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Upton Warren (22 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Pied Flycatcher
Well-known member
A fleeting visit to the Moors this afternoon revealed a changing landscape!!!
An apparently quiet time did reveal one shy "Rallus aquaticus"
crossing my path while I was in the concrete hide.:t:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piedflycatcher/
An apparently quiet time did reveal one shy "Rallus aquaticus"
crossing my path while I was in the concrete hide.:t:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piedflycatcher/
Attachments
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Todays work party
Today 20 of us split into 3 groups . Thanks to Andy A, Alan D, Bob O, Bobby P, Bob R, Charles, Ian Joh, Ian Jos, Janet H, Jim B, John C, Julie W, Kim W, Paul M, Ray C, Roger S, Sue and Steve T, Terry W and me,
Thanks everyone B
B
!. Continued opening up the South channel of the East Marsh.
2. Opened up a broad section of the blackthorn thicket in the NE corner of the North Moors. This has been done as the interior has died and become leggy. The work will rejuvenate the growth, improving nesting opportunities.
The dead hedge in the same corner has now sprouted black thorn, this was trimmed to open up the path. The brash was cut up and laid into the dead hedge to thicken it up.
3. The mixed scrub thicket on the NW edge of the North Moors also was opened up, to thicken up for passerine nesting. The openness will also allow scrutiny of the area for migrant passerines.
4. Julie also gave the hides a once over.
Please - if you bring cans or coffee cups etc could you take them home and don't hide them behind the noticeboards or in the roof space:eek!:
Many thanks to the 4 cake makers
Marmalade and whiskey - Julie, Lemon Drizzle - Bobby P, Lemon Drizzle - Ian Jos, Rock cake - Sue. and of course I had to try them all :eat:
You watch next week there'll be none 8-P
Photos 1 - 3
The NE scrub at North Moors before and 2 pics after showing trimmed hedge and opened section of blackthorn
4 and 5
The NW section of the mixed scrub
Its hard to put on a photograph what it really looks like so suggest have a walk around next time you area at the reserve.
John
Today 20 of us split into 3 groups . Thanks to Andy A, Alan D, Bob O, Bobby P, Bob R, Charles, Ian Joh, Ian Jos, Janet H, Jim B, John C, Julie W, Kim W, Paul M, Ray C, Roger S, Sue and Steve T, Terry W and me,
Thanks everyone B
B !. Continued opening up the South channel of the East Marsh.
2. Opened up a broad section of the blackthorn thicket in the NE corner of the North Moors. This has been done as the interior has died and become leggy. The work will rejuvenate the growth, improving nesting opportunities.
The dead hedge in the same corner has now sprouted black thorn, this was trimmed to open up the path. The brash was cut up and laid into the dead hedge to thicken it up.
3. The mixed scrub thicket on the NW edge of the North Moors also was opened up, to thicken up for passerine nesting. The openness will also allow scrutiny of the area for migrant passerines.
4. Julie also gave the hides a once over.
Please - if you bring cans or coffee cups etc could you take them home and don't hide them behind the noticeboards or in the roof space:eek!:
Many thanks to the 4 cake makers
Marmalade and whiskey - Julie, Lemon Drizzle - Bobby P, Lemon Drizzle - Ian Jos, Rock cake - Sue. and of course I had to try them all :eat:
You watch next week there'll be none 8-P
Photos 1 - 3
The NE scrub at North Moors before and 2 pics after showing trimmed hedge and opened section of blackthorn
4 and 5
The NW section of the mixed scrub
Its hard to put on a photograph what it really looks like so suggest have a walk around next time you area at the reserve.
John
Attachments
Last edited:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
More from today's work party and contractors
Photo's
1. The southern channel now opened up to the main pool.
2. The woven willows screening the approach to the viewing screens. They will have to grow a bit more but hopefully will be effective.
3 - 4 the new hide after a few hours work.
Photo's
1. The southern channel now opened up to the main pool.
2. The woven willows screening the approach to the viewing screens. They will have to grow a bit more but hopefully will be effective.
3 - 4 the new hide after a few hours work.
Attachments
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Here is a local newspaper article about the new hide - was it really as recent as April 2015 we lost the old hide??
https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/ne...ollowing-devastating-fire-two-years-ago-2561/
The article contains the line: "It follows the devastating fire in April 2015 and destroyed three quarters of the green space which is considered one of the county’s most important nature and wildlife reserves." I must have missed that devastation somehow .....:eek!:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Birding the reserve today
MOORS:
As always into the East hide before the work party.
