Wednesday 31 October 2012

Parkhall CP
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker still also Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Green Woodpecker, Bramblings, Redpolls, 2x Raven, 3x Buzzard........PS. (warden)
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker still in trees on SW side of the old golf club car park at 12:00.......RT.PB.

Gailey Res
Scaup f/w drake still on main sailing this morning.......

Westport Lake
Scaup f/w drake still .......

Aqualate Mere
Black-necked Grebe still.........

Belvide Resv
The adult and 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls roosted again this evening, also 2 adult and a 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gulls were also in the roost. 70+ Snipe were on the north shore. 97 Wigeon were counted..................Belvide Blog

Highgate Common
10x Goosander on Mere Farm Pools late morning also 4x Grey Heron.........DP.

Branston GPs
Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Ruff, 2x Redshank, 10x Curlew, 656x Golden Plover, 350x Lapwing, c300 Greylag Geese, c 300 Teal, 13x Pochard, 7x Wigeon, 2x Gadwell, 12x Little Grebe, 2x Great Crested Grebe, Peregrine, 2x Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 100s of Redwing and Fieldfare, 60x Goldfinch, 20x Long-tailed Tits.........JW.

Stapenhill, Burton-upon-Trent
1x Goosander near the railway viaduct this afternoon.....PP

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Chesterton
A pair of adult Black Redstarts at the bottom of Loomer Road.............LM.

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell south of Startley Lane at 15:30........TS.

Aqualate Mere
Bittern one in flight at 11:30 also Black-necked Grebe still, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Siskins, Fieldfares........DP.

Blackbank
6x Whooper Swan over east at 07:00 also 5x Brambling, 121 Chaffinch & 238x Woodpigeon.........NP.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Crossbill flew over as did 4x Swallows, also present a Chiffchaff & 2x Med Gulls.............Belvide Blog

Gailey Res
Scaup f/w drake still on main sailing lake early morning.......Birdguides

Westport Lake
Scaup f/w drake still this morning, also Green Woodpecker, Teal, 12x Jackdaw, 2x Rook, 11x Mistle Thrush, 20x Redwing & Fieldfare........CJW.

Branston Gravel Pits

Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Ruff, Redshank, Snipe, 9x Curlew, c450x Golden Plover, 300+ Lapwing, 4x Pochard, 2x Gadwall, 12x Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 22x Little Grebe, 3x Great Crested Grebe, 4x Grey Heron (one killed a Little Grebe), Common Gull( adult), Green Woodpecker, 3x Siskin, 40+ Fieldfare, 35+ Redwing, c40x Linnet, 450+ Black-headed Gull, 81x Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull & 500+ Starling (as they dropped into the reedbeds a Sparrowhawk tried to pick them off – spectacular!).................JW

Branston Water Park

6x Goldcrest, 20+ Wigeon, 4x Gadwall, 20+ Fieldfare & 30+ Redwing...............JW

Barton Marina

8x Pochard & Tawny Owl..............JW

Codsall Area
No sign Common Rosefinch north of Pendeford 06.50-12.30 but 86 Fieldfare, 58 Redwing, 8 Siskin, 6 Redpoll & 10 Skylark over................KC

Park Hall CP
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Siskins, Fieldfares, Redwings, Golden Plovers & Buzzards..............PS(Warden)

Berryhill
Short-eared Owl one early morming also 12x Brambling, 525x Fieldfare,
and 530x Starling over.........RT.

Oakamoor
2x Buzzards above the "park", a Dipper just below the weir and a Kestrel perched on the powerlines over the river above the weir..............KK.

Doxey Marsh
Snipe x 37, Kingfisher x 2, Fieldfare x 37, Grey Wagtail, Goosander x 10, Shoveler x 26, Pochard x 6 & Teal x 101....................RS.

Teal at Doxey Marsh by Graham Allbutt

Monday 29 0ctober 2012

Codsall
COMMON ROSEFINCH juv 1.5 mls ESE of Codsall on feeders by the Shropshire Union canal at 11:00. From the Turnover bridge on the Droveway follow towpath northwest for 150m to view west across the canal by the moored boats.........Birdguides......but no further sign by 17-00hrs.....

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell south of Startley Lane SK015143........Birdguides

Westport Lake
1st winter Scaup still present this afternoon, plus 5x Common Gull & 3x Pochard, also a Yellow-legged Gull in the morning............NJS, CJW, DK

Yellow-legged Gull, Westport by Dave Kelsall

Trent Washlands

Little Egret, 39x Wigeon, 2x Gadwall, 20x Teal, 2x Sparrowhawk, 50+ Redwing, 6x Bullfinch, Siskin, 2x Lesser Redpoll.......AJ

Alton farmland
230x Fieldfare, 10x Siskin, 2x Redpoll........TE.

Sunday 28th October 2012

Blithfield Res
2x Velvet Scoter (one drake) at the deep end briefly before flying off at 14:32, 1w Black Tern from causeway, drake Scaup, female Common Scoter........JA, MY, KD.......also 3x Goldeneye, Shoveler, Pochard, GBB Gull.......AM

Martyn Yapp's photo's of the Velvet Scoters flying away from Blithfield

Westport Lake
Imm drk Scaup still present with 3x Pochard. Also maximum counts of 19 Wigeon and 34 Teal on main lake, plus drake Mandarin and Starling passage this morning.....NJS, PJ

Belvide Resv (permit holders only)
Cetti's Warbler in Gazebo Bay, also a late Swallow, Med Gull & 11x Brambling.....SN

Upper Longdon
Great Grey Shrike in clearfell 09-10hrs......KD, MY

Apedale
Fem/imm Black Redstart still present in area around Energy Centre CP.....PJ

Black Redstart at Apedale by Phil Jones

Black Redstart by Steve Gibson

Alton Farmland

110x Fieldfare,  25x Redwing, 3x Brambling, 200+ Starling....TE.

