Upton Warren (122 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

That little grebe must have bred on sailing pool not yet able to fly by looks of it.

Having seen a better photo now I would agree with you John - plenty of vegetated edges for then to hide in

 

[upstarts1979]

Flashes car park

Tomorrow 12th JULY the CAR PARK will be off limits to us...Please park at Moors or Webbs.
This request is from AZTEC they have a major event and will need all the parking spaces you could be blocked in ...This also applies to any early morning visitors .
cheers John

 

[Phil Andrews]

Today at the Flashes as per Alan Hanbury, Terry Hinett and Matt Smith (Fuzeare):

1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank + 3 young, 3 LRP, 4 Green Sand, 3 Common Sand, male Redstart.

 

[albional]

Flashes today

Quick visit today produced one, presumably new in, summer plumaged Dunlin , as well as previously reported species .

 

[Phil Andrews]

Quick visit today produced one, presumably new in, summer plumaged Dunlin , as well as previously reported species .

First Dunlin since the 21st May.

 

[albional]

Flashes today ( Tuesday ) pics

Quick visit today produced one, presumably new in, summer plumaged Dunlin , as well as previously reported species .

Dunlin from yesterday and what I believe is a juvenile Sedge Warbler

 

[Anguis]

Only birded for an hour
breeding :- Tufted duck 12 broods (min) of varying sizes. interestingly 2 female mallards have each adopted a tufted chick..

Don't know if anybody has discussed this in an earlier thread (can't be arsed to go all the way back) but the increase in breeding tufted ducks is likely to be linked to the eradication of ruddy ducks.

The ruddys used to take up territory very early in the year and were aggressive to all other species. However, they didn't lay until later on meaning that tufteds (who prefer similar nesting sites) who could have got a brood in before the ruddys nested were denied the opportunity.

Could just be a coincidence of course

 

[Phil Andrews]

Don't know if anybody has discussed this in an earlier thread (can't be arsed to go all the way back) but the increase in breeding tufted ducks is likely to be linked to the eradication of ruddy ducks.

The ruddys used to take up territory very early in the year and were aggressive to all other species. However, they didn't lay until later on meaning that tufteds (who prefer similar nesting sites) who could have got a brood in before the ruddys nested were denied the opportunity.

Could just be a coincidence of course

Personally I think the control of the Mink is more likely to have a direct impact on surge in Tufted Duck numbers. If I get time I will post a graph with the respective breeding performance of both - I suspect it will show the uplift in Tufted broods being some significant time after the disappearance of Ruddy Duck as a breeding species at Upton Warren. Perhaps John can then advise in respect to the graph when effective Mink control commenced.

 

[upstarts1979]

Don't know if anybody has discussed this in an earlier thread (can't be arsed to go all the way back) but the increase in breeding tufted ducks is likely to be linked to the eradication of ruddy ducks.

The ruddys used to take up territory very early in the year and were aggressive to all other species. However, they didn't lay until later on meaning that tufteds (who prefer similar nesting sites) who could have got a brood in before the ruddys nested were denied the opportunity.

Could just be a coincidence of course

A good point I did see Ruddy duck chasing off little grebe and tufted from nest sites. I suppose places like Belvide where Ruddy's were numerous would be a good indicator. Will speak to Steve Nuttall about it .
Like Phil said mink control and maybe there are zebra mussels in the Moors. There are more nesting areas on the reserve now so could be a combination of things.

 

[Steve Nuttall]

A good point I did see Ruddy duck chasing off little grebe and tufted from nest sites. I suppose places like Belvide where Ruddy's were numerous would be a good indicator. Will speak to Steve Nuttall about it .
Like Phil said mink control and maybe there are zebra mussels in the Moors. There are more nesting areas on the reserve now so could be a combination of things.

