Saturday 31 December 2011

31st Dec 2011

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit still by the new sluice today but elusive ..........Birdguides.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still west of the village and south of Startley Lane today but mobile .......Birdguides.

Branston GPs
13 x Curlew , 60 x Golden Plover , 150+ Lapwing , 8 x Siskin a single Marsh Tit
and a Peregrine..........S Collins.

Whitemoor Haye
319 x Mute Swan...........S Collins.

Westport Lake
Goosander x 6 and a drake Goldeneye early morning.........NS.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black Redstart still in Mickledale Bay today but elusive.........Birdguides.
juv Iceland Gull this evening also 2 x adult Kittiwakes through and
Egyptian Goose..........GJM , MPR , DP.

Cannock Chase
8 x Crossbill nr (Trig point) also 10 x Lesser Redpoll and Raven over........JW.

Friday 30 December 2011

30th Dec 2011

Westport Lake
Goosander x 4 on boating lake this morning.......PL.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Yellow-legged Gull x 2 adults in the roost........BB.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart still on Heron Island this morning......Birdguides

Thursday 29 December 2011

29 December 2011

Keele
Iceland Gull juvenile still over Walley's landfill site this morning, best viewed from back of Garners garden centre.......

Silverdale colliery
Iceland Gull juvenile again at The Void late morning......RP

Fenton Park
Lesser Whitethroat still present this morning.......NP

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell area 300m west of the village and south of Startley Lane,
though mobile .........Birdguides.

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike over old quarry flying to roost by cadet huts at about 15:30.......SW

Gailey Res
Black Redstart still present today.......JH

Copmere
2 Yellow-legged Gulls and 30 GBB Gulls.......NP

Wednesday 28 December 2011

28th Dec 2011

Chasewater
Iceland Gull 3rd-winter in roost yesterday; also 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Caspian Gull
and adult Yellow-legged Gull ......Birdguides.
Caspian Gull adult and Iceland Gull 3rd winter still mid afternoon today ......Birdguides

Gailey Res
Black Redstart 1st w/female still on Heron Island on sailing lake also adult Med Gull still......Birdguides

Keele
Iceland Gull juvenile circling Whalley's landfill this morning, view from back of Garners garden centre......NP

Silverdale Colliery
Iceland Gull juvenile on The Void 14:28 to 14:50 when it was flushed......JH

Fenton Park
Lesser Whitethroat still this morning.......KH. RT.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell by Startley Lane 300m west of village......Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Glaucous Gull juvenile at the deep end in the roost.......GJM
Black Redstart still in Mickledale Bay feeding in new drainage ditches and in neighbouring fields around the fence lines.....Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Golden Plover x 74 at the west end , also an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the roost......BB.

Rudyard Lake
Red-throated Diver one between the sailing club and visitor centre mid afternoon......Birdguides

Tuesday 27 December 2011

27 December 2011

Lesser Whitethroat (sp) Fenton Park photo's by Ann Bentley.



Fenton Park
The Lesser Whitethroat still showing on and off this morning around the sunken green square surrounded by a low brown beech edge........RT. SS.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell south of Startley Lane 250m west of the village......Birdguides.
Photo by Terry Eyre.

Photo by Chris Cook.


Silverdale Colliery
Goosander x 3 drakes this morning........J Hutchins.

Westport Lake
Goldeneye x 2 drakes still present on main lake......NS.

Uttoxeter Quarry
17x Goosander, 9x Pochard, 6x Wigeon, Shoveller, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 40x Golden Plover, 8x Snipe, Peregrine and 4x Egyptian Geese........RP

Gailey Res
Black Redstart still present but spent most of the day on the island , also adult Med Gull
briefly this afternoon , 3w Yellow-legged Gull and Little Egret........SR.

Stafford (River Sow Meadows)
Green Sandpiper , Chiffchaff , Goldcrest x 3 , Linnet x 96 and Goosander x 2......R Swift .

Doxey Marshes
Goosander x 27 , Teal x 196 , Shoveler x 6 , Wigeon x 6 and Stonechat x 1pair.....R Swift.

Monday 26 December 2011

26th Dec 2011

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell south of Startley Lane...Birdguides.

Fenton Park
The Lesser Whitethroat still present this morning favouring a Mahonia bush ( by the red dog litter bin) alongside the sunken square green surrounded by a low brown beech edge......RT

Sunday 25 December 2011

25th Dec 2011

MERRY XMAS TO ALL FROM STEVE , CHRIS AND AND RUSSELL
AT STAFFS BIRD NEWS..................

