Upton Warren (162 Viewers)

[UW82]

The latest Rare Breeding Birds Panel report available on the 'net is 2008 (subscribers to British Birds will have the 2009 report in hard copy).

It quotes a total of 543-592 breeding pairs in Britain, with 87% of these in the south east corner of England (Dorset to Kent). Breeding birds with 100 miles of Upton Warren in 2008 comprise:

Staffordshire - 2 pairs at 1 site
Leics & Rutland - a pair of second summer birds displaying
Cambs - a pair present in April
Cheshitre & Wirral - 3 pairs at 2 sites
Lancs & Merseyside - 14 pairs at 3 sites (northern Lancs outside of the 100 mile radius)
Yorkshire - a pair of second summer birds mated (again may fall outside the 100m radius depending where it Yorkshire the site was)

Hi Phil. The RBBPR for 2009 in relation to Med Gulls is as follows:

39 sites comprising of 573-659 breeding pairs/territories.
The Dorset site of 2008 which contained 87 breeding pairs was not assessed in 2009.

OXFORDSHIRE: 1 site and 1 pair
DERBYSHIRE : 1 site and 1 pair
STAFFORDSHIRE: 1 site and 2 pairs
CHESHIRE & WIRRAL: 2 sites and 4 pairs
GTR MANCHESTER: 1 site and 1 pair
LANCASHIRE & N MERSEYSIDE: 3 sites and 23 pairs
YORKSHIRE: 1 site and 2 pairs

No Leics and Rutland site in '09.

The above sites are within 100 miles. There are obviously many other sites on the south and east coasts.



Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Four adult Meds and one second summer at the Flashes this evening. First summer at the Moors Pool.

 

[nickgmay]

Have there been any butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies sighted at Upton Warren or is it purely a place for bird spotters ?

 

[Phil Andrews]

Have there been any butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies sighted at Upton Warren or is it purely a place for bird spotters ?

Hi Nick - if you look back over June's entries there are plenty of insect reports. Med Gulls just dominate at the minute as its just such an unprecedented influx of regional significance

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Have there been any butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies sighted at Upton Warren or is it purely a place for bird spotters ?[/QUOTE

Nick

look at posts #11412 #11048 #11412 for dragons & damselflies. Or look at my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/forgetfulelephant/
to see all types of wildlife pics from the reserve.

But if you want sightings: Four Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Azure, Banded Demoiselle have all been seen in the last week by me.

Rob

 

[nickgmay]

Have there been any butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies sighted at Upton Warren or is it purely a place for bird spotters ?[/QUOTE

Nick

look at posts #11412 #11048 #11412 for dragons & damselflies. Or look at my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/forgetfulelephant/
to see all types of wildlife pics from the reserve.

But if you want sightings: Four Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Azure, Banded Demoiselle have all been seen in the last week by me.

Rob

Cheers Rob, It would appear that I have just been unlucky on my last few visits. Every time I have been down recently I have only seen blackheaded gulls

 

[Phil Andrews]

I'm seeing white dots in front of my eyes ...

Spent an interesting evening down on the reserve:

MOORS POOL
2 Med Gulls (adult and 1s), 3 Common Terns, 1 LBB Gull, 6 Oyks (4 adults + 2 fledged) + 2 chicks, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swans + 3 cygnets, 7 Lapwing, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Moorhen, 69 Coot, 2 GC Grebe + 1 chick, 3 Common Tern, 82 Canada Geese, 1 Tufted Duck

SAILING POOL
2 Coot, 10 Canada Geese, 2 GC Grebe (6 present on my return)

FLASHES
My head hurts from constantly trying to track the Med Gulls. In the end I will conclude there were 8 birds present this evening by the time I left at 9:30 - 5 adults, 2 second summer and 1 first summer (different to the bird encounterted at the Moors).
Also seen were 2 Oystercatcher, 1 LRP, 8 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 22 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 5 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 3 Canada Geese, 625 BH Gull, 8 adult + 5 young Acvocet (perhaps one family party has left?), 2 Mute Swans, 7 Common Terns (presumably some duplication with the Moors) and a fledged GC Grebe (assumedly from the Sailing Pool).

With nine Med Gulls present this evening and Dave having three different second summer birds this morning then at least 10 birds have been present today.

Also reported were a Green Sand and 15 Lapwing this afternoon at the Moors Pool and a Willow Warbler along the Salwarpe.

Bumped into Tim and Mary Owen who confirmed that they had photographed the Wood Sandpiper the evening before I found it at the Flashes earlier this month.

