Tuesday 31 December 2013

Gailey Res
Juv Great Northern Diver still on the sailing lake

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Great Northern Diver and 2nd winter Kittiwake at the deep end this morning. Also 194 Great Crested Grebes at Deep End (GJM, RPo)
Merlin, female Peregrine, 7x Goosander, 2x Goldeneye, Black-tailed Godwit (MJa)

Chasewater
Adult and juv Glaucous Gull again in the roost also 2 adults and 2w Caspian Gull, juv Iceland Gull

Belvide Res (permit only)
Long-tailed Duck and 4x Scaup still

Swallow Moss
Male Hen Harrier 16:15 to 16: 30 possibly roosted (SGi)

Monday 30 December 2013

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still this morning also female Long-tailed Duck

Gailey Res
Great Northern Diver again on the sailing lake at 09:30 (JC)

Chasewater
2x Glaucous Gull (adult and juv) again in the roost also adult Iceland Gull, adult Med Gull

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Juv Great Northern Diver, 2nd winter Kittiwake, 3x adult YL Gull (GJM)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Long-tailed Duck, 4x Scaup, 2x Pink-footed Geese

Whitemoor Haye
327x Wigeon, 1200x Lapwing, 100x Golden Plover, Peregrine (SCo)

Branston GPs
Adult YL Gull, 32x GBB Gull, Common Gull, Woodcock, 17x Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Little Egret, 14x Shelduck, 9x Gadwall, Goldcrest (JWo)

Sunday 29th December 2013

Cannock Chase
2x probable Parrot Crossbills with c50 Common Crossbill this morning at Horse Pasture coppice (GJM, SNu)
Great Grey Shrike still at 15:00 to 15:45 at least between cadet huts and rifle range (JJH SJH)

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still, plus female type Long-tailed Duck & a Redhead Smew (IGr)

Alrewas GP's
2x redhead Smew in NW bay this morning, also 84x Tufted Duck, 6x Goldeneye, 1x Pochard & 8x Teal (SCo)

Whitemoor Hayes
27x Tufted Duck, 232x Wigeon, 62x Teal, 3x Gadwall, c250 Golden Plover, 2x Little Owl & 5x Ruff (SCo)

Gailey Res
Great Northern Diver still present at 12.00 (HKi)

Great Northern Diver at Gailey by Hughie King

Knypersley Res
c30 Brambling by the castle & 5x Goosander by the Serpentine (GBr)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
52x Goosander in roost on Tad Bay at 16:30 (RCB)

Parkhall Lake
6x Goosander (Col)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Long-tailed Duck immature still also 4x Scaup

Saturday 28 December 2013

Cannock Chase
2x possible Parrot Crossbill with Crossbills - From track between Upper Longdon and Castle Ring follow track by the telegraph poles past the fishing pool on the right and take the left fork for approx 100 yards to view the clearfell on the right (IMo)
Great Northern Diver over Castle Ring at 09:50 also 20x Crossbill (IMo)
Great Grey Shrike again at 12:00 by the butts 400 yards north of the cadet huts (CW GW)

Gailey Res
Great Northern Diver still on the sailing lake

Hanchurch Woods
c90 Crossbill this morning (NP)

Doxey Marsh
12x Goosander, 2x Pintail, 61x Wigeon 3x Water Rail (SPe)

Chasewater
Probable Siberian Chiffchaff in willows by road bridge at Swag / Norton Canes

Belvide Res (permit only)
4x Scaup still

Branston GPs
Green Sandpiper, 14x Curlew, c50 Lapwing, 11x Shelduck, 3x Goosander, Little Egret, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker (AJa RMa)
Also 10x Gadwall, 8x Little Grebe, 5x Shelduck, Shoveler (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
6x Goldeneye, 79x Wigeon, 5x Redshank, Little Owl, Green Woodpecker, 50x Linnet, several Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer (SCo)

North Staffs Moors
Female Peregrine at Swallow Moss also male Merlin at Boarsgrove (SGi)

Friday 27th December 2013

Gailey Res
Great Northern Diver still present this afternoon

Silverdale CP
Adult Caspian Gull still present on the void at 14.45 (NDP)

Belvide Res (permit only)
4x Scaup present

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Adult Caspian Gull in Tad bay roost (RPo)

Aqualate Mere
Velvet Scoter still present at 13.30

Chasewater Res
Adult Iceland Gull in the roost

Croxall GP
474x Teal, 83x Tufted Duck, 89x Pochard, 12x Wigeon, 1x Little Grebe, 3x Snipe & 6x Redshank (SCo)

Thursday 26 December 2013

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still also redhead Smew (IGr)

Gailey Res
Great Northern Diver in SW corner of the main sailing lake mid afternoon

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull in the roost also 1w Caspian Gull, 4x adult YL Gull, adult Med Gull (JA)

Alrewas GPs
Redhead Smew, 14x Goldeneye, 2x Gadwall (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
30x Tree Sparrow, 10x Yellowhammer, Little Owl, c800 Lapwing, 52x Golden Plover, Green Woodpecker, 2x Goldeneye, Little Grebe (SCo)

Bathpool Park
5x Goosander and a Green Sandpiper (MMa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Long-tailed Duck and 4x Scaup

Cuckoo Bank
c200 Chaffinch / Brambling flock, 2x Snipe, Woodcock (RWi)

Christmas Day 25th December 2013

Merry Christmas to everyone from Staffs Bird News

Alrewas GP
2 Wigeon, 41 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye & 1 Kingfisher (SCo)

National Arboretum
1 Chiffchaff along river (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
16 Tufted Duck, c1000 Lapwing, 12 Wigeon & 2 Little Owl (SCo)

Cuckoo Bank
Peregrine Falcon hunting over the fields & 260 Fieldfare were counted (RWi)

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still and 4x Scaup

Monday 23 December 2013

Chasewater
3x Caspian Gull in the roost also juv Glaucous Gull, 2x YL Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Blithfield Resv
36x Goosander, adult Yellow-legged Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull (GJM)

Sunday 22 December 2013

Chasewater
Glossy Ibis over south with Lapwings early morning
4x Caspian Gull (2 adults, 3w and 1w) in the roost also juv Glaucous Gull, 4x YL Gull

Belvide Res (permit only)
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost also the 2x Long-tailed Duck still and 4x Scaup

Saturday 21 December 2013

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still also 10x Pintail (IGr)
c100,000 Starling in the roost (SPe)

Knypersley Res
Mealy Redpoll one by the well this morning

Silverdale CP
Adult Caspian Gull, Glaucous x Herring Gull, YL Gull and 8x Goosander on The Void mid morning (NP)

Hanchurch Woods
10x Crossbill on the top track (BC LC)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still and 3x Scaup

Gailey Res
Juv female Scaup still on main sailing lake

Stafford
Kingfisher on R Sow next to Stafford Town FC (GGw)

Friday 20th December 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike again around the Parrs Warren area this morning (GJM)

Norton Canes
Glossy Ibis flew over the A5 near Norton Canes at 09.42

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Great Northern Diver at deep end at 14.25, probably a different bird to last weekends (GJM)