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still showing well close to Startley Lane, on the clearfell west of the village .Birdguides.

Dimmingsdale
Brambling x 4 , Raven x 2 and 30 x Siskin.......TE.

Saturday 24 December 2011

24 December 2011

Fenton Park
Lesser Whitethtroat possible eastern race still present this morning
It favours a Mahonia Bush (yellow flowers) alongside a square green surrounded by a low beech edge 200 metres down from the tennis court.......RT

Aqualate Mere
Bittern still showing well from the hide this morning........Birdguides

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell south of Startley Lane c250m west of the village.......SW

Silverdale Colliery
Iceland Gull juvenile still on The Void........Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black Redstart still in Mickledale Bay but mobile around fence posts......Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Adult Mediterranean Gull again in roost this evening, plus 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, male Merlin through, Brambling and 82 Golden Plover BT.

Friday 23 December 2011

23rd Dec 2011

Fenton Park
Lesser Whitethtroat possible eastern race still present @ 9-00 this morning
It favours a Mahonia Bush (yellow flowers) alongside a square green surrounded by a low beech edge 200 metres down from the tennis court.......RT.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Yellow-legged Gull x 2 adults in the roost this evening.......BB.

Thursday 22 December 2011

22nd Dec 2011

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit one near new sluice gate this morning ........Birdguides.

Fenton Park
Sylvia warbler possible Lesser Whitethroat showing on and off 11:00 to 14:30 at least......RT

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still on clearfell close to Startley Lane west of the village......Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black Redstart still in Mickledale Bay showing well around drainage ditches and nearby fenceposts......Birdguides

Gailey Res
Black Redstart female/1st winter again on farmhouse roof 200m from Yacht club entrance.......Birdguides

Branston GPs
Little Egret, 400+ Golden Plover, 2x Ruff, 4 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper and 9x Curlew.......JW

Wednesday 21 December 2011

21 December 2011

Gailey Res
Mediterranean Gull adult on sailing lake this afternoon but no sign of the Black Redstart.......Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Caspian Gull adult at the deep end also 2x adult Yellow-legged Gulls
Merlin a male in Blithe Bay
Black Redstart still in Mickledale bay........GJM

Tuesday 20 December 2011

20 December 2011

Rudyard Lake
Eider drake still present in the northwest bay also Goosander, 2x Goldeneye, Little Egret and 2x Willow Tit.......BB

Keele
Iceland Gull juv at 13:30 in field at the junction of Cemetary Rd and Keele Rd at SJ829456......NP

Silverdale Colliery
Iceland Gull juv at the Void to at least 14:15......ST

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl at least 4 present from 15:15 to dusk........RT

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black Redstart still in Mickledale Bay mid afternoon.......Birdguides

Chasewater
Caspian Gull adult again in the roost.......Birdguides

Branston GPs
3x Ruff and a Dunlin.......CC

Westport Lake
Goosander x 3 drakes on boating lake , also drake Goldeneye on main lake.....AR.

Doxey Marshes
Horseshoe Pool
35+ Teal , 3 x Goosander.
Hide
50+ Teal , 70+ Lapwing and 8 x Goosander (4 x pair).
Boundary Flash
6 x Shoveler , 4 x Goosander (2 x pair)
Tillington Flash
30+ Teal....................G Hadley.

Monday 19 December 2011

19 December 2011

Aqualate Mere
Bittern this morning from hide...............................Birdguides

Westport Lake
Goosander x 2 drakes present late afternoon......NS.

Sunday 18 December 2011

18th Dec 2011

Belvide Res (permit only)
Whooper Swan x 2 at west end until 09:55 when they flew off west ,
also 1w Scaup but no sign of Tundra Bean Goose..........Birdguides.

Rudyard Lake
Eider drake still opposite the sailing club this morning.......Birdguides.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart fem/1w still present this morning.........Birdguides.

Silverdale Colliery
Iceland Gull 1st winter at The Void until 13:00 then flushed.......WJL

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Kittiwake 1st winter at the deep end and Black Redstart still at Mickledale Bay........GJM

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell off Startley Lane on the western edge of the village.......AR

Park Hall
Long-eared Owl one present..........AM.

Croxall Lakes
Little Egret x 2 on main lake.........A Holt.

