Hello Keith

Thanks very much for the information. Very interesting indeed! There is
plenty for me to have a go at there!

Kind regards

Mark

2009/10/22 keith_bates2002 <keith_bates2002@...>

>
>
> Hello Mark,
>
> Good to hear from you. I'll do my best to help but I'm going to fall short
> on some things I'm afraid.
>
> Firstly, I don't have my own transport and Bewdley (as opposed to Upper
> Arley) is, therefore, beyond my normal walking range. I hardly know that
> area at all even from a non-birdwatching point of view. Whenever I think of
> Bewdley, I think of Hawfinches but it probably isn't always as exciting as
> that! There are bound to be people on this group who can help you though
> with the Bewdley area, especially the Wyre.
>
> Between Upper Arley and Bewdley along the Severn is Trimpley Reservoir,
> Eymoor Wood on the east bank (and various other woods on the west bank of
> the Severn) and Dowles Brook. Hopes here would, I suspect, include Dipper,
> Mandarin, Woodcock, very occcasional Meally Redpoll, maybe Hawfinch, etc.
> I've only been to Trimpley Reservoir once and have never been to the other
> places I've just mentioned. Again, there will be people on the group who can
> help - as they are, taken as a totality, definitely worth going to. I do
> bump into people quite often who have been birding along Dowles Brook, much
> less so Eymoor Wood ... but hardly ever at all Trimpley Reservoir. There's
> plenty of decent woodland around Trimpley Res and of course a decent stretch
> of the Severn - but the Res consists of two not particularly big and rather
> sterile looking concrete bowls and another squarish concrete thing filled
> with water below. It's popular with dogwalkers, fisherman and picnickers
> (from which I often do hear non-birding reports!) so "disruption" is a major
> issue - it may be OK in winter but best to arrive extremely early. I'd like
> to hear someone defend Trimpley Res (ie. the Res itself) as my opinion of it
> may be unfair!
>
> Nash End itself isn't especially worth going to. There's nothing wrong with
> it (farmland with isolated copses) but the reason I go there is that when
> I've walked southwards to Upper Arley along the Severn, I have to get back
> to Alveley (Shrops) somehow which is where I'm based when I'm staying in the
> area. So, either I go back along the Severn or along a selection of roads
> and footpaths - those which are in Worcs, I call Nash End for convenience
> because Nash End is the main feature of that area on Ordnance Survey maps
> (SO768818).
>
> Most of my walking (90% or more I'd say) in this area is in Shrops rather
> than Worcs and I have, for many years, written much lengthier postings each
> month on the Shrops Yahoo birding email group -
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shropshirebirds - there should be no problem
> joining that group if you wish to do so.
>
> Taking my walking area as a whole incl Shrops (it roughly corresponds to
> the 10*10 km S078 Ordnance Survey square), the best places to go are in
> descending order of importance:
>
> 1. Chelmarsh Reservoir and Scrape (note that the Reservoir itself is now
> totally out of bounds to all birders but can easily be seen from nearby
> footpaths)
>
> 2. Dudmaston Hall (a lake, several pools, mixed woodland and parkland -
> best in winter)
>
> 3. Severn Valley Country Park near Alveley (has lost quite a bit of
> interest since the loss of Turtle Dove and probably Willow Tit as breeding
> species)
>
> 4. The rest of the Severn of which the Hampton Loade area (Shrops)
> outrivals the Upper Arley area a little bit in my mind mainly because it
> lies geographically between 1 and 2 above. A major drawback at Hampton Loade
> though is that there is not a public footbridge (there is a summer ferry
> though on some days).
>
> The Worcs area of the Severn in SO78 (ie Upper Arley and the Nash End
> farmland) doesn't rank particularly highly, for me, in this list. It does
> have some good things. Goosander in winter. Roughly a 1 in 3 chance of
> Mandarin - higher chance than this in spring. With a lot of hard work,
> Redstart can be tracked down in autumn. Breeding Little Owl some or all
> years. Sand Martin colonies. Spotted Flycatcher in autumn, though
> decreasingly so. In any event, the 5 or 6 mile round trip walk along the
> Severn using the footbridges at Upper Arley (Worcs) and Severn Valley
> Country Park (Shrops) - ample parking available quite near both footbridges
> - often provides good all-round bird interest and, in any event, is a bl**dy
> enjoyable walk in its own right!
>
> Hope this is of some help.
>
> Regards from Keith
>
> --- In WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com <WMBC-Worcs%40yahoogroups.com>, MARK
> MANSELL <mj.mansell203@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello Keith
> >
> > I always read with interest your reports from Upper Arley and Nash End.
> > I am fairly inexperienced in these matters and wondered if you could give
> me
> > some tips on the best spots for birdwatching in the Bewdley area? How do
> you
> > get to Nash End etc?
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> > Mark
> >
> > 2009/10/21 keith_bates2002 <keith_bates2002@...>
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > SUN 17 OCT O9
> > >
> > > Warmish, sunny.
> > >
> > > 2 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck (unusual), 83 Skylark (incl. an aerial flock
> of
> > > 80), 7 Redwing, 2 Red-Legged Partridge.
> > >
> > > A female Mandarin was also around but I only saw it marginally over the
> > > Shrops border.
> > >
> > > The Skylark flock was my first really substantial flock in SO78 since,
> > > well, almost the turn of the century!
> > >
> > > Nash End: 2 Redwing.
> > >
> > > TUE 20 OCT 09
> > >
> > > Chilly wind, dull.
> > >
> > > 1 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Kingfisher, 13 Cormorant
> mostly in
> > > their favourite dead tree, 4 Skylark. Also, 18 Moorhen was quite a high
> > > count for this area.
> > >
> > > Hopefully, more in a month or so.
> > >
> > > Keith Bates, London.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello Mark,