Aqualate Mere
Black-necked Grebe still this afternoon but no sign of possible Slav Grebe.......

Whitemoor Haye
187x Lapwing, 48x Wigeon, 21x Pochard, 8x Mallard, Grey Heron, 60x Linnet, 50x Goldfinch, 51x Redwing, 16x Fieldfare, Golden Plover, 25x Stock Dove, 37x Skylark, 8x Yellowhammer, 57x Mute Swan........SC.

National Arboretum
11x Fieldfare and c250 over, 37x Redwing, GS Woodpecker, 2x Goosander on river, 2x Jay, 6x Skylark over, 3x Goldcrest, Grey Heron.......SC.

Alrewas GPs (pool on southbound A38 north of Alrewas)
Green Sandpiper, 81x Tufted Duck, 16x Mallard, 34x Coot, 3x Pochard, Little Grebe, several Skylarks, 2x Grey Heron, GS Woodpecker, 35x Fieldfare, 16x Redwing, several Meadow Pipits........SC.

Churnet Valley Alton area
180x Fieldfare, 15x Redwing, c100 Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel........TE.

Brookleys Lake
54x Mandarin, 120x Tufted Duck, 5x Redwing, Bullfinch.......TE.

                                            Mandarins at Brookleys Lake by Terry Eyre

Gailey Res
Scaup f/w drake still on main sailing lake........

Berryhill (vis mig this morning)
1120x Fieldfare over also 1115x Starling, 410x Redwing and 9x Teal........RT.
Extra info...Willow Tit, Chiffchaff......GWS.

Cheadle
c400 Redwing, c300 Fieldfare, 2x Brambling, 5x Raven, 2x Jay, 4x Greenfinch, 3x Reed Bunting, 3x Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk over this morning and a Marsh Tit.......LB.

Trent Washlands
Little Egret, 4x Wigeon, 6x Gadwell, 19x Teal, c120 Redwing, c30 Fieldfare.......AJ.

Clay Mills
Snipe, 7x Teal, Grey Wagtail, 3x Skylark, 60x Fieldfare, 70x Redwing, 13x Stock Dove......AJ.

Old River Dove
Kingfisher, 2x Kestrel, 60x Fieldfare, 80x Redwing, 4x Reed Bunting, 4x Mipits......AJ.

Uttoxeter Quarry
3x Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 6x Snipe, Curlew, 10x Goosander, 25x Wigeon, 28x Teal, 3x Gadwell, Goldeneye........AB.

Saturday 27 October 2012

Blithfield Res (permit only)
2x Whooper Swan in Blithe Bay this morning.......GJM....In Tad Bay 5x Scaup (ad drake, fem, 3 imm), 3x Goldeneye, 25x Pochard, 39x Wigeon. Causeway juv Black Tern........RP.

Westport Lake
Imm drake Scaup still........NJS

Imm drake Scaup at Westport, taken by Steve Gibson

Gailey Res
Scaup f/w drake and adult Med Gull mid morning on main sailing lake.......

Silverdale CP
2x Great Black-backed Gull on the Void mid morning........PJ, plus Jack Snipe, Snipe and 12 Golden Plover over this afternoon SJT . ....Also at Apedale, a fem/juv Black Redstart on Energy Centre CP, Blackbank Road at 3.30pm.....GS.....Over Blackbank, 3909x Wood Pigeon over in 2 hours this morning........JH.

Rudyard Lake
4x Goosander fems, 2x Goldeneye fems and c80 Fieldfare........SS.

Uttoxeter Quarry
7x Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, 24x Wigeon, 28x Teal, 2x Goosander, Gadwell, Raven, c100 Fieldfare.......AB.
Additional Green Sandpiper up to 3, 2x Mandarin, Common Gull, 10x Skylark.......RP.

Tittesworth
Jack Snipe one on the conservation pool, also Crossbill, two Goldeneye and a Barn Owl......SG

                                            Jack Snipe at Tittesworth by Steve Gibson

Aqualate Mere
Black-necked Grebe one still late morning, also a possible Slavonian Grebe but bird distant........

Middle Hills
3x Short-eared Owl at 17:30........SS.

Brookleys Lake
94x Mandarin present.........RP.

Croxhall GPs
Redshank, 9x Lapwing, Little Egret, 10x Great Crested Grebe. 4x Wigeon, 90x Teal, 69x Mallard, 2x Pochard, 29x Fieldfare, 12x Redwing.........SC.

Whitemoor Haye
c400 Fieldfare, c300 Lapwing, c100 Mute Swan, 3x Golden Plover, 20x Meadpw Pipit.......SC.

Branston GPs
5x Ruff, 3x Green Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 9x Curlew, 243x Golden Plover, c300 Lapwing, c250 Grey-Lag Geese, 5x Pochard, 2x Shoveller, c150 Teal, Raven, Jay, Green Woodpecker, 4x Buzzard........AJ.

Trent Washlands
Little Egret, 22x Teal, 2x Willow Tit, 65x Redwing, 32x Fieldfare,3x Little Grebe, 2x Sparrowhawk, 2x Nuthatch, Herring Gull........AJ.

Meir Heath-Stallington
58x Fieldfare, 2x Redwing, 50x Starling, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Buzzard, 2x Goldfinch........ARa.

Friday 26 October 2012

Westport Lake
Scaup f/w drake still also 2x Peregrine over........SS.

Scaup at Westport today by Steve Seal

Cheddleton
130x Pink-footed Geese flew southeast along Churnet Valley at 10:10, also Raven, Fieldfare and 10x Redwing.......DS.

Belvide Resv
Fem Common Scoter remains. Also 30x Goldeneye, 63x Wigeon, 56x Pochard and 4x Little Grebe were counted. c100 Fieldfare and Redwing were seen today. Three Dunlin flew thru also an immature male Peregrine was seen. An adult Mediterranean Gull roosted............Belvide Blog

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x Whooper Swan early morning........GJM.