Very quiet feeling more like late October and birdwise even more so.
After I left two Ruff dropped in (per Clive Lee), During the work a few mipits and skylarks flew over. Cetti's warbler was ever present next to the new channel. A kingfisher perched in front of the screens sunning itself low down in the reeds.
Not a lot of improvement after the work.
MOORS species count:
Little Grebe 6, little egret, cormorant 3, greylag 43, mute swan c15, shoveler 35 -40, teal 20, wigeon 1, tufted c20, water rail 3, coot 60 +,
Snipe 2, green sand , common sand, lapwing 120,
kingfisher, skylark 2, cetti's w 3, chiffchaff 3, meadow pipit 2,
FLASHES: The ruff present in the morning had gone and apart from good numbers of shoveler things were quiet. But from 6pm the gulls started to arrive en-masse. All coming in from the south first BHG's followed by a trickle of large gulls that later turned into a flood. By last light the gull roost was at its largest this Autumn with over 3500 birds present. For the first time large gulls outnumber BHG's. Also of note today was the large flock of noisey Jackdaws mixed with small numbers of Rooks. A little owl called at the back of the hide near to the base of the transmitter masts.
Species count FLASHES:
Little grebe, little egret, shoveler 83, teal 55, coot 25, water rail,
Peregrine pr, buzzard 3,
Lapwing 160, green sand 2, curlew 15,
BHG 1700, Yellow legged gull 2 x adults, LBBG c1600, herring 500, common gull 2 x adults,
Little owl, Raven, Jackdaw 220+, rook 30, stock dove 30,
Cetti's w, chiffchaff 2, goldcrest 2, pied wags 15,
MOORS:
As always into the East hide before the work party.
Very quiet feeling more like late October and birdwise even more so.
After I left two Ruff dropped in (per Clive Lee), During the work a few mipits and skylarks flew over. Cetti's warbler was ever present next to the new channel. A kingfisher perched in front of the screens sunning itself low down in the reeds.
Not a lot of improvement after the work.
MOORS species count:
Little Grebe 6, little egret, cormorant 3, greylag 43, mute swan c15, shoveler 35 -40, teal 20, wigeon 1, tufted c20, water rail 3, coot 60 +,
Snipe 2, green sand , common sand, lapwing 120,
kingfisher, skylark 2, cetti's w 3, chiffchaff 3, meadow pipit 2,
FLASHES: The ruff present in the morning had gone and apart from good numbers of shoveler things were quiet. But from 6pm the gulls started to arrive en-masse. All coming in from the south first BHG's followed by a trickle of large gulls that later turned into a flood. By last light the gull roost was at its largest this Autumn with over 3500 birds present. For the first time large gulls outnumber BHG's. Also of note today was the large flock of noisey Jackdaws mixed with small numbers of Rooks. A little owl called at the back of the hide near to the base of the transmitter masts.
Species count FLASHES:
Little grebe, little egret, shoveler 83, teal 55, coot 25, water rail,
Peregrine pr, buzzard 3,
Lapwing 160, green sand 2, curlew 15,
BHG 1700, Yellow legged gull 2 x adults, LBBG c1600, herring 500, common gull 2 x adults,
Little owl, Raven, Jackdaw 220+, rook 30, stock dove 30,
Cetti's w, chiffchaff 2, goldcrest 2, pied wags 15,
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
There appears to be an editorial blunder in that article. They seem to have conflated the fire at Coney Meadow (in April '15 - which destroyed 75% of the reedbed) with the hide fire at Upton on the North Moors which happened several years earlier.
Who does their reseach?
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I did wonder as I typed the above whether it had been confused with Coney but then thought "surely not"
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
Just checked - the ashes of 'Hobby hide' were found on the morning of the 2nd May 2012.
- just goes to show you should not believe everything you read in the press.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
The Flashes roost this evening contained 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Common Gull as per JHWR.
John Sirrett
Well-known member
Felt quiet today probably because for the last 35 years I'm more used to being on St Agnes rather than at Upton and St Agnes is where all the action has been these last few days.
Waders: a Common Sand and one Snipe on the Moors, a Green Sand on Flashes where 15 Curlew came into roost. Lapwing counts 120 Moors, 170 Flashes - presumably some overlap.
