Thursday 31st December 2014

River Sow Meadows
162x Wigeon, 2x Shoveler, 6x Little Grebe, Goosander, 40x Teal, 68x Snipe, 9x Golden Plover, 2x Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and Green Woodpecker (RSw)

Newcastle-under-Lyme
A Dipper in the park with a small stream opposite the Dick Turpin Pub at Thistleberry for 15 mins at c10:30hrs (DJAlm)

Tuesday 30th December 2014

Belvide Resv
3w Caspian Gull in the roost again and drk Pintail (NTa)

Pintail at Belvide today by Nigel Talbot

Westport Lake
Male immature Smew again this morning plus a Chiffchaff (NJS). Also 2x Goosander, 2x Teal (SGi)

Mill Green NR, Cannock
Barnacle Goose with Canada Geese flock, Little Grebe & 4x Teal (SBa)

Silverdale CP
Yellow-legged Gull, 11x Goosander, Chiffchaff, 2x Stonechat & 20x Reed Bunting (NP)

Madeley Sewage Works
2x Chiffchaff & 2x Blackcap (NP)

Whitemoor Haye
10x Goldeneye, 85x Wigeon, 350x Lapwing, 198x Mute Swan, 25x Tree Sparrow, 45x Yellowhammer, 30x Skylark (SCo)

Elford
136x Mute Swan, 1x Black Swan and 67x Mute Swan at Croxall (SCo)

Aqualate
Water Rail (photo below) and Marsh Tit (PLB)

Monday 29th December 2014

Tittesworth Res
Bittern showing on main resv in bay opposite main car park to right of fishing lodge (SGi)

 A great set of photos of the Tittesworth Bittern taken by Steve Gibson

Blithfield Res
4x Bewick's Swan still present, in Blythe Bay this morning (GP, AM)

Belvide Resv
3w Caspian Gull in the roost plus 2x adult Yellow-legged Gulls (RBA)

Chasewater
Ad Caspian Gull in the roost at 15:30hrs

Westport Lake
Redhead Smew at top of main lake this morning (WMo)

Doxey Marshes
Water Pipit this morning (CBa)

Water Pipit by Chris Ballance

Rickerscote Water Meadows, Stafford
9x Ruff, 4x Dunlin, 18x Snipe, c150 Wigeon, Little Egret & Shelduck (CDa)

Ford Green/Chatterley Valley
1st winter Stonechat, drake Teal, Little Grebe, Snipe, and 3 Common Gull (JJo)

Knenhall - Moddershall
at least two male Tree Sparrows at 12:00hrs (BB JB)

Elford
126x Mute Swan with 64x Mute Swan at Croxall (SCo)

Whitemoor Haye
262x Mute Swan, 1x Grey Wagtail, 15x Tree Sparrow, 40x Yellowhammer, 1x Green Sandpiper, 79x Wigeon, 1x Goldeneye, 1x Snipe (SCo)

Sunday 28th December 2014

Blithfield Res
4x Bewick's Swan off Beech Tree Point (GJM) and still present to 14:00hrs (IBu) at least

 The Blithfield Bewick's Swans by Rich Powell.

Belvide Resv
3w Caspian Gull in the roost

Aqualate
1st winter drake Scaup, 3x Pintail, Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher (IG)

Cop Mere
6x Goldeneye, 12x Goosander, 2x Water Rail, 1x Little Egret (AHa)

Whitemoor Haye
54x Wigeon, 400+ Lapwing, 80+ Golden Plover, 1x Redshank, 1x Grey Partridge, 1x Merlin (SCo)

Alrewas GP
239x Wigeon, 1x Grey Wagtail (SCo)

Hanley Forest Park
imm drk Smew again this morning (BB JB)

Rough Close - Stallington
100x Pink-footed Goose over NW also a Merlin (AR)

