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Upton Warren (19 Viewers)

From the Flashes early morning Andy P reports:

Tawny Owl called 3 times from near archery field from 0705, Green Sandpiper calling until 0730, Barn Owl from 0750 to 0810; Lapwing c450, Curlew 11, Snipe 5, Teal 4, Mallard 6, Coot 10, Meadow Pipit 2, Cetti's Warbler
 
enjoyable few hours spent at the flashes late afternoon. Sailing pool 26 Greylag, 5 GCG, Kingfisher, alot of Cormorants. Boardwalk a little quiet flock of long tailed tits and jackdaws .Flashes a few teal on the 1st ,on the 2nd Litte Egret, 400c Lapwing 150 BHG, Green woodpecker heard, Barn Owl did two laps finding something good by the 3rd flash.a few Teal and mallard in that direction too. Little Owl showed for a 2 mins top right of the barn.
Thinking of moving into artistic photography hows this first try.
 

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Species counts from my morning visit to the Moors Pool:

Pochard 28, Teal 22, Tufted Duck 20, Shoveler12, Mallard 12, Gadwall 2, Shelduck, Little Grebe 2, GC Grebe, Cormorant 29, Coot 12, Lapwing c100, Snipe 4, Curlew, Coal Tit (on feeders at North Moors hide).

5 GC grebe were also noted on the Sailing Pool.
 
Reports today from Dave J, Phil Q and Lloyd E:

FLASHES
Golden Plover with Lapwing flock, Chiffchaff by the bridge over the Hen Brook

MOORS POOL
Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 26 Pochard, 11 Curlew, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher
 
Work Party resume this Tuesday - FLASHES

Tuesday 8th JANUARY
We will be at the FLASHES this week..
We are assisting Nick the Fox fence contractor.
We will be cutting back blackthorn along the new fox fence line.
Bring wellies to get to area to be worked which is dry but the access is wet in places.
Meet at SAILING POOL car park 8.45.
If you are arriving later meet at the FLASHES main hide.
Thanks John:t:B :)
 
Furhter Birds

Further note from today


Flashes - peregrine showing well on tallest left hand transmitter mast late morning . Quite happy on top rail in the sunshine Plenty of teal buzzing about on the sewage fields along with the myriad lapwing.


Sailing Pool - At least 20 greylag. 3GCG including an almost fully adult youngster. One little egret noted in western corner of pool on water edge overflow car park corner before lunch. maybe same one that turned up at Moors in the afternoon.

Moors - One buzzard content for the most part to sit on the power lines to the left of Hobden Hall farm. Not phased by the intermittent shooting which may have been a bird scarer. The cormorants in particular went scuttling off after one particularly loud report.


Also one little egret resplendent inn the sunshine before disappearing off left viewed from the East Hide.
One solitary snipe feeding in the water on the edge of the flat muddy island in the vicinity of the sand martin area. Can we have some names for all these islands now please?

One LBBG plus one herring gull and juvenile resplendent again in their winter finery. Good flypast by heron which settled on one of the islands on the west side.


Yesterday same sounds whilst at Flashes but less noisy and the only birds that took notice were the BHGs. Lapwings put the wind up their own kilts-they don't need any help! Having said that beautiful circling display at the Flashes today.

Golden plover at Flashes today.

PhilE
 

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Today's highlights!

FLASHES:

Green Sandpiper 5 (last 2 flew out at about 0730), Lapwing 918, Curlew 11, Snipe, Teal 44, Little Egret, Mipit 4, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk.

MOORS POOL:

Shelduck, Pochard 28, Shoveler 24, Teal 24, Gadwall 9, Snipe, Little Egret, Kingfisher.
 
Today's work party at FLASHES

A cracking effort today thank you all 22 and Julie for the cake.
Today we assisted Nick the fox fence contractor by clearing an overgrown swaith of bramble and blackthorn. Nick wants to convey his appreciation for the work we did and it has certainly helped in a big way. He also had a meeting with the neighbouring farmer and she granted him the ok to work on her land to complete the line at the back of the 3rd Flash.
We also pruned the overhanging tree branches in front of the sewage works where the fence will be attached to the metal railings.
The blackthorn thicket in front of the oak tree is encroaching into the marshy areas and towards the east shore of the 2nd Flash so today we brush cut it . This will open up the area benefiting waders and offering perched for chats etc . It will also remove magpie nest and when it regrows it will provide scrub birds breeding habitat.

