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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Upton Warren (8 Viewers)

At the Flashes 14.35--16.35 today: beautiful winter sunshine but all of first and second flashes frozen so not a lot there except 15 Moorhens and 12 Coots grazing the grass down around the main hide. Two Buzzards socialising in an oak; smallish (presumed male) Peregrine in southernmost mast----this flew to catch up with a larger passing Peregrine (presumed female) at one point, flew above it and swooped down to it to acknowledge presence, then returned to mast. Only brief signs of Barn Owl after sun had dipped below horizon: flying within the ruined part of the barn at 15.37, flying up from fence just below barn and back into barn 16.10 as a woman approached, peering at the woman from top of barn as she peered at it at 16.13 then no further sign. The 'Upton Warren Eleven' returned to roost 16.30: Upton Warren must be one of the best sites in the country to get prolonged, close views of Curlews-- let's hope in a few years they are still to be seen here like this and it's not a case of "Remember when we used to see Curlews? What a wonderful bird they were"
 
Pete Lewis said:
At the Flashes 14.35--16.35 today: beautiful winter sunshine but all of first and second flashes frozen so not a lot there except 15 Moorhens and 12 Coots grazing the grass down around the main hide. Two Buzzards socialising in an oak; smallish (presumed male) Peregrine in southernmost mast----this flew to catch up with a larger passing Peregrine (presumed female) at one point, flew above it and swooped down to it to acknowledge presence, then returned to mast. Only brief signs of Barn Owl after sun had dipped below horizon: flying within the ruined part of the barn at 15.37, flying up from fence just below barn and back into barn 16.10 as a woman approached, peering at the woman from top of barn as she peered at it at 16.13 then no further sign. The 'Upton Warren Eleven' returned to roost 16.30: Upton Warren must be one of the best sites in the country to get prolonged, close views of Curlews-- let's hope in a few years they are still to be seen here like this and it's not a case of "Remember when we used to see Curlews? What a wonderful bird they were"
Click to expand...

Pete was there a woman by the barn? If so presumably the farmerB :) john belsey
 
Work party today

Today at West track of Moors pool 23 of us tackled a range of jobs.

1. The drainage ditch that runs parallel to the track in the NW section has become clogged with natural debris and is drying out..In order to revitalize the reeds that grow here we brush cut the fallen reeds and removed rthem and other leaf litter. This was piled up alongside the path to break down and provide shelter for invertebrates and small mammals.
2. Some of the tall willows in the reed bed were coppiced and cuttings were used to make screening hurdles.
3. The west side viewpoint had overgrown ..this was cut back and the view over the pool and reeds is now vastly improved.
4. A short section of tired collapsed hedgerow was laid ..As its on high ground another viewpoint has been created. This hedge should now be revitalized within the next 4 years or so. The brash was piled up to form a large habitat pile further along the track.

Thanks to everyone today for another great effort
Alan D. Andy A. Bobby P. Bob R. Ellen A. Graham L. Ian B. Ian J. Ian R. John H. Julie W. Keith M. Kim W. Nick F. Paul M. Ray C. Steve S. Steve T. Sue T. Terry W. Tony B and me and welcome Dave another newbie.:t:
Thanks to Ellen and Andy (HAPPY BIRTHDAY) for the cakes:eat:
Next week we will continue working at Moors
Sue is making cake :t:john
 
Pete Lewis said:
At the Flashes 14.35--16.35 today: beautiful winter sunshine but all of first and second flashes frozen so not a lot there except 15 Moorhens and 12 Coots grazing the grass down around the main hide. Two Buzzards socialising in an oak; smallish (presumed male) Peregrine in southernmost mast----this flew to catch up with a larger passing Peregrine (presumed female) at one point, flew above it and swooped down to it to acknowledge presence, then returned to mast. Only brief signs of Barn Owl after sun had dipped below horizon: flying within the ruined part of the barn at 15.37, flying up from fence just below barn and back into barn 16.10 as a woman approached, peering at the woman from top of barn as she peered at it at 16.13 then no further sign. The 'Upton Warren Eleven' returned to roost 16.30: Upton Warren must be one of the best sites in the country to get prolonged, close views of Curlews-- let's hope in a few years they are still to be seen here like this and it's not a case of "Remember when we used to see Curlews? What a wonderful bird they were"
Click to expand...

The wintering flock seems to have stablised in recent years - the lowest half-monthly maxima from each winter period have been as follows:

13/14 - 11
14/15 - 10
15/16 - 12
16/17 - 13
17/18 - 10
18/19 - 11
19/20 - 11
 
Julie50 said:
Hi all

Do you think the curlew are the same birds - or is 10-13 an average size for a flock?
Click to expand...

I fully expect the flock to largely comprise of the same birds but with an average life expectancy of only 5 years there must be some turnover year on year to maintain these numbers - mind you the oldest ever recorded Curlew was some 32 years 7 months! :eek!:
 
Julie50 said:
Thanks Phil

I wonder if there is a way to identify them if I take pics of each one - might not work though!
Click to expand...

