Tuesday 31 July 2012

Trent Washlands
Common Sandpiper one this morning.......AJ

Drayton Bassett
Sanderling one on North pit this afternoon.......

Branston Gravel Pits

8x Green Sandpiper, 3x Common Sandpiper, 15x Curlew, 3x Oystercatcher, Water Rail, 2x Common Tern, 24x Shelduck, Pochard (female), 5x Teal, 5x Stock Dove, Yellow Wagtail (Juv), 6x Reed Warbler, 2x Sedge Warbler, 2x Green Woodpecker,

Insects - Essex Skipper (on creeping thistle by the Sandy Pit + another seen near Barton telephone exchange), Brown Hawker, 4x Common Darter, Blue-tailed Damselfly (rufescens form at Barton Marina)......JW

Essex Skipper seen today by JW

Blithfield Resv (permit holders only)

Hobby flew SW over Deep End this p.m..67+ Common Terns,8 Gadwall.Juv Shelduck......RBr 

Belvide Resv (permit holders only)
Ecl drake Red-crested Pochard still present.......Birdguides

Monday 30th July 2012

Today is your last chance to help with our poll on the right-hand side of this blog, if you haven't already done so then please help us by clicking Yes or No now, thanks

Westport Lake
Little Grebe on main lake & 2x Linnet over.................NJS.

Uttoxeter Quarry
Little Gull ( 2nd summer) again early afternoon also Redshank, 8x Common Sandpiper,
3x Green Sandpiper, 3x Oystercatcher, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Kingfisher......AB

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Common Scoter female in Tad Bay this afternoon, 2x Yellow-legged Gulls at the deep end,
Green Sandpiper below the dam, 2x Dunlin, 2x Ringed Plover, 51x Common Tern north of the causeway,
Osprey and Arctic Tern in Tad Bay, juv Little Egret on causeway and 3x Crossbill in Stansley wood......R Broadbent

Burston - Aston
50x Tree Sparrow, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 5x Yellowhammer, 8x Yellow Wagtail
 ( inc 3 juvs),9x Skylark and 2x Stock Dove........PAD


Belvide Res (permit only)
Ecl drk Red-crested Pochard in SE Bay. Pied Flycatcher behind woodland hide.......SN

Silverdale CP
2x Crossbill over this morning.......JH

Croxhall GPs
4x Little Egret, 4x Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper.......JA

Whitemoor Haye
Ringed Plover, 6x Common Sandpiper, 3x Grey Partridge, Shelduck, Little Owl......JA

Sunday 29th July 2012

Thanks to everyone who has so far helped with our poll on the right-hand side of this blog, the poll ends on Monday at 18.00, so if you haven't done so could you please help us by clicking Yes or No, thanks.

Belvide
Fem or 1st winter Pied Flycatcher in hedge 50yds west of Chappell hide (permit only)......SN.

Uttoxeter Quarry
Black-tailed Godwit, 7x Green Sandpiper, 11x Common Sandpiper, 13x Common Tern, 2x Hobby, 7x Egyptian Geese (+5 goslings) & 2x Goosander...............AB.
also Mediterranean Gull present this afternoon...............Birdguides

Trent Washlands
2x Oystercatcher, c70 House Martin, c40 Swallow, Kingfisher & Green Woodpecker..............AJ.

Whitemoor Haye
Juv Marsh Harrier between corner of rough track and Sittles Farm at 15-55hrs tho mobile, also present, 2x Common Sandpiper, Garden Warbler, family of Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tern, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4x Tree Sparrow, 2x Little Owl & 2x Peregrine..............SC.

Croxden Quarry
Juv Mediterranean Gull again from 15-55hrs to 16-40hrs when flew SW.........AB

Blithfield Res
Osprey still in dead tree at Tad Bay, also 20x Crossbill in Stansley Wood, 2x Common Sandpiper, 25+ Common Tern & Oystercatcher..............JW.....Also Turnstone in Ten Acre Bay and adult Mediterranean Gull off causeway......Birdguides

Chasewater
5x Yellow-legged Gull in roost.............

Saturday 28 July 2012

We would appreciate just a minute of your time to do the poll on the right-hand side of this blog, thanks.

Silverdale CP
9x Crossbill over north at 05:50 also 2 Grasshopper Warblers at Waste Farm........JH

Berryhill
3x Redstart, 2x Grasshopper Warblers, 2x Little Owl, Peregrine and a Golden Plover over.....RT

Belvide Res (permit only)
Drake eclipse Red-crested Pochard still present.................Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Osprey still, in dead tree at Tad Bay, also Hobby.................JA.

