Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Only the second multiple sighting of Green Sand this year; hopefully many more to come.
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Upton Warren (49 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Only the second multiple sighting of Green Sand this year; hopefully many more to come.
wheatearlp
Well-known member
They weren't - or at least not by 9.25. Nothing much around in the torrential rain - one Common Tern on the Moors Pool and later four on the Flashes; Oystercatchers plus two juvs on the Moors; pair of Shelduck on the Flashes. Not many sightings of Avocet chicks, most were being brooded (I assume) by adult birds to keep them out of the rain. No new chicks seen either.
ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY
Well-known member
I am new to the reserve have visited 4 times lately and have read the review some wonderful species at the reserve for May I was just wondering what the species are that are regular on the reserve as the review says that 105 species seen in May any help would be gratefully recieved
Kind Regards
BCB
Kind Regards
BCB
John Sirrett
Well-known member
Thanks. I was told I might have problems shifting my 'Butterflies and Moths of Upton Warren' but all 25 copies have now gone. I supposed it helped that there was no charge! (The last copy is with Des awaiting delivery to an Upstart!)
John
ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY
Well-known member
I presume they must be all yearly (resident) species as I am sure they would put migrants in the review I think
Kind Regards
BCB
Kind Regards
BCB
John Sirrett
Well-known member
When we were walking around the reserve on Wednesday we noticed several small trees had died at the top of the Salwarpe where the gate goes through to the A38. They look like young wych elms and dutch elm disease (rather than EON, joke) the likely cause of death. There are some small gall infested saplings still, and some have what looks like tell tale die back? (There are many elm specialist galls but they will not kill the trees.) There also remains quite a mature wych elm still in the hedgerow. Virtually all its leaves show the pinhole feeding of the elm leaf beetle. The elm leaf beetle does not carry the dutch elm virus that is carried by the elm bark beetle, but the later is probably present now given the maturity of the tree. The larva of the beetles on the dead trees are a favourite with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and that presumably explains why the pair of lesser spots were so faithful to that area last winter. Not much point removing and burning the dead trees, it will not stop the disease and it will only deprive the lesser spots of lunch.
John
COME ON ENGLAND!
John
COME ON ENGLAND!
rollingthunder
Well-known member
The 'disease', or the remnants and variants of it are now so endemic it would seem a exercise in managing for it imo. If sapilings/suckers die back then something will utilise the dead material - there is growing evidence that remnants of the millions of suckers of English Elm from the 70's are proving resistant to dieback in certain areas.
Laurie:t:
Laurie:t:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
:t: John
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Today at the reserve
Started at the Flashes (9am - 2pm).
Heavy rain throughout and a strong SE veering SW later. (gusting to 30mph).
I removed the sluice pipe for 5 hours and dropped 1cm off the level when I left it was 0.45. Another cm was added over night. It was more about bad news today, only 8 Avocet chicks left (1 from the brood of 4 has been lost). Initially I thought malnutrition, as there is no doubt that this brood is much smaller than the other 3 broods. However I could not rule out predation, especially as a fox appeared close to where the chicks have been feeding. I know we have mixed feelings about BHG's, but they certainly know how to find foxes and alert everything else.
The only migrant of the day was a male Teal feeding by the 1st Flash reedbed.
Species count: Tufted 10, shelduck pr, mallard several well grown chicks, Avocet 10 adults, LRP 6, Lapwing 2 (included leucistic female), oystercatcher, coot only chicks seen were on 'old gulley' nest. common tern 2, BHG many flying young and a fresh chick. swift 10, sand martin 30(poss failed breeders) feeding over pools, house martin 20 possibly birds breeding at Webbs garden centre, linnet 10 - birds feeding in sewage field and in front of hide. sedge warbler at least 3 around the 2nd flash. bullfinch singing by hen pool.
Sailing pool - no sign of the 2 GCG chicks.
Moors
GCG 6 plus 2 chicks, cormorant 3, lapwing 4, Oystercatcher 4 ads + 2 fledged chicks and 1 sitting bird. Pochard male, tufted 9, buzzard, common tern pr,
The floating 'island' that was anchored in the NW area, has now drifted into the NW reed bed. Unfortunately the nesting common tern that was on it, has abandoned the site. kingfisher, Sand martin just 1
B
John
Started at the Flashes (9am - 2pm).
Heavy rain throughout and a strong SE veering SW later. (gusting to 30mph).
I removed the sluice pipe for 5 hours and dropped 1cm off the level when I left it was 0.45. Another cm was added over night. It was more about bad news today, only 8 Avocet chicks left (1 from the brood of 4 has been lost). Initially I thought malnutrition, as there is no doubt that this brood is much smaller than the other 3 broods. However I could not rule out predation, especially as a fox appeared close to where the chicks have been feeding. I know we have mixed feelings about BHG's, but they certainly know how to find foxes and alert everything else.
The only migrant of the day was a male Teal feeding by the 1st Flash reedbed.
