Upton Warren (132 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

Group visit today at Flashes

If you were part of the group today on the reserve could you please note, that prior arrangement is required from the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. This is so we can alert the regulars that the hides could be busy..Also if the group is sufficiently large then the WWT have to give it the ok as car park arrangements at the Sailing pool are a bit more complex than in the past ( since Aztec's take over). There has been several unannounced visits recently and the WWT policy is that they have to be contacted prior to your visit.
Many thanks for you cooperation.
John:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Rob Hemming, Lloyd and Tim report from the Flashes today:

16 Avocet, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 1 Raven, Willow Warbler by the Hen Brook bridge, 2 Peregrines

The wind continues from and easterly direction for the next couple of days and some light rain tomorrow and Tuesday could make things interesting; still plenty of Little Gulls in the region.

 

[Woodchat]

I just flushed a Red Legged Partridge from the path on the flashes - flew behind the archery field.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Little Gull at the Sailing Pool as per Phil W

 

[Phil Andrews]

6 Little Gulls mid afternoon (5 adults and first winter) on the Sailing Pool as per Graham LaB

Currently 2 birds present (adult and first winter) as per Tim O.

 

[Birder Gladys]

interesting day once again had to leave before something good turned up.

 

[Birder Gladys]

epic battle in front of the east hide between a Cormorant and a Large Eel.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Monday 8th April 0845-1245

First visit to the reserve for over 5 months; unfortunately was due back at work in the afternoon so very much "before the Lord Mayor's Show" - the cold overcast sharp NE winds were replaced by warmer bright weather as soon as I drove over the Lickey Hills. Very impressed with all the work around the reserve - well done to all who have contributed.

MOORS POOL
1 Mute Swan (plus 2 on North Moors), 1 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 5 Snipe, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Lapwing, 13 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, first Mallard brood of the year, 2 Teal, 39 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron on North Moors, second summer Med Gull, hybrid Med x BH Gull (appears to be nesting on far island), 1 LBB Gull, 2 Herring Gull, regular Black-headed Gull sporting white leg ring 24H0

SAILING POOL
1 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Greylag Geese, 17 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Tern

FLASHES
20 Avocet (21 reported by Andy P), 2 Little Ringed Plover (4 reported by Andy), 2 Oystercatcher, 14 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 1 LBB Gull

 

[Phil Andrews]

First Common Sandpiper of the year at the Flashes as per JTB

 

[Phil Andrews]

Rather worringly yesterday the Avocet spent most of their time loafing rather than actively feeding - the only place they were appearing to be finding food was in "crake corner" (the near right hand corner of the second flash) which is fed by an underground spring.

Hopefully a rise in temperatures during the month will cause more invertebrates to emerge.

 

[Phil Andrews]

3 Little Gulls at the Moors Pool for ten minutes then flew over the Education Reserve as per Andy P

 

[Phil Andrews]

4 Little Gulls on the reserve this morning - 3 adults at the Moors Pool and a first winter at the Flashes.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Arctic Tern at the Moors Pool as per Andy P

 

[Phil Andrews]

Now 5 Little Gulls at the Moors Pool - 3 adult summers, first summer and a first winter - as per Andy P.

 

[Burberaj]

Today's Arctic Tern and Little Gulls

Not the best of light at The Moors this morning.
Some distant shots of the Arctic Tern and the Little Gulls.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Red Kite over the Moors Pool this afternoon as per JTB

 

[Phil Andrews]

First Reed Warbler of the year at the Moors Pool as per John Ridley.

 

[Phil Andrews]

First Sedge Warbler of the year at the Moors Pool heard from the west track as per Des.

