Upton Warren (15 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

We all love birdwatching, and often for differing reasons. For me I love to find out the context of various sightings (be they common or rare), and your stats hit the mark for Upton Warren! Cheers Phil B B

Not a problem Gary - glad you find them illuminating :t:

If anyone has any requests for data, comparisons, trends etc please let me know and I will see what I can rustle up.

 

[Birder Gladys]

just some pics from the last few days.pic 3 has 15 Avocets in one pic can anyone beat that?

 

[Phil Andrews]

The year's first Sedge Warbler singing in the North Moors; also Willow Warbler.

What time do the gates open to the Sailing Centre car park nowadays - still locked at 08:15.

 

[UW82]

The year's first Sedge Warbler singing in the North Moors; also Willow Warbler.

What time do the gates open to the Sailing Centre car park nowadays - still locked at 08:15.

The gates are usually open before 08.00.

Des.

 

[upstarts1979]

The year's first Sedge Warbler singing in the North Moors; also Willow Warbler.

What time do the gates open to the Sailing Centre car park nowadays - still locked at 08:15.

I think the Cleaner is no longer working there (retired) and there fore gates opened by Sailing Centre staff 8.30 ish

 

[Rob_S]

Where's the best place to park when visiting the Flashes after the Sailing Centre car park has closed?

Not a long walk from the Moors car park, obviously!

 

[keithr]

I would say the Moors as the reserve is rather isolated.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Monday 3rd April 0815-1300

MOORS POOL
2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Egret, 5 Greylag Geese, 36 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant, 2 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 1 Pochard (male), 55 Tufted Duck (incl 5 on North Moors), 3 GC Grebe, min of 12 Little Grebe - seemed to be everywhere!, 42 Coot, 8 Moorhen, 1 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 LBB Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 2+ singing Willow Warbler (1+ North Moors, 1 west track), c6 singing Chiffchaff, c5 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest, Sedge Warbler singing briefly from North Moors - joint second earliest return date, Golden Pheasant in North Moors plantation.

SAILING POOL
2 Greylag Geese, 12 Canada Geese, 10 GC Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 7 Coot.

FLASHES
31 Avocet (notably reduced in numbers following Sunday's balloon incident), 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 LR Plover, 20+ Lapwing, 8 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck on 3rd flash, 36 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 1 Herring Gull, 3 LBB Gull, Med x BH Gull hybrid, no sign of any Med Gulls, 1 Raven, 3 Rook.

Butterflies included Peacock, Orange Tip and Brimstone.

Weather was probably too good yesterday with most migrants passing high over - not a single hirundine was seen! Some rain overnight followed by an overcast start to today may reap rewards.

Great to be back on the reserve, marvel at all the wonderful management work undertaken over the winter and also the progress of areas managed in previous years (the scrub between the Hen Pool and feeding station is now looking very good), and catch up with a few old faces (nice to see you Ian and Rob :t

 

[Janette55]

Monday afternoon at The Moors

I spent an enjoyable couple of hours at the Moors. On arrival along the track, the fields were glowing yellow with rape flowers and looked beautiful in the sunshine.
Rather than taking the direct route to the East hide, I walked along the nature trail. There was white blossom on the trees and I saw my first butterflies of the year to include peacocks and orange tipped. I paused at both benches to take in the birdsong that was filling the air - blackbird, wren and chiffchaff. It really was a fantastic Spring day.
At the East Hide itself, species observed included pochard, little egret, little grebe, oystercatcher, greylag, lapwing, shoveller, tufted duck and gadwall.
I watched an industrious great crested grebe that appeared to be making a nest in the short reeds at the South end of Pool island. It kept diving underwater for nesting material and taking it into the reeds, before every now and again clambering on top of it. The bird seemed to be on its own though, with no sign of a mate. It's definitely an area to keep an eye on.

 

[UW82]

MOORS POOL
2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Egret, 5 Greylag Geese, 36 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant, 2 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 7 Teal, 1 Pochard (male), 55 Tufted Duck (incl 5 on North Moors), 3 GC Grebe, min of 12 Little Grebe - seemed to be everywhere!, 42 Coot, 8 Moorhen, 1 Snipe, 2 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 LBB Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 2+ singing Willow Warbler (1+ North Moors, 1 west track), c6 singing Chiffchaff, c5 singing Blackcap, 3 singing Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest, Sedge Warbler singing briefly from North Moors - joint second earliest return date, Golden Pheasant in North Moors plantation.

SAILING POOL
2 Greylag Geese, 12 Canada Geese, 10 GC Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 7 Coot.

FLASHES
31 Avocet (notably reduced in numbers following Sunday's balloon incident), 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 LR Plover, 20+ Lapwing, 8 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck on 3rd flash, 36 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 1 Herring Gull, 3 LBB Gull, Med x BH Gull hybrid, no sign of any Med Gulls, 1 Raven, 3 Rook.

Butterflies included Peacock, Orange Tip and Brimstone.