Oakamoor
Tawny Owl over rough pasture approx 400m upstream of the weir, also a Dipper in Cotton Dell and 2x Treecreeper.......KK.

Parkhall CP
2x Long-eared Owl in Ox-iron wood also 6x late Swallows, 20x Golden Plover in the top meadow and 30x Redwing / Fieldfare........PS. (warden)

Aqualate Mere
2x Black-necked Grebe at 12:30........

Gibb Tor
7x Crossbill........RGM.

Blackbank (visible migration 08:20-08:50)
1348x Wood Pigeon, 160x Fieldfare, 65x Redwing, 20x Jackdaw........ST.

Caverswall
38x Redwing and 32x Pied Wagtail........STU.

Alton farmland
70x Redwing, 3x Redpoll, 6x Siskin, Kestrel, Buzzard........TE.

Berryhill (visible migration 07:45-11:00)
Ring Ouzel over also 2025x Fieldfare, 510x Pink-footed Geese in 3 skeins 08:45 to 10:00 heading southeast, 120x Redwing and 3x Brambling........RT.KH.

Whitemoor Haye
 1500+ mixed Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Black Headed Gulls, 89 Mute Swan, 17 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 652+ Fieldfare (400+ in one flock, 150+ in another plus 102 in a field), Little Owl, 9 Tree Sparrow, 13 Grey Partridge, 3 Grey Heron, 6 Mallard, 3 Skylark........SC.

Thursday 25th October 2012

Belvide Res (permit only)
A adult POMARINE SKUA this afternoon at 15.55 for a few minutes before it flew SE, also present Common Scoter, Med Gull & 5x Yellow-legged Gulls........Belvide Blog

Pomarine Skua at Belvide today, photo by Roger Gibb

Westport Lake
Scaup still present this morning, also Green Woodpecker, 49 Redwing over SSE, 4x Fieldfare over SSE & Raven over Bradwell Wood..............CJW.

Silverdale CP
A Short-eared Owl this evening, also a probable Jack Snipe flushed from small pools...............JH.

Branston Gravel Pits

3x Dunlin, 2x Redshank, Ruff, c500x Golden Plover, 9x Curlew, Common Gull (1st w), 2x Goldeneye, 5x Wigeon, Gadwall, Pochard, 21x Little Grebe, 2x GCG, Green Woodpecker, Redwing (numerous over), 3x Caddis Fly...............JW.

Mossfield Landfill
18 Fieldfare this morning, also 2x Grey Wagtail at the pools.............STU.

Kingsley
Over 200 Redwing flew over farm in an hour yesterday................KC.

Berryhill (visible migration)
1705x Fieldfare, 435x Redwing, c80 Pink-footed Geese, 2x Brambling, 3x Siskin, also a Wheatear, Stonechat, 2x Snipe, 2x Cormorant, 3x Raven .......RT.KH.

Alton Farmland
32x Fieldfare, Crossbill, 4x Redpoll, 2x Goldcrest, 3x Mipits, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk.......TE.

River Sow Meadows
Kingfisher, Fieldfare x63, Raven x3, Linnet x45, Chiffchaff x2, Siskin x3, Snipe x4, Little Grebe x5.................RS.

Tittensor Chase
4x Treecreeper, 4x Jay, Raven, Buzzard, 2x Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Nuthatch & 2x Skylark.................AR.

Boarsgrove
Short-eared Owl........DP.

Merryton Low
70x Fieldfare, 10x Starling, 2x Mipits........DP.

Ford
30x Lapwing.......DP

Wednesday 24th October 2012

Westport Lake
Scaup still present today, also 2x Common Gull, 2x Lapwing & 6x Pochard.......CJW.

        Scaup at Westport by Steve Seal

Doxey Marsh
30x Redwing over, 35 Snipe, c70 Lapwing & 80x Shoveler...............SP.

Belvide Res
Great White Egret at west end til 12.25 (This is the 2nd record for Belvide following a bird that flew through on the 31st March 2009.), Also two adult Mediterranean Gulls, twelve Yellow-legged Gulls (10 adults, 3rd winter and 1st winter), 21 Common Gulls, female Common Scoter, 13 Goldeneye, a Pintail, also 3500 LBB Gulls. The first 50 Fieldfare of the autumn were below the dam. 4 Dunlin flew thru late afternoon..........Belvide Blog

Great White Egret (courtesy of Steve Nuttall and the Belvide Blog) 

Blithfield Res (permit only)
9x Scaup (3 f/w drakes and 6 fem/imms), Little Gull f/w, Black Tern juv, 8x Pochard, 2x Curlew and a Brambling........GJM.

Gailey
Drake Scaup on main sailing lake at dusk......IM, SR

Oakamoor
3x Buzzard & 8x Fieldfare above Carr Bank Wood.................KK.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Berryhill
106x Fieldfare over this morning also 83x Redwing, 2x Brambling, 4x Siskin, 4x Redpoll......RT.KH.

Wetley Moor
50x Meadow Pipit, 10x Reed Bunting, 6x Redwing, 4x Fieldfare, 8x Jay.......RB.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
6x Scaup (3 drakes) and f/w Little Gull........GJM.

Doxey Marsh
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 20x Shoveller, 6x Snipe, 8x Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, 40x Lapwing, 2x Buzzard, 2x Reed Bunting, 10x Redwing.......AS

Westport Lake
1w drake Scaup present again this afternoon.......NJS, DK, GAS

1w drake Scaup at Westport Lake by Dave Kelsall

Belvide Res (permit only)
Common Scoter female still.........

