Craig has just texted me his night time sightings.
A stunning fresh Juvenile Med Gull came in at 9.35pm with a huge party of 600 BHG from the east. 2 x 2nd winter common gulls, a 1000+ BHG had roosted by 9.50pm. Green Sand 10, curlew 21, common tern 2, shelduck 2 greylag 15.
:t: nice one Craig
I was only commenting to Craig this afternoon on the lack of any Med Gull action so far this month which is usually a hot-spot. The Shelduck weren't present at either the Flashes or Moors this afternoon; I wonder where they got to during the day?
The Oyc chick was asleep most of the time and not fed once by his parents, who were indulged in vocal jousting bouts with the 6 passage birds.
The common terns chicks on the new raft were still ok , but I couldn't find the other unfledged chick. The 4 juveniles were all actively fishing.
I didn't count the tufted broods but there were possibly more than the 13 counted on 18th July.
I would be surprised if the Oyk will still be present next time you visit on Tuesday. Yesterday the third term chick was on the southern end of the North Island and ws looking fine with an adult in regular attendance.
My photo of the 1981 bird...crap quality of a photo of my original photo (should have scanned it)Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
With birds reported today in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset I thought it was worth an update of this species at Upton Warren.
The reserve has six records, with efforts made in recent years to encourage the species (or at least sightings of it) by the cutting of suitable strategically located channels in the reed-beds at the Flashes and Moors Pool during late summer and early autumn to improve the chances of observing this elusive species.
(1) 1st>19th September 1981 - North Moors Pool
(2) 8th>13th October 1994 - Moors Pool
(3) 13th July 1999 (adult) - The Flashes
(4) 14th August 2001 - Moors Pool
(5) 15th August 2009 (juvenile) - Moors Pool
(6) 11th September 2012 (adult) - The Flashes
John Ridley’s personal account of the reserve’s first Spotted Crake is kindly reproduced below:
“The car park corner of the North Moors pool was not overgrown with willows in 1981 and the area adjacent to the road, due to the low water levels that autumn, looked ideal for crakes and rails. I had been visiting the reserve on an almost daily basis during August and had been disappointed that I had seen nothing at all there. Just before dusk on 1st September 1981, Roger Broadbent and I were walking back to our cars when I suggested that we watched this muddy, reed fringed area for a few moments before dark. Almost immediately, a Water Rail appeared on the edge of the reeds, followed by another, obviously smaller bird with what appeared to be buffish undertail coverts. The second bird immediately disappeared into the reeds and momentarily I was left wondering what I had seen. A few seconds later both birds re-appeared and in the gathering gloom we could see that it was a Spotted Crake, a first for the reserve. Over the next few days the bird performed spectacularly well for the assembled birdwatchers and provided excellent photographic opportunities. The bird stayed in the same spot for three weeks and for many local birdwatchers was the first chance to catch up with this species in the West Midlands”.