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

Upton Warren (11 Viewers)

Today's highlights:

MOORS:
Shoveler (18)-----------------Shelduck (6). Roosted at the Flashes.
Gadwall (4)-------------------Teal (25)
Tufted Duck (29)-------------Snipe (15)
Lapwing (54)-----------------Kingfisher
Water Rail (3)----------------Stonechat (m). In front of the east hide.
Mute Swan (2)---------------Greylag Goose (27)
Cetti's Warbler (2)-----------Kestrel
B H Gull (85)-----------------Cormorant (21)
Coal Tit-----------------------Herring Gull (3)
L B B Gull (8)

FLASHES/SAILING POOL*
Curlew (11)-------------------Barn Owl (2) one at 16.50 and another at 17.05.
Teal (8)------------------------B H Gull (c 2000)
Large Gulls (c150) flew north and quite high.
Little Egret (6)* roosting in the north east corner.
 
Contract work FLASHES

From today for approximately 2 weeks a professional HEDGE LAYER will be working along the path between the HEN pool hide and cuckoo hide.
The hedge has become tall leggy and obstructing parts of the path.
If you get chance to look inside the hedge you will see it is almost hollow.
The cutting (brash) will be incorporated within the new hedge or used to create habitat piles.
 
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From the Flashes this morning Phil W reports:

Barn Owl until 8:00am, 6 Shelduck flew out at 8:00am, Teal 28, Curlew 11, Lapwing 4, flock of c60 mixed Redwing and Fieldfare

Also Jack Snipe at the Moors Pool.
 
From the Moors Pool Andy P reports:

24 Snipe, 57 Lapwing, drake Pochard, 16 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall (including 4 on North Moors Pool), 25 Teal, 35 Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 17 Cormorant.
 
From the Flashes this morning Andy P and Phil W report:

Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe, 11 Curlew, 16 Lapwing, Barn Owl until 0735, 6 Shelduck, 24 Teal, 350 Canada Geese, 34 Greylag Geese, c500 BH Gulls, 28 Large Gulls, Cetti's Warbler.
 
upstarts1979 said:
From today for approximately 2 weeks a professional HEDGE LAYER will be working along the path between the HEN pool hide and cuckoo hide.
The hedge has become tall leggy and obstructing parts of the path.
If you get chance to look inside the hedge you will see it is almost hollow.
The cutting (brash) will be incorporated within the new hedge or used to create habitat piles.
Click to expand...

I've pm'd you!
 
Little Egret, Kingfisher, 21 Shoveler, 5 Shelduck and Water Rail at the Moors Pool early morning as per Carl J.

Barn Owl hunting at the Flashes as per Lloyd E.
 
Into the second half of January and the monthly list (and year list) presently stands on 81 species, a productive start compared to the average complete monthly haul for January of 83.29 species.

Possible additions for the remainder of the month include:

Whooper Swan, Pintail, Goosander, Goldeneye, Merlin, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Blackcap, Siskin, Yellowhammer
 
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Lloyd further reports from the lightly frozen Flashes:

11 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Buzzard, 2 Lapwing, 20 Greylag Geese

The Lapwing numbers are amazing low this year - yet to have a three figure count :eek!: In stark contrast 1,076 were recorded on the 20th last year; perhaps there are enough damp fields with all the rain to keep them in the countryside and river valleys?
 
Phil Andrews said:
From the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:

6 Shelduck earlier (now on the Moors Pool as per Des), 14 Teal, 250 Canada Geese, 34 Greylag Geese, 5 Green Sandpiper on 3rd flash then flew out at 0830, 11 Curlew, c2000 BH Gull, 24 LBB Gull, 7 Herring Gull, Barn Owl from 0750 to 0810.
Click to expand...

Another decent wintering Green Sandpiper count. As I have been a bit light on charts in recent times here is one illustrating the changing pattern of Green Sandpiper occurrence (over a relatively short space of time), comparing the average half-monthly maxima for the period 1998 to 2003 (in green) with 2014 to 2019 (in red).

Whilst there has been a marked reduction in return passage of June to September the species is now more numerous between October and March. The reasons for the decline in the traditionally most productive period are not fully understood but one plausible theory is that the number of birds passing through the reserve hasn't altered but birds are not lingering as long (particularly not remaining to moult) due to the pressure and aggressiveness of the ever growing Avocet colony.
 

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From the reserve yesterday afternoon Tim, Mike Pollard and Joe Owen reported:

FLASHES
Barn Owl hunting between 3:30-4:00pm, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Peregrine

MOORS POOL
11 Curlew, Jack Snipe, 4 Shelduck, 4 Little Egret, Kingfisher
 
Early morning today at the Flashes Rob S and Dave J report:

4 Green Sandpiper left the roost at 7am, Little Egret in the Hen Brook, 11 Curlew,4 Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Roe Deer, only 18 BH Gull (and no large gulls) in the roost
 
An enjoyable afternoon was had at the Flashes in the glorious sunshine following the morning fog! On arrival in the hide we noted 11 Curlew, 2 Common Snipe, 28 BH Gull, 11 Lapwing, 5 Teal, 1 Pied Wagtail, Coot and Moorhen dotted across the unfrozen areas of the Flashes - the area to the right of the hide was still partially frozen. At 14:35 we were treated to a super show from the Barn Owl, it was quartering mainly in the area to the right of the hide and we had several close fly pasts in front of the hide - brilliant sightings were had! Then at 14:50 the second Barn Owl appeared and both were hunting over the flashes for around 10 minutes before one disappeared. They didn't appear to be territorial as they weren't seen trying to chase the other off. It was lovely to have prolonged sightings of the owl(s) in crisp clear sunshine! The fog started to descend about 15:20 so we departed the hide but still had views of the Barn Owl over the Flashes a whilst walking along the path. Just before the gate the to the sailing pool there were Bullfinch (m&f), Long Tailed Tits and Goldcrest.

An enjoyable afternoon was had in excellent company and 2 Barn Owls giving a show of their quartering skills!!
 

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From a frozen Flashes this morning Phil W reports:

11 Curlew, 7 Snipe, 12 Lapwing, 1 Teal, 65 BH Gull, Peregrine on the field eating its breakfast.
 
The 3pm Barn Owl

A few shots of the 3pm barn owl yesterday. It was carrying a stick around, any thoughts what this is about ? Nest building ?...
 

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