Trent Washlands
Little Egret, Grey Wagtail, 30x Redwing, 4x Mistle Thrush, 2x Wigeon, 6x Gadwell, 19x Teal........AJ

Alton Farmland

1x Barn Owl, 2x Buzzard, 4x Redpoll, 2x Siskin.......TE

Branston GPs
3x Ruff, Redshank, 9x Curlew, 3x Dunlin, 588x Golden Plover, 538x Lapwing, 2x Yellow-legged Gull (adults), Common Gull, 93x LBB Gull, 20x Wigeon, 2x Gadwell, Pochard, 3x Cormorant, 26x Little Grebe, 50x Pied Wagtail, Little Egret. 50x Goldfinch, 41x Redwing over.........JW

Monday 22 October 2012

Tittesworth
6x Whooper Swan present till 09:30 this morning........SG.

Whooper Swans at Tittesworth by Steve  Gibson

Berryhill
Ring Ouzel female still in paddocks c250m south of the viewpoint........RT.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
7x juv Black Tern over causeway also 3x imm Scaup also f/w Little Gull, view from causeway or Watery Lane.......GJM.

Westport Lake
Scaup f/w drake this afternoon also f/w Common Gull.......NJS.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Common Scoter female still.......

Rocester
40x Lapwing and 12x Redwing in fields between Rocester and Uttoxeter.......TE.

Gailey Res
3x Grey-lag Geese, 24x Little Grebe, 3x Great Crested Grebe, 22x Cormorant.......IM

Sunday 21st October 2012

Westport Lake
One Rock Pipit (present from 0740-0800), a Green Woodpecker briefly, a Merlin (flew thru to south 0950) plus overhead passage of Pied Wagtails, Siskin, Chaffinch and Meadow Pipits.....NJS, JJ

Blithfield Resv
Red Kite heading NW at 12-40. Also Little Gull and three Scaup.....GJM

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit by the pollarded trees on the path 13-15hrs.......Birdguides

Belvide Resv
Fem Common Scoter off the dam.......Birdguides

North Staffs Moors
A Ringtail Hen Harrier around Middle Hills at 15.00,also 3x Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit and 2x Raven seen from Middle Hills after 4pm ..............SS, DP.TE.

Ringtail Hen Harrier at Middle Hills, Steve Seal

Uttoxeter Quarry
Raven x5, Siskin c20, Snipe c40 (Leasowes fm pit), Wigeon x26 & Goosander x3..........AB.

Old River Dove

3x Kingfisher, 2x Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Stock Dove......AJ.

Trent Washlands

Little Egret, Kingfisher, 2x Gadwall, 10x Teal, 3x Goldcrest.....AJ.

Tittesworth Res

25x Redwing, 2x Siskin & Nuthatch..............SS.

Nuthatch at Tittesworth Res, Steve Seal



Saturday 20th October 2012

Uttoxeter Quarry
Green Sandpiper, 14x Snipe, 3x Goosander, Goldeneye, 16x Teal, 15x Wigeon, Feral Geese...Ruddy Shelduck, Cape Shelduck, 26x Barnacle Geese.........AB.

Cheadle
Peregrine on St Giles church.......AB.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Common Scoter female or immature still......

Radial Park
20x Lapwing, 2x Jay, Grey Wagtail, 4x Mistle Thrush, Kestrel.......AS.

Hanchurch Woods
14x Crossbill, 3x Grey Wagtail.......NP.

Branston GPs
2x Ruff, 2x Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew, Little Egret, c520 Golden Plover, c400 Lapwing, Little Egret,Green Woodpecker, 2x Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, c200 Teal, 2x Gadwell, 4x Pochard, 5x Wigeon, 32x Little Grebe, 2x Buzzard, 2x Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 80x Linnet........AJ

Dimmingsdale
10x Redpoll, Brambling, Buzzard, Kestrel, 3x Goldcrest.......TE.

                                           Brambling at Dimmingsdale by T.Eyre

Stallington-Meir Heath
2x Lapwing, 2x Skylark, 8x Pied Wagtail, 2x Buzzard, 2x Mistle Thrush........ARa.

Middle Hills
Hen Harrier ringtail at the firing range also 2x Short-eared Owl........

Berryhill
2x Raven by the school........RB.

Hanchurch
c20 Yellowhammer, Jay, Goldcrest........LG

Friday 19 October 2012

Branston Gravel Pits

7x Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Dunlin, 9x Curlew, 537x Golden Plover, 394x Lapwing, 2x Water Rail, Great Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull (1st Winter), 20+ Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 2x Green Woodpecker, Little Egret, 3x Shoveler, 8x Wigeon, 2x Gadwall, 3x Cormorant, 5+ Jay, 50+ Meadow Pipit (on ploughed field), 11x Mute Swan, 26x Little Grebe, 3x Great Crested Grebe, 2x Buzzard........JW

Belvide Res (permit only)
Common Scoter still present today from the dam end................Birdguides

Stoke
12x Fieldfare in allotments on Cambell Road........AS.

Rough Close Common
Willow Tit, Green Woodpecker, 2x Jay, Buzzard & 12x Long-tailed Tit..........AR.

Silverdale CP
4x Jay, Green Woodpecker, 20x Lapwing, Reed Bunting, 2x Kestrel, 2x Buzzard, Meadow Pipit & Chaffinch..............LM.

River Sow Meadows
Kingfisher, Mandarin x2, Snipe x8, Little Grebe x4, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest & Linnet x3............RS.

Thursday 18 October 2012

Berryhill
Ring Ouzel female still this morning in paddocks c200m south of the viewpoint.......RT.

Burntwood
Ring Ouzel male on Cinder Road.......Birdguides

Stafford (near Baswich Lane)
Kingfisher one fishing just east of Bridge 101 on the Staffs/Worc canal.......JW.

Silverdale CP
Kestrel x2, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant, 2x Chaffinch, 4x Mistle Thrush & 3x Reed Bunting............LG.

Belvide Res (permit only)
Common Scoter female or immature still off the dam........

Silverdale CP
Short-eared Owl one over the Waste farm at 18:30.........JHu.

