Staffs patches (2 Viewers)

[Dean Peach]

There's plenty of them I know but are all patches in Staffordshire watched as regularly as they could be? It would be nice to assist finding something rather than letting others do the finding, which is what myself in particular seem to be doing as I go to places which are already well monitored.
Perhaps there's a patch that yet isn't a 'patch' yet if you know what I mean.
Cheers
Dean

 

[Steve Turner]

There's plenty of them I know but are all patches in Staffordshire watched as regularly as they could be? It would be nice to assist finding something rather than letting others do the finding, which is what myself in particular seem to be doing as I go to places which are already well monitored.
Perhaps there's a patch that yet isn't a 'patch' yet if you know what I mean.
Cheers
Dean

Coal Brook, Hales!! There's only really me that visits it with any regularity, and even then it's barely monthly.

As you probably know, this year it's already had Green-winged Teal, Tundra Bean Goose and Hawfinch, plus 'padders' including Pink-footed Goose, Mandarin, Greenshank, Green Sanpiper, Hobby, LRP as well as breeding Redshank. Also previous records of Hen Harrier, Brent Goose, Ruff, Little Egret, Barn Owl and up to 600 Teal!!

More coverage would definitely turn up more, but it's not exactly down the road from Bednall.

Cheers

 

[Richard Powell]

Even the most well-watched sites aren't going to be watched all the time, not even Westport Lake! :eek!:

As long as you're out looking for as long as you can, "spending time in the middle, occupying the crease" to use a cricket analogy, then you've got a chance of finding something. Other factors such as the weather and the time of year also help (or hinder). Then there's a little thing called luck, because at the end of day when you find something good it's just a case of being in the right place, at the right time.

Or to be pioneering and find yourself a new patch, study maps to find somewhere you like the look of. And if it happens to be on private land, get the landowner's permission.

 

[Steve Turner]

Or to be pioneering and find yourself a new patch, study maps to find somewhere you like the look of.

Yep, I can highly recommend that course of action...it's delivered me such gems as Uttoxeter Quarry, Hales and Madeley SW...I'm a patch finding genius baby!

 

[The Moore-hen]

I can highly recommend finding an underwatched area and making it your own...I did with Gailey! Although it had always been visited, mainly in passing between Belvide and Chasewater, I decided after dropping in one day and finding it had been partially drained in 1993 (and a Knot was present - still to date my only record!) that I would start to cover it on a regular basis - since then it has gone from strength to strength and makes you wonder what was being missed in the past! Now it's covered on a regular basis with The Snapper taking the reigns as chief watcher and Richard as chief mega finder!!

Like has been said before, find yourself a decent underwatched site, get out as often as time constraints allow and with a bit of judgement and a load of luck and the rewards will be huge...any 'patcher' will testify that finding even a 'common' national bird that is a patch mega outweighs going to see someone's find many times over...

Good luck...:t:

 

[Steve Turner]

The meadows between Burston and Aston (near Stone) could also be a good spot for you to keep an eye on Dean. They regularly flood, attracting wildfowl and waders (several Blackwits recently).

I made a few visits at the back end of last year and had Dunlins, Green Sandpiper, Mandarins, Barnacle Goose and hundreds of Wigeon grazing. Other previous records include Garganey and Blue-headed Wagtail. The area is also good for Tree Sparrow and Yellow Wagtail.

 

[Dean Peach]

Some good replies there, thanks guys. I always look over to the right along the Stone to Rugeley road when I'm driving at the marshy area with a pool and river and there's always birds there and often wonder what must drop in. It turns out to be private land with limited access. I'm gonna start doing my local area (Bednall) early every Saturday morning and see what's about as we have forest, pools, steams, farm buildings etc. We did have a Black Redstart although I didn't find it but it shows they are there if you look.
Sundays I can flit to and from other places.

 

[Steve Turner]

Some good replies there, thanks guys. I always look over to the right along the Stone to Rugeley road when I'm driving at the marshy area with a pool and river and there's always birds there and often wonder what must drop in. It turns out to be private land with limited access.

The area is quite easily viewable from the canal towpath and public footpaths.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Some good replies there, thanks guys. I always look over to the right along the Stone to Rugeley road when I'm driving at the marshy area with a pool and river and there's always birds there and often wonder what must drop in. It turns out to be private land with limited access. I'm gonna start doing my local area (Bednall) early every Saturday morning and see what's about as we have forest, pools, steams, farm buildings etc. We did have a Black Redstart although I didn't find it but it shows they are there if you look.
Sundays I can flit to and from other places.

Any patch you do regularly can pick up good birds and not all the Mega's are restricted to the major reservoirs and high points - the canal around Great Haywood has had both Belted Kingfisher and Little Auk in the last two decades!!

Oh I almost forgot to mention the almost constant stream of 'rarities' from Needwood Airfield...allegedly...

 

[Phil Andrews]

Oh I almost forgot to mention the almost constant stream of 'rarities' from Needwood Airfield...allegedly...

Almost Sandwell-esque! 8-P

 

[chris23565]

There's plenty of them I know but are all patches in Staffordshire watched as regularly as they could be? It would be nice to assist finding something rather than letting others do the finding, which is what myself in particular seem to be doing as I go to places which are already well monitored.
Perhaps there's a patch that yet isn't a 'patch' yet if you know what I mean.
Cheers
Dean

Everyone has different ways of patch working, I think your local patch should be close to where you live, I'm lucky in that I live less than a few hundred yards from Westport, before that I covered Mow Cop as I lived closer, but still went down Westport most days, some birders prefer to travel to a patch and it's just as well otherwise places like Gailey wouldn't be as well covered.
I often wonder what goes through Westport un-noticed and I'm sure that can apply to most places as it's impossible to have someone on site all the time.

If you look at a OS mate of your local area and find somewhere with water and woodland I'm sure you'll be on a winner.