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 Sabljarka and wintering Velika carska šljuka, plus many more species that might show up on spring and autumn passage. Regulars include Polojka, Sprudnik pijukavac, Žalar blatarić, Crnotrba sprutka, Krivokljuni sprudnik and Muljača. Rarer species include Sprudnik ubojica, Bela sprutka, Šljuka kamenjarka, Laponska muljača, Mala carska šljuka, Sprudnik migavac Mala sprutka and Riđa sprutka. Even Američka mala sprutka, Trobojna liskonoga, Crvenovrata liskonoga, Vlastelica, Crnogruda sprutka, Seda sprutka and Ražanj have occurred. A pair of Brkata senica were seen in November 2019. A Sivi soko is often present and may be seen perching on one of the radio masts.
The Moors Pool attracts more wildfowl and has breeding Obična čigra, Ostrigar, Trstenjak crvrkutić, Trstenjak rogožar, Svilorepi cvrčić and Barska strnadica. Lastavičar is present in summer and passage may bring Eja močvarica, Ribar and Crna čigra, while one or two Vodeni bik might appear in winter.
Both areas have breeding Žalar slepić, Vivak and Crvenonogi sprudnik, as well as Barska šljuka and Mala šljuka in winter. Also, the Obični galeb roosts may feature a Crnoglavi galeb or a Mali galeb and have even hosted Američki crnoglavi galeb and Frenklinov galeb 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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