Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (5 Viewers)

[Phil Andrews]

thanks phil,
dead right it is PNU4,I have already sent the details off to the bto but if you don't mind I would be keen to know some details re. its age, movements etc., it could be a while before I get the details from the bto.
thanks,
Steve.

Hi Steve - I went direct to the co-ordinator of this Polish scheme back in the Spring but have received no response (which is unusual). Let me know if you have better luck via the BTO. FYI this bird was at the Moors Pool, Upton Warren on the 24th March 2013 and then in the roost at the Flashes, Upton Warren the following day and again on the 30th March before finally being noted at the Moors Pool on the 1st April.

 

[s.g.]

thanks Phil,
I will let you know if I get more info.

Steve.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 11th Aug

Great White Egret - still Middleton Lakes RSPB
Quail - still Belvide at west end also 4 Arctic Tern & 3 Ruff

I'm off to Menorca tomorrow am with the family for a well-earned break from work, so won't be making any updates until the 23rd/24th - if anybody else wants to keep the thread up to date then please do - and obviously Staffs Bird News will have all the info on what I'm missing...probably be the likes of 2-barred Xbill at Hanchurch, a rare wader at Belvide or Blithers and numerous rarities at Gailey as normal...time will tell!

 

[Mick Sway]

Tittesworth 12/08/13

thanks phil,
dead right it is PNU4,I have already sent the details off to the bto but if you don't mind I would be keen to know some details re. its age, movements etc., it could be a while before I get the details from the bto.
thanks,
Steve.

Nice record shot of the med gull Steve.
I take it that you read yesterdays report in the book, of a collared pratincole?
It does not look as though anyone else saw it though.
Greenshank still present.

 

[The Snapper]

I take it that you read yesterdays report in the book, of a collared pratincole?
It does not look as though anyone else saw it though.

In light of this report, has anybody checked nearby Rudyard the last couple of days?

The Northern end(where the Caspo frequented) could be ideal for a resting Pratincole.

Lets hope the report is genuine and it gets relocated :eek!:

 

[deanleese]

Walking between Gradbach and Danebridge today we saw what I initially thought was a Buzzard but then it started calling in a higher than normal pitch subtle screech rather than the normal mewing. I've heard juveniles calling before but this did seem different... I'm assuming it was an unusual call from a young buzzard but would appreciate confirmation from the experts please.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

?

Walking between Gradbach and Danebridge today we saw what I initially thought was a Buzzard but then it started calling in a higher than normal pitch subtle screech rather than the normal mewing. I've heard juveniles calling before but this did seem different... I'm assuming it was an unusual call from a young buzzard but would appreciate confirmation from the experts please.

Dean,
If you checked the tail and it was long that would be a species other than Buzzard.

Regards, John

 

[deanleese]

Dean,
If you checked the tail and it was long that would be a species other than Buzzard.

Regards, John

I didn't get what you might consider a normal view of it... We were above it, but more to one side as it dropped down the valley skimming the top of the trees. It's tail seemed narrow and not open or wedge shaped like you might see when viewing them soaring.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

? Bird

I didn't get what you might consider a normal view of it... We were above it, but more to one side as it dropped down the valley skimming the top of the trees. It's tail seemed narrow and not open or wedge shaped like you might see when viewing them soaring.

Birds of prey hold their tails at various angles depending on the movements at the time, the only confusion species by call is Goshawk, again long tail, if you can rule out Goshawk then it was probably a Common Buzzard.

Regards, John

 

[DAVE09]

Hanchurch Crossbills

Could anyone point me in the right direction for the crossbills seen almost daily at Hanchurch at the moment? I've poppoed up a few times and not seen any. I've looked in t Larch wood next to the first car park and along the track from the cottage at the pines on the left hand side. Am I in the right vicinity. Cheers.

 

[russell toon]

Could anyone point me in the right direction for the crossbills seen almost daily at Hanchurch at the moment? I've poppoed up a few times and not seen any. I've looked in t Larch wood next to the first car park and along the track from the cottage at the pines on the left hand side. Am I in the right vicinity. Cheers.

They are mobile and are best located by calls. They have been seen the last few days along the track from the Woodcutters cottage. Approaching from the Hanford direction park in the main car park on the left hand side and walk back across the road and along the track past the Woodcutters cottage.