Wednesday 17th October 2012

Belvide Res (permit only)
A Common Scoter in the SE bay this morning.............Birdguides

Apedale CP
2x Jay & a Green Woodpecker................Lewis

Tuesday 16th October 2012

Trent Washlands

Barn Owl, 3x Shoveler, 2x Wigeon, 7x Gadwall, 13x Teal........AJ.

Blythe Bridge - Caverswall‏

2x Yellowhammer, 2x Redwing, 1x Kestrel, 1x Buzzard..........ARa.

Belvide Resv
2x Pintail, 6x Goldeneye................Belvide Blog

Dimmingsdale

2x Raven, 1x Kestrel, 6x Goldcrest, 1x Buzzard.....TE

Branston Gravel Pits

Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, 2x Dunlin, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 11x Curlew, 330x Golden Plover, c300x Lapwing, c200x Teal, Yellow-legged Gull (adult), 35x LBBG, Water Rail, 2x Little Egret, 34x Little Grebe, 6x Wigeon, 3x Pochard, 4x Gadwall, 8x Cormorant, 11x Mute Swan, Buzzard, 50+ Linnet, 3x Stock Dove, Common Darter, 2x Migrant Hawker.........JW

Branston Water Park

10x Wigeon, 3x Gadwall, Black Swan.........JW

Whitemoor Haye
96 Mute Swan, 2500+ (rough guess but conservative) Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying and landing in various fields, 100+ Black Headed Gulls in with the above, 63 Lapwing, 1 Kestrel, 3+ Grey Partridge calling at dusk and 1 Grey Heron........SC

Monday 15th October 2012

Late News For Yesterday

Branston Gravel Pits
2x Dunlin, Ruff, Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, 100's Golden Plover and a female Mandarin..............CC.

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

Alton Farmland

4x Redwing, Buzzard, Kestrel & 3x Goldfinch.................TE.

Berryhill Fields

Ring Ouzel, female this morning..................BB.

Adderley Green

2x Redwing at Mossfield Pools & c50 Redwing over Adderley Green..............SL

Trent Washlands
2x Little Egret, 12 Gadwell, 2x Shoveller, 2x Wigeon, 18x Teal, Kingfisher, Lesser Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, 2x Goldcrest........AJ.

Sunday 14th October 2012

Gun Hill
1x Jack Snipe flew west,  2x Wheatear, Stonechat, 5x Red Grouse.....PS.

Blithfield Resv
Juv Little Gull and two Rock Pipits on the causeway....................Birdguides

Berryhill (visible migration)
345x Redwing, and 730x Wood Pigeon over early morning also a Crossbill........RT.KH.

Blackbank (visible migration)
Highlights  5070x Wood Pigeon, 418x Redwing, 313x Starling, 12x Siskin, 6x Brambling, 7x Fieldfare, 93x Meadow Pipit........NP.JH.

Belvide Resv
The WeBS count produced 2 Pintail, 24 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 22 Shoveler, 39 Mallard, 8 Goldeneye, 346 Tufted Duck, 56 Pochard, 30 GC Grebe, 779 Coot, 11 Mute Swan, 78 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag Geese, 5 Grey Heron and 60 Snipe......Belvide Blog

Mossfield Pool
Mute Swan, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting, Little Grebe, Common Darters, Migrant Hawker......Stu.

Westport Lake
Early morning - 192x Woodpigeon over, 31x Redwing over, 2x Shoveler briefly, 1x Pochard....NJS
Late afternoon - Buzzard, Treecreeper, 2x Great C Grebe, 3x Jay, 2x Coal Tit, 1x Goldcrest, 8x Redwing............CB

Whitemoor Haye
50x Lapwing, 100x Linnet, 2x Goldcrest, 31x Mute Swan, 3x Corn Bunting, 2x Jay, 6x Mallard.......SC

North Staffs Moors
Short-eared Owl hunting near the Mermaid this evening. Also male and female Stonechat opposite the milk stand at Swallow Moss........AB

Saturday 13th October 2012

Uttoxeter Quarry
2x adult Whooper Swans dropped in this morning til 10.30 also, Ruddy Shelduck, 4x Goosander, Pintail, Goldeneye, Shoveler, 56x Teal, 8x Wigeon, 50x Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Golden Plover, 3x Curlew, 25x Snipe & Chiffchaff ................AB.

Tittesworth Res
A Scaup reported this morning, but no other details....................
Brambling one at the feeding station this afternoon but no sign of the reported Scaup........SS

Blackbank  (visible migration)
1207x Woodpigeon, 15x Cormorant, 91x Redwing, 211x Meadow Pipit, 6x Swallow, 318x Starling & 48x Linnet.............NP

Gailey Res
A Red Kite flew over the fishing pool at 11.55..............

Belvide Res (permit only)
A Red Kite flew over SE at 11.35, also 2x Rock Pipit over..............

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Rock Pipit on causeway, also 1st winter Little Gull present...............

Berryhill
Ring Ouzel one at the Dell with 30x Redwing........RT

Trent Washlands

Little Egret, 25x Redwing, 3x Lesser Redpoll, 6x Wigeon, 6x Gadwall & 16x Teal.......AJ.

River Trent

Kingfisher................AS.

Radial Park

Lapwings x30, Mistle Trush  x4 ,Jay x2 & Kestrel..............AS.

Aston by Stone
3x Coal Tit, 2x Nuthatch, 2x Bullfinch, Kingfisher, 2x Goldfinch, Dunnock, 4x Magpie, Willow Tit..............SB.

Barlaston Downs
20x Siskin, 6x Linnet, 6x Jay, Kestrel, 2x Treecreeper & Bullfinch.............ARa.

