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RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

Moocher

Well-known member
Yeh - i saw that and had a look @ Brian Stretchs' site (from whence i purchased the 'scope) but he only has Kite optics.

Not to worry i looked at the Spanish site..........163 euros:eek!: They are, however, a niche item and at least this one will be usable on almost anything. I don't take many fotos and so cannot justify the cost particularly as the iphone was free.

Like a lot of people i will make my own, in fact i just have and if it works and holds i will post some fotos. If the PGP is still there tmrw it might be the first decent bird.

Tnx agen -

Laurie:t:

I have made a few that worked well, but they all came apart where you join then eyepiece cup you are using and the phone case together. The position of the iPhone camera lens does not allow a great surface area to form your glue/bond join.

In the UK the Novagrade is about £140. Clifton Cameras hold stock. The advantages are, its robust, has not let me down and I use it a lot, and since owning it, I have already upgraded my phone. I just made a few adjustments and was back in business. If you phonescope a lot, a dedicated adapter for a specific phone and eyepiece is in the £70 region. So,it soon mounts up if you change eyepiece or phone.

Most commercial adapters also require you to remove your phone from the protective case you choose to keep it in, and put it into the case supplied with the adapter. I find that a real pain, to keep swapping phone cases every time I go birding. I no longer have to do that.

I agree it's a product for someone that intends using it a lot, but you only have to look at my blog to see that I do. It has allowed me to capture a record shot or two when my camera couldn't, and it's attached to my scope in seconds.

I understand Viking made a universal adapter, it might be worth a look. I think it's phone universal but eyepiece specific, I may be wrong there, so it could be worth looking at.

Hope you get some decent shots with your MM3 and phone. My mate used his MM3 and phone on the Night Heron that was at Seeswood. He got some very nice record shots. No adapter, hand held. Have a go.

If you manage to get some results, I would love to see them.

Regards

Moocher
 
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rollingthunder

Well-known member
I took some shots this afternoon which i will post on the 'Withymoor' thread - it's early days but i am very impressed with the results from a 20p urine sample container from Boots, a spare iphone case and a 10p tube of superglue;).....

Where there's a will there's a way, basically for record shots, self-found BB rarities (that's a joke btw:C) and holiday stuff:t:

Laurie:t:
 

SteveAtkinson

Well-known member
I was at Middleton at 8:30 this morning along with a few visiting birders but no sign initially of the Pacific Golden Plover. By 10:00am there were about 20 birders searching and still no sign of it. I was bunking off work so needed to go but thought I'd take one last look, so I went up the west path from the west screen towards the north pit for 100yds to see if it was in one of the little scrapes and there it was. That was 10:10am and it was still showing at 10:30. Very chuffed.

All the best
Steve
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
Still in the same area 1300 till we left at around 1430. Changed posture and preened a few times. Further away than desirable but some good 'scopes about that could cut thru the unexpected heat-haze|8). Standing on the picnic table was the best option.

Plenty of Common Terns bombing about, the first Clouded Yellows i have seen for quite some time (Scillies?) and a very acrobatic hunting Hobby near the meadows down by the RSPB car park.

It's been a minimum of 2 years since i've visited and the change has been tremendous. The paths are now serviceable (but it will remain Muddleton;)) and the screens and solitary hide look good. The reserve remains visually uncluttered which is more than can be said for others i have visited. Having worked with Willow i feel the screens will soon start to look tatty and fall apart as the material, altho visually pleasing, is too thin and rots very quickly in exterior use. Larger diameter Hazel or cleft wattle would have lasted longer (i used to make them but have difficulty getting the right materials) or cleft Oak would be ideal imo.

Let's hope the birds keep coming and it'll put the place on the map. Next time i see GeoffWilliams1496 i'll get you a B :).

Finally, thanks to the-one-and-only Paul Allan Legge and his charabanc for providing the lift - again there's a B :) of Bathams with your name on it mate.

Laurie:t:
 

Sedgley Birder

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.... B
Still in the same area 1300 till we left at around 1430. Changed posture and preened a few times. Further away than desirable but some good 'scopes about that could cut thru the unexpected heat-haze|8). Standing on the picnic table was the best option.

Plenty of Common Terns bombing about, the first Clouded Yellows i have seen for quite some time (Scillies?) and a very acrobatic hunting Hobby near the meadows down by the RSPB car park.

