Neil Duggan
Well-known member
Two Dunlin feeding at the Flashes this morning
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Upton Warren (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Whilst departure dates are traditionally poorly documented compared to arrival data, I have only one other record of when all three hirudine species were recorded into October. In 1999 all three were noted in October, with the 1st being the final sightings of the year for Sand and House Martin and an unknown final date for Swallow.
ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY
Well-known member
Just visited the link and it gives us the August Review just thought I'd let you know just in case it's the wrong link
Kind Regards
Adrian
Kind Regards
Adrian
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Hi Adrian - works fine for me; all the monthly reviews are available consecutively on the one link.
ADRIANS PHOTOGRAPHY
Well-known member
Hi Phil the link takes me to the Worcester Birding monthly reviews but it only goes as far as August right back to January 2012 any idea's why?
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
May be your computer rather than the link? I go straight to the top of the page and September's review, including Carl Day's photo of the Spotted Crake.
Spoonbill Finder
Well-known member
Swallows and House Martins were again in evidence at the Moors Pool early this afternoon, with Swallows also seen at the Flashes this morning. I didn't see a Sand Martin today. Other highlights were:
Flashes:
2 Dunlin, 5 Green Sands, 8 Snipe, 10 Curlews, c50 Lapwings, 85+ Teal, 60+ Shoveler, 5 Gadwall (3 males), 1 Wigeon (male), 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Mute Swan, 75 BHGs, 1 LBBG, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Jays.
Sailing Pool:
1 Grey Wagtail, 4 GC Grebes.
Education Reserve:
1 Coal Tit, 1 Buzzard, 1 Jay
Moors Pool:
2 Pochards (male), 10 Greylags, 1 Little Grebe, 3 GC Grebes, 1 Kingfisher (male), 1 Buzzard.
In addition good numbers of Red Admirals and Comma butterflies were seen along the Salwarpe; also Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker & Common Darter dragonflies plus a Banded Demoiselle in the Education Reserve.
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
JTB reports a second winter Mediterranean Gull in the Flashes roost this evening
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
And John has followed this up with a Barn Owl hunting over the sewage meadow, a first for the year.
upstarts1979
Well-known member
I will do the work party later once I have sorted my photos out. I have details of our new 'project' in the SW marsh, which we started today.
I have only just got back from the Mecca. (9am - 7.40pm)
Birding at the Moors was a bit quiet, but still plenty to see.
Moving through were 2 or 3 redpoll, swallows in small groups totalling 40 or so, also starlings with up to 100 in total.
There was a noticeable influx of large gulls today with all shades of grey, LBBG with pink legs, Herring gull with yellow legs and everything in between and this with only 30 birds on site. I took a few photos and I will check if they are worth posting.
Species count at GCG 4, little grebes 4 ( including a 'stripey' juv in front of the new hide), cormorant 10, mute swan 2 ads +3 juvs and a stray juv. Wigeon male (not 100% sure it is the Flashes bird), Teal 4, shoveler eclipse male. Mallard 50, pochard 2 males, tufted 10, greylags 20+, 40 lapwing, BHG 300, Buzzards, kingfisher,
I have only just got back from the Mecca. (9am - 7.40pm)
Birding at the Moors was a bit quiet, but still plenty to see.
Moving through were 2 or 3 redpoll, swallows in small groups totalling 40 or so, also starlings with up to 100 in total.
There was a noticeable influx of large gulls today with all shades of grey, LBBG with pink legs, Herring gull with yellow legs and everything in between and this with only 30 birds on site. I took a few photos and I will check if they are worth posting.