Croxden Quarry
No sign of the Med Gulls this morning but a Dunlin..................RP.

Uttoxeter Quarry
6x Goosander, 10x Common Tern, Yellow-legged Gull, 5x Green Sandpiper, 6x Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 3x Oystercatcher, 2x Egyptian Geese & Kingfisher.............RP.

Croxall GP
5x Little Egret & Green Sandpiper..................JA.

Whitemoor Haye
2x Ringed Plover & 3x Common Sandpiper.................JA.

Trent Washlands

c12 Sand Martin, c30 House Martin & a Kingfisher.....AJ

 

Clay Mills

2x Yellow Wagtail, 5x Common Tern, Garden Warbler, 2x juv Willow Warbler, 5x Swift & c50 House Martin.....AJ

 

Old River Dove

6x Common Tern, c18 Sand Martin, 6x Yellowhammer, 2x Kingfisher & a Green Woodpecker....AJ

Friday 27 July 2012

Can you please help us out with the poll on the right of the blog, your help would be much appreciated, thank you.

Uttoxeter Quarry
5x Green Sandpiper, 5x Common Sandpiper, 6x Curlew, 3x Oystercatcher,
9x Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail.......AB.

Trentham Gardens
2x juv Great Crested Grebe, juv Grey Heron, 3x Common Tern, 12x Black-headed Gull, 10x Greylag Geese, 3x Tufted Duck, 8x Swallow & 2x Goldfinch..................AR.

Croxden Quarry
Adult & juv Med Gull from viewpoint among the Black-headed Gulls....................AB.

Med Gulls @ Croxden Quarry by Richard Powell

Belvide Res (permit only)
Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, juv Spotted Flycatcher, 3x Common Sandpiper, Redshank & 6x Common Tern................Belvide Blog

Branston Gravel Pits

Yellow-legged Gull, 4x Green Sandpiper, 3x Ringed Plover, 13x Curlew, 3x Oystercatcher, 2x Common Tern, 24x Shelduck, Green Woodpecker....................JW.
addition Kingfisher.....................SW.
addition Yellow Wagtail.................AJ.


Blithfield Res (permit only)
c12 Crossbill in Stansley Wood...................SW.

Branston Water Park
2x Common Tern, Reed Warbler, c40 Sand Martin, 4+ juv Goldcrest & Kingfisher.................AJ.

Silverdale
Hobby over at 18:00.......JH

Poplar Hawkmoth @ Basford by Brian Carthy

Thursday 26th July 2012

Apologies again over the security issue we had last night, normal service has now been resumed.

Gailey
1x Common Sandpiper, 8x Common Tern, 2x Gadwall, 14x Greylags, 10+ Little Grebe, 2+ Spotted Fly by old chimney.........IM

Belvide
Ecl drake Red-crested Pochard still. Also 47x Tufted Duck, 1x Teal, 1x Shoveler, juvenile Spotted Flycatcher, 3x Common Sandpiper, 1x Redshank, 1x Oystercatcher, 6x Common Tern........Belvide Blog

Croxall GP
6x Little Egret, 7x Goosander, 6x Green Sanpiper, 3x Common Sandpiper & Common Gull..........................JA.

Whitemoor Haye
Dunlin & 2x Little Owl...............JA.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
A flock of Black-tailed Godwit flew over the causeway at 3pm...................SB.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

WE'VE HAD A SECURITY ISSUE TONIGHT. THERE IS AN EMAIL FROM STAFFS BIRD NEWS WITH THE TITLE PRIVATE MESSAGE. DON'T OPEN AND PLEASE JUST DELETE. MANY APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. OUR TECH GUYS ARE ON THE CASE AS WE SPEAK

Blithfield Res (permit only)
2x Black-necked Grebes (juvs) in Tad Bay late morning also
4x Arctic Tern  off Beech Tree Point........GJM

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still present........

Whitemoor Haye
4x Common Tern, Little Owl, 6x Tree Sparrow, 5x Snipe over, 7x Grey Heron.......SC

Cheadle
Peregrine male perched on St Giles church this evening........AB

Florence-Lightwood
3x Tawny Owl group ........AM

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Acton Trussell
Whinchat one by the Bednall Road at 06:20 (for 2nd day) SJ941183.........

