Upton Warren (22 Viewers)

[Gert Corfield]

A pleasant late morning feeling very spring like when the sun appeared. Highlights were;

Flashes - Green Sandpiper, 10 Curlew, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, c70 Lapwing, several Meadow Pipit

Moors - 4 Oystercatcher (making 6 overall),male House Sparrow along the east track per Andy P, Bearded Tit still. Venturing down the public footpath of the Moors to look for Treecreeper I came across a total of 4 Chiffchaff - 3 obvious Chiffchaff feeding together and a 4th fly catching separately with very good plumage indication for Siberian Chiffchaff. Unfortunately it didn’t call which would have clinched it, but worth keeping an eye out

 

[Phil Andrews]

Siberian Chiffchaff has yet to be confirmed on the reserve; with the likelihood of splitting growing its well worth pursuing. Was it along the Salwarpe path or the section which runs south of the Moors Pool?

 

[Gert Corfield]

Siberian Chiffchaff has yet to be confirmed on the reserve; with the likelihood of splitting growing its well worth pursuing. Was it along the Salwarpe path or the section which runs south of the Moors Pool?

By the red highlighted bit. Mike had a look but only found 2 obvious Chiffchaff but agree worth looking out for. If it hadn’t been for a good study of the Kempsey Sibe I wouldn’t have been relatively sure about it. Need to hear it calling tho.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Female Bearded Tit still this morning at a foggy Moors. Bob and Tony report a male Brambling along the west track. C70 Chaffinch, 300 Linnet, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Oystercatcher, 5 Shelduck best of the rest. 2 Muntjac along east track.
Ray reported 2 Chiffchaff along the public
footpath but no sign of the tristis/Siberian type.
The highlight was watching a pair of Great Crested Grebes doing their display dance

 

[Bob O.]

To add to Gerts list we had 1 Green Sand at the Flashes and 2 Oyks, 4 Oyks on the Moors but unsure if they were some of the same birds. Also there was a report of a Goosander but we didn't see it. Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also on Moors.
Also a very tame Water Rail in the channel on the causeway.

 

[Gert Corfield]

5 Avocets back at the Flashes per Andy P 👍

 

[Ian Byrnes]

5 Avocets back at the Flashes per Andy P 👍

Moors - 9.49am until 10.40 am the 5 Avocet mentioned at the Flashes flew in to the Moors.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Avocet relocated to Moors this afternoon

 

[Gert Corfield]

Flashes highlights this afternoon- Jack Snipe showing well at far shore right of sewage works, 4 Avocet, 2 Stonechat, Green Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, c60 Lapwing, Raven, 2 Shelduck, 45 Teal

Some interesting ringed Black-headed Gulls at the Moors per Mike Wakeman although can only remember the presence of ‘TACY’ a regular visitor!

 

[geoffw1946]

The Bearded Tit was at the Moors in the SW marsh this afternoon.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Believed Mike's interesting gulls included white 21L1 (ringed in Berkshire in 2013 and annual at Upton Warren since 2019) and white 2K44 (ringed at Cotswold Water Park in 2007; first recorded at Upton in 2009 and noted nearly annually since - now nearly 16 years old!)

 

[Gert Corfield]

I saved these 2 articles from the local papers back in the day, following the first successful breeding of Avocet now 20 years ago which I thought might be of interest.
I remember the 24 hour watch well to protect the eggs from egg collectors.

Thank you to the Trust for their continued commitment to the reserve and the volunteers - especially John and Paul - driving the positive management enabling these iconic birds to thrive.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Again of interest is an updated version of the schedule of earliest spring arrivals originally compiled by Phil Andrews.

I have included this years single record of Avocet reported in the Flashes log book.

