Upton Warren (1 Viewer)

[Jason K]

Me and the other half had an enjoyable day at Upton yesterday, will have to start popping in more frequently again.

Ive got to say, the Little Egret is a nice looking bird, much better that the usual summer Juveniles that we get in the county.

Nice to catch you for a quick chinwag John...although I'm still not sure about your choice of car window sticker!

Jase

 

[Woodchat]

Hi Dave
The reserve has been well covered this week with Tim Craig Des Gordon Stuart etc putting time in.
So its over to you and the other weekend boys to get the biggy then.
I don't know whats happening at the Flashes its either all or nothing we must open the sluice next week . Strange why there are no snipe though.
I saw a fox come from the left of the hide so getting through the fence somehow, have to investigate.
cheers John

Pretty quiet this morning. Highlight was Oystercatcher which flew from Flashes to Moors. Skylark and Meadow Pipit flew over the transmitter field with c10 Stock Doves in that area and a couple of Linnets. The Water Rail was again feeding inside the cage at the flashes feeding station. The Little Egret was again present in the Alders bordering the north shore of the sailing pool. Mistle Thrush and Greenfinch were heard singing.

A flock of 20 Redpolls landed briefly in the North Moors plantation but flew off before I could set my 'scope up and properly scrutinise them. One Siskin was among them (plus a couple of fly-over birds in other locations- e.g. Education Reserve). The Cettis sang a couple of times and a female was also heard to call. 15 Curlews were present on Amy's with similar numbers of Snipes. Male and female Sparrowhawks and a couple of Buzzards were seen. A fairly large flock (c20) of Rooks flew over and some landed on the wires / pylons to the north west of the Moors Pool. No sign of any Raven though - maybe tomorrow!

The Oyk puts me on 74

 

[upstarts1979]

Me and the other half had an enjoyable day at Upton yesterday, will have to start popping in more frequently again.

Ive got to say, the Little Egret is a nice looking bird, much better that the usual summer Juveniles that we get in the county.

Nice to catch you for a quick chinwag John...although I'm still not sure about your choice of car window sticker!

Jase

nice one Jason
Car Tax we have to have one don't we ......Oh you mean my Blues sticker they and WBA are allowed no Claret and blue though

re Little egret I have found out where its going its dropping onto the river salwarp south of the moors. When flushed by people on the footpath it flies into Amy's Marsh
cheers John

 

[midlands birder]

nice one Jason
Car Tax we have to have one don't we ......Oh you mean my Blues sticker they and WBA are allowed no Claret and blue though

re Little egret I have found out where its going its dropping onto the river salwarp south of the moors. When flushed by people on the footpath it flies into Amy's Marshcheers John

i saw the bird drop onto the river on monday, but it looked as if it was happy on amys marsh anyway.......:t:

at upton today, on the moor's, there was a jack snipe on the east islands, bobing up and down for a couple of hours, then suddenly dissapeared and wasent seen again
a peregrine was on the small masts
exacly 160 lapwing were on the islands and ice

but despite hopeing that the bittern might venture onto the ice, one never came out, does anybody have any sudgestions why there hasent been any sightings recently?(apart from the one i had on monday)
MB

 

[upstarts1979]

i saw the bird drop onto the river on monday, but it looked as if it was happy on amys marsh anyway.......:t:

at upton today, on the moor's, there was a jack snipe on the east islands, bobing up and down for a couple of hours, then suddenly dissapeared and wasent seen again
a peregrine was on the small masts
exacly 160 lapwing were on the islands and ice

but despite hopeing that the bittern might venture onto the ice, one never came out, does anybody have any sudgestions why there hasent been any sightings recently?(apart from the one i had on monday)
MB

Hi MB
Yes the LE looked happy in the 'scrape' catching plenty of small fish so I couldn't understand why it goes on to the river which is very dirty and must be impossible to find fish.

re - bittern I wonder if has become more nocturnal and just roosts in the reeds during the day. I think it was seen Thursday
cheers John

 

[Woodchat]

Prediction of Smew - a good thing indeed. On a similar vein I predict Avocet in the next 2 weeks - and on which note the Avocet Ale is now ready and am taking orders..

