Sunday 31st December 2023

   209 species reported in Staffs in 2023 just one more than 2022 (208) and 2021 (208).

Radford Meadows Stafford

c150x Golden Plover, 300x Lapwing, 23x Pintail, Wigeons, Shovelers, (IGr)

Churnet Valley

Red Kite over this morning, (DSc)

Endon - Denford

35x Wigeon, Green Woodpecker, Redpoll, Deep Hayes CP 2x Willow Tit, 7x Goosander, Wigeon, Little Grebe, (DCo)

Chasewater

3x GN Diver and the Shag still, (SRi)  -  also adult Iceland Gull, Ad Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull in the roost, (CW)

Tittesworth Water

38x Common Gull, 5x Willow Tit, Brambling, 5x Snipe, 7x Wigeon, 2x Pochard, (JOa, LH, KH)

Botteslow Flash

YL Gull, (RTo),  2x Stonechat, (BMo)

Pattingham

Brambling with 40x Chaffinch in stubble, (IMo)

Knypersley Resv

2x Willow Tit, Water Rail, (GBr)

Branston GPs

2x Brambling, 15x Greenfinch, YL Gull, 5x GBB Gull, Common Gull, 4x Egyptian Geese, (JWo)  -  Additional 2x Little Egret, 2x Shelduck, 40x Wigeon, 20x Pochard, 17x Goldeneye, 3x Water Rail, c500x Lapwing, 10x Curlew, Woodcock, 2x Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Redpoll, c25,000 Starling, (DSc)

                                                         Common Gull by Jon Woodcock

Staffs

Saturday 30th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye

Smew still on A513 pit, 3x Little Egret, 2x Great Egret, 5x Grey Partridge, Peregrine, (SCo)  -  c500x Pink-footed Geese thru south, (TPe)

Radford Meadows Stafford

300x Golden Plover, 500x Lapwing, 15x Snipe, 2x Black-tailed Godwit, 5x Goosander, 100x Shoveler, 400x Wigeon, 500x Teal, 18x Pintail, Little Egret, (RSw)

Stone

100x Pink-footed Geese over NW at mid day, (DEm)

Belvide Resv

c160 Pink-footed Geese over NW at 11:40, 

Tittesworth Water

36x Common Gull, 15x Snipe, 3x Pochard, 35x Wigeon, 3x Goosander, 2x Willow Tit, (SGi, IB)

Chasewater

Ad Iceland Gull, Ad Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull, 3x GN Diver, Shag, (JAl)

Alrewas NMA

8x Goosander, 42x Gadwall, Cetti's Warbler, 1000x Starling, (JWo)

Branston GPs

2x Little Egret, 28x Wigeon, 12x Shoveler, 10x Pochard, 400x Lapwing, 19x Curlew, c25,000x Starling, Cetti's Warbler, (DSc)

Friday 29th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye  (please note the workings are strictly out of bounds)

Redhead Smew still, also Slavonian Grebe, Merlin, 6x Goldeneye, 55x Pochard, 2x Gadwall, 21x Shoveler, 6x Wigeon, 3x Little Grebe, Great Egret, 3x Little Egret, 2x Grey Partridge, 5x Egyptian Geese, Chiffchaff,  (SCo)  -  Short-eared Owl, 8x Goldeneye, 2x Pochard, 2x Stonechat, 60x Lapwing, 3x Little Egret, (BHa)

                                                       Slavonian Grebe by Stu Collins

Aqualate Mere

Marsh Harrier over the reed bed at 10:30, (KHa)

Stoke on Trent

At least 20x Waxwing still in Fenton, (BGo)

Endon - Denford

61x Snipe, Jack Snipe, Water Rail, 2x Goosander over, Ashes Pool 10x Mandarin, 27x Lapwing, Snipe, (DCo)

Doxey Marsh

Marsh Harrier (cream-crowned), 50x Golden Plover, Great Egret, Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, (AHa)