Note that these are exceptionally early and in reality average arrival dates will be several weeks after these dates in many cases. Any exceptional records of arrivals this year are appreciated to keep this up to date for future reports compiled by others etc

Earliest Spring Arrival Dates

FEBRUARY
2nd - Avocet (2023)
21st – Common Sandpiper (1984)
25th – Sand Martin (2021)
MARCH
4th – Little Ringed Plover (2018)
5th – Marsh Harrier (2022)
13th – White Wagtail (1977)
15th – Wheatear (2008, 2017)
15th – Garganey (1963, 1964)
16th – House Martin (2008)
20th – Swallow (1998)
22nd – Ring Ouzel (1969)
23rd – Willow Warbler (2010)
25th – Osprey (2019)
26th – Whimbrel (1992)
29th – Sedge Warbler (1998)
29th – Yellow Wagtail (1993)
APRIL
2nd – Common Tern (2002, 2011, 2018)
2nd – Sandwich Tern (2016)
3rd – Redstart (2002)
3rd – Reed Warbler (2021)
4th – Hobby (1987)
4th – Pied Flycatcher (1980)
9th – Common Whitethroat (2010)
9th – Hoopoe (2011)
9th – Grasshopper Warbler (2015)
9th – Arctic Tern (2019)
11th – Lesser Whitethroat (2017)
12th – Cuckoo (1974, 2013, 2015)
13th – Swift (1996)
13th – Tree Pipit (1993)
14th – Whinchat (1971)
14th – Wood Warbler (2000)
16th – Black Tern (2015)
16th – Garden Warbler (2014)
18th – Little Tern (2002)
22nd – Spotted Flycatcher (2006)
24th – Greenland Wheatear (2005)
25th – Nightingale (1999)
26th – Bluethroat (2011)
26th – Blue-headed Wagtail (1970, 1978)
30th – Turtle Dove (1986)

MAY
13th – Golden Oriole (2000)
14th – Quail (1992)
25th – Red-necked Phalarope (1999)

 

[Phil Andrews]

Wasn't aware of an Avocet report on the 2nd - am sure the County Recorder would be interested. Any more details?

 

[Gert Corfield]

No initials against the report but hard to imagine what else it could have been confused with. Unlike current entries for Common Sandpiper for the somewhat dull/brown coloured Green Sandpiper present at the Flashes for the last few days.

 

[wheatearlp]

No initials against the report but hard to imagine what else it could have been confused with. Unlike current entries for Common Sandpiper for the somewhat dull/brown coloured Green Sandpiper present at the Flashes for the last few days.

I suppose a sleeping Shelduck, seen from behind, could be confused with an Avocet on a quick glance... in poor light 😉

 

[wheatearlp]

Believed Mike's interesting gulls included white 21L1 (ringed in Berkshire in 2013 and annual at Upton Warren since 2019) and white 2K44 (ringed at Cotswold Water Park in 2007; first recorded at Upton in 2009 and noted nearly annually since - now nearly 16 years old!)

Yesterday's gulls were:
TACY (black lettering on a yellow ring) - Polish-ringed in 2019, seen at Upton from 2020 onwards
21L1 (black on white) - details as above, although I can add it bred in 3 of the 4 years 2019-2022.
2C20 (white on red) - ringed as an adult last year in Norfolk. Seen last autumn and this year.

2K44 (black on white) - seen at Flashes on Tuesday along with the above three birds. It has been seen in 2009, 2011, 2014 & annually from 2016. It also bred last year.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Moors - Bearded Tit showing well right of Jacobs Hide late morning.

Flashes - 5 Avocet still at the Flashes, male Stonechat. 6 Oystercatcher across the reserve. Chiffchaff, 2 Lesser Redpoll and Siskin at entrance to Flashes

 

[wheatearlp]

Avocets still on Flashes at dusk, also Green Sandpiper briefly & ten Curlews in to roost.

 

[Gert Corfield]

Highlights from this morning at Moors Pools;
5 Shelduck, 2 Little Egret, 11 Pochard, Great Crested Grebe display dancing again.
Bearded Tit from concrete hide. Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and 3 Raven over.
3 Skylark from A38 field.
Good to see female House Sparrow near North Moors hide and a Yellowhammer with the Linnet flock (poor picture attached)