It's been a minimum of 2 years since i've visited and the change has been tremendous. The paths are now serviceable (but it will remain Muddleton;)) and the screens and solitary hide look good. The reserve remains visually uncluttered which is more than can be said for others i have visited. Having worked with Willow i feel the screens will soon start to look tatty and fall apart as the material, altho visually pleasing, is too thin and rots very quickly in exterior use. Larger diameter Hazel or cleft wattle would have lasted longer (i used to make them but have difficulty getting the right materials) or cleft Oak would be ideal imo.

Let's hope the birds keep coming and it'll put the place on the map. Next time i see GeoffWilliams1496 i'll get you a B :).

Finally, thanks to the-one-and-only Paul Allan Legge and his charabanc for providing the lift - again there's a B :) of Bathams with your name on it mate.

Laurie:t:

Did you manage to get any photos with your scope/phone setup? PGP or otherwise?

Gavin
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
'fraid not, Gav - too far in the heat haze:C

Could'nt rest the monopod on the fence due to the fact it was connected to Hams Hall power station:eek!:. They must have some high-jumping foxes in the Tamworth area i would have thought the barbed wire alone would have left any incapable of breeding;) - it was the only bit that i thought was OTT as all it takes is a hole somewhere and they're in but i suppose a fence around the whole desired area is better than cages etc but what do i know?

TOAO-PAL took some phonescope images so i shall see at some stage, just record shots in the strong sunlight and haze and i just took one of him which i shall post elsewhere as soon as i can Photoshop a suitable board with 6 digits on it!

Laurie:t:
 

Phil Andrews

It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
'fraid not, Gav - too far in the heat haze:C

Could'nt rest the monopod on the fence due to the fact it was connected to Hams Hall power station:eek!:. They must have some high-jumping foxes in the Tamworth area i would have thought the barbed wire alone would have left any incapable of breeding;) - it was the only bit that i thought was OTT as all it takes is a hole somewhere and they're in but i suppose a fence around the whole desired area is better than cages etc but what do i know?

Laurie:t:

Depends what you are protecting from what. At Upton we only use cages on LRPs (under licence) as the unwanted attentions of Coot, Moorhen and larger gulls as well as trampling from Canada Geese is of equal threat to the one posed by foxes.
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
I take your point, Phil, perhaps sometimes a line should be drawn between over-protection and just letting things get on with it? The Avocets seem pretty good at harassing stuff down at UW. Can't wait for Stilts to be breeding everywhere, whenever and wherever i see them (they usually see me first) predators don't seem to get much of a look in. I suppose there's some statistics somewhere;)

What i found pleasing about Muddleton is that apart from the tracks. a couple of blinds, a hide and some boundary/protective fencing the place was pleasing to the eye.

Laurie:t:
 

Phil Andrews

It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I take your point, Phil, perhaps sometimes a line should be drawn between over-protection and just letting things get on with it? The Avocets seem pretty good at harassing stuff down at UW

Including LRP :-C Our new cages are now even larger so sitting birds aren't spooked by nearby activity from the 14 pairs of Avocet and 150+ pairs of BHG.
 

Phil Andrews

It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
It must be a dilemma, 2 protected spp battling it out - just wait 'till the overshooting Stilts take up residence next year;)

Laurie:t:

Despite one being a media friendly icon, I know where my loyalty lies (one with 1,629 pairs and increasing, the other with 703 pairs and decreasing as per the Rare Breeding Birds Panel report 2010)
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
An interesting read, i used to receive it when i subscribed and it's been a while since i have read one. The areas for LRP breeding must have declined over the last 30 years since i used to find them around here whilst the habitat for Avocets must have increased? Also the latter must be easier to survey.

I was surprised to see Water Rail.

Laurie:t:
 

Woodchat

Cogito ergo sum
For Info - You can search all Rare Birds Breeding Panel (RBBP) reports online - especially using their new feature - 'NEW explore reports'. Includes all annual reports from 1973 up to 2010.

