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RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

Piccalilli

Steve Pick
A quick bit of research led me to this http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/download.html .........................

Laurie:t:

Laurie

Eventually got round to installing the software and tried it out on the picture I manually counted in the post below. Had to block out trees so they were over the pixel count threshold. Results are good see attached output - 2882 against my manual count of 2923. What am I going to do with my Saturday nights now - X Factor???

Thanks

Steve
 

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rollingthunder

Well-known member
Yes, about the same sort of result i got with a couple of other pictures, you just have to make an ejoocated guess at groups of overlapping birds - it's not rocket science, ask Richard Branston;)

Either way, a good tool, the Winter evenings are destined to fly by.....

Laurie:t:
 

Piccalilli

Steve Pick
Flooded

If you're thinking about a visit to Middleton tomorrow then the only way in is via the canal. The main path up from the car park is ok but you will get no further than the stream crossing in Mill plantation unless you have waders or the water level drops significantly tonight. Standard wellies will be no good because the water depth just prior to Fishers Mill bridge Is 2 foot deep - see photo below. Another thing to note is that there isn't much about. Very few birds on both Fishers Mill and Jubilee Wetlands and the Starlings have moved elsewhere. No birds roosted at FM either last night or tonight. There were sizeable groups passing through but they were all heading south - probably roosting at KWP now. The only birds of note were 13 Snipe this evening.
 

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Sedgley Birder

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.... B
Re - Info u sent

Followed your instructions.

Spot on! Having an interesting time messing about with things.

Thanks very much Steve.

ATB - Gavin:t::t::t:
 

geoffw1946

Well-known member
The flooding had gone down enough to get onto the reserve today. A drake Pintail was on JWs and 4 were reported by the WeBS counters. 21 Golden Plover were on NP and also seen were 2 Snipe, 1 Dunlin and 6 Stonechat.
Geoff.
 

Piccalilli

Steve Pick
The highlight of this mornings early dash round Middleton were 3 drake Pintail (on JW) now totally out of eclipse. Also seen were 9 Stonechat (one group of 5), 3 Goldeneye (all f) and 5 Little Egret.

Steve P
 

Piccalilli

Steve Pick
As suspected the Starlings are now roosting at silt pool. Not much of a display tonight with the birds dropping in quick in small groups trying to avoid the 3 waiting sparrowhawks. I estimate about 2000 birds went in. It's a good place to view them if they remain here and much closer to the car park. I assume they have moved here as the reed length is much greater than at Fishers Mill following the recent flooding.
 

geoffw1946

Well-known member
I hadn't visited the reserve for awhile with the flooding but was surprised to find that the water levels on the JWs were still high but NP was OK though still no proper wader feeding areas however circa 70 Golden Plover, a Dunlin and circa 500 Lapwing were there, also seen were 2 Shelduck, 3 Little Egret, 4 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and several Fieldfare and Redwing.
I hear that the river bridge has again been delayed but should be erected in December.
Geoff
 

SteveAtkinson

Well-known member
Wednesday 20/11/14 Godcrest, 2pr Nuthatch in MH copse. Fieldfare and Redwing on the bridleway. 3 Dunlin in amongst c90 Golden Plover, 1pr and a single Stonechat Jubilee Wetlands. Someone said they had seen 3 Snipe in flight.
All the best
Steve
 

SteveAtkinson

Well-known member
The Golden Plover numbers seem to be building, I counted 321 on a spit on Jubilee Wetlands this morning and later when they took to the air they were possibly joined by others. A bit more mud showing than on Wednesday hence a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin. also a Goldeneye and 2 Stonechats. Also a report of the Marsh Harrier seen at 8:15am near the east screen.

All the best
Steve
 

Piccalilli

Steve Pick
The Golden Plover numbers seem to be building, I counted 321 on a spit on Jubilee Wetlands ......

In all the years I've been going down Middleton I have never seen a Golden Plover there and now so many. Hope there's a break in the weather tomorrow. Manged a quick dash to Silt pool tonight and 2250 Starlings roosted.

Steve P
 

geoffw1946

Well-known member
In all the years I've been going down Middleton I have never seen a Golden Plover there and now so many. Hope there's a break in the weather tomorrow. Manged a quick dash to Silt pool tonight and 2250 Starlings roosted.

Steve P
There were at least 700 Golden Plover on NP this morning (they outnumbered Lapwings) also seen were 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 6 Snipe and the first Woodcock of the autumn.
Geoff
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
Post a photo and....

Have been testing the software and using the Photoshop count tool to try and get the most reliable setting on the sliding scale Red marker. It's not been easy, i had to resort to physically counting and marking a flock of Goldies posted from Slimbridge and then assess accordingly. I will post the details of what i did on the Stourbridge thread with details sometime next week.....

Get the RSPB to do one of their controlled flushes and there should be plenty of opportunity for photos;)

Laurie:t:
 

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