Saturday 27th December 2014

Dimmingsdale
80x Lapwing, 500x Redwing, 150x Fieldfare, 12x Meadow Pipit all moving to the south and west (TEy)

Chasewater
Adult Med Gull, 4x YL Gull (CWG-sightings). Also 1w Caspian Gull at 14:15hrs

River Sow Meadows Stafford
2x Raven, 2x Stonechat, 50x Golden Plover, 350x Lapwing, 296x Fieldfare heading south, 39x Redwing, 8x Mistle Thrush, 2x Kingfisher, 12x Snipe & a single Lesser Redpoll (RSw)

Hanley Forest Park
No sign of imm drk SMEW at 10:00hrs

Boxing Day 26th December 2014

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull again in the roost also adult Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull (CWG_Sightings)

Hanley Forest Park
Imm drake Smew again at 07:45

Knypersley Resv
Water Rail still present (GBr)

Caverswall \ Blythe Bridge
Male Blackcap, 60x Golden Plover over, 13x Meadow Pipit, 7x Fieldfare, 2x Kestrel & 2x Treecreeper (ARa)

Christmas Day 25th December 2014

Chasewater Res
Adult Iceland Gull in roost this evening, also 3x Caspian Gull (ad,1w,2w), 2x ad Med Gull, ad YL Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Dimmingsdale
Blackcap this morning on feeder (TEy)

Wednesday 24th December 2014

Stoke-on-Trent
Imm drake Smew still present at Hanley Forest Park 07:45hrs and to 13:30hrs at least (PJ, SS)

Hanley Forest Park Smew today by Lou (top pic) and by Steve Seal (above)

Radial Park, Stoke-on-Trent
8x Snipe, 2x Willow Tit (DCo)

River Sow Meadows, Stafford
2x Chiffchaff, 4x Grey Wagtail, 125x Pied Wagtail, 5x Goldcrest, 2x Stonechat, 75x Golden Plover, 176x Wigeon, 2x Goosander, 4x Little Grebe (RSw)

Hanchurch Woods
At dusk 4x Woodcock, 3x Tawny Owl, 300x Rook roosted - also this afternoon c200 Goldfinch, c70 Lesser Redpoll, c60 Siskin (NDP)

Tuesday 23rd December 2014

Blithfield Res
2x adult Caspian Gull also 4x adult YL Gull (GJM)

Chasewater
2x Caspian Gull (adult and 2nd winter) 2x adult YL Gull, adult Med Gull

Hanley Forest Park
Redhead Smew again

Branston Gravel Pits

6x Ruff, Redshank, 2x Goosander, 15x Shelduck, 6x Gadwall, 32x Wigeon, 9x Little Grebe, (JW)
 

Branston Water Park

6x Shoveler, 18x Pochard, Kingfisher. (JW)

 

Barton Marina

Common Gull (JW)

Belvide Res
2nd winter Caspian Gull in the roost

Monday 22nd December 2014

Parkhall CP
Red Kite over this morning (PSa)

Sunday 21st December 2014

Rudyard

58x Pink-footed Geese over east at 10:40 (SS)

Belvide Resv

1w Caspian Gull in roost plus 4x Yellow-legged Gulls

Chasewater

3x Caspian Gulls (adult + 2x 2w), 4x Yellow-legged Gulls and adult Mediterranean Gull (@CWG_sightings)

Alrewas GP
60x Lapwing, 54x Wigeon, 2x Goldeneye, 2x Gadwall, 7x Chiffchaff, 2x Goldcrest (@BirderAlrewas)

Whitemoor Haye
85+ Tufted Duck, 51x Wigeon, 252x Mute Swans, 346x Lapwing, 10x Goldeneye, 50+ Yellowhammers, 10+ Tree Sparrows, 1x GBBG (SCo) 

Doxey Marshes
Little Egret, Shelduck, Stonechat, 10x Goosander, 8x Shoveler, 2x Water Rail (@ScottoftheMarsh)

Hatherton Resv
2x Goosander (SHLBa)

Saturday 20th December 2014

Doxey Marsh
8x Gadwall, 9x Shoveler, 9x Wigeon, 180x Teal, 4x Pochard, 2x Goosander, 24x Tufted Duck, Shelduck, 8x Lapwing, Kingfisher, Water Rail (RSw)

Whitemoor Haye. 

