Friday 31st July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still also the Black Redstart

Barton under Needwood
Hummingbird Hawkmoth (JWo)

Branston Gravel Pits

2x Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 3x Curlew, Yellow-legged Gull, 47x LBBG, 2x Little Egret, 16x Pochard, Mandarin, 22x Shelduck, 55x Teal, 21x Little Grebe, 14x GC Grebe, Cetti’s Warbler, 2x Brown Hawker (JWo)

YL Gull by Jon Woodcock

Belvide Res
2x eclipse drake Garganey still at the west end

Gailey
13x Common Tern, 1x Purple Hairstreak (SR)

Stoke
1x Hummingbird Hawkmoth (IBu)

Thursday 30th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
Red-footed Falcon still present.
Black Redstart again this morning (PDe JTa)

Blithfield Res
4x Arctic Tern off Beech Tree Point this morning (GJM)

Belvide Res
2x eclipse drake Garganey still

Gailey Res
Near adult Yellow-legged Gull on sailing lake til 17.20 when flew West, also 9x Common Tern inc 4x juvenile (SRi)

Wednesday 29th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still. Also Black Redstart reported still.

Belvide Res
2x eclipse drake Garganey at the west end this afternoon (BB)

Blithfield Resv
Whimbrel in Blithe Bay 14:00hrs then flew W. Also 3x Greenshank, Ruff, Ringed Plover, 20x LRP, 3x Common Sandpiper, 2x Little Egret, Wheatear, 6x Garden Warbler, c30x Common Tern, Spotted Flycatcher, 39x Dunlin, Yellow Wagtail (SE&HF)  - additionally Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, 2x Barnacle Geese, 4x Greenshank (RCB)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still on old lagoon

Doxey Marshes
10x Black-tailed Godwit, male Ruff, 3x Little Egret, Hobby & 10x Shelduck (PWa)

Phill Ward

Cannock Chase

6x Stonechat, Raven, also Slow Worm, Common Lizard, Essex Skipper, Bog Bush-cricket, Antler Moth, Common White Wave, Green Tiger Beetle, Devil's Coach Horse, Mottled Grasshopper & Meadow Grasshopper (JWo)

Jon Woodcock

Tuesday 28th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
Ist summer male Red-footed Falcon and the Black Redstart still.

Belvide Res
7x Arctic Tern this afternoon

Berryhill
Adult Med Gull with c750 BH Gulls in the viewpoint paddocks this afternoon also Redstart (RT)

Branston GP
Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 3x Redshank, 7x Curlew, 3x LRP, 9x Ringed Plover, Little Egret, 9x Gadwall, 19x Pochard, 3x Mandarin, 21x G C Grebe, 22x Little Grebe, 15x Shelduck. Also c40x Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (only 5 previous records in county before this count), c15x Meadow Grasshopper, Common Green Grasshopper and Roesel's Bush-cricket (JW)

Black-tailed Godwit at BGP today by Jon Woodcock

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper at BGP by Jon Woodcock

Monday 27th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still also Black Redstart

Blithfield Res
Whimbrel through this morning (GJM) - also Little Stint, Sanderling, 3x Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Ruff, 36x Dunlin, 3x Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 2x Common Sandpiper, YL Gull, juv Wheatear (MPi)

Croxall
2x Green Sandpiper, 2x Common Sandpiper, Siskin (@scaupface)

Sunday 26th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still also the Black Redstart

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still also adult Yellow-legged Gull (@rpintean)

Blithfield Res
Little Stint still in Tad Bay (@Ian-m-grant) plus Sanderling, 35x Dunlin, 4x Greenshank & 67x Common Tern (GJM, MPR)
also 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull in Tad Bay tonight (GJM)

Belvide Res
Ruff, 12x Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 4x Little Ringed Plover, 8x Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Wigeon, 10x Teal, Hobby, Peregrine, 2x Yellow Wagtail & juvenile Water Rail (BB)

Endon SW
1x Redstart, 1x Siskin, 150+ Swift (GBr)

Knypersley Resv
1x Little Egret (per GBr)

I54 Pool
Green Sandpiper, 2x Curlew, 2x Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank & c80 House Martin (JDu)

Branston GP
4x Curlew, 3x Ringed Plover, 4x Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin (KJo)

Trent Washlands
5x Little Egret, Hobby (AJa)

