Upton Warren (2 Viewers)

[midlands birder]

A nice day 2day, a few yanks have reached our shores, and upton was not missing out, the PECTORAL SANDPIPER was showing superbly outside the hide from 5:30-c6, then briefly moved into the centre of the flashes, at this point a peregrine flew over, where upon all the gull's/lapwings etc took flight, but while the sandpiper was not seen to leave, it was not sighted in the 1h 50 mins after that moment despite deliberate scanning for it, all 3 of us did not see it again, ( my dad didnt see it because he stayed on at the gardening job while i hitched a lift off matt griffiths and me and matt got it :-D), wonder if it will be there in the morning???????

The 1st winter Yellow legged gull roosted with the gull flock in the centre of the flashes with 5 herring and 20-30 LBBG ( more flew in while it was very dark, but this was probs another 30c birds), 5 snipe, 3 green sand, 1 common sand
MB

 

[upstarts1979]

A nice day 2day, a few yanks have reached our shores, and upton was not missing out, the PECTORAL SANDPIPER was showing superbly outside the hide from 5:30-c6, then briefly moved into the centre of the flashes, at this point a peregrine flew over, where upon all the gull's/lapwings etc took flight, but while the sandpiper was not seen to leave, it was not sighted in the 1h 50 mins after that moment despite deliberate scanning for it, all 3 of us did not see it again, ( my dad didnt see it because he stayed on at the gardening job while i hitched a lift off matt griffiths and me and matt got it :-D), wonder if it will be there in the morning???????

The 1st winter Yellow legged gull roosted with the gull flock in the centre of the flashes with 5 herring and 20-30 LBBG ( more flew in while it was very dark, but this was probs another 30c birds), 5 snipe, 3 green sand, 1 common sand
MB

Glad you saw it Craig:t:
I also had 39 to be exact gulls still roosting at 6.15am but too dark to ID.
B John

 

[upstarts1979]

work party Sunday 26th Sept

In the event that the pec is still present tomorrow then the work will be done along the hen brook and elsewhere on the flashes.
If the Pec has gone then we will be on the lagoons after 10am.
B John

 

[upstarts1979]

A very frosty start at 6.15am. I didn't locate the Pec until 7am tucked into the reeds in front of the sewage works. It later gave close views to the many visitors that were on the reserve today from far and wide.
Two green sands came off the 3rd flash and a single common sand were the only migrant waders on site. These frosty mornings have killed off most of the surface insects so it wont be long until the common sand moves on.
Just a couple of snipe were seen as well as juv water rail. The peak roosting curlew numbers this autumn have only reached 34 a far cry from the 100+ of not too many years ago.
As the sun came up it was good to se that some warblers were still present such as Whitethroat, Reed warbler and several chiffs. A small movement of swallows no more than 30 in company with just a handful of house martins usually more numerous at this time of year.
A bit of 'Vis Mig' involved 20 meadow pipits and a grey wagtail.
At one point there were 10 Buzzards in the air.
Other noteworthy species were Mistle Thrush rare this year and 2 cettis warblers singing.
B John

 

[warrener]

A very frosty start at 6.15am. I didn't locate the Pec until 7am tucked into the reeds in front of the sewage works. It later gave close views to the many visitors that were on the reserve today from far and wide.
Two green sands came off the 3rd flash and a single common sand were the only migrant waders on site. These frosty mornings have killed off most of the surface insects so it wont be long until the common sand moves on.
Just a couple of snipe were seen as well as juv water rail. The peak roosting curlew numbers this autumn have only reached 34 a far cry from the 100+ of not too many years ago.
As the sun came up it was good to se that some warblers were still present such as Whitethroat, Reed warbler and several chiffs. A small movement of swallows no more than 30 in company with just a handful of house martins usually more numerous at this time of year.
A bit of 'Vis Mig' involved 20 meadow pipits and a grey wagtail.
At one point there were 10 Buzzards in the air.
Other noteworthy species were Mistle Thrush rare this year and 2 cettis warblers singing.
B John

Hi John

Links below to flight shot of the Pec Sand and juv Yellow-legged Gull (found by Andy Warr) taken this afternoon on the Flashes.

Stuart

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378382.html

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378386.html

 

[Duck_Pond]

Did the pec venture much closer after I left?

My record shots of the pectoral sandpiper are now on my gallery (as are the Lapland bunting images, from earlier in the day).

 

[Phil Andrews]

Further to John's update for yesterday, at the Moors there were:
1 Wigeon, 7 GC Grebe, 3+ Little Grebe, 21 Teal, 63 Shoveler (same flock as at the Flashes) and 37 Cormorant. The showy Whitethroat in front of the Flashes hide was particularly nice.

Will have a huge selection of interesting photos to choose from when compiling the 2010 annual report!

To add to the Pec, Bonxie and Marsh Harrier for Friday there were also 2 independent reports of Sandwich Tern at the Moors, which makes it even more of a "red letter" day! Now if I hear Dave's story about ther bl**dy skua one more time ......

Good luck to all taking part in today's work party.

 

[Woodchat]

............