Good to hear from you. I'll do my best to help but I'm going to fall short on
some things I'm afraid.

Firstly, I don't have my own transport and Bewdley (as opposed to Upper Arley)
is, therefore, beyond my normal walking range. I hardly know that area at all
even from a non-birdwatching point of view. Whenever I think of Bewdley, I think
of Hawfinches but it probably isn't always as exciting as that! There are bound
to be people on this group who can help you though with the Bewdley area,
especially the Wyre.

Between Upper Arley and Bewdley along the Severn is Trimpley Reservoir, Eymoor
Wood on the east bank (and various other woods on the west bank of the Severn)
and Dowles Brook. Hopes here would, I suspect, include Dipper, Mandarin,
Woodcock, very occcasional Meally Redpoll, maybe Hawfinch, etc. I've only been
to Trimpley Reservoir once and have never been to the other places I've just
mentioned. Again, there will be people on the group who can help - as they are,
taken as a totality, definitely worth going to. I do bump into people quite
often who have been birding along Dowles Brook, much less so Eymoor Wood ... but
hardly ever at all Trimpley Reservoir. There's plenty of decent woodland around
Trimpley Res and of course a decent stretch of the Severn - but the Res consists
of two not particularly big and rather sterile looking concrete bowls and
another squarish concrete thing filled with water below. It's popular with
dogwalkers, fisherman and picnickers (from which I often do hear non-birding
reports!) so "disruption" is a major issue - it may be OK in winter but best to
arrive extremely early. I'd like to hear someone defend Trimpley Res (ie. the
Res itself) as my opinion of it may be unfair!

Nash End itself isn't especially worth going to. There's nothing wrong with it
(farmland with isolated copses) but the reason I go there is that when I've
walked southwards to Upper Arley along the Severn, I have to get back to Alveley
(Shrops) somehow which is where I'm based when I'm staying in the area. So,
either I go back along the Severn or along a selection of roads and footpaths -
those which are in Worcs, I call Nash End for convenience because Nash End is
the main feature of that area on Ordnance Survey maps (SO768818).

Most of my walking (90% or more I'd say) in this area is in Shrops rather than
Worcs and I have, for many years, written much lengthier postings each month on
the Shrops Yahoo birding email group -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shropshirebirds - there should be no problem
joining that group if you wish to do so.

