Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Just had a call from Vern to say now 4 Meds at Flashes... 3x 2nd summers and a moulting adult:t:
Is one of those the Polish red ring bird or do we have yet another second summer bird?
Just had a call from Vern to say now 4 Meds at Flashes... 3x 2nd summers and a moulting adult:t:
I don't know mate. Hopefully pics will appear laterIs one of those the Polish red ring bird or do we have yet another second summer bird?
6am start at Flashes.
After counting all the chicks I set about looking for migrants but only teal and green sand.
After an hour the female redshank started regularly perching on the roof of the hide and alarming to the chicks. Initially I thought this was to keep an eye on them. But then she dropped down to the ground with the chicks literally up against the hide. Then the chicks moved towards the Fox fence while the female had now gone on to the fence behind the hide. It become obvious that she was leading them out BUT how would they get through 1 inch mesh. We'll however they did it they were soon 'outside'. I was now resigned to the fact that we wouldnt be seeing them again. I had a quick look across the field but no sign. Foxes are always stalking this area as well as crows and magpies so I feared the worse. But a short time later Rob G phoned to say that they were at the top of the mowed transmitter field behind the hide. A few minutes later the female was alarm calling behind the hide. She had brought the chicks back and they on the path to the lower hide. They were trapped and we're trying to get under the hide:eek!: So I thought I would assist by catching them and putting through the downstairs window. Unfortunately they didn't appreciate this and scampered along the boardwalk ooops.
Anyway to cut a long story short, they eventually found there way under the wooden screen fencing through bramble, blackthorn climbed over nettles and then we're confronted by the 'double' fox fencing to the left of the hide. Unfortunately unlike the right side that they went out of this was double meshed and frantically the female was egging them on she was perched on the posts close bu. We could actually see them trying to get through but failing each time. Fearing the worse we were helpless to do anything. But against the odds we saw the grass parting further along on the Flashes side of the fence and yes it was one of the chicks. The female somehow communicated this with her calls and what seemed like an age at last the other 2 chicks got through. Hopefully they will soon be fat enough not to try this again . And why did they do it in the first place.
But all well that ends well:t:
6am start at Flashes.
After counting all the chicks I set about looking for migrants but only teal and green sand.
After an hour the female redshank started regularly perching on the roof of the hide and alarming to the chicks. Initially I thought this was to keep an eye on them. But then she dropped down to the ground with the chicks literally up against the hide. Then the chicks moved towards the Fox fence while the female had now gone on to the fence behind the hide. It become obvious that she was leading them out BUT how would they get through 1 inch mesh. We'll however they did it they were soon 'outside'. I was now resigned to the fact that we wouldnt be seeing them again. I had a quick look across the field but no sign. Foxes are always stalking this area as well as crows and magpies so I feared the worse. But a short time later Rob G phoned to say that they were at the top of the mowed transmitter field behind the hide. A few minutes later the female was alarm calling behind the hide. She had brought the chicks back and they on the path to the lower hide. They were trapped and we're trying to get under the hide:eek!: So I thought I would assist by catching them and putting through the downstairs window. Unfortunately they didn't appreciate this and scampered along the boardwalk ooops.
Anyway to cut a long story short, they eventually found there way under the wooden screen fencing through bramble, blackthorn climbed over nettles and then we're confronted by the 'double' fox fencing to the left of the hide. Unfortunately unlike the right side that they went out of this was double meshed and frantically the female was egging them on, while she was perched on the posts close by. We could actually see them trying to get through but failing each time. Fearing the worse we were helpless to do anything. But against the odds we saw the grass parting further along on the Flashes side of the fence and yes it was one of the chicks. The female somehow communicated this with her calls and what seemed like an age but eventually the other 2 chicks got through. Hopefully they will soon be too fat not to try this again . And why did they do it in the first place??
But all well that ends well:t:
I must point out that I haven't seen a Red Kite at Upton this year:-C and I'm not bitter in any way8-P .just had a pleasant few hours up flashes great to catch up with the redshanks, sorry to end on a sad note though, tim still hasn't seen a red kite!!
Matt (fuzeare) has just had a Red kite fly east over the Flashes. Also all 3 Redshank chicks ok
Matt (fuzeare) has just had a Red kite fly east over the Flashes. Also all 3 Redshank chicks ok