Upton Warren (2 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

Phil, there are large numbers of wildfowl on the Flashes, but very few on the Moors eg yesterday the Moors held Tufted Duck (1), Teal (5), Mallard (10+), Shoveler (1). Why are the birds deserting the Moors for the Flashes?


Des.

Strange you should say that Des. On Tuesday I noticed just 3 Tufted 1 shoveler and 5 teal BUT 420 Canadas.which were mostly roosting, perhaps a food problem or mink one of which was seen Tuesday?
What's worrying is the lack of diving and dabbling duck! apart from the southern end of the moors and Amy's marsh the moors is dead.

 

[timmyjones]

Strange you should say that Des. On Tuesday I noticed just 3 Tufted 1 shoveler and 5 teal BUT 420 Canadas.which were mostly roosting, perhaps a food problem or mink one of which was seen Tuesday?
What's worrying is the lack of diving and dabbling duck! apart from the southern end of the moors and Amy's marsh the moors is dead.

Was strange, there seemed to be plenty of Canadas and BHG/LBBG there though, but the broadmeadow seems totally over grown and there were no birds on it, and even if there were you wouldn't be able to see them!

 

[Woodchat]

Phil, there are large numbers of wildfowl on the Flashes, but very few on the Moors eg yesterday the Moors held Tufted Duck (1), Teal (5), Mallard (10+), Shoveler (1). Why are the birds deserting the Moors for the Flashes?

Des.

Good question. Perhaps the moors is overrun with Mink and other predators (foxes, otter, pike). Or maybe the flashes just offers them better feeding at the moment....

.....just speculating.

 

[upstarts1979]

Good question. Perhaps the moors is overrun with Mink and other predators (foxes, otter, pike). Or maybe the flashes just offers them better feeding at the moment....

.....just speculating.

Over the years there is an abundant food supply in autumn at the Flashes for dabbling duck which sees late evening flights of shoveler and teal from their day roost at the Moors arriving to feed in the 2nd Flash particularly . Over the next few weeks shoveler numbers will peak and its then that they perform their group rotational feeding action at the Moors if they don't do it soon then there is a problem. So lets just wait and see hopefully they will return to the moors pretty soon. As for the Diving ducks I haven't got a clue but there was that pollution incident along the river salwarp in the spring lets hope that hasn't had an affect:-C.

 

[Duck_Pond]

Is the phalarope still around, and if so, how close to the hide is it?

 

[midlands birder]

Is the phalarope still around, and if so, how close to the hide is it?

think its still there, back of 1st flash from feeder hide
MB

 

[upstarts1979]

Is the phalarope still around, and if so, how close to the hide is it?

Hi Pete performing well in front of 2nd flash hide
hurry mate

 

[Roger P]

By the amount of kit in the hides today there will soon be much better photos than this on here soon but I was a bit caught on the hop without my main camera. This was digiscoped and keeping the tripod still with all the movement in the hide and the speed of the bird made this difficult to get sharp.

As usual the ones in good light (and it was great today) are blurred and the sharp(er) ones are not very good photos!

 

[Gertatron]

By the amount of kit in the hides today there will soon be much better photos than this on here soon but I was a bit caught on the hop without my main camera. This was digiscoped and keeping the tripod still with all the movement in the hide and the speed of the bird made this difficult to get sharp.

As usual the ones in good light (and it was great today) are blurred and the sharp(er) ones are not very good photos!

Nice one Roger - thought I saw an orangey tinge to the back of its neck this morning. Still turning into winter plumage by the look of it.

 

[timmyjones]

Nice one Roger - thought I saw an orangey tinge to the back of its neck this morning. Still turning into winter plumage by the look of it.

Apparently Gert the orangey tinge to the side of the neck is a Juv -> 1st Winter plumage feature according to The Advanced Bird Id Guide by Nils Van Duivendijk.
It says

• Diffuse rufous breast (sides)
• Moults early into 1w (from September); in autumn mix of very dark juv tertials (in ad pale grey like upperparts)

If it was an adult that had orange parts still on it then apparently it would be on the underneath and uniformly pale grey mantle feathers, whereas you can see the occasional dark one still.

Good comparison shots here about half way down http://www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk/waders.htm

I'm sure most of you have either already heard of/already own The Advanced Bird ID Guide to The Western Palearctic by Nils Van Duivendijk if not then I really recomend it, it's cheap as well considering how much info is in it http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Bird-Guide-Plumage-Palearctic/dp/1847736076/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284664410&sr=8-1

 

[Phil Andrews]

Phalaropes galore!

This is now the 7th record of a phalarope species in the last 4 years, being briefly summarised as follows:

2007 - RED-NECKED 16th June; WILSON'S 23rd>26th September; GREY 8th>9th November
2008 - GREY 11th>12th September
2009 - RED-NECKED 21st June
2010 - RED-NECKED 20th June; GREY 15th>16th September

Prior to 2007 there had been just 5 confirmed sightings (3 Red-necked, 1 Wilson's and 1 Grey)

Upton Warren must surel be the best site for phalaropes (certainly inland) in recent years??