Well done Gert, your prediction was spot on in the end. I take it all back. Avocet reported on flashes this morning. Hopefully it'll still be around later when I get there.

Anything else you want to predict?:t:B

 

[Jason K]

nice one Jason
Car Tax we have to have one don't we ......Oh you mean my Blues sticker they and WBA are allowed no Claret and blue though

re Little egret I have found out where its going its dropping onto the river salwarp south of the moors. When flushed by people on the footpath it flies into Amy's Marsh
cheers John

I'm not to offended by Blues or Villa to be quite honest...its Wolves I have issues with. Oh no I'm going off topic...I hope I don't get reprimanded!

As for the Egret...its interesting that its spending time on the Salwarp as well, maybe it will stick around for a while if its finding food at both amy's marsh and the river.

 

[upstarts1979]

I'm not to offended by Blues or Villa to be quite honest...its Wolves I have issues with. Oh no I'm going off topic...I hope I don't get reprimanded!
As for the Egret...its interesting that its spending time on the Salwarp as well, maybe it will stick around for a while if its finding food at both amy's marsh and the river.

remember Big Brother:t:
cheers john

 

[upstarts1979]

Well done Gert, your prediction was spot on in the end. I take it all back. Avocet reported on flashes this morning. Hopefully it'll still be around later when I get there.

Anything else you want to predict?:t:B

I predict Phil will fall in the flashes at the next work party and bring only 1 packet of biscuits.

I predict Sand Martin by 5th March and SE Owl next week k

I bet the Avo has gone back to Devon or from whence it came after seeing the snow

cheers John

 

[Gertatron]

Well done Gert, your prediction was spot on in the end. I take it all back. Avocet reported on flashes this morning. Hopefully it'll still be around later when I get there.

Anything else you want to predict?:t:B

Thanks - I think it was a bit of a fluke tbh! I have , however, read the sediment at the bottom of the Avocet Ale bottle and my next prediction is Redshank in the next 2 weeks!

With todays Avocet and Treecreeper in the education part (finally!) I'm now up to 69..

 

[Gertatron]

I predict Phil will fall in the flashes at the next work party and bring only 1 packet of biscuits.

I predict Sand Martin by 5th March and SE Owl next week k

I bet the Avo has gone back to Devon or from whence it came after seeing the snow

cheers John

Presumably your first prediction will be assisted by a swift push when he's not looking!

 

[Woodchat]

This afternoon's highlights included 3 Golden Plovers which dropped in at the Flashes. Found by Terry Norledge - He told me they'd flown off as I walked down the path. Luckily they returned but were spooked a couple of further times by a Peregrine on the masts. Eventually two of the three departed and flew north over the Moors Pool (seen by Mike), leaving just one - a partially summer-plumaged bird.

The Avocet relocated to the Moors Pool (mainly stood on the ice in the centre) after being flushed from the Flashes by Phil doing the monthly WeBS count.

Other species noted included female Kestrel and Little Egret.

UW year list now 76

Attached photos of Golden Plover, Avocet and Snipe.

 

[upstarts1979]

This afternoon's highlights included 3 Golden Plovers which dropped in at the Flashes. Found by Terry Norledge - He told me they'd flown off as I walked down the path. Luckily they returned but were spooked a couple of further times by a Peregrine on the masts. Eventually two of the three departed and flew north over the Moors Pool (seen by Mike), leaving just one - a partially summer-plumaged bird.

The Avocet relocated to the Moors Pool (mainly stood on the ice in the centre) after being flushed from the Flashes by Phil doing the monthly WeBS count.

Other species noted included female Kestrel and Little Egret.

UW year list now 76

Attached photos of Golden Plover, Avocet and Snipe.