Whitemoor Haye
2x Corn Bunting singing at 05:30........SC
3x Common Sandpiper and 15x Tree Sparrow......JE


Berryhill
2x Redstart this morning........RT

Middleton
4x Common Sandpiper on North Pit.......KJM

Keele
A possible Glossy Ibis seen distantly over the observatory at 13:30.......DE.

Cheadle
Hobby over Rakeway.................AB.

Lichfield
Osprey flew over SSW over Tamworth Road 17-50hrs.......AR

Croxden Quarry
Yellow-legged Gull  adult below the viewpoint early evening.......AB

Croxall Lakes
4x Green Sandpiper, 3x Common Sandpiper, 2x Dunlin, Little Egret.........JA

Monday 23 July 2012

Burston - Aston Marina
36x Tree Sparrow, 5x Yellow Wagtail, 3x Yellowhammer, 6 Sedge Warbler, Whitethroats,
Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps, 7x Stock Dove, 18x Reed Bunting........RT

Belvide Resv
1x Common Sandpiper, 3x Common Tern, 1x Teal and 1x Pochard........Belvide Blog

Comberford
1x Spotted Flycatcher, 2x Yellowhammer.......AJ

Alton
Hobby over garden........TE

Old River Dove
Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, c40x Sand Martin, 9x Reed Bunting, 6x Yellowhammer,
2x Kingfisher........AJ
Burton
 Peregrine.......AJ

Whitemoor Haye
40x Tree Sparrow, 2x Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2x Oystercatcher, 2x Whitethroat,
Common Tern, Little Owl........SC

Tittesworth Res
2x Common Tern, 2x juv Redshank, Blackcap, Whitethroat, 4x Spotted Flycatcher, pair of Reed Bunting, 9x Goosander & 4x Treecreeper.................PL.

Please Note

We have a new email address which is on the right-hand side of the blog, this is due to Steve Seal moving on the pastures new, he has moved to Cheshire and has already set up a blog called Cheshire Bird News, the link in also on the right side of this blog, we wish him all the best for the future.

Sunday 22nd July 2012

Tittesworth Resv
6x Common Scoter (5m 1f)...........Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Turnstone on dam....................Birdguides

Belvide Res (permit only)
Drake eclipse Red-crested Pochard still present and 9x Crossbill flew over SE..................Birdguides

JCB South Lake
Little Gull this morning.........................AB.

Croxden Quarry
A adult Yellow-legged Gull this morning.......................AB.

Cannock Chase
c30 Crossbill over the Stepping Stones.......BB & AB.
also 2x Hobby, Emperor Dragonfly & Common Lizard.....................JW.

Emperor Dragonfly on Cannock Chase by Jon Woodcock

Saturday 21st July 2012

Berryhill
Whinchat one at the Whitedoor/palletstacks paddocks also 3x Redstart (male and 2 juvs)......RT

Branston GPs
8x Green Sandpiper, 2x Common Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 2x Raven, 1x Oystercatcher....NJS, CJW 

Small Skipper at Branston GP's by NJS

 Uttoxeter Quarry
4x Green Sandpiper, 6x Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, 5x Curlew, Hobby, 8x Common Tern,
2x Goosander, 3x Sedge Warbler (1 juv), Lesser Whitethroat........AM

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still......Belvide blog

Croxden Quarry
Adult Yellow-legged Gull. Also Green Woodpecker.....AB.

Dimmingsdale
Kingfisher, Redstart, 2x Buzzard & Sparrowhawk....................TE.

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Grasshopper Warbler, Hobby, 3x Little Egret, Oystercatcher & 3x Common Tern..................JH.

Friday 20th July 2012

Blithfield Res (permit only)
2x adult Little Gull flew north through Blithe Bay at 09:43.........GJM......Also Turnstone and two Common Sandpipers on the dam.....SW

Gailey Res
Common Sandpiper, 2x Oystercatcher,  7x Common Tern (1 juv), 2x Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 4x Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher & 11x Greylag Geese.................IM.

Alton
2x Grey Wagtail, Buzzard, 2x Garden Warbler, Treecreeper & 4x Swift................AR.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Sanderling one from Scott hide and 5x Crossbill flew over west at 14:19 also 5x Common Sandpiper,
Oystercatcher, Spotted Flycatcher and a Marsh Tit at the feeders........CM
Red-crested Pochard still from Chapple hide late afternoon.......