Saturday 17 December 2011

17 December 2011

Rudyard Lake
Red- throated Diver one this afternoon off the sailing club.......PJ
Eider drake still present mid way up the lake.......Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still at the west end also 1st winter drake Scaup still.......Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black Redstart at Mickledale Bay late morning.......Birdguides
Caspian Gull x 2 adults also 3 x adult Yellow-legged Gulls.......GJM , MPR.

Silverdale Colliery
Goosander drake still present also 20+ Lesser Redpoll........P Capewell.

River Sow Meadows Stafford
Green Sandpiper @ water treatment works this morning......R Swift.

Aqualate Mere
Bittern one flew over early evening........Birdguides.

Friday 16 December 2011

16 December 2011

Gailey Res
Black Redstart female/1st winter still present on pontoon by the sailing club.......Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still present also 1w drake Scaup and adult Med Gull......Birdguides.

Thursday 15 December 2011

15 December 2011

Rudyard Lake
Eider drake still this afternoon........Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose one still at the west end.......Birdguides

Gailey Res
Black Redstart fem/1w still on north shore but mobile........Birdguides.

Middelton Lakes RSPB
Smew 1w drake still present today.......Birdguides.

Wednesday 14 December 2011

14 December 2011

Silverdale Colliery
3x Goosander Drakes on the Void this morning........JH.
Med Gull adult briefly on The Void 15-10 also Yellow-legged Gull..........ST

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still at the west end viewed from hide at 12-35......Birdguides.

Rudyard Lake
Eider drake still present this morning best viewed from miniture railway side......BF.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

13 December 2011

Eider (drake) at Rudyard Lake...photo by Carlton Gater.


Rudyard Lake
Eider drake still present from the sailing club off Reacliffe Road this morning......CG.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart female/1st winter still on the north shore.......Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still at the west end.......Birdguides

Monday 12 December 2011

12th Dec 2011

Eider Rudyard Lake........photo by S Seal.


Rudyard Lake
Eider drake viewed from sailing club along Reacliffe Rd mid-afternoon.......SS , PS , NS, et al.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart fem/ 1w still by the pontoons at the sailing club but mobile........Birdguides.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still at west end..........Birdguides.

Longsdon
Goosander x 18 this morning..........SS.

Knypersley Res
Goosander x 4 (1 x drake) , also around 20 x Brambling still ..........SS , CG.

Westport Lake
Goosander single drake early morning.......J Jones.

Apedale CP
Short-eared Owl one at 13-00 in field below visitor centre........P Capewell.

Sunday 11 December 2011

11th Dec 2011

Gailey Res
Black Redstart fem / 1w still by the sailing club at 8-20 this morning.......Birdguides.

Aqualate
Bewick Swan x 2 adults at 10-20........Birdguides.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose present again this morning at west end , also 2 x Bewick Swans....Birdguides
Bewick's later flew off south....Birdguides

Silverdale Colliery
Goosander single drake present late afternoon.........P Capewell.

Saturday 10 December 2011

10th Dec 2011

Black Redstart.......Gailey Res.....photo by S Seal.


Knypersley Res
White-fronted Goose x 7 on grass by the bridge early morning but then flew off in
south west direction at 8-20.........GB.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart female/1st- winter commuting between  Heron Island and the
sailing club.......SR , SS et al.
Also Brambling x 4 , Lesser Redpoll x 6 and 35 x Golden Plover........R Swift.

Whitemoor Haye
White-fronted Goose x 11 behind the main pit..........TP.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still c250m west of village in clearfell off Startley Lane........Birdguides.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose one at west end then flew north at 14-20 also 1w drake Scaup
and adult Yellow-legged Gull............Birdguides.

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit still on scrap from viewing screen , also 12 x Goosander and
8 x Snipe..........R Swift.

Ford Green
Little Grebe x 3 and a single drake Shoveler........CG.

Rocester
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at JCB south lake also Chiffchaff..........EF.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Adult Caspian Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull  at deep end roost.........GJM.

Friday 9 December 2011

09 December 2011

Gailey Res
Black Redstart still present this morning .......Birdguides.

Knypersley Res
Brambling still x 20+ between the car park and Serpentine Lake this morning.....SS

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose still at the West end.......Birdguides

Longsdon
Goosander x 22........CG.