Saturday 25th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1s male Red-footed Falcon and Black Redstart still

Blithfield Res
2x Turnstone, Sanderling and a Snipe (GJM MPR) Also Knot in Blithe Bay (@julianallen2009)
58x Dunlin this evening (GJM)

Belvide Resv
Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, 13x Common Sandpiper, 5x LRP, 5x Dunlin, juv Cuckoo, 5x Shelduck and Wigeon (@BelvideBirder)

Doxey Marsh
3x Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Willow Tit, Water Rail (STu SPe)

Middleton Lakes
1x Turnstone on west scrape. Also 3x Ruff, 3x Dunlin (@TameBirding)

i54
1x Greenshank, 5x LRP, 1x Green Sandpiper (MFo)

Friday 24th July 2015

Blithfield Res
Little Stint in Tad Bay (GJM)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still (@rpintean)

Thursday 23rd July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
Red-footed Falcon still present plus Black Redstart

Jon Woodcock

Westport Lake
Mediterranean Gull at 12.10, also 5x Swift & 29x Tufted Duck (SGi)

Whitemoor Haye
Common Sandpiper, 20x Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Gatekeeper, & Common Blue Damselfly (SCo)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still at 19:40 also 2x YL Gull

Blithfield Res
48x Dunlin this evening, 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Ruff, Greenshank, Redshank, 12x Common Sandpiper, 14x LR Plover, juv Wheatear, juv Grey Wagtail (RCB)

Wednesday 22nd July 2015

Blithfield
5x Sanderling in Blithe Bay at 14:00, also 49x Dunlin, 6x Black-tailed Godwit, 4x Greenshank, 3x Ruff, 2x Redshank, 23x LR Plover, 12x Common Sandpiper, 5x Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, 30x Common Tern, Kingfisher, 2x Goosander, Yellow Wagtail, Little Egret (SE HF)

Doxey Marsh
Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 4x LR Plover, 5x Common Tern, Little Egret, c140 House Martin, 17x Sand Martin, Grasshopper Warbler, 2x Gadwall, pair Shelduck (RT)
Also Greenshank, Peregrine, Water Rail (DSc)

Audley
Hobby, 6x Yellowhammer, 4x Tree Sparrow, 2x Lesser Whitethroat south of the village (PAD)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still on the old lagoon this evening

Yoxall
Sandwich Tern flew NNE at 14.30 (KJo)

Tuesday 21st July 2014

Chatterley Whitfield
Black Redstart still present this afternoon (NJS)

Croxden Quarry
Juv Black-necked Grebe still present (TJ, DR & JO)

Blithfield Resv
Tad Bay - 27x Dunlin, 3x Ruff, 3x Greenshank, 2x Redshank, 6x LRP, 4x Black-tailed Godwits (TJ, DR & JO)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
3x Hobby, 3x Avocet, 2x Redshank (TJ, DR & JO)

Monday 20th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still present this morning also the Black Redstart

Blithfield Res
Little Tern Tad Bay late morning then flew south at 11:37 and back again at 13:05 (GJM)

Tittesworth Resv
6x Common Terns, 80+ Lapwing, 2x Nuthatch, 6x Grey Heron, 4x Cormorant (GAl)

Whitemoor Haye
This evening - 2x Common Sandpiper, 3x Common Tern, Oystercatcher, 50x Tree Sparrow (@BirderAlrewas) 

I54 Pool
4x Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank & 2x Green Sandpiper (JDu)

Directions and Access to i54 pool
It lies off the Wobaston Road north of Pendeford. You come to a large roundabout, and it's well signed stating Jaguar i54. The walk starts adjacent to the main entrance. You can park just off the roundabout but only a couple of cars as there are double yellow lines. Stick to the path that takes you through the woodland. If you follow signs for the M54 it will lead you past another pool on your right where there's reedbeds etc. There will be an article in the next WMBC bulletin about the site (MFoz)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still this evening

Branston GPs
3x Green Sandpiper, 2x Ringed Plover, Redshank, 25x Shelduck, Little Egret, 14x Pochard, 12x Gadwall, Wigeon, 16x Little Grebe, 23x GC Grebe, 2x Essex Skipper (JWo)

Sunday 19th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still present

Blithfield Res
Whimbrel in Tad Bay briefly flew towards the causeway at 08:50, also 2x Black-tailed Godwit, 13x Dunlin, 2x Little Egret, 2x Ruff, 2x Greenshank & 3x Green Sandpiper (RPo)