Aqualate Mere
Female type Velvet Scoter still present

Gailey Res
Female/immature Scaup still on sailing lake

Branston GP
82x Golden Plover, 18x Curlew, 4x Green Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 11x Ruff, 2x Snipe, 143x Lapwing, 10x Shelduck, 15x Gadwall, 37x Wigeon & 4x Shoveler (JWo)

Keele
c45 Golden Plover in ploughed field besides the cemetery on Keele bypass (TJa)

Drayton Bassett Pits
Bittern, 8x Little Egret, 410x Lapwing, Shelduck, Stonechat, 2x Chiffchaff - Dosthill NR 150x Linnet (JHa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck, 3x Scaup, 3x YL Gull

Thursday 19 December 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell at Parrs Warren on RH side also 10x Brambling and 14x Crossbill in Beech trees by Trig Point (RJE & SW)

Great Grey Shrike by Andy Russell

Silverdale
6x YL Gull at Walley's Quarry and a presumed  juv Glaucous x Herring Gull also 2x YL Gull on The Void (NP)

Chasewater
Juv  Glaucous Gull again in the roost

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still also 5x Scaup

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still

Middleton Lakes
2x Great White Egrets on the reserve (GWi)

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike at Parrs Warren at 10:00 - 0.5 mile down from the Cadet Huts (GWe)

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Silverdale
Adult Caspian Gull at Walley's Quarry at lunchtime (NP)

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike at Parrs Warren in clearfell near the cadet huts also 9x Crossbill over the Whitehouse car park and 3x Stonechat at Brindley Heath (RWi)

Tixall
40 Golden Plover northwest of the canal lock (VE)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup still

Drayton Bassett Pits
Great White Egret at dusk and another probable over south with 10x Little Egret, also 2x Stonechat, 4x Goldeneye, Goosander, Green Sandpiper, 3x Chiffchaff  (JHa)

Swallows Mire Shugborough
4x Goosander, 2x Shelduck and c250 Wigeon on water meadows by rail tunnel (JWH)

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull again in the roost also probable adult Caspian Gull

Monday 16 December 2013

Cheadle - JCB Earthmovers
A very late Whinchat on rough ground below the test track present for at least its 2nd day (MP AB)

Doxey Marsh
2x Water Pipit, 2x Little Egret, 8x Goosander, Peregrine, 20x Snipe (SPe)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Great White Egret on North Pit

Blackbank
2x Jack Snipe (JPo)

Caverswall - Weston Coyney
Little Egret flew along R Blithe at 09:20 and then onto flood water behind Caverswall cricket club (SC)

Chasewater
4x Caspian Gull (2 adults, 1w and 2w), juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull, 3x YL Gull, adult Med Gull

Branston GPs
350x Golden Plover, 6x Ruff, 17x Curlew, 2x Redshank, 2x Green Sandpiper, c400 Lapwing, Little Egret, 8x Shelduck, 18x Gadwall, 5x GBB Gull, 30,000 Starling in the roost, Cape Barren Goose (JWo)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup

Sunday 15 December 2013

Doxey Marsh
11x Jack Snipe recorded during WeBS count also 250x Common Snipe, Cetti's Warbler, 11x Gadwall, 2x Pintail, 2x Shelduck, 8x Goosander, Goldeneye, 150x Teal 2x Little Egret, 2x Kingfisher, Willow Tit, 3x Water Rail (SPe)

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still also female Common Scoter and female Scaup

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Great Northern Diver in Blithe Bay

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still also the 2x Scaup

Tittesworth Res
Ring-tailed Hen Harrier through at 09.20 going east, 4x Pochard, 65x Teal, 58x Tufted Duck & 6x Goosander (Si)

Brookleys Lake
160x Mandarin and a Red crested Pochard (RPo)

Gailey Res
Juv female Scaup still on the fishing pool

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull, adult Med Gull, 2w YL Gull

Silverdale
2w Glaucous Gull reported as "still being present" today at Walley's Landfill (per NDP)

Barton Marina
Cape Barren Goose still present plus 80-100 Wigeon (GLo)

Saturday 14t December 2013

Belvide Res
Female/drake immature Velvet Scoter back again this morning between Scott & Chappell hides (SNu)

Velvet Scoter by Steve Nuttall

Gailey Res
Female Scaup on the sailing lake at 09.00

Aqualate Mere
Female type Scaup this morning (IMG)

Cannock Tip
Juvenile Glaucous Gull at 13.58

Silverdale CP
Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on the Void this afternoon (PJo)

Blithfield Res
Adult Caspian Gull & adult Med Gull, plus adult Yellow-legged Gull in Tad Bay roost this evening (MPR)

Chasewater Res
Juvenile Glaucous Gull, adult Caspian Gull, 2x adult Yellow-legged Gulls & adult Med Gull in the roost (CWG_sightings)

Friday 13 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
No sign of the Velvet Scoter so far but the 2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup still
Adult Caspian Gull and juv Iceland Gull in the roost

Rudyard
c40 Brambling, Goldeneye, 6x Goosander, 2x Mandarin, 6x Cormorant, 140x Lapwing (WBi)

Dimmingsdale
7x Woodcock over 16:30 - 16:45 (TEy)

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull and 2w Yellow-legged Gull in the roost (@CWG_sightings)

Thursday 12th December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Female/juvenile drake Velvet Scoter between Gazebo and West End hides at 12.53 and for the rest of the day. The juv Iceland Gull came into roost at 16:14hrs, and the two imm Long-tailed Ducks and two Scaup still remain (SN)

Velvet Scoter by Steve Nuttall

Branston Gravel Pits
c400 Golden Plover, 10x Ruff, 5x Green Sandpiper, 18x Curlew, 2x Redshank, 2x Shelduck, 11x Gadwall, 21x Wigeon, 5x Pochard & c30,000 Starlings into roost (JWo)

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Juv Iceland Gull again in roost late afternoon also Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2x Long-tailed Duck, 2x Scaup

Chasewater
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost also juv Iceland Gull and adult Med Gull (CWG_sightings)

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost also juv Iceland Gull, 2x Long-tailed Duck, 2x Scaup

Branston GP

11x Ruff, 16x Curlew, 3x Green Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 32x Golden Plover, 181x Lapwing, Shelduck, Goldeneye, 2x Shoveler, 29x Wigeon, 15x Gadwall, 3x Pochard, 5x GBBG, c400x Fieldfare and Redwing (JWo)

Chasewater Res
Juvenile Glaucous Gull, juvenile Iceland Gull & 3x Yellow-legged Gulls (2x adult & a 1st winter) in the roost (@CWG_sightings)

Monday 9 December 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike again viewable from the trig point (SJ974175) also 48x Crossbill (SE HF)

Great Grey Shrike by Steve Edwards

Uttoxeter Quarry
4x Whooper Swan, Scaup, 4x Goosander, 200x Wigeon, 32x Pochard, Kingfisher (EF)

Little Haywood - Colwich
2x Little Egret on the River Trent near the Wolseley centre

Silverdale CP
2x Goosander on the Void at 09:00 (PBa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose still on the north shore also 2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup

Drayton Bassett Pits
Bittern, 8x Little Egret, 6x Goldeneye, Stonechat (JHa)