Silverdale CP
2x Stonechat and a Kestrel........PG

Friday 12th October 2012

Westport Lake
Curlew, 8x Wigeon & Little Grebe this morning.....CJW, NJS, DK

Uttoxeter Quarry
9x Common Scoter (3 male,6 female), 2x Goosander, 2x Green Sandpiper, 14x Snipe, Curlew, 2x Redwing........EF.

Rudyard
5x Redwing at north end and 4x Raven over.......SS.

River Sow Meadows Stafford
Peregrine, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, 2x Redwing, 52x Skylark flock, 11x Jay........RS.

Lightwood Stoke on Trent
Short-eared Owl one at Florence Hill........AM.

Mossfield Pool
3x Golden Plover, 3x Chiffchaff, Snipe......Stu.

Trent Washlands
Little Egret, 6x Redwing, 16x Gadwell, 4x Wigeon, Kingfisher.......AJ.

Whitemoor Haye
27x Shoveler, 83x Mallard, 2x Pochard, 2x Tufted Duck, 48x Mute Swan, 2x Peregrine, c360 Lapwing, 5x Redwing over, 2x Tree Sparrow, 2x Grey Partridge, 2x Jay, 2x Great Crested Grebe........SC.

Alvecote Pools
Scaup one on Pretty Pigs Pool........

Branston Water Park
9x Wigeon, 2x Gadwell, Pochard........JW.

Branston Marina
9x Wigeon, Pochard, 7x Little Grebe.......JW.

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x imm Scaup, 7x Common Scoter (3male and 4fem), Little Gull (1st w), 2x Pintail, Grey Wagtail........JA

Thursday 11 October 2012

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Blackbank
277x Redwing over this morning, also Fieldfare & 147x Wood Pigeons........NP

Belvide Res (permit only)
4x Rock Pipit flew west late morning (11:05-11:25), also 21x Golden Plover, Chiffchaff, Blackcap & 20x Wigeon.......Belvide Blog

Silverdale CP
 Little Grebe still on pool.................JH.

Stafford
Raven over Coton fields at 07.40................PD.

Alton Farmland
2x Buzzard, Kestrel, Redwing, 2x Mistle Thrush & 4x Goldfinch..............TE.

Branston GP
Black-tailed Godwit, 4x Ruff, Dunlin, 11x Curlew, 332x Golden Plover, Little Egret, Yellow-legged Gull, 78x Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, 48x Little Grebe, 2x Gadwall, Shoveler, 180+ Teal, 4x Cormorant, 12x Mute Swan, 3x Buzzard, 200+ Lapwing, 7x Redwing & Green Woodpecker........JW

Trent Washlands

Redwing, Little Egret, 23x Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 3x Wigeon, 16x Teal & 8x Gadwall...........AJ.

Blithfield Resr

Scaup 3 imm , Pintail 4 & 2nd w Yellow leg Gull roosted at the deep end..............JA.

Wednesday 10th October 2012

Westport Lake
Wigeon x11, Teal x11, also flying over 4x Redwing, Cormorant & 12x Jackdaw...........CJW, NJS.

Belvide Resv (permit only)
Two adult Little Gulls (mid morning until 4pm) from Scott Hide.Also a Short-eared Owl that was present flying high above the reservoir between 4.10-5.30pm, a female Brambling, a single Redshank flew through, 29 Golden Plover flew thru, 40 Snipe, 37 Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye and 35 GC Grebe and two Chiffchaff were also seen............Belvide Blog

Blithfield Resv
2x 1w Little Gulls, 1w Black Tern, immature Common Scoter, 2x immature Scaup, a Dunlin, 3x Rock Pipit, 2x Grey Wagtails, 5x Crossbill, 6x Pintail this morning...GJM, MPR, RBo.

Rudyard Lake
Five Common Scoter (4 drake & a duck) approx halfway down the lake. Still present at 2:30pm.....PW

Tittesworth Res
Female Pintail, 2x Wigeon, 3x Chiffchaff  & 14x Cormorant.......PW

River Sow Meadows Stafford
Green Sandpiper, 20x Skylark, 15x Redwing, 2x Stonechat, Chiffchaff, 2x Little Grebe, 2x Swallow........RS

Wetley Moor

3x Redwings, 5x Reed Buntings, 1x Snipe...........RBu

Two Saints Way,Burston to Aston
15x Snipe, 1x Swallow, 1x male Stonechat, 28x Skylark,180x Linnet, 250x Goldfinch, 50x Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, 2x Wigeon......... P.A.D.

Hanley
2x Peregrine on the BT building.....WM

Hanley Forest Park
2x Jay seen......................SD.

Cannock Chase

30+ Siskin (Abraham’s Valley), 5x Redwing (Sherbrook Valley), 3x Green Woodpecker, 2x Great Spotted Woodpecker, Oak Eggar Caterpillar, 20+ Amethyst Deceiver ..............JW.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

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Dimmingsdale
8x Jay over high up, Sparrowhawk, 4x Mistle Thrush & 25x Canada Geese also
5x Tawny Owl calling this evening.............TE

Bullfinch with a Bumblefoot Nr Dimmingdale by Terry Eyre

Knypersley
Osprey flew over to the south 0940.....GB

Cheddleton
Male Crossbill flew over garden......DS

Berryhill (visible migration 07:20-10:05)
545x Meadow Pipit, c220 Golden Plover, 79x Alba Wagtail, 32x Redwing, 19x Siskin, 19x Skylark, 3x Cormorant, 2x Brambling, 4x Redpoll, 2x Greenfinch, 12x Linnet, 86x Chaffinch,5x Swallow, 12x Jay aso Tawny Owl, Little Owl......RT.KH.

Blackbank (visible migration 07:15-11:05)
587x Meadow Pipit, 991x Wood Pigeon, 329 Jackdaw, 21x Redwing, 42x Siskin, 25x Redpoll, 22x Greenfinch, 16x Linnet, 2x Brambling, Crossbill, 25x Chaffinch, 15x Alba Wagtail, 5x Skylark, 5x Jay, Snipe........NP.