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still present, also Little Ringed Plover, 3x Dunlin, 2x Pochard & Raven (@andm62)

Belvide Res
Black-tailed Godwit, 10x Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 14x Little Ringed Plover, 2x Redshank & Spotted Flycatcher (BB)

I54 pool
2x Reed Warbler, 2x Greenshank, 9x Little Ringed Plover & c150 House Martin (JDu)

Saturday 18th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still present also the Black Redstart

Tittesworth
Green Sandpiper, Little Egret (SGi WLH)

Gailey Res
Redstart, 5x Common Tern, Oystercatcher (@HughieKing)

Uttoxeter Quarry
Juv Redstart, 6x Green Sandpiper, 3x Common Sandpiper (@rptean)

Blithfield Res
3x Whimbrel thru this morning (MPR) 2x Greenshank, 3x Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 7x Dunlin, 4x Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Ruff, 46x LR Plover, 13x Common Sandpiper, 7x Oystercatcher, 40x Common Tern, 2x Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, Barnacle Goose, Yellow Wagtail (SE HF)

Belvide Resv
6x Black-tailed Godwit, 14x LRP, 10x Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Hobby, juv Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler (@BelvideBirder)

Juv Cuckoo by Nigel Talbot

Croxden Quarry
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still on the old lagoon early evening

Lichfield
2x Oystercatcher on playing fields at Neatherstow School (ATh)

Hatherton Resv
3x Common Tern 14:30hrs (@daftoldbirder)

Stafford
Red Kite over Rowley Park at 16:40 (AB)

Friday 17th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still present at 06:15 (@stephengibson42)

Blithfield Res
3x adult Yellow-legged Gulls, Black T Godwit, 3x Ruff, 6x Greenshank, 18x Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 21+ LRP (@scaupface)

Middleton Lakes
26x Black T Godwits, Greenshank, Snipe on Jubilee Wetlands (per @TameBirding)

Branston GP
2x Ruff, 3x Green Sandpiper, 3x Redshank, 3x LRP, 2x Ringed Plover, 17x Pochard, 18x Gadwall, Mandarin, 25x Shelduck, 18x G C Grebe (JW)

Ruff at Branston by Jon Woodcock

Croxall Lake
3x Little Egret (KJo)

Thursday 16th July 2015

We would be grateful if birders and photographers would refrain from parking their cars opposite the driveway next to the field with the Red-footed Falcon in, we have received a complaint that the tractor couldn't turn to enter the driveway in order to deliver hay for the horses, please respect the locals and the surrounding area, Thanks.

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still present today (wasn't seen for 2hrs this morning) and also the Black Redstart.

Blithfield Res
3x Ruff in Tad bay (GJM)

Belvide Resv
juv Cuckoo still, 12x Common Sandpiper, 7x LRP, Dunlin, 4x Siskin, imm Peregrine (@BelvideBirder)

Croxden Quarry
Juv Black-necked Grebe on old lagoon tonight

Wednesday 15th July 2015

We would be grateful if birders and photographers would refrain from parking their cars opposite the driveway next to the field with the Red-footed Falcon in, we have received a complaint that the tractor couldn't turn to enter the driveway in order to deliver hay for the horses, please respect the locals and the surrounding area, Thanks.

Chatterley Whitfield

1st summer Red-footed Falcon still present this morning

Belvide Res

14x Common Scoter present to 09:15 when they flew off, 8x Common Scoter present this afternoon

Audley
Whinchat, juv Redstart, Green Sandpiper, 3x Yellowhammer south of Audley (PAD)

Blithfield Resv
2x Greenshank, 8x Redshank, 2x Curlew, Ringed Plover, 33x LRP, 7x Dunlin, 5x Little Egret, 4x Oystercatcher, 39x Common Tern, 6x Common Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher, Peregrine (SE&HF)

Silverdale CP
Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Willow Tit family, Kingfisher & Grasshopper Warbler (NDP)

Berryhill
2x Redstart, Wheatear, 2x Peregrine, Hobby (RT)

Knypersley Resv
Redstart in fields on east side of Lodge Barn Road and Peregrine chasing Cormorants over the lake (GBr)

i54
3x LRP (MFo)

Tuesday 14th July 2015

We would be grateful if birders and photographers would refrain from parking their cars opposite the driveway next to the field with the Red-footed Falcon in, we have received a compliant today that the tractor couldn't turn to enter the driveway in order to deliver hay for the horses, please respect the locals and the surrounding area, Thanks.

