Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Hope the Redstart is still there tomorrow and doesn't do a "White-throated Robin" on me by disappearing during Friday night.
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Upton Warren (1 Viewer)
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Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
In addition to the above there were 17 Avocets - including the one with the broken leg, at least 10 LRPs - including the 2 chicks remaining from the most recent brood and the 2 fledged juveniles presumably from the first brood, 6 Curlews and 4 Green Sandpipers plus one more at the Sailing Pool.
Over at the Moors I saw 2 Common Tern chicks, 1 Great Crested Grebe chick and 3 Oystercatchers.
With the male Redstart now present for 7 days and a female also in the vicinity is it just possible that they might be breeding?
In addition to the above there were 17 Avocets - including the one with the broken leg, at least 10 LRPs - including the 2 chicks remaining from the most recent brood and the 2 fledged juveniles presumably from the first brood, 6 Curlews and 4 Green Sandpipers plus one more at the Sailing Pool.
Over at the Moors I saw 2 Common Tern chicks, 1 Great Crested Grebe chick and 3 Oystercatchers.
With the male Redstart now present for 7 days and a female also in the vicinity is it just possible that they might be breeding?
Andy, did you see a juv Warbler just to the right of the Hen Brook Hide when you left the Flashes...?? Juv Willow Warbler ?? G L-B and the 2 guys who I cought up with again at the Moors thought WW..? moors bird or a flashes bird..or not a willow warbler ?
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
I don't recall seeing a juvenile willow warbler there, though I did see some juvenile blackcaps to the left of the Hen Brook Hide. Juvenile willow warblers I've seen in the past have usually been very yellow-breasted birds.
rollingthunder
Well-known member
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
A male Redstart performed well along the back of the hedge this afternoon on the flashes - a couple of record shots below. Today's bird had a very washed-out breast - either it has moulted to give this appearance since I saw it on Sunday or it is a different bird. I didn't see the female unfortunately.
The summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit is a real stunner.
A recently-fledged juvenile Reed Bunting was being fed by its father in the scrub in front of the main flashes hide (record shots below)
A flyover Yellowhammer was unusual for this time of year.
2 Skylarks were in the transmitter field again.
Butterflies included 2+ Marbled Whites, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.
The summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit is a real stunner.
A recently-fledged juvenile Reed Bunting was being fed by its father in the scrub in front of the main flashes hide (record shots below)
A flyover Yellowhammer was unusual for this time of year.
2 Skylarks were in the transmitter field again.
Butterflies included 2+ Marbled Whites, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.
Attachments
upstarts1979
Well-known member
That reed bunting shot is brill Dave. The redstart has faded, would have thought its head would have moulted as well. Nice to think it is another bird.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
In addition to Dave's sightings:
MOORS POOL
4 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 17 GC Grebe + 1 youngester still, 60 Coot, 2+ Common Tern chicks on shingle island, 3 Mute Swan, 9 Lapwing, 3 Oyks, Sparrowhawk flew into the Education Reserve with an item of prey.
FLASHES
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Green Sand, 1 Teal (m), 3 Oyk, 10 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 2 LBB Gull, 6+ Curlew, 6 Coot, 16+ Avocet, 9 LRP (incl 2 fledged young) - 2 young seen this morning but only 1 later after a Sparrowhawk landed on the mud, 2 Redstart - male showing well in hedge behind the hide viewed from the bench this afternoon; female in hedge along footpath viewed from the hide this morning, several young Reed Bunting and Goldfinch, 155 Wood Pigeon, Skylark on the ground in the transmitter field, Lesser Whitethroat behind the hide.
The fox was in the Flashes again (two visits) and took a young Moorhen and carried in back towards the barns of Hobden Hall Farm.
MOORS POOL
4 Cormorant, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 17 GC Grebe + 1 youngester still, 60 Coot, 2+ Common Tern chicks on shingle island, 3 Mute Swan, 9 Lapwing, 3 Oyks, Sparrowhawk flew into the Education Reserve with an item of prey.
FLASHES
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Green Sand, 1 Teal (m), 3 Oyk, 10 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 2 LBB Gull, 6+ Curlew, 6 Coot, 16+ Avocet, 9 LRP (incl 2 fledged young) - 2 young seen this morning but only 1 later after a Sparrowhawk landed on the mud, 2 Redstart - male showing well in hedge behind the hide viewed from the bench this afternoon; female in hedge along footpath viewed from the hide this morning, several young Reed Bunting and Goldfinch, 155 Wood Pigeon, Skylark on the ground in the transmitter field, Lesser Whitethroat behind the hide.
The fox was in the Flashes again (two visits) and took a young Moorhen and carried in back towards the barns of Hobden Hall Farm.
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Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
I dont think the male Redstart was seen on Thursday so that might have been change-over day. Any thoughts from anyone who saw the Redstarts during the week?
