Upton Warren (2 Viewers)

[upstarts1979]

I saw that and thought the same thing! But there are a lot of birds in the country and so you never know could be though, maybe that's where our avocets come from as well?

I cant wait for global warming when the east coast disappears and worcestershire is the east coast (just as it was 10,000 years ago in the last ice age - when upton was at the edge of land and sea FACT) we will then be the new Cley-next-the-sea.

 

[upstarts1979]

Wader movement:
This last week or two have seen several species of wader moving in and out of upton. Curlews have more than doubled to 28, Golden plover have been seen in varying amounts amongst the lapwings, Avocets have come and gone, Jack Snipe are more conspicuous almost certainly relating to passage birds more than our wintering birds becoming less shy, Common Snipe numbers are never the same from day to day another sign of movement.Redshank and oystercatchers also staying for less than a day. Breeding lapwings arriving amongst the wintering birds. Feb and March are very underated months for passage but for waders its all happening so keep an eye open for others.
I predict Grey plover and Barwit next are you listening Gert..

cheers John

 

[Gertatron]

Wader movement:
This last week or two have seen several species of wader moving in and out of upton. Curlews have more than doubled to 28, Golden plover have been seen in varying amounts amongst the lapwings, Avocets have come and gone, Jack Snipe are more conspicuous almost certainly relating to passage birds more than our wintering birds becoming less shy, Common Snipe numbers are never the same from day to day another sign of movement.Redshank and oystercatchers also staying for less than a day. Breeding lapwings arriving amongst the wintering birds. Feb and March are very underated months for passage but for waders its all happening so keep an eye open for others.
I predict Grey plover and Barwit next are you listening Gert..

cheers John

That would be great - but it will be LRP by the end of the weekend!

 

[Brian Stretch]

I can tell you where the 5 Osprey's I have seen at upton came from and that is Africa or Scotland as they were all prior to the Rutland introduction scheme . I haven't seen Red kite at upton so as far as I am concerned it could be wales or oxford we will never know. My point is that once they have assimilated does it matter where they come from they were once a part of the UK avifauna.
With many southern european species moving north Little egret is a prime example, could Glossy ibis be the next...there are lots of species knocking on the door and if they all want to appear at upton thats ok by me.
My upton list 207 and counting
cheers John
mind you the lesser flamingo, sacred ibis, hottentot teal, and manx shearwater (released by a vet after it was rescued elsewhere) are not on my list actually I wonder if Brian will let me have the shearwater, it was flying around the Flashes and we didn't know it had been released:flowers:

Hi John,

Was the bird originally picked up at Upton? Personally I wouldn't count it, but if it arrived on the reserve under it's own steam I guess many would add it to their lists. Maybe one to put out there and see what other Upton listers think.........

Brian
___________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

 

[wheatearlp]

Was the bird originally picked up at Upton? Personally I wouldn't count it, but if it arrived on the reserve under it's own steam I guess many would add it to their lists. Maybe one to put out there and see what other Upton listers think.........

Brian
___________________________

Hi Brian,

As far as we are all aware it was picked up elswhere in the county and released on the Flashes. Not sure where it was picked up, or who released it other than we know Alan Shepherd was involved somehow.

One thing that has always bugged me about the Upton records is why the American Wigeon from 1974 was deemed 'Exotica'. I've never seen anything to explain the matter one way or the other. I didn't see it, so have no personal reason for wanting to know, it just seemed odd, especially as it was seen in winter (December I think?)

Cheers
Mike

 

[wheatearlp]

Was the bird originally picked up at Upton? Personally I wouldn't count it, but if it arrived on the reserve under it's own steam I guess many would add it to their lists. Maybe one to put out there and see what other Upton listers think.........

Brian

___________________________

Hi Brian,

As far as we are all aware it was picked up elswhere in the county and released on the Flashes. Not sure where it was picked up, or who released it other than we know Alan Shepherd was involved somehow.

One thing that has always bugged me about the Upton records is why the American Wigeon from 1974 was deemed 'Exotica'. I've never seen anything to explain the matter one way or the other. I didn't see it, so have no personal reason for wanting to know, it just seemed odd, especially as it was seen in winter (December I think?)

Cheers
Mike

 

[upstarts1979]

Hi John,

Was the bird originally picked up at Upton? Personally I wouldn't count it, but if it arrived on the reserve under it's own steam I guess many would add it to their lists. Maybe one to put out there and see what other Upton listers think.........

