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Upton Warren (20 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Yes to Sedge and Reed - North Moors is certainly a productive walk if you are prepared to linger
upstarts1979
Well-known member
only news comes from Bob Willians ..Hobby over Moors this afternoon. Red crested pochard seen at 7.30 am
biking birder 2010
Well-known member
Hiya!!!!
Gosh I miss the Warren!
I am back in two weeks time from my latest trip and will be down. Hope to see you all there and hear the latest news.
Love to you all,
(Mary . . Gladys. I have feathers of ornate tinamou and sparkling violetear hummingbird for you if you want them)
Gary
Gosh I miss the Warren!
I am back in two weeks time from my latest trip and will be down. Hope to see you all there and hear the latest news.
Love to you all,
(Mary . . Gladys. I have feathers of ornate tinamou and sparkling violetear hummingbird for you if you want them)
Gary
biking birder 2010
Well-known member
There are several things at play with the Avocets this year Peter. Whether as a result of habitat changes, lower water levels or even the increase in their numbers as well as an increase in BHG's I'm not sure but things are different.
First of all there is an increase in breeding Avocets up from 17 breeding pairs in 2016 to at least 22 pairs this year.
Over the last 35 years I have been thoroughly monitoring all aspects of the breeding cycle of all the waders at the Flashes. Our avocets are probably the most studied in the Country - thanks to Mike, Des, Dave J and Phil. We have details on nest site, incubation period, chicks hatched , survival rate and feeding zones and even behavioural patterns, etc etc. I digress .
Nest Sites:
This year many nests have been in the meadow in fact 10 nests in all. This is probably as a result of pressure by BHG saturating previously prime Avocet nesting islands. But also it is accommodating the new influx of breeding birds. Many of these were probably the non-breeders from last year.
Another well used area is in front of the hide. Here at least 8 nesting attempts were made. These mainland sites are as a result of the Fox fencing doing its job. In the early years only islands were used for nesting. But BHG have albut taken the islands and only 5 nests were on islands this year but not very successfully.
Feeding Zones: There are 10 feeding Zones most in front and either side of the hide. But only 2 along the meadow shore , where the highest mortality has been this year. Due to predators, too much pressure from neighbouring avocets or too small a feeding area to sustain growth of chicks I am not sure. But very few proportionately of the chicks are surviving. It could also be due to low water levels being too muddy with little amounts of food.
Another frequently used area in the past was along the eastern shore of 2nd Flash. But this has been totally ignored this year and I would suggest that the stock fencing is the only reason for this.
Brood size:
Although we have many more pairs these days this does not mean we get more chicks. This year's brood sizes have been on average the lowest ever. This could be due to parents abandoning incubation of the whole clutch rather than fewer eggs being laid. I have noticed on several occasions sitting birds leaving un-hatched eggs to help the other parent defend the 1st hatched chick. The threats could be from LBBG, buzzards or even neighbouring avocets attacking the chicks. While unatended eggs have been stolen by coots and moorhens. The pressure on the new chicks sometimes forces the parents to cut their losses and take what they've got resulting in small broods.
I hope this answers some of your questions Peter and next time I see you I will elaborate 8-P
22 pairs!!!!!! Shame about the productivity decline. See you soon John. :t:
midlands birder
Well-known member
Tonight on the reserve.
Moors- No sign of the Red-crested Pochard. 3 Gadwall, including a female escorting 4 chicks at the north end of the pool, Much the same as recently, but Little Grebes much more visible, with at least 9 (3 young) at various locations around the pool.
Flashes- 1 each of Common and Green Sandpipier. 37 Lapwing, 70 Avocet (at least 21 juv), 5 LRP, 3 Teal plus a notable increase in Stock Dove numbers. The Med Gull family still progressing well and the hybrid Gull has 'returned' again. 3 Cetti's, including a juv in the hedgerow between the two main hides was a little out of place. A Grass Snake along the boardwalk was the first I have seen in a while!
Edit- Adult Hobby flew SW over the Sailing Pool as we left
Moors- No sign of the Red-crested Pochard. 3 Gadwall, including a female escorting 4 chicks at the north end of the pool, Much the same as recently, but Little Grebes much more visible, with at least 9 (3 young) at various locations around the pool.
Flashes- 1 each of Common and Green Sandpipier. 37 Lapwing, 70 Avocet (at least 21 juv), 5 LRP, 3 Teal plus a notable increase in Stock Dove numbers. The Med Gull family still progressing well and the hybrid Gull has 'returned' again. 3 Cetti's, including a juv in the hedgerow between the two main hides was a little out of place. A Grass Snake along the boardwalk was the first I have seen in a while!
