- The viewing gap at the rear of the hide was reinstated to its original size
- Re-shingling of a number of areas, particularly to assist breeding LRP (no salt plants were harmed in the making of this work party )
- The expansion of "flycatcher alley" at the rear of the feeding station into something meaningful this year
We weren't able to get out to de-vegetate the islands due to the high water level; this can wait to the March work party along with any Shelduck box (re)construction.
Many thanks to Craig, Mike W, Steve (its Christmas every day with your cake ), Tim, Mary, Des, Graham, John L, Phil W and Derek; special mention to JTB for getting the kit down onto the Flashes in advance. Tracey even out in an appearance to say he wasnt going take part!
Photos to follow.
thanks for that phil felt bad enough as it was, alas 20 mins talking to the samaritans put me right. once again sorry guys do my best for march.
Great effort by all, see I can now retire knowing its in good hands8-P only joking - about retiring that is John
Phil I will ask about the graziers equipment, but I think we will be having another grazier instead.
Do you need heavy duty mesh along the fox fence running north from the hide.
Today's round-up, starting with the bird sightings:
MOORS POOL
, 2 Little Egret flushed by gunfire from the south-west marsh,
Two foxes appeared in the south-west marsh and made their way around to the scrub by the East Hide (inside the fox fence).
Bittern channels look the dogs at the Moors Pool - great to see some large scale investment in habitat work :t::t:
Mike worked on that project so I will let him respond; my thought was that we need the water level lower to make a proper job of it.
Phil
. did the foxes come from the south of the east hide along the east bank, there is a hole in the fence just down from the seasonal pool.
. where did the shooting come from - the SW marsh/Edy reserve? or where they (egrets) in the SW and gunfire was elsewhere.
. what do you think about the NM work
We were sat in the West Hide. The foxes appeared relatively close to the hide in the south west (scent marking) before making their way around the marsh. After a few minutes they appeared south of the East Hide on the bank before running straight in front of the hide; we lost where they went after that.
The shooting was close; it was either in and around Hobden Hall Farm buildings or the shoreline of the Sailing Pool.
Didn't have a chance to look properly at the North Moors work; will give you my verdict next Sunday when I am down for the WeBS count.
Mike - in answer to your question about what Shoveler numbers are required to be a site of national importance, currently its the rather precise figure of 148.
(1) Mike and Craig demonstrate the size of the medium sized hole
(2) The largest tear, by the oak tree. The damage extended all the way from the double post on the right to where Steve is working on the left hand side of the photo
(3) Mending the above