 

[upstarts1979]

At the Moors tonight,
Med 1st summer ( an adult moved to the Flashes to roost), GCG 4 + chick. Oystecatcher 4 ads + 2 juvs + 2 chicks. Lapwing c10, Common tern 5, plenty of reed warblers singing along the west side, which are possibly birds who's nests were flooded out. The 1st juv sedge warbler I have seen was in the sluice basin.
All along the western side were myriads of dancing white midges/flies, possibly as a result of the flood. Whatever the reason there were plenty of swifts feeding on them. Cuckoo calling from Education reserve.
Phil reports water level at Flashes as 0.56 . this is lower than I expected, so maybe by tomorrow night it wont be too far away from an ideal level.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Adult Med this morning at the Flashes; second summer at the Moors. Water level 0.53

 

[upstarts1979]

New Cafe Facility at Upton

For those that haven't visited the reserve in the last month or so, we have this new facility.
It is located at the Flashes side of the reserve at the Sailing centre.
From the car park just after you walk through the gate, it is on the left in the first building overlooking the sailing pool.
Entrance : is accessed along the left side of the building walkway, and along the balcony overlooking the pool.
Opened daily from 10 till 4, toilet facilities and great views over the pool.
There is a white board inside,that we will be using to highlight recent sightings.
John is the manager and is doing all he can for us, please support this by nipping in for a cuppa and cake and more. I will post the menu later.
B john

 

[upstarts1979]

Glenn has just had a marbled white on the bank next to the cafeB john

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Glenn has just had a marbled white on the bank next to the cafe john

Is that the newest cake that the cafe is doing?8-P

 

[upstarts1979]

Glenn has just had a marbled white on the bank next to the cafe john

Is that the newest cake that the cafe is doing?8-P

yes it looks like icing with chocolate buttons on it, so light it flies off the plate :-O

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi,

Managed a few more shots of the Med Gulls at Flashes today. Great to see adult, 1s and 2s together - a definite first for me!
Cheers,

Si

Si are you still using the HS10 and converter, great shots mate
:t:john

 

[g.h.1]

Glenn has just had a marbled white on the bank next to the cafe john

Is that the newest cake that the cafe is doing?8-P

Also had a few Ringlets ( submitted photos to Upton flickr site ) admittedly not as tasty as Marbled White !

 

[Phil Andrews]

Sunday 1st July

This morning's sightings were as follows:

FLASHES
1 adult Med Gull, 7 Avocet + 5 chicks, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 LRP, 2 Curlew, 6 Lapwing, 2 Cormorant dropped in briefly, 3 Gadwall (2 eclipse males + 1 female), 9 Tufted Duck, 9 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Canada Geese, 1 Common Tern

MOORS POOL
1 second summer Med Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 4 GC Grebe + 2 chicks, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 9 Tufted D, 72 Coot, 2 Common Tern, 75 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swan + 3 cygnets, 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher + 2 chicks, Peregrine around the masts, Little Owl on chimney of Hobden Hall Farm and Yellowhammer flew over east path (as per Dave J)

SAILING POOL
6 GC Grebe + 1 fledged youngster, 2 Coot, 2 Common Tern

John - Dave J corrected the details of yesterday's Blackwit sightings; there was only 1 bird which Dave W found and then Dave J saw fly off.

 

[ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY]

Just wandering what is the best time and which hide to see Curlews as still need for lifer.

 

[The Hairy Birder]

Si are you still using the HS10 and converter, great shots mate
:t:john

Cheers John,
Yes, those were all taken with the HS10 and 2.2 converter. Luckily it was sunny, so the converter worked ok this time - but it can be very 'hit and miss' to be honest with you. I try not to use the converter where possible as the focus is never as good (caused by the lower shutter speed I guess?).

Comparing the shots you and I got of the 1st summer Meds, I think they look like different birds, with yours having a more distinctive mask. What do you reckon?

Cheers,
Si

 

[Phil Andrews]

Just wandering what is the best time and which hide to see Curlews as still need for lifer.

This time of year the Flashes is the best place - odd birds may be present during the day with numbers increasing in the evening roost. In the winter a flock is regularly at the Moors Pool during the day.

 

[forgetfulelephant]

Just wandering what is the best time and which hide to see Curlews as still need for lifer.

Avocet hide at the Flashes seems favourite at the moment. They do appear in front of the East (Lapwing ) hide as well sometimes.
They were around Flashes much of the morning a few days back but maybe evening roost is best.

Rob