Upton Warren 12/12

After being put back on my mom's car insurance! I decided to head out to Upton Warren to see what might be around.

Arriving at the Moors it was nice and sunny but still bitterly cold. Headed over towards the East Hide and on the path there managed to hear the male Siskin again but he quickly flew off when I got too close. Carrying on down the path a few Chaffinch and Long Tailed Tit buzzed around and 2 Robins were chasing each other. Once in the hide at around 11:45am I could see that there was about 15% ice coverage on the pools. Only the one Oystercatcher has returned so far hopefully will be joined by some more soon. Started the usual counting of all the birds there and managed- 19 Snipe, 47 Black headed Gulls, 10 Curlew, 5 Mute Swan one pair was constantly chasing a single male and then 2 1st winters, 2 Shelduck, 9 Canada Geese, 36 Coot, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Cormorant, 57 Lapwing, 21 Teal, 38 Pochard (remembering that John taught me how to count them!) 34 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, 18 Mallard, 3 Moorhen and, 1 Male Pied Wagtail.

Staying in the hide started talking with a gentleman in there who was telling me about how he convinced himself that he'd found a Juv Spotted Sandpiper over the flashes about 10 years ago but then the other guys in the hide said it wasn't and he never submitted it? Bit odd really! A female Sparrowhawk flew through and was quickly mobbed by a Crow and all the Lapwing got up. Several Stock Dove were moving around, and carefully scrutiny of the corvids moving around at the back I manage to find 2 Raven flying over. A Kestrel hovered distantly and a Song Thrush was along the path back to the car park.

Decided to walk along the North Moors trail to see if any Woodcock were around and had c15 Goldfinch 6+ Blackbird and several Dunnock around but no sign of any Woodcock. All in all 2 new Upton year ticks takes me up to 69 for the year.