Description
The Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve at Upton Warren may be small but it boasts a wide variety of birds, particularly waders. It's divided into two parts by a boating lake, with the Moors Pool to the north and The Flashes to the south, with 2 branches of the River Salwarpe running through it.
The Flashes has breeding Avosett and wintering Storspove, plus many more species that might show up on spring and autumn passage. Regulars include Strandsnipe, Skogsnipe, Sandlo, Myrsnipe, Gluttsnipe and Svarthalespove. Rarer species include Brushane, Sandløper, Steinvender, Lappspove, Småspove, Grønnstilk Dvergsnipe and Tundrasnipe. Even Pygmésnipe, Hvithalesvømmesnipe, Svømmesnipe, Stylteløper, Alaskasnipe, Temmincksnipe and Bronseibis have occurred. A pair of Skjeggmeis were seen in November 2019. A Vandrefalk is often present and may be seen perching on one of the radio masts.
The Moors Pool attracts more wildfowl and has breeding Makrellterne, Tjeld, Rørsanger, Sivsanger, Cettisanger and Sivspurv. Lerkefalk is present in summer and passage may bring Sivhauk, Fiskeørn and Svartterne, while one or two Rørdrum might appear in winter.
Both areas have breeding Dverglo, Vipe and Rødstilk, as well as Enkeltbekkasin and Kvartbekkasin in winter. Also, the Hettemåke roosts may feature a Svartehavsmåke or a Dvergmåke and have even hosted Lattermåke and Franklinmåke in the past.
Details
Access
By car: Take the M5 and leave at junction 5, taking the A38 going north through Wychbold and the village of Upton Warren. When you reach the roundabout, take the third exit into the two car parks by the boating lake (signposted Aztec Adventure).
The Flashes car park (on the right) closes at 8 p.m. in summer and 4 p.m. in winter. The Moors car park is always open. Permits costing £3 per person, are required for entry into the reserve for non-members of the Wildlife Trust, and these can be bought from the cafe by the boating lake. The entrance to the Flashes is at the other end of the lake and the entrance for the Moors Pool is further up the A38.
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