Branston GPs
Yellow-legged Gull, Greenshank, 3x Redshank, Common Sandpiper,3x Green Sandpiper,
19x Curlew, 6x Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, 90x LBB Gull, 8x Common Tern,
Green Woodpecker, 2x Stock Dove, Lesser Whitethroat, 2x Sedge Warbler,
6x Reed Warbler, 28 Shelduck (23 juvs)........JW
Insects - 12+ Gatekeeper, 12x Green Veined White, 4x Small White, 20+ Small Skipper, 2x Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, 3x Black-tailed Skimmer, 1x Brown Hawker, 5x Common Darter, Spotted Longhorn Beetle, Yellow Shell Moth, 20+ Bird’s Nest Fungus (amongst the long grass in field between small meadows farm and gravel pits).

Gatekeeper at Branston........JW 

Trent Washlands
Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sedge & Garden Warbler, c20 House Martin, 7x Sand Martin, c20Swift, 66x Mute Swan, 2x Green Woodpecker, 4x juvenile Grey Heron and a Kingfisher....AJ

Blythe Bridge

1x Siskin.......AR

Cauldon Canal between Basford Bridge and Oakmeadowford Lock

2x Willow Tit, Siskins, Spotted Flycatcher (family party), Lesser Redpolls and

Green Woodpecker........PAD

Thursday 19 July 2012

Berryhill
2x Redstart this morning........RT

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still.......

Tamworth
2x Common Tern, c15x House Martin and a Kingfisher (making a nest hole)........AJ
Comberford
c40x Swift and 2x Yellowhammer........AJ

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Osprey again in dead tree overlooking Tad Bay this afternoon eating a trout also a
Spotted Flycatcher in Stansley wood........ADR

Stafford Common
1x Hobby over the Stone Road 08-35hrs......GH

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Berryhill
Whinchat juvenile at the Whitedoor/Palletstacks paddock this morning......RT

Uttoxeter Quarry
14x Common Sandpipers, 2x Green Sandpipers, 2x LRP, 6x Yellow Wagtails, 2x Common Redstarts, 1x Kingfisher, 4x Common Tern.....EF

Meadow Lane, Yoxall

Insect news - Southern Hawker, Spotted Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata) , Gatekeeper.....JW

Southern Hawker, Yoxall by JW

Blithfield Reservoir

Osprey (in dead tree), 3x Spotted Flycatcher, 6+ Common Tern, Southern Hawker.....JW

Belvide Resv
1x Common Sandpiper, 1x Oystercatcher, 1x Common Tern but the Red C Pochard could not be found..........Belvide Blog

Croxden Quarry
Adult Yellow-legged Gull......RP

Tuesday 17th July 2012

Westport Lake
Kingfisher, Barnacle Goose & 3x Teal this morning........................NJS, CJW.

Silverdale CP
Whimbrel NW calling over void at 05.53 & a Grasshopper Warbler reeling................JH.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Osprey in dead tree at Tad Bay 10.10........................Birdguides.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard still, also 2x Oystercatcher, Common Tern, 81x Mute Swan & Lesser Whitethroat....................Belvide Blog

Radford Meadows SWT Reserve,Stafford
1x Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Oystercatcher, 1x Common Sandpiper, 210x Lapwing, 2x Green Woodpecker, 1x Lesser Whitethroat.......RS

Gailey Res
5x Spot Fly (2ad) at south end of causeway, 1x Common Sandpiper, 6x Common Tern, fem Shoveler, 10x Little Grebe (6 Juv), 3+ singing Reed Warbler.....IM.

Woodlane
Hobby flew over A515 at 16.20....................AJ.

Trent Washlands
Common Tern, Garden Warbler & c15 House Martin.................AJ.

Whitemoor Haye
6x Mute Swan, 5x Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5x Mallard, 30+ Tree Sparrow & Grey Partridge..................SC.

Branston GP

Greenshank, 2x Green Sandpiper, 18x Curlew, 3x Ringed Plover (2 Juv), 24x Shelduck (17 Juv), Common Tern, 45x LBBG, 64x Coot, 12x Great Crested Grebe, 10x Mute Swan, 4x Little Grebe, 2x Green Woodpecker, 5x Sedge Warbler, 4x Reed Warbler, 30+ Sand Martin, 2x RL Partridge, 2x Stock Dove,

(Insects and others) Gatekeeper, Small White, 8x Small Skipper, 8x Large Skipper, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Darter, 4x Brown Hawker, 5x Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, 100s of Common Froglets (Marley Pit), 10+ False Fox Sedge, Dung Beetle (Sphaeridium lunatum)..................JW.