Sunday 8 December 2013

Aqualate
Female Velvet Scoter still also Common Scoter and Scaup

Doxey Marsh
Water Pipit this morning also drake Pintail and female Goldeneye (AHa HKi)
19x Snipe, 4x Stonechat, 2x Goosander (ASt)

Endon
A Chiffchaff at the sewage works this morning (GBr)

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull in the roost also juv Iceland Gull (JA)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose still on the north shore also 2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup

Saturday 7 December 2013

Middleton Lakes
Siberian Chiffchaff feeding in sallowed pools, just east of the east screen at Jubilee Wetlands, also Chiffchaff, Mealy Redpoll with 4x Lesser Redpoll, 4x Little Egret, 3x Goldeneye, 2x Stonechat & 2x Cetti's Warbler (JHa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose still on the north shore also 2x Long-tailed Duck off the dam and 2x Scaup at the west end

Long-tailed Duck by Chris Blackburn

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter still south west of the hide

Gailey Res
Fem juv Scaup on sailing lake, still present late afternoon with a female Goosander (HKi)

Chasewater Res
Juvenile Glaucous Gull in roost, also juvenile Iceland Gull, 3x Caspian Gulls, 2x Yellow-legged Gulls & a adult Med Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Silverdale CP
2x adult Yellow-legged Gulls on the Void at 14.00 (PJo)

Brookley's Lake
A record count of 192x Mandarin Duck (RPo)

Trent Washlands
3x Little Egret, 36x Wigeon, 8x Gadwall, 7x Shoveler & 25x Teal (AJa)

Swallow's Mire, Milford
310x Wigeon, 15x Goosander, 9x Tufted Duck & Cormorant (JHo, BHo)

Ford Green, Stoke on Trent
5x Wigeon, 11x Pochard, 2x Gadwall & 2x Little Grebe (CGa)

Dimmingsdale
10x Woodcock over 16:30-16:45 (TEy)

Friday 6 Decmber 2013

Eric 'Sam' Clare is 88 today and I'm sure we would all like to wish him "Happy Birthday"

Aqualate
Velvet Scoter still this morning (SWo)

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull just left of platform viewable from west shore at 15:15 also juv Iceland Gull

Belvide Res (permit only)
The 2x Long-tailed Duck still off the dam also 2x Scaup

Branston GPs
42x Golden Plover, 19x Curlew, 3x Green Sandpiper, Ruff, 2x Redshank, c200 Lapwing, Little Egret, 30x Gadwall, 4x Shelduck, Little Owl, (JWo DSc)

Thursday 5 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still off the dam also 2x Scaup

Chasewater
2x Caspian Gull (adult and 1w), juv Iceland Gull, juv Glaucous Gull, adult Med Gull

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Chasewater
3x Caspian Gull ( 2 adults and a 1w), juv Iceland Gull, juv Glaucous Gull, 5x YL Gull and a Short-eared Owl over the west shore

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike near the shooting butts, also 2x Raven, c9 Goldcrest & c30 Lesser Redpoll
(JWo)

Great Grey Shrike by Jon Woodcock

Tixall
c775 Golden Plover at Little Brancote farm this afternoon also c300 Lapwing (RCB)

Aqualate
Female Velvet Scoter still in front of the hide at the east end late afternoon

Drayton Bassett Pits
3x Stonechat, 3x Shelduck, 6x Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, Little Egret, 280x Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Merlin, 2x Water Rail - Dosthill NR Female Pintail, 5x Goldeneye, Water Rail (JHa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2x Long-tailed Duck, 2x Scaup, 5x YL Gull

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Aqualate Mere
Female Velvet Scoter again late morning - Still at 15:00 to the extreme left of the hide (RCB)

Doxey Marsh
Green Sandpiper, 40x Snipe, 20x Goosander (SPe)

Chasewater
2x Juv Glaucous Gull this evening also juv Iceland Gull, adult and 3rd winter Caspian Gull

Belvide Res (permit only)
The Greenland White-fronted Goose again at the west end also 2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup

Branston GPs
12 x Ruff, 33x Golden Plover, 3x Green Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 400x Lapwing, 18x Curlew, Little Egret, 5x Shelduck, 14x Gadwall, 300x Fieldfare, 150x Redwing (JWo)

Monday 2 December 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose again on the north shore also 2x Long-tailed Duck and 2x Scaup

Drayton Bassett Pits
Pink-footed Goose, Dunlin, Redshank, 200x Lapwing, 2x Shelduck, 2x Goldeneye, 3x Stonechat, 6x Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler  -  Dosthill NR - Chiffchaff (per JHa)

Sunday 1 December 2013

Aqualate
Velvet Scoter female still this morning but difficult (GJM)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose still from the point on the north shore (GJM)
2x Long-tailed Duck still off the dam also 2x Scaup

Brookleys Lake
139 Mandarin Duck, Kingfisher (RPo)

Chasewater
Adult Caspian Gull mid afternoon (JD KJD)
In the roost juv Iceland Gull, juv Glaucous Gull, 3rd winter Caspian Gull

Saturday 30 November 2013

Aqualate Mere
Velvet Scoter female late morning also 5x Common Scoter and 3x Pintail, Velvet Scoter still present this afternoon, associating with Tufted Duck on South side of the Mere (IGr)
No sign of Velvet Scoter by dusk (it appeared to swim left of the hide and out of view at c14:45. It wasn't seen to fly off but RPo stayed till dusk and it didn't reappear) but Cetti's Warbler by hide and 100,000 Starlings into roost (RPo)

Record shots until we receive better!

Belvide Res
Greenland White-fronted Goose again on the north shore at the west end also a Bittern, 2x Long-tailed Duck, 2x Scaup

Chasewater Res
Adult Caspian Gull on the Swag, in the roost, juvenile Iceland Gull, 2x juvenile Gaucous Gull & 2x Caspian Gulls (@CWG_sigtings)
also adult Med Gull (AHa)

Uttoxeter Quarry
3x Goldeneye, 17x Gossander, 41x Pochard, 2x Green Sandpiper, 8x Snipe, c200 Fieldfare, c200 Redwing (RPo)

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike again by the shooting butts at mid day (SE, HF)

Middleton Lakes
2x Dunlin, 2x Golden Plover, 5x Shelduck, 4x Little Egret & 3x Stonechat (GWi)

Friday 29th November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Adult Greenland White-fronted Goose again at West end at 14.25, also 2x Long-tailed Duck, 2x Scaup & Bittern from Scott hide

Chasewater Res
Juvenile Glaucous Gull, juvenile Iceland Gull, 2x Caspian Gulls (adult & 1st winter) & 2x adult Yellow-legged Gulls in roost tonight (@CWG_sightings)

Rudyard Res
c140 Lapwing, c20 Brambling, c20 Teal, c10 Wigeon, 2x Goosander & 2x Snipe (WBi)

Silverdale CP
Adult Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls (Adult and 3w) (SJT, DKe, NDP)

Thursday 28 November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose again at the west end also 2x Long-tailed Duck off the dam, 2x Scaup and a Bittern near Scott hide