WRT Little Ringed Plovers, reports since the national survey in 2007 have only had moderate coverage. 2007 revealed 901 breeding pairs. The UK trend is most likely stable for LRP and I have seen reports of moderate increases - can't remember if this was a BTO report. The Europe-wide status is reported as stable (Birdlife).
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
Stable is probably right - i don't have any.....stats, i would have thought a decline in the West Midlands urban county as there just isnt the undeveloped land that is left long enuff these days.

Laurie:t:
 

Woodchat

Cogito ergo sum
Here's some LRP stats for ya....

Year---No. pairs---Coverage
2010---703---moderate
2009---601---moderate
2008---530---incomplete
2007---901---comprehensive (survey year)

In 2007, comments alluded to a general increase and range expansion - e.g. Huntley et al. indicating increasing numbers and range in Scotland.

With species that are dependent on transient habitats, there are always likely to be fluctuations at the local level and that can skew the perceptions of the actual trends / bigger picture. Looking at the national (or even international) trends is often more illuminating.
 

Sedgley Birder

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.... B
For Info - You can search all Rare Birds Breeding Panel (RBBP) reports online - especially using their new feature - 'NEW explore reports'. Includes all annual reports from 1973 up to 2010.

WRT Little Ringed Plovers, reports since the national survey in 2007 have only had moderate coverage. 2007 revealed 901 breeding pairs. The UK trend is most likely stable for LRP and I have seen reports of moderate increases - can't remember if this was a BTO report. The Europe-wide status is reported as stable (Birdlife).

LRP's increased due to the increase in gravel pits. Is it a case that these areas have now matured and no longer attractive for breeding? In the West Midlands (Urban West Midlands), there was a number of 'waste land' areas which were 'resting' awaiting future development and were attractive to LRP's due to 'seasonal' pools that developed during the breeding season. The 'Lunt' in Wednesbury held breeding LRP's before it was developed. Many of these sites have now gone. Sheepwash Urban park had breeding LRP's in the 1980's when the main pool was in its early stages of development. At this time wader numbers were also at their peak during migration. Unfortunately due to poor management by the local authority has seen a decrease in wader numbers and a loss of LRP as a breeding species at this location.

Gavin:t:
 

Woodchat

Cogito ergo sum
Probably on a local level, maturity of gravel pits cause LRP to appear, peak then decline / become extinct as a breeding species.

A few years ago, a new trading estate was built in Droitwich whereby the site was scraped ready for development. For a few years before they actually built the industrial units, the site held breeding LRP's and Lapwings and was also a great spot for migrant waders (RP and Whimbrel recorded) as well as Wheatears and White Wagtail. All now, sadly, a thing of the past. The site was known as Wiseman's Dairy's 'scrape'.

If you see an early-stage large development taking place near you, it might just be worth having a good look before they actually build on it.
 

Brian Stretch

Well-known member
LRPs are certainly in decline at Grimley but this is no surprise. They have always struggled here due to high predation levels, disturbance by dog walkers and the activities of the quarry company. Apparently, after c35 years of quarrying at Grimley they are nearing the end of excavating the last pit so we may well lose LRP as a breeding species.

Brian
________________
Worcester Birding
Follow Worcester Birding on Twitter @WorcsBirding
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
When i said stats i meant WM not nationally - tnx for others providing some infill (no gravel-pit pun intended;)) - locally the area below Netherton Rez, now Narrowboat Way + Industrial Estate held 3 displaying males one year with 2 pairs breeding and probably Wheatear bred and maybe even Stonechat with Netherton Hill Gorse grassland adjacent:eek!:

Not any more, they seem to be just passage birds now, do LRPs breed in the West Midlands county? Perhaps another thread as i have no wish to hijack this but it's the nature of bird-related stuff.

Laurie:t:
 

Woodchat

Cogito ergo sum
I've no wish to hijack this thread either but I am interested in the FACTS (rather than gut-feeling) - so just one more from me. If you're not interested in such things then just don't bother reading this post.

West Mids County stats for LRP (easily accessible up to 2010 via RBBP online) as below:

2010 - 6 pairs
2009 - 5 pairs
2008 - 4 pairs
2007 - 4 pairs
2006 - 5 pairs
2005 - 4 pairs (max), 0 confirmed
2004 - 6 pairs (max), 0 confirmed
2003 - 6 pairs (max), 3 confirmed

Looks fairly stable up to 2010. No more up-to-date figures (i.e . since 2010) available.
 

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