Taking my walking area as a whole incl Shrops (it roughly corresponds to the
10*10 km S078 Ordnance Survey square), the best places to go are in descending
order of importance:

1. Chelmarsh Reservoir and Scrape (note that the Reservoir itself is now totally
out of bounds to all birders but can easily be seen from nearby footpaths)

2. Dudmaston Hall (a lake, several pools, mixed woodland and parkland - best in
winter)

3. Severn Valley Country Park near Alveley (has lost quite a bit of interest
since the loss of Turtle Dove and probably Willow Tit as breeding species)

4. The rest of the Severn of which the Hampton Loade area (Shrops) outrivals the
Upper Arley area a little bit in my mind mainly because it lies geographically
between 1 and 2 above. A major drawback at Hampton Loade though is that there is
not a public footbridge (there is a summer ferry though on some days).

The Worcs area of the Severn in SO78 (ie Upper Arley and the Nash End farmland)
doesn't rank particularly highly, for me, in this list. It does have some good
things. Goosander in winter. Roughly a 1 in 3 chance of Mandarin - higher chance
than this in spring. With a lot of hard work, Redstart can be tracked down in
autumn. Breeding Little Owl some or all years. Sand Martin colonies. Spotted
Flycatcher in autumn, though decreasingly so. In any event, the 5 or 6 mile
round trip walk along the Severn using the footbridges at Upper Arley (Worcs)
and Severn Valley Country Park (Shrops) - ample parking available quite near
both footbridges - often provides good all-round bird interest and, in any
event, is a bl**dy enjoyable walk in its own right!

Hope this is of some help.

Regards from Keith

--- In WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com, MARK MANSELL <mj.mansell203@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Keith
>
> I always read with interest your reports from Upper Arley and Nash End.
> I am fairly inexperienced in these matters and wondered if you could give me
> some tips on the best spots for birdwatching in the Bewdley area? How do you
> get to Nash End etc?
>
> Kind regards
>
> Mark
>
> 2009/10/21 keith_bates2002 <keith_bates2002@...>
>
> >
> >
> > Hello all,
> >
> > SUN 17 OCT O9
> >
> > Warmish, sunny.
> >
> > 2 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck (unusual), 83 Skylark (incl. an aerial flock of
> > 80), 7 Redwing, 2 Red-Legged Partridge.
> >
> > A female Mandarin was also around but I only saw it marginally over the
> > Shrops border.
> >
> > The Skylark flock was my first really substantial flock in SO78 since,
> > well, almost the turn of the century!
> >
> > Nash End: 2 Redwing.
> >
> > TUE 20 OCT 09
> >
> > Chilly wind, dull.
> >
> > 1 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Kingfisher, 13 Cormorant mostly in
> > their favourite dead tree, 4 Skylark. Also, 18 Moorhen was quite a high
> > count for this area.
> >
> > Hopefully, more in a month or so.
> >
> > Keith Bates, London.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hello Keith

I always read with interest your reports from Upper Arley and Nash End.
I am fairly inexperienced in these matters and wondered if you could give me
some tips on the best spots for birdwatching in the Bewdley area? How do you
get to Nash End etc?

Kind regards

Mark

2009/10/21 keith_bates2002 <keith_bates2002@...>

>
>
> Hello all,
>
> SUN 17 OCT O9
>
> Warmish, sunny.
>
> 2 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck (unusual), 83 Skylark (incl. an aerial flock of
> 80), 7 Redwing, 2 Red-Legged Partridge.
>
> A female Mandarin was also around but I only saw it marginally over the
> Shrops border.
>
> The Skylark flock was my first really substantial flock in SO78 since,
> well, almost the turn of the century!
>
> Nash End: 2 Redwing.
>
> TUE 20 OCT 09
>
> Chilly wind, dull.
>
> 1 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Kingfisher, 13 Cormorant mostly in
> their favourite dead tree, 4 Skylark. Also, 18 Moorhen was quite a high
> count for this area.
>
> Hopefully, more in a month or so.
>
> Keith Bates, London.
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello all,

SUN 17 OCT O9

Warmish, sunny.

