Birding In Staffordshire (7 Viewers)

[russell toon]

Rudyard Lake

Lower water levels here than last week but a lot more water than at Tittesworth.

1 Green Sandpiper
6 Common Sandpiper
2 LR Plover
2 Redstarts
1 Pied Flycatcher
20+ Sand Martin
15+ House Martin

Russell

 

[Nick Smith]

Westport stalwart Rich Sutton had approx 10 Crossbills today at the Parkhouse end of Bradwell Woods today. Patch workers look out for this most useful of additions to your patch list - Hanchurch boys - no need to worry.

 

[chris23565]

Little Egret dropped in for about 30s to Silverdale Colliery lunchtime before flying off east ........... Westport way.

Nick

Got totally drenched in the thunderstorm while at Westport this afternoon, I wouldn't of minded if something had of come in like your Little Egret but sadly it was all to no avail, oh well as someone always says to me 'there's always tomorrow'!

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

haha no where near my phone when i got the yank gull msg abit like the WWBT
so i will curse it by saying hope its still about in the morning so my year list starts rolling again thats what i get for not paying attention in july

 

[chris23565]

Westport 05.20 - 08.00, Swift x50+, Great Crested Grebe x12, Shoveler x1, Mute Swan x34, Common Sandpiper x1, Tufted Duck x45, Pochard x2, Willow Tit x2, Blackcap x4, Treecreeper x1, Chiffchaff x5, Reed Warbler x2, Stock Dove x2, Great Spotted Woodpecker x1, Whitethroat x3 & Sand Martin x1.

Total species seen 43.

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Hi folks - may be passing Cannock either this evening or tomorrow - weather not great for Nightjar I realise, but that aside is it worth popping in and which is the best area?

 

[sylvia staffs]

Hi folks - may be passing Cannock either this evening or tomorrow - weather not great for Nightjar I realise, but that aside is it worth popping in and which is the best area?

Franklins Gull is showing again at Chasewater again this evening according to the Staffs Rare & Scarce Thread, from the sailing club if that helps Rob, other than that i failed on Nightjar this year, just had 1 briefly Churring opposite the Katyn mamorial but you could try the Sheerbrook Valley, park at the Katyn Memorial and walk down into the valley but beware the strange behaviour that goes on in the carparks after dark :eek!:

Sylvia

 

[Rob Smallwood]

I'll steer well clear of Mr Collymore....

 

[chris23565]

A nice morning at Westport, 06.15 - 08.30, Swift x60+, Great Crested Grebe x14, Black-tailed Godwit flew over south, Sand Martin x5+, Tufted Duck x45, Mute Swan x34, Mandarin poss male eclipse on main lake briefly, Shoveler, Stock Dove x3, Chiffchaff x2 & Blackcap (fam party), sadly when I got home, due to a water leak, there was enough water in my kitchen to start my own little reserve!

Two Westport ticks in a day doesn't happen often.

 

[Nick Smith]

As Chris said, my morning got off to a flyer with the Black-tailed Godwit and Mandarin (prob ecl drake ) at Westport. Then off to Blithfield and Tad Bay where there was a Greenshank, five Redshank and a slightly unseasonal Pintail. At Branston GP's, the Little Egret was still present plus four Dunlin and four Redshank, plus my first Goosander of the Autumn (yikes!) at a nearby pit. Later, news came on that the Franklin's was showing again so we headed off the Chasewater to see if it was showing any better than it did on Thurs. Unfortunately, it was asleep and more distant than Thurs. Pics on my blog later on sometime.

 

[Nick Smith]

Westport now has three pairs of Great Crested Grebes with young. One hatched on the main lake in the week and today i found a second bird with young on her back - a bird we thought had abandonned its nest as we hadn't be able to see her for ages. The pair still have two very vocal young on the model boat lake and this female has started sitting again. This will be her third time sitting this year. The first clutch hatced but didn't survive long. There are also two birds sitting on the main lake. Its been a bumper year so far and there maybe still more broods to come!

 

[coloz]

Is there any one going for the Franklin's gull later as Rob1991s-o-t is desperate to see it if any 1 can help please give rob a ring 07549932482 stoke on trent area cheers col.