Thursday 8 December 2011

8 December 2011

Tittesworth
Kittiwake one early morning........SG

Wednesday 7 December 2011

7th Dec 2011

Knypersley Res
Goosander x 4 (3 x drakes) also still good numbers of Brambling between the car park
and the Serpentine Lake early morning.......SS.

Gailey Res
Black Redstart still on the west side by 2nd sluice this morning......Birdguides.
and this afternoon commuting between sailing club and sluice also 3+ Brambling with Chaffinch flock under Beeches.......GJM

Belvide Res (permit only)
Tundra Bean Goose one with Grey Lags at West end this afternoon.......Birdguides

Tuesday 6 December 2011

6 December 2011

Gailey Res
Black Redstart this afternoon on the west side.......Birdguides

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still by shooting butts also 2x Crossbill.......Birdguides

Branston GPs
Common Redpoll at least 3x Mealy Redpolls with 47x Lesser Redpolls in Birches by southernmost lake.......Birdguides

Copmere
Caspian Gull adult in the roost this afternoon also 2x Yellow-legged Gulls.......NP & RT

Coldmeece
3x Yellow-legged Gulls this afternoon also 12x GBB Gulls.......NP & RT

Knypersley Res
2 x female Goosander , also 5 x drake Wigeon and still a good number of Brambling
by the entrance to the car park.........K Tate.

Monday 5 December 2011

5 December 2011

Aqualate Park
4x Whooper Swan 2 adults and 2 juvs this morning.......Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Great Northern Diver one at the Deep End and present off Portfields till 15:00 with no further sign till dusk although not seen to fly off so may still be there........GJM & MPR

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike again in clearfell at mid-day c250 metres west of the village.......GD

Berryhill
2x Short-eared Owls still at dusk.......RT

Copmere
1100x LBB Gull, 35x Herring Gull, 4x Common Gull, 123x Wigeon, 4x Goosander, 4x Goldeneye, 3x Gadwell, Shoveller, 4x Little Grebe, 3x Water Rail and a Kingfisher.......NP

Coldmeece
Yellow-legged Gull and 2x GBB Gulls........NP

Sunday 4 December 2011

04 December 2011

Westport Lake
Male Pintail on main lake this morning..............................NS, CJW.

Whitemoor Haye
7 x European White-fronted Geese on main pit mid-morning........TP , JA.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still c250m west of village in clearfell off Startley Lane this morning.......Birdguides.

Saturday 3 December 2011

3rd Dec 2011

Whitemoor Haye
Hen Harrier ringtail mid-day behind Sittles Farm......TP , JA.

Knypersley Res
Goosander x 2 females early morning also 7 x Brambling by car park......GB , SS.

Gailey Res
Med Gull adult @ 13-00........Birdguides.

Brookleys Lake
Mandarin x 127 present today also 3 x Pochard and a Water Rail.........RP.

Uttoxeter Quarry
25 x Goosander , 3 x Pochard , 21 x Wigeon , 400 x Golden Plover , 7 x Curlew,
7 x Snipe and a Raven over.............RP.

Longsdon
Goosander x 4 and 2 x Wigeon.........SS.

Belvide Res (permit only)
A 1st winter Yellow Legged Gull at dusk along with 99 x Goldeneye , also 3 x Dunlin
and 224 x Golden Plover at west end and a single Green Sandpiper on the dam.......BB.

Friday 2 December 2011

2nd Dec 2011

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still c250m west of the village in clearfell off Startley Lane
mid-afternoon...........Birdguides.

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit on Tillington Flash at 11-10......GJM.
Also 8 x Snipe from metal hide and 7 x Goosander around the reserve........CG.

Snipe......Doxey Marshes.....photo by C Gater.

Branston GPs
3 x Dunlin , 3 x Ruff , Redshank , Green Sandpiper , 3 x Shelduck , 30 x Golden Plover ,
9 x Curlew and a single Marsh Tit............JW.

Thursday 1 December 2011

1 December 2011

Doxey Marsh
Water Pipit one on scrape from screen 300 metres north of the hide........Birdguides.

Whitemoor Haye
Bewick Swan x 7 (3 x adults) in rape field by Sittles Farm......Birdguides.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell off Startley Lane c250 metres west of the village.......Birdguides

Dimmingsdale
50+ Crossbill and 10+ Great Spotted Woodpecker today.........LB.

Great Spotted Woodpecker......Dimmingsdale.....photo by Les Beardmore.