upstarts1979
Well-known member
An early start at 3.50am on the Flashes.
The dawn chorus should be re-named the midnight chorus, even at this unearthly hour the chorus is deafening with an amazing number and variety of species singing. Sedge and cetti’s warbler, song thrush and robin dominate all in full voice.
By the time I had reached the hide 20 species had been recorded which also include several waders. By 4am at least 6 of us were on site both at the moors and flashes. More people arrived soon after and all was set for a good day’s birding and we weren’t to be disappointed. Most of us sit in the hides for a while then wonder through the Education reserve those that started at the Moors end up at the Flashes and visa versa. It’s a group count but individual totals are also kept.
. The forecast of a sunny morning followed by a cold and wet afternoon meant that the songsters and passerines must be in the bag early on.. All the expected species appeared and early on it became obvious that a good total was amassing. By 10am most of the species had been listed and 83 was the total and we were now ready for the weather blown migrants. However the wet weather didn’t materialize until late on, too late for any chance of a major ‘fall’.
Unfortunately for the first time in the 20 ‘all-dayers’ Yellow wag was going to elude us – surely a sign of its national decline and ultimate demise. We also struggled with cuckoo which didn’t appear until late afternoon.
On the plus side 11 species of waders was a bonus as was the variety of duck.
All the regular raptors performed well alas the hoped for Marsh harrier decided to go to Belvide instead. So only 4 more species were to be added to the list.
But two added bonus’s were Med Gull and a red legged partridge flushed in front of the ‘Crofty’s’ car as they drove down the west track at 8pm. At the Flashes the rain got heavier and bad light stopped play at 9pm bringing an end to the show.
Although physically draining the whole experience is mentally stimulating with the never ending thought that something major will drop in, which keeps us going year after year.
The Med and Red legged partidge were two new ‘all-dayer’ species making the list 126 in the 20 years.
Many thanks to everyone who appeared throughout the day to spur us on and to Fergus’s and Sy’s Ringing group for adding to the whole event making it feel more like an exhibition of birding. A special thanks to Mike and Dave for cooking the bacon and mushrooms both at lunch time and the evening meal that got us through the day.
And finally to all of us for the camaraderie we have for each other that makes Upton Warren one of the unique sites of the birding scene. Roll on next years ‘all-dayer’
Here is the Belvide list kindly supplied by Steve Nutall
1 GC Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 7 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 9 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 11 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 13 Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 15 Goldeneye, 16 Ruddy Duck, 17 Marsh Harrier, 18 Buzzard, 19 Sparrowhawk, 20 Kestrel, 21 Hobby, 22 RL Prtridge, 23 Pheasant, 24 Moorhen, 25 Coot, 26 Oystercatcher, 27 LRP, 28 Ringed Plover, 29 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin, 31 Common Sandpiper, 32 Redshank, 33 Whimbrel, 34 BH Gull, 35 Herring Gull, 36 LBB Gull, 37 Common Tern, 38 Feral Pigeon, 39 Stock Dove, 40 Wood Pigeon, 41 Collared Dove, 42 Cuckoo, 43 Little Owl, 44 Swift, 45 Green Woodpecker, 46 GS Woodpecker, 47 Skylark, 48 Sand Martin, 49 House Martin, 50 Swallow, 51 Pied Wagtail, 52 Yellow Wagtail, 53 Wren, 54 Dunnock, 55 Robin, 56 Wheatear, 57 Song Thrush, 58 Mistle Thrush, 59 Blackbird, 60 Garden Warbler, 61 Blackcap, 62 Whitethroat, 63 Sedge Warbler, 64 Reed Warbler, 65 Willow Warbler, 66 Chiffchaff, 67 Goldcrest, 68 Great Tit, 69 Coal Tit, 70 Blue Tit, 71 LT Tit, 72 Nuthatch, 73 Treecreeper, 74 Magpie, 75 Jay, 76 Jackdaw, 77 Rook, 78 Carrion Crow, 79 Raven, 80 Starling, 81 House Sparrow, 82 Tree Sparrow, 83 Chaffinch, 84 Linnet, 85 Goldfinch, 86 Greenfinch, 87 Bullfinch, 88 Reed Bunting, 89 Yellowhammer.
Those species highlighted in red are the ones we didn’t see (14 species) and Belvide did
This list is what we saw that they didn’t (12 species)
Little Grebe, Peregrine, Water Rail, Avocet, Snipe, Curlew, Med Gull, Kingfisher Grey Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler,
A total of 101 species were seen at both sites.
Belvide 89 v Upton 87
Well done Steve and your team.:t:
look forward to next year's challenge and in the Autumn
Ironically the following day (Sunday 2nd) saw Raven, Arctic Tern and Red Kite all appear which would have taken us to the 90 mark one more than Belvide. But I’m sure Belvide could have added a few today as well. Maybe we will have to do an ‘All-weekender’ next year.
cheers JohnB
The dawn chorus should be re-named the midnight chorus, even at this unearthly hour the chorus is deafening with an amazing number and variety of species singing. Sedge and cetti’s warbler, song thrush and robin dominate all in full voice.