Chatterley Whitfield
1st summer Red-footed Falcon still present this morning, also Black Redstart & Little Owl

Blithfield Res
2x Black Tern  in Blithe Bay this evening, 40x Common Tern, 40x LR Plover, 5x Redshank, 2x Greenshank, 2x Ringed Plover, 3x Dunlin, 5x Siskin, 2x Little Egret (RCB)

Aqualate Mere
3x male Common Scoter today (PJor)

Yoxall
1x Hobby (KJo)

Belvide Res
13x Common Sandpiper, 5x Little Ringed Plover, 10x Oystercatcher, Wigeon & 2x Siskin (BB)

Monday 13th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield
Red-footed Falcon & Black Redstart still present this morning (SGi)

Westport Lake
Avocet, Redshank & 3x Shoveler this morning (NJS, CJW)

Steve Gibson

Tittesworth Res
Sandwich Tern present at 08.45 (SGi)

Steve Gibson

Blithfield Res
Black Tern in Tad bay this morning (GJM)

Belvide Res
14x Common Sandpiper, 4x Little Ringed Plover, sadly no sign of the Wigeon duckling (BB)

Whitemoor Haye
3x Common Sandpiper, 2x Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, 15x Tree Sparrow, 2x Common Tern, 2x Yellow Wagtail (SCo)

Sunday 12th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield NR

1s male Red-footed Falcon still present this morning. Also juv Black Redstart still. 

Can visitors act responsibly on site and keep the good image that birders have in the area. Don't go through the gates at the top onto the industrial estate. Don't stand on the drive to the houses/farm. Also the bird was fed locusts yday to make it show better. Can photographers use field craft please or just zoom their lens up higher! The bird does show incredibly well with a small bit of patience. Enjoy the bird, show consideration and just act normally is all we ask.

Black Redstart by Graham Allbutt

By Steve Seal

Belvide Resv

Fem Wigeon plus one chick present. First breeding record for the county. (@BelvideBirding)
Red Kite over SW at 14:35 also summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit (JJH SH)

First breeding record for WMBC area. Photo by Steve Nuttall

 Uttoxeter Quarry
Adult Med Gull to 11:48, 7x Green Sandpiper, 8x Common Sandpiper, 5x Oystercatcher, LR Plover, 12x Common Tern, Shoveler, Shelduck, Hobby (RPo)

Med Gull by Richard Powell

Blithfield Res
61x LR Plover, 3x Ringed Plover, 3x Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 15x Common Sandpiper, 3x Greenshank (GJM MPR)

Saturday 11th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield CP
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still in paddocks along the entrance road also Black Redstart

Black Redstart by Steve Nuttall

By Steve Nuttall

By Glyn Hyatt

Bobbington
Quail still singing Leaton Lane in field opposite dump (@saltwellsbirder)

Blithfield Res
3x Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, 4x Common Sandpiper, 47x LR Plover, 2x Ringed Plover, 3x Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Little Egret (SE HF)

Coven
2x Quail at Chillington Hall (JDu)

Knypersley Resv
1x Common Sandpiper and 1x Oystercatcher (GBr)

Friday 10th July 2015

Chatterley Whitfield CP (north Stoke on Trent)
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon still this morning in paddocks along entrance road until early evening at least. Entrance road accessed at mini roundabout off A527

By Brian Carthy

Photo by Dave Kelsall

Thursday 9th July 2015

Chatterley Valley
1st summer male Red-footed Falcon reportedly photographed on wires by the road

Red-footed Falcon by Ken Tate

Branston Gravel Pits
Black-tailed Godwit, 4x Green Sandpiper, 6x Curlew, 3x Redshank, 2x Ringed Plover, 2x Oystercatcher, 54x Lapwing, Common Tern, 14x Teal, 2x Shelduck, 14x Gadwall, Garden Warbler, also Gatekeeper, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker & Hornet (JWo)

Gailey Res
Redshank & Common Sandpiper (SRi)

Silverdale CP
3x  Siskin, Lesser Whitethroat, (JMa)

