Upton Warren

I knew that today would be a good day when I opened the front door and saw 150 or so Lapwings flyiing high over the house.

We have friends staying with us this weekend who are fellow birders and we decided to have a relaxed day birding at Upton Warren.

We arrived at Midday after having a hearty brunch and made our way to the Flashes which were considerably quiet.  The bird feeders held a pair of Bullfinches and many Reed Buntings and the flashes had 4 Shelduck, Teal, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull and one Lesser Black Backed Gull.  These were all disturbed by a Peregrine passing overhead high.

We then moved onto the Moors Pool to the far hide which held all the activity with many Snipe and Lapwing and Curlews.  However the star was an amazing Jack Snipe who gave us a good show by bobbing along before going to sleep - A new species for all 4 of us.  We could have stayed there for a lot longer but the cold got the better of us and we moved to the hides nearer the car park where we watched the activity round the feeders including two rats doing their best to try and reach one of the hanging seed dispensers.  A quick visit to Water Rail Hide gave us an obliging Water Rail and we then headed home via Webbs and a cup of team.  A very successful days birding albeit a bit nippy.