wheatearlp
Well-known member
Peregrine took a Carrion Crow in the field to the south of the Moors Pool a good few years back.
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Upton Warren (40 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Peregrine took a Carrion Crow in the field to the south of the Moors Pool a good few years back.
Geoff WORCS
Well-known member
Me and Steve spike saw a sparrowhawk grab a magpie on the morning of the last all dayer.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Moors today
Today at the Moors 8.50 to 1pm. Very strong SW moving to Westerly. Heavy rain and cold.
Water now dropped by 7cm in last 12 days, but Snipe still in poor numbers.
Species Count: Little grebe 5. little egret 3. Mute swan pr + 2 juvs. cormorant 17. Greylag 21. Egyptian geese 2. Shoveler 26. teal 29. Gadwall pr. tufted 21. pochard 4 (2prs). coot 220. Water rail . Curlew 13. lapwing 3. BHG 70. Herring gull 2. green woodpecker. Collared dove 8 high count. mistle thrush 2. Redwing C25. fieldfare 2. song thrush. Cetti's Warbler singing. goldcrest. Siskin 5, redpoll 5. all 10 Feeding on alders in secret garden.
Today at the Moors 8.50 to 1pm. Very strong SW moving to Westerly. Heavy rain and cold.
Water now dropped by 7cm in last 12 days, but Snipe still in poor numbers.
Species Count: Little grebe 5. little egret 3. Mute swan pr + 2 juvs. cormorant 17. Greylag 21. Egyptian geese 2. Shoveler 26. teal 29. Gadwall pr. tufted 21. pochard 4 (2prs). coot 220. Water rail . Curlew 13. lapwing 3. BHG 70. Herring gull 2. green woodpecker. Collared dove 8 high count. mistle thrush 2. Redwing C25. fieldfare 2. song thrush. Cetti's Warbler singing. goldcrest. Siskin 5, redpoll 5. all 10 Feeding on alders in secret garden.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Flashes this afternoon
A bit of an anticlimax after the RN Phalarope event. The water had dropped a bit more and there was still a flow through the sluice. For whatever the reason the teal numbers were well down. But also all the birds were very skittish thoughout the afternoon - poss an unseen Sprawk. The heavy showers and strong winds meant many passerines kept low. When the rain stopped there were short bursts of activity, but generally quiet.
Species count:
Teal 85 only!. Coot 8. Little egret 2 dropping in briefly from Moors. Egyptian geese 2 flew over with the Greylags. Snipe 20+. Lapwing 320+. Curlew 2. BHG 80. Buzzard 3. no stock dove! kingfisher. Fieldfare 35 most I've seen this winter. redwing 90. Starling 45. Cetti's w. grey wag. Stonechat seen by Phil Q earlier.
A bit of an anticlimax after the RN Phalarope event. The water had dropped a bit more and there was still a flow through the sluice. For whatever the reason the teal numbers were well down. But also all the birds were very skittish thoughout the afternoon - poss an unseen Sprawk. The heavy showers and strong winds meant many passerines kept low. When the rain stopped there were short bursts of activity, but generally quiet.
Species count:
Teal 85 only!. Coot 8. Little egret 2 dropping in briefly from Moors. Egyptian geese 2 flew over with the Greylags. Snipe 20+. Lapwing 320+. Curlew 2. BHG 80. Buzzard 3. no stock dove! kingfisher. Fieldfare 35 most I've seen this winter. redwing 90. Starling 45. Cetti's w. grey wag. Stonechat seen by Phil Q earlier.
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
There were also 3 Little Egrets on the SW side of the pool late morning.
Myself and Phil Q had a brief view of the Jack Snipe in the Flag Iris by the hook area from the east hide.
Phil.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J had 6,300 Starlings at the Flashes this afternoon - a nice little video here: https://twitter.com/davejredditch/status/665596280060645376?s=03
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upstarts1979
Well-known member
remember it well Trace...the red necked phalarope disappeared afterwards and never returned. It was later seen at Coombe meadow and Slimbridge and returned to those sites in subsequent years, after 3. consecutive years at upton. The peregrine took 2 dunlin that day:-C
upstarts1979
Well-known member
A Late start today 10.10am.
Flashes : This am . Spent most of the time in the cuckoo hide after 20 minutes at the confluence, where I had a good range of species :- water rail 2. kingfisher. Fieldfare. redwing 10. song thrush. goldfinch 8. redpoll 4 siskin 2. greenfinch 3. goldcrest 2. grey wag 2, Reed bunting.
Also on the rest of the Flashes Teal c90. Shoveler 7. gadwall pr. greylag 23. Egyptian geese 2 over. Snipe 17. dunlin . lapwing c350. peregrine. buzzard 3. Redwing 150. fieldfare 35. song thrush 2. Linnet c20. Bob P had 49 stock dove.
Moors: Little grebe 3. Shoveler 19. teal 20. gadwall 4. pochard 4. Snipe 3 Jack snipe on promontory in flag iris. Water rail below east hide. Stock dove 10. collated dove 7. Little egret per John Lay.
Back to the Flashes for the roost.
