Upton Warren (16 Viewers)

[Bob O.]

Missing Wren

Smart photo work Bob-where's the Wren?

Rob

Hi Rob,
Here's the Wren. I struggled to get far enough away to achieve focus. He? had a sleep for about 10 mins on the window edge then flew off strongly. Lovely flight shot of the Med. I must get you to give me some tips the next time I bump into you.
Bob.

 

[upstarts1979]

9 Med Gulls at the moors at 6:45 (4 adult, 3 2nd summer 2 1st summer), But may i add, the 3 2nd summers that we had were no-where near as much black on the wingtip as i robs 2nd photo, (left hand bird) So deffo 4 2nd summers over the day!

Reports says flock of 10 at flashes at 4:30, and woman i spoke to at moors had 3 further birds at the moors at that time, so that may prove there is alot more birds around than have been seen together!
Wish i could've done the roost, would have been awsome, hopefully someone gets down!
MB
Edit- But will add, there were no med gulls at the flashes while we were there!

I probably confused the situation I only had a max of 8 at the Flashes. This being 3x ads, 2x 2nd sum, 3x 1st sum. With the 2x ads at the Moors = 10. But if you had 4 2nd summers that would be 12 birds. There were defo 5 adults, 2x 2 summers and 3x 1st summers .
Soz Craig didn't hear your text, well saw you anyway:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Your very right with your ageing.
2 shows 2nd sum, 1st sum, and middle bird i cant age with certain, but seems like abit of black on primarys.
3 shows 2 adult Med
4 Shows a 2nd summer Med (Black marks in wingtips
And 4 is a 1st summer!
MB

1st sum
Craig
I think you are right the middle bird seems to have a black primary tip
2 shows 2 x 2nd sum, and 1x
3. shows 3 ads

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Hi Rob,
Here's the Wren. I struggled to get far enough away to achieve focus. He? had a sleep for about 10 mins on the window edge then flew off strongly. Lovely flight shot of the Med. I must get you to give me some tips the next time I bump into you.
Bob.

Thanks Bob.

If you haven't got a long enough lens to reach the birds get them to come to you eh! Lovely little image.

Rob

 

[forgetfulelephant]

I probably confused the situation I only had a max of 8 at the Flashes. This being 3x ads, 2x 2nd sum, 3x 1st sum. With the 2x ads at the Moors = 10. But if you had 4 2nd summers that would be 12 birds. There were defo 5 adults, 2x 2 summers and 3x 1st summers .
Soz Craig didn't hear your text, well saw you anyway:t:

A confusing situation-surely not! 8-P

Rob

 

[upstarts1979]

Final pics

Great series of shots Bob and Med(ace) and wren(sweet)
:t:John

 

[forgetfulelephant]

The floods as they were when I got into the Flashes this morning:

1.Bridge to Hen Brook Hide.
2. Below Cuckoo Hide.
3. Cuckoo Hide steps.
4. From Cuckoo Hide window.
5. And for some light relief-A Curlew.

Rob

 

[upstarts1979]

A confusing situation-surely not! 8-P

Rob

rob
I think you have 8 or 9 of the meds on film:t:

 

[forgetfulelephant]

rob
I think you have 8 or 9 of the meds on film:t:

That's great. If you tell me which one's I've missed I will go & get them! 8-P:-O

Rob

 

[Steve Nuttall]

I have consulted with Harrison's excellect The new Birds of the West Midlands. Up to the end of the period covered by that publication (2002), the largest occurence of Med Gulls in the WMBC recording area (Staffs, Warwicks, Worcs and West Midlands county) was 4 in the roost at Draycote Water on the 28th March 2000.

Looking through the subsequent WMBC annual reports (published up to 2009), numbers have continued to increase in recent years. Up to 7 were at Belvide on several dates in July and August 2003 with the record then falling to Draycote Water with 9 on the 25th January 2007. I cant find a reference of any larger occurence that this, meaning today's events at Upton Warren claims the record, unless the Staffs breeding colony has expanded beyond the two pairs reported in 2008 and 2009.

