Upton Warren (16 Viewers)

[Janner Falcon!]

Flashes, Monday evening

There were a substantial number of BHG's on the water and on the shore when we first arrived 15:30ish, two LBBG's , also of lapwings on the grass in front of the sewage works. There were originally 9 curlews there which moved to the edge of the third flash. This number grew to 21 later on. Plenty of coots, one or two moorhens, a number of calling teal, a few mallard and an oystercatcher, to name but a few. Flocks of gulls were flying in and it looked as though the Flashes was going to be quite busy - until the cattle were attended to. After nearly 45 minutes of disturbance only the avocets and the curlews and the coots remained.

1 & 2. Avocets
3. One pale curlew amongst the flock
4. Fourteen coots and a moorhen in one small space. (plenty more in other places!)
5. Stockman taking the feeding trough back to near the sewage farm gate.

 

[Gruff]

Also much paler around the head, giving an almost supercilium effect and wing-bars obviously white with no hint of buff. Upperparts very 'frosty' looking with no obvious brown tones and, whilst not seen side-by-side with the Lessers that were also present, it seemed a larger bird.

Thanks very much, all, though Trace doesn't like being referred to as Gruff's mealy bird

 

[Where Bird]

UW 1945 and all that

Pink footed goose first reported at UW 1945 - by whom I wonder. At The Moors
1962 quoted as the building of the local stretch of M5 and thus a time of much change.

Strolling though the web as I am wont to do, I went from sailing pool to Upton Warren to Bill Oddie in my search for info. Ended up with a remarkable obituary to Mr. Upton Warren - Arthur Jacobs.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/18/arthur-jacobs-obituary

It explains the origins of Upton Warren Moors Pool in the early sixties - a shallow wetland in a grassy field and goes through to the present.

Most intriguing is the part about the Flashes which explains why the 1945 aerial view looks so different. Arthur Jacobs was closely involved when saltwater flash pools, fed from underground brine seepage, were added to the reserve. That of course can be read in two ways, but presumably they were developed in the sixties onwards, the site having been acquired then.

The aerial views from 1999 onwards clearly show the progression from three separate flashes or pools to the two that we see today.

An obituary well worth the read

Phil E.

 

[UW82]

A record shot of the Iceland Gull this morning, a first for me at Upton. 6 Avocet at the Flashes and Mealy Redpoll at feeders by Lifestyles.

 

[upstarts1979]

Well done Bob O for finding and identifying the Iceland. We had a controlled walj Round the Broadmeadow after the work party. And.................counted 35 JACK SNIPE.

 

[UW82]

"controlled walj"...................that' s some kind of eastern flush I believe John, that is only successful with Jack Snipe, according to Wikipedia.


Des.

 

[Bob O.]

Well done Bob O for finding and identifying the Iceland. We had a controlled walj Round the Broadmeadow after the work party. And.................counted 35 JACK SNIPE.

A few record pics of the Iceland Gull.:t:

 

[Where Bird]

1945 and all that again.

1945 Pink footed goose who reported that?

:eek!: Spring is here - well nearly and perhaps my mind needs a spring clean.|:d|
I answered my own question by reading the publication " The Birds of Upton Warren 1968 -2008 " written by Phil Andrews. Bought it 12 months ago on disk from P.A. Worth the read. Yes I did read it then! My computer is better organised than my brain|:d|

Phil E

 

[timmyjones]

A few record pics of the Iceland Gull.:t:

Mega! Has there ever been a record of Iceland on the deck at UW? Hopefully it'll do the same tomorrow and allow more people to see it

 

[binus1963]

r.e. redpol

after all the talk of various redpols i thought i better get one i took at life styles checked. ya know what i;m like with i.d. 8-P

 

[Stone Snapper]

after all the talk of various redpols i thought i better get one i took at life styles checked. ya know what i;m like with i.d. 8-P

Pinoccio pigeon:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

work Party - shingling Pool island

Today 12 of us moved the remaining shingle (next to the east hide) on to the pool island. This was 'bucketed up' and carried to the shoreline in front of the hide. From here it was ferried by boat to the island and placed on top of thick hessian backed carpet.
Back breaking work, so well done to all involved.

We also removed the 'run-down' screening panels on the approach to the east hide, these will be replaced shortly.
pics of Pool Island
1. how it looked at the end of March 2013 after the 1st phase
2. today after work - looks like we could do with another 20 tonnes:eek!: , but we'll leave that for another day. Unless someone has a Helicopter8-P
3 and 4. wider views of the scrape and the island
If anyone has any large smooth boulders/cobbles you don't want? we could make use of them around the edges of the island to keep the shingle in place. :t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Iceland Gull

ROBERT HILL has kindly allowed me to use his pictures of today's bird
:t:Robert
I'm sure you'll agree cracking pics:t:

 

[Stone Snapper]

good job guys

 

[wheatearlp]

Mega! Has there ever been a record of Iceland on the deck at UW? Hopefully it'll do the same tomorrow and allow more people to see it

There was one on the water with other large gulls in the early 90s I seem to recall. That's two gull species recorded this year that I need for Upton... plus the Glossy Ibis from late last year. :-C

 

[upstarts1979]

Mega! Has there ever been a record of Iceland on the deck at UW? Hopefully it'll do the same tomorrow and allow more people to see it

Hi Tim
I would imagine after roosting last night at Westwood, it stopped off at the Moors on route to Wildmoor.

