UW82
Well-known member
Your guess is as good as mine Mike, but I have to say I'm seeing more and more new faces at the reserve.
Des.
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Upton Warren (23 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Your guess is as good as mine Mike, but I have to say I'm seeing more and more new faces at the reserve.
Des.
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
There was also a Treecreeper at the Flashes at about 0830 this morning near to the bridge/boardwalk over the Hen Brook. A flock of 20+ Siskin were feeding in that area too.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
On the 1st Jan there were loads of new faces, all of them members. Hopefully the Trust has seen an upsurge in membership .:t:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Yes GWE Des sorry I didn't make that clear.
Also has the redshank gone as well? I know it can be lost at the Moors within Amy's Marsh.
UW82
Well-known member
upstarts1979
Well-known member
perhaps they know something we don't. ....cold weather on its way??
midlands birder
Well-known member
Predicted to turn very cold next few weeks!
Peregrine Trousers
Returning birder after 30 years of hard graft
A sunny and cold, then wet, then sunny and cold day resulted in the following
Moors 08:30-12:00
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Teal (33)
Song Thrush (2)
Curlew (11)
Lapwing (c300)
Cormorant (30)
Pochard (18m 8f)
Little Grebe (2)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Shoveler (8m 4f)
Wigeon (2m briefly landed at north end, then departed south after a couple of mins)
Little Egret (1)
Siskin (5)
Redpoll (1)
Redwing (1 at North Moors)
Sailing Pool
GC Grebes (8)
Flashes
Raven (2)
Buzzard (4)
Snipe (2)
Fieldfare (2)
Lapwing (c200, probably part of moors group)
Moors 08:30-12:00
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Teal (33)
Song Thrush (2)
Curlew (11)
Lapwing (c300)
Cormorant (30)
Pochard (18m 8f)
Little Grebe (2)
Great Crested Grebe (1)
Shoveler (8m 4f)
Wigeon (2m briefly landed at north end, then departed south after a couple of mins)
Little Egret (1)
Siskin (5)
Redpoll (1)
Redwing (1 at North Moors)
Sailing Pool
GC Grebes (8)
Flashes
Raven (2)
Buzzard (4)
Snipe (2)
Fieldfare (2)
Lapwing (c200, probably part of moors group)
upstarts1979
Well-known member
update from Flashes. Stonechat showing on bulrushes in Hen Brook triangle. Viewed from cuckoo hide. Also chiffchaff and cetti's. On pools 400 lapwing 18 teal and 2 Snipe seen by Bob O. Also earlier raven and Jay.
Earlier at Moors. Little egret 2. Little grebe 3. GCG. Shoveler 10. Teal 36. Shelduck. Pochard 32 26 males. tufted 28. Curlew 12. Snipe 1. Redpoll. goldcrest and 2 cetti's
Earlier at Moors. Little egret 2. Little grebe 3. GCG. Shoveler 10. Teal 36. Shelduck. Pochard 32 26 males. tufted 28. Curlew 12. Snipe 1. Redpoll. goldcrest and 2 cetti's
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Today's Jay progresses the year list that's currently in its infancy to 83 species.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J had a probable Bittern at first light this morning, flushed from the Bittern channel on the west side of the Moors Pool. It flew low towards the recently cut area at the nother end. It was just too dark for Dave to be 100% sure but he was fairly confident. Hopefully someone can stake the Moors Pool out this evening.
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J also reports from the Moors Pool: 2 Little Egret, Shelduck, 30 Pochard, 2 Coal Tit
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
The Barn Owl put in an appearance at 1708 yesterday, flying across in front of the sewage farm before hunting briefly in one of the Hobden Hall farm fields, and then disappearing in the direction of the Cuckoo Hide. 2 Green Sands also dropped in after sunset.
Peregrine Trousers
Returning birder after 30 years of hard graft
Any further reports of possible Bittern....?....will try and get there for crack of dawn prior to work party
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J reports from the Moors Pool this morning:
Female Goosander flew south-west at 08.21, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Curlew, 35 Pochard, 2 Coal Tits
Female Goosander flew south-west at 08.21, 2 Little Egrets, 12 Curlew, 35 Pochard, 2 Coal Tits
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Birding on the Moors this afternoon.
GCG, little grebe 2, Little egret 2, shoveler 14, teal 46, Pochard 35 min ( 24 males 11 females), tufted 25, coot 270, water rail several calling,
snipe 1, curlew 12, BHG 200, herring gull 4, LBBG 2,
song thrush, mistle thrush, fieldfare 40, starling c200, coal tit 2,
Flashes (AM): Quiet other than the 3 Jack snipe flushed whilst walking out to the work party site. common snipe 5,
Flashes (this evening): Barn owl performed well from 5pm. Teal 20, lapwing 500, curlew 12, 3 Green sand came into roost. BHG 80 roosted with 1 adult LBBG. Buzzard 2, Redwing 10 fieldfare 45, grey wag.