Wednesday 8th July 2015

Belvide Res
14x Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Curlew, 16x Little Ringed Plover, 9x Common Sandpiper & Siskin (BB)

Westport Lake
1x Garden Warbler, 4x Blackcap, 2x Reed Warbler, 8x Tufted Duck, 7x Greylag Geese (NJS)

Whitemoor Haye
2x Redshank, 4x Little Ringed Plover, 3x Common Sandpiper & 6x Tree Sparrow (SCo)

Tuesday 7th July 2015

Westport Lake
Adult Common Tern at 11.00 (SGi)

Blithfield Res
Adult YL Gull Tad Bay, 2x Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 7x Common Sandpiper, 2x Little Egret, 16x LR Plover, 20x Common Tern (TJ)

Branston Gravel Pits

3x Green Sandpiper, 7x LR Plover, 2x Ringed Plover, 6x Redshank, 23x Shelduck (21x juveniles), 22x Teal, 12x Pochard, 2x Painted Lady, 3x Small Skipper, 6x Yellow Shell Moth. (JWo)

 

Monday 6th July 2015

Bobbington
Quail singing Leaton Lane in field behind dump plus Yellow Wagtail, also Green Sandpiper at the Mere (@broadwayeight)

Burston - Aston
2x Green Sandpiper, 5x Yellow Wagtail, 14x Tree Sparrow, 2x Yellowhammer, 15x Skylark, Lesser Whitethroat, 2x Reed/Sedge Warbler, Water Rail, 6x Linnet, 4x Juv Mandarin on the river (DCo)

Stone
1x Hobby (MFoz)

Whitemoor Haye
5x Redshank, 4x Little Ringed Plover, 3x Common Tern & Tree Sparrow (SCo)

Sunday 5th July 2015

Belvide Res
Quail calling distantly near west end, also Greenshank, 12x Little Ringed Plover, 8x Common Sandpiper & Green Sandpiper (BB)

Burton on Trent
2x Red Kite around the St Georges Park area this evening (KSG)

Middleton Lakes RSPB
Greenshank on north pit this afternoon (SPi via TVB)

Blithfield Res
10x Black-tailed Godwit in Tad Bay (RPo)

Doxey Marshes
2x Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat & Shelduck (HKi)

Croxall/Arboretum
Common Sandpiper, 2x Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Kingfisher, c5 Common Tern, also Common Darter, Painted Lady & Bee Orchid (JWo)

Saturday 4th July 2015

Belvide Res
Black Tern at west end also a Dunlin

Uttoxeter Quarry
7x Green Sandpiper, 7x Common Sandpiper, 8x Oystercatcher, Curlew, 3x Goosander, Pochard, Shelduck, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Gull (RPo)

Blithfield Res
Ruff, 2x Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 2x Ringed Plover, 8x LR Plover, 3x Little Egret, Wigeon, 6x Shoveler, 26x Teal, 8x Common Tern, 111x GC Grebe (RPo)

Friday 3rd July 2015

Middleton Lakes RSPB
White-winged Black Tern on Jubilee Wetlands this afternoon (GWi per TVB)

Blithfield Res
Moulting male Ruff Tad Bay also 2x Greenshank (RCB)

Gailey Res
2x Spotted Flycatcher, Common Tern, Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove, Buzzard & Sparrowhawk (@chrisveghela)

Branston Gravel Pits
2x Hobby, 3x Redshank, Ringed Plover, 5x Curlew, 146x Lapwing, 21x Teal, 2x Shelduck, 7x Pochard, 17x Gadwall, Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat, also Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Ringlet & Southern Hawker (JWo)

Apedale CP
Tawny Owl, 3x Curlew, Green Woodpecker, Common Blue, Ringlet, Small Heath, Large Skipper & Painted Lady (JMa)

Thursday 2nd July 2015

A further sighting of a Bee-eater at Meerbrook on the 27 June which flew NW between 15:30 - 16:00 (BLi)

Belvide Resv
6x Common Sandpiper, 11x LRP, 112x Tufted Duck, 8x Pochard, 6x Shoveler (@BelvideBirder)

Wednesday 1st July 2015

Trent Washlands
4x Little Egret, Oystercatcher (AJa)

Cannock Chase
Hobby, Woodcock (MCo)

Knypersley Resv
1x Hobby and 1x Kingfisher (GBr)