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Upton Warren (33 Viewers)

Afternoon at the Mecca Moors was livening up with birds enjoying benefits of work party. Snipe numbers building and Wigeon and Pintail feeding in front of south west marsh. Flashes held good numbers of Lapwing and BH Gulls leave JB to add numbers, one 1st winter Darvic TOYE . So mild and sunny for November will have to wait for winter visitors saw some small parties of Redwing flying over.
 
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This afternoon at the Reserve

Started at the North Moors, where I walked the trail. As always at this time of year things are quiet. A cetti's welcomed me at the start of the trail, with a blast of its song. Redwings called from the hedgerows and a water rail squealed from the reeds. At the north end, a song thrush was also in song. But after this the plantation was quiet other than common garden species. On the pool, 4 shoveler and a teal dabbled.

The MOORS pool and Amy's Marsh however were alive with birds. The strong SW wind forced many ducks to shelter out of sight, but eventually most swam out into the open. The recently strimmed promontory, held good numbers of snipe, teal and an elusive Jack snipe. The small group of Wigeon frequented the shore of the SW marsh and hopefully they will find the grass to their liking. Many other waterfowl were gathered in this area avoiding the prevailing wind. Several cettis sang, but generally passerines were at a premium.
Species count MOORS:
Little grebe 11, GCG 2, Little Egret 3, cormorant 6, mute swan pr + 4 juvs ( at least 2 birds have flown into the SW electricity cables and presumably perished), greylag 30 (including the leucistic bird) , Shoveler at least 75 seen and more were in the lagoon . PINTAIL 5, wigeon 5, teal 110 - 120, tufted c20, pochard NONE!!, Coot 250+, water rail 2 east side, snipe 35, Jack Snipe, lapwing 30, curlew 13, BHG 400, herring gull 12, LBBG 20, cettis w 3 singing, redwing a few heard,
 
The FLASHES this evening.

Just Trev J and myself there after 3pm and I stayed until 5.30pm. .
The BHG roost was inadvertently being flushed by a marauding sparrowhawk chasing the starling flock, but eventually it settled down at 5pm. However all the waterfowl too were flushed on to the water, allowing for an accurate count. The pied wagtails gathered in front of the hide in a pre-roost feeding frenzy, later they roosted in the 3rd Flash reeds. The Starling flock of 80 birds attempted to roost in the reeds, but the sparrowhawk thwarted them from doing so. However this added to the general chaotic scene with birds flying all other the place. Waterfowl were arriving all the time even as I walked away at dark. Large gulls were also dropping in at dark and a green sand arrived late on. Converseley snipe and lapwings were flying out to feed in nearby fields.

Species count FLASHES: ( reserve total)
teal 107 (217 - 227), Shoveler 54 (100+), mallard 120, Greylag 30 roosted , canadas 320+ roosted 3rd Flash, coot 18, Moorhen 53, water rail 2 called 3rd Flash, snipe 4 ( 39 +), Lapwing 180, curlew 13, Green sand, BHG 1100, Herring 5, LBBG 10, buzzard, sparrowhawk, raven jay, jackdaw 300, stock dove 5, redwing 9 - 12, starling 80, pied wag 70 - 80, grey wag, Cettis w 2 singing, meadow pipit 3, goldcrest, All 3 Flashes were full of birds as I left.
 
discors said:
Afternoon at the Mecca Moors was livening up with birds enjoying benefits of work party. Snipe numbers building and Wigeon and Pintail feeding in front of south west marsh. Flashes held good numbers of Lapwing and BH Gulls one 2nd winter Darvic TOYE leave JB to add numbers. So mild and sunny for November will have to wait for winter visitors saw some small parties of Redwing flying over.
Click to expand...

You didnt mention a ring colour Trev; if white it will probably be from this Polish scheme http://www.cr-birding.org/node/741. If you confirm I will do the honours and post the results back on here.

Edit: just seen your photo on Twitter, resplendent with white ring :t::t:https://twitter.com/discors1/status/528574953915183104/photo/1
 
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John Sirrett said:
Correct, Old Town Bay Blyth's Pipit (I saw it in the open, my third for Scilly: most had to settle for flight views of bird calling). Porthcoose, the bay between Periglis and Killier, behind the Great Pool on St Agnes.

Four more memories for you, the view from the Turks Head (copyright Rhodsy, those ever so approachable Song Thrushes,(2cnd) pelagic, Peninnis over Hugh Town. Over and out. JS
Click to expand...

Looks like Day of the Living Dead!! :eek!: Average age at least 20 years more than birders visiting Shetland
 
Main additions to Dave J's sightings, all at the Moors, were:

Blackcap - male in (not-so) secret garden in sub-song
Goldcrest - couple around horse chestnut/secret garden
Redwing - couple with Mistle Thrushes in paddock/yew tree by farmhouse and 3-4 in secret garden
Kingfisher - again in reeds by sluice
Water Rail - two under the above, plus birds calling from North Moors, east shore, Broadmeadow, feeding station and causeway
Skylark - small numbers moving south-east
Cetti's Warbler - at least four birds singing around the whole are (north moors, east side, west side, sluice area)
 
Does anyone know if Rob and Paul still frequent the reserve as not seen any post from them for some time......forgetfulelephant and lesserkestrel that is.
 
Alan H and Bob O are on the reserve this morning.
So far at the Moors they have seen :- shelduck 2 flying over, pintail 1, wigeon 2, snipe 50+ in the scrape/promontory area.