Chasewater
2x Juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull, adult Caspian Gull, 2x adult YL Gull in the roost and Great Northern Diver.
Adult Med Gull also in the roost (MHa)

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Greenland White-fronted Goose again this morning but no sign at 11:40. Later again on the north shore at the west end at 15:25
The 2 Long-tailed Duck still off the dam also 2x Scaup at the west end

Silverdale CP
Probable adult Caspian Gull on The Void at 13:00 also YL Gull (NP)

Chasewater
3x Caspian Gull again in the roost also 2x juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull and Great Northern Diver still

Colwich
Green Sandpiper on the River Trent (AHo)

Drayton Bassett Pits
3x Dunlin, 44x Golden Plover, 14x Snipe, Shelduck, 4x Little Egret ( per JHa)

Cannock Chase (Abrahams Valley)
50+ Crossbill in several flocks, 25x Siskin (AWa)

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull, juv Iceland Gull, 3x Caspian Gull (adult, 3w, 1w), 4x YL Gull and Great Northern Diver still

Blackbank
8510x Wood Pigeon, 1075x Redwing, 840x Fieldfare all going north 08:00 - 09:00 (NP)

Branston GPs
Adult Glaucous Gull on the south pit at 13:30 - please view only from public footpaths, strictly no access to the workings.
Woodcock at dusk, Dunlin, 19x Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, 2x Redshank, 12x Ruff, 15x Snipe, 2x Shelduck, 18x Gadwall, 2x Little Owl heard at Small Meadows farm at dusk (JWo DSc)

Glaucous Gull by Jon Woodcock

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still off the dam also 2x Scaup but no sign of the Greenland White-fronted Goose - Bittern flew from Scott hide reedbed to SE Bay at 16:18

Trentham Gardens
Little Egret, adult Med Gull with c450 BH Gulls, 4x Mandarin, Goosander, 11x Cormorant, Kingfisher (RT)

Leek
2000x Starlings in field on the Macclesfield Road just past the cricket club at 08:00 (IBu)

Alrewas
Barn Owl and Woodcock flew over A513 National Arboretum roundabout towards Whitemoor Haye at dusk (SCo)

Drayton Bassett Pits
1x Redshank, 4x Snipe, Dunlin, 205x Lapwing, 5x Little Egret, 2x Chiffchaff (JHa)
Dosthill NR - 11x Goldeneye (JHa)

Monday 25th November 2013

Belvide Res
Greenland White-fronted Goose from West end at 14.34, also the 2x Long-tailed Duck  still present (SNu)  1st winter drake Scaup still.  WF Goose later flew north at 15:25 and landed in fields north of the A5

Chasewater
2nd winter Iceland Gull in the roost also adult Caspian Gull

Cannock Chase, Quarry area
21x Crossbill & 6x Lesser Redpoll (RWi)
Great Grey Shrike on south east side of Abrahams Valley at 14:15 (PDy)

Dimmingsdale
1000+ Starling over at 16:00 also a Brambling and 4x Redpoll (TE)

Sunday 24 November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still this am off the dam also 2x Scaup at the west end

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still this morning. Juv Glaucous Gull, 2w Iceland Gull, 3x Caspian Gull (adult, 2w, 3w) in the roost

Kingswood Lake
1st winter Caspian Gull on ARC building (DDe)

Cannock (Kingswood)
2nd winter Iceland Gull at Poplars landfill site behind 3663 distribution building mid afternoon

Whitemoor Haye
2 drake Goldeneye, Little Egret, 536x Lapwing, 2x Golden Plover, 250x Linnet, 160x Fieldfare. (SCo)

Tittesworth
Woodcock, 3x Snipe (SGi)

Swallow Moss
No sign of the Hen Harrier 13:00 - 16:30 (SGi)

Churnet Valley, Consall
70x Pink-footed Geese flew SE along the valley at 16:20hrs (DSc)

Cannock
Ring-necked Parakeet showing well at Chadsmore, view from bridge near Nuffield Gym (@1st2Achieve)

Saturday 23 November 2013

Chasewater
2nd winter Iceland Gull again in the roost also juv Glaucous Gull, 3x Caspian Gull, ( adult, 3W, 2W) 4x YL Gull

Belvide Resv (permit only)
Bittern one from Scott hide this morning also 1st winter drake Scaup

Aqualate
female Common Scoter this am, also Cetti's Warbler still present during the week (IGr)

Tittesworth Res
Jack Snipe on conservation pool from East hide this am but flushed by 5x Common Snipe (PSh)

Uttoxeter Quarry
2x Goldeneye, 3x Goosander, 38x Pochard, 22x Wigeon, 63x Teal, 1x Green Sandpiper, 15x Snipe & 7x Egyptian Geese (RPo)

Silverdale CP
Jack Snipe, 200x Golden Plover and a Goosander over (NP)

Hanchurch Woods
60x Crossbill and a few Brambling  also c700 Rooks roosted, Woodcock and 70x Pied Wagtails over pre roost (NP)

Revige / Swallow Moss
Male Hen Harrier early afternoon (PSh)

Doxey Marshes
c30 Goosander, c50 Snipe, several Teal, Wigeon & Pochard, also 1x Stonechat, 2x Water Rail & 1x female Goldeneye 

Cannock
Ring-necked Parakeet in and around gardens near Hawks Green (JCh)
The Chase Abrahams Valley - 13x Crossbill  (RJS)

Maer Hills/Camphill Wood
c18 Common Crossbill feeding in larch at 14.30 (TJa)

Whitemoor Haye
200+ Golden Plover, 500+ Lapwing, 40x Tree Sparrow, 6x Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker (SCo)

Alrewas GPs
36x Cormorant also 3x Little Grebe on river (SCo)

Arboretum
Willow Tit, 3x Goldeneye on R Tame and on meadow opposite PF Goose, Redshank, Green Sandpiper over (JHa)

Croxhall Lakes
Little Egret, Water Rail (JHa)

Friday 22 November 2013

Blithfield Res (permit only)
2nd winter Iceland Gull in deep end roost also adult Caspian Gull and 3x YL Gull

Chasewater
1w/2w Glaucous Gull at 15:45 (SWo). Also Yellow-legged Gull, Great Northern Diver, 17x Goosander, Stonechat, Chiffchaff (perJH)

Blackbank
15,420x Wood Pigeon over south 07:30 - 08:45 also a Woodcock present

Berryhill
Water Rail at the reedbed culvert also 2x Snipe at the new scrape (PBi)
Stonechat and a Peregrine (RT)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still off the north end of the dam also 1st winter drake Scaup

Branston GPs
1086x Golden Plover, 17x Curlew, 12x Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 665x Lapwing, 2x Redshank, 6x Snipe, Peregrine, Little Egret, 13x Little Grebe, 27x Gadwall, 11x Pochard, 2x Shelduck, 23x Wigeon, 60+ Pied Wagtails (JWo)

Stretton
c450 Pink-footed Geese over north at 16:45 - SK235260 (ASt)

Thursday 21 November 2013

Chasewater
2nd winter Iceland Gull in the roost also juv Glaucous Gull, adult Caspian Gull, 5x YL Gull and the Great Northern Diver still