Species count at GCG 4, little grebes 4 ( including a 'stripey' juv in front of the new hide), cormorant 10, mute swan 2 ads +3 juvs and a stray juv. Wigeon male (not 100% sure it is the Flashes bird), Teal 4, shoveler eclipse male. Mallard 50, pochard 2 males, tufted 10, greylags 20+, 40 lapwing, BHG 300, Buzzards, kingfisher,
upstarts1979
Well-known member
At the Flashes this evening
The Shoveler flock is still building up and feeding almost entirely on the 1st Flash, so too are gadwall and teal numbers increasing. But most noticeable was the massive increase in BHG's tonight and with it our first Med for a while. The water was at 0.4 so the mud continues to appear all over the flashes periphery and with it more wader feeding areas. Tonight after Steve R (aka steve zodiac) had left at about 7.20, the gulls in front of the sewage field panicked, as a barn owl hunted along the edge of the field. It later flew across the 1st flash to the grassy triangle in front of the bench. Although it is quite dark its 'whiteness' makes it very conspicuous. Pied wagtails also gathered on the islands prior to them roosting. All in all a great evening
Species count at Flashes
Shoveler 92, gadwall 7 (4 males), wigeon male, teal 100+, Mallard 250+, Tufted 1, Canadas 250, Snipe 15 ( plus others flew out at dark), green sand 5, Lapwing 80+, curlew 18, dunlin 2, BHG 1500 (roosted), MED GULL 2nd winter, LBBG 9 roosted, Barn Owl, little owl called, stock dove 5, kestrel, buzzard, starling 300, pied wags c25, Swallow 5, house martin 20+, goldcrest 2,
B
John
The Shoveler flock is still building up and feeding almost entirely on the 1st Flash, so too are gadwall and teal numbers increasing. But most noticeable was the massive increase in BHG's tonight and with it our first Med for a while. The water was at 0.4 so the mud continues to appear all over the flashes periphery and with it more wader feeding areas. Tonight after Steve R (aka steve zodiac) had left at about 7.20, the gulls in front of the sewage field panicked, as a barn owl hunted along the edge of the field. It later flew across the 1st flash to the grassy triangle in front of the bench. Although it is quite dark its 'whiteness' makes it very conspicuous. Pied wagtails also gathered on the islands prior to them roosting. All in all a great evening
Species count at Flashes
Shoveler 92, gadwall 7 (4 males), wigeon male, teal 100+, Mallard 250+, Tufted 1, Canadas 250, Snipe 15 ( plus others flew out at dark), green sand 5, Lapwing 80+, curlew 18, dunlin 2, BHG 1500 (roosted), MED GULL 2nd winter, LBBG 9 roosted, Barn Owl, little owl called, stock dove 5, kestrel, buzzard, starling 300, pied wags c25, Swallow 5, house martin 20+, goldcrest 2,
B
John
upstarts1979
Well-known member
steve_zodiac
Well-known member
In addition to the above:
4 Mistle Thrushes in the field behind the new hide at the Moors
2 Chiffchaffs at the Moors (1 singing and 1 calling)
20+ Goldfinches south over the tv transmitter field
4 Mistle Thrushes in the field behind the new hide at the Moors
2 Chiffchaffs at the Moors (1 singing and 1 calling)
20+ Goldfinches south over the tv transmitter field
upstarts1979
Well-known member
Tuesday work party at the Moors part1
The area known as the SW marsh, was formerly a lapwing chick rearing area. It was a short grassy area with a muddy shore line. However in the absence of management in this area, it has overgrown with reed mace and rank vegetation. This is a habitat that covers 70% of the Moors periphery. So to create more diverse habitat and to hopefully attract feeding waders and grazing wildfowl we have started this new project. We hope to re-create a short vegetated 'open' area, this will take several more weeks to complete the 1st phase. Over the next couple of years we will monitor its progress and manage accordingly.
Today we strimmed most of the reed mace and rank grasses, the reed mace in the deep water was pulled and piled up in the water , this will create temporary islands and slow the future growth of the reed mace. The grazing cattle will help create suitable habitat in the short term, for wintering ducks and waders. All the cuttings will be raked up and placed behind the border fence. Immediately after the work, coot and moorhen and a juv mute swan started grazing. Lets hope for a few more species soon.BJohn
The area known as the SW marsh, was formerly a lapwing chick rearing area. It was a short grassy area with a muddy shore line. However in the absence of management in this area, it has overgrown with reed mace and rank vegetation. This is a habitat that covers 70% of the Moors periphery. So to create more diverse habitat and to hopefully attract feeding waders and grazing wildfowl we have started this new project. We hope to re-create a short vegetated 'open' area, this will take several more weeks to complete the 1st phase. Over the next couple of years we will monitor its progress and manage accordingly.