Sailing Pool: GCG 11, little grebe, tufted 24,
GCG, little grebe 2, Little egret 2, shoveler 14, teal 46, Pochard 35 min ( 24 males 11 females), tufted 25, coot 270, water rail several calling,
snipe 1, curlew 12, BHG 200, herring gull 4, LBBG 2,
song thrush, mistle thrush, fieldfare 40, starling c200, coal tit 2,
Flashes (AM): Quiet other than the 3 Jack snipe flushed whilst walking out to the work party site. common snipe 5,
Flashes (this evening): Barn owl performed well from 5pm. Teal 20, lapwing 500, curlew 12, 3 Green sand came into roost. BHG 80 roosted with 1 adult LBBG. Buzzard 2, Redwing 10 fieldfare 45, grey wag.
Sailing Pool: GCG 11, little grebe, tufted 24,
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upstarts1979
Well-known member
work party at Flashes today
We continued the blackthorn thicket management today, considering there were only 7 of us we made a massive impression on the thicket. Mind you that meant more cake for each of us, lemon drizzle as well :eat:
Thanks to Andy A, Des J, Ian J, Mike W, Phil W, Steve P and me :t:
We cut 5 metres into the thicket which is about 20 metres wide. Much of the interior is dead and leggy. Stems are 10 feet tall and about half an inch thick. The only nest we found was a magpies.
We made a large brash pile that will be burned on Tuesday by the crew :t:
Thanks To Claire (Ian's wife for the lemon drizzle and biscuits) and Steve for his cake. Unfortunately we never got to try Andy's sloe gin.B
Rationale: The blackthorn thicket has been managed over the years, but it has advanced equally as vigorously as the phragmites. In a short period of time many square metres of ideal wetland has been lost. Add this to the areas of advancing phragmites and 50% of previously prime wader habitat has been destroyed. The blackthorn also provides magpie breeding opportunities and one was removed today. By shortening the overall height and encouraging it to grow in the drier areas, we should increase the passerine diversity on the Flashes. If we do get fox incursions then the removal of the blackthorn will reduce the roosting areas for them. But most importantly we want to keep the blackthorn well away from the east shore line which would dissuade waders from using it as they will be easily predated.
Photo's
1. Before we started looking north from side
2. after work
3. viewed from the west looking east. The wet area in front left shows how the area will look once the blackthorn has been removed.
4. some of the crew and the brash pile behind them
We continued the blackthorn thicket management today, considering there were only 7 of us we made a massive impression on the thicket. Mind you that meant more cake for each of us, lemon drizzle as well :eat:
Thanks to Andy A, Des J, Ian J, Mike W, Phil W, Steve P and me :t:
We cut 5 metres into the thicket which is about 20 metres wide. Much of the interior is dead and leggy. Stems are 10 feet tall and about half an inch thick. The only nest we found was a magpies.
We made a large brash pile that will be burned on Tuesday by the crew :t:
Thanks To Claire (Ian's wife for the lemon drizzle and biscuits) and Steve for his cake. Unfortunately we never got to try Andy's sloe gin.B
Rationale: The blackthorn thicket has been managed over the years, but it has advanced equally as vigorously as the phragmites. In a short period of time many square metres of ideal wetland has been lost. Add this to the areas of advancing phragmites and 50% of previously prime wader habitat has been destroyed. The blackthorn also provides magpie breeding opportunities and one was removed today. By shortening the overall height and encouraging it to grow in the drier areas, we should increase the passerine diversity on the Flashes. If we do get fox incursions then the removal of the blackthorn will reduce the roosting areas for them. But most importantly we want to keep the blackthorn well away from the east shore line which would dissuade waders from using it as they will be easily predated.
Photo's
1. Before we started looking north from side
2. after work
3. viewed from the west looking east. The wet area in front left shows how the area will look once the blackthorn has been removed.
4. some of the crew and the brash pile behind them
Attachments
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biking birder 2010
Well-known member
Hello everyone,
early hours in Taunton at the moment.
I am now on 102 for the year after having seen, eventually cattle egret, glossy ibis and dusky warbler at Mudgley, Shapwick and Ham Wall RSPB reserve.
Details are on my blog.
http://bikingbirder2016.blogspot.co.uk/
I am now on the way to Exeter for the American wigeon hopefully. ... and oystercatcher!
early hours in Taunton at the moment.
I am now on 102 for the year after having seen, eventually cattle egret, glossy ibis and dusky warbler at Mudgley, Shapwick and Ham Wall RSPB reserve.
Details are on my blog.
http://bikingbirder2016.blogspot.co.uk/
I am now on the way to Exeter for the American wigeon hopefully. ... and oystercatcher!
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Now SIX Short-eared Owls down at Kemsey - would have thought they could have spared just one ...
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Tuesday work party
Please meet at the Flashes car park. We will be burning the brash at the blackthorn thicket. 👍
Please meet at the Flashes car park. We will be burning the brash at the blackthorn thicket. 👍