Species count: Tufted 10, shelduck pr, mallard several well grown chicks, Avocet 10 adults, LRP 6, Lapwing 2 (included leucistic female), oystercatcher, coot only chicks seen were on 'old gulley' nest. common tern 2, BHG many flying young and a fresh chick. swift 10, sand martin 30(poss failed breeders) feeding over pools, house martin 20 possibly birds breeding at Webbs garden centre, linnet 10 - birds feeding in sewage field and in front of hide. sedge warbler at least 3 around the 2nd flash. bullfinch singing by hen pool.
Sailing pool - no sign of the 2 GCG chicks.
Moors
GCG 6 plus 2 chicks, cormorant 3, lapwing 4, Oystercatcher 4 ads + 2 fledged chicks and 1 sitting bird. Pochard male, tufted 9, buzzard, common tern pr,
The floating 'island' that was anchored in the NW area, has now drifted into the NW reed bed. Unfortunately the nesting common tern that was on it, has abandoned the site. kingfisher, Sand martin just 1
B
John
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Hi John - is the reference to no chicks on the SP in relation to GC Grebes? I take it there was no sign of the third grebe chick at the Moors.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Yes and yes Phil , just amended .
I did see an adult GCG in the south west marsh, it was hunting for small fish, so I think the other chick is about. What do I mean by 'hunting for small fish'? I watched the father of the two chicks swimming with its head barely below the surface (in the same manner as the south west bird), where it was catching 'top' feeding fry. These were then being fed to the 2 chicks that were riding on the females back. Thus my optimism for the other chick:t:
The was another observation from today.
Gert informed me that on Sunday, a fox was on the main (vegetated) BHG island at the Moors. Today there was just an adult and juv on there, a few more were on the shingle island. Thus it appears that the fox must have killed most of the chicks, as I could only see about 6, other than those on the rafts.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
The monthly summary reports try to pick out the highlights rather than a verbotum list of birds seen; as a wetland reserve numbers of wildfowl, gulls and waders are all carefully monitored, together with any arrival departure dates and notable counts, breeding success or other interesting behaviour or unusual occurences.
There are probably around 50 species that occur every month (albeit in variable numbers) - at a stab these will include Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted D, Coot, Moorhen, Water Rail, Cormorant, Grey Heron, GC Grebe, Little Grebe, LBB Gull, BH Gull, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Curlew, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Treecreeper, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.
rollingthunder
Well-known member
Re: reported 'gust' @ UW.....
"Is a sudden, brief increase in speed of the wind. According to U.S. weather observing practice, gusts are reported when the peak wind speed reaches at least 16 knots and the variation in wind speed between the peaks and lulls is at least 9 knots. The duration of a gust is usually less than 20 seconds."
Now the question is, John - was the duration less than 20 seconds? If so then a claim of such can be made! Does Phil keep 'gust' stats?
Laurie:t:
"Is a sudden, brief increase in speed of the wind. According to U.S. weather observing practice, gusts are reported when the peak wind speed reaches at least 16 knots and the variation in wind speed between the peaks and lulls is at least 9 knots. The duration of a gust is usually less than 20 seconds."
Now the question is, John - was the duration less than 20 seconds? If so then a claim of such can be made! Does Phil keep 'gust' stats?
Laurie:t:
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Re: reported 'gust' @ UW.....
"Is a sudden, brief increase in speed of the wind. According to U.S. weather observing practice, gusts are reported when the peak wind speed reaches at least 16 knots and the variation in wind speed between the peaks and lulls is at least 9 knots. The duration of a gust is usually less than 20 seconds."
Now the question is, John - was the duration less than 20 seconds? If so then a claim of such can be made! Does Phil keep 'gust' stats?
Laurie:t:
'Fraid not Laurie. All i can report is that it often gets rather "gusty" after one of Woodchat's infamous curry nights
:eek!:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Hello micheal fish 19 seconds mate8-PRe: reported 'gust' @ UW.....
"Is a sudden, brief increase in speed of the wind. According to U.S. weather observing practice, gusts are reported when the peak wind speed reaches at least 16 knots and the variation in wind speed between the peaks and lulls is at least 9 knots. The duration of a gust is usually less than 20 seconds."
Now the question is, John - was the duration less than 20 seconds? If so then a claim of such can be made! Does Phil keep 'gust' stats?
Laurie:t:
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Water levels at Flashes
If anybody is there today, can you note water level and post on here or let me/Phil know, so we can take appropriate action. We can't allow it to drop too much as the forecast looks relatively dry next week, so its imperative we get it right.
:t:John
If anybody is there today, can you note water level and post on here or let me/Phil know, so we can take appropriate action. We can't allow it to drop too much as the forecast looks relatively dry next week, so its imperative we get it right.
:t:John
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
A skittish Sanderling at the Flashes. Also 2 Teal and Common Gull.
Sy V
Well-known member
...Does Phil keep 'gust' stats?
No, but I do.
