Upton Warren (79 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

It is unsurprising that with good birds such as Hen Harrier, Caspian Gull, Brambling and Ring Ouzel that October finished ahead of its average total of 95.43 species on a decent score of 96 with no significant missing birds.

As a result of the above the year list has now progressed nicely to 145 species and the prospect of reaching the 150 mark is again back on. Potential additions during the course of November include:

Whooper Swan, Scaup, Red-crested Pochard, Bittern, Merlin, Grey Plover, Woodcock, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Short-eared Owl, Rock Pipit, Waxwing, Mealy Redpoll

 

[Phil Andrews]

At the Moors Pool early afternoon Dave J reports:

3 Jack Snipe, 2 Little Egret, first winter Common Gull

 

[Phil Andrews]

For the Flashes yesterday afternoon Mike W reported:

Barn Owl at 4:10pm, 500+ Starling, 130 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose, c70 Herring Gull, c50 LBB Gull, c90 BH Gull, no Green Sandpiper roosting.

Also Siskin along the east track of the Moors Pool as per Mike and 2 Coal Tit on the North Moors feeders as per Glenn H

 

[Phil Andrews]

The hybrid Med x BH Gull that the Wednesday Crew had at the Flashes on the 22nd October was noted yesterday at Upton-upon-Severn by Andy Warr.

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Moors Pool this morning Dave J reports:

4 Jack Snipe, Little Egret, 17 Meadow Pipit, 2 Siskin, Skylark, Curlew, 20+ Fieldfare, 60+ Pied Wagtail in roost

 

[Phil Andrews]

At the Flashes this morning Andy P reports:

2 Stonechat, 2 Snipe, 25 Lapwing, 85 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk

 

[Burberaj]

Water Rail

Water Rail at the North Moors on Friday. Showed for several minutes while preening. The work done by the work party over the last few weeks creates opportunities such as this.

 

[keithr]

North Moors around 1.20pm Little Egret flew over south and a pair of Muntjac passed under feeders and off to the left.

Flashes….Barn Owl around 4.30pm.

 

[Birder Gladys]

pics from today.
1 started with Deer.
2 this chap was showing well.
3 Do birds remember.
4 this chap was showing well.
5 finished with deer 2 of 6

 

[Phil Andrews]

Roe or Muntjac in the last photo Tim?

 

[Birder Gladys]

Roe or Muntjac in the last photo Tim?

All 6 were Roe Deer. A lot of wildlife about at the moment.

 

[upstarts1979]

Tuesday work party

Tomorrow we will be working at the North Moors.
The work includes :-
Completing the seasonal pool work, raking up any willow cutting to prevent any growing.
Building up viewing screen overlooking seasonal pool.
Removing willows from the island in front of the viewing screens and any around the newt pools
Burning all brash not requied for dead hedging.
Completing the layering and coppicing the NW blackthorn thicket.

Meet at Moors car park 8.45
Those not coming to work party I suggest going to Flashes in the morning as the car park at Moors will be full
John
ps Julie is baking cake:eat::t:

 

[Kimbo52]

Not only But also....

In addition to the work party activity at the North Moors [as per John's previous post] there will be a small [ladies only I'm told !!] work party at the Hen Brook Hide intending to clear bramble that has obscured the side views from the hide. This will open up a much wider view of the pool and in theory increase the capacity of the hide. The North Moors crew may need wellies and or heavy duty boots depending on your chosen activity.
In addition there will be small group visit to the reserve - not sure where first or what time.

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Moors Pool this morning Andy P reports:

3 Jack Snipe, 25+ Snipe, 142 Lapwing, 18 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 12 Shoveler, 32 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, GC Grebe, 3 L Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 14 Cormorant, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Nuthatch, 2 Coal Tit, Blackcap, c50 Redwing

 

[Phil Andrews]

From the Flashes this morning Phil W reports:

2 Stonechat (male and female), 14 Snipe, 26 Teal, 80 Lapwing, 16 Shoveler 2 Gadwall (pair), 3 Curlew and lots of Meadow Pipits and Linnets

 

[discors]

Birds of Spurn.