 

[DAVE09]

Russell, Many thanks. I'll keep trying. Dave

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 25th Aug

Drake Common Scoter, fem Garganey, 3 juv Little Gull, 2 juv Med Gull - Belvide also Ad Kittiwake, 5 Turnstone & Osprey thru
Curlew Sand, Garganey - Uttoxeter Quarry
Wood Sand, Barwit, 12 Black Tern, 2 Osprey - Blithfield
Black-necked Grebe - Whitemore Haye
Black Tern - Middleton Lakes
7 Redstart, 5 Whinchat - Berry Hill Fields

 

[Richard Powell]

Passage Day

A definite passage day today.

Uttoxeter Quarry: juv Curlew Sand, Garganey, Greenshank, blah blah blah.

Blithers: 2 Ospreys, 12 Black Terns, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wood Sand, Whinchat, etc, etc, yadda-yadda-yaddah.

Belvide: Well who gives a monkeys about that end of the county to be quite honest? Me before anyone replies!!! :-O Osprey, Kittiwake, 5 Turnstone, Black Tern, Common Scoter.

Anything else I've missed? BN Grebe at Whitemoor Haye, and some Ruff and Whimbrel at Tittesworth too I think. Its a good job I don't work for any bird news services! 3 This is best left to the Moore-hen!

 

[The Moore-hen]

You were only one minute behind me with the update, Rich! It's a bit hard work to get excited about the usual passage 'dross' (only kidding!) after a couple of weeks in Menorca...but I was pretty gutted to miss the first record of Ruff at Gailey yday - The Snapper had 4 fly thru yday anoon.

Luckily I didn't miss any 2-barred Xbill in Staffs while away...but 6 (yes six!) together in South Yorks is just being greedy...there is definitely hope yet for Hanchurch and The Chase...

 

[steve_zodiac]

You were only one minute behind me with the update, Rich! It's a bit hard work to get excited about the usual passage 'dross' (only kidding!) after a couple of weeks in Menorca...but I was pretty gutted to miss the first record of Ruff at Gailey yday - The Snapper had 4 fly thru yday anoon.

Luckily I didn't miss any 2-barred Xbill in Staffs while away...but 6 (yes six!) together in South Yorks is just being greedy...there is definitely hope yet for Hanchurch and The Chase...

At one point there were 8 or 9 (two barred, not Ruff)........but I only saw 2.

You get any good birds in Menorca, Ian..........or did you leave your bins at home?

 

[Steve Nuttall]

Hi all,
details of the radio tagged Osprey at Belvide yesterday can be found on the Belvide blog.
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/Belvide84/

Cheers Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

At one point there were 8 or 9 (two barred, not Ruff)........but I only saw 2.

You get any good birds in Menorca, Ian..........or did you leave your bins at home?

8 or 9 is just crazy! I would just be over the moon to get the one in Staffs...

Yes, plenty of stunning birds in Menorca...but back to the feathered kind I had Scopoli's Shears, Audouin's Gulls, Blue Rock Thrushes, Egyptian Vultures and Booted Eagle without straying too far.

News for the 26th Aug

Juv Curlew Sand - still Uttoxeter Quarry
Fem Garganey & Juv Black Tern - still Belvide
2 Osprey, 2 Black & 1 Arctic Tern - Blithfield

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Crossbills

The Hanchurch Xbills have had a good grilling over the past couple of weeks but they all appear to be "commons". There are flocks in Maer Woods and Burntwood (Loggerheads) which I've only seen fly over so maybe they are worth checking out, although as usual they're mobile and I can't say where's best to get a good view.

Cheers, Nick

 

[The Moore-hen]

The Hanchurch Xbills have had a good grilling over the past couple of weeks but they all appear to be "commons". There are flocks in Maer Woods and Burntwood (Loggerheads) which I've only seen fly over so maybe they are worth checking out, although as usual they're mobile and I can't say where's best to get a good view.

Cheers, Nick

Thanks Nick - chances are new birds must be filtering down all the time, hopefully some of the 2-barred Xbill that hit the Northern Isles will continue to move south...I'm hoping that's what happened with the South Yorks birds and that one will find it's way to good old Staffs...