Upton Warren (2 Viewers)

[Pam Dragon]

Lovely flower photos Woodchat, I missed the violets on Thursday, never mind.
We wil be looking out for the Little Owl on our next visit

 

[Woodchat]

Lovely flower photos Woodchat, I missed the violets on Thursday, never mind.
We wil be looking out for the Little Owl on our next visit

Cheers Pam. Most of the shots were taken in or around the education reserve. I hope to build up a photographic catalogue of the flora at UW over the year. You probably know that we had some interesting species turn up last year, including Bee Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid (I got photos of those - see below) and Orange Balsam, amongst others - always worth keeping your eye out for unusual stuff.

 

[Pam Dragon]

Wow, I saw my first Bee Orchid & Pyramidal Orchid last year, but not at Upton Warren, Brilliant! I did spot & photograph the Orange Balsam, though I didn`t know what it was & had to get it IDed :eek!:
I know this is a bird forum, but I`m interested in everything!
It sounds like a brilliant project you are doing, good luck. Great photos by the way.

 

[wheatearlp]

A Little Owl - Mike pointed that one out - I'll have to start finding my own birds.:t:

QUOTE]

Mike 2 Days on the trot:eek!:

whats going on|:S|

Had a bit of free time on both days, so thought I'd try and get the year-list up a bit. Wann't overly successful, with only three added (Willow Warbler on Saturday and swallow & Dunlin on Sunday) which brings me up to rather poor 80.

To refer back to an ear;ier post re old Upton reports, I have the following:

2008 - £2.50
2007 - £2.50
2006 - £2.00
2005 - £2.00
2004 - £2.00
2003 - £2.00
2002 - £2.00 (3 only)
2001 - £2.00 (2 only)
2000 - £2.00 (1 only)
1998 - £1.00
1997 - £1.00
1991/92 - £3.00 (4 only)
1985 - £1.00
1984 - £1.00

I'll bring them all down for the all-dayer, so make sure you've all got plenty of cash!

Cheers
Mike

 

[upstarts1979]

Looks like I'm starting to slip behind a bit on the year list as I haven't been to Upton for over a week!

Where about was the Little Owl seen on the farm halls? On the furthest terracotta tiled roof? I've never seen one at Upton!

Timmy Boy thought you had gone off to Uni without telling us its been that long mate:-O
I wouldn't worry too much you will get a load of year ticks the next time you are down there.
Look whats happened to Dave Titchmarsh :flowers: he knows there is nothing left for him that's why he is looking on the floor - probably missed a few raptors overhead 8-P

:t: cheers John (watch Gert he is coming under the radar)

 

[upstarts1979]

First swallows (5) :flyawayf the year seen at the Moors (Terry H)

 

[Duck_Pond]

That's good then - thought I saw some over my parents' house last night, and wondered if I'd gone mad. So some around South Brum too.

 

[timmyjones]

Great morning at Upton this morning starting off with 30+ Swallow at the Sailing Pool, then at the Flashes had Little Owl by Hobbden Hall farm and then later on a Willow Warbler in the Education Reserve. Will do a full write up later on the blog.

 

[Gertatron]

Visit to the Flashes 31/3/2010 - 6.20am

A wintry visit this morning but no great change;

19 Curlews, 2 Redshank, 10 Avocet, 4 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher, a Kingfisher on the Sailing Pool, Cettis, 2 Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler calling. Circa 200 Black Headed Gulls making a racket!

 

[timmyjones]

Probably making a fool of myself but saw another 1st Winter educational gull at Upton yesterday, let me know what you think and any tips for the future on separating these two.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1777084#post1777084

 

[Sy V]

Probably making a fool of myself but saw another 1st Winter educational gull at Upton yesterday...

What does an Educational Gull look like then Tim?
Any 'schools' of thought? :-O

 

[Sy V]

A wintry visit this morning but no great change;

19 Curlews, 2 Redshank, 10 Avocet, 4 LRP, 2 Oystercatcher, a Kingfisher on the Sailing Pool, Cettis, 2 Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler calling. Circa 200 Black Headed Gulls making a racket!

The male Wheatear wasn't there at your early time then, Gert.
Stuart Andrews again!

 

[timmyjones]

What does an Educational Gull look like then Tim?
Any 'schools' of thought? :-O

Basically its a Gull that makes you read up a bit more and teaches you a bit more on the particular species.

2 weeks ago it was a 2cy Common Gull (Ring-billed Gull)

Yesterday as shown in the link it was a 2cy Herring Gull/Yellow Legged Gull.

 

[Gertatron]

The male Wheatear wasn't there at your early time then, Gert.
Stuart Andrews again!

Typical - I think I get there too early!!

 

[Gertatron]

Basically its a Gull that makes you read up a bit more and teaches you a bit more on the particular species.

2 weeks ago it was a 2cy Common Gull (Ring-billed Gull)

Yesterday as shown in the link it was a 2cy Herring Gull/Yellow Legged Gull.

You've probably seen it Tim but here's a very good article on Juvs comparisions and yellow legged in particular. Whats interesting in the photos of this article is how 'bulky' and 'long winged' the juv yellow legged looks and I'm not sure that stands out from your photos but then you saw it live so maybe a feature you noticed with yours?

Gulls and especially juvs don't do it for me I'm afraid so I'm the wrong person to ask, but fair play to you for having a closer look and raising the question. :t:

http://www.surfbirds.com/ID Articles/YLGs1.html

 

[Sy V]

Basically its a Gull that makes you read up a bit more and teaches you a bit more on the particular species.

2 weeks ago it was a 2cy Common Gull (Ring-billed Gull)

Yesterday as shown in the link it was a 2cy Herring Gull/Yellow Legged Gull.

Aah. Not a gull seen at the educational centre then?

Brian Stretch is pretty hot on Gulls...

 

[warrener]

The male Wheatear wasn't there at your early time then, Gert.
Stuart Andrews again!

Hi All

Links to pics of todays Wheatear at the Flashes. Not the best conditions for taking snaps but as it was my first male Wheatear at Upton Warren I'm not complaining too much!

Stuart

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996420.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996412.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996413.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996411.html

 

[Gertatron]

Hi All

Links to pics of todays Wheatear at the Flashes. Not the best conditions for taking snaps but as it was my first male Wheatear at Upton Warren I'm not complaining too much!

Stuart

http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996420.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996412.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996413.html
http://stuartandrews183.fotopic.net/p63996411.html

Look like great pictures to me Stuart and also looks like a Greenland version with the amount of Orange on it(extending beyond chest etc) but I'm sure that will kick off a debate. Either way nice to see and gutted it wasn't there when I was in the hide at ridiculous o' clock this morning!

 

[warrener]

Look like great pictures to me Stuart and also looks like a Greenland version with the amount of Orange on it(extending beyond chest etc) but I'm sure that will kick off a debate. Either way nice to see and gutted it wasn't there when I was in the hide at ridiculous o' clock this morning!

Thanks Gert. I'm just pleased to have got the shots because when the bird first appeared it was spooked by something and flew off before I could snap it. It then returned some 20 mins later for possibly 5-10 mins. I've just delved into my bird bible and I see what you mean about the extent of chest colour however I'll leave it to you far more experienced guys to decide if it is or if it ain't!

Stuart

 

[Sy V]

I'd go, first year male Greenland by the way the ear coverts fade into black without any particular demarcation.
Just my offering... but I'm used to being wrong.