Thanks M.B. good day all round...a 1st of a Goldeneye here and a 1st of a little flock of Waxwings.......sorry not saying where though.
Not being nasty but it would cause disruption if I said where.
Keith
Looks like you'll fit in with the Bittell crowd (save a few good-uns!) no worries then!
No Trevor no Long tailed Duck yet.
Was at Upton this afternoon......went to Webbs 1st for the Waxwings but non there (2nd day running) and someone in the hide said they had gone to Evesham.
Went to the concrete hide and around 3.30 saw a waxwing circle the feeder and back over the hide....rushed out and there were 30 on the tree.....only about 10 berries on it so they flew off towards the car park.
I left then and drove passed Webbs and they were there but flew off again- wonder if it's the same ones as last weekend.
Is the re an Upton thread on here then ?
Really crap pic of one of the Upton Waxies....it was almost dark !!
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Keith
Hi TrevGreat pic of Shoveler Keith. There have been up to 50 on Upper about a month ago. Your pic shows the circling feeding technique that was discused on the Upton thread where they seem to do it in shallow water stirring up the bottom to filter food by dabbling but these Bittell Shoveler fed using this group gyrating method in the middle of Upper obviously not stirring the bottom so maybe just concentrating food in a vortex, Upton birds were seen diving in water too deep to dabble in. All interesting observations just shows what we have to learn especially when trying to create the best habitats for birds and how some species are able to adapt feeding methods.
Have you managed to see the Long tailed Ducks yet? Just goes to show how the disturbance factor affects different birds with how long this pair has stayed. I was suprised that Shustoke Reser also has a Sailing club when I went to see the 2 Gt Northern Divers would have thought they wouldnt tolerate boats heres hoping the cold spell will bring some our way if it doesnt freeze solid!
Hi Trev
Although they do feed regularly in their gyrating circles, they tend to do it deep water. At the Flashes where the water is shallow they generally feed as individuals, either up-ending or simply sieving as they swim. The diving birds are specialists and it would appear that only the same 6 birds have been doing it - Possibly a family trait passed onto the next generation.
Its interesting to see you have 50 birds there, I wonder if the birds coming and going over the last few weeks are commuting between the 2 sites (upton and Bittell). What kind of numbers have you been getting this autumn? I think our maximum was 97 at the moment there are 8.
BJohn
They were about 10 miles from here and just passing through I think.
These were on Upper on Friday 30th.
11 in total
Keith
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Morning Keith
Mill Shrub Pool is the inlet pool at Lower Bittell, on the left of the causeway coming from Barnt Green, that runs along side the 'ash' path leading to Upper.
The best views Ive had of the LT Duck are from the top of the stubble field on the path that runs from the side of Cofton Richards farm. Now the leaves are falling you can see limited views through the hedge from the North Worcs path but it very muddy and frustrating as its low. If you have scope the top of the field is the best place.