2 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck (unusual), 83 Skylark (incl. an aerial flock of 80),
7 Redwing, 2 Red-Legged Partridge.

A female Mandarin was also around but I only saw it marginally over the Shrops
border.

The Skylark flock was my first really substantial flock in SO78 since, well,
almost the turn of the century!

Nash End: 2 Redwing.

TUE 20 OCT 09

Chilly wind, dull.

1 Goosander, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Kingfisher, 13 Cormorant mostly in
their favourite dead tree, 4 Skylark. Also, 18 Moorhen was quite a high count
for this area.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

The BOU Records Committee (BOURC) has announced the most recent decisions of its
ongoing review of Category D species. These can be seen at
http://newsbou.blogspot.com/.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve P. Dudley
Senior Administrator
---------------------------------------------------------------------
British Ornithologists' Union | British Ornithologists' Club
PO Box 417 | Peterborough | PE7 3FX | UK
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1 733 844 820
www.bou.org.uk
www.boc-online.org
www.ibis.ac.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------
BOU is a registered charity in the UK no. 249877
BOC is a registered charity in the UK no. 279583
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello all,

Very quiet indeed.

FRI 18 SEP 09

Mild, dull.

30 House Martin, 8 Swallow, 2 Cormorant, 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

SUN 20 SEP 09

Warm, sunny.

1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 2 Cormorant, no hirundines. Plus 20
Mistle Thrush at Arley House – for donkey's years, the Mistle Thrush capital of
SO78.

Nash End: not a lot.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

Surprisingly quiet for the time of year.

THUR 13 AUG 09

Sunny, warm, breezy.

1 Little Owl, 10 late-ish Sand Martin, 2 Raven, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cormorant, 1
late-ish Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap.

Nash End: 1 Willow Warbler.

SUN 16 AUG 09

Sunny intervals, warm, breezy.

6 late-ish Sand Martin, 3 Red-Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel.

I rarely visit the area this early in August: this might explain my failure to
find "autumn" Redstart in the Borle Brook area of the Severn. Maybe too late for
them on my next visit too.

Hopefully more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

The British Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (BOURC) has accepted the
following to Category A of the British List:

Pacific Diver
Yellow-nosed Albatross
Glaucous-winged Gull
Amur Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis)
Asian Brown Flycatcher

Full details can be found on the BOU News site at http://newsbou.blogspot.com/.

Steve Dudley
British Ornithologists' Union

Hello all,

FRI 17 JUL 09

Cool, light rain, grey, breezy.

12 immature/female Mandarin in 3 flocks, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 29 Sand Martin, 3
Kestrel, 1 Heron, 1 Cormorant, 4 Red-Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Whitethroat.

MON 20 JUL 09

Warm, sunny, breezy.

1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 immature/female Mandarin, 3 Kestrel, 2 Swift, 2
Sparrowhawk, 32 Sand Martin.

It being late in the season with potentially mobile immatures, I wouldn't like
to guess how many pairs of Mandarin bred in this general area of SO78 this year.
If forced, I'd guess 3+ pairs. If so, these may all have bred just into Shrops;
however, with the apparently strong expansion of the local population in recent
years, then I would have thought that Arley Dingle must also be a strong
possibility in the future.

The Spotted Flycatcher was my first record at their former breeding stronghold
of Arley House for 5 years - although I don't cover that area intensively due to
the hefty admission fee into its grounds!

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

SUN 21 JUN

Coolish, humid, light showers.

4 immature Mandarin, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 47 Sand Martin, 3 Swift, 1
Red-Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

The immature Mandarins – possibly including an adult female – on the Severn near
the mouth of Borle Brook (Worcs & Shrops) were about a month old and a fairly
good indication of at least 4 consecutive years of local breeding – but probably
always in Shrops CC.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

Very quiet.

SUN 24 MAY 09

Sunny, warm.

1 Whitethroat (unususal), 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 22 Sand Martin.

Nash End: 3 adult & 2 immature Lapwing, 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

A Mandarin and a Dipper on the final stretch of Borle Brook were Shrops CC but
possibly Worcs VC.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

SAT 25 APR 09

Cool, grey, windy, after heavy rain.