Gailey
3x Shoveler, 38x Little Grebe, drake Pochard, drake Gadwall, 39x Tufted Duck, 1x Siskin, 2x Chiffchaff............IM

Belvide Resv
A different 1w drake Scaup new in today. Also 6x Pintail, adult Peregrine, 40+ Snipe were on the north shore, 1x Blackcap and 3x Chiffchaff ......Belvide Blog

1w drake Scaup at Belvide today. Picture by Steve Nuttall

Drayton Bassett Pits
A Rock Pipit flew from Fisher's mill scrapes to DBP North pit. Also 31x Snipe, Little Egret, min of 50 Lapwing, 52 Wigeon and a Ruddy Darter seen west of the north pit.......JH

Wetley Moor
5x Swallow, 80x Meadow Pipit, Siskin, Chiffchaff......PAD

Rough Close Common
1x Green Woodpecker, 1x Stonechat, 3x Jay.....ARa.

The Roaches
3x Stonechat, 3x Red Grouse, 7x Meadow Pipit.......DB.

Trent Washlands

3x Fieldfare, 2x Little Egret, Kingfisher, 19x Gadwall, 16x Teal, 7x Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail & 2x Great Spotted Woodpecker.............AJ

Cannock Chase
250x Pink-footed Geese over Takeroo area this morning also Redwing, Willow Tit and several Goldcrests......RBr.

Monday 8th October 2012

Late News For Yesterday

Onecote
Buzzard x2...............DP

Stoneyfold Lane
Buzzard, 4x Kestrel, 2x Skylark, 3x Stonechat, 7x Reed Bunting, 2x Mistle Thrush, Dunnock & 11x Long-tailed Tit...............DP.

Middle Hills
2x Kestrel..............DP.

Goldstitch Moss
4x Raven 2x Kestrel, Crossbill, 3x Coal Tit, 22x Meadow Pipit...............DP

Swallow Moss
Merlin, Raven, Jay, Kestrel, Redpoll & 60x Meadow Pipit..............DP.

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Westport Lake

Cormorant and a Lapwing over. Viz migging saw 11x Meadow Pipits, 4x Redwing, 2x Mistle Thrush, 21x Pied Wagtails, 3x Redpoll. Also 2x Goldcrest and 2x Chiffchaff...........NJS.

Tittesworth Res

Common Gull x4, Snipe, Wigeon, Teal x8 & Nuthatch x2...............PL.

Belvide Resv
1st winter female Scaup plus 1w Mediterranean Gull..............Birdguides

Uttoxeter Quarry

Brambling over Leasowes farm, Chiffhaff'x 2, Green Sandpiper x2, Snipe x5, Golden Plover, Curlew x2, Pintail, Shoveler & Egyptian Geese x7(2 ad's+5juv's)...............AB.......also 15x Snipe, 18x Siskin and 2x Common Sandpipers......EF

Branston GP's

Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Ruff, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 7x Curlew, 2x Snipe, 333x Golden Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, GBBG, 41x LBBG, Water Rail, 192x Teal, 258x Lapwing, 2x White Wagtail, 20+ Pied Wagtail, Skylark (over), 5+ Meadow Pipit, 2x Little Egret, 2x Green Woodpecker, 39x Little Grebe, 11x Mute Swan, 4x Cormorant, 3x Buzzard.........JW

Swallows Moss
No sign any HEN HARRIERS tonight. Fem Peregrine and c80 Pink-footed Geese over NW at 17-20hrs.....AB

Cannock Chase

1x female Adder, 3x Common Lizards..........DN

Today's Adder on the Chase by David Nixon

Caverswall

1x Peregrine plus Yellowhammer....DC

Trent Washlands
1x Merlin this morning............AJ

Sunday 7th October 2012

Belvide Resv (permit only)
1w drk Scaup at west end. Rock Pipit and Merlin through.......

Black Bank Vis Mig 7.40-11.05
Highlights: Two Pintail SW at 9.30, 1 Crossbill south at 10.00, 220 Pinkfeet west at 10.45, five Redwing, 1123 Woodpigeon, 350 Meadow Pipits, three Brambling NW at 9.45..........NP

Blithfield Resv
Three imm/fem Scaup in Tad Bay.......GJM........Also Short-eared Owl over Mickledale Bay at 13-00hrs....

Swallow Moss
1x Peregrine, 1x Hen Harrier ring tail, 2x Kestrel, 1x Buzzard all from Top Swallow Moss pm.....MF
Merlin male still........DP.TE.

Branston GPs

Black-tailed Godwit, 4x Ruff, Dunlin, 5x Green Sandpiper, 187x Golden Plover, Little Egret, 2x Green Woodpecker, 2x Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Jay, 36x Little Grebe, 209x Greylag Goose & 5x Buzzard......AJ

Silverdale CP
Jack Snipe one flushed from the Void also 16x Golden Plover over.......ST

Saturday 6 October 2012

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Scaup female still in Tad Bay this morning....NJS

Branston GPs
Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, 226x Golden Plover, 10x Curlew.......NJS.

Berryhill
Stonechat, Wheatear, 12x Siskin, 7x Redpoll, 32x Golden Plover over,
11x Chiffchaff, Tawny Owl still (north of  viewpoint)........RT

Swallow Moss
Hen Harrier ring tail also 2x Stonechat, Kestrel, 3x Buzzard........BB.JB.

Fradley Junction
6x Redwing over the lake at 14:00........DJ.

Dimmingsdale
2x Goldcrest, 4x Siskin, 9x Jay, 50x Long tailed Tits, Bullfinch, Buzzard........TE.

Swallow Moss
2x Merlin male and female hunting this afternoon........CM.

Royal Cottage
Merlin a distant bird observed over  the area behind Royal Cottage.......CM.

Goldsitch Moss
Stonechat, Red Grouse.......CM.

