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Upton Warren (5 Viewers)

Today's highlights:

FLASHES:
Glossy Ibis Missing for most of the morning and part of the afternoon but came into roost at 20.20.
Sandwich Tern Arrived around mid-day and after threatening to leave, it didn't depart until late afternoon.
Whimbrel Arrived shortly after the Sandwich Tern and gave excellent views in front of the hide. Still present at dusk.
Common Sand (2)--------------Green Sand (1)
Lapwing (12)--------------------Redshank (1) Probably the Moors bird.
Snipe (2)------------------------Avocet (39)
LRP (4)--------------------------Oystercatcher (2)
Shoveler (4)---------------------Shelduck (3)
Teal (3)--------------------------Little Egret (1)
Med Gull/B H Gull---------------Buzzard (7)
Peregrine------------------------L B B Gull (42)
Herring Gull (2)-----------------Common Gull (4). Two roosted.
Raven----------------------------Sedge Warbler (1)

MOORS:
Little Gull (ad) Arrived at approximately 09.20 and spent c10 minutes on islands close to the east hide before flying off.
Common Sand (1)---------------Redshank (1). See Flashes.
Lapwing (3)----------------------Oystercatcher (4)
Snipe (2)-------------------------Teal (pr)
Shoveler (9)----------------------Gadwall (6)
Tufted Duck (21)-----------------Shelduck (3)
Willow Warbler (2)---------------Cetti's Warbler (2)
Sedge Warbler (2)---------------Kestrel
Herring Gull (4)------------------Cormorant (1)
Little Grebe (4)------------------G C Grebe (2)
Water Rail (1)

Hen Pool:
Reed Warbler (1)----------------Cetti's Warbler (1)

Des.

A couple of record shots from some of today's highlights.
 

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Wow :eek!:

I spoke to the lady who runs one of the shoots - I think she said their target was 600 game birds - which included some Pheasants and may have included the 80 Grey Partridges they also released (although she said they don't target those). They have certainly invested heavily in more extensive heated rearing pens and increased number of artificial feeding sites. I also saw another separate rearing pen nearer Hadley which she said is independent of their shoot.
 
I spoke to the lady who runs one of the shoots - I think she said their target was 600 game birds - which included some Pheasants and may have included the 80 Grey Partridges they also released (although she said they don't target those). They have certainly invested heavily in more extensive heated rearing pens and increased number of artificial feeding sites. I also saw another separate rearing pen nearer Hadley which she said is independent of their shoot.

Breeding birds to blow them away, I’ll never understand people
 
They do eat them or sell them as food so, while I agree that the manner of despatch is a bit controversial, it is not that much different to livestock farming IMO.

Depends really Dave, the controversy of the Grouse and raptors is another side of the coin, rearing something to shoot just doesn’t sit right with me I’m afraid, that aside how are you Dave? Not seen you for years, will you be at the alldayer?
 
Depends really Dave, the controversy of the Grouse and raptors is another side of the coin, rearing something to shoot just doesn’t sit right with me I’m afraid, that aside how are you Dave? Not seen you for years, will you be at the alldayer?

Yes I'll be at the the all-dayer - see you there.

I've never shot a live animal in my life but I do eat meat so I can't condemn it and there are environmental upsides - e.g. game strips and set aside cover -which add to the structural diversity of the landscape.

To my mind, people all over the world just do what they need to do to provide a living for them and their families. For some farms these shoots are a key part of their income. If we were to ban everything we personally find a bit distasteful I don't think it would end well. Obviously, illegal activities like raptor persecution are another matter entirely. :t:
 
Yes I'll be at the the all-dayer - see you there.

I've never shot a live animal in my life but I do eat meat so I can't condemn it and there are environmental upsides - e.g. game strips and set aside cover -which add to the structural diversity of the landscape.

To my mind, people all over the world just do what they need to do to provide a living for them and their families. For some farms these shoots are a key part of their income. If we were to ban everything we personally find a bit distasteful I don't think it would end well. Obviously, illegal activities like raptor persecution are another matter entirely. :t:

As usual eloquently put Dave, looking forward to catching up with you mate
 
only 61 birds in 2 visits today, 8 waders Avocet, Common Sand, Green Sand,Lapwing ,LRP, Redshank,Snipe, Oystercatcher. Other highlights Red Legged Partridge, Little Erget, Glossy Ibis. a single Swallow and Cormorant.
 

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Early morning at the Flashes Dave J reports:

GLOSSY IBIS till 05.55 then lost to view, only 34 Avocet in quick count, 4 LR Plover, 4 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, Lesser Whitethroat

2 Little Egret roosted on Sailing Pool.
 
After several days of warm weather backed by south-easterly winds the conditions break on Saturday afternoon. The potential of overcast conditions supported by drizzle and/or thunderstorms and continued SE winds, has great potential to drop passages waders and terns as well as passerines. If anyone can make it down tomorrow afternoon / evening you may be well rewarded!!
 

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After several days of warm weather backed by south-easterly winds the conditions break on Saturday afternoon. The potential of overcast conditions supported by drizzle and/or thunderstorms and continued SE winds, has great potential to drop passages waders and terns as well as passerines. If anyone can make it down tomorrow afternoon / evening you may be well rewarded!!

If you do find an UNUSUAL BIRD could you ease contact one of us.
TEXT PHIL, MIKE or ME (our numbers are in the log books) anyone who phones me will automatically be added to my #uptonwarren text list ;),
DON'T JUST TWEET AS I don't always get internet signal. WE CAN THEN GET NEWS OUT to the 145 people on the List.:t:john
 
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