Trip reports

MINIBUS TRIP to UPTON COUNTRY PARK - Wednesday October 17th 2007

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

12 people were on the inaugural trip in the new bus, arriving at 9.30am on a beautiful autumn day. As usual, the pre lunch saunter took us via the hide and then clockwise along the shoreline past fields and hedges, then through wet woodland back to the car park. On the marsh the dominant waders were undoubtedly Redshank and Black tailed Godwits, with a smattering of Curlew and Dunlin. Several Spotted Redshank were present, but very difficult to observe, being mostly at roost at some distance to the east of the hide. Wigeon and Teal were the only duck in view. From the boardwalk, the open sky brought views of Sparrowhawks, Kestrel and Buzzard, being mobbed in turn as they entered the "Corvid Control Zone". Small birds were a little difficult to find, but a female Blackcap and several Chiffchaffs joined the resident species.

After lunch, it was down to the hide again, and then along the cycleway to Holes Bay. New species included a solitary Shelduck, a Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker, plus distant flight views of a Common Gull. Some members adjourned early to enjoy the tearooms!

Overall 60 species were recorded at a small site which always provides plenty of variety for very little effort.

Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon,
Mallard, Teal, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing,
Dunlin, Curlew, Black tailed Godwit, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, BH Gull, H. Gull, LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail,
Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, LTTit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper(h), Starling, Jay, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, H.Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch(h), Linnet.

Reported by Steve Oakes.