cannock chase (1 Viewer)

[the saint]

went to cannock chase today ,bit overcast and dull,, but ok,
went to visiter centre first ,to the feeding station, all chaffinchs
on the table ,,then took a long walk ,and saw,
buzzard,kestrel,swallow,lesserspotted woodpecker,tree creeper
willow warbler,chiff chaff,wood warbler,blue tit,great tit,willow tit
greenfinch,nuthatch,missle thrush,song thrush,wren,stonechat
but did not see any crossbills,dam, may be next time,

 

[Andy Bright]

Sounds like an excellent day with the lesser pecker putting in an appearance, well done. I've never managed to get up there to Cannock chase, but I will one day.
cheers
Andy

 

[the saint]

i scanned loads of trees with my bins and saw nothing, then when i was watching the
swallows resting on the telephone line ,i saw the lesser spotted woodpecker
move up the telegraph pole to the top, and stay there for a while,
amazing how you always spot a bird when not expecting it,
thats the beauty of birdwatching,you never no what you are going to see,

 

[abagguley]

I saw about a dozen crossbills up there in January pretty close to the Visitor Centre, when I went for the Bramblings - but I'd swap 'em all for a Lesserpecker - good spot. Willow Tit's nothing to sniff at, either.

I'll be going to Cannock again looking for Nightjars soon - it's a great place, well worth at least one trip per season, for us bird-starved Midlanders, I reckon.

Adrian

 

[sammyboy]

Cannock Chase is just up the road from me, think I should take a trip up there with my bins!

Sounds like you had a good day there, I've never seen a woodpecker yet so would be worth my while taking a trip there!

 

[paul goode]

Cannock Chase is just up the road from me, think I should take a trip up there with my bins!

Sounds like you had a good day there, I've never seen a woodpecker yet so would be worth my while taking a trip there!

Hi Sammyboy,

If it is on your doorstep Cannock Chase is well worth a visit. Its a big area to cover but the Marquis Drive visitor centre feeding station is a good start for commoner birds, the area between Seven Springs and Stepping Stones for Pied Fly, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler and the 2 common Woodpeckers.
Sherbrook Valley below the White House Hotel car park is my favourite late evening (9.30pm onwards) spot for Nightjar and Woodcock.

At any time keep your eyes peeled there are plenty of other birds up there, Crossbill flocks can turn up all over the Chase or equally not be seen for months!

Oh, and don't forget the Fallow Deer!

Paul

 

[wolfbirder]

Superb place but you need to know the spots - marquis dv visitor centre is good for brambling in winter - also bullfinch, yellowhammer, siskin etc.
In spring/summer a walk from punchbowl car park - (about a mile on your right out past shugborough hall towards rugeley) - follow the path until a big left turn and onwards towards stepping stones. this is a very popular area with families and dog walkers but try early morning. weekdays arent too bad. Redstarts, maybe Wood warbler, and Pied Flycatcher usually by stream & stepping stones.
Seven Springs car park is also good at this time of year - just carry on towards Rugeley and its on your right. Wood warbler often here, the woods to the left are most profitable but I have had them straight on from the car park about 100 yards up. Also in main woods to the left by fence & the pools adjacent to shooting range (very noisy at times). Pied Fly also around ponds. In winter this area can be very good for LSW (ive only ever had one on cannock chase). If you follow the path by the fence, and then turn left at first opportunity up and around Strawberry hill, it can be ok for woodlark but the grass is too long i think now. Scan the trees here in winter regular Crossbill & redpoll, in summer its ok - the single tree in the middle of the hill can hold green woodpecker, sparrowhawk, yellowhammer etc. Possible Goshawk!
The Cadet Huts/ Rifle Range area (about a mile past whitehouse towards Rugeley on the road from Penkridge) is good in winter - Crossbills were regularly in trees about 200 yards behind the huts. IN spring/summer, Turtle Dove favour the area and tall trees approaching the huts on the rough track perfectly accessable by car.
Most famous is Sherbrook valley in summer (take insect repellant & a torch & a drink)- most park at katyn memorial and walk down to where the trees open out to heath & heather - in summer hobby & cuckoo should be seen before light starts to fade, stonechat too. When the light starts to fade is when the Nightjars chur, woodcock rode, and LE Owl hunt (watch out for Tawny too). Can have a great evening but they will not show until darkness but if there is a moonlit sky you will see nice silhouettes. No particular point is best as you walk down, can branch out on various paths over the heath but the main path is productive itself where it opens out to heathland. Across the road fron Katyn memorial is a small car park by the Cafe. Last year this open land was great too for Nightjar, they regularly perched on the single dead tree. Its only 200 yards walk from the car. no guarantees of course! They can be anywhere to be honest and are not restricted to Sherbrook Valley area.
The whole area has potential - we regularly have a wintering Great Grey Shrike. Mallard & Grey Heron are surprising regulars, plenty of warblers and finches, as well as hirundines.
So much potential - but it is a large area. go and see for yourself or if you ask at the Marquis Dv visitors centre they will tell you when there are guided nightjay walks I expect.

