Upton Warren (112 Viewers)

[Janner Falcon!]

Moors:

N. Moors Pool:-
Shelduck pair; Gadwall pair; Mallard pair; Tufted duck male.

E. Hide:-
Curlew 15; Snipe 33+; Greylag 36; Canada 101 (or more) and a hybrid; Little Egret 3; Oystercatcher 1; Cormorant 23; Pied Wagtail 1; Grey Wagtail 1; Pochard 17 (11m 6f); Little Grebe 1; Shelduck 3 (not including pair on N M Pool); Grey Heron; Shoveler >40; Tufted Duck 5 (3m 2f); Herring Gull 3; Mute Swan 2; Sparrowhawk 1; Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls uncounted.

1. At least 14 Curlew were in the N. A38 field when we arrived - well hidden in the crops. Can you find these 5? (one is back only)
2. A Crow landed on Broadmeadow with what looked like a large egg in its beak - some bird table is missing a suet ball!
3. The Oystercatcher with a VERY elastic worm - it seemed to go on forever.

 

[Bob O.]

Above and beyond!

This pic shows the final stages of todays 'Hard Man selection process' otherwise known as the Tues work party.
PM, from in the water, sliced the tree in half by hand and when it finally gave way he shrugged off the ensuing Tsunami as nothing!
More than 'above and beyond'....outstanding Marine!!!:t::t::t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Today's work.
A. removing the fallen tree across the Salwarp. As Bob O has already mentioned it was a bit of a monster. Thankfully Steve Poole from Lifestyles gave us a hand bringing his chainsaw.:t: It was finally cut up and dragged out of the river. Badgers, feral cats and kids have been using this tree as a bridge ....no more8-P.

B. The stretch of the east marsh border in front of Lifestyles was dead hedged. We installed 25 half round posts and interwove with cut branches from old dead hedged areas.

C. planted 40. hawthorns in front of the dead hedge next to East gate.

Thanks to all 17 of the crew and Steve Poole. Welcome to Sue and Steve two newbies today. Hope we didn't work you too hard and thanks for your help.

Thanks to Bob O. Bobby P. Bob R. Charles. Graham L. Jim B. John C. Keith M. Paul M. Peter E. Ray C. Roger. Terry W. Tony B. Sue and Steve and me.
B john

pics
1 and 2 tree before and after removal from Salwarp banks
3 and 4 dead hedging in front of Lifestyles.
5 planted 40 hawthorns along line of recent dead hedging, in time the hawthorns will grow into the dead hedge. It will be kept low to allow views over the East marsh.

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding at the Moors

I only birded the Moors today , before, during and after the work party.
Teal had albut disappeared with barely double figures scattered around, conversely the shoveler continued to increase. The gyrating feeding flock growing all the time.

species count:
GCG. little grebe 2. little egret 4. shoveler 75. teal 12. gadwall 7. Shelduck 4. pochard 19. tufted 15. coot 55. water rail 6 calling.
curlew 15. lapwing 650. Oystercatcher 2. Snipe 28.
BHG 150. LBBG 10. Herring gull 12.
sparrowhawk 2. Kingfisher. Green woodpecker. great spotted w. Raven.
Fieldfare 2. redwing 3. song thrush 6 singing around the whole of the moors. .
Cetti's Warbler 2. goldcrest singing along Salwarp.
redpoll 3. starling 25 late on.

 

[Phil Andrews]

At the half-way point of the month, February's list stands at just 74 species and the year list at 87.

Possible additions in the remaining 14 days include (year ticks in bold):

Mandarin, Goldeneye, Goosander, Merlin, Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, GBB Gull, Feral Pigeon, Barn Qwl, Tawny Owl, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, House Sparrow, Siskin, Yellowhammer

 

[upstarts1979]

At the half-way point of the month, February's list stands at just 74 species and the year list at 87.

Possible additions in the remaining 14 days include (year ticks in bold):

Mandarin, Goldeneye, Goosander, Merlin, Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, GBB Gull, Feral Pigeon, Barn Qwl, Tawny Owl, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, House Sparrow, Siskin, Yellowhammer

Phil what's the earliest returning date for avocet:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Phil what's the earliest returning date for avocet:t:

13th February (in 2011).

The 17th has been the return date in three of the last four years.