Silverdale CP
15x Siskin, 20x Mipits, 2x Kestrel, Buzzard and 2x Stonechat at Waste farm.......MF.

Friday 5 October 2012

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Scaup female in Dimsdale Shallows........GJM

Alton farmland
2x Raven, 10x Mistle Thrush, 2x Pied Wagtail, 2x Skylark over.......TE

Aston-Sandon
10x Linnet, 2x Cormorant, 30x Goldfinch, 18x Mute Swan, 2x Jay, 2x Grey Heron......ARa

Branston Gravel Pits

Black-tailed Godwit, 5x Ruff, 7x Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 285x Golden Plover, 8x Curlew, c450x Lapwing, Water Rail, 35x Little Grebe, 30+ Goldfinch, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 15+ Reed Bunting, 20+ LBBG, 12+ Jay, 300+ Greylag Geese, 3x Buzzard, 12x Mute Swan, 5x Cormorant,
20+ Shaggy Ink Cap..........JW

Blackbank
Viz mig 265x Meadow Pipit also 25x Alba Wagtail, 24x Siskin, 8x Linnet.......NP

Berryhill
Viz mig 505x Meadow Pipit, 73x Alba Wagtail, 29x Linnet, 10x Greenfinch, 8x Siskin, also a Wheatear present and a Peregrine.......RT

Thursday 4th October 2012

Late News for 2nd October
Apedale CP
Barn Owl over marsh area.......................PG.

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Blackbank
Viz mig this morning  1045x Meadow Pipit, 920x Wood Pigeon, 2x Snipe, 15x House Martin, 3x Jay, 8x Siskin.........NP

Berryhill
Viz mig this am  620x Meadow Pipit, 12x Redpoll, 5x Siskin, 11x Linnet, 6x Greenfinch also a Wheatear.......RT. KH.          Also 3x Grey Wagtail at Mossfield Pool.......STU.

Belvide Resv (permit only)
5x Crossbill flew over to the south at 2.40pm. Also seen 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 60 Pochard, 270 Tufted Duck, 10 Wigeon, 328 Canada Geese and 149 Greylag Geese were counted. There was no sign of the Black-necked Grebe today.....Belvide Blog

Trent Washlands
2x Little Egret, 28x Cormorant, 10x Gadwell, 7x Teal, 4x Meadow Pipits........AJ

Burton
c50 Goldfinch on house roof in Napier St.......AJ

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Belvide Res (permit only)
Black-necked Grebe still at the west end also 1w Med Gull........

Berryhill
Ring Ouzel and a Swift this morning also 380x Meadow Pipit over, 14x Siskin, 7x Redpoll, 5x Golden Plover, 2x Raven, 2x Snipe, Little Owl, .......RT. KH.

Uttoxeter Quarry
2x Dunlin, 8x Snipe, 4x Green Sandpiper, Goosander & 12x House Martin..............EF.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Dosthill NR
No sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler up to mid day........

Belvide Res (permit only)
A 1st winter Black-necked Grebe one from West End Hide mid day. Also 1w Mediterranean Gull was present mid afternoon before flying off south. There was still a steady passage of Swallows and House Martins this afternoon. 40 Gadwall, 7 Wigeon and 32 GC Grebe were counted.......Belvide blog

Blythe Bridge-Caverswall
6x Yellowhammer, 2x Lesser Redpoll, 40x Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Kestrel, 2x Stock Dove........ARa.

Berryhill
Swift one again this morning........RT

Drayton Bassett Pits
Male Stonechat along W-E track south of North pit. North pit winter plumage Dunlin and 60 Lapwing, Little Egret, 18 Cormorant, 20 plus Wigeon in area.........JH

Branston Gravel Pits 

29x Golden Plover, 2x Ruff, 9x Curlew, 5x Green Sandpiper, 2x Shoveler, 161x Teal, 2x Little Egret, 3x Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2x Kestrel, 31x Meadow Pipit, 300+ Linnet, 60+ Goldfinch, 30+ Pied Wagtail.......JW

 

LNY

Hoarcross

60+ Skylark (on Stubble field), 25+ Meadow Pipit.....JW

Monday 1st October 2012

Dosthill NR
Yellow-browed Warbler one at diving club quarry off Church Lane this afternoon......Birdguides.

Berryhill
Ring Ouzel  and 2x Swift early morning also over SW 3x Yellowhammer, 17x Greenfinch, 510x Meadow Pipit, 23x Linnet, 4x Siskin, 5x Redpoll, Tawny Owl still by Tiddlers Pool, Little Owl and 17x Jays,.......RT.

Blackbank
2x Redwing this morning also 280x Meadow Pipit over, 8x Siskin, 6x Greenfinch.......NP

Branston GP's
1x Dunlin, 3x Ruff, 7x Curlew, 170x Lapwing, 180x Teal, 2x Little Egret, 3x Shoveler, 34x Little Grebe, 2x Pochard, 6x Great C Grebe, 5x Cormorant, 3x Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 6x Swallow, 25x Meadow Pipit, 2x Little Owl (calling), fem Peregrine, 2x Green Sandpipers, 3x Redshank, 62x Golden Plover, 200x Linnet.........DS

Belvide Resv (permit only)
30x Snipe, 6x Siskin, 5x Yellowhammer, c100 Swallow and House Martin (flew thru), 1x Peregrine, 3x Goldeneye and several Chiffchaff
Please note that the car park gate has dropped slightly on the hinge post, SO YOU HAVE TO LIFT THE GATE UP AFTER YOU HAVE ENTERED THE CODE..........Belvide Blog

Croxden Quarry
Pink-footed Goose again this evening with the Canada Geese......AB

Gailey
Fem Wigeon, 2x Greylag Geese, 38x Little Grebe, 35x Lapwing, 8+ Buzzard, 10+ Swallow, sev Migrant Hawkers............IM