Chasewater
2x Yellow-legged Gull (Ad & 2nd summer)........

Don't forget to join us on Twitter and click mobile notifications to receive news direct to your mobile phone.

Monday 16th July 2012

Late news from yesterday
Hanchurch Wood
Family group of Crossbills on path......................PL.

Crossbills by Pete Lunt

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Westport Lake
Barnacle Goose, juv Little Grebe, Garden Warbler & c55 Swift thro, but no sign of the 3x hybrid Ruddy Shelduck types....................CJW, NJS.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard still.......,

Blithfield Resv
Osprey - Flew over causeway at 3.40pm.........PB.

Don't forget to join us on Twitter and click on mobile notifications to recieve news direct to your mobile phone.

Sunday 15th July 2012

Announcing an exciting new development from Staffs Bird News

We would like to thank everyone who follows this blog, for a blog that just list's what birds are seen in the county of Staffordshire it's incredible to think that it's one of the most read blogs in the country!

Out of the top 1000 birding websites, Staffs Birds News is consistently in the top 50 and we have you all to thank for that.

So with this in mind we've been thinking of ways to improve the service for some time now, especially when it comes to news on rare and scarce species in Staffs and so we would like to introduce you to:

www.twitter.com/Staffsbirdnews

All you have to do is sign up to Twitter by clicking on the address above and click on the icon for mobile notifications and you will receive news of any Staffs rare or scarce species as the news is released direct to your mobile, and most importantly it's all FREE.

So please go over to Twitter and sign up, we will continue providing more detailed news on the blog, and thank you again for your support.

Steve, Chris, Russell & Nick.

ps. You can now click the Twitter logo just above Birdguides at the top of the page.

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Burston to Aston marina
Kingfisher, 2x Oystercatcher, 1x Green Sandpiper.... P.A.D.

Uttoxeter Quarry

1x Greeenshank, 3x Redshank, 4x Green Sandpiper, 7x Common Sandpiper, 2x Little Ringed Plover, 2x Dunlin, 4x Oystercatcher, 6x Common Tern, 4x Spotted Flycatcher (2juv), 1x Redstart (male), 2x Yellow Wagtail (1juv) and 1x Kingfisher...............AM, RP

Belvide Resv

Ecl drk Red-crested Pochard still present, plus juv Redstart in hedge by Chappell Hide.....SN

Westport Lake

Three juv Cape/Ruddy Shelduck (unringed, but tame and coming to bread). Also Barnacle Goose, 14x Greylag Geese, 1x Pochard......NJS, PJ

Juv Shelduck sp, Westport Lake. Picture by Phil Jones

Blithfield Resv causeway

33x Common Tern, 8x Common Sand, 1x Curlew, 1x Oystercatcher....RP
also 2x Oystercatcher, 2x Spotted Flycatcher & Osprey.................RB.

Branston GP’s

1x Greenshank, 3x Green Sand, 18x Curlew, 3x Ringed Plover, 1x LRP, 1x Dunlin, 1x Oystercatcher, 5x Shelduck (plus 21 ducklings), 1x Raven, 2x Green Woodpecker.......RP

Churnet Valley / Oakamoor Area
1x Wood Warbler 2x Grey Wagtail, 1x Grey Heron, 2x Buzzard, 1x Kestrel.....TE

Old River Dove
Common Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 12x Whitethroat, c70 Sand Martin, 6x Yellowhammer and a Kingfisher.....................AJ.

Don't forget to have your mobile notification turned on with the Twitter service to receive updates direct to your mobile phone.

Saturday 14th July 2012

Announcing an exciting new development from Staffs Bird News

We would like to thank everyone who follows this blog, for a blog that just list's what birds are seen in the county of Staffordshire it's incredible to think that it's one of the most read blogs in the country!

Out of the top 1000 birding websites, Staffs Birds News is consistently in the top 50 and we have you all to thank for that.

So with this in mind we've been thinking of ways to improve the service for some time now, especially when it comes to news on rare and scarce species in Staffs and so we would like to introduce you to:

www.twitter.com/Staffsbirdnews

All you have to do is sign up to Twitter by clicking on the address above and click on the icon for mobile notifications and you will receive news of any Staffs rare or scarce species as the news is released direct to your mobile, and most importantly it's all FREE.