Branston GPs

2x Green Sandpiper, 19x Curlew, 671x Lapwing, Little Grebe, 23x Goldeneye, 42x Pochard, 8x Shelduck, 7x Egyptian Geese, 30x Little Grebe, 7x YL Gull, 12x GBB Gull, 12x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 2x Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, 8x Greenfinch, 20,000x Starling, (JWo, DSc)

Tucklesholme

Great Egret, 100x Wigeon, 20x Pochard, Goldeneye, 4x Snipe, (DSc)

Churnet Valley

2x Red Kite over fields and woods between Cheddleton and Consall, (DSc)

Trentham Gardens

3x Goosander, (STu)

Thursday 28th December 2023

Gailey Resv

4x Little Egret in fields to east, 39x Pochard, 3x Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, (SRi)

Stoke on Trent

12x Waxwing still in Fenton, (PBi)

Blithfield Resv

3x Med Gull, Caspian Gull off Beech Tree point, 6x Goldeneye, 7x Pintail, (SCa)

Berryhill

Ring-necked Parakeet near the greenway, (ED)

Prestwood

40+ Red Kites over at 15:50, (JDr)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, ad YL Gull, 3x GN Diver, Shag, (JAl)  -  additionally 26x Goldeneye, (CW)

Whitemoor Haye

Great Egret, 3x Goldeneye but no sign of the Smew, (PAn)

Lichfield

Cappers Lane -  No sign of the reported 4x Cattle Egret but 4x Little Egret present at 15:50, (PAn)

Branston GPs

2x Little Egret, 3x Shelduck, 28x Wigeon, 150x Teal, 20x Pochard, 12x Goldeneye, 2x Water Rail, 19x Curlew, 300x Lapwing, 2x Cetti's Warbler, 2x Siskin, (DSc)

Tucklesholme

5x Goldeneye, 12x Snipe, (TWy)

Wednesday 27th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye

Redhead Smew still, (TWy)

Branston GPs

c500x Lapwing, 17x Curlew, Dunlin, 50x Wigeon, 200x Teal, 6x Shoveler, (DSc)

Tuesday 26th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye

Redhead Smew still on Bewicks pit, Great Egret, 7x Little Egret, Water Rail, 5x Goldeneye, 6x Pochard, 2x Shelduck, 8x Shoveler, 3x Stonechat, (JWo)  -  Great Egret, 4x Little Egret, 4x Goldeneye, (BHa) - 2x Short-eared Owl, Merlin, (BMi, PMi, MKe, JKe, SCo)  -  Additionally  8x Goldeneye, 54x Pochard, 8x Gadwall, 53x Shoveler, 19x Wigeon, 6x Grey Partridge, 2x Great Egret, 7x Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, 6x Stonechat, 7x Siskin, Chiffchaff, (SCo)

                                                            Smew by Jon Woodcock

Doxey Marsh

9x Golden Plover, 250x Lapwing, Shelduck, 3x Goosander, Great Egret, 2x Little Egret, Water Rail, 3x Stonechat, (GPr, GLl)

Radford Meadows Stafford

4x Black-tailed Godwit, 3x Snipe, 454x Lapwing, 80x Golden Plover, 118x Shoveler, 14x Pintail, Goosander, 6x Gadwall, 7x Little Grebe, 2x Little Egret, (RSw)

Stoke on Trent

13x Waxwing still in Fenton,

Cannock Chase

Abrahams Valley - 8x Crossbill, c50x Siskin, 15x Redpoll, (BSt, ASt)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 2w Caspian Gull, ad YL Gull, 3x GN Diver, Shag, (JAl)

i54

4x Stonechat, (JDu)

Branston GPs

4x Little Egret, 6x Egyptian Geese, 3x Shelduck, 6x Pintail, 42x Wigeon, 200x Teal, 12x Pochard, 2x Goldeneye, 350x Lapwing, 17x Curlew, 2x Dunlin, 7x GBB Gull, 3x Common Gull, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Siskin, (DSc)

Tucklesholme

Egyptian Goose, 50x Wigeon, 25x Pochard, 3x Goldeneye, Goosander, 13x Snipe, Barn Owl, Cetti's Warbler, (DSc)

