Upton Warren delights (as normal)

Straight on for the Flashes

 Little Egret

 Common Snipe

Pied Avocet 

Opted for a few hours at Upton Warren on Saturday afternoon, as normal the reserve looked fantastic and ready for an influx of migrants.

Starting at the Moors, a Kestrel hovered above the car park as I headed to the east hide. From the hide it was good to see 4 Little Egrets (a bird I've not seen at the gravel pits yet) had moved in whilst a Common Snipe was on the waters edge giving me the chance to get a digiscoped image. A pair of Oystercatchers were displaying on the near island. Other note worthy sightings included 37 Shoveller, three Lapwing, eight Teal, two Gadwall, four Shelduck and 60 Tufted Duck.

I thought I might see a Sand Martin on the Sailing Pool but had to settle for three Great Crested Grebe. As I headed towards the Flashes I picked up five different singing Chiffchaffs.

As always the Avocet were great to observe. One bird fed very close to the hide. Other sightings included 2 Raven (preparing to nest), 25 Teal, four Shelduck, three Oystercatcher, three Lapwing and a pair of Linnets. I did scan the fields a number of times for a Wheatear but they seem very slow in coming through the Midlands at the moment.

Autumn birding at Upton Warren

Upton Warren

Little Egret 

Snipe

With a big week ahead I took advantage of the good forecast and had a couple of hours at the Upton Warren Moors on Sunday. Leaving the car park I observed Meadow Pipits flying south whilst there was a selection of Long Tailed Tits, Dunnock, Blackcap and Robin.

Sitting in the east hide it was good to see three Little Egret still on the reserve. Two of them seemed to be happy with each other whilst the other needed to stay on his toes as his presence was not appreciated, this could be said for a new pairs of Swans that were trying to settle much to the disgust of the established pair.

Two adult Kingfishers and a juvenile could be seen at regular intervals whilst other notable sighting were a Pintail, 7 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 2 Grey Herons, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, 10+ Snipe, 3 Cetis Warblers, 30+ Shovellor, Chiffchaff, Long Tailed Tit and 60+ Lapwing in the A38 field. 

There was a work party on a Flashes but with going away to Scotland I didn't want to risk a strain getting in the way. By the look of the forum photos they had done some great work clearing the silt close to the hide. 

Time to pack those bags ready for the Highlands.