Upton Warren (8 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

Details later from Phil and Mike......

Is that an unsubtle hint?

 

[upstarts1979]

Is that an unsubtle hint?

no just a statement of fact 8-P
you know what you want to do kid so best coming from you.

 

[the wicker man]

3 minutes early 8-P

That'd be something to do with the change in day length

 

[Woodchat]

A couple of shots from today
is the insect a coachman or something like that...acted like a scorpion raising its rear up.

It's a Devil's Coach Horse Beetle - I haven't seen one of those for years. We used to get lots in our garden shed when I was a kid. They look pretty ferocious. :t:

 

[upstarts1979]

It's a Devil's Coach Horse Beetle - I haven't seen one of those for years. We used to get lots in our garden shed when I was a kid. They look pretty ferocious. :t:

Dave, does it have a sting in its rear:t:

 

[upstarts1979]

That'd be something to do with the change in day length

Mike it would be interesting if on Sunday it appears at 5.06pm. 👍

 

[Woodchat]

Dave, does it have a sting in its rear:t:

Not according to the following (from Wiki) - quote / reference below:

"Although it has no sting, it can give a painful bite with its strong pincer-like jaws. It also emits a foul smelling odour, as a defensive secretion, from a pair of white glands at the end of its abdomen."

C. E. Nield (1976). "Aspects of the biology of Staphylinus olens (Müller), Britain's largest staphylinid beetle". Ecological Entomology 1 (2): 117–126.

 

[upstarts1979]

Not according to the following (from Wiki) - quote / reference below:

"Although it has no sting, it can give a painful bite with its strong pincer-like jaws. It also emits a foul smelling odour, as a defensive secretion, from a pair of white glands at the end of its abdomen."

C. E. Nield (1976). "Aspects of the biology of Staphylinus olens (Müller), Britain's largest staphylinid beetle". Ecological Entomology 1 (2): 117–126.

Thanks Kid :t:
see you Sunday ?

 

[Phil Andrews]

Des has had 2 Little Egret and the 2 Egyptian Geese at the Moors Pool so far today - full update later

 

[the wicker man]

Mike it would be interesting if on Sunday it appears at 5.06pm. 👍

We could have a sweepstake Would think there's a good chance as long as the weather is OK...

 

[UW82]

Today's highlights:

FLASHES:
Dunlin (2)----------------------Green Sand (1)
Curlew (14)--------------------Lapwing (c200)
Snipe (10)---------------------Teal (105)
Shoveler (1)-------------------Grey Wagtail
Peregrine-----------------------Cetti's Warbler
Common Gull (2x1w)-----------Herring Gull (5)
Starling (c600)-----------------B H Gull (c1800)
Song Thrush (2)----------------Water Rail

MOORS/NORTH MOORS*
Little Egret (2)------------------Egyptian Goose (2)
Barnacle Goose-----------------Greylag Goose (22)
Pochard (1f)--------------------Teal (8)
Shoveler (min of 73)-----------Green Sand (1)
Coal Tit-------------------------Cormorant (18)
Grey Wagtail--------------------Kestrel
Snipe (5)------------------------Water Rail
Cetti's Warbler (3)--------------Herring Gull (4)
B H Gull (80)--------------------Blackcap (f)*
Goldcrest*-----------------------Redwing (10)*

SAILING POOL:
G C Grebe (7)-------------------Tufted Duck (4)

+ Otter at the Moors.

Des.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Upton Warren listing - an update

Following my recent post, I attached a revised Top Ten known (more or less) listers at Upton Warren:

1) John Belsey - 214 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
2) Andy Warr - 205 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
3) Terry Hinett - 204 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
4) Mike Wakeman - 203 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
5) Des Jennings - 202 (latest: Caspian Gull)
6) Dave Jackson - 197 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
7) Richard Harbird - 195 (latest: Shorelark)
8) Dave Walker - 193 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
9) Phil Andrews - 191 (latest: Red-backed Shrike)
10) Rob Prudden - 189 (latest: Osprey)

Again I would stress the several birders who lists aren't known would be expected to feature including Arthur Jacobs (approx. 210?), Steve Whitehouse (210+) and John Ridley (205+?) plus potentially the likes of Stuart Croft, Gordon Greaves and Roger Hill.

John still has some distance to catch up with Steve Nuttall as the West Midlands' leading patch lister - Steve's Belvide list currently stands at 238 species (only two short of the Upton list in its entirety :eek!.

 

[upstarts1979]

We could have a sweepstake Would think there's a good chance as long as the weather is OK...

