• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Upton Warren (16 Viewers)

Saturday early start resumes

Yesterday I arrived at 6.10am to be greeted by a very cold strong E-NE wind followed shortly after by snow flurries. This was supposed to be the start of my early Spring sessions but it felt more like mid winter. Hopefully next week will see a return to more favourable migrating conditions.

FLASHES :-
Teal 6. Shoveler 3. Gadwall 2.
Curlew 5. BLACK TAILED GODWIT. Snipe 4. Lapwing 24 with a lot of displaying. Oystercatcher 2. Avocet 26.
MED Gull ad. Common gull sub ad. BHG 2000.
Peregrine the small male it caught a starling and took it to a mast. Kestrel.
Pheasant.
Fieldfare 12. Redwing 12. Starling 220-250.
Pied wag 2.

SAILING POOL:-
GCG 16. Tufted 20. Coot 70. Sand Martin 2.

MOORS #UPTONWARREN:-
GCG 2. Little grebe 3 min. Little egret.
Shelduck . shoveler 31. Gadwall 6. Teal 12 pochard 11. Tufted 48. Mute swan 2. Cormorant 8.
Snipe 3. Oystercatcher 4. Dunlin. Blackwit briefly from Flashes then it returned there.
Coot 20+.
Sand martin
.
 
Penultimate Work Party this Tuesday

Hopefully this Tuesday we will complete the clearance of the SW marsh islands.

The new (temporary) FOX fence will be erected at the southern end of the Lagoon spit.

The log jam in the river Salwarp will be cleared.

Mesh to be placed over the two large tern rafts that have been left in situ. This is to stop the BHG from nesting. We will remove it once the common terns return.

Other jobs include installing Screening panels around new hide. Although this will depend on the number of volunteers we have. We should have capacity to do it on the last work party if we don't manage it on Tuesday.
Hope to see on Tuesday 8.45 Moors at park
John ����
 
Last edited:
Today's complete WeBS count courtesy of Dave J:

Avocet 26, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Canada Goose 108, Coot 71, Cormorant 4, Curlew 9, Gadwall 5, Great Crested Grebe 13, Greylag Goose 2, Lapwing 26, Little Egret 1, Little Grebe 5, Little Ringed Plover 2, Mallard 15, Moorhen 15+, Mute Swan 5, Oystercatcher 4, Pochard 16, Shelduck 2, Shoveler 32, Snipe 9, Teal 23, Tufted Duck 44, BH Gull 600+, Common Gull 1, Herring Gull 7, LBB Gull 15, Mediterranean Gull 1
 
Last edited:
Today's complete WeBS count courtesy of Dave J:

Avocet 26, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Canada Goose 108, Coot 71, Cormorant 4, Curlew 9, Gadwall 5, Great Crested Grebe 13, Greylag Goose 2, Lapwing 26, Little Egret 1, Little Grebe 5, Little Ringed Plover 2, Mallard 15, Moorhen 15+, Mute Swan 5, Oystercatcher 4, Pochard 16, Shelduck 2, Shoveler 32, Snipe 9, Teal 23, TU44, BH Gull 600+, Common Gull 1, Herring Gull 7, LBB Gull 15, Mediterranean Gull 1

Increases on the above this afternoon - Snipe 49, Shoveler 38, Greylag 3, Gadwall 6.
 
From the Flashes this morning Phil W reports:

26 Avocet, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew

Also 2 Meadow Pipits at the Sailing Pool
 
Today's work party at Moors

Thanks to everyone for today's session...it was pretty heavy going in the biting cold windy conditions .:t:
The 18 were
Alan D. Bob O. Bobby P. Charles. Dave H
Graham L. Ian Joh. Ian Jos. Jim B. John C. Keith M. Ray C. Sue and Steve T. Terry W. Jackie W another newbie :t:
and me.
The massive increase in the crew this year has meant that even with 7 people on Holiday this week we still had a great turn out and achieved all our goals today.B :)
Those tasks were as follows:-
Burning all the brash from the last few weeks tree work as well as all the fallen limbs from the large pollards and island clearance.
Completing the SW Marsh islands tree clearance.
Clearing the final log jam in the River Salwarp.
Installing a new FOX fence across the southern end of the Lagoon spit.
As the Reserve is fundamentally a wetland, it's important that we keep an overall 'open vista' . This is vitally important for nesting waders as they will be able to detect avian predators from afar , much easier than they would if a more enclosed habitat existed. This allows them to take evasive action to protect themselves and their young.
The other reason for removing so many willows is to limit the ' sponge affect' .. This is when willows within a reed bed/ marsh will shade out and dry the aquatic habitat and it's flora. Ultimately this would rapidly turn a wetland into a woodland within 40 years. The area in front of Lifestyles at the Moors is managed as an ideal habitat with all the stages from open water through to reeds , marsh, damp vegetation, nettles, Scrub to the final dry zone of mixed woodland. This has been achieved due to the gently sloping terrain that allows all these habitats to exist and is an example of what we would like to see all over the reserve but the reserve would need to be 3 times the size.
B :)john