Also the power company, are removing those trees close to their cables along the Salwarp track.

at 9.03 now 3 pintail

update at 9.24: Shelduck 2 - now landed, little egret, curlew 11, grey wag
update at 9.32 : Jack snipe
update 11.04 : now 4 pintail
 
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Tuesday Work At Moors

As well a our normal Tuedsay Work Party, there will also be contractors on site.

We plan to be on the 'pool island' and 'scrape' of Amy's Marsh.
The contractors will also be here and the Broadmeadow pool.
They will be treating the 'New Zealand pygmy weed (crassula). This invasive, exotic aquatic plant is spreading from the Broadmeadow pool. If not controlled it will engulf all the pool and muddy shorelines. As it is has done in many parts of the Country...as witnessed at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust - Brandon Marsh. There, it has taken hold in large areas of marsh land.
At Upton, the areas affected away from the Broadmeadow are small at the moment, but it spreads rapidly, so we cannot afford to be complacent. So we need to get on and start the fight back.
The work will involve a lot of disturbance, but it is a short term loss. So please bear with us, if the crassula gets hold it will destroy all our good work. I wouldn't like to contemplate the affects on our water birds if it isn't destroyed or at least controlled.

More info about Crassula in link below.
http://www.freshwaterhabitats.org.u.../controlling-crassula-helmsii-impact-options/
 
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Had a great day at reserve yesterday met some great folk in the water rail hide.
Great to meet Vernon whats your name on flikr again as by the time I
Got home id forgotten it.
Once again many thanks
 
elvisboy said:
Had a great day at reserve yesterday met some great folk in the water rail hide.
Great to meet Vernon whats your name on flikr again as by the time I
Got home id forgotten it.
Once again many thanks
Click to expand...

Vernon:eek!::eek!::eek!:

Its Vern and stone snapper John was good to meet you pal
 
work today

Considering the wet conditions we achieved a great deal today.
We split into 2 teams.
1st team worked on resurrecting the west side of the Pool Island.
This section has slowly eroded through wave action and periodical flooding.
Bobby O has been determined to see this project through. Today we dug 2 parallel channels a couple of metres either side of the remnants of the island.
The diggings were mainly clay based, this made for a good material to 'firm up' the new island. We also piled bolders slabs and cobbles along the north side of the pool within the island.
In just under an hour and a half we certainly made an impression and with more time and people we could definitely bring the island back to life.

PIC's
1. before work, also Bobby P lost his wellie before the work had even started:-O rescued by Nick
2. after the work
3. after work - as viewed from the east hide
 

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Other team, worked in Swampy bottom and Secret garden
This is a follow up to last week, where there is a lot of diverse habitat in such a small area.
SWAMPY BOTTOM
This is Dave's baby;), More willows were coppiced and a new dead hedge 'hurdle' was created. The channel was opened up a bit more to encourage water rail, kingfisher and may be Bittern. (A kingfisher was perched up even before the work stared). It is worth approaching this area quietly when walking along the causeway and looking out for kingfisher or water rail and who knows what else.

SECRET GARDEN
Today we strimmed in front (west facing) and to the left (south facing) of the area, this will open it up to sunlight, which will improve the habitat for insects and birds.
We will annually be strimming this area to encourage butterflies and a diverse Flora. The area is sheltered, south facing and a is a summer sun trap. Willow warbler bred here two years ago, so hopefully we will see them return. More work is required next week in this area. The area has a wide range of habitat types, including bramble patches, hawthorn and blackthorn thicket. Alder carr, grassy patches and boggy ground next to the swampy bottom channel.

pics
1 to 3
Swampy Bottom 1 and 2 from the causeway
3 from the south side looking back to the causeway.

4: Secret garden from the viewing area
5. looking west to the hurdle next to the swampy bottom channel

Many thanks to the team of 15:t:
Paul M, Bob O, Bob P, Bob R, Peter E, Terry W, Keith M, Tony B, Dave H , Ray C, Janette, Janet, Charles, Nick,
 

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Birding on the Reserve Today

A very misty start, finally clearing when we started the work, although it rained for the rest of the morning.
A few redwing went over and many finches were moving around - mostly goldfinch. However most conspicuous of all the species was the water rail. October is usually when we get an influx from elsewhere, but this year conditions were not conducive. But today was the start of an influx, several groups of 2 and 3 birds were involved in territorial disputes. Many other birds were calling from all the peripheral vegetation. Cettis warblers too were very vociferous. During the work on Amy's many snipe and a few Jacks were flushed.
Species count MOORS:
GCG 2, Little grebe 9, Little egret, greylag 30, mute swan 5 juvs, Shoveler 80+
Teal 90, pintail 6, tufted 16, coot 280, water rail 14+, snipe 45+ , jack snipe 4 min, lapwing 120, curlew 10, common gull ad, large gulls 145 (65% LBBG), BHG 650, Kestrel, green woodp, great spotted w, kingfisher 3, redwing 20, plenty of greenfinch, bullfinch , reed bunting at feeding station. Cettis w 4 at least,

FLASHES
Teal 70, shoveler 31, mallard c125 most arrived late on.
coot 18, moorhen 52, water rail 2, snipe 20, green sand (arrived 5pm), curlew 13, lapwing 155,
Roosting gulls: -BHG 1000, LBBG 21, herring gull 26, common gull 1st winter,
green woodp,
pied wag 20+ roosted in 1st Flash reed bed, starling 70, redwing 11
 

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