Upton Warren (92 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

I found another Black-headed Gull sporting a yellow leg ring with black code TR0V at the Flashes this morning. There doesn't appear to be a record of this bird being seen at Upton Warren before. I think it was a first winter.

Also present again at both the Moors Pool and Flashes was T81U.

Yes, another new BHG and again it appears to be Polish in origin. I will follow up on the POLRING website.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Glaucous Gull still at the Flashes early morning as per Andy P

 

[Phil Andrews]

Andy P updates from the Flashes:

Glaucous Gull flew south at 0705, 10 Avocet, 14 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, Snipe, at least one Green Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck

 

[Rob Williams]

After leaving Flashes this morning,having seen the Glaucous Gull, had a kingfisher on Hen Brook and another on sailingpool

 

[Phil Andrews]

Very sad news today of the passing of Bob Power, a stalwart of the reserve and member of the "Wednesday Crew".

 

[Phil Andrews]

Juvenile Glaucous Gull again in the Flashes roost from 5:45pm as per Andy P; also Barn Owl

 

[Birder Gladys]

looking around the reserve today I realised on the amount of work that has gone on so far on the place ,by the volunteers .The opened up areas of the North Moors and Moors just seem just the right size for bird environment and birder viewing plus the importance of rejuvenation and maintenance of the plants in that area.I remember a question put forward about the pollarding of the large willows along the Salwarpe end of the Moors about a year ago it was explained if left there branches would split of damaging the trunk, To my shock today I looked over at the farm today behind the sailing pool which used to have a vary large willow behind it, looks like it didn't survive resent winds :eek!:.
bird highlights for me today Stonechat at flashes and from Jacobs hide. Spotted Chiffchaff on both sides too. Cettis calling north moors and East side Moors ,Water rail calling by shoggy bottom area.

So Sorry to hear about Bob P I'm not very good at times like this putting down the right word ,I will remember him as he always asked about Mary and was prepared to listen to my moaning.Our thoughts are with his family

 

[Dick-E-Dipper]

Popped down this evening to see the Glaucous Gull,( to join the `Upton Life` sightings Club:t Duly flew in to the Flashes @ 5.52pm followed by the Barn Owl @ 5.53pm.
Managed a record shot in fading light (Heavily tweeked)

Richard

 

[Phil Andrews]

Some images of Tuesday morning's Iceland Gull courtesy of Dave Jackson

 

[Phil Andrews]

I now have received a return on the juvenile Black-headed Gull sporting a yellow leg ring with black code "TYHW" which JTB had at the Flashes on Tuesday (23rd July).

It was ringed in the nest on the 18th May 2019 at Januszkowice, Zdzieszowice, southern Poland (approx. 20 miles from the Czech border). Unsurprisingly given its age it hasn't been recorded elsewhere.

The great thing about the POLRING website is that it has live accessible information on birds reported - the above bird was seen just six days later (29/07/19) in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire.

 

[Burberaj]

Juv. Glaucous Gull

Distant shot taken this evening.

 

[John Sirrett]

Very sad news today of the passing of Bob Power, a stalwart of the reserve and member of the "Wednesday Crew".

As many of you will now know Bob Power died earlier today at the age of 76.
The numerous Twitter responses are testament to how many people this incredible guy touched. Bob began birdwatching as a schoolboy around Bartley Reservoir in the 1950s counting Bill Oddie amongst his birding acquaintances. He later moved onto Bittell and ultimately Upton Warren. My first visit to Upton Warren was not until June 1976. It ended with being shown a Wood Sand, a Green Sand and a Greenshank on the flashes by Arthur Jacobs and Mike Inskip and then being carted off to the Swan PH to celebrate. It was not long after that I met Bob both at Upton and also in the Inland Revenue offices in Birmingham where we worked. As Co-workers, Birders, fellow Blues supporters and beer drinkers it was no time at all before Bob joined Arthur, Mike and me and a Wednesday crew was born. Though we went to Upton most other days as well! In the early eighties Bob and I began annual pilgrimages to Norfolk and Portland and twitching the odd rarity we were lucky enough to hear about. Looking back it seems we mostly went the day after the rarity had flown. We began going to Scilly together in 1984 staying on St Mary’s and running with the pack. Bob was king of the CB radios. The Mermaid our headquarters. In 1992 we shifted to St Agnes and the Turks Head. It was 2006 before they could get us out of there and 2009 when we left Agnes for the last time. By then we were traveling far afield Texas in 2008, California in 2009, South Africa in 2010, Costa Rica in 2011 and Australia in 2012. We went on several Tom Gullick trips trough central Spain and various trips to Scandinavia. Throughout all these years we religiously tramped the hallowed ground that is Upton Warren NR. Bob found me my only Upton Wood Warbler, and flushed the Millennium Purple Heron for me. In truth he owed me the Heron because of a phone call he made to me the day the 1982 Purple Heron turned up in the rain. Bob had said “ don’t bother coming to Upton today it is raining and there are no birds here!” Bob was a better birdwatcher than me. He had an encyclopaedic memory for ID features. Bob was also one of the nicest, friendliest, most cheerful, fun loving people you could wish to meet and I had the privilege to call him my friend and to bird and drink with him for more than forty years. The hole that he has left in my life will now be filled with the memories of the great times we spent together, and all the laughs and the birds that we had.

 

[wheatearlp]

We are now up to our 23rd ringed Black-headed Gull recorded at Upton Warren this year - an updated version of the spreadsheet is attached with a few responses still outstanding

Hi Phil,

Will you upload the latest version of this please?

Cheers

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Phil,

Will you upload the latest version of this please?

Cheers

Please see the attached update version - 8 different BHGs recorded so far this year (plus your black-ringed bird that couldn't be read)

 

[Phil Andrews]

Glaucous Gull still present early morning at the Flashes as per Neil Duggan

 

[UW82]

A belated report for yesterday at the Moors only, am and early pm.

MOORS/ED RES*:

Shelduck (6)--------------Shoveler (18)
Teal (14)------------------Gadwall (8)
Pochard (6)---------------Tufted Duck (31)
Curlew (5)----------------Oystercatcher (4)
Water Rail (3)------------G C Grebe (4)
Coal Tit-------------------Cormorant (22)
B H Gull (c120)----------Fieldfare/Redwing (c50). Mainly Fieldfare.
Cetti's Warbler (2)-------Chiffchaff (2)* flycatching.

Des.

 

[Spoonbill Finder]

Polish ringed Black-headed Gull TLHU was in the Flashes roost again yesterday evening.

 

[wheatearlp]

Please see the attached update version - 8 different BHGs recorded so far this year (plus your black-ringed bird that couldn't be read)

Rich Harbird had 24H0 on Tuesday night per his blog.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Glaucous Gull again at the Flashes this evening from 5:20pm as per Andy P and Cliff Smith

 

[Phil Andrews]

Glaucous Gull again at the Flashes this evening from 5:20pm as per Andy P and Cliff Smith

Andy further reports yesterday evening:

260 LBB Gulls, 40 Herring Gulls, c1200 BH Gulls, Barn Owl, 9 Avocet, 11 Curlew, 3 Shelduck