5.06pm SundayB

 

[Steve Nuttall]

Following my recent post, I attached a revised Top Ten known (more or less) listers at Upton Warren:

1) John Belsey - 214 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
2) Andy Warr - 205 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
3) Terry Hinett - 204 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
4) Mike Wakeman - 203 (latest: Great White Egret)
5) Des Jennings - 202 (latest: Caspian Gull)
6) Dave Jackson - 197 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
7) Richard Harbird - 195 (latest: Shorelark)
8) Dave Walker - 193 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
9) Phil Andrews - 191 (latest: Red-backed Shrike)
10) Rob Prudden - 189 (latest: Osprey)

Again I would stress the several birders who lists aren't known would be expected to feature including Arthur Jacobs (approx. 210?), Steve Whitehouse (210+) and John Ridley (205+?) plus potentially the likes of Stuart Croft, Gordon Greaves and Roger Hill.

John still has some distance to catch up with Steve Nuttall as the West Midlands' leading patch lister - Steve's Belvide list currently stands at 238 species (only two short of the Upton list in its entirety :eek!.

Hi Phil,

don't forget Graham Mant has the same for Blithfield. Eric Clare must be up there too. Would have thought John Judge has a pretty decent Draycote list.
I still haven't seen Bearded Tit (last record 1986) or Black Throated Diver (last record 1988) at Belvide.

Cheers Steve

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Phil,

don't forget Graham Mant has the same for Blithfield. Eric Clare must be up there too. Would have thought John Judge has a pretty decent Draycote list.
I still haven't seen Bearded Tit (last record 1986) or Black Throated Diver (last record 1988) at Belvide.

Cheers Steve

Cheers Steve - hadn't realised that Graham's list was of that magnitude; 99.99% of us can only dream about finding a Needletail on patch :eek!:B

 

[upstarts1979]

Following my recent post, I attached a revised Top Ten known (more or less) listers at Upton Warren:

1) John Belsey - 214 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
2) Andy Warr - 205 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
3) Terry Hinett - 204 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
4) Mike Wakeman - 203 (latest: Great White Egret)
5) Des Jennings - 202 (latest: Caspian Gull)
6) Dave Jackson - 197 (latest: Egyptian Goose)
7) Richard Harbird - 195 (latest: Shorelark)
8) Dave Walker - 193 (latest: Red-necked Grebe)
9) Phil Andrews - 191 (latest: Red-backed Shrike)
10) Rob Prudden - 189 (latest: Osprey)

Again I would stress the several birders who lists aren't known would be expected to feature including Arthur Jacobs (approx. 210?), Steve Whitehouse (210+) and John Ridley (205+?) plus potentially the likes of Stuart Croft, Gordon Greaves and Roger Hill.

John still has some distance to catch up with Steve Nuttall as the West Midlands' leading patch lister - Steve's Belvide list currently stands at 238 species (only two short of the Upton list in its entirety :eek!.

Mike saw the RN grebe so he must be on 204:t:

 

[Phil Andrews]

Flashes work party - Sunday 1st November

The next Flashes work party of the season will take place this coming Sunday - please meet on the Sailing Centre car park at 9:50am. As always light refreshments and tools will be provided; please wear old, warm clothes, boots / wellies and gloves.

Work will again focus on scrub management in the area between the Hen Pool and the first Flash. Having broken the back of the task in the first work party we will complete the removal of the willows along the Hen Brook; this will both keep the Flashes open with clear lines of sight for waders and ducks and also improve the visibility into the fields of Hobden Hall Farm. We will also assess the sedge beds to see if there is any value in cutting them later in the season.

The second element of work will depend on an assessment of the berry situation. If we deem the crop to be insignificant we will turn our attention to the scrub around the feeding station; this area has become very leggy in recent years with large sections also dying off, resulting in little or no vegetation on the ground. The aim would be to emulate what we have achieved between the Hen Pool Hide and confluence ie the radical cutting back of the existing blackthorn and hawthorn to produce vibrant fresh growth at a range of heights. The initial results may look brutal but within a few years will yield ample rewards. The cut material will be used to create dead hedges which will stimulate bramble growth. We will also use the opportunity to drive better lines of sight from the hides and path through the blackthorn into the marsh areas behind.

If it is concluded that a significant number of berries remain then we will turn our attention to the large patch of blackthorn scrub on the eastern shore of the second flash. Whilst this did provide an excellent perch for this autumn's Red-backed Shrike it has some significant downsides including a nesting and perching opportunity for corvids (which predate the wader chicks), a lie-up for foxes should they breach the fence and a barrier for the grazing cattle, forcing them to either move along the shoreline (churning up the mud) or pushing through the rear by the oak tree (which in previous years has resulted in some significant holes in the fox fencing). Alternatively, depending on time and numbers, there are a number of alder and willows round the Hen Pool that also need removing.

