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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Upton Warren (11 Viewers)

Went to main hide on flashes to check out the redshank...and found a golden plover...and a good haul of 55 species for the day, including

Moors: 07:15-11:30
Coot (c250)
Teal (c100)
Shoveler (c40)
Pochard (14m, 5f)
Smew (flew south at 07:55, also seen on sailing lake at midday)
Shelduck
GW Egret
Goosander (flew from south, circled over south-west corner and headed back south-west)
Redpoll
Fieldfare/Redwing (large mixed flock of 80-100)
Treecreeper (west side of north moors)

Flashes: 12:30-15:00
Stonechat (north end of first flash)
Golden Plover
Redpoll
Redshank
Kestrel (hunting)
 

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Impressive lists today Des and Andy ,Golden Plover still at the flashes when I came away at 16.45 pretty much on its own not moving to far even when the Lapwings were spooked,
 
Further to recent comments regarding the high numbers of Great Crested Grebe for the time of year, please find attached a graph that over-lays the long term average half-monthly maxima counts (covering 18 years of data between 1998 and 2015) in blue with the figures purely for this year in red. Whilst this year December's counts are well above the mean they are not without precedent; 15 GC Grebe were present in the first half of December 2012 whilst 20 birds were present on the 31st December 2008.

Is anyone able to access the details were for the prevailing weather conditions around those two other periods - are high numbers linked to unusually mild winters when smaller bodies of water aren't freezing over (grebes usually moving to larger bodies of water which aren't prone to ice)??
 

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Went to main hide on flashes to check out the redshank...and found a golden plover...and a good haul of 55 species for the day, including

Moors: 07:15-11:30
Coot (c250)
Teal (c100)
Shoveler (c40)
Pochard (14m, 5f)
Smew (flew south at 07:55, also seen on sailing lake at midday)
Shelduck
GW Egret
Goosander (flew from south, circled over south-west corner and headed back south-west)
Redpoll
Fieldfare/Redwing (large mixed flock of 80-100)
Treecreeper (west side of north moors)

Flashes: 12:30-15:00
Stonechat (north end of first flash)
Golden Plover
Redpoll
Redshank
Kestrel (hunting)

Dont get many of these here.......:t:
 
A rather nice photo from today of a trio of Herons, taken by Vince Garvey at the moors (With permissions)
View attachment 567571

I was wondering yesterday whether a tog would catch the herons together, although I only ever saw the G W Egret and G Heron in close proximity. In addition, the size illusion in the image was reversed ie the GWE looked much taller than the GH.

There can't be many images on the 'net of these three herons together.

Des.
 
gwe

i was wondering if any one has seen this behaviour, whilst in cuba the gwe were fishing as per normal but the mangrove area we were viewing flooded due to hurricane yoakim the gwe and night herons started to fish on the wing, the pic shows a gwe just before it took a large fish the water it was fishing was chest deep as blokes with nets had been out there earlier, do they only do this if conditions change or is it unique to birds the other side of the pond.
 

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3's a crowd

Taken yesterday from the Arthur Jacobs hide. Must have been at the same time as Vince's photo. I haven't learned how to get them to line up neatly like he did though!
 

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Taken yesterday from the Arthur Jacobs hide. Must have been at the same time as Vince's photo. I haven't learned how to get them to line up neatly like he did though!

Thanks for posting jlo

This morning John reports at the Moors Pool:

Great White Egret, Little Egret, Shoveler 36, Teal 115, Pochard 22, 3 Cetti's Warbler

No sign of the Smew on the Sailing Pool but 10 GC Grebe
 
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i was wondering if any one has seen this behaviour, whilst in cuba the gwe were fishing as per normal but the mangrove area we were viewing flooded due to hurricane yoakim the gwe and night herons started to fish on the wing, the pic shows a gwe just before it took a large fish the water it was fishing was chest deep as blokes with nets had been out there earlier, do they only do this if conditions change or is it unique to birds the other side of the pond.

Trace. I have seen Grey heron attempt to catch fish in deep water ie middle of sailing pool. It kind of hovered briefly and ended up in the water and acted like a pelican trying to catch fish while swimming, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Probably tries this method when there a glut of fish available in depth water rather than out of desperation. 👍
 
At Flashes this afternoon. The lapwing were very reluctant to land and flew around for ages. This could have been due to several reasons. There was a lot of disturbance at the sewage works this morning. Also sparrowhawk have been active on both sides of the reserve, which might be a factor with the low numbers of Snipe. Shoveler came in mid afternoon to join the teal flock on the 2nd Flash. A pair of grey wags frequented the muddy areas in front of the cuckoo hide, the male occasionally singing. But generally unexceptional, as is always the case at this time of year.
Species count Flashes :
Teal 52. Shoveler 20. Greylag 29. coot 3. water rail. moorhen 30. Lapwing 437. Curlew 13. Redshank. kestrel. sparrowhawk. raven 2. Cetti's Warbler. grey wag 2.
 
At Flashes this afternoon. The lapwing were very reluctant to land and flew around for ages. This could have been due to several reasons. There was a lot of disturbance at the sewage works this morning. Also sparrowhawk have been active on both sides of the reserve, which might be a factor with the low numbers of Snipe. Shoveler came in mid afternoon to join the teal flock on the 2nd Flash. A pair of grey wags frequented the muddy areas in front of the cuckoo hide, the male occasionally singing. But generally unexceptional, as is always the case at this time of year.
Species count Flashes :
Teal 52. Shoveler 20. Greylag 29. coot 3. water rail. moorhen 30. Lapwing 437. Curlew 13. Redshank. kestrel. sparrowhawk. raven 2. Cetti's Warbler. grey wag 2.

John...that's where I saw grey wagtails on Wednesday...seems a favourite spot
 

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Parking over the Holiday Period

The Sailing Centre staff are now on Holiday until 4th January.
This means that the car park will only be open from 10am until 4pm, when Nick at the Cafe will be opening up. Except on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve when Nick will be open from 10am - 3pm The reserve is closed on Christmas Day(officially)
and Boxing Day (Paul Moseley will open the sailing pool gates at 10am and close at 4pm).

Info from Worc's wildlife Trust
This coming Monday 21st December and possibly Wednesday 23rd Dec: There will be a meeting at the Flashes of the survey team , as well survey work might be carried out. I have been told this could be anytime from 8am to 4pm but as car park isn't open until 10am that could be 10am.
 
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