Upton Warren (1 Viewer)

[Phil Andrews]

I had one on the 3rd at the Flashes but they have been few and far between in the last couple of weeks.

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights, where the N Moors and Flashes were lightly frozen.

MOORS:
Shelduck (2) Pochard (16)
Shoveler (7) Tufted Duck (22)
Teal (24) Curlew (13)
Little Grebe (2) Cormorant (30)
Nuthatch heard in area east of track to east hide.

FLASHES/SAILING POOL;
P F Goose Greylag Goose (24)
Common Gull (1st W). Later seen at the Moors.
Kingfisher reported by two observers.

ED RES:
Goldcrest

Once again neither Cetti's Warbler or Water Rail were seen or heard.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

One again neither Cetti's Warbler or Water Rail were seen or heard.

Des.

The continued absence of these two mainstays of the reserve is worrying; at this time of the year you would be expecting Water Rails to be regularly sighted around the Moors Pool feeding station

 

[upstarts1979]

Spent the afternoon at the reserve, where once again the ice has returned.
The North moors pool is totally frozen and 50% of the flashes. However only the SW marsh and the southern section of Amy's marsh scrape on the moors pool was frozen.
Pretty quiet all round and the ice was forming as the sun dropped being -2 degrees when I left at 5.20pm.

MOORS:
GCG, Little Grebe, Shoveler 5, Shelduck 2, Teal 44, Tufted 29, Pochard 23, Coot 125, Cormorant 16
Snipe 14, Curlew 14, Lapwing 10

FLASHES:
Shelduck 2, Lapwing 200+, Snipe 8,
Goldcrest
B John

 

[Phil Andrews]

Nice to see the diving duck numbers gradually increasing; just need that Lesser Scaup to move north from Slimbridge.

 

[wheatearlp]

... or perhaps that Dusky Thrush to pop down from the north-west :-O:-O:-O

 

[geoffw1946]

The continued absence of these two mainstays of the reserve is worrying; at this time of the year you would be expecting Water Rails to be regularly sighted around the Moors Pool feeding station

I'm wondering if the Bitterns are eating them not just here but at Dosthill NR as well (Up to 4 Bitterns reported there).

 

[Phil Andrews]

... or perhaps that Dusky Thrush to pop down from the north-west :-O:-O:-O

LGRE is intimating that there were 2 Dusky T sightings in the North Midlands recently so perhaps one is closer than we think!

 

[Phil Andrews]

I'm wondering if the Bitterns are eating them not just here but at Dosthill NR as well (Up to 4 Bitterns reported there).

If they are willing to take rats (as observed at the Flashes) then a Water Rail would be no challenge at all.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Visitors to the Moors Pool on Sunday 23rd and 30th January should be aware the some conservation work will be undertaken during the day the manage the invading alder and willow. Hopefully this will not detract from your enjoyment of the reserve.

Regards
Phil

 

[nickgmay]

Waxwings

Has anybody seen any Waxwings in the Worcestershire area please ?

 

[midlands birder]

Has anybody seen any Waxwings in the Worcestershire area please ?

2 Waxwing at eyemore wood, nr bewdley/arley this afternoon/ evening, 50 reported in the car park late morning, but this flock was not seen but 20 were found at a nearby farm, i only saw the 2 though :t:
MB

 

[Jason K]