1 male Mandarin, 4 Raven, 22 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 1 Heron.

Nash End: 4 Lapwing (breeding site), 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

TUE 28 APR 09

Cool, grey, after moderate rain.

8 Mandarin, 1 late Siskin, 1 late Goosander, 3 Raven, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 House
Martin, 31 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Skylark, 1 Red-Legged
Partridge.

Nash End: 3 Lapwing (breeding site), 1 Skylark, 2 Red-Legged Partridge.

A rare-ish mushroom species by The Farthings near Nash End: Morchella ?esculenta
(Morel sp).

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

1 swallow
grey wagtail
2 dipper
green and great sptd woodpecker
song thrush
mistle thrush
redpoll
siskin
buzzard
goldcrest
nuthatch
1 willow warbler
numerous chiffchaffs
PJ

Hello all,

Between Shatterford and Trimpley (12/03/09): 4 Curlew.

SAT 14 MAR 09

Mild but very windy.

2 Goosander, 1 Siskin, 1 Cormorant.

Nash End: 1 Siskin.

5 Mandarin on the lowest stretch of Borle Brook were in Shrops CC but possibly
Worcs VC.

TUE 17 MAR 09

Mild, mainly cloudy, breezy.

1 male Reed Bunting (very unusual), 1 Chiffchaff, 1 riverine Little Grebe, 1
Siskin, 73 Fieldfare, 1 Heron.

Nash End: 2 Lapwing (breeding site), 2 Skylark.

Chiffchaff were very late in arriving in any numbers in the general area (ie.
incl Shrops) but there seemed to be a significant arrival on the 16th.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Yesterday (01/03/2009), there were 4 Goosanders at Lower Bittell Reservoir and 1
male Pintail at Cofton Reservoir.



Matthew Griffiths

http://earlswood.blogspot.com/

_________________________________________________________________
  25GB of FREE Online Storage – Find out more
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/134665320/direct/01/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've obviously got far too much time on my hands I know but I'm pretty addicted
to these Google Maps.  I've now created a map detailing all the latest sightings
of rare or scarce birds in the West Midlands area.  This includes the counties
of Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
 
Please see the map in the bottom right-hand corner of my blog, zoom in and out
and click on the blue icons.  Each one will reveal a local rarity or scarcity
that has occurred in the region during the past week.  The map will be refreshed
as soon as news of something interesting is reported and will be wiped clean
every Sunday evening so we can start a fresh every Monday morning.
 
So if you want to know which field the flock of Eurasian White-fronted Geese are
feeding in at Doxey or which hedgerow the Hams Hall Firecrest is favouring then
please give it a go.
 
Click on : www.surfbirds.com/blog/archie69asbo
 
Many thanks
 
Arch






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello all,

Rather quiet.

THU 12 FEB 09

Cold, iron hard frost.

36 Goosander, 20 Siskin, 2 Raven, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2
Cormorant, 16 Fieldfare.

Nash End: 34 Lapwing, 13 Redwing, 6 Red-Legged Partridge.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hi Andy

I have had one or two replies but you are the first with positive 'will do'
result.

Will contact you again as soon as I get any details from the RSPB officer who
(apparently) was involved with the problem last year.

Many thanks for your reply and I look forward to meeting up with you in the near
future.

Clive




________________________________
From: Andy Hodgetts <andrew.hodgetts@...>
To: WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, 17 January, 2009 17:36:55
Subject: Re: [WMBC-Worcs] Protection of Peregrine Falcons


I live in Brierley Hill - not too far away, and indeed was disgusted at the
trapping and killing of the peregrines. I would be interested in doing my bit to
guard the quarry.

Andy Hodgetts.
----- Original Message -----
From: williamsonclive
To: WMBC-Worcs@yahoogro ups.com
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 6:54 PM
Subject: [WMBC-Worcs] Protection of Peregrine Falcons

Is there anyone interested in exploring the possiblilities of guarding
the quarry in Kingswinford where Peregrines were attacked last year?
You may have seen the tv news or the local papers when nests and eggs
and indeed the adult birds were attacked in both Cannock & Kingswinford.

