Tuesday 3rd July 2012 - Upton Warren

With the prospect of another dull and potentially damp day I decided to pop to Upton Warren NR for a bit of birding.  Over the past few week there has been varying numbers of Mediterranean Gulls with a peak of 11 birds being seen on site (which is a new county record).  On the day I visited there were only 4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adult & 2 2nd Summer) present but it was still good to see them all the same.  Now don't get me wrong I'm certainly not a "Larophile" (although I know a few!), but I can appreciate the beauty of a summer plumage adult Med Gull.  The all white wings, black head, deep red bill with yellow tip...there is just something about them.  Don't believe me then look at the photo below.

Also of interest at the flashes were 13 Avocets (8 adults & 5 juv), 2 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper.

From the Flashes I headed over to the Moors Pool.  Along the causeway the Bee Orchids had miraculously survived the recent flooding and a single Pyramidal Orchid was in bloom too.

On one of the islands there were 2 adult Oystercatchers attending to 3 chicks.  A further 3 adult Oystercatchers were seen chasing and piping over the pool.  Also present was a single adult Common Tern.  Four Bullfinch (2♂ & 2♀) were using the feeding station.

All in all it was a very enjoyable change of scenery.  It was also good to have a natter with old friends and new faces.  I will have to not leave it so long before my next visit there.

Mediterranean Gull















Bee Orchid















Pyramidal Orchid















Click on YouTube logo to enlarge



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9 comments:

  1. Phil5 July 2012 at 12:09

    Hi Jason
    What's not to like about a Med Gull??

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  2. Jason K5 July 2012 at 12:47

    I totally agree Phil...they are smart looking birds!

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  3. Bob Bushell5 July 2012 at 13:02

    Wowee, the Med Gull is extremely brilliant, well done Jason.

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  4. StourbridgeRantBoy6 July 2012 at 00:25

    A 'visiting' birder claimed a non-singing Cetti's Warbler at UW yesterday....There was no response from the regulars on the forum....The words Snowball and Hell spring to mind Jason!

    Smart Med Gull.

    Laurie -

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  5. Jason K6 July 2012 at 01:45

    Thanks Bob...much appreciated mate.

    Cheers Laurie...It's quite possible that Cetti's will re-colonise there at some point

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  6. StourbridgeRantBoy6 July 2012 at 02:16

    The only one i know of at present is the, still singing Male, at Fens Pools Brierley Hill...

    Laurie -

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  7. Jason K6 July 2012 at 04:54

    Well its good to know there is still one locally Laurie. There may be more at other sites being kept quite (if in small numbers) but who knows!!!

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  8. Omi10 July 2012 at 13:58

    Your Med Gull is a real beauty! :)

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  9. Jason K11 July 2012 at 01:38

    Thanks Omi...they are stunning

    ReplyDelete

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