My ten pence worth...Re. irresponsible photographers

Got back to the warren for the 1st time since 26/11 today, due to many reasons.
i fancied looking at webbs just to check for waxwings even though non had been reported for abit of time, we got to the roundabout to see 5 people with either cameras or bins so i was only hopeing they knew something i didnt.
we parked in the webbs car park overlooking the 'normal' waxwing area and to my supprise there actually was 3 birds feeding there. this is when i notcied a photographer walking towards the tree they were in and just saying ' that is way to close' but before i could get anywhere near to the birds, a female photographer had already stuck her 300mm ( guess) lens up the birds arses and got to within a metre of the tree the flock were feeding in, of cause this flushed the birds into the adjoining garden trees, why try to get so close to the birds if you have a lens that big, really?????
this certain photographer then beet a retreat and wasent seen again.
but no, that wasent the end, a male photographer then continued to follow the flock wherever they went and again got too close to the birds, and again with a bloody big lens, WHY?????
then with the birds flushed to a tree, he continued to stand a metre away from the tree they were feeding in, and it was only 15 mins later when he moved from right beside the tree, the birds again took flight and landed on the trees adjoining the enterence road to webbs, ( about 3 metres from where i was stood by the webbs sign), almost imediatly a bird dropped onto a sorbus in front of me, and it was only the next tree up from where i was standing the bird was in, i was perfectly satisfied with the view i was getting, even though i cnat say the photos were great, at this point the photographer russhed over and before he got there the birds were harried by the local mistle thrush and flew off into the villiage.
at this point i went ot the moors, annoyed by what i had just seen, i dont have a problem with photographers, knowing quite a few myself, but is it really nessesery when you have a telephoto lens to walk right up to the bird, take a couple of snaps just to watch it fly to trees further away????
about an hour or so of sitting at the back of the hide with limited scanning area, due to there being quite a few people in there.

I completely agree with your views regarding the behaviour of some photographers.

I dont wish to tar them all with the same brush as some that I know are responsible, but there is definately a growing number who are so obsessed with getting 'the shot' will get too close to the subject regardless of using 500mm plus lenses.

In some cases birds can be quite approachable eg. Waxwings but howa bout the other birds that have been flushed never to be seen again because some prat with a camera has got too close. There is no thought for the bird who may be busy feeding or the fellow birder who turns up after to find that the bird had be flushed away never to be seen again!

 

[midlands birder]

I completely agree with your views regarding the behaviour of some photographers.

I dont wish to tar them all with the same brush as some that I know are responsible, but there is definately a growing number who are so obsessed with getting 'the shot' will get too close to the subject regardless of using 500mm plus lenses.

In some cases birds can be quite approachable eg. Waxwings but howa bout the other birds that have been flushed never to be seen again because some prat with a camera has got too close. There is no thought for the bird who may be busy feeding or the fellow birder who turns up after to find that the bird had be flushed away never to be seen again!

i agree that not all photographers do this sort of behaviour. as i know of a few who take the bird and other observers into account.

i dont really agree with getting that perfect shot of every bird you see, or getting within touching distance of a bird when you have a huge lens (or any lens for that matter), regardless of whether it gives a better picture quality or not.getting to close to a bird to cause it to flush is just unacceptable in any case, whether it be the most tame bird in the world, or the rarest bird,
i have for one, dipped on many birds because they were flushed due to a photographer getting to close eg Waxwings at webbs in 2008/09, the birds were not seen after that date.
of cause i cant comment on how it used to be in the old times but over the 7/8 years i have been birding, i have seen quite a few photographers acting unresponsibly.
and in reply to a previous comment (pete)- i agree that all birds can be quite confiding if you spend enough time, but birds do what they need to survive, if coming close to potential danger ( as most birds think we are danger) then needs be, but this could also mean they spend more time worrying about the person who is too close than to feed which leaves them worse off in the long run. i know you have photographed waders on the coast from being a reader of your blog and have oftern lay in the wet sand/mud for long periods waiting for the right shot, and that is something i aplaud you for rather than walking up to the birds (which is prctically impossible with waders anyway)
MB

 

[Sy V]

Tell me when you've all finished slating photographers and I'll (reluctantly) retort. Not a single bird spooked, harmed or stressed during the taking of any of these photos. Yes I was in a purpose built hide but I could quite easily have been in my portable pop-up...

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2039371&postcount=141

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Sy - I dont think MB was tarring all photographers with the same brush and his comments were supported by Jason. Photography is an important part of birding and in recent years has helped to identify several new birds to the UK as well broadening the appeal of birding with stunning shots of many of the birds found in the UK but perhaps outside your average dude's knowledge. I would be the first to admit there is also irresponsible behaviour with birders / twitchers (straying on to private land / off the path, getting too close, harrassing a clearly weakened bird, being too noisy, cutting back vegetation etc).