1400x Lapwing, 77x Golden Plover, 51x Wigeon, Goldeneye, 254x Mute Swan, 30x Yellowhammer, 25x Tree Sparrow also 54x Mute Swan circa Croxall (SC)

Branston GP
1x Goosander, 1x Curlew, 12x Shelduck, 52x Wigeon (SBN)

Blithfield Res
c1000 Teal, c500 Wigeon, 26x Goldeneye, 4x Goosander, 3x Gadwall, 3x Little Grebe, 8x Pochard, Shelduck, 3x Little Grebe, 19x Tufted Duck, Siskin, Redpoll, Barnacle Goose (SE HF)

Silverdale CP
7x Goosander (PJ)

Tunstall Park, Stoke-on-Trent
3x Goosander (ALo)

Friday 19th December 2014

Chasewater
Adult Caspian Gull in the roost also 4x YL Gull, 3x adult Med Gull

Silverdale CP
5x Goosander (PCa) 

Thursday 18th December 2014

Hanley Forest Park
Redhead Smew still present this morning (DKe)

Belvide Res
3rd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost


Silverdale CP
11x Goosander (PCa) 

Wednesday 17th December 2014

Hanley Forest Park, Stoke-on-Trent
redhead Smew present till dusk and showing well. Bird also present yesterday. (GBr)

Branston Gravel Pits
6x Ruff, Green Sandpiper, 19x Curlew, c100 Great Black-backed Gull, c150 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 36x Herring Gull, Little Egret, 13x Shelduck, 25x Wigeon, 5x Pochard, 7x Gadwall & Cetti's Warbler (JWo)

Tuesday 16th December 2014

Chasewater
Hybrid Ring-billed Gull x LBBG again in the roost at 15:15 (@Midlandsbirder)
2x Caspian Gull (2nd winter and probable adult)  3x adult YL Gull, adult Med Gull also in the roost

Belvide Res
3rd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost

Monday 15th December 2014

Chasewater
Great Northern Diver still off Target Point, 2x Caspian Gull ( 1st  and 2nd winter ) in the roost also 2x adult Med Gull

Branston GP
Adult Caspian Gull, 108x GBBG, 8x Ruff, 18x Curlew, Redshank, 61x Lapwing, 13x Shelduck, c40x Wigeon, 13x Gadwall, 6x Pochard, 13x Little Grebe, c30x Skylark, 6x Yellowhammer (JW)

Belvide Resv
3w Caspian Gull in roost

Coven
Ring-necked Parakeet flew south at 09:10

Stafford
Peregrine hunting over town centre at 09:20 (AB)

Parkhall CP
Little Grebe, 2x Willow Tit, Kingfisher, 3x Goldcrest, Treecreeper (SSt)

Sunday 14th December 2014

Blithfield Resv
Ad Caspian Gull in Tad Bay roost, 17x Goosander, 9x Goldeneye (@rpintean)

Belvide Resv
2x Caspian Gull (3w + 1w) plus adult LBBG x Ring-billed Gull hybrid (same bird roosted at Chasewater last night) (@BelvideBirding)

Chasewater
Juv Great Northern Diver, 2x Caspian Gulls (adult + 2w), ad Mediterranean Gull, 4x Yellow-legged Gulls (3 adults + 2w) (@CWG_sightings)

Caverswall - Blythe Bridge
Yellowhammer, 10x Lapwing, 7x Meadow Pipit, 12x Fieldfare, 7x Redwing, 2x Kestrel (AR)

Radial Park
16x Snipe, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, 10x Mipit, 4x Reed Bunting, 4x Bullfinch, 2x Kestrel, Treecreeper  (DC)

Westport Lake
imm drake Smew still present plus Chiffchaff, 2x Goosander briefly and a Little Grebe.