To add to the Pec, Bonxie and Marsh Harrier for Friday there were also 2 independent reports of Sandwich Tern at the Moors, which makes it even more of a "red letter" day! Now if I hear Dave's story about ther bl**dy skua one more time ......
Good luck to all taking part in today's work party.

Like I said Phil, there's two types of birder at Upton Warren - those who saw the Bonxie and those who haven't :-O:-O:-O

Lots of Peregrine activity this morning flushed everything (including 3 Dunlins) except for the Pec Sand and a Redshank. The Pec decided to fly off from the flashes at ~10am so we decided to carry out the planned work digging out the channels on the second flash and removing unwanted patches of Phragmites. As we were working two Dunlins continued feeding between the 1st and 2nd flash. They were joined later by the Pec (which had apparently been on the moors). They seemed completely unperturbed by our activities.

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi John

Links below to flight shot of the Pec Sand and juv Yellow-legged Gull (found by Andy Warr) taken this afternoon on the Flashes.

Stuart

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378382.html

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378386.html

Another new species for your upton portfolio, great action shot of Pec Stuart:t:
B Cheers John

 

[upstarts1979]

Many thanks to all the lads on the work party A great effort
and especially to Tracy, Tony 2 new lads and Roger well its been a long time since he was on one so he is almost a new lad.
Dave as already mentioned the work suffice to say the follow up work party next Sunday will take place from 10 am. Try and come along your help will be appreciated and you will see how much difference you can make to the habitat.

Birds seen today include 2 Green Sand 1 common sand, 3 snipe, plus Dave's sightings
B John

 

[upstarts1979]

Like I said Phil, there's two types of birder at Upton Warren - those who saw the Bonxie and those who haven't :-O:-O:-O
.

There are two types of Birders at Upton the good birders and those that saw the BONXIE:-O

 

[upstarts1979]

Did the pec venture much closer after I left?

My record shots of the pectoral sandpiper are now on my gallery (as are the Lapland bunting images, from earlier in the day).

Pete don't know about yesterday BUT it came closer after you left today8-P nice pics on your site mate

 

[upstarts1979]

To add to the Pec, Bonxie and Marsh Harrier for Friday there were also 2 independent reports of Sandwich Tern at the Moors, which makes it even more of a "red letter" day! Now if I hear Dave's story about ther bl**dy skua one more time ......

Good luck to all taking part in today's work party.

Phil
Yes dun he go on eh:-O

re work mission accomplished :t:
B John

 

[Woodchat]

There are two types of Birders at Upton the good birders and those that saw the BONXIE:-O

Of course, part of being a good birder is being in the right place at the right time. Need I say more? 8-P

 

[Woodchat]

Phil
Yes dun he go on eh:-O

...
B John

Yes John, I remember a certain all-dayer years ago - and all the endless yarns about the Roseate.

 

[Matt Griffiths]

Hi John

Links below to flight shot of the Pec Sand and juv Yellow-legged Gull (found by Andy Warr) taken this afternoon on the Flashes.

Stuart

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378382.html

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p67378386.html

Hi all,
The first-winter Yellow-legged Gull that Craig and I saw yesterday evening seemed to have a lighter head than the one in Stuart's photo, but was seen in rapidly fading lighting. Different bird or am I mistaken, MB?
Matt

 

[midlands birder]

Hi all,
The first-winter Yellow-legged Gull that Craig and I saw yesterday evening seemed to have a lighter head than the one in Stuart's photo, but was seen in rapidly fading lighting. Different bird or am I mistaken, MB?
Matt

hey matt
from what i can see the bird seems to have the same colour head, but as you say, the light was going very quickly at this point, so i cant be 100% on the exact colour, so im glad just to put it down as 1st win yellow leg, but with the unusual amount of large gulls, who knows what the turnover is????
and imagine some of the 'white' rewards the site may get if this goes on into the winter wink wink :smoke:
MB

 

[timmyjones]

Spent the morning at Upton today got there for around 7:30 but had to leave for work at 11:30. Managed better views of the Pec Sand and it was nice to start on the work parties again even though that may be my last of the year already!

Also, at risk of looking a fool, did a quick sketch and description this morning of the Pec Sand and have added that onto my blog let me know what you think! Link below.

Managed to add Coal Tit and Goldcrest to my Upton year list taking me upto 114 and it turns out I hadn't seen Coal Tit at Upton before! So that takes me upto 141 life.

 

[upstarts1979]

Yes John, I remember a certain all-dayer years ago - and all the endless yarns about the Roseate.

Alright Dave we will call it a draw...have your day
B John

 

[upstarts1979]

hey matt
from what i can see the bird seems to have the same colour head, but as you say, the light was going very quickly at this point, so i cant be 100% on the exact colour, so im glad just to put it down as 1st win yellow leg, but with the unusual amount of large gulls, who knows what the turnover is????
and imagine some of the 'white' rewards the site may get if this goes on into the winter wink wink :smoke:
MB

Craig next sunday you and matt on work party would be nice remember we always get a good bird. Ask Tim8-P

cheers John