Today we strimmed most of the reed mace and rank grasses, the reed mace in the deep water was pulled and piled up in the water , this will create temporary islands and slow the future growth of the reed mace. The grazing cattle will help create suitable habitat in the short term, for wintering ducks and waders. All the cuttings will be raked up and placed behind the border fence. Immediately after the work, coot and moorhen and a juv mute swan started grazing. Lets hope for a few more species soon.B
JohnAttachments
John Layj
Well-known member
Great shots of the Brown Hawker John. I had read that they sometimes took wasps, but I have never seen this myself.
Cracking pics John!:t: Also nice to see the Dexters move straight in to the cleared area.
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forgetfulelephant
Well-known member
Phil Andrews
It's only Rock and Roller but I like it
Apologies for mis-information; it appears that the attached press story was inaccurate in terms of the prefered operator of Upton Warren Outdoor Centre. Having gone back to the original source - Worcester County Council's website - the actual press release was as follows (most pertinent elements highlighted):
Future for the Outdoor Education Learning Service discussed by Worcestershire County Council's cabinet today
Worcestershire County Council's cabinet, which met today (Thursday, September 27) was given a progress report on the Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre and debated the final agreements for Malvern and Upton Warren Outdoor Education Services.
In March this year (2012) the council's cabinet approved the recommendation to seek alternative providers to maintain and extend the existing services at each of the county council's Outdoor Education Centres. This was based on both the need to reduce the council's financial risk, the need for investment and new skills to manage operations within a more commercial environment and the council's emphasis on commissioning which led to a review of the future business operating model and structure of the service.
Since March 2012 the due diligence and final arrangements with Rock UK for the provision of service and operations at the Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre in Wales have continued. As anticipated, more complex issues around TUPE and pensions have taken a while to resolve, but satisfactory agreements have now been reached and the transfer is due to take effect on March 31 2013. The actual transfer is expected to be effective from April 1 2013.
Following careful consideration of the proposals submitted for Upton and Malvern Outdoor Education Centre's, Acorn Adventure Ltd are being recommended as the preferred provider for these two centres, with further due diligence and detailed discussions to follow. This will include dialogue with both schools, staff, other users of the sites and neighbours to the sites.
Acorn Adventure has been providing experiential out-of-classroom learning for the country's school children since 1982. It was founded by ex-teacher Andrew Gardiner who in seizing upon the educational benefits from trips left the teaching profession to offer these experiences to other local children. The company now operates ten adventure and watersports centre in five countries and this together with their good safety record and commitment to continued outdoor educational provision at Malvern and Upton has led to their recommendation as preferred provider.
Cllr Jane Potter, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Skills, said: "Two of the county council's key priorities are Children and Families and the Environment. The centres provide excellent educational outdoor experiences for Worcestershire's school children, which has many benefits to their personal and social development in fantastic environments.
"I am delighted that we have been able to identify a sustainable future for these centres at a time of unprecedented financial challenge. This is in the context of finding the right service from the right provider at the right price for the taxpayer.
"We are committed to becoming an excellent commissioning-based authority and the Outdoor Education Learning Service is one the first to undergo the commissioning process."
Acorn Adventure Ltd are part of a wider travel / adventure group and are based in Halesowen; a link to their website is here: http://www.acorntravelgroup.co.uk/adventure/
Interestingly they currently operate at Arrow Valley - http://www.acorntravelgroup.co.uk/adventure/itinerary.php?id=69. Those more familar with Redditch might be able to comment on what types of activity / hours of trade they operate.
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What a cracker! Well done.