We have had several ringed birds before but I don't recall one being recorded in consecutive years (or indeed lingering any great length of time).
 
Birding Moors Tuesday 21st Jan

MOORS: 95% frozen at 7.30am..only ice free around East island, hook and Lagoon. Last thing the ice had melted ong the whole east side .
little grebe 3. Little egret. Mute swan 2. Cormorant 10. Greylag c35. Canadas 120+
Shoveler 37. Gadwall 8. Teal 50+. Mallard 40. Shelduck 7. Tufted 38.
Water rail 8-10. Coot 14.
Snipe 35. Jack snipe . Lapwing 65. Curlew 11.
BHG c400 (150 roosted on ice in middle of pool late on).
Herring gull 3. LBBG 10.
Green woodpecker. Great spotted w 2. Nuthatch on NM feeders.
Fieldfare 5. Song thrush 4 singing am. Redwing.
Starling 30. Pied wag 2.
Cpal tit 2. Chaffinch 5 + 6 reed buntings(west feeders).
Cetti's 2 singing.
With 3 Bittern at Ladywalk NR and 1 at Marsh Lane NR Mike W and myself stayed until dark checking pver the reed beds. Its been 5 years since any sign if one on tbe Reserve. To improve views from the Jacobs hide to the north, next week we will be trimming the area between the two west hides.
 
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Today's highlights:

MOORS/NORTH MOORS*
Shoveler (26)---------------Shelduck (6). Roosted at the Flashes.
Tufted Duck (42)------------Teal (15)
Gadwall (4)(2)*-------------Snipe (21)
Lapwing (51)----------------Curlew (11). Roosted at the Flashes.
Kingfisher--------------------Stonechat (f). In front of the west hide.
Cormorant (13)--------------Raven
Coal Tit-----------------------Nuthatch*
B H Gull (98)-----------------Y L Gull (ad)
L B B Gull (8)----------------Herring Gull (6)
Fieldfare (c60)*-------------Redwing (c30)*
Mute Swan (2)--------------Otter

FLASHES/RIVER SALWARPE*
Green Sand (1)-------------Barn Owl (1) at 17.10 right of the hide and flew behind the hide.
Teal (6)----------------------Chiffchaff (2). Feeding in bushes along the boardwalk below the S Pool steps.
Goldcrest*

Des.
 
Of note today at the Flashes

1 Jack Snipe and 1 Snipe; 2 Chiffchaffs near the boardwalk bridge, 3 male and 1 female Bullfinch (think 9 were seen on the reserve today)

At the Moors

2 Ravens, 1 Cetti's, 6 Snipe
 
Phil W further reported from the Flashes:

6 Shelduck, 16 Lapwing, 24 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 30 BH Gull, several Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler and 3 Feral Pigeon (first report of the year)
 
From the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:

Barn Owl caught a vole in front of the sewage works at 0830, Jack Snipe left of Shelduck island, 6 Snipe, 11 Curlew, 16 Lapwing, 6 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 28 Teal, 84 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, c400 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull, Cetti's Warbler
 
From the Moors Pool today Andy P reports:

Jack Snipe, 40+ Snipe, 55 Lapwing, 20 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 38 Teal, 33 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe
 
Barn Owl at The Flashes

Phil Andrews said:
From the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:

Barn Owl caught a vole in front of the sewage works at 0830, Jack Snipe left of Shelduck island, 6 Snipe, 11 Curlew, 16 Lapwing, 6 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 28 Teal, 84 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, c400 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull, Cetti's Warbler
Click to expand...

Flying off towards the old barn with the vole to eat before turning in for the day.
 

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Ringed LBBG

Phil Andrews said:
From the Moors Pool today Andy P reports:

Jack Snipe, 40+ Snipe, 55 Lapwing, 20 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 38 Teal, 33 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe
Click to expand...

Also at the Moors Pool late morning was a Lesser Black-backed Gull with a white ring 9N6C printed in red. There was a colon :)) between the 6 and the C, which shows as an angry face thus 9N6:C when I post! I've looked at what I think is the most recent spreadsheet relating to ringed gulls and can't find it listed on there.
 
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A Useful investment of an hour of my time this afternoon. Kingfisher on sailing pool as I arrived and then got to watch the barn Owl for 20 minutes over the flashes.
 
Spoonbill Finder said:
Also at the Moors Pool late morning was a Lesser Black-backed Gull with a white ring 9N6C printed in red. There was a colon :)) between the 6 and the C, which shows as an angry face thus 9N6:C when I post! I've looked at what I think is the most recent spreadsheet relating to ringed gulls and can't find it listed on there.
Click to expand...

Ringed in Clyde, Scotland.
 
Spoonbill Finder said:
Also at the Moors Pool late morning was a Lesser Black-backed Gull with a white ring 9N6C printed in red. There was a colon :)) between the 6 and the C, which shows as an angry face thus 9N6:C when I post! I've looked at what I think is the most recent spreadsheet relating to ringed gulls and can't find it listed on there.
Click to expand...

Yes, a new bird Andy :t:
 

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