This Redpoll was photographed recently in the Wyre Forest by John Robinson and Andy Warr would welcome any comments or suggestions on it's identity. Please contact Andy by email: andrew.warr3@btopenworld.com.
Willow Tits in Worcestershire
In an attempt to try and establish the current status of Willow Tit in the county, all records of this species and of Marsh Tit would be particularly welcome. Willow Tit is becoming increasingly scarce and certainly south of Worcester it appears to be non-existent. Because of it’s current decline, all records will require a written description ideally including details of the bird’s call and/or song as well details of plumage and structure. This will apply to all records from 1 January 2007. Please submit records either via the Submit Sighting form or by email
, preferably including a grid reference. Obviously exact details of known nest sites of either species will not be publicised on the website.
Thanks
Brian Stretch, February 2008
THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW WORCESTERSHIRE BIRD RECORDER
Most visitors to the Worcester Birding website will be aware I am retiring from the position of Worcestershire bird recorder on March 1st and I am pleased to announce that Brian Stretch has kindly agreed to be my replacement. Brian will be dealing with bird records from January 1st 2007, so please send all your sightings, whether record cards or e-mail submissions to Brian, who’s contact details may be found by clicking on the Bird Recording Page. Don’t worry if you have already sent me your 2007 records, as I will pass them onto Brian.
I would like to thank everyone who has sent me their bird records over the past years and all who have assisted me in producing the annual report for the WMBC publication, collated maximum count data from numerous localities and past and present members of the Worcestershire rarities committee.
I would also like to wish Brian well in his new role.
A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT IS CURRENTLY BEING WRITTEN TO MARK THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF UPTON WARREN AS A WORCESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST NATURE RESERVE; IT IS HOPED TO GO ON SALE IN SPRING 2008.
THE REPORT, WHICH WILL BE OVER 200 PAGES LONG AND INCLUDE UP TO 70 COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, INTENDS TO RECORD ALL THE 234 SPECIES OBSERVED AT UPTON WARREN, COMMENT ON THEIR RISE / FALL IN OCCURENCE AND REFLECT ON THEIR BREEDING STATUS.
ALL PROCEEDS (LESS PRODUCTION COSTS) WILL BE DONATED TO THE RESERVE’S MANAGEMENT FUND FOR INVESTMENT INTO THE HABITAT.
IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN THE PRINT RUN REQUIRED (AND RESULTING PRICE), COULD ANYONE WHO IS PROVISIONALLY INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A COPY PLEASE LEAVE THEIR NAME AT THE REAR OF THE FLASHES LOG BOOK OR EMAIL WORCESTER BIRDING.
THANKS
PHIL ANDREWS
UPTON WARREN WORK PARTIES AT THE FLASHES
NEXT WORK PARTY:
Sunday 9 March at 9.30am
The Big Push!
WORK PROGRAMME TO INCLUDE:-
Clearing the islands of weeds
Cutting the grass to the islands and fore-shore
Checking the fox-proof fencing
ALL PARTICIPANTS (NEW AND OLD) WELCOMED
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED
FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CALL:
PHIL ANDREWS: 07779 817270
Bartley Reservoir
The majority of Bartley Reservoir was in the parish of Northfield, originally in Worcestershire but was transferred to Warwickshire when Northfield became part of Birmingham in November 1911. However, the south-west end of the reservoir overlapped into the parish of Frankley, in Worcestershire (Hereford and Worcester, from 1974). In April 1995 part of Frankley (including the south-west part of Bartley Reservoir) was transferred to Birmingham and became part of the West Midlands county. (The whole of Bartley Reservoir is still within the vice-county boundaries of Worcestershire).
Because the reservoir is still situated so closely to the current county boundary, Bartley sightings will be included on the Worcestershire pages as these records are often of more interest to birders based in the north of the county than say, sightings at Bredon‘s Hardwick. Of course, for those desperate enough to get a Glaucous or Iceland Gull on to their Worcestershire year list (or life list), standing on the county boundary at dawn waiting for it to leave the roost in the hope of seeing it entering Worcestershire has long been practised!
Whether birders wish to include birds seen at Bartley on their Worcestershire list is of course entirely at their discretion, but for the purposes of the county life lists on this website, birds seen at Bartley are excluded, the county lists being based on the current boundary lines.
Forthcoming Upton Warren publication
Phil Andrews is proposing to write a publication over the next few months documenting 40 years of birds at Upton Warren Nature Reserve. It is hoped that it will completed by early 2008. If anyone is willing to donate photographs of birds taken at the reserve for inclusion in the publication then please email them to this website and they will be forwarded to Phil for his consideration. Any pictures included will be credited with the photographers name.