Smew by Steve Seal

Silverdale CP
Female Shoveler (PC)

Saturday 13th December 2014

Westport Lake
Redhead Smew again present today

Smew by Steve Seal

Alrewas
8x Ruff on floods north of Alrewas (SC)

Chasewater
2x Caspian Gull (2nd winters) in the roost also adult Med Gull

Belvide Res
1st winter and 3rd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost

Barlaston Downs
40x Siskin, 6x Stock Dove (AR)

Knypersley Resv
Water Rail again present (GBr)

Friday 12th December 2014

Belvide Res
3x Caspian Gull  (1st, 2nd and 3rd winter) again in the roost

Alton - Denstone

Kingfisher and 2x Grey Wagtail along the old Uttoxeter Canal (AR)

Branston Gravel Pits

6x Redshank, 20x Curlew, c30x Lapwing, 12x Shelduck, 7x Pochard, 5x Gadwall, 26x Wigeon, 5x Shoveler, 13x Little Grebe, Peregrine, c12x Skylark, 4x Yellowhammer. (JW)

Manifold Valley
4 or 5 Marsh Tit and a single Willow Tit (TEy)

Marsh Tit by Terry Eyre

Thursday 11th December 2014

Belvide Res
3x Caspian Gull in the roost (1st, 2nd and 3rd winter)

Wednesday 10th December 2014

Tittesworth Res
Dark-bellied Brent Goose still

Belvide Res
1st winter and 3rd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost

Alvecote
1st winter Scaup reported on Pretty Pigs Pool (RSm)

Westport Lake
Drk Pintail late PM

Tuesday 9th December 2014

Chasewater
Adult Bewick's Swan this afternoon

Branston Gravel Pits

18x Curlew, 2x Redshank, c200x Lapwing, Snipe, 9x Shelduck, 48x Wigeon, 9x Pochard, 5x Gadwall, 12x Little Grebe, 6x GBB Gull (JW)

Maybank, Newcastle-under-Lyme
c80 Pink-footed Geese flew over calling and were visible against the clouds 20:00hrs (NJS)

Tittesworth Res
Brent Goose still also Little Egret (HD)

Monday 8th December 2014

Belvide Resv
2x Little Egret at west end and Shelduck (@BelvideBirder)

Westport Lake
2x Goldeneye, 7x Pochard, 2x Herring Gull

Sunday 7th December 2014

Tittesworth Resv
Dark-bellied Brent Goose in field west of north end of resv with Canada Geese (@rpintean)

Tittesworth Brent Goose. Photos (top) Steve Gibson and Richard Powell

Belvide Resv
2x Caspian Gull (2w & 3w) in roost tonight

Chasewater
Adult Iceland Gull, 1w Caspian Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull. Also Herring Gull with white wings and increased numbers of Common, GBBG and argentatus Herrings after day of NW winds (@CWG_sightings, JA)

Aqualate
redhead Smew still present plus 7x Pintail (@Ian_m_grant)

Silverdale CP
1x imm drk Shoveler, 2x Goosander, 3x Teal, 34x Mallard, 3x Tufted Duck, 1x adult Yellow-legged Gull (photo below) (PJ)

Bates Wood, nr Newcastle-u-Lyme
3x Goosander, 1x Wigeon, 50-60 Redpoll (PJ)

Doxey Marshes
2x Cetti's Warbler, 13x Goosander, Stonechat, 6x Water Rail, 4x Chiffchaff (PDy, DFo)

Deep Hayes CP
2x Mandarin, 12x Goosander and 1x Little Grebe (RSu)

