andythomas
Well-known member
The Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve is at Upton Warren, on the A38 between Bromsgrove and Droitwich. It is run by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (map reference SO936677).
The reserve is split into two sections. The northern part has two deep pools which are good for ducks and grebes. The surrounding reedbeds have breeding Reed and Sedge Warblers in the summer. The southern part has a shallow pool with islands which is good for waders. There are winter feeding stations in both parts of the reserve which attract finches and tits.
Personally I've seen a total of over 100 species at Upton Warren, and it was the first place that I saw Water Rail, Scaup, Wood Sandpiper, Temmincks Stint, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull and Jack Snipe.
There are plenty of birds to see all year round. Some people prefer to visit in the winter when there are many different species of duck present. I prefer it in the spring when smaller numbers of duck are still present, but have been joined by the summer visitors such as warblers, or from July to September when passage migrants such as Dunlin and Green Sandpiper appear.
The reserve has an impressive list of rarities that have turned up over the years, partly due to the reserve's position on a migration route running between the Severn estuary and the Wash. Birds seen in 2003 have included Grasshopper Warbler, Black-necked Grebe, Little Egret, Red Kite, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Whimbrel and Sanderling.
A regular band of volunteers have worked hard to improve the reserve for wildlife. This has been particularly beneficial for breeding waders. The results of this were seen in 2003 when a pair of Avocets bred and raised four chicks, one of the first pairs ever to breed inland in the UK.
Location: On the A38 two miles north of junction 5, M5.
Access: Open to members of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, or by permit. Permit available from wardens on site or the sailing centre. Adults £1. Trust membership from Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester WR3 8SZ. Telephone 01905 754919.
Resident: Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Water Rail.
April - September: Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Hobby. Passage waders, including Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank.
October - March: Goldeneye, Snipe, Jack Snipe.
The reserve is split into two sections. The northern part has two deep pools which are good for ducks and grebes. The surrounding reedbeds have breeding Reed and Sedge Warblers in the summer. The southern part has a shallow pool with islands which is good for waders. There are winter feeding stations in both parts of the reserve which attract finches and tits.
Personally I've seen a total of over 100 species at Upton Warren, and it was the first place that I saw Water Rail, Scaup, Wood Sandpiper, Temmincks Stint, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull and Jack Snipe.
There are plenty of birds to see all year round. Some people prefer to visit in the winter when there are many different species of duck present. I prefer it in the spring when smaller numbers of duck are still present, but have been joined by the summer visitors such as warblers, or from July to September when passage migrants such as Dunlin and Green Sandpiper appear.
The reserve has an impressive list of rarities that have turned up over the years, partly due to the reserve's position on a migration route running between the Severn estuary and the Wash. Birds seen in 2003 have included Grasshopper Warbler, Black-necked Grebe, Little Egret, Red Kite, Sandwich Tern, Black Tern, Whimbrel and Sanderling.
A regular band of volunteers have worked hard to improve the reserve for wildlife. This has been particularly beneficial for breeding waders. The results of this were seen in 2003 when a pair of Avocets bred and raised four chicks, one of the first pairs ever to breed inland in the UK.
Location: On the A38 two miles north of junction 5, M5.
Access: Open to members of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, or by permit. Permit available from wardens on site or the sailing centre. Adults £1. Trust membership from Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester WR3 8SZ. Telephone 01905 754919.
Resident: Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Water Rail.
April - September: Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Hobby. Passage waders, including Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Greenshank.
October - March: Goldeneye, Snipe, Jack Snipe.