All inappropriate actions - whether by birders and photographers - should be challanged and explained to the individuals as to why they are not acceptable. I look forward to all those interested in wildlife and taking a responsible attitude towards it visiting Upton this year and sharing in its environment and experiences.

Phil

Phil

 

[Woodchat]

Today's highlights:

Pink-footed Goose - still with Greylags in field north of sewage works
2 Shelducks - moors
Peregrine - flew over moors pool and then circled back for a second showing
Adult Great Black-backed Gull - flew over moors due west with three LBBG's at ~11am
Coal Tit - one feeding and showing well in larches in north moors plantation

 

[mike nesbitt]

i agree that not all photographers do this sort of behaviour. as i know of a few who take the bird and other observers into account.

i dont really agree with getting that perfect shot of every bird you see, or getting within touching distance of a bird when you have a huge lens (or any lens for that matter), regardless of whether it gives a better picture quality or not.getting to close to a bird to cause it to flush is just unacceptable in any case, whether it be the most tame bird in the world, or the rarest bird,
i have for one, dipped on many birds because they were flushed due to a photographer getting to close eg Waxwings at webbs in 2008/09, the birds were not seen after that date.
of cause i cant comment on how it used to be in the old times but over the 7/8 years i have been birding, i have seen quite a few photographers acting unresponsibly.
and in reply to a previous comment (pete)- i agree that all birds can be quite confiding if you spend enough time, but birds do what they need to survive, if coming close to potential danger ( as most birds think we are danger) then needs be, but this could also mean they spend more time worrying about the person who is too close than to feed which leaves them worse off in the long run. i know you have photographed waders on the coast from being a reader of your blog and have oftern lay in the wet sand/mud for long periods waiting for the right shot, and that is something i aplaud you for rather than walking up to the birds (which is prctically impossible with waders anyway)
MB

MB.
I can quite understand that you're not to keen on photographers. It does seem that we have overtaken Cats, Dog walkers and all else as public enemy number one.
I can inform you that no one with a long telephoto lens would try to get within touching distance of a bird.
I have three of the ridiculous lenses that you dislike so much and the minimum focusing distance is between 3M and 5M. Any nearer is a waste of time as you couldn't focus. Realistically the optimum distance for a medium sized bird would be 5-8 metres distance.
Thanks and best regards, Mike.

 

[Jason K]

Tell me when you've all finished slating photographers and I'll (reluctantly) retort. Not a single bird spooked, harmed or stressed during the taking of any of these photos. Yes I was in a purpose built hide but I could quite easily have been in my portable pop-up...

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2039371&postcount=141

If you read my post correctly Sy, I do not slate all photographers and actually say that I know some responsible ones. As also mentioned some twitchers are just as bad at flushing birds. But I feel that MB has a fair point in the comments he made and to be honest last time I looked we still lived in a democracy and are able to air our opinions.

I remember in 2008 when the Stone Curlew was at Shenstone, dozens of birders turned up to see it and we all viewed from the pull in at the road side to just about see a distant bird in our scopes. There is no public footpath across the field and the farmer doesnt take kindly to trespassers but still one prat with his big lens just walked straight across the field to within feet of the bird and guess what..he didnt locate it. No respect was shown to the 30 plus birders viewing from a far or to the bird itself which had stopped off on migration.

 

[upstarts1979]

Spent the afternoon with 'Crofty' junior at the Moors. A bit quiet
with highlights being two small Peregrines, presumably young males flying north over the Moors.
Spent a good few hours listening for water rail and cettis - but not a squeak!
Duck count: Teal 12, Shoveler 6, Shelduck pr, Tufted 24, Pochard 14.
Possibly as a result of the work party in the SE corner of Amy's marsh waders were few and far between with a snipe and 14 lapwing. I never visited the Flashes where good numbers of Snipe and lapwings were present.
The massive influx of large gulls 2 weeks ago didn't materialize today with just 10 Herrings and 5 LBBG's.
4 Ravens headed north and 17 reed buntings roosted in a small patch of reeds in the Southern area.
B John