Berryhill
c140 Pink-footed Geese over west at 10:00 (RT)

River Trent, Colwich
1x male Goldeneye & 1x Little Egret (AHo)

Branston GPs
c1000 Golden Plover, 12x Ruff, 17x Curlew, 2x Redshank, 3x Snipe, Green Sandpiper, c500 Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, 3x Shelduck, 16x Gadwall, 12x Pochard, 30x Wigeon  and possibly 20,000 Starlings in the Sandy Pit roost (JWo)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still and 1st winter drake Scaup

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Immature Long - tailed Duck still from Scott hide late morning
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost also 7x YL Gull and 1st winter drake Scaup

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous Gull in the roost also 2x Caspian Gull and Great Northern Diver still

Tuesday 19th November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still off the dam this afternoon, plus 1st winter drake Scaup

Chasewater
Juv Glaucous before flying off south also adult Caspian Gull, also late news, the Great Northern Diver still present and a adult Shag

Branston GPs
14:00hrs 13x Curlew, c1000 Golden Plover, 3x Green Sandpipers, 2x Redshank, 12x Ruff, 4x Snipe, Chiffchaff, Peregrine (DSc)

Branston WP
2x Goosander, 2x Shoveler, 64x Wigeon, 12x Gadwall, 36x Pochard, 2x Little Grebe (DSc)

Croxall GP's
243x Teal, 92x Tufted Duck, 1x Little Egret, 2x Wigeon, 4x Shoveler, 3x Snipe & 4x Goosander (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
5x Tufted Duck, 29x Wigeon, 4x Pochard, 2x Grey Partridge, c600 Lapwing & c90 Golden Plover (SCo)

Westport Lake
3x female Goldeneye & drake Goosander this morning (JJo)

Monday 18 November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still from Chappell hide and 1w drake Scaup still present

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still present at 10.00, viewed from the dam (GFWB)
Glaucous Gull  juv or 2nd winter in the roost also adult and 2nd winter Caspian Gull and  adult YL Gull

Tittesworth Res
Male Goldeneye this afternoon (PLunt)

Leomansley Woods
Long - eared Owl calling from Oak tree near to new metal gate also Kingfisher on the pool and a Snipe flushed from Pipe Green stream (BRu)

Whitemoor Haye
436x Golden Plover, 621x Lapwing, 15x Yellowhammer, 3x Tree Sparrow, Goldeneye, 26x Wigeon, 21x Tufted Duck, 4x Pochard (SCo)

Alrewas GPs
44x Lapwing, 35x Golden Plover, 3x Snipe, 62x Tufted Duck, 72x Wigeon, 6x GC Grebe, 3x Pochard, 18x Fieldfare, 6x Redwing, 8x Chiffchaff also north of Alrewas 400x Lapwing, 66x Golden Plover (SCo)

Sunday 17th November 2013

Belvide Resr
Two immature Long-tailed Duck again present at west end this morning. Also adult Caspian Gull this morning, 1w drake Scaup and Knot seen today.

Chasewater 
Great Northern Diver still present

Drayton Bassett Pits
A Pink-footed Goose with 275 Greylag Geese, Black Swan, 5x Dunlin, 3x Snipe, 240x Lapwing, 7x Little Egret, 2x Goldeneye, 10x Pochard, 3x Cetti's Warblers, 7x Herring Gulls, Common Gull, 60x Goldfinches (JH)

Blithfield Res
Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost. In Tad Bay, 16x Goosander and a Little Egret (RPo)

Trentham Gardens
One Little Egret at 14:00hrs (MWright)

Whitemoor Haye
17x Tufted Duck, 21x Wigeon, 1x Little Owl, c220 Lapwing, several Tree Sparrow & Yellowhammer (SCo)

Saturday 16th November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck still present at 10.55, plus juvenile Scaup. A possible 1w Ring-billed Gull was in the roost plus an adult Caspian Gull.

Gailey Res
Juvenile female Scaup on main sailing lake at 09.00, still present at 11.17 (JDa, KJD)

Aqualate Mere
Cetti's Warbler showing well by the hide at 08.00 (KHa)

Tittesworth Res
Male Red-breasted Merganser this morning south of visitor centre (RPo, PBa, IBu)

Swallow Moss
Peregrine, 35x Fieldfare & 2x Red Grouse (RPo)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still present this morning

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit, c156 Snipe, c187 Lapwing, 7x Goosander, 2x Water Rail, 8x Golden Plover, 2x Stonechat & 47 x Fieldfare (SPe)

Uttoxeter Quarry
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, 5x Goosander, 16x Pochard, 79x Wigeon, 6x Shoveler, 20x Teal, 20x Snipe & 50x Fieldfare (RPo)

Cannock Chase
3x Stonechat, 2x Raven (JWo)

Clay Mills
Green Sandpiper, 10x Snipe, c100x Wigeon, c100x Fieldfare, c200x Redwing, 15x Tree Sparrow (DSc)

Friday 15th November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Long-tailed Duck in front of Scott hide at 13.30 (RSw)

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still present late PM at least (Keith Whitehouse)

The Great Northern Diver at Chasewater showed well at sunset - Keith Whitehouse

Black Bank
26,400 Woodpigeon south at 07.30-09.00, also 4x Brambling present (NDP)

Hanchurch Woods
50x Crossbill by Ranger Lodge this morning (DFo). 10-15 Crossbills by Woodcutters Cottage (RSm)

Ford Green Hall
4x Little Grebe, 2x Wigeon, 12x Tufted Duck, drake Teal, drake Pochard & Raven over (JJo)

Branston GP's
921x Golden Plover, 621x Lapwing, 16x Curlew, 32x Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 9x Ruff, 2x Shelduck, 5x Shoveler, 3x Pochard, 16x Gadwall, 25x Wigeon, 12x Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, 3x Little Egrets (JWo)

Thursday 14th November 2013

Belvide Res (permit only)
Bar-tailed Godwit on north shore this afternoon, also Ruddy Shelduck, 1st winter Scaup & Pink-footed Goose, also 2x adult Caspian Gull in the roost plus 13x Yellow-legged Gulls

Middleton Lakes
North pit, Pink-footed Goose still and 7x Little Egret over at dusk, a Bittern flew towards Dosthill at 15.30 (LGe)

Wednesday 13th November 2013

Doxey Marshes
Merlin, 11x Goosander, male Goldeneye & pair Stonechat (PDy)

Middleton Lakes
Pink-footed Goose, Raven, Stonechat & 6x Little Egret, also 3x Goldeneye at Dosthill NR (JHa)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still present at 13.30 (SJN)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
59x Goosander in Tad Bay roost at 16:45 also a Pintail (RCB)

Tuesday 12th November 2013

Westport Lake
A female Common Scoter over and 7x Pintail over this morning (NJS)
also 2x Raven flew W over lake at 09.30 (JJo)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still at 11.05 (DLe)

Great Northern Diver by Derek Lees

Doxey Marshes
Water Rail, 4x Goosander & Yellow-legged Gull (MJackson)