 

[upstarts1979]

All dayer Yesterday

On Tuesday I spent 15hours on the Reserve. I haven't been able to get down to the reserve too much lately so I took the opportunity to reaquaint myself with the place. The place looks very inviting for birds but I get the feeling the Flashes are suffering from a lack of food after last years drought.
Although the wind wasnt the best for the time of year (ENE-NE) anything with a bit of east in it its worthy of a long vigil.
With Andy P and some of the Tuesday work crew on the Moors and several of us at the Flashes including Crofty , Mike W, Phil W and myself...we were all set for action. And it didn't take long with a trio of Little gulls, Arctic tern and the first Common sand of the year. Little gulls increased and the tern stayed most if the day. The cold wind however kept passerines quiet until it warmed up early afternoon. A red kite was the first beneficiary of the higher temperature and the large flock of hirindines were able to fly up higher to find food , having been kept diwn by the cold wind. Some passerines did emerge from the depths of the scrub but nothing new for the year. After monitoring the breeding birds I returned to the Flashes for the evening roost.. There were a lot of birders on site yesterday and thank you to those that paid compliments to the work carried out during the winter by the Tuesday crew...well deserved:t:.
FLASHES ( 5.40 am-11.30)
Little grebe. Teal 11. Shoveler 5. Gadwall 3. Tufted 20(3rd Flash 1st thing). Shelduck 4
Coot c20. Water rail.
Curlew 3(only 1 first thing 2 more appeared later flying off ..almost certainly passage migrants). Avocet 17. Snipe 2. COMMON SAND. green sand. Lapwing 14. Oystercatcher 2. LRP 4.
BHG 2500 ( roosted). LITTLE GULL 2 . LBBG 5. Herring gull 2.
Buzzard 4. Peregrine calling from the masts. Sparrowhawk.
Stock dove c30. Rook ( there is a rookery on the side of A38).
Sand martin 10.
Cetti's w 2 singing. Blackcap 3. Chiffchaff 2. Willow warbler.
Redpoll. Starling 2 song thrush 2 singing.

SAILING POOL:-
GCG 6.
LITTLE gull 3 ( evening).
Sand martin c200. Swallow 10. House martin 2.
Greenfinch singing.

MOORS:-
GCG 2. Little grebe 10. Little egret 2. Cormorant 8. Greylag 4.
Shoveler 30. Teal 7. Gadwall 7. Shelduck 4. Tufted 40+.
Snipe 5. LRP . Lapwing 4. Oystercatcher 4. Curlew.
LITTLE GULL 5. BHG 250. Herring gull 2. LBBG 5.
ARCTIC TERN.
Kestrel. Buzzard 8min. RED KITE. sparrowhawk.
Pheasant. Stock dove. Great sp Woodp. Sand Martin 120. Swallow 3. Song thrush 3. Cetti's w 4. Blackcap c10. Willow warbler 2. Chiffchaff 6.
Pied wag 2..very scarce. Greenfinch. Reed bunting few.

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights:

MOORS:
Shoveler (31)-----------------Teal (4)
Gadwall (4)-------------------Tufted Duck (66)
Shelduck (4)------------------LRP (2)
Snipe (2)----------------------Oystercatcher (4)
Curlew (1)---------------------Lapwing (4)
Little Egret (2)----------------Kestrel
Sparrowhawk------------------Cormorant (3)
G C Grebe (4)-----------------Little Grebe (6)
Song Thrush-------------------Herring Gull (2)
Jay (2)-------------------------Common Gull (4 ad) + (4 1stW) for a few minutes on the water before leaving.
Blackcap (6)-------------------Willow Warbler (2) Behind east hide and causeway bend area.
Cetti's Warbler (3)-------------Sedge Warbler. Singing from reed bed along west track.
Reed Warbler. First heard briefly in main reed bed along causeway.
Med Gull/B H Gull--------------Mallard with six chicks.

FLASHES:
Avocet (4)----------------------LRP (3). Five reported.
Lapwing (10)-------------------Oystercatcher (2)
Shoveler (6)--------------------Teal (14)
Gadwall (1)---------------------Shelduck (3)
Snipe (1)------------------------Cetti's Warbler
Peregrine------------------------Common Gull (1W)

Des.