I live in a road adjacent the quarry here in Kingswinford and had seen
the Peregrines earlier in the year when doiny my tetrad recording for
the BTO atlas. Unfortunately I was unaware of the danger they were in
and was deeply shocked when the report was shown. What if I had done
more? What an we do if the adults survived and return again this year?

Any ideas anyone?

Clive Williamson
Granville Drive
Kingswinford

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I live in Brierley Hill - not too far away, and indeed was disgusted at the
trapping and killing of the peregrines. I would be interested in doing my bit to
guard the quarry.

Andy Hodgetts.
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: williamsonclive
   To: WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 6:54 PM
   Subject: [WMBC-Worcs] Protection of Peregrine Falcons


   Is there anyone interested in exploring the possiblilities of guarding
   the quarry in Kingswinford where Peregrines were attacked last year?
   You may have seen the tv news or the local papers when nests and eggs
   and indeed the adult birds were attacked in both Cannock & Kingswinford.

   I live in a road adjacent the quarry here in Kingswinford and had seen
   the Peregrines earlier in the year when doiny my tetrad recording for
   the BTO atlas. Unfortunately I was unaware of the danger they were in
   and was deeply shocked when the report was shown. What if I had done
   more? What an we do if the adults survived and return again this year?

   Any ideas anyone?

   Clive Williamson
   Granville Drive
   Kingswinford





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Is there anyone interested in exploring the possiblilities of guarding
the quarry in Kingswinford where Peregrines were attacked last year?
You may have seen the tv news or the local papers when nests and eggs
and indeed the adult birds were attacked in both Cannock & Kingswinford.

I live in a road adjacent the quarry here in Kingswinford and had seen
the Peregrines earlier in the year when doiny my tetrad recording for
the BTO atlas.  Unfortunately I was unaware of the danger they were in
and was deeply shocked when the report was shown.  What if I had done
more?  What an we do if the adults survived and return again this year?

Any ideas anyone?

Clive Williamson
Granville Drive
Kingswinford

Hi,

Eventually found the Waxwings at 14:00 this afternoon in Brockhill
Drive, Batchley, feeding on rosehips on side of the road. Still
present at 14:30 when I left. Some photos on my website for those
interested.

http://steve-valentine.fotopic.net/

Steve V

Hello all,

Rather quiet.

WED 7 JAN 9

Very cold, snow showers, dull.

27 Goosander, 12 Siskin, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 29 Cormorant
(mostly in flight), no winter thrushes.

Nash End: 1 Fieldfare.

4 Mandarin on the southernmost stretch of Borle Brook were Shrops CC
but possibly Worcs VC.

SUN 11 JAN 9

Mildness cancelled out by strong winds.

28 Goosander, 2 Raven, 1 Heron, 12 Cormorant, 48 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing.

Nash End: not a lot.

More, hopefully, in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

Very quiet.

FRI 26 DEC 08

Cold, sunny intervals.

1 Little Owl, 6 Goosander, 1 Raven, just 1 Fieldfare, no Redwing.

Nash End: 1 Fieldfare.

Exactly 25 Mandarin loafing around on the southernmost stretch of
Borle Brook (Shrops CC, possibly Worcs VC) was a personal SO78
record – although hardly a shock nowadays.

SUN 28 DEC 08

Cold, weak sun.

11 Goosander, 2 Raven, 1 riverine Little Grebe, no winter thrushes.

Nashe End: best was 1 Skylark.

More, hopefully, in a week or two.

Keith Bates, London.

Hiya

Just wondering if any of you have seen any waxwings yet?

Louise

________________________________

From: WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of keith_bates2002
Sent: 17 November 2008 16:02
To: WMBC-Worcs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WMBC-Worcs] Severn north of Upper Arley



Hello all,

Very quiet indeed.

FRI 14 NOV 08

Mild, brief sunny intervals.

