Upton Warren (26 Viewers)

Early morning update:

Dave J at the Moors Pool - Med Gull, Pochard, Little Egret, 1 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, no sign of Common Scoter

John at the Flashes - 5 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Curlew, 25 Avocet, 2 LR Plover, 8 Lapwing (6 males, 2 females)

Hopefully the current rain will bring something down

Just had a Yellow Wagtail fly low over the moors

Woodchat said:

Just had a Yellow Wagtail fly low over the moors

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New for the year (#112) - Yellow Wagtail

Otter at the Moors Pool this morning which caught a large eel (as per Dave J)

Totals for the MOORS
GCG 4, Little grebe 4/5, Little egret 2, shoveler 12 - 15, teal 6, shelduck 1, gadwall 2, tufted 70 - 75, pochard male , lapwing 1, snipe 1, oystercatcher 4, Med Gull 2nd summer, BHG 500+ seems to be there this year than last.
cettis 2, blackcap, chiffs 3,

Flashes: to add to earlier sightings Teal 6, LRP 3, Oystercatcher 4 (total of 8 on reserve - 2 of these were on passage and dropped in briefly) curlew 5, an avocet nest full of eggs was taken by coots, Peregrine 2, buzzard 6+, meadow pipit 5, swallow 12, skylark, linnet 10 moving nortyh and 2 on ground, blackcap, cettis w, chiffchaff 3,

House Martin with swallows over East track

Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
Grasshopper Warbler is a skulking summer visitor to Upton Warren following a winter in tropical west Africa, with latest (2009) estimates indicating 13,000 territories held over the British summer. It was first specifically recorded in 1969 but remains a highly variable, sporadically recorded species on the reserve, often only betrayed when it emits its peculiar “reeling” song from rank, mainly wetland, vegetation during the spring. The species also very occasionally breeds on the reserve although there appears to be no clear pattern.

Most years report only one or two records, traditionally at the back of the second Flash or to the right of the Flashes’ Tower Hide or more recent either at the rear of the North Moors Pool or along the east or west tracks at the Moors Pool (perhaps due to trhe inability to hear reeling birds at the Flashes due to the noise of the Black-headed Gull colony). However many birds may slip through unnoticed; needless to say most “Groppers” are heard rather than seen! The species has a habit of singing in April and May, going quiet for a period of six weeks, and then resuming singing again in July, possibly to raise a second brood. The overall average first record up to 2007 was the 24th April; the earliest record is the 9th April this year at the Moors Pool. There is very limited data on the presence of Grasshopper Warbler after July, with the latest birds being seen on the 20th September 1970 and 11th September 1971.

Most years only bring one or two reeling birds although in 1987 up to seven birds were noted, with four in 1986 and 1994. The most productive year in more times was 2003, which saw potentially two birds reeling at the Flashes for a week in April, followed by a bird singing for a month at the Moors Pool with continued reeling at the Flashes at the end of June. Breeding is very difficult to determine given the species’ elusive nature. It was present during the breeding season in 1970 although it is not known whether any nesting attempts were made. Two pairs are known to have bred in 1975 and four birds reeled the following year although none occurred in 1977. 1979 was the species most successful year to date when five pairs with young were observed and this success continued into 1980s when four or five reeling birds in 1980 and three or four pairs bred in 1981, at least two of which were successful. Grasshopper Warbler was thought to have bred in 1986, with four pairs present in 1987 at the Moors, North Moors and the Flashes where a bird was seen carrying food. Although breeding was not confirmed five males held territories in 1988 in the Moors and North Moors reed-beds, occasionally offering good views from the path to the West Hide. Following regular reeling from both the Moors and the Flashes adults were seen carrying food in mid July 1995 to confirm breeding. The presence of a reeling bird at the Flashes in late June 2003 gave rise to the thought of a breeding attempt, reinforced by the presence of a bird in late August.

Overall the species is becoming scarcer year on year (justifying its current "Red" status) and it appears that the run of breeding activity in the mid 1980s was just a temporary hiatus in its decline from its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time the focus of records has moved away from the reed-beds at the Moors and North Moors to the rank vegetation and hedgerows of the Flashes and Moors Pool tracks, probably a result of the maturing of the reed-beds at the former location. Evidence of the species’ elusive nature was highlighted when a bird was caught during a ringing session at the Moors on the 21st April 1996, before any birds had been noted singing on the reserve – how many others may have passed through over the years un-noticed?

As an aside on the 11th May 1994 two species of locustella warblers could be heard singing at the Moors Pool.

Flashes 1 Common Sandpiper & 2 Willow Warbler. Dave J has 3 Common Sandpiper, Med Gull, Little Egret, Sedge Warbler & Otter at the Moors. And it's flippin cold.

Dave j just had 3 Yellow Wags through the Moors & me a Male Redstart on fence by sewage works feeding in meadow briefly & flew off.

Gertatron said:

Dave j just had 3 Yellow Wags through the Moors & me a Male Redstart on fence by sewage works feeding in meadow briefly & flew off.

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New for the year (#113) - Redstart

Cuckoo calling by education reserve

And Sandwich Tern at the Flashes

Gertatron said:

Cuckoo calling by education reserve

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New for the year (#114) - Cuckoo

sarny tern flew off 7 mins ago to south now returned...

Redstart back on the Flashes showing better

just some record shots of the Sandwich Tern this morning and very poor photo of the redstart hopefully someone will post better ones later.

added 5 to my annual count today including hearing the Cuckoo with Gert,photos show other entertainment at the Flashes

Any sign of Sandwich Tern at present, cheers simon

rhbirder said:

Any sign of Sandwich Tern at present, cheers simon

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flew North towards the moors about 12.30ish have not heard any reports since.But any thing could happen today it has so far

Birder Gladys said:

flew North towards the moors about 12.30ish have not heard any reports since.But any thing could happen today it has so far

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Cheers