Pics
1. The now cleared SW Islands, The trees have been removed to stop the islands from being eroded by the weight of the trees. Hopefully they will be used by nesting waterfowl and roosting wetland birds
2. This is what was left of the massive brash pile that we burned today.
3. The new Fox fence in the Lagoon, yesterday several snipe and duck fed in this area
 

Attachments

  • cleared SW islands Mar !8 DSCF1036.jpg
    cleared SW islands Mar !8 DSCF1036.jpg
    777.8 KB · Views: 65
  • massive fire DSCF1038.jpg
    massive fire DSCF1038.jpg
    812.9 KB · Views: 64
  • Lagoon fox fence DSCF1046.jpg
    Lagoon fox fence DSCF1046.jpg
    617.4 KB · Views: 70
Last edited:
Birding reserve today

I Spent over 11 hours on site today.
The cold northerly was not conducive to any spring migration but a few birds were on the move.

MOORS
GCG 2. Little grebe 6. Cormorant 6. Mute swan 4. Shoveler 32, teal 6. Gadwall 8. Pochard 11. Tufted c30.
Snipe 7. Lapwing. Oystercatcher 4.
Kestrel. Stock dove. Kingfisher 2. Great spotted woodpecker. Skylark. Redpoll 20+. Greenfinch. Cetti's West side.
Starling 25. Song thrush 3 singing. Winter thrush c25.

SAILING POOL
GCG 12, shoveler pr. Tufted 10. Coot 60. Grey wag 2. Greenfinch 2 males flight displaying this unusually early for the reserve.

FLASHES
Teal 18. Shoveler 5. Shelduck 1.
Avocet 30. Snipe 3. Green sand. Oystercatcher 2. Lapwing 28 (1 sitting in the meadow). LRP. Curlew 6.
BHG 1500. MED Gull ad. LBBG 100. Herring gull 4 .
Peregrine the small again causing havoc.
BARN OWL appeared along hen brook at 6.18pm and again at 6.45 perched on a post in the meadow for a few minutes.
Raven sitting tight on its transmitter mast nest.
Stock dove holding territory by the hen pool. Green woodpecker.
Winter thrushes Fieldfare 80. Redwing 30. Song thrush 2. Chiffchaffs 2 by Hen pool.
 
Today's highlights:

FLASHES:
Avocet (32)------------------Curlew (6)
Oystercatcher (2)-----------Lapwing (17). One appeared to be sitting a.m but not this evening.
Shelduck (2)-----------------Teal (8)
Med Gull (ad)--------------Common Gull (1w). Briefly this morning.
L B B Gull (110)-------------B H Gull (c1000)
Peregrine---------------------Raven(1)
Redwing (c30)---------------Fieldfare (17)
Mute Swan (3)---------------Chiffchaff. Near steps from Sailing Pool.
Pheasant

MOORS:
Pochard (17)-----------------Shoveler (27)
Gadwall (7)-------------------Shelduck (2)
Teal (9)-----------------------Snipe (4)
Oystercatcher (2)------------Little Egret (1)
Redwing (1)------------------Little Grebe (3)
G C Grebe (2)----------------Kestrel
Sparrowhawk-----------------Mistle Thrush
Herring Gull (2ad)------------Greylag Goose (2)
Cormorant (8)----------------Treecreeper. In trees along Hen Brook.

SAILING POOL/ED RES*
G C Grebe (6)----------------Grey Wagtail (pr). Along southern shore.
Little Grebe (10--------------Tufted Duck (20)
Siskin (2)---------------------Chiffchaff (1)*
Little Egret (4). Roosting in trees at the northern end.