Edit- Adult Hobby flew SW over the Sailing Pool as we left
Last edited:
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J reports from the Flashes:
47 adult Avocet and 25+ young (of which 14 have fledged) with 2 birds still sitting, adult Med Gull + young, Shoveler + 2 young, 3 LR Plover, 5 Teal, 1 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand
47 adult Avocet and 25+ young (of which 14 have fledged) with 2 birds still sitting, adult Med Gull + young, Shoveler + 2 young, 3 LR Plover, 5 Teal, 1 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave reported from the Moors Pool this morning:
Little Egret, 2 broods Gadwall (+4:4), 2 Common Tern young (1:1), Tufted Duck brood with 4 young, Shoveler brood with 2 young on North Moors
Little Egret, 2 broods Gadwall (+4:4), 2 Common Tern young (1:1), Tufted Duck brood with 4 young, Shoveler brood with 2 young on North Moors
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Lee you will pleased to know that this tern chick was on Pool Island and being fed by its parents. It is now 26 days old and almost fledged. info from Dave J
Of concern though is the very poor showing of Tufted broods. This is now peak time for broods to appear. But only 1 so far and no new ones in last week.
Birder Gladys
Well-known member
early evening flashes 12 curlew 27 lapwing 2 green sand 2 oyc 1 common sand 1 lrp, Avocet's looking like males flocking together now,Med gull +chick, raven heard.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Hobby at the Moors Pool this morning as per Andy P
Med Gull and chick still thriving at the Flashes as per Trevor J
Med Gull and chick still thriving at the Flashes as per Trevor J
John Layj
Well-known member
Birder Gladys
Well-known member
Birder Gladys
Well-known member
Pied Flycatcher
Well-known member
UW82
Well-known member
Today's highlights:
FLASHES:
Green Sand (3)------------------Common Sand (3)
Oystercatcher (2)----------------LRP (5) inc juvenile.
Curlew (13)-----------------------Avocet (min of 44) + 25 chicks/young
Lapwing (51)---------------------Tufted Duck-brood of 8 chicks on first flash.
Gadwall (2)-----------------------Shoveler- brood of 4 young on third flash.
Teal (4)---------------------------Raven (2)
Med Gull (2ad) + 1 young.
Marbled White (2) and Essex Skipper* near the Sailing Pool.
MOORS:
Common Tern (7)+ 1:1 young----Hobby east of the Moors.
Gadwall- 4 young------------------Tufted Duck-broods of 3:8
Little Grebe (2) + 1 chick---------Coot (112)
Kingfisher (2)----------------------Cormorant (1)
Mute Swan (10).
Des
*
FLASHES:
Green Sand (3)------------------Common Sand (3)
Oystercatcher (2)----------------LRP (5) inc juvenile.
Curlew (13)-----------------------Avocet (min of 44) + 25 chicks/young
Lapwing (51)---------------------Tufted Duck-brood of 8 chicks on first flash.
Gadwall (2)-----------------------Shoveler- brood of 4 young on third flash.
Teal (4)---------------------------Raven (2)
Med Gull (2ad) + 1 young.
Marbled White (2) and Essex Skipper* near the Sailing Pool.
MOORS:
Common Tern (7)+ 1:1 young----Hobby east of the Moors.
Gadwall- 4 young------------------Tufted Duck-broods of 3:8
Little Grebe (2) + 1 chick---------Coot (112)
Kingfisher (2)----------------------Cormorant (1)
Mute Swan (10).
Des
*
Attachments
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Yesterday evening Mike W reported:
MOORS POOL
Common Tern 8 adults + 3 young (new chick on northern most raft), Tufted Duck one brood of 3 young, Little Grebe 1 chick, 10 Mute Swan, 4 Cormorant.
FLASHES
3 Med Gulls (two resident adults and juvenile fledged elsewhere), Green Sand 5, Common Sand 1, LR Plover 2, 10 younger Avocet chicks, Greenshank dropped in 21.15.
MOORS POOL
Common Tern 8 adults + 3 young (new chick on northern most raft), Tufted Duck one brood of 3 young, Little Grebe 1 chick, 10 Mute Swan, 4 Cormorant.
FLASHES
3 Med Gulls (two resident adults and juvenile fledged elsewhere), Green Sand 5, Common Sand 1, LR Plover 2, 10 younger Avocet chicks, Greenshank dropped in 21.15.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
I think Mike mentioned 3 ads the chick and a juv presumably from elsewhere:t:
wheatearlp
Well-known member
Yes, 'our' pair plus well-grown chick and a juv. from elsewhere. The juv was at times following and begging from one of the resident adults giving the impression of it being its parent. Also 14 Curlews in to roost but no large gulls by 10.15.