Cannock Chase 
Abrahams Valley - 20x Crossbill (Andy R)
Cadet Huts - Brambling (RSmith)
Parrs Warren - 14:00hrs Observer continued on a footpath at the end of the cadet huts car park where there was a beech tree, then arrived at what he assumes is Parrs Warren where on the left hand side of clearfell on some sawn off and levelled tree trunks and found the Great Grey Shrike (RSmith)

Branston GP's
10x Ruff, Redshank, 22x Snipe, 998x Golden Plover, c500x Lapwing, 16x Curlew, 6x Little Egret, Water Rail, 8x Pochard, 3x Shoveler, 13x Gadwall, 18x Wigeon, 15x Little Grebe, c500x Woodpigeon, c800x Starling (JWo)

Monday 11th November 2013

Westport Lake
Little Gull & 2x Kittiwake at 10.20 (DKe)

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still by the dam wall at 13.30 (TJS)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x adult Kittiwakes til 13.35 then flew W, Grey Plover briefly on the north shore

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike opposite Tackeroo towards Kingsley Wood Road at 12.00 though mobile

Tittesworth Res
16x Common Scoter today (IBu)

Sunday 10 November 2013

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver again at 10:45. Still at 14:20 by orange buoys (JD KJD). Also adult Caspian Gull in the roost (JD KJD)

Drayton Bassett Pits
3x Stonechat, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 90x Lapwing, 3x Goldeneye, 4x Little Egret, 9000x Starling before roosting at Fisher's Mill.(JH)

Dosthill NR
4x Goldeneye (JH)

Blackbank (visible migration 07:15 - 09:20)
27,000x Wood Pigeons over SW (NP)

Berryhill (visible migration 07:15 - 09:15)
22,450x Wood Pigeons over SW (RT)

Bateswood (visible migration 06:55 - 08:15)
11,750x Wood Pigeons over SW(JHu)

Hanchurch Woods
25x Crossbill (SJO)

Swallows Mire, Milford
9x Goosander, 2x Cormorants, 7x Tufted Duck, 4x Wigeon (JWHolt)

Alrewas GPs
48x Wigeon, 12x Teal, 2x Gadwall, 3x Little Grebe (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
452x Lapwing, 55x Golden Plover, 3x Tree Sparrow (SCo)

Pool Dam Marsh Newcastle
2x Water Rail, 23x Snipe, 3x Teal (STu)

Aqualate Mere
Webs count included, Common Scoter, Mute Swan 251, Gadwall 40, Pochard 14, Shoveler 24, Goldeneye 10, Teal 102, Wigeon 324, Tufted Duck 515, Coot 2319, Cormorant 59 & a Water Rail heard (FGr)

Saturday 9 November 2013

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still at 09:05 in front of the Innovation centre but mobile. Still off Target Point at 16:30
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost this evening

Whitemoor Haye (07:30 - 09:20)
Male Merlin, 210x Golden Plover, 86x Lapwing, Redshank, 60+ Tree Sparrow, 30+ Yellowhammer, 9x Skylark, 13x Wigeon (SCo)

Alvecote
Bittern flushed from River Anker at 11:45am. Crossbill flew over Laundry Lane (RBA)

Aqualate
Great White Egret  one over heading NE (IGr)

Branston GP's
Juv Gannet flew over SW at 11.04. Also 350 Golden Plover, 7x Ruff and a Green Sandpiper. (NJS)

Brookley's Lake
107x Mandarin Duck, & 2x Pochard (RPo)

Bateswood
Vis mig 07.35 - 08.20, 1,610 Woodpigeon, c75 Fieldfare, c5 Redwing (JHu)

Belvide Res
2x Scaup still from Gazebo hide

Friday 8 November 2013

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still this morning (JJH)

Berryhill (visible migration)
21,800 Wood Pigeons over SW early morning also 3440x Starling and 735x Fieldfare. Stonechat still from the viewpoint paddocks (RT)

Cannock Chase
Cherrytree Slade 32x Crossbill, c50 Redpoll sp also 10x Brambling near cadet huts (GJM)

Parkhall CP
5x Brambling by golf course (BB)

Silverdale CP
YL Gull on the Void mid day (NP)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Scaup still

Tittesworth
5x Snipe, Little Grebe (IB)

Rudyard
120x Lapwing, Willow Tit, Siskin (IB)

Thursday 7th November 2013

Chasewater Res
Great Northern Diver still in the SE corner at 08.13 & still present at 11.20 (GAS)

Doxey Marsh
2x Red-breasted Merganser on Tillington Flash at 12:45 also 5x Goosander, female Stonechat (PDy)

Cannock Chase
c50 Crossbill along track to trig point also 2x Stonechat, Grey Wagtail (MJa)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Scaup still also 15x YL Gulls in the roost

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still at 09:00 in front of the centre (SWo)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Scaup still also 10x YL Gull

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Goldsitch Moss
Rough-legged Buzzard one showing well off minor road at 15:00

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still off the dam at 14:15 (RCB)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x Red-breasted Merganser still also Knot, female Merlin, 6x Goosander, Curlew (MJa)

Branston GPs
12x Ruff, 839x Golden Plover, 3x Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 12x Curlew, Snipe, c500 Lapwing, 6x Little Egret, 16x Wigeon, 4x Pochard, 14x Gadwall, 23x Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler (JWo)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2nd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost from Gazebo hide also 2x imm  Scaup

Monday 4 November 2013

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver one c100m off the dam late morning. Still at 14:30 (MPi)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2nd winter Caspian Gull in the roost

Blackbank (visible migration 07:00 to 08:45)
17,500x Wood Pigeon over also 263x Fieldfare, 2x Brambling (NP)

Bateswood CP (visible migration)
3,400x Wood Pigeon over 07:00 - 07:35 (JHu)

Berryhill (visible migration)
10,150x Wood Pigeon over 07:05 to 07:55 also 420x Fieldfare, 4x Brambling (RT)

Hare Hills Cannock Chase
23x Crossbill over (GJM)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Pink-footed Goose, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Peregrine, 2x Goldeneye, 6x Goosander, Kingfisher (SE HF)

Pink-footed Goose by Steve Edwards

Dimmingsdale
1000+ Wood Pigeon, 70x Fieldfare, 30x Redwing, 2x Brambling (TE)

Sunday 3 November 2013

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Snow Bunting one at Admaston Reach at 08:20, later at top end of Blithe Bay but mobile (GJM)
3x Red-breasted Merganser still early afternoon (JJH SJH)

Uttoxeter Quarry
Goldeneye, 4x Goosander, 4x Pochard, 2x Shoveler, 79x Wigeon, 68x Teal, Mandarin, 3x Snipe (RP)

Hanchurch Woods
50x Crossbill (NP)

Whitemoor Haye
11x Wigeon, 31x Tufted Duck, 211+ Golden Plover, 27x Lapwing, 679+ Lapwing, Tree Sparrow, fem Merlin, 4x Grey Partridge, 1x Snipe, 2x Yellowhammer (SCo, AM et al)

Cannock Chase
c35 Brambling, 4x Stonechat, 1x Chiffchaff (DCol, JoseB)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Scaup still

Saturday 2 November 2013

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x Red-breasted Mergansers still  at deep end between angling club and Ten acre bay (RPo RCB)