So please go over to Twitter and sign up, we will continue providing more detailed news on the blog, and thank you again for your support.

Steve, Chris, Russell & Nick.

ps. You can now click the Twitter logo just above Birdguides at the top of the page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Belvide Resv
Ecl drk Red-crested Pochard still. Also 14x Black-tailed Godwit.........


Westport
Little Owl  at top right hand corner by bridge at 06:30 then flew towards sewage works............

Endon
Barn Owl again last night at 22:00 behind the cricket club........AM

Berryhill
Redstart juv around the viewpoint paddocks........RT

Trent Washlands
2x Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, c15x Sand Martin, c20x House Martin, 27x LBB Gull,
3x Green Woodpecker, 2x Kingfisher.......AJ

Hanbury to Fauld Crater
Lesser Whitethroat, 4x Chiffchaff, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, 2x Buzzard,
Nuthatch........AJ

Gailey
Spotted Fly, 4x Common Tern...NJS

Spotted Flycatcher at Gailey....NJS

Branston GP's
1x Greenshank, 5x Green Sandpiper, 1x Redshank, 1x Peregrine.......NJS

Chasewater
9x Yellow-legged Gulls (4x adults, 4x 2nd sum, 1x 1st sum).............

Don't forget to have your mobile notification turned on with Twitter to receive the latest up to date news

Friday 13th July 2012

Announcing an exciting new development from Staffs Bird News

We would like to thank everyone who follows this blog, for a blog that just list's what birds are seen in the county of Staffordshire it's incredible to think that it's one of the most read blogs in the country!

Out of the top 1000 birding websites, Staffs Birds News is consistently in the top 50 and we have you all to thank for that.

So with this in mind we've been thinking of ways to improve the service for some time now, especially when it comes to news on rare and scarce species in Staffs and so we would like to introduce you to:

www.twitter.com/Staffsbirdnews

All you have to do is sign up to Twitter by clicking on the address above and click on the icon for mobile notifications and you will receive news of any Staffs rare or scarce species as the news is released direct to your mobile, and most importantly it's all FREE.

So please go over to Twitter and sign up, we will continue providing more detailed news on the blog, and thank you again for your support.

Steve, Chris, Russell & Nick.

ps. You can now click the Twitter logo just above Birdguides at the top of the page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Westport Lake
1x Barnacle Goose, 14x Greylag Geese, 3+ Reed Warbler young.......NJS

Belvide Resv
Ecl drake Red-crested Pochard, 1x Pochard,1x Teal, 3x Oystercatcher, 2x Redshank and 3x Common Tern..............Belvide Birding Blog

Endon
Barn Owl still behind cricket club 22-00hrs......AM

Thursday 12 July 2012

Berryhill
Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warblers with juvs, 2x Groppers, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats,
Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Garden Warbler c60x Linnet, c30x Reed Bunting,
c70x Swift, c20x House Martin and Little Owl.......RT & PAD.

Silverdale
Common Redstart heard calling............................Tim.

Trentham Lake
2x Common Tern.............................RT.

Uttoxeter Quarry
6x Goosander, 3x Common Tern, 8x Common Sandpiper, 4x Green Sandpiper, 5x Oystercatcher & 4x Spotted Flycatcher.................RP.

Barlaston Downs
40x Swallow, 4x Chiffchaff, 2x Willow Warbler, 8x Goldfinch, 2x Buzzard, Kestrel & Jay..................AR.

Blithfield Resv
Osprey caught a fish this afternoon......Birdguides

Audley
Red Kite over the A500 near the Audley turn off at 15:10........CB

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Highgate Common
Common Scoter drake still at Mere Farm pool this morning.......

Belvide Res (permit only)
Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard still........................Birdguides

Branston Gravel Pits

Mediterranean Gull (2nd Summer on Sandy Pit), 8x Black-tailed Godwit, 14x Curlew, 5x Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher,  Redshank, Little Egret (sandy Pit), 22x Shelduck (17x Juveniles), Common Tern, 33x Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Sedge Warbler, 7x Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 2x Green Woodpecker, Raven, 2x Stock Dove, Tawny Owl,            Insects ect - Brown Hawker, 5x Black-tailed Skimmer, 3x Yellow Shell Moth, Common Froglet, Common Toad ( with evidence of Toadfly Lucilia bufonivora in its nostrils), Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens)...........................JW.

