Upton Warren (32 Viewers)

[UW82]

I saw one at Upton last year along the hen brook - think I may have a photo somewhere. I recall someone having seen several on the north moors also.

Yes Dave, the one I saw last year was in tall grass after you pass the Hen Brook hide on the way to the Flashes.



Des.

 

[rollingthunder]

I've eaten lightly roasted pignut in a 'wild' salad - about the size of Sweet Chestnut, quite nice......Umbella is Latin for 'parasol' 'against sun' presumably based on the shape of the plant. We know it is an 'umbrella' (slang, brolly). Lots of interesting plants culinary-speaking in the 'umbels' - Cumin, Coriander and Fennel spring to mind........get picking and digging

Weather has started off a bit better let's hope one or two bits found locally.

Laurie:t:

 

[Woodchat]

People are welcome to dig and pick the wild harvest as much as they like in the wider countryside within legal limits and with the landowner's permission. Pleas note that at Upton Warren this is strictly off-limits, however - just for the Chimney Sweepers and other wildlife.

 

[Phil Andrews]

People are welcome to dig and pick the wild harvest as much as they like in the wider countryside within legal limits and with the landowner's permission. Pleas note that at Upton Warren this is strictly off-limits, however - just for the Chimney Sweepers and other wildlife.

I am sure this subject will "crop" up in around three months time when we have our usual conversations with those who come to the reserve for a quiet stroll to pick blackberries, a vital fuel resource for exhausted parents and fledged birds about to set off on long migrations and those recently arrived for the winter (plus several species of mammal on the reserve).

 

[Phil Andrews]

2011 Annual Report - an ommission

The more eagle-eyed amongst you who have bought the latest annual report will have noted the ommission of Green Sandpiper from the species list. It was included in the draft version so must have been accidentally deleted as I moved the text to a printable format (well, what do you expect for £2.50? :eek!:). I will include it as an addendum to the 2012 report but in the meantime for the completeness of the data is as follows:

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
The only record of the first winter period was one at the Flashes on the 9th January. Spring passage peaked on the 1st and 3rd April when three were at the Flashes. Return passage started early with birds present at the Flashes from the 5th June, peaking at 18 across the reserve on the 30th July.

Half-monthly maxima
J F M A M J J A S O N D
1 0 0 3 1 5 17 16 13 2 4 1 - 1st half
0 0 2 2 0 10 18 10 3 2 3 0 - 2nd half

 

[upstarts1979]

Dave, Gert and paul..sorry I haven't texted you, my message server has problems apparently.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Green Sandpiper

One of the wonders of Upton Warren is the way spring wader passage almost seemlessly flows in the autumn passage, heralded by the return of Green Sandpiper. For several decades now Upton Warren has been an important stopping-off site in their migration from their breeding grounds in northern and eastern Europe to their wintering quarters in Africa or western Europe.

This movement commences in June and usually lasts all the way through to September with several waves of birds observed, most notably the different influxes of adults (failed breeders then successful parents) and juveniles. The current cut-off for a "nationally significant" flock of Green Sand is nine birds and groups of bird in the mid teens can be regularly encountered in late June, July and August (see the below chart of average peak half-monthly counts from 1998 to 2011). A reserve - and county record - of 31 birds was present on the 19th August 2001; again a chart showing the annual peak counts since the species was first recorded at UW in 1941 is also attached below.

Several work parties in the last few years have focussed on trying to providing a suitable feeding environment for Green Sandpipers (and other passage waders such as Curlew Sand, Greenshank, Ruff and Little Stint which will hopefully arrive later in the summer). This has involved the creation of several new channels (eg the "delta" right of the main peninsular), the grading of a number of existing channels to provide a suitable balance between water and mud particularly if the water level drops in a hot spell (eg the channel directly in front of the hide and the "keyhole" channel amongst the small islands) and the reinstatement of a number of older channels which have silted up in recent years (most particularly the channel at the rear linking the first and second Flash).

So far this year Green Sandpiper have been scarce with no regular wintering birds and no discernable spring passage (normally there is a slight but notable increase of records in April). As a result birds have been only noted on around a dozen dates in 2012 with just one mutliple record (two on the 14th March). After several poor years in the mid 2000s the last three years have seen good numbers of Green Sands present. It will therefore be interesting to see what effect last year's baking of the mud and this year's increased Peregrine activity will have on the numbers of migratory Green Sands.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Chimney Sweeper moth was added to the Upton moth list as recently as last Wednesday on the evidence of one in front of the new Flashes hide. I saw one last year, but lack of photographic evidence meant that its inclusion had to wait. Chimney Sweeper moth has obviously been overlooked in the past as it is fairly common in suitable habitat.


Des.

Just saw one in front of the Flashes hide Des. Also Little Owl at the Farm on the Moors, all 9 Avocet chicks present after over an hour searching! 2 Great Crested Grebe chicks on the sailing pool. Cuckoo showing well first at the Moors and then Hen Pool.

 

[upstarts1979]

Yesterday evening
330+ BHG roosted, also 3 curlew. Still 12 Avocet and 9 chicks. Little owl on north hill on telegraph pole right of farm house (a year tick for me).
All species roosted in a very tight group in 'central area'and islands.
6 Daubenton's bats fed over the lagoons in front and to left side of the hide.