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights:

FLASHES/SAILING POOL*
Little Egret (1)-------------------Oystercatcher (2)
Shelduck (4)---------------------Teal (27)
Snipe (8)-------------------------Lapwing (c900)
Peregrine-------------------------Sparrowhawk
Little Owl-------------------------Raven carrying nest material to the usual site.
B H Gull (c1500)-----------------Herring (30)
L B B Gull (75)-------------------Goldcrest
G C Grebe (2)*------------------Little Grebe (2)*
Mute Swan (2)*

MOORS/N MOORS*
Little Egret (3)-------------------Snipe (25)
Curlew (14)----------------------Shoveler (73)
Pochard (21)---------------------Teal (26)
Gadwall (13)---------------------Tufted Duck (12)
Cormorant (19)------------------Coot (43)
Kingfisher------------------------Cetti's Warbler (2)
Little Grebe (2)------------------Mute Swan (2)
Shelduck (4) (2)*---------------Greylags (5)
Herring Gull (2ad)

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

10 Shelduck in total across the reserve today Des?

Must say your Moseley specialities were showing well at lunchtime!

 

[Phil Andrews]

1 At the southern end of The Moors three Little egret seem very happy even if the pair squabble with thr spare! Seem very happy with the new work there ! Happy enough to breed?
2 Pair of Shelduck on The North moors pool. Seem to be there every time we've passed by.
3 Pair of gadwalls and mallards on the same pool resplendent in the winter sun light.

I suspect the most likely venue for local breeding Little Egrets would be the heronry at Brick Pits, Grimley - the first regional breeding record was in the heronry at Middleton Lakes last year.

Grey Heron bred on the Sailing Pool in 1992, raising 4 young whilst the following two years saw initial courtship and nesting activity. Breeding was suspected (but not proved) in the Education Reserve in 1998 whilst two very fresh juveniles observed in June 2001 indicating breeding close by.

 

[UW82]

10 Shelduck in total across the reserve today Des?

Must say your Moseley specialities were showing well at lunchtime!

Yes to Shelduck query and good to see you were well received in "gull and Waxing city" today.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

good to see you were well received in "gull and Waxing city" today.

Des.

Always nice to keep it tidy down below 8-P

 

[upstarts1979]

Roger (regor) saw the Little Owl at 5.40pm at Flashes

 

[Birder Gladys]

Today's highlights:

FLASHES/SAILING POOL*
Little Egret (1)-------------------Oystercatcher (2)
Shelduck (4)---------------------Teal (27)
Snipe (8)-------------------------Lapwing (c900)
Peregrine-------------------------Sparrowhawk
Little Owl-------------------------Raven carrying nest material to the usual site.
B H Gull (c1500)-----------------Herring (30)
L B B Gull (75)-------------------Goldcrest
G C Grebe (2)*------------------Little Grebe (2)*
Mute Swan (2)*

Des.

Interesting to see so many gulls, noticed this week quite a few gulls flying north over Droitwich towards Upton rather heading towards Westwood as normal.

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

At the half-way point of the month, February's list stands at just 74 species and the year list at 87.

Possible additions in the remaining 14 days include (year ticks in bold):

Mandarin, Goldeneye, Goosander, Merlin, Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, GBB Gull, Feral Pigeon, Barn Qwl, Tawny Owl, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, House Sparrow, Siskin, Yellowhammer

I had a Treecreeper late this morning along the Salwarpe path at the Moors Pool.

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

13th February (in 2011).

The 17th has been the return date in three of the last four years.

I had a single Avocet at the Flashes on Friday 12th February last year, which I posted on the forum. Gert also recorded it/or another the following morning.

 

[Phil Andrews]

I had a Treecreeper late this morning along the Salwarpe path at the Moors Pool.

Ta Andy :t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

I had a single Avocet at the Flashes on Friday 12th February last year, which I posted on the forum. Gert also recorded it/or another the following morning.

Apols Andy - in my haste to answer John's question I only looked at the published reports and forgot to check the 2016 report which is in draft; your sighting was safely logged.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Apols Andy - in my haste to answer John's question I only looked at the published reports and forgot to check the 2016 report which is in draft; your sighting was safely logged.

Actually having looked properly the first record last year (and the earliest ever) was actually the 10th February as per Des and Mike & Yvonne.

 

[Phil Andrews]

4 Little Egrets and 6 Shelduck at the Moors Pool this morning as per Phil Jones.