By the time I had reached the hide 20 species had been recorded which also include several waders. By 4am at least 6 of us were on site both at the moors and flashes. More people arrived soon after and all was set for a good day’s birding and we weren’t to be disappointed. Most of us sit in the hides for a while then wonder through the Education reserve those that started at the Moors end up at the Flashes and visa versa. It’s a group count but individual totals are also kept.
. The forecast of a sunny morning followed by a cold and wet afternoon meant that the songsters and passerines must be in the bag early on.. All the expected species appeared and early on it became obvious that a good total was amassing. By 10am most of the species had been listed and 83 was the total and we were now ready for the weather blown migrants. However the wet weather didn’t materialize until late on, too late for any chance of a major ‘fall’.
Unfortunately for the first time in the 20 ‘all-dayers’ Yellow wag was going to elude us – surely a sign of its national decline and ultimate demise. We also struggled with cuckoo which didn’t appear until late afternoon.
On the plus side 11 species of waders was a bonus as was the variety of duck.
All the regular raptors performed well alas the hoped for Marsh harrier decided to go to Belvide instead. So only 4 more species were to be added to the list.
But two added bonus’s were Med Gull and a red legged partridge flushed in front of the ‘Crofty’s’ car as they drove down the west track at 8pm. At the Flashes the rain got heavier and bad light stopped play at 9pm bringing an end to the show.
Although physically draining the whole experience is mentally stimulating with the never ending thought that something major will drop in, which keeps us going year after year.
The Med and Red legged partidge were two new ‘all-dayer’ species making the list 126 in the 20 years.
Many thanks to everyone who appeared throughout the day to spur us on and to Fergus’s and Sy’s Ringing group for adding to the whole event making it feel more like an exhibition of birding. A special thanks to Mike and Dave for cooking the bacon and mushrooms both at lunch time and the evening meal that got us through the day.
And finally to all of us for the camaraderie we have for each other that makes Upton Warren one of the unique sites of the birding scene. Roll on next years ‘all-dayer’
Here is the Belvide list kindly supplied by Steve Nutall
1 GC Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 5 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 7 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 9 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 11 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 13 Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 15 Goldeneye, 16 Ruddy Duck, 17 Marsh Harrier, 18 Buzzard, 19 Sparrowhawk, 20 Kestrel, 21 Hobby, 22 RL Prtridge, 23 Pheasant, 24 Moorhen, 25 Coot, 26 Oystercatcher, 27 LRP, 28 Ringed Plover, 29 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin, 31 Common Sandpiper, 32 Redshank, 33 Whimbrel, 34 BH Gull, 35 Herring Gull, 36 LBB Gull, 37 Common Tern, 38 Feral Pigeon, 39 Stock Dove, 40 Wood Pigeon, 41 Collared Dove, 42 Cuckoo, 43 Little Owl, 44 Swift, 45 Green Woodpecker, 46 GS Woodpecker, 47 Skylark, 48 Sand Martin, 49 House Martin, 50 Swallow, 51 Pied Wagtail, 52 Yellow Wagtail, 53 Wren, 54 Dunnock, 55 Robin, 56 Wheatear, 57 Song Thrush, 58 Mistle Thrush, 59 Blackbird, 60 Garden Warbler, 61 Blackcap, 62 Whitethroat, 63 Sedge Warbler, 64 Reed Warbler, 65 Willow Warbler, 66 Chiffchaff, 67 Goldcrest, 68 Great Tit, 69 Coal Tit, 70 Blue Tit, 71 LT Tit, 72 Nuthatch, 73 Treecreeper, 74 Magpie, 75 Jay, 76 Jackdaw, 77 Rook, 78 Carrion Crow, 79 Raven, 80 Starling, 81 House Sparrow, 82 Tree Sparrow, 83 Chaffinch, 84 Linnet, 85 Goldfinch, 86 Greenfinch, 87 Bullfinch, 88 Reed Bunting, 89 Yellowhammer.
Those species highlighted in red are the ones we didn’t see (14 species) and Belvide did
This list is what we saw that they didn’t (12 species)
Little Grebe, Peregrine, Water Rail, Avocet, Snipe, Curlew, Med Gull, Kingfisher Grey Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler,
A total of 101 species were seen at both sites.
Belvide 89 v Upton 87
Well done Steve and your team.:t:
look forward to next year's challenge and in the Autumn
Ironically the following day (Sunday 2nd) saw Raven, Arctic Tern and Red Kite all appear which would have taken us to the 90 mark one more than Belvide. But I’m sure Belvide could have added a few today as well. Maybe we will have to do an ‘All-weekender’ next year.
cheers JohnB
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