We were not disappointed the starlings really performed for us. Building up slowly to about 700 by 4pm. Thereafter things took a dramatic turn when 100's kept joining them . At one time they spread in a wavy line across the length of the Flashes, to then suddenly form a tight ball circling above us. At one point they flew over the north fields and we thought they were off. But after perching on the wires and hedgerows they came back. More acrobatics and addition flocks joining them, they finally spiralled into the 3rd Flash reed bed at 4.30pm. For such a small site the birds must be standing on one another. With several more joining them the flock then went into vocal overdrive, only pausing when the 2 marauding sparrowhawks piled into the reeds after them.
We estimate a minimum of 6300 certainly the largest flock I have ever seen at the reserve. Brilliant!
Also seen this evening
Peregrine. sparrowhawk 2. green sand. Curlew 13. Gull roost - Common gull 2nd winter. LBBG. 6. Herring gull ad flew out . BHG. 600+.
Flashes : This am . Spent most of the time in the cuckoo hide after 20 minutes at the confluence, where I had a good range of species :- water rail 2. kingfisher. Fieldfare. redwing 10. song thrush. goldfinch 8. redpoll 4 siskin 2. greenfinch 3. goldcrest 2. grey wag 2, Reed bunting.
Also on the rest of the Flashes Teal c90. Shoveler 7. gadwall pr. greylag 23. Egyptian geese 2 over. Snipe 17. dunlin . lapwing c350. peregrine. buzzard 3. Redwing 150. fieldfare 35. song thrush 2. Linnet c20. Bob P had 49 stock dove.
Moors: Little grebe 3. Shoveler 19. teal 20. gadwall 4. pochard 4. Snipe 3 Jack snipe on promontory in flag iris. Water rail below east hide. Stock dove 10. collated dove 7. Little egret per John Lay.
Back to the Flashes for the roost.
We were not disappointed the starlings really performed for us. Building up slowly to about 700 by 4pm. Thereafter things took a dramatic turn when 100's kept joining them . At one time they spread in a wavy line across the length of the Flashes, to then suddenly form a tight ball circling above us. At one point they flew over the north fields and we thought they were off. But after perching on the wires and hedgerows they came back. More acrobatics and addition flocks joining them, they finally spiralled into the 3rd Flash reed bed at 4.30pm. For such a small site the birds must be standing on one another. With several more joining them the flock then went into vocal overdrive, only pausing when the 2 marauding sparrowhawks piled into the reeds after them.
We estimate a minimum of 6300 certainly the largest flock I have ever seen at the reserve. Brilliant!
Also seen this evening
Peregrine. sparrowhawk 2. green sand. Curlew 13. Gull roost - Common gull 2nd winter. LBBG. 6. Herring gull ad flew out . BHG. 600+.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Interesting conditions today with a strong SW wind and heavy rain blowing straight up the mouth of the Severn - possibility of a really good bird being brought in. Potential includes Leach's Petrel, Grey Phal, skua, diver, rarer gulls, an American wader, sea duck etc; always worth keeping an eye on Paul Bowerman's excellent website and Twitter feed to see what is funnelling up - http://www.severnsidebirds.co.uk and https://twitter.com/Severnsidebirds. Dave J at least will be down for the WeBS count.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Some nice footage from Gert of the Starlings leaving the Flashes roost at approx 7:45am https://twitter.com/GertCorfield/status/665798169314394112?s=03
Gert Corfield
Well-known member
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J reports from the Moors Pool:
Jack Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 2 Redpoll, 59 Herring Gull
Jack Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 2 Redpoll, 59 Herring Gull
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Dave J further reports from the Flashes:
Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, 4 Snipe
November's WeBS count to follow
Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, 4 Snipe
November's WeBS count to follow
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
November's WeBS count from today courtesy of Dave J:
Mute Swan 4, Greylag Goose 17, Canada Goose 19, Egyptian Goose 2, Gadwall 4, Teal 93, Mallard 103, Shoveler 28, Pochard 4, Tufted Duck 33, Cormorant 23, Little Egret 2, Grey Heron 1, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 5, Water Rail 4+, Moorhen 42+, Coot 266, Lapwing 242, Jack Snipe 1+, Common Snipe 7+, Curlew 13, Kingfisher 1+, Black-headed Gull 165, Lesser Black-backed Gull 68, Herring Gull 59
Mute Swan 4, Greylag Goose 17, Canada Goose 19, Egyptian Goose 2, Gadwall 4, Teal 93, Mallard 103, Shoveler 28, Pochard 4, Tufted Duck 33, Cormorant 23, Little Egret 2, Grey Heron 1, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 5, Water Rail 4+, Moorhen 42+, Coot 266, Lapwing 242, Jack Snipe 1+, Common Snipe 7+, Curlew 13, Kingfisher 1+, Black-headed Gull 165, Lesser Black-backed Gull 68, Herring Gull 59
After reading John Belsey's description of the starling roost at The Flashes yesterday, I arrived there at just after 3pm today hoping for a repeat performance. A flock of 12 curlew had dropped in shortly before me, though they didn't stay around for long. I observed a lone starling at about 3.20pm, and then within the next half hour or so several small flocks had appeared. Birds were assembling on the telegraph wires. By 4pm I was witnessing the spectacle of the murmuration proper. We could hear the murmur of the wings as the birds flew over the hide like a swarm of insects - other than that the birds were silent until they dropped into the reeds, where they chattered noisily. There had to be in excess of 5,000 birds, so I wasn't disappointed. Thanks to John and Tim for their company this evening.