Berryhill
Barn Owl, Little Owl, 2x Stonechat, 2x Water Rail, Woodcock, c300 Redwing, c200 Fieldfare, c800 Starling (RT)

Saturday 6th December 2014

Chasewater
2w Caspian Gull in roost tonight (@CWG_sightings)

Belvide Resv
3x Caspian Gulls in roost (1w 2w 3w) (@BelvideBirding)

Brookleys Lake
126x Mandarin, 2x Goosander (@rpintean)

Aqualate
Redhead Smew again mid day

Westport Lake
1w drk Smew again today from 11:30hrs (IR) and still present at 15.15 (SMi, PLo et al)

Smew by Steve Gibson

Smew by Chris Bromley

Doxey Marshes
Water Rail, Shelduck, 15x Snipe, 34x Teal & Cetti's Warbler (LOU)

Cetti's Warbler by Lou

Whitemoor Haye

1300x Lapwing, 65x Wigeon, 12x Tufted Duck, 322x Mute Swan, 19x Cormorant, 8x Teal, 9x Grey Partridge, Snipe, 10x Tree Sparrow & 3x Yellowhammer (SCo) 

Alrewas GP

41x Teal, 5x Goldeneye, 199x Wigeon, 64x Tufted Duck, Snipe, Little Grebe & 2x Grey Wagtail (SCo)

Whitmore
Barn Owl at 20.45 north of village, on road sign on roundabout at junction of A53 & A5128 (NDP)

Dunstall Sawmill Pool
1x Green Sandpiper, 2x Teal, 5x Mandarin (4m)  (Chaz M)

Knypersley Resv
2x Water Rail, 3x Greylag Geese (GBr)

Lyme Valley Park, Newcastle-u-Lyme
Dipper on the stream by the car park opposite the hospital on A34 (GSa)

Friday 5th December 2014

Belvide Resv
Two Caspian Gulls (1w 2w) in the roost tonight

Branston Gravel Pits
10x Ruff, 6x Redshank, Dunlin, 19x Curlew, Green Sandpiper, 12x Golden Plover, 653x Lapwing, 11x Shelduck, 49x Wigeon, 11x Pochard, 6x Gadwall, 7x Shoveler, Little Egret & 12x Little Grebe (JWo)

Thursday 4th December 2014

Chasewater
2x Caspian Gull (adult and 1st winter) in the roost

Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Tittesworth
Bittern at the conservation pool this morning from the west hide view the top corner (PS)

Westport Lake
Redhead Smew at 13.00 (SMi)

Smew by Simon Middleton

Ford Green/Chatterley Valley
Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, Gadwall, Little Grebe, 10x Reed Bunting, 6x Meadow Pipit (JJ)

Doxey Marshes
10x Goosander, Kingfisher, Stonechat & Treecreeper (PDy)

Belvide Res
3x Caspian Gull in the roost ( 1st winter, 2nd winter, 3rd winter )

Tuesday 2nd December 2014

Blithfield Res
Bewick's Swan briefly Blithe Bay late morning then flew off SE also a Knot (GJM)

Swallow Moss
Adult male Hen Harrier at 13:50 - different bird from the 2w male reported 30/11  (RT NDP)

Branston Gravel Pits
6x Ruff, 19x Curlew, 6x Redshank, 824x Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 13x Shelduck, 12x Shoveler, 12x Little Grebe, 5x Pochard, 24x Wigeon, 2x Gadwall, 2x Little Egret, Goldcrest & c30 Yellowhammer in hedge at Small Meadows (JWo)

Monday 1st December 2014

Hanchurch Woods
Great Grey Shrike still, take track NW from Lower car park to view clearfell. (SE HF)

Belvide Res
Redhead Smew again at west end. 3rd winter Caspian Gull again in the roost.

Doxey Marsh
Cetti's Warbler, 2x Goosander, 2x Water Rail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Fieldfare (MT DF)

Cetti's Warbler by Mick Turner

Staffs