Nick the contractor today covered the fence line along the 2nd Flash East shore with wooden rails .This has been put over the barbed wire and will prevent any bird strikes.

Thanks to Andy A. Bob G. Bob O. Bobby P. Bob R. Charles. Dave H. Graham L. Ian B . Ian J. Jim B. John C. Julie W. Keith M. Kim W. Paul M. Ray C. Roger S. Steve S Terry W. Tony B and meB :):eat: John

Change of plan next week ...we will be at the Moors as usual NOT the FLASHES. :t:

Check my Twitter for photos of today work and starling murmuration all taken on my mobile so not brilliant of starlings
 
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Birding on Reserve Today

Early Star at FLASHES 7.15am but no sign of Barn Owl.
Before and during work party.

FLASHES:
Greylag 40+
Teal 35. Wigeon 3(2 m). Mallard 35. Coot 12.
Curlew 11. Lapwing 850. Green sand. Snipe 4. Jack Snipe flushed when doing wp.
Buzzard 2.
Raven. Green woodp.
Fieldfare 5. Redwing 30. Song thrush 2.
Cetti's w. Pied wag 2. Grey wag 2. Meadow pipit 2.
Goldfinch 12. Greenfinch 2. Bullfinch 2. Chaffinch

SAILING POOL:
GCG 6. Little egret 4 roosted

MOORS:
Little grebe 4. Cormorant 8. Mute swan.
Shoveler 28. Wigeon 4 (3 from FLASHES plus another male). Gadwall 4. Shelduck. Teal 25.
Pochard 42. Tufted 26.
Snipe 7. Lapwing 150.
Coot only 12!!. Water rail 2 calling.
Great spotted w. Kingfisher East side.
Winter thrushes c20 late on.
Starling murmuration c900-1000. Cetti's w singing.
Treecreeper. Goldcrest 2. Coal tit.

Notable absentees..stock dove. Rook.
 
How close did you walk to the areas traditionally frequented by Snipe John?

One Jack and four Commons seem to be incredibly low numbers; is the Flashes now lost as a notable wintering site?
 
Phil Andrews said:
How close did you walk to the areas traditionally frequented by Snipe John?

One Jack and four Commons seem to be incredibly low numbers; is the Flashes now lost as a notable wintering site?
Click to expand...

All snipe and Jack came out of usual southern area of 2nd Flash. Not as wet as most winters but ideal in some parts albeit smaller in area.
 
Today's highlights:

FLASHES/N MOORS*
Pochard (38)----------------Shoveler (28)
Teal (12)---------------------Shelduck (1)
Tufted Duck (17)------------Gadwall (4)
Snipe (6)--------------------Little Egret (1)
Water Rail (2)---------------Cormorant (27)
Pheasant (1)----------------Collared Dove (1)
Sparrowhawk----------------Coal Tit (2)* (1) at the west hide feeding station.
G C Grebe (1)---------------Cetti's Warbler (1) (1)*
Herring Gull (1)-------------Song Thrush singing.
Mute Swan (2)--------------Tawny Owl hunting in front of the east hide tonight. (T Owen)

FLASHES/SAILING POOL*
Goosander (f)*-------------Chiffchaff feeding in lone conifer near boardwalk to the Flashes mid-morning.
Curlew (11)-----------------B H Gull (c150)
Lapwing (c700)-------------Meadow Pipit (5)
G C Grebe (5)*-------------Greylag Goose (25)*
Cetti's Warbler (1)----------Little Egret (1). None roosting tonight.

Des.
 
What a busy end to the day,arrived about 16.10 met on the causeway by 1000c starlings a Sparrowhawk flew under the murmuration towards the west hide feeders with Water rail calling close by on the moors pool and Cetti's calling just as close on the north moors,with light fading most of the ducks gathered together 6 snipe around pool island in total 10 flew out, the Lapwings raised to the sky this time the Sparrowhawk flew past carrying prey towards the education centre. Looking north in the vain hope of a bitten a Tawny owl caught my eye flying onto a large branch in the nearest large tree to the east hide at 17.00 it seemed to look at me for a minute before looking down behind the hide then further round to the field after 5 mins it either jumped lower in to the tree or down to the field as you can guess no chance of a photo best I can do is point out it was in the middle of the 4th photo but the branch was sticking out of the tree on the left ie 9 o'clock position.Did have a large bird flying in as I walking back looked like a large Heron
 

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