Dimmingsdale
3x Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, 3x Blackcap, 6x Chiffchaff, 2x Buzzard & Tawny Owl.....................TE.

Trent Washlands
Reed, Sedge & Garden Warbler, c70 House Martin, c50 Swallow & a Kingfisher.....................AJ.

Burton
102x Lesser Black-backed Gulls & c50 Swift over Uxbridge St this evening.......................AJ.

Tuesday 10th July 2012

Silverdale
Crossbill over this morning.........................Tim.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still........

Branston Gravel Pits
9x Black-tailed Godwit, 9x Curlew, 8x Green Sandpiper, 1x Redshank, 5x Ringed Plover, 2x LRP, 3x Oystercatcher, 21x Shelduck (15 Juveniles), 5x LBBG, 1x Herring Gull, 1x Green Woodpecker, 1x Sedge Warbler, 70x Coot, 18x Great Crested Grebe, 1x Common Darter (female), 2x Black-tailed Skimmer, 2x Comma.......JW

Alton and the Churnet old railway line trail
2x Grey Wagtail, 1x Green Woodpecker, 1x Blackcap, 3x Jay, 1x Buzzard,
1x Sparrowhawk....AR

Monday 9th July 2012

Westport Lake
3x Common Sandpiper, juvenile Little Grebe & Barnacle Goose still......................NJS.

Cheddleton
Single Crossbill flew over garden.......................DS.

Silverdale Country Park
Curlew flew over south at 06.15...........................JH.

Uttoxeter Quarry
15x Common Scoter this morning, 1x Green Sandpiper....Birdguides
No sign of any Common Scoter at 19:00 also 7x Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper,
4x Oystercatcher and a Common Tern........AB

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Osprey one flew from Tad Bay to Blythe Bay also c40x Crossbill, Spotted Flycatcher,
Redshank and Oystercatcher........MP

Belvide Res ( permit only )
Red-crested Pochard still.......

Endon
One poss two Barn Owl around Post Lane area, also a pair of Kingfisher over the pond.....................RGM.

Sunday 8th July 2012

Belvide Resv
Drake Common Scoter and ecl drake Red-crested Pochard still present.....SN

Croxden
2x Spotted Flycatcher and a Tree Pipit.......AB

Uttoxeter Quarry
Common Scoter drake still.........

Gailey Res
Peregrine, 19x Common Tern & 5x Spotted Flycatcher (3x Juveniles)........................SR.

Upper Longdon
c65x Crossbill.........SW

Cannock Chase
Redstart, 2x Tree Pipit, 3x Green Woodpecker and a Tawny Owl
3x Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary,10x Ringlet, 30x Meadow Brown, Black-tailed Skimmer,
Broad-bodied Chaser, Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle.......JW.

Small Pearl-boardered Fritillary by Jon Woodcock

Branston Gravel Pits

5x Curlew, 22x Shelduck (18 juvenile), 3x Shoveler, Peregrine & female Mandarin ............DS.

Whitemoor Haye
Mediterranean Gull on main pit...................



Saturday 7th July 2012

Westport Lake
2x Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper & Barnacle Goose....................CJW, NJS.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still........NJS, GAS, CJW.

Uttoxeter Quarry
Common Scoter drake still also 4x Common Tern, 10x Common Sandpiper, 5x Green Sandpiper,
Curlew, 3x Spotted Flycatcher and 4x Reed Warbler........RP

Burston - Aston Marina
3x Black-tailed Godwit on flooded fields half way between Burston and Aston Marina
viewable from the canal towpath also a Yellow Wagtail ........NP
Additional info 90x Lapwing and 19x Lesser Black-backed Gull.......PAD

Branston GPs
8x Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher, 5x Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2x Shoveler, 29x Shelduck (6x adults and 23x young) and 2x Green Woodpecker....AJ

Branston WP
3x Oystercatcher, 2x Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 43x Greylag Goose and a Green Woodpecker...AJ

Tittesworth Resv
1x Hobby, 1x Common Sandpiper, and 3x Mandarin, 2x Common Tern, and 1x Spotted Flycatcher ...CB

Caverswall and Blythe Bridge.
4x Yellowhammer, 1x Whitethroat, 1x Whinchat, 3x Mistle Thrush and 1x Buzzard....AR

Friday 6th July 2012

Belvide Resv
ecl drake Red-crested Pochard still present.....