Belvide Res (permit only)
2x Scaup early afternoon

Trent Washlands
Little Egret, 3x Shoveler, 10x Gadwall, 24x Teal and a Raven (1st site record) (AJa)

Doxey Marsh
Female Stonechat (LCl)

Branston GPs
2x Ruddy Shelduck still

Friday 1 November 2013

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x Red-breasted Merganser (redheads) in Tad Bay this afternoon (GJM)

Red-breasted Merganser by Steve Edwards

Doxey Marsh
2x Kingfisher, 7x Goosander, 5x Pochard, Water Rail, 23x Snipe, 57x Lapwing, 17x Fieldfare, 8x Redwing (RSt)

Uttoxeter Quarry
9x Snipe, 11x Golden Plover, Kingfisher, 120x Wigeon, 5x Pochard, 12x Redwing, 4x Fieldfare, Chiffchaff (EF)

Branston GPs
2x Ruddy Shelduck, 964x Golden Plover, 86x Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 12x Ruff, 7x Curlew, 2x Redshank, c500 Lapwing, 8x Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail, 2x Shelduck, 8x Gadwall, 6x Wigeon, 10x Pochard, 200x Fieldfare (JWo, DSc)

Ruddy Shelduck by Jon Woodcock

  

Blackbank (visible migration)
7020x Wood Pigeon, 87x Redwing, 87x Chaffinch, 81x Starling, 35x Fieldfare 3x Bramling, 2x Crossbill, (NP)

Bateswood CP (visible migration)
1175x Wood Pigeon, 28x Fieldfare (JHu)

Berryhill (visible Migration)
10770x Wood Pigeon, 720x Fieldfare, 335x Starling, 76x Redwing, 9x Cormorant (RT KH)

Belvide Res (permit only)
1st winter drake Scaup from Gazebo hide also 13x YL Gulls

Thursday 31st October 2013

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has launched an appeal to create a new nature reserve in the county with the aim of providing bitterns a place to breed.  See details of the appeal below

URGENT APPEAL: Help the Trust bring breeding bitterns back to Staffordshire!

The secretive bittern, a member of the heron family, best known for its characteristic "boom", is one of our rarest and most stunning birds. We want bittern breeding again in Staffordshire, something which hasn't been seen for over 100 years.

But we need your help to make this vision a reality. To attract the bittern, we have to create the large reedbeds that are so important for this rarest of birds. The good news is we've found the perfect site, Tucklesholme Quarry, a few miles upstream from Burton-upon-Trent, on the banks of the Trent near Barton-under-Needwood. Plans are already underway to create the perfect habitat for bittern, and a host of other species, but we need help from our supporters to raise the final amount needed to buy the site and change history by bringing breeding bitterns back to Staffordshire.

But we have to act fast. At 130 acres, Tucklesholme Quarry is big enough to create the large expanse of reedbed that bitterns thrive in (in fact, we aim to create the largest reedbed in Staffordshire's Trent Valley), and if we raise enough money to buy the site BEFORE extraction is complete, we will be able to work with the digger drivers to create the right slopes, shapes and islands to create habitats that are perfect for wildlife. BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING, WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER.

We believe Tucklesholme has all the right ingredients to become one of our finest nature reserves, but we urgently need your help.

- To donate online click here: http://ow.ly/q7JtL
- To donate by post, send a cheque payable to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to, Tucklesholme Appeal, FREEPOST WILDLIFE.
- To donate by phone, call 01889 880103, Monday- Friday, 9am-5pm.
- To donate £5 by text message, text TUCK13 £5, to 70070

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

Hare Hills, Cannock Chase

Crossbill 4, Brambling 1, Fieldfare c25 & Redwing c20 (GJM)

Gailey Res

Raven, male Green Wood, drake Gadwall, 10 Little Grebe, 24 Gt C Grebe, 20 Cormorant, 2 Migrant Hawker (IMo)

Cannock Chase

37x Crossbill, 2x Brambling, Stonechat,184x Fieldfare,27x Redwing (RWi)

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Blackbank (visible migration)
9370x Wood Pigeon, 536x Fieldfare, 307x Redwing were the top species counts this morning also 12x Crossbill (NP)

Barlaston Downs
20x Brambling (MJa)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Female Merlin, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, 3x Dunlin (GJM)

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still in clearfell near the trig point at 12:30 also 50x Brambling (SE HF)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
8x Whooper Swan in Tad Bay at 14:00 also 4x Dunlin, Greenshank, YL Gull, Peregrine, 2x Goosander, Shelduck, Goldeneye, c100 Linnet (SE HF)

Belvide Res (permit only)
1st winter Caspian Gull in the roost this afternoon also 5x YL Gull

Dimmingsdale
200x Fieldfare, 18x Redpoll, 3x Brambling, 55x Redwing (TEy)

Whitemoor Haye
50x Golden Plover, 6x Yellowhammer, 12x Tree Sparrow, 9x Stock Dove (AM)

Croxhall
30x Pochard, 8x Shoveler, 2x Little Grebe (AM)

Branston GPs
c500x Golden Plover, c500 Lapwing, 28x Snipe, 12x Ruff, 17x Curlew, 2x Redshank, Green Sandpiper, YL Gull, Shelduck, 9x Wigeon, 3x Gadwall, Pochard, 11x Little Egret (South pit at 16:00hrs), c300 Teal (JWo, DSc)

Branston WP
Fem Pintail, 3x Little Grebe, 7x Shoveler, 64x Wigeon, 16x Gadwall, 14x Pochard (DSc)

Monday 28 October 2013

Blithfield Res (permit only)
Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Greenshank, 5x Dunlin, Pintail, Shelduck, c800 Teal, Peregrine, YL Gull (RPo)

Trent Washlands
5x Goosander (AJa)

Sunday 27 October 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike again near the trig point mid afternoon also c200 Fieldfare and a Brambling (MJa)

Uttoxeter Quarry
13x Snipe, 2x Green Sandpiper, 120x Wigeon, 79x Teal, 3x Shoveler, 2x Gadwall, Pintail, 3x Goosander, 120x Tufted Duck, 536x Mallard, 6x Pochard, Willow Tit (ABa)

Saturday 26 October 2013

Tittesworth Res
Great White Egret flew over the causeway towards dam mid morning (PSh)

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike still from the Cadet Huts trig point (SBa)

Whitemoor Haye
Female Merlin, Corn Bunting, 19x Wigeon, 4x Gadwall, 8x Pochard, 35x Tufted Duck, 245x Lapwing, 89x Stock Dove, Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Skylark (SCo)

Branston GPs
533x Golden Plover, 581x Lapwing, 24x Snipe, 9x Ruff, 33x Cormorant, 6x Little Egret, 12x Wigeon, 9x Shoveler, 80x Teal, Green Woodpecker (SCo)

Friday 25th October 2013

Cannock Chase
Great Grey Shrike in clearfell by the Butts this morning SJ984156 - still at 14:00 viewable from the Trig point also 7x Stonechat (SE)

