Flashes
The single Med Gull chick showing well on its nest island. Both parents visiting frequently, swapping duties. 2 Grey Heron here also, plus my first 2 Curlew in a while, 44 Lapwing, 4 LRP. Avocet numbers similar to recently. White ringed BHG this evening '28D1'. Also Painted Lady along the south shore of the sailing pool.
As promised earlier in the month, here is the history of some of the more infrequent breeding wildfowl that have nested at Upton Warren this year:
Greylag Goose
1991 - one paired with a Canada Goose but no offspring was forthcoming
1992 - one paired with a Canada Goose, producing one hybrid gosling
2007 - a pair nested on the reserve, producing one gosling from the 17th May which was subsequently killed by an aggressive Mute Swan twelve days later
2008 - a pair bred at the Moors Pool with five young from the 9th May but none noted in June
2009 - a pair nested at the Sailing Pool with eight young from the 2nd May of which all but one proceeded to fledge
2015 - a pair bred at the Moors Pool, hatching four young from the 7th May which then relocated to the Sailing Pool where they all fledged
2016 - one pair bred at the Moors Pool with two goslings there on the 3rd May but not noted again
2017 - a pair bred at the Sailing Pool with five young noted on the 6th June, reduced to three goslings by the following day
Great info Phil, when Mary(who finished school Friday) and I first came down to Upton Lapwing breeding was not happening now with the low grass in the meadow they been quite successful. Do you think Uptons success has be its own downfall too this year?