 

[upstarts1979]

Stayed until dark tonight and the Phalarope very infrequently moved out of its secret hideaway next to the reeds of the NE corner of the 1st Flash.
Like Tim has alluded to the bird still has a fair amount of juvenile features, noticeable even at a distance as long as the light is good.
The Gull roost has built up to at least 1600 BHG's and again 50+ LBBG's appeared at dark but not all landed.
An adult male Peregrine caused havoc amongst the gulls and ended up stood in the north field for a good time.
On the saline lagoons 4 green and 2 common sands fed along side 3 snipe, 32 Curlew and 100 Lapwing.
The Shoveler flock have increased to 42 with 55 Teal in tow. A bold juvenile water rail ventured well into the open along the east shore. A small group of 50 hirundines mostly swallows with at least 5 sand martin fed above the phalarope and later perched on nearby wires.
Also on the water was a little grebe and 350 canadas and the Barnacle roosted.
Vis Mig saw a meadow pipit fly over.
B John

 

[Gertatron]

Spot on Tim! Just shows that us oldies should look at bird books more often! I dug out my old 'Shorebirds' voted best bird book of 1986 (!) - its still called a Grey Phal in it.
Cheers
Gert

 

[upstarts1979]

This is now the 7th record of a phalarope species in the last 4 years, being briefly summarised as follows:

2007 - RED-NECKED 16th June; WILSON'S 23rd>26th September; GREY 8th>9th November
2008 - GREY 11th>12th September
2009 - RED-NECKED 21st June
2010 - RED-NECKED 20th June; GREY 15th>16th September

Prior to 2007 there had been just 5 confirmed sightings (3 Red-necked, 1 Wilson's and 1 Grey)

Upton Warren must surel be the best site for phalaropes (certainly inland) in recent years??

Interesting stat there phil its just a pity some more yank waders don't turn up. Another Pec would be nice or dare I say something bigger.
Maybe the trust could rename one of the hides Phalarope hide:-O

 

[timmyjones]

Interesting stat there phil its just a pity some more yank waders don't turn up. Another Pec would be nice or dare I say something bigger.
Maybe the trust could rename one of the hides Phalarope hide:-O

So long as its not a Lesserlegs! Pec has to be on the cards though, or a Lap Bunt my 2 predictions for the next few weeks!

 

[Phil Andrews]

More Phalarope facts and figures

As mentioned previously Upton has now had 7 phalarope records encompassing 3 species since 2007. In the same time period:

- Only 3 sites have also recorded all 3 species - Cley, Slimbridge and Gibralter Point (although none of these all in the same year as Upton Warren achieved in 2007).

- Only 7 other sites have recorded 2+ phalarope species in the SAME year, a feat Upton has now achieved twice (in 2007 and 2010). These comprise Cley (which managed it 2007, 2008 and 2009), Slimbridge, Siddlesham Ferry, Martin Mere, Gibralter Point, Draycote Water and Wrafton (Devon).

In terms of overall number of records Cley clearly leads the way with 15+ between 01/01/2007 and today's date. However my research suggests that Upton is SECOND, beating such well-know haunts as Martin Mere, Titchwell, Chew Valley Lake etc. The best total for another truely inland body of water is 5 at Draycote Water (2 Red-necked and 3 Grey).

NB All the above stats have been taken from sightings on the RBA website so not all of these records may have been accepted (I have ignore fly-by records at coastal locations)

 

[Phil Andrews]

The Grey Phalarope was still performing well in front of the Tower Hide when I left at 12:20; this is now the longest staying individual. Also present were 2 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand, 30 Curlew and 1 Snipe, together with a Lesser Spotted Lee Evans.

At the Moors there were 5 GC Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 8 Snipe, Barnacle Goose, 4 Tufted D, Gadwall, female Pochard, 11 Cormorant and another Common Sand; the Kingfishers were very active as were the Cetti's Warblers. A Greenshank dropped in at 0930 and left again at 0943; this was probably the same bird seen earlier in the morning at the Flashes.

In total across the two sides of the reserve there were 7 Grey Heron, c60 Shoveler, 70 Teal, 250 Canada G, 230 Coot and 800 BH Gull.

Migrants were thin on the ground with just a few House Martins and Swallows.

 

[upstarts1979]

The Grey Phalarope was still performing well in front of the Tower Hide when I left at 12:20; this is now the longest staying individual. Also present were 2 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand, 30 Curlew and 1 Snipe, together with a Lesser Spotted Lee Evans.

Hope You charged him:-O

 

[midlands birder]

How much is on the betting that the phalarope will fly tonight before i can get it???????:flyaway:
anyone who is goin down in the morning and have my number give us a yell will you :bounce:
MB

 

[wmtlynx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2AeZYbXzXk Here is the Phalarope, adding to my collection of wonky bird videos! Squint, stare hard, and enjoy!

And thanks John for the text, I got there eventually! I'll be at the Flashes in the morning and hopefully it will come a bit closer this time!