Interestingly I have just had a look on Rare Bird Alert and Upton Warren is the only inland site to have recorded Med Gull so far today.

Hi Phil,

The seven birds for Belvide was not a maximum count, but a collection of different birds over that period of time. The most seen together was 4.
Fantastic count by the way:t:

Cheers

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Phil,

The seven birds for Belvide was not a maximum count, but a collection of different birds over that period of time. The most seen together was 4.
Fantastic count by the way:t:

Cheers

Thanks Steve - I was assuming that the figures quoted in tabulated form in the WMBC annual report would have been the peak counts as per the way other species are documented, rather the total number of birds that appeared each month.

 

[upstarts1979]

And the rest of the birds were

At Flashes , The water is at 0.7 which is 24cm higher than before the flood (it had been above 8), this will take 3 days to get anywhere near the 0.46 desired level. There is no mud and most islands are below the water.
Avocet 11 adults plus 6 chicks/juvs 2 are flying at 37 and 38 days old. The brood of 3 are in front of the hide, while it looks like only 1 survived of the brood of 2 that feed along the 'old gulley'. All the avocets were feeding in the grass or upending in deep water. Oystercatcher, curlew 7, BHG 400+, Teal male, The tufted duck nest has been flooded out, with eggs strewn all over the right hand island.
At the Moors, Peter E (computer out of action) saw 2 oystercatcher chicks. also 14 lapwing. Reed and sedge warblers were in full song, thus appear to be going for probably their 2nd broods also plenty of chiffs blackcap and reed buntings singing. Common Tern
B

 

[Phil Andrews]

At Flashes , The water is at 0.7 which is 24cm higher than before the flood (it had been above 8), this will take 3 days to get anywhere near the 0.46 desired level. There is no mud and most islands are below the water.
Avocet 11 adults plus 6 chicks/juvs 2 are flying at 37 and 38 days old. The brood of 3 are in front of the hide, while it looks like only 1 survived of the brood of 2 that feed along the 'old gulley'. All the avocets were feeding in the grass or upending in deep water. Oystercatcher, curlew 7, BHG 400+, Teal male, The tufted duck nest has been flooded out, with eggs strewn all over the right hand island.
At the Moors, Peter E saw 2 oystercatcher chicks. also 14 lapwing. Reed and sedge warblers were in full song, thus appear to be going for probably their 2nd broods.
B

So the losses directly attributable to the floods are:

1 Avocet chick - Flashes
1 Oystercatcher chick - Moors
1 LRP brood (1+ chick) - Flashes
1 GC Grebe chick - Moors
1 Tufted Duck nest - Flashes (plus possibility of others at the Moors)

 

[upstarts1979]

So the losses directly attributable to the floods are:

1 Avocet chick - Flashes
1 Oystercatcher chick - Moors
1 LRP brood (1+ chick) - Flashes
1 GC Grebe chick - Moors
1 Tufted Duck nest - Flashes (plus possibility of others at the Moors)

I think the 2nd GCG chick appeared before the flood. I think a few BHG chicks at the Flashes have been lost.
interestingly Bob H saw a water vole at the moors feeding station.

 

[Phil Andrews]

I think the 2nd GCG chick appeared before the flood. I think a few BHG chicks at the Flashes have been lost.

Are you missing a "dis" from your post John?

 

[upstarts1979]

Are you missing a "dis" from your post John?

I think you should not 'dis' me u mother ******8-P, smart arse

 

[upstarts1979]

Shots at the Flashes from today. At water level of 0.7
1. View over 1st flash to the north moving around eastwards to the 'spit'
2. From the 'spit' moving south to the south end of the 2nd Flash
3. curlews
4. 1st summer Med
5. non breeding avos and males,

 

[Woodchat]

A Black tailed Godwit just landed on the flashes. One Redshank present also.

Two adult Med Gulls.

 

[Woodchat]

Two second Summer Med Gulls just in now also.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Two second Summer Med Gulls just in now also.

Nice one Dave - Round Two today! Obviously could be further Meds at the Moors