Saturday 28th February 2015

Blithfield Res
Adult Kittiwake on the dam at 10:10 then flew NW also 3rd winter Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull (sec/win & th/win (GJM MPR)

Belvide Res
3x Scaup still (2 drakes + female)

Branston GPs
4x Ringed Plover, 50x Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, 3x Ruff, 2x Redshank, 3x Curlew, 27x Shelduck, 14x GBB Gull (AJa)

Chasewater
3x adult Med Gull (CWG_sightings)

Stoke Radial Park
Jack Snipe, 10x Snipe, 2x Willow Tit, 25x Lapwing, Redpoll, Chiffchaff (DC)

Swallow Moss
Male Hen Harrier at 16:30 (RS)

Gailey
34x Pochard, 6x Goldeneye, 3x Oystercatcher, Raven and roosting Tawny Owl (SR)

Hales
No sign either the Pink-footed Goose or Tundra Bean Goose and far fewer geese present (PJ)

Friday 27th February 2015

Chasewater
Great Skua flew through north at 17:20, Juv Great Northern Diver still at 14:15 also 2x adult Med Gull (CWG_sightings)

Belvide Res
3x Scaup (2x drake & female) still this morning (NT)

Haney Forest Park
Immature drake Smew still present this morning

Doxey Marsh
2x Water Pipit still (SW)

Thursday 26th February 2015

Chasewater
2w Caspian Gull in roost plus 2x adult Mediterranean Gulls and juv Great Northern Diver still (@CWG_sightings)

Belvide Resv
3x Scaup (2 drk)

Doxey Marsh
4x Water Pipit still also 4x Little Egret, 10x Goosander, 2x Kingfisher (BC LC)

Branston GPs
551x Golden Plover, 10x Ruff, 2x Redshank, 2x Ringed Plover, 17x Curlew, Snipe, c500x Lapwing, 26x Shelduck, 5x Gadwall, 3x Shoveler, c20x Wigeon, Tawny Owl, c200x Linnet. (JW)

Tawny Owl by Jon Woodcock

Wednesday 25th February 2015

Chasewater Res
Adult Iceland Gull, 2x Caspian Gull (adult & 2nd winter), 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull, also Great Northern Diver & 23x Goosander (@CWG_sightings)

Belvide Res
2x Mediterranean Gull, 2x Scaup, Little Egret, 6x Goosander, Barnacle Goose & Peregrine (BB)

Hanley Forest Park
Immature drake Smew still present today (GB)

Smew by Graham Allbut

Doxey Marshes

Water Pipit, 2x White-fronted Geese, 4x Little Egret, 8x Goosander, 6x Shoveler & 4x Shelduck (AB)

Swallow Moss
Ringtail Hen Harrier at 17:35 (MN)

Tuesday 24th February 2015

Belvide Res
Pair of Scaup and Green Sandpiper this afternoon (TJ)

Hanley Forest Park
Immature drake Smew still present at 15.10
also 2x Wigeon earlier (PE)

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit still present late afternoon, left of octagonal hide below railway line

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still, adult and 1w Caspian Gull, adult and 2w YL Gull (CWG_sightings)

Branston Gravel Pits
9x Ruff, 19x Curlew, Green Sandpiper, c70 Golden Plover, Snipe, 2x Redshank, c400 Lapwing, 21x Shelduck, 7x Gadwall & 24x Wigeon (JW)

Monday 23rd February 2015

Hanley Forest Park
Drake Smew & Goosander present this morning (BC, LC)

Belvide Res
Pair of Scaup still this afternoon, Little Egret, 1w Mediterranean Gull, Green Sandpiper (@Kevin_Clements)

Blithfield Res
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost - different bird from last night (GJM)

Doxey Marshes
3x Water Pipits between Octagonal hide and railway 13:05hrs (PLo)

Badderley Green, Stoke-on-Trent
A Little Egret flew over this morning (GBr)

Sunday 22nd February 2015

Belvide
Pair of Scaup from Scott Hide, also Little Egret, 61x Shoveler, 2x Goosander, Shelduck & 5x Oystercatcher (BB)

Aqualate
1st winter drake Scaup still (IG)

Blithfield Res
2x Caspian Gulls (1x adult & 1x 2nd winter), also 3x Yellow-legged Gulls (2x adults & 1x 1st winter) (GJM, MPR)

Hanley Forrest Park
1st winter drake Smew again at 09:55 (photo below) (PJ)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver and 2x Yellow-legged Gulls this morning (RKS). In the roost - two adult Iceland Gulls, 2w Caspian Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2w Yellow-legged Gull and Great Northern Diver (@CWG_sightings)

Doxey Marshes
4/5 Water Pipit in usual place, 3x Little Egret, 2x Stonechat, 7x Goosander, 5x Wigeon, 2x Shelduck, 40x Lapwing & Water Rail (RS)

Branston Gravel Pits
7x Ruff & a Egyptian Goose on south pit (SBN)

River Trent Colwich

3x Snipe, Little Grebe, 2x Grey Wagtail, 12x Teal, 50x Fieldfare, 30x Redwing, 3x Mistle Thrush (AHo)

Stafford Town Centre,
Peregrine hunting over Asda at 10:35am (AB)

Saturday 21st February 2015

Aqualate
Redhead Smew this morning, also a juvenile Glaucous Gull roosted this afternoon (IG)

Belvide Res
2x Scaup (drake & female) at west end, also Little Egret, Water Rail, 2x Oystercatcher & Green Woodpecker (BB)

Chasewater Res
2x adult Mediterranean Gulls & a 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Doxey Marshes
c3 Water Pipit between octagonal hide and railway line, also Cetti's Warbler, 2x Barnacle Geese & 2x Stonechat (SR)

Gailey
Peregrine, 6x Gadwall, 30x Pochard, 3x Goldeneye, 2x Oystercatcher (SR)

Uttoxeter Quarry
8x Curlew, 2x Oystercatcher, 7x Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 15x Goosander, 5x Goldeneye, 10x Pochard, 75x Wigeon (RP)

Trentham Lakes
Little Egret this afternoon (ST)

River Sow Meadows, Stafford
95x Wigeon, 225x Lapwing, 180x Golden Plover, 5x Snipe & 200x Fieldfare (RS)

Milford Pool
74x Wigeon, 2x Gadwall, Little Grebe, 5x Goosander & 2x Raven (RS)

Friday 20th February 2015

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull, adult Med Gull, 1w YL Gull , juv Great Northern Diver (CWG_sightings)

Blithfield Res
Pair Scaup in Tad Bay (GJM)

Burston Wetland
4x Whooper Swans flew in from the south to roost at 18:00hrs (DCo)

Wolseley Bridge - Weetman's Bridge
Little Egret beside stream alongside A513 (PPe)

Thursday 19th February 2015

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull in the roost again plus 2w and adult Yellow-legged Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Wednesday 18th February 2015

Aqualate
Glaucous Gull in the roost

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull, adult Med Gull, 2x adult YL Gull (CWG_sightings)

Alrewas GPs
3x Goosander, 4x Goldeneye, 80x Wigeon, 2x Oystercatcher, 4x Chffchaff (JW)

Croxall / River Trent
2x Shelduck, 4x Goosander, Little Egret (JW)

Swallow Moss
Male Hen Harrier early evening

Burston Wetland
4x Whooper Swans (2x adult 2x 1st w) with Mute Swan flock  (DCo)

Penkridge
Little Egret in Bell Brook this afternoon (MBo)

Tuesday 17th February 2015

Hales-Chipnall
Tundra Bean Goose still present in field by road 13:00hrs (RBA)

Chasewater Res
Adult Iceland Gull & Great Northern Diver (@CWG_sightings)

Barton Marina
2x Oystercatcher & c70 Wigeon (JW)

Branston Water Park
Oystercatcher (JW)

Monday 16th February 2015

Hales-Chipnall
Tundra Bean Goose still present this morning between Hales and Chipnall near the Coal Brook (TJ)

Branston Gravel Pits
668x Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, 6x Snipe, 4x Ruff, 2x Redshank, 18x Curlew, 677x Lapwing, adult Yellow-legged Gull, Common Gull, 2x Great Black-backed Gull, 30x Shelduck, 8x Shoveler, 6x Gadwall, c40 Wigeon & 31x Tufted Duck (JW)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still present at 11.30 (SB)

Blithfield Res
Pink-footed Goose with Geese flock plus c6/9 Oystercatcher (GJM)

Sunday 15th February 2015

Hales - Chipnal
Tundra Bean Goose at 11:00 feeding with Greylag Geese on the county boundary between Hales & Chipnall where the Coal Brook crosses the road at Grid Ref SJ727323 (STu)

 

 Tundra Bean Goose near Hales.Photo by Steve Turner (top) and Phil Jones

Belvide Res
Drake Scaup at west end, also Little Egret, Goosander, Shelduck, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull & Yellow-legged Gull (BB)

Gailey
Adult Iceland Gull over low east at 09:30 (SR)

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver again before flushed by water skiers (AA)
also summer plumage Mediterranean Gull (@WMBB1) and adult Iceland Gull, 2w Caspian Gull, 4x adult Mediterranean Gulls and adult Yellow-legged Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Whitemoor Haye
4x Whooper Swan again before flying off SW,also  86x Wigeon, 3x Goldeneye, 43x Pochard, 148x Mute Swan & a Redshank (SC)

Doxey Marsh
Water Pipit still at 12:20 (SC)
also 4x Little Egret, 2x Stonechat, 2x Water Rail, 6x Goosander, 157x Lapwing, 5x Shelduck & Cetti's Warbler (@ScottoftheMarsh)

Croxall
3x Eurasian White-fronted Geese flew over the National Arboretum and landed at Croxall at approx 10.00 (DO)

Colwich (River Trent)
5x Snipe, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail (AHo)

Hulme
Short-eared Owl again also 4x Stonechat, 43x Golden Plover (RT)

Tucklesholme
Green Sandpiper, 7x Goosander, c50 Wigeon & 6x Pochard (JW)

Branston Leas
Stonechat (JW)

Branston Water Park
Oystercatcher (JW)

Branston Gravel Pits
9x Ruff, 18x Curlew, Redshank, c500 Lapwing, 4x Golden Plover & 26x Shelduck (JW)

Endon SW
1x Chiffchaff, 83x Pied Wagtail, 6x Grey Wagtail (GBr)

Saturday 14th February 2015

Belvide Res
Drake Red-breasted Merganser 14:00-14:15 before flying off east
also Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, 5x Shelduck, 2x Goosander & Barnacle Goose (BB)

Red-breasted Merganser by Steve Nuttall

Doxey Marsh
Water Pipit still at 11:55

Alrewas GPs
Redhead Smew again, 204x Wigeon, 2x Little Egret, 4x Shoveler, 3x Goldeneye, 54x Tufted Duck (SC)

Newcastle (Pool Dam)
Adult Caspian Gull this morning before flying off towards Walley's landfill (NDP)

Blithfield Res
Adult Mediterranean Gull at deep end roost from Watery Lane at 15.40, also a leucistic Black-headed Gull (RP)

Chasewater Res
Pair of Red-breasted Merganser seen off the dam this morning, Great Northern Diver flew out at midday, adult Mediterranean Gull near the island this afternoon, also Oystercatcher seen (@CWG_sightings)

Whitemoor Haye
4x Whooper Swan still at 12:15 (NJS) - and at 13:05 (JJH SJH)
5x Oystercatcher, 121x Wigeon, 2x Goldeneye, 31x Pochard, 223x Mute Swan, Treecreeper (SC)

 Family party of four Whopper Swans still at Whitemoor today (NJS)

Uttoxeter Quarry
64x Golden Plover, 4x Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, 5x Goldeneye, 8x Goosander, 20x Pochard, 75x Wigeon, 2x Kingfisher (RPo)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Jubilee Wetlands 2x Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper (GW)

Blackbank
Jack Snipe this morning (NDP)

Aston-Burston
13x Pink-footed Geese, Jack Snipe, 2x Green Sandpiper, 25x Snipe, 4x Goosander, Shelduck, 33x Teal, 69x Lapwing, 8x Tree Sparrow, 5x Stock Dove (DCo)

 

Croxall wides (new river workings viewed from national arboretum)

2x Redshank, 5x Goosander (SC)

Friday 13th February 2015

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit still this afternoon, 300 mtrs left of the small hide (TJ)

Whitemoor Haye
4x Whooper Swan still this morning (MPi)
also  30x Yellowhammer, 15x Tree Sparrow and a single Grey Partridge (SP)

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still also adult Med Gull, 2x adult YL Gull (CWG_sightings)

Thursday 12th February 2015

Chasewater Res
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Great Northern Diver & leucistic Black-headed Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Doxey Marshes
2x Water Pipits & 2x Little Egrets (JA)

Whitemoor Haye
15x Whooper Swans still present (JA)

Belvide Res
Merlin, 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Oystercatcher, 79x Pochard & Green Woodpecker (BB)

Wednesday 11th February 2015

Chasewater Res
2nd winter Caspian Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 2x adult Mediterranean Gull plus Great Northern Diver & leucistic Black-headed Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Doxey Marshes
2x Water Pipit this morning, 100m south of Octagonal hide looking towards railway (CRe)

Blithfield Res
Adult summer plumaged Med Gull in the roost (GJM)
also 3x Eurasian White-fronted Geese west side of Blithe Bay, 26x Barnacle Geese, 9x Goosander & 7x Goldeneye (JWo)

Trentham Gardens
2x Little Egret, Mandarin Duck & 2x Goosander (MJW)

Jackson's Bank
4x Tawny Owl (JWo)

Ford Green
3x Linnet, Lesser Redpoll & 2x Little Grebe (JJo)

Tuesday 10th February 2015

Chasewater
Juv Great Northern Diver still this afternoon

Doxey Marsh
2x Water Pipit, Water Rail, 2x Little Egret, 6x Goosander, 3x Shelduck, 20x Teal (MTu)

Water Rail by Mick Turner

Branston Gravel Pits

2x Oystercatcher, 9x Ruff, 18x Curlew, Redshank, 4x Golden Plover, 9x Snipe, c450x Lapwing, 31x Shelduck, 4x Shoveler, 11x Gadwall, 28x Wigeon, Pochard (JW)

Monday 9th February 2015

Doxey Marsh
3x Water Pipit at 13:30, 1x Jack Snipe, 5x Snipe, 2x Little Egret, 4x Shelduck, 12x Goosander, 4x Pochard, 5x Stonechat, 2x Barnacle Geese, 2x Water Rail (SE&HF)

Water Pipit at Doxey today by Steve Edwards

Weston Coyney
20x Pink-footed Geese over, heading West at 08.30 (COL)

Cannock Chase
3x Brambling at Penkridge Bank (SBa)

Chasewater
Juv Great Northern Diver again this afternoon (CWG_sightings)

Whitemoor Haye
15x Whooper Swan, 276x Mute Swan, 40x Yellowhammer, 10x Tree Sparrow, 800x Lapwing, male Peregrine, 116x Wigeon, 4x Oystercatcher, 4x Goldeneye & a Goosander over (SCo)

Sunday 8th February 2015

Whitemore Haye
15x Whooper Swans still present this morning near Sittles Farm (MYa)
also c140 Yellowhammers on Sittles Farm shed roof, 400x Lapwing, 258x Mute Swan, 103x Wigeon & 10x Tree Sparrow (SCo) and Black Swan still (JW)

Alrewas GPs
Redhead Smew late afternoon (MY)

Blithfield Res
3x White-fronted Geese mid afternoon in Tad Bay plus 2x Raven, in Blithe Bay 29x Barnacle Geese, 59x Greylag Geese & 16x Snipe (SR)
also 4x Goldeneye, c100 Wigeon, 122x Great Crested Grebe & Goosander (KBi)

Burntwood
Flock of Pink-footed Geese flew North this morning (NWa)

Chasewater Res
20-30 Pink-footed Geese flew west at 11.15 (@CWG_sightings)
Adult YL Gull, 4x Med Gull (Rob Hughes). Also Adult Mediterranean Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull from west shore (@CWG_sighting)

Croxall Lakes / River Trent Confluence
10x Little Egret came in to roost at dusk, 2x Goosander, 4x Goldeneye (JW)

Tuckleshome
Corn Bunting with Yellowhammer flock (MY)

Belvide Res
Drake Pintail, Oystercatcher & a Lesser Redpoll (BB)

River Trent Meadows Colwich
2x Shelduck, 4x Goldeneye, 4x Goosander, Little Egret, 2x Grey Wagtail, 8x Teal, 100x Redwing/Fieldfare (AHo)

Aston-Burston
Jack Snipe, 25x Snipe, 2x Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Goosander, 45x Teal, 2x Grey Wagtail, 50x Skylark (DCo)

Copmere
Little Egret present plus 30x Cormorant (DEm)

Saturday 7th February 2015

Whitemoor Haye
15x Whooper Swan with Mute Swans this morning (GJM)
also 280x Mute Swan, 81x Yellowhammer, 84x Wigeon, 3x Goldeneye, 400x Lapwing & 10x Tree Sparrow (SCo)

Westport Lake
Imm drake Smew still at 07:45 (NJS)

Chasewater Res
2x adult Mediterranean Gull, 2x Yellow-legged Gull (2nd winter & adult and 16x Goosander (@CWG_sightings)

Belvide Res
104x Goldeneye, 88x Pochard, 153x Wigeon, 385x Teal, 32x Gadwall, 44x Shoveler, Oystercatcher & Peregrine (BB)

Gailey Res
2x Teal, 14x Gadwall, 5x Goldeneye, 19x Pochard, 43x Greylag Geese, 114x Canada Geese & Tawny Owl (@TheMoorehen)

Croxall
Little Egret, Shelduck, 2x Goosander, 104x Pochard, 2x Jack Snipe, 25x Common Snipe (SR). Also 2x Smew (via RBA)

Trentham Gardens
60x Lapwing, Linnet, Kingfisher, 14x Cormorant, 2x Little Egret & 30x Tufted Duck (ARa)

Knypersley Resv
2x Water Rail, 2x Redpoll, 5x Goosander (GBr)

Friday 6th February 2015

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver present this morning (PWa per CMa)
also 3rd winter Caspian Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost (CWG_sightings)

Westport Lake
Immature male Smew still present this morning (NJS)

Belvide Res
1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, 82x Pochard & Pintail (BB)

Uttoxeter
c70 Pink-footed Geese flew NW at 11.30

Blithfield Res
Great Crested Grebe count now up to 418 (GJM)

Thursday 5th February 2015

Chasewater
Adult Mediterranean Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull in roost (@CWG_sightings)

Westport Lake
Immature male Smew still present this afternoon (NJS)

Stafford
Little Egret off Exeter Street off Silkmore Lane this morning (JRa)

Hanley Forest Park
2x Tawny Owls calling this evening (RGa)

Wednesday 4th February 2015

Blithfield Res
3x European White-fronted Geese and 26x Barnacle Geese still in field on western side of Blithe Bay this pm (RCB)

Chasewater
2x adult Med Gull, 2x YL Gull (1w and adult) also female Shelduck (CWG_ sightings)

Belvide Res
1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, 2x Pintail, 2x Shelduck, 41x Shoveler & 371x Teal (BB)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
24x Little Egret in the roost, Tree Sparrows by farm, 9x Shelduck, c200 Teal, c4 Cetti's Warbler, c3 Grey Wagtail & flyover Siskin (@RSPBMiddleton)

Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Silverdale CP
Adult Caspian Gull on the Void also adult and 3w YL Gull (NDP)

Chasewater
Adult Med Gull, adult YL Gull in the roost (CWG_sightings)

Belvide Res
1st winter Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret, 5x Pintail, 343x Teal, 162x Wigeon, 37x Shoveler & 28x Gadwall (BB)

Branston GP's
8x Ruff, 19x Curlew, 2x Redshank, Snipe, c200 Lapwing, 25x Gadwall, 11x Pochard, 19x Shelduck, 71x Wigeon, 12x Great Black-backed Gull & Common Gull, also a Polecat/Polecat Ferret along ditch near south pit (JWo)

Branston Water Park
5x Snipe, 17x Shoveler, 4x Gadwall, c15 Pochard, 2x Goldeneye & Common Gull (JWo)

Dimmingsdale
10x Woodcock over between 17.30 & 17.45, also a Tawny Owl (TEy)

Trentham Gardens
1st winter Med Gull, 2x Little Egret, 2x Mandarin (RT)

Monday 2nd February 2015

Blithfield Res
Site record count of 389x Great Crested Grebe also more than likely a Staffs and regional record (GJM)

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull, adult and 2nd winter YL Gull (CWG_ sightings)

Belvide Res
1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 2x Little Egret, 2x Goosander, Shelduck, 67x Pochard, 32x Shoveler, 135x Wigeon, 256x Teal & 5x Gadwall (BB)

Hanley Forest Park
Imm drake Smew still (DK)

Whitemoor Haye
272x Mute Swan, 171x Wigeon, 35x Tree Sparrow, 9x Yellowhammer & 150x Lapwing (SCo)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
4x Tree Sparrow, c6 Shelduck, c7 Stonechat, c10 Snipe, c60 Lapwing (@RSPBMiddleton)

Sunday 1st February 2015

Blithfield Res
2x Caspian Gulls in the roost today, a adult & a 3rd winter (MPR, GJM)

Chasewater Res
Adult Iceland Gull, 2x Yellow-legged Gull (1st winter & adult), juvenile Glaucous/Herring Gull hybrid & white winged Herring Gull (CWG_sightings)

Norton Bog
6x Brambling this afternoon (CWG_sightings)

Hanley Forest Park
Immature male Smew still present this morning (GBr)

Croxall
Female Smew this afternoon, Jack Snipe with 14x Snipe, 122x Pochard, 8x Goosander, 2x Shelduck, 5x Redshank (SR)

Aqualate Mere
Scaup still present plus a Barnacle Goose with the Canada Goose flock (IGr)

Belvide Res
1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 2x Little Egret, 4x Pintail, 3x Shelduck, 104x Wigeon, 88x Teal, Peregrine & 35x Tree Sparrow (BB)

Whitemoor Haye
151x Wigeon, 239x Mute Swan, 480x Lapwing, 30x Golden Plover, 2x Redshank, 4x Oystercatcher, 15x Yellowhammer & 10x Tree Sparrow (SCo)

Silverdale CP
4x Great Black-backed Gulls & 6x Goosander this afternoon (PJ)