Phil
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
To paraphrase the recently departed Peter Faulk's character Lieutenant Columbo: "Just one more thing":
Chris Thomson, a fellow by the name of Andrew and myself had some great views of White-letter Hairstreak butterfly as it fed on the flower of a thistle on the bank of the Salwarpe near where the footpath meets the A38. Andrew - I don't know his surname but have seen him at the reserve before - was the sharp-eyed one amongst us who initially saw it fly high into one of the nearby willows.:t:
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
John Cox also said he saw a WL Hairstreak on a thistle head along there - he said he wished he'd had his camera on him. I know where I'm going tomorrow.....
midlands birder
Well-known member
20 Curlew Roosted this evening, Blackwit still, 1 young LRP chick, 17 Avo, 2 Lesser whitethroat by bench, and 3+ Garden warbler in small bush below the right side of the hide.
didnt see any redstart despite looking
Worryingly A Vixon Fox and 2 Cubs were seen in fields to the south of the flashes, lets hope they dont catch the trait from their father, in the area to the right of the hide by the fox proof fencing ( inside the 'outer' fencing) the area was mobbed regularly all night, so i presume the fox (or another predator) was there
MB
didnt see any redstart despite looking
Worryingly A Vixon Fox and 2 Cubs were seen in fields to the south of the flashes, lets hope they dont catch the trait from their father, in the area to the right of the hide by the fox proof fencing ( inside the 'outer' fencing) the area was mobbed regularly all night, so i presume the fox (or another predator) was there
MB
Erythrocephalus
Registered User
We saw the male redstart on Thursday evening (photo included in my 1st post). The red coloration was very striking on the bird we saw.
Richard
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Thanks Richard - certainly looks like a different bird; of course there is nothing preventing two males to be present in the hedgerows.
Phil
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Hi MB - did this look like a family party of Garden Warblers?
Looks like the Sprawk may well have taken one of the young LRP yesterday; hope its not a tactic it gets used to.
Phil
AlanH46
Well-known member
Hi Phil,
Both LRP chicks were present this morning at 5.30; plus 7 Green Sands; 1 Redhank; 1 Blackwit but only 12 Avocets.
Alan H
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Thanks Alan - thanks a relief. Good to see the Green Sand numbers gradually increasing. The majority of the Avocet are now fledged so there is little keeping them at the Flashes.
Phil
midlands birder
Well-known member
Yeah phil
A bird ( presumably young) was begging for food quite oftern from the bush and the Adults ofthen reacted to the call, so i would presume it was a family, but due to the views mostly being obscured, i never saw a bird with a gape..
MB
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Thanks for that Alan, I have just got back from upton (birded from 1 till 9pm). At the Flashes
I was well pleased when the 2nd LRP chick appeared on the 1st Flash island tonight c8pm. The parents have moved them from the mainland for safety reasons as the Gull roost is now slowly building up in the central area.
There was constant LRP activity from 7pm onwards and after several attempts I struggled to count 8 adults. However the intensity of activity reached fever pitch by 8.30pm prompting me to count again, this time there were 13 adults! Our 2 fledged Juvs have departed (or should I say were forced away by their parents) as they attempt a 2nd brood.
The Avocet still number 17 (12 juvs including hoppo damaged right leg), the late nesting pair have abandoned and left the site.
As well as Alan's list there were, male Teal, 2 roosting common terns, 24 fledged BHG, 9 stock dove on the mud, adult water rail in oaktree reed bed and at least 18 curlew in the sewage field.
A couple of juv pied wagtailand an adult, c10 linnet and goldfinches fed on the salt marsh. Singles of all 3 hirundines were seen above the water, whilst 30 + swifts fed over the field. Skylark's sang from the north field.
B
John
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Thanks for that Alan, I have just got back from upton (birded from 1 till 9pm). At the Flashes
I was well pleased when the 2nd LRP chick appeared on the 1st Flash island tonight c8pm. The parents have moved them from the mainland for safety reasons as the Gull roost is now slowly building up in the central area.
There was constant LRP activity from 7pm onwards and after several attempts I struggled to count 8 adults. However the intensity of activity reached fever pitch by 8.30pm prompting me to count again, this time there were 13 adults! Our 2 fledged Juvs have departed (or should I say were forced away by their parents) as they attempt a 2nd brood.
The Avocet still number 17 (12 juvs including hoppo damaged right leg), the late nesting pair have abandoned and left the site.
As well as Alan's list there were, male Teal, 2 roosting common terns, 24 fledged BHG, 9 stock dove on the mud, adult water rail in oaktree reed bed and at least 18 curlew in the sewage field.
A couple of juv pied wagtailand an adult, c10 linnet and goldfinches fed on the salt marsh. Singles of all 3 hirundines were seen above the water, whilst 30 + swifts fed over the field. Skylark's sang from the north field.
B
Cheers John - what sort of numbers is the BHG roost getting? Wont be long before we start thinking about Meds again. Would be nice if the Common Tern roost of recent years at the Flashes was repeated this year; after breeding we were getting flock of 30+ in previous years.