Brian
___________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

Hi Bri
A bit of tongue in cheek really. I just remember Richard Harbird, myself and several others being ecstatic in the hide as the bird flew around and then the hide door opens and nonchalantly Alan sheperd said "oh didn't you know it had been brought here in a car - I RELEASED IT EARLIER".:C
I think he left pretty soon after with his tail between his legs.

cheers John :t:

 

[timmyjones]

One thing that has always bugged me about the Upton records is why the American Wigeon from 1974 was deemed 'Exotica'. I've never seen anything to explain the matter one way or the other. I didn't see it, so have no personal reason for wanting to know, it just seemed odd, especially as it was seen in winter (December I think?)

Cheers
Mike

It was indeed December 2nd 1974.
In the Birds of Upton Warren it just says that despite several other West Midlands records this record was deemed not to be wild despite being noted on a very feasible date for the occurrence of this species.

I'm guessing there was a genuine reason at the time, maybe it was tame or had a ring?

Hi Bri
A bit of tongue in cheek really. I just remember Richard Harbird, myself and several others being ecstatic in the hide as the bird flew around and then the hide door opens and nonchalantly Alan sheperd said "oh didn't you know it had been brought here in a car - I RELEASED IT EARLIER".:C
I think he left pretty soon after with his tail between his legs.

cheers John :t:

If I remember correctly the Manx Shearwater was picked up in a Bromsgrove garden 4th September 1994 and later released 8th September at the flashes (John Belsey, Richard Harbird and Alan Shepherd) but given the assisted nature it wasn't added to the Upton list.

 

[upstarts1979]

re shingled island at Amy's marsh

The main shingle island in the scrape section of Amy's marsh has had a make over this week.
The Tuesday work party team have ferried 3 tonnes of shingle onto the island in front of the east hide.
The shingle was loaded into buckets and all sorts of containers and then on top of the canoe and then pulled across to the island. The island was previously looking a bit weather beaten with exposed polythene and canada geese droppings covering the old shingle. it now looks brilliant - well done to Gordon, Stuart, Paul and all the lads and lasses.
Lets hope the waders like it

Photo 1 before re-shingled
photo 2 after 3 tonnes of shingle put on

 

[Gertatron]

The main shingle island in the scrape section of Amy's marsh has had a make over this week.
The Tuesday work party team have ferried 3 tonnes of shingle onto the island in front of the east hide.
The shingle was loaded into buckets and all sorts of containers and then on top of the canoe and then pulled across to the island. The island was previously looking a bit weather beaten with exposed polythene and canada geese droppings covering the old shingle. it now looks brilliant - well done to Gordon, Stuart, Paul and all the lads and lasses.
Lets hope the waders like it

Photo 1 before re-shingled
photo 2 after 3 tonnes of shingle put on

Superb!

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding at the Moors Friday 5th March 2010

Arrived at 8.45am to be welcomed with a totally frozen North Moors pool which was totally birdless. My concerns as to what state the main Moors pool would be were luckily un-founded as the water was ice free, apart from small areas in the southern section. Although the cold NE wind and temperature of -2 degrees made it feel like winter was back, the birds present soon dispelled that. Oystercatchers (3) came in from the south calling as they landed as did a couple of curlews. The main sign of spring was the ever increasing flock of GCG (15) many involved in courtship display. Two little grebe called to one another. A pair of Gadwall loafed around the east island where many other species assembled such as pair of Shelduck, Teal (16) Shoveler (33), common snipe (5) and Lapwing (4), and 34 coot.. At least 2 water rail called from the nwest side reed bed. A raft of 25 Tufted and 11 Pochard were confined to the deeper areas. By mid morning many passerines emerged and singing birds were Song thrush (2), Reed Bunting (5) and cettis warbler. Fly over migrants were lesser redpoll (3) grey wagtail, and a meadow pipit.
Also seen were Buzzard , sparrowhawk, and still 34 cormorants. Of the 75 BHG's 25 adults were in summer plumage with some of them 'scraping' and displaying.

meadow pipit and gadwall were year ticks now 77

cheers John

 

[upstarts1979]

A photo from today showing activity on the East Island

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding at the Flashes 5th March 2010

After the preparatory work was sorted for Sunday's WORK PARTY. Phil and me spent an hour or so in the main hide. The water level remained high at 0.55 even though the sluice is now well open. The 3 avocet were not deterred and seemed happy in the 'central' area between the 1st and 2nd flash. The curlew flock stood at 23 and prefer the short grassy area betwen the 2nd and 3rd flash. The lapwing flock was noticeably decreasing with about 200 birds either in front of the sewage works or at the back of the sewage works. Once again common snipe were totally absent or were well hidden in the sedge ( on sunday we will know the answer during the work party flush - when also the jack snipe numbers will be known). 58 Teal skulked amongst the short cut reeds. A small male peregrine flushed the lapwing flock revealing No golden plover. Small numbers of stock dove flew over and a pair of linnets fed around the saline plants.