If anyone is interested Ive got some copies of this epic book Birds of Spurn discounted from £30 to £20 or even free if you join Spurn bird obs by Direct Debit for £24 pa.I can deliver to Upton if you contact me on birdforum or twitter @discors1

 

[Phil Andrews]

Woodcock - new for the year - flushed from the North Moors plantation today.

 

[upstarts1979]

Today's work party North Moors

Thanks to the 20 of the crew today we completed all the tasks the girls cleared the rank vegetation at sides of Hen Pool hide. This will improve viewing and accommodate more people. We will be building a screen in due course.

At North Moors work included.
1. Finishing off dead hedge viewing screen overlooking the seasonal pool and scrubby thicket to the west. This has replaced the screen that was there previously but had fallen into disrepair and was overgrown with bramble.

2. Completed the NW scrub thicket management. There is now a wide range of heights and density...known as 'structural diversity'..over the next few years this area will be attractive to a wide range of nesting and foraging species. The section that we worked on over the last 3 weeks was tall and leggy and ideal for magpie nests. After cutting and then dragging out a tangled mess of bramble and thorn bushes, we were left with 3 foot tall thin uprights. These were cut to the ground and the area will become a thick low scrub within 3 years. The problem in this area is that the sun couldn't penetrate through the canopy but now it will and rejuvenate and start the cycle again.

3. Willows have grown up along the NE corner of the reed bed and in front of the viewing screens on the island as well as in the two newt ponds. Today we cut down the willows that are obscuring the views and drying out the reed bed. By removing the willows from the island we are helping the low scrub that has established there. This is prime Cetti's habitat and judging by the amount of yew trees saplings that have sprouted up it is also a roost for winter thrushes where they have dropped yew berries.

Thanks to Alan D, Andy A. Bob G. Bobby P , Charles, Ellen A, Ian A, Ian B, Jim B, Julie W, Kim W, Nick F, Paul M, Roger S, Steve S, Steve T, Sue T, Tony B, Newbie Nigel C and me
Thanks to Julie for the amazing 3 varieties of cake.:t:B john
Tony B is supplying cake next week :t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding the reserve today 7am to 5.30 pm

MOORS:
Little grebe 6. Cormorant 18. Mute Swan 4.
Shoveler 3 am. 23 pm. Gadwall 23. Teal 34. Pochard pr. Tufted 21. Coot 53. Water rail several heard.
Grey heron .
Snipe 46, Jack snipe 2, lapwing 70.
Kestrel 2. Sparrowhawk.
Green woodpecker , kingfisher 2.
Redwing c20, fieldfare 5. Mistle thrush.
Cetti's w singing 3. Goldcrest 5.
Pied wag . Grey wag. coal tit 2. Greenfinch 10. Chaffinch.

FLASHES
Teal 38, shoveler 38, Gadwall 20, coot 38. Moorhen 34.
Barn Owl appeared at 5 pm and hunted above the reeds where the starlings were roosting.
Green woodp. Cetti's w.
from 4.30pm many species arrived to roost
These include.
Canada's 310. Greylag 10. Mallard 30, Tufted 5. Green sand 7. Curlew 12. BHG 45. c200 large gulls arrived late on but only 45 or so roosted the rest carried on north.
Starling c200, c15 redwing.
Pied wags gathered but moved off to roost at moors.

FLYING OUT AT NIGHT
Prior to dark snipe started appearing along the gulley (in front of the meadow) and also on tbe spit in front of hide at least 25 birds. At dark birds were heard from elsewhere as they flew out to feed a minimum of 30 birds.
Roe deer 4 in north field.
A WOODCOCK was flushed in the plantation early afternoon at the North Moors by Paul Moseley his 1st on the reserve.

 

[upstarts1979]

Feed fund donation

A special thanks to one of our old stalwarts Peter Evans for a very generous donation to the fund .
He regularly trecks up from Bicester to attend work parties. B :t: