Monday 30th November 2015

Notice

The next indoor meeting for the Stafford branch of the WMBC will be on Tuesday 1st December 2015 – Emily Tabernor – The Roaches – Emily, assistant warden at the Roaches, will bring us up to date with the development and wildlife at this new SWT reserve. Further details can be found here

Wall Heath
Hoopoe still present this morning in landscaped quarry north of Enville Rd. No general access to quarry and please keep to footpaths and park sensibly in the area, especially in the bus stop.

Blithfield Resv
Two Caspian Gulls (ad & 3w) in the roost plus 3x adult Yellow-legged Gulls (GJM)

Belvide Resv
Adult Kittiwake flew thru E at 14:40hrs (@BelvideBirding)

Chasewater
3x Caspian Gulls (2 adult, 3w) in the roost, 2x YLG (ad, 1w), Shag on Ski ramp. Ring-necked Parakeet over west shore 15:45hrs (@CWG_sightings)

Sunday 29th November 2015

Hinksford/Wall Heath
Hoopoe still present this morning in the landscaped quarry off Enville Road, please park carefully & keep to footpaths

Louie

Belvide Res
Bittern flew into reedbed at dusk

Chasewater Res
3x adult Caspian Gull, 2x adult Mediterranean Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull & Shag (@CWG_sightings)

Whitemoor Haye
Whooper Swan still present from bend by Sittles Farm, also 6x Ruff & 2x Golden Plover (JAl)

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl at 15.33 by new scrape, (IBu)

Silverdale CP
Jack Snipe, 8x Snipe, 3x Teal & 3x Lapwing (PJ)

Endon Sewage Works
Chiffchaff, 6x Lesser Redpoll, 61x Pied Wagtail, 2x Grey Wagtail, 34x Wigeon, 22x Teal & 4x Meadow Pipit (GBr)

Gailey Res
c40 Golden Plover, Common Gull, Tawny Owl & Lesser Redpoll (SRi)

Blithfield Res
Leucistic GC Grebe in Tad Bay, 4x Goosander, Peregrine, 2x Grey Wagtail (RCB)

Saturday 28th November 2015

Notice

The next indoor meeting for the Stafford branch of the WMBC will be on Tuesday 1st December 2015 – Emily Tabernor – The Roaches – Emily, assistant warden at the Roaches, will bring us up to date with the development and wildlife at this new SWT reserve. Further details can be found here

Wall Heath

Hoopoe showing on and off all day. Following a site visit today by the Staffsbirdnews team, please be careful of too many cars parking in the bus stop. There are other streets nearby where you could park within easy walking distance. The quarry area is crossed by a public footpath at the top but this is the birds favoured area to feed. 

Chasewater

3x Caspian Gulls (two adults, 3w), 2x Yellow-legged Gulls (adult, 1w) and Shag still present at dusk . Fem Merlin over Biddulph's Pool 15:30hrs (@CWG_sightings, IBu, TJa)

Whitemoor Haye

1x Whooper Swan nr Sittles Farm, 1x Redshank, 130x Golden Plover, 1x Green Sandpiper (@BirderAlrewas)

Blithfield Res
9x Ruff, 14x Goosander, Yellow-legged Gull (PCa, TKe)

Aqualate
Ad Yellow-legged Gull, 6x Pintail, 3x Goldeneye, Water Rail (@rpintean)

Cannock Chase
4x Woodcock at dusk (JW)

Friday 27th November 2015

Wall Heath
Hoopoe still NNW of Kingswinford at 09.40, on landscaped quarry north of Enville Road in paddock behind houses (@birdnational)

Chasewater Res
Adult Caspian Gull in roost this evening, Shag still present also 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull & Ring-necked Parakeet seen briefly (@CWG_sightings)

Branston Gravel Pits
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, c60 Great Black-backed Gull, c200 Lesser Black-backed Gull, c50 Herring Gull, 6x Ruff, 14x Curlew, 5x Shelduck, 6x Shoveler. 11x Gadwall, 71x Pochard, Little Egret, Tawny Owl & a large murmuration of Starlings (JWo)

Doxey Marshes
9x Cormorant, 6x Goosander, 120x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret & 6x Shoveler (PLB)

i54
Green Sandpiper, 5x Teal, 3x Goldcrest, Siskin, 20x Meadow Pipit (Foz JD)

Thursday 26th November 2015

Hinksford
Hoopoe still in quarry NW of Enville Road, Wall Heath. Take gate west of large bus stop and walk to top of the hill to view.

The Wall Heath Hoopoe by Hughie King

 Wolseley Centre
Green Sandpiper, c40 Redwing, 2x Grey Wagtail & 10x Siskin (SPe)

Chasewater
The Shag still also 2x adult Caspian Gull and adult YL Gull in the roost.

Wednesday 25th November 2015

Hinksford
Hoopoe showing well west of Enville Road, Wall Heath. Take gate west of large bus stop and walk to top of the hill to view the quarry - still at 13:55

Dimmingsdale
120x Pink-footed Geese over SE at 11:30 (TEy)

Pendeford Hall Lane - i54
Green Sandpiper, 250x Redwing, 63x Fieldfare, 4x Teal, Little Grebe (JDu)

Ford Green
28x Siskin, 2x Raven, 30x Jackdaw (JJ)

Chasewater
The Shag still on the ski jump also adult Caspian Gull and adult YL Gull in the roost

Branston GP
14x Curlew, 50x Lapwing, 2x Wigeon, 18x Gadwall, 72x Pochard, 11x Shoveler, 4x Shelduck, 1x Peregrine (JW)

Tuesday 24th November 2015

Chasewater
The Shag still present this morning (GJM)

Blithfield Res
3w Caspian Gull in the roost (GJM)

Tittesworth Res
Female Scaup present (LHa)

Monday 23rd November 2015

Blackbank
3x Whooper Swan over at 08:35 also 3x Goosander (NDP)

Silverdale CP - The void
2x Stonechat, 3x Teal, 15x Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail, 2x Snipe (BC LC)

Fradley
Stonechat, 7x Snipe, Goosander, Pochard, 4x Redpoll (IWh)

Whitemoor Haye
65x Golden Plover, 4x Goldeneye, 11x Pochard, 20x Wigeon, 3x Shoveler, Blackcap (IWh)

Chasewater
The Shag still also adult Caspian Gull, adult Med Gull, 1w YL Gull

Belvide Res
2w Caspian Gull in the roost also adult YL Gull

Sunday 22nd November 2015

The Void, Silverdale CP
2x Stonechat, 25x Reed Bunting, 6x Teal, 1x adult Yellow-legged Gull (PJ)

Stonechat at Silverdale CP by Phil Jones

Blithfield Res
2x Caspian Gulls (Ad, 3w) in the roost (GJM, MPR). Also 10x Goldeneye, 6x Goosander, 16x Golden Plover, 5x Pochard, 28x Shoveler (@rpintean)

Chasewater
1x Ring-necked Parakeet and adult Yellow-legged Gull (@CWG_sightings)

i54
3x Whooper Swans flew over calling as they flew NE (IPh)

Berryhill Fields
2x Short-eared Owls, 2x Snipe (NDP, DSc, GPr)

North Staffs Moors
2x Short-eared Owls this evening (IBu)

Oldacre Valley, Cannock Chase
Stonechat, 2x Green Woodpecker, 10+ Reed Bunting (@TheMoorhen)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
1x probable Common Sandpiper on west side of North Pool

Madeley SW
3x Chiffchaff (STu)

Saturday 21st November 2015

Whitemoor Haye
Ruff, Gadwall, Goldeneye, 17x Pochard, 17x Wigeon, 16x Siskin, 600x Lapwing, 227x Tufted Duck (@AlrewasBirder)

Gailey
Imm Marsh Harrier over fishing pool at 11:35 then drifted SW (SR)

Chasewater
Shag still off the dam at 11:35 (BG) - 2x Caspian Gull (adult and 3w) 3x YL Gull in the roost (@CWG-sightings)

Aqualate Mere
Bittern present today (KWa)

i54
Stonechat, 3x Grey Wagtail, 30x Linnet, 20x Meadow Pipit, 6x Goldcrest, 5x Bullfinch (Foz)

Tittesworth Res
5x Common Scoter, 2x Mandarin, 2x Goosander, 2x Snipe, 2x Willow Tit, 23x Wigeon, 38x Tufted Duck (IBu LHa)

Silverdale CP
Dunlin and 6x Teal on the void (PJ)

Dimmingsdale
9x Redpoll, 75x Redwing, 3x Fieldfare, 7x Raven (TEy)

Biddulph Grange CP
1x Goosander (ALo)

Wetley Rocks
c50 Reed Bunting, Snipe & 2x Buzzard (RBu)

Yoxall
Green Sandpiper at St Georges Wood (MPa)

Radford Meadows
74x Wigeon, 68x Teal & Shoveler (RSw)

River Sow Meadows
120x Wigeon, 5x Little Grebe, 14x Golden Plover, 15x Stock Dove & Green Woodpecker (RSw)

Berryhill
2x Short-eared Owl still at 16:15 (BG)

Friday 20th November 2015

Blithfield Res
2x Dunlin, Goldeneye, Shelduck, 4x Goosander, 24x Shoveler, 2x Gadwall, Little Grebe, Common Gull & Peregrine (RBe)

Branston Gravel Pits

Yellow-legged Gull (adult),161x GBBG, c90x LBBG, 42x Herring Gull, 9x Ruff, 14x Curlew, 8x Shelduck, 15x Shoveler, 4x Wigeon, 20x Gadwall, 33x Pochard, Little Egret, Starling Murmuration. (JWo)

YL Gull by Jon Woodcock

Chasewater
Shag still at 12:30 off the dam by wakeboard (BG) - 3x Caspian Gulls (2 adults, 1w) in the roost, adult Mediterranean Gull and Lesser/Herring hybrid.Shag on Ski Jump and Ring-necked Parakeet in West Shore wood at dusk (@CWG_sightings)

Shag by Phill Ward

Belvide Res
Adult Kittiwake for 10 minutes this afternoon before flying west

Thursday 19th November 2015

Belvide Res
Great Northern Diver off Chappell hide at 12:05 until 13:10 when it flew off west.

 The Belvide Great Northern Diver by Steve Nuttall @BelvideBirder

Chasewater
Shag still off south end of the dam, Red-crested Pochard on Slurry Pit, 2x Marsh Tit and 1x Willow Tit (GHa)

Berryhill
2x Short-eared Owl at 16:10 (RT)

Wednesday 18th November 2015

Chasewater Res
Shag present off dam and Woodcock feeding below dam (@CWG_sightings)

Trentham Gardens
Adult Med Gull with c640 BH Gull also GBB Gull, 54 LBB Gull, Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, 6x Mandarin, Little Egret, 56x Tufted Duck, 18x GC Grebe, Little Grebe, 240x Coot, 8x Cormorant (RT)

Doxey Marsh
40x Greylag Geese, Goosander, 2x Stonechat, Sparrowhawk (CT)

Blithfield Res
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, 6x Goosander, 2x Pochard, 2x Little Grebe, 17x Shoveler (RBe)

A53, Leek to Buxton Rd
1x Short-eared Owl 17:00hrs (PCa)

Tuesday 17th November 2015

Chasewater Res
Red-crested Pochard still on slurry pit at 10.30 (GFWB)

Branston Gravel Pits
Yellow-legged Gull, 7x Ruff, 15x Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, 5x Snipe, 2x Shelduck, 48x Pochard, 31x Gadwall, Wigeon, 22x Shoveler, Common Gull, c30 Great Black-backed Gull & c70 Lesser Black-backed Gull (JWo)

Yellow-legged Gull, Branston GP by Jon Woodcock

Burslem Park

2x Raven at 13.15 (KBr)

Monday 16th November 2015

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Great Grey Shrike in the hedge on the western edge of the north pit, viewable from the double benches (@RSPBMiddleton)

Chasewater Res
Drake Red-crested Pochard still on slurry pit this morning (PBe)
also 11x Goldeneye, 49x Wigeon, Willow Tit, 4x Stonechat, 40x Lesser Redpoll & 3x Raven (IWh). Also Adult Caspian Gull until 15:45hrs when flew W. 2w Caspian Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted (@CWG_sightings)

Belvide Res
2x Caspian Gull (Ad and 3w) and 10x Yellow-legged Gulls (@BelvideBirder)

3w Caspian Gull at Belvide. A different bird to last nights 3w @BelvideBirder

 Cannock Chase
Brambling at Penkridge Bank (@daftoldbirder)

Black Bank
c10,000 Woodpigeon over south between 08.00 & 09.15 (NDP)

Wolseley Centre
3x Goosander on Swan Lake (SPe)

Sunday 15th November 2015

Belvide Res
Adult and 3w Caspian Gull in the roost tonight (@BelvideBirders)

3w (above) and adult Caspian Gull @BelvideBirders

Whitemoor Haye
6x Ruff in fields with Starlings/Lapwings, also 1w Yellow-legged Gull (@TameBirding)

Uttoxeter Quarry
1x Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover, 4x Snipe, 3x Goldeneye, 4x Goosander, 24x Wigeon, 16x Teal, 8x Shoveler, 2x Pochard (@rpintean)

i54
2x Stonechat (picture below), 12x Meadow Pipit, 30x Linnet, 50x Fieldfare (MFo, JDu)

Aston - Burston
1x Short-eared Owl, 36x Snipe, 110x Lapwing, 43x Teal, 12x Skylark, 2x Raven (DCo)

Chasewater
Red-crested Pochard still on Slurry Pool plus 2x Goldeneye (CHz, THo)

Copmere
247x Tufted Duck (possible site record), also 427x Coot & Peregrine (DEm)

Saturday 14th November 2015

Chasewater
Red-crested Pochard still on Slurry Pool this morning 1030 (NJS). In the roost, 3x Caspian Gulls (2x adult, 1x 2w), adult Mediterranean Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull. Red-crested Pochard  on the Swag (@CWG_sightings)

Newcastle
Peregrine on St.Giles church tower this morning (BC LC)

Blithfield Res
Adult YL Gull Tad Bay, 507x Teal, 134x Wigeon, 55x Shoveler, 6x Goosander, 2x Gadwall, Shelduck (RPo)

Gailey
4x Pochard, roosting Tawny Owl, Chiffchaff, 40+ Siskin (@TheSnapper1978)

Belvide Res
fem Garganey still (permit holders only)

River Sow Valley from Baswich to Tixall
Green Sandpiper, 4x Stonechat, 174x Wigeon, 18x Meadow Pipit, 12x Skylark, 180x Lapwing (@ScottoftheMarsh)

Croxall Lakes
Goldeneye, 3x Pochard, 200+ Wigeon, 193x Teal, 69x Lapwing, 2x Little Grebe, 4x Shoveler  (@ScottoftheMarsh)

Friday 13th November 2015

North Staffs Moors
'Ringtail' Hen Harrier (TEy)

Whitemoor Haye
1x Pink-footed Goose, 3x Ruff (@scaupface)

Branston GP
2x Egyptian Geese, Shelduck, 15x Shoveler, 33x Pochard, 13x Gadwall, Water Rail, 2x Ruff, 16x Curlew, Redshank (JW)

Chasewater
Drk Red-crested Pochard still on Slurry Pool, 8x Goosander, Chiffchaff, 14x Redpoll (@scaupface) - 3x Caspian Gull (2 adults and 2nd winter) in the roost

By Phill Ward

Westport Lake
1x Cormorant, 1x Pochard, 1x Redpoll (NJS)

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl still at 17:05 (DWa)

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still

Thursday 12th November 2015

Belvide Resv
Bittern from Scott hide at 1535hrs. Fem Garganey still present. 

Chasewater
Red-crested Pochard still on the Slurry Pool this morning (SRo)

Cuckoo Bank
30x Skylark, 8x Lesser Redpoll (GHa)

Wednesday 11th November 2015

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still in Sherbrook Valley (GWR GSa) also 42x Fieldfare, 3x Redwing, male Stonechat, 6x Meadow Pipit, 3x Skylark, 3x Siskin, 5x Lesser Redpoll & 2x Reed Bunting (GWR)
Great Grey Shrike briefly in afternoon until flushed by two birders. Also 5x Stonechat, 2x Raven, c150x Fieldfare 

Blithfield Res
Dark-bellied Brent Goose  Blithe Bay this morning (MPR) - Still at top end of Blithe Bay this afternoon (RCB)

Chasewater Res
Drake Red-crested Pochard on slurry pool at 14.20

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Short-eared Owl on north pit (@RSPBMiddleton)

Branston Gravel Pits
2x Egyptian Geese, 3x Shelduck, 7x Shoveler, , 5x Mandarin Duck, c100 Teal, 13x Curlew, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, c25 Lesser Redpoll, 30x Linnet, Green Woodpecker & c10 Goldcrest (DSc)

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still present today

Coven (Jubilee Walk)
3x Stonechat, Yellowhammer, 7x Tree Sparrow, 4x Grey Wagtail (JDu)

i54
Chiffchaff, Raven (Foz)

Gailey Res
5x Pochard, 37x Tufted Duck, 2x Gadwall, 20x Little Grebe, 9x Great Crested Grebe & 2x Raven (IMo)

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still along the north shore

Tittesworth Res
4x Redpoll, 10x Wigeon, 1x Raven (IRa)

Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent
A flock of Pink-footed Geese heard flying over 1930hrs (IBu)

Tuesday 10th November 2015

Chasewater
9x Jack Snipe, 80x Snipe, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Pool, 6x Goldeneye (IWh)

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still Sherbrook Valley at 12:40 (AB)

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl still at 16:30 (DW CW JM)

Branston WP
2x Egyptian Geese then flew towards gravel pits (JW)

Monday 9th November 2015

Croxall Lakes
2x Jack Snipe, Brambling (IWh)

Whitemoor Haye
Ruff with Lapwing flock (IWh)

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still along the north shore

Blithfield Res
24x Golden Plover at 12:35  (SB)

Sunday 8th November 2015

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike present at 15:00hrs (DCo)

Great Grey Shrike seen today by DCo

Ford Green
Male Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper, 6x Meadow Pipit, 2x Goldcrest & c60 Redwing (JJo)

i54
2x Stonechat, Brambling, 50x Linnet, 10x Yellowhammer, 30x Meadow Pipit, 2x Goldcrest, 12x Teal, Little Grebe (Foz)

Doxey Marshes
2x Little Egret, 15x Shoveler, 2x Snipe (@ScottoftheMarsh)

Gailey
51x Tufted Duck, 5x Pochard, 170x Fieldfare, 1x Tawny Owl (@TheSnapper1978)

Saturday 7th November 2015

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike in the Sherbrook Valley area this afternoon

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl this afternoon (IB)

I54
2x Teal, Stonechat (JDu)

Friday 6th November 2015

Blackbank
2x Jack Snipe, 50x Snipe (NDP)

Berryhill
3x Short-eared Owl from 16:30 also 2x Stonechat (RT, BB, PB DW)

Branston GPs

66x Golden Plover, 12x Ruff, 3x Redshank, 8x Snipe, 216x Lapwing, 13x Curlew, 28x Gadwall, 32x Pochard, 11x Shoveler, 2x Cetti’s Warbler, c30x LBBG, c500x BHG, c600x Starling. (JWo)

Belvide Res
Fem Garganey still on North Shore

Thursday 5th November 2015

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still on north shore

Doxey Marsh
2x  Little Egret, 2x Little Grebe, 7x Wigeon, 4x Gadwall, 119x Teal, 2x Cetti's Warbler, 18x Skylark,  3x Stonechat, 11x Lesser Redpoll. (RSt)

Trentham Gardens
38x Madarin (23 drakes and 15 females), 2x Pochard (MJW)

Berryhill
4x Short-eared Owl late afternoon (AJo)

Wednesday 4th November 2015

Biddulph
8x Whooper Swan over south  (@bidbirder)

Belvide Resv
3w Caspian Gull in the roost plus 8x Yellow-legged Gulls and fem Garganey still (@BelvideBirder)

Branston Gravel Pits

11x Ruff, 13x Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 5x Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull (adult), 2x GBBG, c40x LBBG, 2x Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler (JW)

Chucklesholme
3x Little Egret, 3x Raven, c100x Linnet.(JW)
 

Kingfisher in East Staffs seen by JW today

Tuesday 3rd November 2015

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still Sherbrook Valley this morning (AB)

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl still at 15:30 (DF PB)

Branston GP
5x Redshank, 11x Ruff, 12x Curlew, Snipe, 40x Lapwing, 38x Gadwall, 26x Pochard, 19x Shoveler, 2x Water Rail, 2x Cetti’s Warbler. Good numbers of both Redwing and Fieldfare (JW)

River Churnet
4x Goosander (IRa)

Belvide Res
Female Garganey still north shore

Monday 2nd November 2015

Notice board - The first indoor meeting of the season for the WMBC Stafford branch takes place on Tuesday 3rd November. The speaker is Jeff Clark, making a return visit and the talk is titled "Merseybeat". Full details and location can be found here

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl still at 15:50 hunting near Tiddlers Pool. Also nearby, Barn Owl and 3x Stonechat (RT)

Sunday 1st November 2015

Notice board - The first indoor meeting of the season for the WMBC Stafford branch takes place on Tuesday 3rd November. The speaker is Jeff Clark, making a return visit and the talk is titled "Merseybeat". Full details and location can be found here

 Cannock Chase
One or maybe even two Great Grey Shrikes present today (L et al)

Doxey Marshes
Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, 56x Fieldfare, 18x Snipe, Yellow-legged Gull, 19x Shoveler (@ScottoftheMarsh)

North of Gailey at Otherton Paddocks
1x Stonechat (@TheSnapper1978)

Gailey Resv
Water Rail and Tawny Owl (@TheSnapper1978)