Great Grey Shrike by Steve Edwards

Blithfield Res (permit only)
6x Whooper Swan (5 ad + sec/cal year), Peregrine imm male, 1000+ Teal, 200+ Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Greenshank, 8x Dunlin, 6x Snipe (GJM)

Whooper Swans by Arthur Warden

 

Whooper Swans by Steve Edwards

 

Branston GPs
 1306x Golden Plover, 14x Ruff, 4x Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 2x Dunlin, 8x Snipe, 15x Curlew, c500 Lapwing, 5x Little Egret, 9x Pochard, 4x Gadwall, 8x Wigeon, 11x Shoveler, 26x Little Grebe, Cetti's Warbler, 5x Common Darter (JWo)

Thursday 24 October 2013

Berryhill (visible migration 07:45-11:00)
3705x Fieldfare, 239x Chaffinch, 12x Brambling, 5x Redpoll, 12x Cormorant, GBB Gull, 110x Jackdaw, Golden Plover, 5x Snipe, 94x Redwing, 305x Starling, 590x Wood Pigeon, 24x Skylark, 10x Linnet, 4x Bullfinch, 2x Greenfinch, 2x Siskin, 3x Reed Bunting, 34x Pied Wagtail all mainly over  SW also 109x unidentified Finch species (RT)

Parkhall CP
5x Brambling, 2x Willow Tit (BB)

Cannock Chase
3x Stonechat, 12x Brambling, c100 Fieldfare, 20x Redwing, 4x Reed Bunting, 3x Bullfinch (MJa)
9x Crossbill at Shooting Butts (RCB)

Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Westport Lake
2nd winter Mediterranean Gull at 09.55 (SGi) also Water Rail still present (JJo)

Mediterranean  Gull by Stephen Gibson

Croxall GP

Great Grey Shrike feeding just beyond the hide this afternoon (Simon Collison)

Chasewater Res
Great Skua past through to the S at 17.45

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Jubilee Wetlands - Greenshank flew SE at 13.17, 4x Stonechat (3x male&fem/imm), west ditch, Cetti's Warbler & Chiffchaff, on North Pit a Wheatear around the hide, also on reserve 2x Small Copper & a Common Marbled Carpet (JHa)

Tuesday 22nd October 2013

Branston GP's
11x Ruff, 14x Curlew, 619x Golden Plover, 47x Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 390x Lapwing, Water Rail, 11x Shoveler, 4x Wigeon, 2x Pochard, 5x Little Egret (JW)

Belvide Resv
3x Golden Plover on north shore, Chiffchaff behind West End hide and 80 Pochard. Belvide Blog

Monday 21st October 2013

A rather wet day in Staffordshire

Westport Lake
1x Water Rail, 1x Little Grebe, 1x Pochard, 22x Tufted Duck, 6x Great c Grebe (Staffsbirdnews)

Sunday 20 October 2013

Blackbank (visible migration)
3x Ringed Plover, 17x Golden Plover, 714x Fieldfare, 384x Redwing (NP)

Berryhill (visible migration)
810x Fieldfare, 46x Redwing, 39x Golden Plover, 21x Crossbill, 2x Brambling, (RT)

Maer Hills
10/15 Crossbill plus 4x Crossbill sp flying over with a distinctive call similar to Bullfinch (PJo, STu)

Grass Snake by Phil Jones

Uttoxeter Quarry
2x Green Sandpiper, 12x Mandarin, 3x Goosander, 4x Shoveler, 7x Wigeon, 2x Pochard, 30x Teal, 389x Mallard, 253x Tufted Duck, Kingfisher (AB)

Branston GP's
20x Little Grebe, 2x Little Egret, 4x Ruff, 7x Curlew, Dunlin, 4x Snipe, 300x Golden Plover, 3x Green Sands, 2x Chiffchaff (DSc)

Saturday 19 October 2013

Tittesworth Res
Marsh Harrier over at 13:15 heading towards the Roaches, Redwing 120, Fieldfare 90, Wigeon 22, Mistle Thrush 2 & Lapwing 8 (IBu, LHa)

Dimmingsdale
600x Fieldfare, 100x Redwing, 40x Siskin, Green Woodpecker (TE)

Cannock Chase

Brambling (male in Parr’s Warren), c500x Fieldfare, c150x Redwing, Grey Wagtail (JWo)

Friday 18 October 2013

Branston GPs
628x Golden Plover, c420 Lapwing, 10x Ruff, 2x Green Sandpiper, 22x Snipe, Redshank, 2x Little Egret, Kingfisher, 6x Shoveler, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, c80 Redwing (JWo)

Golden Plover by Jon Woodcock

Blackbank
2x Jack Snipe this morning (NP)

Cannock Chase
6x Crossbill in Abrahams valley at 11:00 (SW)

Blithfield Res (permit only)
3x Greenshank, 4x Dunlin, 3x Ringed Plover (SW)
Additionally - 1w Little Gull, Curlew, 490x Lapwing (RCB)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Wood Sandpiper still on the north shore also 2x Rock Pipit on Plough

Thursday 17 0ctober 2013

***A new blog has been started for Tittesworth Reservoir. It can be found at
http://tittesworth.blogspot.co.uk/. If you are a regular or a casual visitor there, please send your sightings in to scseal29@hotmail.co.uk.****

Hanchurch Woods
20x Crossbill, 2x Fieldfare (ASt)

Belvide Res (permit only)
Wood Sandpiper still on the north shore

Coombes Valley
13x Fieldfare over (AM)

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Tittesworth Res
54x Teal, 4x Wigeon, Goosander, 18x Redwing (SS)

Stoke on Trent
Gannet  immature over Meir Hay at 11:40 (CSi)

Blithfield Res (permit only)

Pink-footed Goose, 2x Greenshank, Dunlin, Shelduck, 2x Goldeneye, Goosander, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull & 8x Common Gull (JWo)

Pink-footed Goose by Jon Woodcock

Belvide Res (permit only)

The Wood Sandpiper was still on the north shore, also the Ruff remains, a Crossbill flew SW at 15.20, Goldeneye have increased to 14, also 215 Tufted Duck & the Egyptian Goose were noted (Belvide blog)

Tuesday 15th October 2013

Middleton Lakes RSBP
Jubilee Wetlands, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, 9x Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, a single Golden Plover with 70x Lapwing, 5x Snipe, 5x Little Egret & Cetti's Warbler singing (JH)
also 2x Pintail (GWi)

Branston GP's
Mediterranean Gull adult, 2x Common Gull, 13x Ruff, Redshank, 5x Green Sandpiper, 7x Curlew, 474x Golden Plover, c450x Lapwing, 13x Snipe, 2x Water Rail, Little Egret, Goldeneye, Pochard, 2x Wigeon, 11x Skylark over, 6x Redwing, c15x Meadow Pipit (JWo)

Mediterranean Gull by Jon Woodcock

Belvide Res (permit only)
Wood Sandpiper remains on the north shore for it's 13th day, also 1 Ruff and c20 Golden Plover were present, The Egyptian Goose was still with the Canada flock, 166 Teal and a Shelduck were noted.

A reminder that there is a work party this Sunday, please meet at Scott hide at 09.30 if you can spare a few hours, wellingtons are recommended, tools and gloves are provided (Belvide Blog)