Nice one Dave
how frozen was the Moors and Flashes suprised the Moors was frozen at all.
I am just trying to work out how many species so far this year on the reserve
get it to 86 so you haven't mist much
cheers John - game on

 

[Woodchat]

Nice one Dave
how frozen was the Moors and Flashes suprised the Moors was frozen at all.
I am just trying to work out how many species so far this year on the reserve
get it to 86 so you haven't mist much
cheers John - game on

Moors was ~60% frozen (mainly north end). Looked largely ice-free on Flashes. As far as I can work out, the ones I haven't seen are Raven, Nuthatch, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Pintail, Goosander, GBB Gull, Common Gull, (Little Owl?), Chiffchaff. All of which I've got a decent chance of getting at some point (I hope!):t:

 

[timmyjones]

Here's hoping the Golden Plovers stick around for a bit. I haven't managed a Upton year tick the last 2 times I've been and won't be able to get up till next weekend probably.

I make it 88 different species recorded incl Nuthatch Little owl and Red Kite.

Also this is the earliest date that the Avocet have returned, last year was March 1st and 2008 was Feb 27th, interestingly the Avocet last year was also found by Dave Jackson who had it at the flashes then fly to the moors!

 

[Woodchat]

Here's hoping the Golden Plovers stick around for a bit. I haven't managed a Upton year tick the last 2 times I've been and won't be able to get up till next weekend probably.

I make it 88 different species recorded incl Nuthatch Little owl and Red Kite.

Also this is the earliest date that the Avocet have returned, last year was March 1st and 2008 was Feb 27th, interestingly the Avocet last year was also found by Dave Jackson who had it at the flashes then fly to the moors!

Hi Tim,

If it's 88 what's the other one we're missing? Red Kite I hadn't accounted for.

Pretty sure it's the earliest ever Avo.

Cheers,

Dave:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi Tim,

If it's 88 what's the other one we're missing? Red Kite I hadn't accounted for.

Pretty sure it's the earliest ever Avo.

Cheers,

Dave:t:

Heres the ones I haven't seen Golden P, Woodcock, Avo, Oyc, Barn owl, Gos, Pintail, GBBG, Little Gull, Nuthatch, chiff, goldcrest, Grey wag, Mpipit, yellowhammer + Red kite and little owl 17 + 71

 

[timmyjones]

Hi Tim,

If it's 88 what's the other one we're missing? Red Kite I hadn't accounted for.

Pretty sure it's the earliest ever Avo.

Cheers,

Dave:t:

Little Gull?

I don't know why im getting so competitive I'll probably only be able to get down about twice after october when I go to uni so I stand no chance really!

 

[Gertatron]

This afternoon's highlights included 3 Golden Plovers which dropped in at the Flashes. Found by Terry Norledge - He told me they'd flown off as I walked down the path. Luckily they returned but were spooked a couple of further times by a Peregrine on the masts. Eventually two of the three departed and flew north over the Moors Pool (seen by Mike), leaving just one - a partially summer-plumaged bird.

The Avocet relocated to the Moors Pool (mainly stood on the ice in the centre) after being flushed from the Flashes by Phil doing the monthly WeBS count.

Other species noted included female Kestrel and Little Egret.

UW year list now 76

Attached photos of Golden Plover, Avocet and Snipe.

Nice pictures Dave. The Golden Plover didn't return and I stayed until dark but there was a good sized flock of Lapwing on the top field opposite so may have been with them. Discovered this evening that I hadn't counted Green Woodpecker so now up to 70..

 

[Woodchat]

Little Gull?

I don't know why im getting so competitive I'll probably only be able to get down about twice after october when I go to uni so I stand no chance really!

Yes - not seen Little Gull. Also not seen Gadwall - so that would make the year site total 89.

Don't worry, by October the year ticks will be very hard to come by for all of us. A bit of competition spices things up a bit - provides the motivation needed to put in a few extra hours. Cheers:t: