Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Rob Swift]

Had a decent hour up Shoal Hill Common on Monday morning.

A Jack Snipe was unexpectedly flushed a couple of times from dry heath.

Best bird was a Woodlark which flew over low to the West calling.

Also Stonechat, a couple of Raven, Green Woodpeckers etc.

The site is well worth a visit and must get birds. There is a reasonable area of heath, decent sized woodland, an old quarry pool and rough grassland. Its pretty high up so must attract stuff. The only issue is that it can be very disturbed with dog walkers etc which puts me off a little.

I'd be interested to see if any other birders visit to see what it will produce.

Hi Steve,

That's not to far from me, I will try and give it a go over the winter. Been looking for a new site or two to bird now and again........like you say it's quite high up on the sw edge of the chase escarpment. Gotta try these sites away from the honeypots! ;-)

Had a walk through/checked out the potential of the forest known as Bishops Wood, NW of Eccleshall last weekend. Large area of mainly mixed age/ density of coniferous but also clear fell, young larch zones, birch scrub and scattered oak stands. Quite an elevated site looked very Shrike-ish.......looked good for Crossbill and raptors. Going to get a few visits in over the next few months......... see what appears!


Cheers

Rob

 

[The Snapper]

Nice one Rob.

It will definitely get birds, just depends if they linger with the dog walkers etc.

I've had a few decent bits up there in the past which I won't divulge here and think the potential could be good.

 

[The Snapper]

Was wondering if anybody has ventured up the Moors recently?

There is quite a good influx of Rough-Legged Buzzards including birds now coming inland i.e Derbys, West Yorks etc.

Got to be a good chance we could score in Staffs. I am very tempted to pop up over the next week or so.

Even more Rough-Legs in the country now, with birds even penetrating inland counties such as Oxon and Herts.

We must be in for a chance this winter.

The moors will surely be the best bet, but maybe even any areas with large expanses of open fields such as Whitemoor Haye :eek!:

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 6th Nov

2w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost
1w Caspian Gull - Chasewater roost

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Late Osprey - Shoal Hill

I've been sent photos of an Osprey flying over Shoal Hill yesterday (9th) at 10am, which I believe makes it the latest Staffs record.

Cheers, Nick

 

[The Moore-hen]

I've been sent photos of an Osprey flying over Shoal Hill yesterday (9th) at 10am, which I believe makes it the latest Staffs record.

Cheers, Nick

I wonder if it was the same bird as seen at Belvide on Saturday - must stand a very good chance being this late in the season...

News for the 10th Nov

Juv Smew - Belvide still off Gazebo bay
Fem Marsh Harrier - Middleton Lakes at Jubilee Wetlands
Adult Caspian & 2 adult Med Gull - Chasewater roost
Knot - Blithfield

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 13th Nov

Slav Grebe - Chasewater at south end off car park
Waxwing - Colton on Bellamour Way near school at 09.20
Ad Caspian Gull - Belvide roost & juv Smew still

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 14th Nov

Adult Caspian Gull - Belvide roost also juv Smew still
Adult Caspian Gull - Chasewater roost

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 16th Nov

Adult Caspian Gulls - Blithfield & Chasewater
Short-eared Owl - Berry Hill Fields
5 Jack Snipe - Doxey Marshes

 

[wolfbirder]

Strictly speaking West Mids, but Birdguides reporting a Yellow-browed Warbler in an out of bounds part of Wolverhampton yesterday.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Strictly speaking West Mids, but Birdguides reporting a Yellow-browed Warbler in an out of bounds part of Wolverhampton yesterday.

I always treat Wolverhampton as out-of-bounds!

 

[The Moore-hen]

I always treat Wolverhampton as out-of-bounds!

Wise move Mr Andrews! It's nothing like the salubrious surroundings of Worcestershire...

Yep on the 'West Side' of the City and definitely 'out of bounds' (but genuine) on private land...not that I've seen it (or been for it!) before anyone asks!

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for 21st November

3w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost also ad Little Gull
Redhead Smew - Aqualate Mere

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 22nd Nov

Bittern & redhead Smew - Aqualate Mere
2 Caspian (ad+1w) & 2 ad Med Gull - Chasewater

 

[wolfbirder]

A male Hen Harrier was on North Staffs moors a couple of days ago along with a SE owl, near Goldsitch Moss I believe.
Hope this means there will be at least one regular roosting harrier this winter.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 26th Nov

3w Caspian Gull & 8 Common Scoter (1 drake) - Belvide

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 28th Nov

Great Grey Shrike - Hanchurch Woods in clear fell at Swynnerton Old Park
5 fem Common Scoter - Blithfield
Adult Caspian Gull - Branston Pits in the evening
3w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost (ad & 3w on 27th)

 

[smyrna]

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike - Hanchurch Woods in clear fell at Swynnerton Old Park

We've been looking for one of these up at Hanch for years but now with all the clearfell we know it was only a matter of time. Well done to Steve & Heather.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Extra News for the 29th Nov

3 Juv dark-bellied Brent Geese - Gailey Sailing Lake from 12.00-12.15 then flew west then at Belvide between 12.30-12.46 when flew SE but didn't return to Gailey.

Nice work by The Snapper - the first Gailey record since 1 on 24.2.87 which is also the only other record I've found for Gailey so far.

3 Caspian Gull (2 x ad, 2w) - Chasewater roost

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 2nd Dec

Bewick's Swan - Blithfield briefly also Knot
Adult male Hen Harrier - Swallow Moss at 13.50