Avocet was another year tick. my year list is now 78
for anyone interested in going for an upton year list see the following link its all for fun and the extra coverage might reveal something special

http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/worcestershire_bird_listing_72.html

 

[matt green]

I cant wait for global warming when the east coast disappears and worcestershire is the east coast (just as it was 10,000 years ago in the last ice age - when upton was at the edge of land and sea FACT) we will then be the new Cley-next-the-sea.

I think you might have a long wait, wouldn't it be quicker to become ''upsticks1979'' and move to Cley instead?

Matt

 

[upstarts1979]

photo of the 'central' are between 1st and 2nd flashes.
That white blob is one of the avocets (honest). The small shingle islets should get bigger as the water drops and hopefully passage waders should utilise them as well as the breeding waders.

 

[upstarts1979]

I think you might have a long wait, wouldn't it be quicker to become ''upsticks1979'' and move to Cley instead?

Matt

I like that Matt
did spend a lot of weekends in nancy's cafe in the late 70's early 80's
slept in the old beach shelter in those days I couldn't afford to live at cley > Although it was my 2nd home for a while.
Upton is a mini cley so I'll stick to worcestershire and dream I am on the east coast. Mind you with avocet, bittern and other coastal species on our reserve think the birds are coming to us. You never know a norfolk birder might visit worcestershire one day it did happen 23 years ago when the least sand turned up. Watch this space
cheers John

 

[Brian Stretch]

Hi Bri
A bit of tongue in cheek really. I just remember Richard Harbird, myself and several others being ecstatic in the hide as the bird flew around and then the hide door opens and nonchalantly Alan sheperd said "oh didn't you know it had been brought here in a car - I RELEASED IT EARLIER".:C
I think he left pretty soon after with his tail between his legs.

cheers John :t:

Ah, that was bad luck! Maybe you'll get a 'real' one, one day...........

Presumably the American Wigeon was accepted by BBRC on ID, but as Tim suggests, there was something else dodgy about it? The one thats been at Caerlaverock is well tame judging by the pics on Birdguides: http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=027071&rty=0&r=1&off=237580&v=0!

Phil's February review is now online here: http://www.uptonwarrenbirding.co.uk/upton_warren_monthly_reviews_9.html

and yearlists have been updated here: http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/worcestershire_birders_year_lists_73.html

Brian
___________________________
www.birdingtoday.co.uk
www.worcesterbirding.co.uk
www.westmidlandsbirding.co.uk

 

[Woodchat]

After the preparatory work was sorted for Sunday's WORK PARTY. Phil and me spent an hour or so in the main hide. The water level remained high at 0.55 even though the sluice is now well open. The 3 avocet were not deterred and seemed happy in the 'central' area between the 1st and 2nd flash. The curlew flock stood at 23 and prefer the short grassy area betwen the 2nd and 3rd flash. The lapwing flock was noticeably decreasing with about 200 birds either in front of the sewage works or at the back of the sewage works. Once again common snipe were totally absent or were well hidden in the sedge ( on sunday we will know the answer during the work party flush - when also the jack snipe numbers will be known). 58 Teal skulked amongst the short cut reeds. A small male peregrine flushed the lapwing flock revealing No golden plover. Small numbers of stock dove flew over and a pair of linnets fed around the saline plants.

Avocet was another year tick. my year list is now 78
for anyone interested in going for an upton year list see the following link its all for fun and the extra coverage might reveal something special

http://www.worcesterbirding.co.uk/worcestershire_bird_listing_72.html

I knew it - go away for a few days and my lead has vanished. Phil is now leading! I'm going to have to put some effort in over the weekend - off for the Slav first though.

 

[Gertatron]

Early start at The Flashes this morning saw 37 Curlew and a pair of Wigeon grazing on the short grass on the large island in front. 3 Avocet are still present and hopefully settling in. 3 noisy Oystercatchers were present which flew over to the Moors later where they were joined by another.
The Little Egret was present in its 'roost tree' at the Sailing Pool and again 2 active Kingfishers.

At the Moors Little Grebe was present and the pair of Gadwall plus 6 visible Snipe. Nice to see were 2 Bitterns together on the edge of the reeds opposite and north of the east hide, one being the pale the other the darker version.

2 Redpoll completed a brief but productive early morning session now bringing my total to 74!

 

[Woodchat]

Upton Warren 6th March

The only things to add to Gert's post; a Meadow Pipit over the flashes and a Peregrine on the masts. At least 9 Lesser Redpolls around the Moors. A pair of Sparrowhawks together in the education reserve. Possibly as many as 5 Oycs on the reserve today (3 Moors, 2 Flashes). The pair of Wigeons (photo below) commuted between the flashes and Moors.

The Gadwalls (photo below) take my total to 79.