Weather was probably too good yesterday with most migrants passing high over - not a single hirundine was seen! Some rain overnight followed by an overcast start to today may reap rewards.

Great to be back on the reserve, marvel at all the wonderful management work undertaken over the winter and also the progress of areas managed in previous years (the scrub between the Hen Pool and feeding station is now looking very good), and catch up with a few old faces (nice to see you Ian and Rob :t

I take it the Trust are going to contact the balloon company about their indiscretion on Sunday?

Des.

 

[wheatearlp]

I take it the Trust are going to contact the balloon company about their indiscretion on Sunday?

Des.

Not sure if the Trust has but JTB is corresponding with them.

 

[UW82]

Not sure if the Trust has but JTB is corresponding with them.

I would have thought that the balloon company has transgressed a law and a formal approach from the Trust is in order, particularly if the missing Avocets do not return.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Janette has counted 31 birds again this morning so something caused 13 Schedule One breeding birds to depart and not return

 

[PeterE]

Today's Work Party at the Moors

We completed two unfinished tasks today: the new hedge was taken up to the West Hide, and the area behind it had blackthorn and bramble cut down to improve the views from the West Hide towards the north-east. There were nine of us - Paul, Bob P., Dave, Jim, Keith, Ray, Roger, Terry and me. We had a welcome visit from Terry Norledge, an emeritus member of our group. Despite the lower number and JTB's absence, we finished off the cake.

Best wishes to Mrs B and John C.

Peter

 

[Phil Andrews]

Today's Work Party at the Moors

We completed two unfinished tasks today: the new hedge was taken up to the West Hide, and the area behind it had blackthorn and bramble cut down to improve the views from the West Hide towards the north-east. There were nine of us - Paul, Bob P., Dave, Jim, Keith, Ray, Roger, Terry and me. We had a welcome visit from Terry Norledge, an emeritus member of our group. Despite the lower number and JTB's absence, we finished off the cake.

Best wishes to Mrs B and John C.

Peter

From Wikipedia:

Emeritus (/ᵻˈmɛrᵻtəs/),[Note 1] in its current usage, is an adjective used to designate a retired professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, or other person.

In some cases, the term is conferred automatically upon all persons who retire at a given rank, but in others, it remains a mark of distinguished service, awarded to only a few on retirement. It is also used when a person of distinction in a profession retires or hands over the position, enabling their erstwhile rank to be retained in their title. The term emeritus does not necessarily signify that a person has relinquished all the duties of their erstwhile position, and they may continue to exercise some of them.

 

[upstarts1979]

Today's Work Party at the Moors

We completed two unfinished tasks today: the new hedge was taken up to the West Hide, and the area behind it had blackthorn and bramble cut down to improve the views from the West Hide towards the north-east. There were nine of us - Paul, Bob P., Dave, Jim, Keith, Ray, Roger, Terry and me. We had a welcome visit from Terry Norledge, an emeritus member of our group. Despite the lower number and JTB's absence, we finished off the cake.

Best wishes to Mrs B and John C.

Peter

Thanks Peter and the crew ...I too have been struck down by the bug..so wouldn't have indulged in any cake feast8-P.
Hopefully I will be up and running by the end of the week.:t:

 

[Janette55]

Tuesday morning at the Flashes with the Trust

This morning I accompanied Andy Harris from the Trust in the Avocet Hide as the Trust had invited some of their Bromsgrove members along, some of them visiting for the first time. The visitors were all impressed by the reserve and what they saw.
I counted 31 avocets, so although this is a good number, the figure is significantly less than last week. Several pairs were going through their romantic courtship routines prior to mating. The black headed gulls were missing out the romance, but were clearly in the mood too.
A pair of little ringed plovers also mated and we were able to tell the visitors about the cages that are ready to protect any nests.
The lapwings were calling and engaging in tumbling displays. A lapwing also divebombed a little egret which flew off, returning later in the morning.
Other birds on display today included a pair of oystercatcher, a curlew, shelduck and shoveller.

 

[upstarts1979]

Group meeting this Saturday

From 9.45 am - 2pm The Redditch group of the Trust will be visiting the reserve. They will be starting at the Flashes...One of our wardens/management will be leading them.:t:

 

[binus1963]

robins and dabchicks

a bit of courtship from monday from the robins and the dabchicks were calling and fighting over territory.

 

[upstarts1979]

I would have thought that the balloon company has transgressed a law and a formal approach from the Trust is in order, particularly if the missing Avocets do not return.

Des.

this the text I have just received from Andy Harris at the Trust.
Good outcome. They traced baloonist and have spoken to him. It was not a designated landing site. I will help them mark up area on their maps as a no go area. cheers.

A good team effort all round, from Paul Croft who spoke to the pilot Dave J who took photo's of the balloon from which the pilot was identified. I got in touch with
@Britishballoon on twitter and fair play to them for following it up. The Trust were passed the details and they also contributed to hopefully the end of another negative impact on the reserve.
It goes to show that if you care enough and are prepared to take action things can be resolved :t: john