Hope to see as many of you there as possible.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Mike saw the RN grebe so he must be on 204:t:

Apparently the RNG was his 203rd.

 

[upstarts1979]

Apparently the RNG was his 203rd.

has there been a great white egret (his last bird) since the red n grebe

 

[Phil Andrews]

Bearded Tit

Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus

Along with Marsh Harrier and Bittern, Bearded Tit forms part of the Holy Trinity that represent a successful reed-bed. It is therefore a huge stain on the character of Upton Warren that the reserve has not recorded this species for 22 years and represents a significant hole in the list of many regulars (including myself).

Bearded Tit is an uncommon resident in Britain with around 630 pairs (as per the BTO) which breeds in extensive swathes of Common Reed in such locations as Dorset, Kent, East Anglia, Lancashire (eg Leighton Moss) and the east coast (eg Blacktoft Sands) with recent expansion into new areas as the Somerset Levels. Birds reach the West Midlands on an occasional basis, with around 30 records for Worcestershire, the most recent being a female at Grimley Old Workings between the 23rd and 30th October 2004. At Upton Warren it is a scarce and irregular visitor (although formerly more frequent); there have been 12 records totalling at least 34 birds. Unfortunately some of the data relating to the earlier records is a little sketchy:-

3rd March 1968 - 1 bird (Roger Maskew, BT Nicholls)
31st October 1971 - 2 birds (Roger Maskew, MB Passman)
4th November 1972 - 5 birds (Arthur Jacobs)
14th November 1973 to late March 1974 - 5 birds (Arthur Jacobs)
24th October to 23rd November 1974 - 4 birds (MO)
18th January 1975 - 2 birds (Paul Cooper, Mike Smith)
8th & 9th March 1975 - 2 males (Arthur Jacobs, Simon Harrop)
Late October 1977 to early 1978 - 2, possibly 3, birds (Arthur Jacobs, AJH)
7th to 8th November 1987 - 1+ birds (1 male) - Moors Pool / The Flashes (John Belsey, John Hancock)
17th to 23rd November 1987 - 2 birds (1 male & 1 female) - North Moors (Chris Roe)
13th to 14th October 1992 - 3 birds (2 on 14th) - North Moors (Terry Norledge)
7th to 8th November 1993 - 4 birds (3 males & 1 female) - The Flashes (Paul Croft et al)

Its arrival usually coincides with a westwards movement from populations further east, including the Continent, during the late autumn and early winter; the five birds observed in 1972 formed part of a wider passage that saw over 70 birds reported across the West Midlands region. The vast majority of records have involved multiple occurrences, including a flock of five birds from November 1973 to March 1974, a peak count for the reserve along with the aforementioned 1972 occurrence. The 1978 record involved a pair (and potentially a third bird) seen in late October and early November 1977, with a male bird present until March 1978. The predominance of October and November records coincides with the species’ annual irruption from their main breeding grounds and Upton Warren would appear to have sufficient attractive habitat to hold birds for up to four months.

Unfortunately the run of birds experienced through the 1970s and again, to a lesser degree, in the early 1990s has not materialised into an established wintering pattern. The two November 1987 records could easily involve the same pair of birds; upon departing on the 8th the male bird was later relocated at Westwood Pool, accompanied by a female. The last record in 1993 curtailed the activities of a work party at the Flashes as the four birds spent the afternoon and the following morning in a patch of sedge and willowherb on the southern border of the second Flash; these four birds were later seen at Oakley. Arthur Jacobs recalled that one of the early records included a bird ringed in Poland.

Of current interest is a small irruption that has resulted in a number of records in the last fortnight in the wider Midlands region, far more than in recent years. These sightings include:

Napton Reservoir, Warwicks - 5+ birds - 25th to 28th October
Middleton Lakes / Dosthill complex - 2 birds - 26th & 28th October
Willington Gravel Pits, Derbyshire - 3 birds - 25th & 26th October
Netherfield Lagoons, Notts - 1 bird - 18th October
Salford Priors, Warwicks - 1 bird - 18th October
Uttoxeter Pit, Staffs - 5 birds - 17th October
Rutland Water, Leics - up to 3 birds - 4th to 17th October

The North Moors, main Moors Pool and Hen Pool all have potential to hold this attractive species; visitors should keep an ear open for its distinctive contact call: http://test.xeno-canto.org/species/Panurus-biarmicus