 

[paul goode]

Last time I parked at Katyn Memorial in the evening I got back to the car to discover lots of people indulging in another nocturnal activity!!! Thats why I use the white house car park.

As they've now been mentioned I haven't seen the LEO's this year, has anyone else?

Paul

 

[jtibbetts]

Yes Paul, i went on May 25th; parked at Katyn Memorial and walked down along Sherbrook, the evening went surprisingly cool even though the day had been warm, so we only had one Nightjar, but the LEO's showed well both perched and in flight, we also heard the youngsters calling, so theyve definately bred this year!

 

[the saint]

went last night parked up by katyn memorial,walked down to bottom where it opens up
to heath and heather, took my daughter, got there about 1 hour before sunset,
we saw quite a few deer adult and young ,also a kestel ,then just before dark
2 nightjars came up flew around and hovered for abit, and one perched on a branch,
we had a great view,, saw a few bats but no owls ,we left before it was very dark,
we could hear some idiots zooming around in there cars,
would go again makes a good change from daytime birding

 

[wolfbirder]

It can feel a bit spooky thats why i take a torch and also park by the cafe just on the other side of the road, as it only means an extra 100 yards walk....glad you got the nightjars - they are the prize draw. The LE Owls are around but they sometimes favour the valley bottom more, but seem to change area each year. They are secretive but listen for the squeeky gate call of their young. woodcock usually seen flying overhead at same time nightjars show, making their deep calls that sound a bit like a frog or toad.

Hobbies usually seen about 8pm roughly, skimming low over the heather but its hit and miss.

 

[kingwolf]

C. Chase sounds like a great plato visit - I lve over the border in Shropshire (Newport) which is the best way to come in and start from?

 

[wolfbirder]

Hi Kingwolf, this is probably the worst time of year right now with summer visitors largely gone and winter visitors yet to arrive, and it is such a large area to cover so you need to know the places. The Bramblings are easy to see once they have arrived (shouldnt be too long), band crossbills are usually quite easy, but really the Chase is at its best in balmy late spring/summer. In the daytime (perhaps late pm) search for passerines at the places I mentioned in my earlier email, then early eveing Sherbrook Valley for Hobby and Cuckoo, then later for Nightjar, Woodcock, owls. ALso had breeding Dartford Warblers!

Let me know about June/July time could show you around if you really cant figure out the areas, it wouldnt be a problem mate.

 

[xFritzx]

so whats the best way to get there by public transport? i live in brum and dont have a car. i reckon i could cycle it, but then i'd have no energy to do anything else!

 

[pandachris]

Cannock from B'ham

so whats the best way to get there by public transport? i live in brum and dont have a car. i reckon i could cycle it, but then i'd have no energy to do anything else!

I can't claim to be an expert on train travel but there are trains from new Street to Penkridge about every hour on Saturdays, and it will be an easy cycle from Penkridge to the edge of the Chase - then plenty of uphill!

Quite a few mountain bikers use the Chase and it might be better to keep your bike with you than leave it chained up.

 

[kingwolf]

Hi Kingwolf, this is probably the worst time of year right now with summer visitors largely gone and winter visitors yet to arrive, and it is such a large area to cover so you need to know the places. The Bramblings are easy to see once they have arrived (shouldnt be too long), band crossbills are usually quite easy, but really the Chase is at its best in balmy late spring/summer. In the daytime (perhaps late pm) search for passerines at the places I mentioned in my earlier email, then early eveing Sherbrook Valley for Hobby and Cuckoo, then later for Nightjar, Woodcock, owls. ALso had breeding Dartford Warblers!

Let me know about June/July time could show you around if you really cant figure out the areas, it wouldnt be a problem mate.

Cheers Wolfbirder - i'll try and remember to do that.

Thanks once again!