Warblers: Chiffchaff 2 and Cetti's 1 on the Moors: Blackcap on Flashes.
Wildfowl: 9 Wigeon, 2 male Pochard, 12+Tufted, 58 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 70 Coot, 20 Mute Swan on the Moors: 19 Moorhen, 36 Teal & 61 Shoveler on the Flashes again presumably some overlap.
Gulls: Big roost on the flashes: 1500+BHG, 600+LBB, 200+ Herring, 1 Common, 4+Ad YLG. Observation difficult due to wind which meant all gulls were facing us. An Adult LBB ringed left leg, Red Ring, White Lettering, "V111"? (Never seen a ring like this before.)
Other: 2Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 2 Little Egret, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, 2 Raven, Mistle Thrush, Water Rail, 2 Jay - all on Moors. 3GGG on Sailing Pool.
Cafe closed at 4.30 and sailing pool gates closed before five.
JS, JHWR, MJI
Waders: a Common Sand and one Snipe on the Moors, a Green Sand on Flashes where 15 Curlew came into roost. Lapwing counts 120 Moors, 170 Flashes - presumably some overlap.
Warblers: Chiffchaff 2 and Cetti's 1 on the Moors: Blackcap on Flashes.
Wildfowl: 9 Wigeon, 2 male Pochard, 12+Tufted, 58 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 70 Coot, 20 Mute Swan on the Moors: 19 Moorhen, 36 Teal & 61 Shoveler on the Flashes again presumably some overlap.
Gulls: Big roost on the flashes: 1500+BHG, 600+LBB, 200+ Herring, 1 Common, 4+Ad YLG. Observation difficult due to wind which meant all gulls were facing us. An Adult LBB ringed left leg, Red Ring, White Lettering, "V111"? (Never seen a ring like this before.)
Other: 2Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 2 Little Egret, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, 2 Raven, Mistle Thrush, Water Rail, 2 Jay - all on Moors. 3GGG on Sailing Pool.
Cafe closed at 4.30 and sailing pool gates closed before five.
JS, JHWR, MJI
upstarts1979
Well-known member
I have spoken to Alan Davies ( an old mate) from the Big Twitch about this. He said Leica had cancelled the event .john
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
2 late Wheatear at the Flashes as per Andy A and Neil Duggan.
waterrailus
Well-known member
Just as well as I don't think there would have been room for them!. Thursdays seem to have had a resurgence over the past few weeks with 9 of us in East hide before 9.30 today. My usual early start was in the dark with a storm battering the hide and then it cleared to a lovely sunny though chilly morning. Highlights were wigeon x 8, pochardx2, common sandpiper, common snipe in double figures, big increase in numbers of teal and shoveler over my visit last week. Only two gadwall seen. Small stuff noticeably absent with only a flock of long tailed tits seen by me before I left. Cettis heard but not seen. Regards Dennis
Neil Duggan
Well-known member
Reserve looking mint this morning. Just needed to find an American wader to complete morning. Had to settle for a late Wheatear, Raven, Green Sand, 126 Lapwing & a single Swallow.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
3 Whooper Swans at the Moors Pool this evening as per Tim O
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Reports also of Ruff and Pintail at the Moors Pool this afternoon. Barn Owl over fields adjacent to the A38 north of the Moors as per Mike W.
Birder Gladys
Well-known member
interesting evening 1st I went to the Flashes, 15 curlew,1 green sand,50+ Lapwiing ,65 BHG, 10 LBBG. Little Grebe(3rd flash) Rooks,Ravens and Jackdaws, then a report of a pintail near the bitten channel at the moors so I popped over there from the west hide saw lots of ducks Mallard,Tufted,3 Pochard,5 wigeon,Shoveler, but no pintail.Nearly went home for tea but changed my mind and took a walk past new hide looks good(maybe the trust could use some camouflage paint so any undesirables can't see it to easy from the road)when I reached the east hide one other guy in there (John Lingard) I said I was looking for a pintail he said he hadn't seen it but there was 3 Whooper Swans just in front of the hide and a Ruff. OMG ,even worst I didn't get the info out very well SORRY. They were still there when I left in the dark so could be there first light fingers crossed.Only forgot my camera too.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
No need to worry Tim - 3 Whooper Swans atill at the Moors Pool at first light as per Steve Whitehouse