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

cheers for that col
look like wasnt a good night anyway with the tips been closed today so who knows if it will still be in the county tomoz remains to be seen hopefully it will be or somewhere in North staffs would do

 

[chris23565]

Westport 05.45 - 08.15, not much out the ordinary, 1x Starling flying over is only 2nd one this month, a young Mallard seemed to be copying a Tufted Duck by constantly diving for long periods, Great Crested Grebe x13 (Inc 3 juv's), Tufted Duck x45, Mute Swan x34, Shoveler x1, Treecreeper x1, Sand Martin x5, Pochard x2, Blackcap x3, Willow Tit x4, Whitethroat x1, Reed Warbler x2, Chiffchaff x6 (prob at least double this), Garden Warbler x1, Stock Dove x2 & Great Spotted Woodpecker x1.

Total species seen 43.

 

[Rob Swift]

Belvide Ringing Season

Hi All,

for any WMBC Members/Belvide Permit Holders interested, you are welcome to come along to view the Ringing Sessions which are held from 5.00am-9.00am every Weds & Saturday mornings. (weather permitting) The Ringing point is along the main path between the first two hides.

Full information can be found on the Brewood Ringers Web site.
www.brewoodringers.com/

It's a great chance to see many species close up in the hand. The group are very welcoming and eager to pass on their knowledge!

If you are not a Club member or Belvide Permit Holder why not join?

www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/club/membership

cheers

Rob Swift :t:

 

[Nick Smith]

More breeding news from Stoke-on-Trent's premier birding hotspot, aka Westport Lake. Today a female Tufted Duck was seen with three ducklings. The last time they bred at Westport was in 2006. A quick count today with Chris's help and we think we've had 32 species breeding on site this yr with at least four more sp relying on Westport heavily for feeding young.

 

[russell toon]

Berryhill breeding birds

A total of 42 species have bred here so far this year.
The largest number being the humble red listed House Sparrow with a recent count of 270+ mainly in 7 loose colonies including a flock of 110+ around the Fenpark track.
Green Woodpecker can be seen all year round here and this is the first year I have been able to nail it down as a breeding bird with juveniles being seen in two locations.
Whitethroats,Willow Warblers,Reed Buntings and Linnets continue to increase here.
On the downside numbers of Meadow Pipit,Greenfinch and House Martin have dropped.
For the second year running Lapwings have not displayed and of the regular 9 breeding Warbler species Lesser Whitethroat is the only one where I can not confirm breeding.Overall the biggest loss of a breeding species is Grey Partridge which died out here in 2007.
There are also a number non breeders that feed here all year round such as Grey Heron,Canada Geese,Jackdaw,RL Partridge, LBB Gull, Sparrowhawk and Jay.
Swifts have been feeding around Berryhill in larger than usual numbers all this summer although I have no idea if they are breeding locally.

Russell

 

[Nick Smith]

Berryhill breeding birds

A total of 42 species have bred here so far this year.
The largest number being the humble red listed House Sparrow with a recent count of 270+ mainly in 7 loose colonies including a flock of 110+ around the Fenpark track.
Green Woodpecker can be seen all year round here and this is the first year I have been able to nail it down as a breeding bird with juveniles being seen in two locations.
Whitethroats,Willow Warblers,Reed Buntings and Linnets continue to increase here.
On the downside numbers of Meadow Pipit,Greenfinch and House Martin have dropped.
For the second year running Lapwings have not displayed and of the regular 9 breeding Warbler species Lesser Whitethroat is the only one where I can not confirm breeding.Overall the biggest loss of a breeding species is Grey Partridge which died out here in 2007.
There are also a number non breeders that feed here all year round such as Grey Heron,Canada Geese,Jackdaw,RL Partridge, LBB Gull, Sparrowhawk and Jay.
Swifts have been feeding around Berryhill in larger than usual numbers all this summer although I have no idea if they are breeding locally.

Russell

And this Berryhill place? Where is it again.
Another nice find this morning at the lake with a very vocal flock of 13 Crossbills over. They flew over towards Bradwell Wood at first, then by the time i was on the beach, they flew back over towards Burslem. Another site tick for me.

 

[chris23565]

Westport year list currently stands on 111 and with the Autumn migration about to kick in we maybe on for a good year, gutted I missed the Crossbills this morning but I have a feeling Westport we have a good week next week, what's that Nick, your away on holiday then, oh well never mind

 

[Nick Smith]

Westport year list currently stands on 111 and with the Autumn migration about to kick in we maybe on for a good year, gutted I missed the Crossbills this morning but I have a feeling Westport we have a good week next week, what's that Nick, your away on holiday then, oh well never mind

I have to turn my back on the place occasionally. I look forward to hearing about everything i miss next week.