Hi all,

Despite Belvide having larger numbers of Ruddy Duck, I could never remember us having a large breeding population. The peak numbers at Belvide were usually in March and again in August/September. The breeding population was much smaller with 5-8 pairs in 1980/81 being the most. During the 90's the summer water levels were consistently low, which would have effected any breeding attempts. It certainly didn't have an effect on Tufted Duck breeding success, but that is probably to do with Belvide being a larger site.

Cheers Steve

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi all,

Despite Belvide having larger numbers of Ruddy Duck, I could never remember us having a large breeding population. The peak numbers at Belvide were usually in March and again in August/September. The breeding population was much smaller with 5-8 pairs in 1980/81 being the most. During the 90's the summer water levels were consistently low, which would have effected any breeding attempts. It certainly didn't have an effect on Tufted Duck breeding success, but that is probably to do with Belvide being a larger site.

Cheers Steve

cheers Steve was going to text you later :t:

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights

FLASHES:
Green Sand (3)------------------Redshank (1) + 3 chicks
Common Sand (2)---------------Avocet (31) + 24 young
Curlew (16)----------------------Lapwing (52)
LRP (6) inc 3 juvs----------------Oystercatcher (2)
Teal (2)--------------------------Shoveler (13)
Shelduck (1)+ 7 juvs

MOORS
Gadwall (7)-----------------------Teal (1)
Shoveler (4)----------------------Oystercatcher (4)
Lapwing (1)-----------------------Common Tern (5) + 6 young
Kingfisher-------------------------G C Grebe (2)
Little Grebe (3)-------------------Greylag Goose (1)

SAILING POOL:
Egyptian Goose (2)---------------G C Grebe (2)

+ 1 W L Hairstreak.

Des.

 

[Anguis]

It was back in the 1990s when Baz Fox was working on his PHD that he first identified the aggressive interactions between ruddy ducks and native species. He was the one who told me about the effect on tufted ducks. We had quite an interchange of information and I was one of the few to have seen ruddys getting some aggression back (from common terns) as well as seeing them drive off a grey heron, Both instances were on the Moors Pool.

With regard to mink control it's almost certainly had a beneficial effect. I can't claim to know as I'd stopped visiting Upton when it began so obviously I will bow to John's long running observations and his superior detailed knowledge.

I do recall that the sight of males "bubbling" was a constant feature in the '90s. Can't say that I really miss them though.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Attached is a graphic setting of the breeding performance of Ruddy Duck (red) and Tufted Duck (green) at Upton Warren. The numbers of Tufted Duck that have been nesting in the last four years have been unprecedented. Ruddy Duck last bred in 2002 and its debatable whether we will ever get another bird again, let alone have a breeding attempt. As a later breeder Tufted Duck are susceptible to early summer storms which on occasions have wiped out all nests resulting in a blank breeding performance.

 

[wheatearlp]

Quiet evening at both Moors & Flashes. Two Redshank at the former, one plus all three chicks at latter. Also three Common & two Green Sands at Flashes. Three Avocet and the Redshank joined forces to see off a Carrion Crow at Flashes. Unwelcome visitor as per attached pic.

 

[wheatearlp]

Patience, tenacity (some would say stupidity) saw me find an adult Med Gull in the roost at 21.50'ish, although it may have arrived a little earlier. Poor light meant no decent pics., not that good light means any decent pics either 😏 There is a 'record shot' on Twitter... However the first (short) flight by one of the juv Redshank deserves equal, if not higher, billing tonight 😊

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

Greenshank at Flashes.

 

[upstarts1979]

My new Grandson born at 7.30. this morning ...so I might NOT be around too much in next few weeks. :t:
Toby John Wilson.

 

[Squeelia]

My new Grandson born at 7.30. this morning ...so I might be around too much in next few weeks. :t:
Toby John Wilson.

Congratulations on becoming a Granddad again. We will have to start a Creche for yours soon!
Do you mean you might, or might not, be around much in the next few weeks? Squeelia

 

[GaseousClay]

B Congrats John. B