1 Little Grebe on river, 117 Redwing, 2 Kestrel, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Red-
Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

The very high muddy river perhaps explained the lack of Goosander and
Kingfisher. Last month's major influx of Siskins seems to be over.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello all,

Very quiet indeed.

FRI 14 NOV 08

Mild, brief sunny intervals.

1 Little Grebe on river, 117 Redwing, 2 Kestrel, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Red-
Legged Partridge.

Nash End: 1 Red-Legged Partridge.

The very high muddy river perhaps explained the lack of Goosander and
Kingfisher. Last month's major influx of Siskins seems to be over.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

Hello all,

FRI 10/10/8

Warm, sunny, windy.

1 late Hobby, 2 Little Owl trying to out-hoot each other near Arley
SVR Station, 52 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 1 Raven, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher,
4 Cormorant.

Nash End: 2 Kestrel, 1 Red-Legged Partridge

SUN 12/10/8

Quite dense fog, mild.

39 Siskin, 1 Raven, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Cormorant.

Very surprised to see a Hobby (same bird also just into Shrops) as
late as 10th Oct. Perhaps it was the same bird that's been semi-
resident in the Chelmarsh/Dudmaston area (Shrops) during late summer.

Reliable report of a pair of Barn Owls breeding in a riverside tree
during summer 2007. Also, a reliable report of an adult Otter on the
Severn between Trimpley Reservoir and Upper Arley "a couple of weeks
ago".

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London

Wilson's Snipe admitted to Category A of the British List.

Full details can be found at http://newsbou.blogspot.com/.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Steve P. Dudley
Senior Administrator
-------------------------------------------------------------
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
1858 ~ 150 years supporting ornithology ~ 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------
See www.bou.org.uk for forthcoming BOU conferences and meetings
-------------------------------------------------------------
British Ornithologists' Union
www.bou.org.uk  |  www.ibis.ac.uk

Hello all,

FRI 5/9/8

Heavy then torrential rain, windy, cool, grey.

2 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 5 Chiffchaff, 26 House
Martin, 9 Swallow.

Nash End: not a lot.

SUN 7/9/8

Coolish, very breezy, grey. River in minor flood.

1 late Hobby, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Kestrel, 4 Chiffchaff, 44 House Martin,
5 Swallow, 1 Coot on the river (unusual), 1 Cormorant.

Nash End: 5 House Martin.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.

The proceedings of the BOU's 2007 annual conference, Birds as
predators and as prey, are now available as a free to view supplement
of the BOU's journal, Ibis.

These proceedings, and others, can be accessed via the BOU's new
online proceedings website at www.bouproc.net.

Other free to view online titles include -

Wind, fire and water: renewable energy and birds
Lowland Farmland Birds II: the road to recovery
Climate change and coastal birds
Introduced and naturalised birds
Birds and recreational disturbance
Woodland birds: their ecology and management

All available via www.bouproc.net.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Steve P. Dudley
Senior Administrator
-------------------------------------------------------------
British Ornithologists' Union | British Ornithologists' Club
PO Box 417, Peterborough PE7 3FX, UK
Tel & Fax +44 (0) 1 733 844 820
Email steve.dudley@...
BOU Web: www.bou.org.uk | www.ibis.ac.uk | www.bouproc.net
BOC Web: www.boc-online.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
The BOU is a Registered Charity in the UK no. 249877
The BOC is a Registered Charity in the UK no. 279583
-------------------------------------------------------------

Hello all,

WED 6/8/8

Warm but mainly dull and breezy.

1 female/immature Mandarin, 2 Redstart, 1 Great Crested Grebe (very
unusual), 52 Sand Martin, 1 Raven, 2 Red-Legged Partridge. Plus 22
Linnet.

Nash End: not a lot.

SUN 10 AUG 08

Coolish, grey, very breezy.

1 female/immature Mandarin, 2 Redstart, 13 Sand Martin.

Nash End: not a lot.

The immature Great Crested Grebe just north of the Arley footbridge
was my 1st ever record on the Worcs SO78 Severn.

As usual at this time of year, the Redstarts were along the Borle
Brook area of the Severn.

Hopefully, more in a month or so.

Keith Bates, London.