Upton Warren (108 Viewers)

[Stone Snapper]

Thank you Celia your right one swallow does not make a summer trust you

 

[upstarts1979]

4 Little Egrets, 14 Curlew and 2 Shelduck

A very mild morning 14 degrees C with the strong SW wind made it feel a bit cooler. Very sheltered and warm on the Flashes.

MOORS:
To add to Alan's sightings: There was a noticeable exodus of duck today.
Pochard down from 21 Tuesday to today's 4 males. Shoveler only 3 (2 males and female), Teal 22 (down from 65), Tufted 15.
also 1 snipe, and small numbers of large gulls moving through LBBG and Herring.
GCG, Little grebe 2, Coot 220, mute swan 2 ads.
Cettis 2 singing, song thrush 2 singing at least

NORTH MOORS:
Tufted 4, song thrush singing, bullfinch 2

SAILING POOL:
GCG 6, tufted 16, coot 8

FLASHES:
Teal 30, shelduck, LAPWING 625, BHG 250, Buzzard 2, green woodp.

only on site for a couple of hours, so maybe Andy P , Phil W and Alan H will get a storm driven goodie8-P

 

[Dafila]

On field between A38 and concrete hide, at midday, 13 curlew feeding. I counted them 3 times to make sure!

 

[upstarts1979]

On field between A38 and concrete hide, at midday, 13 curlew feeding. I counted them 3 times to make sure!

The 14th Bird tends not to associate with the others until roosting times. Although it was on Amy's Marsh this morning with the rest. :t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Low water at Flashes

The water level surprisingly has dropped to 0.26 which means it has dropped 3 cm in the last week or so.
The series of photo's show the exposed mud. With this much mud it might just attract some winter waders or early passage birds. Rob P has had 2 avocets in the south of the county at Longdon Marsh, so You never know. The first returning Avocet are due within the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Next Wednesday 3rd February the survey team will be out on the Flashes doing the necessary checks. This should be the final phase and at 2pm we are having a meeting with Natural England, the surveyor and Trust staff. Hopefully we will have a fuller picture of where we are at and what will be happening thereafter.
Des I think an early start at the Flashes would be the best bet for the Wednesday Crew. John

 

[Phil Andrews]

The water level surprisingly has dropped to 0.26 which means it has dropped 3 cm in the last week or so.
The series of photo's show the exposed mud. With this much mud it might just attract some winter waders or early passage birds. Rob P has had 2 avocets in the south of the county at Longdon Marsh, so You never know. The first returning Avocet are due within the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Next Wednesday 3rd February the survey team will be out on the Flashes doing the necessary checks. This should be the final phase and at 2pm we are having a meeting with Natural England, the surveyor and Trust staff. Hopefully we will have a fuller picture of where we are at and what will be happening thereafter.
Des I think an early start at the Flashes would be the best bet for the Wednesday Crew. John

Hopefully the 3rd will see the reinstatement of the sluice; no doubt you will be pushing for this to happen asap John.

Several Ringed Plover at Middleton in recent days so waders on the move ....

 

[Birder Gladys]

Hi There
could someone remind me is the work party this Sunday?

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi There
could someone remind me is the work party this Sunday?

Hi Tim - no, we are having time off for good behaviour. Next work party will be Sunday 6th March by which time the water will hopefully have returned to its traditional level, allowing us to see if there are any works required to the shoreline and islands. More closer to the time. :t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

A very mild morning 14 degrees C with the strong SW wind made it feel a bit cooler. Very sheltered and warm on the Flashes.

B]FLASHES[/B]:
Teal 30, shelduck, LAPWING 625, BHG 250, Buzzard 2, green woodp.

Encouragingly this is the highest count of Lapwing since the second half of February 2010 :t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Encouragingly this is the highest count of Lapwing since the second half of February 2010 :t:

I would think this is a pre migration gathering with small groups joining our wintering birds. Or like the curlew being early breeders they will moving into breeding areas soon.

 

[Phil Andrews]

This morning's update from the Moors Pool by Dave J:

Little Egret, Oystercatcher, 14 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 10 Pochard, 5 Water Rail, 3 Jay, Redpoll, Siskin


New for the year (#85) - Oystercatcher

 

[wheatearlp]

Hi Tim - no, we are having time off for good behaviour. Next work party will be Sunday 6th March by which time the water will hopefully have returned to its traditional level, allowing us to see if there are any works required to the shoreline and islands. More closer to the time. :t:

Just mentioning it - March 6th is Mother's Day.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Just mentioning it - March 6th is Mother's Day.

Good point Mike - shall we go for the 28th Feb instead?

 

[wheatearlp]

Good point Mike - shall we go for the 28th Feb instead?

Might not be a bad idea, I can get away with it but not sure who else can 😊

 

[upstarts1979]

Might not be a bad idea, I can get away with it but not sure who else can 😊

Good point Boys. 28th February it is. Will discuss what we will be do regarding the work:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Update from Dave J at the Flashes - male Stonechat, Chiffchaff, 628 Lapwing

Also over reserve: 92 Herring Gull, 257 LBB Gull

 

[upstarts1979]

not a lot to add from Dave's morning session.
Moors: mute swan 7. GCG. Teal 10. Pochard 10 (8 males ). tufted 16. coot 215. Oystercatcher standing on gull rails.

Sailing pool : GCG 4. tufted 12.

Flashes : Teal 14. Shelduck 2. Mallard 25. Greylag 33. coot 6. moorhen 17. Lapwing 685. Curlew 14. Green sand 4. Snipe 7. BHG 455. stayed until 5.5pm no sign of barn owl.

 

[Phil Andrews]

After a brisk start January rather petered out to record a total of 85 species.

Potential additions in February include Barnacle Goose, Pintail, Goldeneye, Scaup, Avocet, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Woodcock, Red Kite, Great Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Gull, Little Owl, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Mealy Redpoll, Brambling, Yellowhammer

 

[Birder Gladys]

Oystercatcher still on moors

 

[Birder Gladys]

enjoyable morning, Moors.
Kingfisher flew out from Bittern channel, Cetti's calling from two places, Water Rail calling from North Moors by causeway, Oystercaster moved around the islands, my first Jay of the year flew in front of west hide, L,Redpole and Siskin in trees by salwarpe