Des.
 
This morning at the Flashes Phil W reports:

26 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, Med Gull, Chiffchaff by steps, Peregrine on mast.
 
Sailing pool highlight GCG Mating dance and 2 Grey wags. Hen Brook hide
Water rail,Teal,Coot with nesting material glimps of a cetti's (photo)Flashes 17.15 - 1830. 26 Avocet all on first flash ,28 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Shelduck,2 Teal, 2 Gadwall. mute Swan 3rd flash.just before farmer started firing at Canada geese 1000c BHG, 68 LBBG, 2 Herring gulls 1 med gull.200c starlings.last photos of gulls spooked
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6267 (2).JPG
    IMG_6267 (2).JPG
    484.5 KB · Views: 123
  • IMG_6274.JPG
    IMG_6274.JPG
    402.2 KB · Views: 59
  • IMG_6277.JPG
    IMG_6277.JPG
    296 KB · Views: 79
  • IMG_6278.JPG
    IMG_6278.JPG
    355.6 KB · Views: 66
From the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:
32 Avocet, 18 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, adult Med Gull, 2 Chiffchaff.

Thankfully no snipers of either the shotgun or keyboard warrior variety....
 
Belated - but good - report of a Corn Bunting at the Flashes on the islands near the hide on the 25th January (John Milner via JTB)
 
Last edited:
Highlights from today.

Along with the usual suspects the extra's today were:-
Nuthatch on the North Moors feeders.
Pair of Skylarks behind the Moors west hide.
Little Egret in the Hen Brook.
Med Gull Flashes.
:t::t::t:
 
From the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:
32 Avocet, 18 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, adult Med Gull, 2 Chiffchaff.

Thankfully no snipers of either the shotgun or keyboard warrior variety....

:clap:

I also got a belated UW year tick this morning when a Grey Wagtail showed itself near the cafe at the sailing centre. :t:
 
Last edited:
From the Sailing Pool this morning JTB reports:

6 Little Egret left their roost, 12 GC Grebe, 30 Tufted Duck, 70 Coot, 3 Shoveler, Med Gull; also Curlew and Oystercatcher over plus singing Chiffchaff.
 
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

Corn Bunting was first detailed as being present at Upton Warren in 1965 when a bird was noted singing in the summer months as per Bill Oddie. Unfortunately records for the 1960s and 1970s are rather hazy – its presence and singing were noted in the breeding seasons of 1968, 1970 to 1972, 1974 and 1980.

This species once roosted in double figures at the Moors Pool during the winter; this roost producing the highest Corn Bunting counts for the reserve, with a peak of 40 birds in March 1978 with other high counts of 30 in 1979 and 20 in 1981. However the last note of this roost was three birds on the 15th February 1984 and by the late 1980s the species became a scarce and irregular visitor (mainly in winter). A pair seen at the Flashes in January 1987 gave hopes of a resurgence of this species but records continued to decline.

The Moors Pool feeding station attracted sightings between the 10th and 17th February 1991, peaking at three birds on the 14th. A male sang regularly from the 19th May 1994 from overhead power cables that crossed the farmland between the Moors Pool and the Flashes. As the summer of 1994 progressed at least two birds were recorded and although breeding was not proven it is more than likely that an attempt was made. Sightings became less frequent from late July, with its final record in 1994 falling on the 30th August. Finally, a male sung in fields to the south of the Moors Pool between the 2nd and 30th May 1995.

There was a report of one at the Flashes feeding station on the 8th October 2008 which was included in the annual report; in hindsight this sighting wasn't sufficiently documented given the rarity of the species and has been discounted from the reserve's records.

More intensive farming has probably caused the decline of numbers locally and the species is now very scarce throughout Worcestershire with only a small flock at Shenstone / Stone recorded regularly. This sad story mirrors its national position with the Common Bird Census showing an 89% decline in Corn Buntings between 1974 and 1999 with the British population estimated at only 11,000 pairs in 2009. Whether the species will ever recover to become a winter visitor again, let alone a potential breeder, remains highly doubtful at the time of writing.

An interesting paper on the decline of Corn Bunting published by British Birds in the 1990s is linked here: https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V87/V87_N03/V87_N03_P106_132_A031.pdf
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top