Today we delayed the shingling work party and got on with another task. The birds were then all flushed from Amy's marsh by an unseen raptor (regular occurrence of late), the Iceland moved to the north end of the pool. Most of the other large gulls moved out, at which point we started the work.B
I suggest first light from the east hide.:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

Birding on the reserve today

Moors:
GCG 4 (2 prs), Little Grebe 4, mute swan 2, cormorant 10, greylag 2, shoveler 22, teal 12, gadwall pr, pochard 7 (5 males 2 fems), tufted 35, JACK SNIPE 35, snipe 12, oystercatcher 3 (pr +1), curlew, lapwing 20, ICELAND GULL 1st w/juv, herring gulls 30+, LBBG 3, BHG 250, coot 15+, water rail 3 calling,collared dove 2, stock dove, fieldfare 20, redwing, song thrush 3 singing, cettis singing, lesser redpoll 3, Mealy redpoll,
Sailing pool:
GCG 6, tufted 15, coot 8,

Flashes:
Teal 12, shelduck 4 (2 prs), shoveler 3, coot 22, Curlew 21, lapwing 55, Avocet 6, oystercatcher 1, BHG 410 roosted, LBBG 3 roosted,

 

[Phil Andrews]

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

Iceland Gull breeds on the west and east coast of Greenland and in northern Canada, and winters further south in Iceland, with some birds heading further south-east towards the Baltic and Britain, especially in severe winter weather when totals in this country may reach as many as 400 birds (although 50 birds is Britain’s more usual wintering population). The phenomenon of birds wintering inland is relatively recent, with the first record for the West Midlands region not occurring until 1949. As with Glaucous Gull they spend most of the day on land-fill sites (such as Wildmoor and Throckmorton) and roost on large bodies of water; regular local sites include Westwood Pool and Bartley Reservoir. On both a regional and a national basis Iceland Gull occurs slightly more frequently than Glaucous Gull at present. There have been six records for Upton Warren:-

1st March 1970
9th November 1980 - adult - fly-over
31st December 1991 - first winter - Moors Pool
19th December 1992 - immature (probable 1st winter) - fly-over
26th December 1994 - immature (probable 1st winter) - fly-over
25th February 2014 - first winter - Moors Pool

The reserve’s first occurrence in 1970 was then observed between the 2nd and 18th March at Bittell Reservoir. The 1991 bird was the only occurrence until today that was not a fly-over record; the gull arrived in the afternoon in the company of a sizeable party of larger gulls at the Moors Pool and gave excellent views for some 30 minutes. Following a nearby gun-shot it departed south-east and was later noted in the roost at Westwood Pool for its second night The 1992 bird flew south-west over the reserve with Lesser Black-backed Gulls whilst the 1994 bird was escorted over the Flashes in a south-easterly direction by a small stream of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. All the records fall into the winter period with a noticeable peak (in such a small sample) in the second half of December; interestingly across the wider West Midlands area the optimum time for records is January and early February.

A “white-winged gull”, probably an Iceland, was seen at the Moors Pool in late January 2006 but could not be positively identified. I think another unidentified white-winger has been noted in recent years but don't have the details to hand.

 

[Phil Andrews]

A record shot of the Iceland Gull this morning, a first for me at Upton. 6 Avocet at the Flashes and Mealy Redpoll at feeders by Lifestyles.

I thought your restraining order only permitted you to visit on Wednesdays Des?

 

[upstarts1979]

Forgive me the pages move so fast these days. I thought I read something about the management of the cattle at the Flashes on a recent page but I can't see it.
Tonight at the Flashes the whole roost was lost and passing birds flew around and then disappeared without stopping. This was due to the disturbance by the feeding of the cattle which were taken from the Sewage Works side across to the Hide side and back again for no apparent reason. The feeder has at least been moved to the Sewage Works side. On tonight's performance the feeding needs to be better managed, however infrequent it might be . With the arrival of the breeding birds underway, does not the containment of the cattle need to be done sooner rather than later?

I understand the need for the management and do not disagree with the introduction of the cattle.
What does concern me is that if they are able to roam freely, will not the birds be put off and or have their nests disturbed? What I thought I read but can't find, doesn't seem to agree with the fencing or lack of coralling I see. Perhaps the Trust would be advised to broadcast some clear information to the members and visitors particularly in view of all the work being put in by the volunteers.

Phil E

Phil
Yesterday Ben (the Grazier) was moving the troth to the sewage meadow, The reason being, is that he will be coming through the sewage works to tend the cattle in future. But he is also having his cattle tested for TB (compulsory), the disturbance yesterday was excessive, as he had to prepare the area for the vet's visit. The Trust are drafting a sign, explaining the situation re the cattle and it will be posted at the Flashes soon.
At the beginning of April the gate to the right of the hide will be closed. On Sunday we will be cutting the phragmites along the southern and eastern shore of the 2nd Flash. This will enable the cattle to access the grassy areas to the south, east and the meadow more freely.
Hopefully that reassures everyone that there is a plan:t: John