 

[upstarts1979]

Chimney Sweeper moth was added to the Upton moth list as recently as last Wednesday on the evidence of one in front of the new Flashes hide. I saw one last year, but lack of photographic evidence meant that its inclusion had to wait. Chimney Sweeper moth has obviously been overlooked in the past as it is fairly common in suitable habitat.


Des.

Des I have seen several small black moths in the transmitter field over the last few weeks, would they be one of the same.
B john

 

[UW82]

Des I have seen several small black moths in the transmitter field over the last few weeks, would they be one of the same.
B john

Sounds like them John. John Sirrett has produced a excellent report on Moths and Butterflies covering 2009-10 which also includes all records prior to those years. However, the report does not include Chimney Sweeper moth the report was finished just too early for this years emergence. It's really surprising that Chimney Sweeper has not been noted before, unless they are a very recent colonist.


Des.

 

[woodwolf]

Des I have seen several small black moths in the transmitter field over the last few weeks, would they be one of the same.
B john

Probably. The only other black macro moth on the reserve at present is probably Cinnabar, a few in the Eddy, but they have red on them, so not likely to be confused..but Cinnabar have been out for several weeks... Area's in the Wyre were chuffing with Chiney Sweeps yesterday. Other Black and red moths, Burnets, may be about soon.
Sorry, did not read you had asked this to des, did not mean to hijack the question :t:

 

[woodwolf]

A couple of additions to the Upton Flickr stream today, including a bit of Cuckoo Video I took here.

Also a nice Broad Bodied Chaser

 

[Phil Andrews]

Mixed things up today with a late afternoon visit but the results were still the same - no real movement despite some humid conditions and threatening clouds.

MOORS POOL
2 Shelduck (later seen at the Flashes), 5+ Common Tern, 2 LBB Gull, 2 Mute Swans + 3 cygnets, 29 Mallard, 15 Tufted Duck, 43 Coot, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 38 Canada Geese, 5 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher + 2 chicks (Lapwing still in close attendance), female Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo calling from the southern boundary, 6 GC Grebe + 2 broods (original brood of 2 and new brood - from southwest marsh? - of 1), 2 Jay, 3 Moorhen

SAILING POOL
5 GC Grebe (no young observed), 27 Mallard, Cuckoo calling from the Education Reserve, male Sparrowhawk, 2 Canada Geese

FLASHES
8 Avocet + 9 chicks, 7 LRP, 2 Shoveler (both males), 6 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 7 Tufted Duck, 12 Canada Geese, 34 Mallard, Peregrine on right hand mast, Cuckoo calling at the back of the Hen Pool, Blackcap family party again near the Hen Brook, 2 Common Whitethroat between the steps and Hen Pool. Possible Yellowhammer singing distantly from the hide.

GLaB reported a juvenile Cuckoo being fed by its Reed Warbler foster parent on a fence post to the left of the main hide at the Flashes.

 

[cooky1]

Hi folks,

A few photos from a brief session at the Flashes this afternoon.
juv Blackcap,Chiffchaff calling his soul out by the steps,Whitethroat,one of the kids,and a fishing Grebe by the sailing club:t:


Chris

 

[Gert Corfield]

The more eagle-eyed amongst you who have bought the latest annual report will have noted the ommission of Green Sandpiper from the species list. It was included in the draft version so must have been accidentally deleted as I moved the text to a printable format (well, what do you expect for £2.50? :eek!:). I will include it as an addendum to the 2012 report but in the meantime for the completeness of the data is as follows:

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
The only record of the first winter period was one at the Flashes on the 9th January. Spring passage peaked on the 1st and 3rd April when three were at the Flashes. Return passage started early with birds present at the Flashes from the 5th June, peaking at 18 across the reserve on the 30th July.

Half-monthly maxima
J F M A M J J A S O N D
1 0 0 3 1 5 17 16 13 2 4 1 - 1st half
0 0 2 2 0 10 18 10 3 2 3 0 - 2nd half

Hi Phil - just a thought, but if you did this and the other post as an attachment we could print it off and stick it in the report?

 

[Gert Corfield]

Just to let those who are interested know - the twitter account I was running @UptonWarrenNR has been deactivated. This is mainly as it was a bit of a waste of time and it was getting a lot of followers who had no relevance to the reserve. If anyone wants to pick up the cudgels to run it I will happily let them have log in details. It can be re activated within 30 days otherwise gets deleted.
In the meantime - this is the best place for news, views and photo's!!

 

[PeterE]

Nursery report

UW was rather quiet in the drizzle this morning. As I reached the Moors I could hear the Cuckoo but it flew off before I got a sight of it. The chicks all seem to be in good shape: 2 Oystercatchers with parent and the au pair lapwing, 3 Cygnets and 2 tiny Grebes hitching a lift. I also saw the Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker and a Greylag.

At the Flashes all 8 [actually 9] Avocet chicks were eventually visible.

A tern flew over the Sailing Pool.

 

[toadoftoadhall]

Nursery report


At the Flashes all 8 Avocet chicks were eventually visible.

A tern flew over the Sailing Pool.

I thought there were 9. Has one gone?

 

[Gert Corfield]

I thought there were 9. Has one gone?

Anyone looking for them - there are usually 2 broods totaling 7 on or near the shore line opposite the hide and one to the far left (sometimes out front) and one far right - that's been the pattern over the last few days anyway - unless one's been predated of course..