Thursday 5 July 2012

Berryhill
2x Redstart this morning, adult male and a juvenile........RT
Also Redstart juv,18x Whitethroat, 5x Chiffchaff, 6x Willow Warbler, Gropper, 2x Blackcap,
Reed Warbler & Willow Tit........PAD.

Endon
Barn Owl again last night at 21:50 from Post Lane, best viewed from the gates of
Endon Cricket club.....JJ

Churnet Valley between Froghall and Oakamoor
4x juvenile Redstart, 2x Blackcap & 6x Chiffchaff.......DS

Wolseley Centre
3x Reed Warbler, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, 2x Chiffchaff, Blackcap & Nuthatch............................AR.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still, also 5x Black-tailed Godwit........Birdguides

Uttoxeter Quarry
Drake Common Scoter this evening, 4x Common Tern, 9x Common Sandpiper, 2x Green Sandpiper & 2x Curlew...................RP.

Common Scoter at Uttoxeter Quarry - Richard Powell

Gailey Res
Adult Black-necked Grebe on south side of main sailing lake.......................

Branston Gravel Pits
1x Little Gull(1st Summer), 1x Common Sandpiper, 4x Green Sandpiper, 2x Curlew, 1x Water Rail, 30x Shelduck, 2x Shoveler, 6x Reed Warbler, 3x Sedge Warbler, 2x Garden Warbler, Yellow Legged Gull.
Insects - 11x Black-tailed Skimmer, 6x Five-spot Burnet, 10+ Ringlet, 1x Green Tiger Beetle, 1x Large Skipper, 2x Small Skipper.......JW

Ingestre Canal Bridge
2x Grey Partridge + Reed Warbler in small clump of phragmites...........RB

Blithfield Resv
17x Common Sandpiper, 2x LRP, Redshank,4x Oystercatcher, 2x Shelduck, Peregrine....RBe

Wednesday 4th July 2012

Gailey Res
Black-necked Grebe (adult) still on main sailing lake mid-morning.....Birdguides.

Tuesday 3rd July 2012

Gailey
Black-necked Grebe at 07.20 and still on main sailing lake mid afternoon, also 3x Common Sandpiper....SR.

Ingestrie
3x Siskin on garden feeders.......RB

Silverdale CP
Wheatear juvenile this morning.......NP

Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still off Gazebo Bay.......Birdguides

Trentham Gardens
2x Common Tern and 13x Mandarin.......RT

Blithfield Res (Permit only)
19x Common Sandpiper (18 on the causeway and one on the dam), 3x Little Ringed Plover, 4x Oystercatcher, 15x Common Tern, Yellow-legged Gull near adult at the deep end......R Broadbent

Branston GPs
10x Black-tailed Godwit, 4x Green Sandpiper, 5x Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Little Gull (1st summer), Peregrine, 5x Shelduck, 38x Mute Swan, 4x Sedge Warbler, 6x Teal,
3x Pochard and a Green Woodpecker.........JW.

Black-tailed Godwit at Branston GP by Jon Woodcock

Monday 2 July 2012

Late news for yesterday
Churnet Valley Railway
Red Kite flew over at around lunchtime....................Brian


Belvide Res (permit only)
Red-crested Pochard eclipse drake still from Scott hide........Birdguides

Blithfield Res (permit only)
22x Common Tern, 2x Common Sandpiper on the causeway, Reed Warbler
and a Siskin at the education centre........R Broadbent

Sunday 1st July 2012

Silverdale CP
Little Egret - still present on the Void 16.00hrs........NJS, DS.

Little Egret, The Void - picture by Phil Jones

Belvide

Ecl drake Red-crested Pochard off Gazebo Bay......Birdguides

Caldon Canal, Longsdon - Leek

4x Blackcap, 3x Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Coal Tit (with young), Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Willow Warbler...................PAD.

Uttoxeter Quarry

Osprey over this afternoon, also nr adult Yellow-legged Gull, 7x Common Tern, 8x Common Sandpiper, 2x Redshank & 2x Raven..........................RP.

Trent Washlands
Hobby, Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, 12x Sand Martin, 5x House Martin, 8x Swallow and 2x Kingfisher....AJ

Old River Dove
2x Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, 80+ Sand Martin and 4x Yellowhammer....AJ

Fauld
15x Swift.....AJ

Dimmingsdale
3x probable juvenile Siskin in local garden......................TE.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Osprey over at 15.20, also 3x Common Sandpiper & 8x Common Tern..................EH, AM.