Upton Warren (90 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

Nice Ringed Plover John

Same bird today a female :t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

The Sandwich Terns relocated to the Flashes before flying off southwest mid afternoon.

One of the birds was sporting a yellow leg ring with black "UPD" on one leg and a small metal BTO style ring on the other. This would appear to originate from a scheme in Northumberland (Farne Islands and Coquet Island).

A very swift response from the ringing coordinator, Chris Redfern from Newcastle University.

The Sandwich Tern with yellow leg ring UPD was ringed as a chick on Coquet Island, Northumberland on the 14th June 2015. It was seen later seen on the 11th August 2017 at Craigmill Burn, approximately one mile east of Carnoustie (a few miles north-east of Dundee).

 

[upstarts1979]

Today at Reserve

Thanks to The team for refurbishing the tern rafts and retreiving the 4th raft for repair.

MOORS:
The morning started misty which brought down a dozen swifts. The 2 oystercatcher chicks had moved into the scrape specifically snipe island. The temperature rose to c20 degrees by mid day and then the clouds increased as did the SW wind. This may have brought in the Sandwich terns. Heavier and darker clouds forced down a mixed flock c100 swift and hirundines. But that was as good as it got.
Species count MOORS
Little grebe 6.
Shoveler pr. Gadwall 5. Shelduck 6 . Tufted 40
Oystercatcher 4+2ch . Lapwing 4. Avocet 2.
Common Tern 3. Sandwich tern 5.
BHG 350. Herring Gull 4. LBBG 12.
Kestrel. Buzzard 4.
Green woodpecker.
Swift 40. House Martin 10. Swallow 20. Sand Martin 30.
Cetti's 3. Willow warbler. Chiffchaff 3. Blackcap 6. Sedge warbler 6. Reed warbler 12.
Mistle thrush.

FLASHES:
Mute swan 5.
Shoveler 2prs. Shelduck 2.
Curlew. Common sand. Ringed plover. LRP 5. Lapwing 5. Avocet 32. Oystercatcher 2.
MED Gull 1st summer. Hybrid med x BHG.
BHG 700.
Lesser Whitethroat. Cetti's w.
Linnet 4. Pied wag.

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Moors Pool this morning Andy P reports:

3 Oystercatcher + 2 chicks, 3 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 5 Common Tern, 5 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler (pair)

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Flashes Des reports:

Common Sand, 4 LR Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 31 Avocets, first summer Med Gull, 2 Gadwall, Shelduck, 3 Lapwing.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Greylag Goose brood with 5 goslings on the Sailing Pool as per Sue Hyde.

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights:

FLASHES/SAILING POOL*
Avocet (31)--------------Med Gull (2 x 1s)A second bird seen at the Moors early afternoon flew in at 18.
Common Sand-----------LRP (5)
Lapwing (3)--------------Oystercatcher (2) + 2 chicks.
Gadwall (2) + 2*--------Shoveler (2)
Shelduck (6)-------------Skylark
G C Grebe (3)*----------Tufted Duck (21)*
Cetti's Warbler-----------Rook*

MOORS:
Avocet (2)---------------Oystercatcher (3)
Lapwing (3)-------------Common Tern (3)
Shelduck (1)------------Shoveler (2)
Gadwall (6)--------------Little Grebe (2)
Kestrel-------------------Swift (c60)
L B B Gull (3)-----------Herring Gull (2)
Cormorant (1)----------Tufted Duck (43)

Des.

The two 1s Med Gulls present at the Flashes this evening.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Presumably you meant to put that there were 2 Oyk chicks at the Moors Pool rather than the Flashes Des?

 

[Phil Andrews]

Attached are the collated results from the 17 sites that participated in the West Mids Spring All-Day Birdwatch on Saturday 5th May. A total of 130 species were recorded across the locations, compared to 138 last year when fewer sites took part. Passage was slow / non-existence across the region, probably best demonstrated by no records of Dunlin.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Two first summer Med Gulls this morning - one at the Flashes as per Andy A and the other at the Moors Pool as per Andy P.

 

[UW82]

Presumably you meant to put that there were 2 Oyk chicks at the Moors Pool rather than the Flashes Des?

Correct Phil.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Whimbrel at the Flashes as per Andy A

 

[upstarts1979]

Correct Phil.

Des I noticed the absence of willow warbler ...a shame as there was still one singing along East track.:-C

 

[UW82]

Des I noticed the absence of willow warbler ...a shame as there was still one singing along East track.:-C

Yes, I did hear that one but didn't note it at the time. For a while, we were wondering if there were two, but it was moving about. What were definitely missing were Common and Lesser Whitethroats.

Des.

 

[UW82]

A Fox lurked in the meadow last night and then made an easy exit by climbing the fence at quite a high point well left of the large metal gate. The climbing shot was taken rather hastily!

A second skinnier Fox was seen outside the fence near the farm buildings.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

We may need to consider an electric fence then. The RSPB manage it around Jubilee Wetlands at Middleton Lakes which is a significantly longer perimeter than the Flashes. Perhaps Andy Harris could pick up the phone to Nick Martin?

 

[Peregrine Trousers]

Yes, I did hear that one but didn't note it at the time. For a while, we were wondering if there were two, but it was moving about. What were definitely missing were Common and Lesser Whitethroats.

Des.

Had 1 willow warbler on east track today which then flew back to alders opposite lifestyles. At flashes had Lesser Whitethroat singing at 06:00 by Cuckoo Hide, and Whitethroat in Hedgerow to right of Avocet hide about 08:00

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

A Hobby briefly appeared amongst c100 Swift late morning at the Moors Pool. Shortly before Clive Lee & Brian Richardson had witnessed 2 Arctic Tern fly north through the same location.

 

[UW82]

Had 1 willow warbler on east track today which then flew back to alders opposite lifestyles. At flashes had Lesser Whitethroat singing at 06:00 by Cuckoo Hide, and Whitethroat in Hedgerow to right of Avocet hide about 08:00

Common Whitethroat seems scarce when compared with previous years.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

There is an intriguing report in the Flashes log book of a Short-eared Owl on Sunday 6th May flying over the water mobbed by the resident birds and then up over the fields at around midday. Unfortunately there was no name, contact number or even initials against the entry.

Whilst making the usual plea that any rare or usual birds are phoned / texted into John, myself or Brian Stretch so we can disseminate the news (contact details at the front of all the log books) or posted here or on Twitter in good time, it is recognised that some sightings are simply fly-throughs that wont ever been seen again.

However it would be very helpful if such observations were entered into the log books with a name and ideally contact number and brief description so we can follow up on these sightings and they can form part of the reserve and County's formal ornithological records.