Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (4 Viewers)

[The Snapper]

Flew off NW at c13.05 shortly after it had been on the water in Blithe bay as per Sir Roger of Ingestre. It wasn't at Gailey this evening and to be fair neither was much else!

Staffs nappy tick Gannet

Shame it didn't hang around or even better land at Gailey!

A very quiet spell generally in Staffs. I'm off to Turkey on Saturday for a well earned break.

Lads, please don't find anything too good :t:

 

[Richard Powell]

I'll try my best owd lad, I've got a day off work tomorrow

Lads, please don't find anything too good :t:

 

[Nick Smith]

Staffs nappy tick Gannet

Shame it didn't hang around or even better land at Gailey!

A very quiet spell generally in Staffs. I'm off to Turkey on Saturday for a well earned break.

Lads, please don't find anything too good :t:

Who do you think you are, bernie smith or someone?

 

[The Snapper]

Who do you think you are, bernie smith or someone?

I am actually Bernie's son!

Woooow, would I lie to yoouaaw!?!

 

[deanleese]

Just got back from a holiday walking parts of the Southwest Coastal Path and when in Weymouth saw a Short Billed Dowitcher at a place called Lodmoor Nature Reserve... It seemed to draw twitchers in from afar some were suggesting it may only be the second ever sighting in the UK... Anyone else seen one?

 

[The Moore-hen]

Just got back from a holiday walking parts of the Southwest Coastal Path and when in Weymouth saw a Short Billed Dowitcher at a place called Lodmoor Nature Reserve... It seemed to draw twitchers in from afar some were suggesting it may only be the second ever sighting in the UK... Anyone else seen one?

Yep it is only the 2nd for Britain...the 3rd is also currently on Scilly! I haven't seen this bird (as I saw the first in 1999) but if you look on the Rare Bird Information section there is loads of info and photos of it! Glad you saw it Dean, a cracking addition to your list...:t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

Staffs nappy tick Gannet

Shame it didn't hang around or even better land at Gailey!

A very quiet spell generally in Staffs. I'm off to Turkey on Saturday for a well earned break.

Lads, please don't find anything too good :t:

Yep a proper nappy tick...I should have seen two by now but for typical reasons I've failed miserably! Yep proper quiet spell in Staffs, the worst Sept (so far) I can remember for a long time!

Have a great holiday mate and I'll keep Gailey watched for you...and try not to find any Megas...:eek!:

 

[deanleese]

Yep it is only the 2nd for Britain...the 3rd is also currently on Scilly! I haven't seen this bird (as I saw the first in 1999) but if you look on the Rare Bird Information section there is loads of info and photos of it! Glad you saw it Dean, a cracking addition to your list...:t:

We have had a good couple of weeks as far as adding to our list...
Cetti's Warbler
Sandwich Tern
White Wagtail and the Dowitcher... No big deal for some of you chaps, I'm sure, but helping to give our list a decent count for two enthusiasts rather than full blown twitchers.

 

[RetroDude]

Ring-necked Parakeet over Audley

Just walked out into the garden yesterday lunchtime and suddenly a Ring-necked Parakeet went over jinking and calling .. I seem to have an affinity with these aliens as I had one right overhead at the Black Bank watchpoint in Sep 2010.

Bit of a Staffs garden list blocker too I guess...

Jonathan

 

[Richard Powell]

The Moors

Cracking morning up on the North Staffs Moors. c300 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west, must've been over Flash (ah-ah!), seen from Middle Hills in four separate skeins from 8:50 to 9:00.

Then excellent views of a magnificent male Hen Harrier through Swallow Moss, heading towards the Mermaid. Best views of HH I've had for a very long time, usually see them up there in the autumn when it's nearly dark. Finished off with a Whinchat at Knotbury.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 23rd Sept

Black-necked Grebe - Aqualate Mere
Marsh Harrier - Doxey Marshes
Bar-tailed Godwit - Croxall Pits this pm
1w drake Scaup - Belvide at west end
Osprey - over Crakemarsh at midday

A bit better in Staffs today with the odd decent bird - but not exactly Shetland standards!

 

[Periwinkle]

There was a Black-Tailed Godwit this morning at Croxall (also seen yesterday).

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 24th Sept

3 Common Scoter - Westport Lake also Marsh Harrier thru at 16.25
Marsh Harrier - again Doxey Marshes
Knot - thru Belvide early am

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 25th Sept

Long-tailed Skua - Juv intermediate morph flew SE thru Belvide at 14.05

Congrats to Ste on another cracking record for Belvide - much deserved for all the hours of coverage...:t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 26th Sept

Grey Plover - thru Belvide this am
Juv Arctic Tern - Blithfield

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 29th Sept

Ringtail Hen Harrier - NE of Upper Hulme at Middle Hills at dusk
Black-necked Grebe & Juv Black Tern - Aqualate Mere

 

[Phil Andrews]

RBA are reporting a Yellow-browed Warbler at Dosthill Quarry as being in Staffs; surely it Warwickshire or am I mis-reading the map?

 

[CV7Birder]

RBA are reporting a Yellow-browed Warbler at Dosthill Quarry as being in Staffs; surely it Warwickshire or am I mis-reading the map?

Hi Phil, quarry and surroundings well into Staffs.....

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Phil, quarry and surroundings well into Staffs.....

Well I got an A in GCSE Geography; shows how mickey-mouse those qualifications must be :-O

 

[andyr]

Hi Phil, quarry and surroundings well into Staffs.....

Yep ... Dosthill Quarry, Church Road, Dosthill, Staffordshire B77 1LL.

Cheers


Andy R.