Warslow

8x Waxwing, (TEy)

                                                                  By Terry Eyre

Monday 25th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye

Redhead Smew on roadside pit, 19x Goldeneye, 2x Shelduck, 24x Pochard,  8x Gadwall, 42x Shoveler, Snipe over, 6x Little Egret, 3x Great Egret, 2x Egyptian Geese, 2x Little Grebe, YL Gull, 2x Stonechat, Green Woodpecker, 10x Siskin, (SCo)

Wall Heath

At least 15x Waxwing still on the Staffs border by brook near the junction of Maidensbridge Road and Brook Street at 08:30, (CTi)

Radford Meadows

3x Black-tailed Godwit, 150x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, 23x Pintail, 15x Gadwall, c100x Shoveler, c300x Wigeon, c300x Teal, (CDa)  -  Oystercatcher, RSt)

Warslow

8x Waxwing feeding in hedge then flew towards the church at 10:30, (JCo)

Rocester JCB

7x Goosander on north lake, (JDr)

Dimmingsdale (Alton)

300x Pink-footed Geese over east at 09:00, (TEy)

Cheadle

Hmmersley Hayes - Barn Owl hunting, (LEH)

Sunday 24th December 2023

All the best for Christmas and the New year from Russell at Staffordshire Bird News. 

            Also a big thanks to all birders for all the bird news and contributions.

Wall Heath

19x Waxwing on the Staffs border by the brook near the junction of Maidensbridge Road and Brook Street, (CTi)

Hednesford

3x Waxwing still mid morning along Cannock Road near train station. (S

Belvide Resv

Adult Caspian Gull but flew west at 11:35, 

Stoke on Trent

2x Waxwing still in Fenton between Frederick St and Clarence St, (RGi)

Radford Meadows

c200x Golden Plover, c200x Lapwing, Little Egret, c50x Shoveler, (IWi)

Chasewater

Ad Iceland Gull, 1w Caspian Gull, 3x GN Diver, (JAl)

Branston GPs

Ashy pit - 2x Shelduck, 52x Wigeon, 8x Shoveler, 4x Pochard, 100x Lapwing, 16x Curlew, 20x Common Gull, 3x Stonechat, c10,000x Starling, (DSc)

Tucklesholme

3x Little Egret, 85x Wigeon, 25x Teal, 20x Pochard, Goosander, 10x Snipe, (DSc)

Saturday 23rd December 2023

Doxey Marsh

Great Egret, Little Egret, 28x Gadwall, Goosander, 10x Greenfinch, (GPr)

Rudyard Lake

7x Goosander, Goldeneye, Little Egret, 5x Snipe, (SSe)

Gailey

5x Little Egret in fields next to the A5 opposite Hollies truck shop, (SRi)

Tixall

Little Egret, Goosander, (IWi)

Prestwood - Waste Farm (SK106426)

50x Red Kite roosting seen from Quixhill Lane, (RPo)

Tittesworth Water

31x Common Gull, 43x Wigeon, Pochard, 2x Goosander, 5x Snipe, 4x Willow Tit, (SGi, IB)

Chasewater

Ad Iceland Gull, 1w Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull, 3x GN Diver, Shag, (JAl, BHa) 14x Goosander, 18x Goldeneye, 5x Pochard, 9x Little Grebe, (BHa)

Hednesford

3x Waxwing along Cannock Road near the train station, (SRi)

Stoke on Trent

3x Waxwing still in Fenton, (SFe)

Alvecote

2x Great Egret, 3x Little Egret, (MSc)

Belvide Resv

Ad Goshawk, Peregrine, 24x Dunlin, Crossbill over, 17x Pochard, 2x Shelduck, Goosander, 2x GBB Gull, 

The Burntwood (Loggerheads)

2x Red Kite, (RGi)

Friday 22nd December 2023

Comberford

16x Little Egret in fields, (TPe)

Croxall

5x Great Egret, 3x Little Egret in fields, (TPe)

Whitemoor Haye

No sign of the Slavonian Grebe, (TPe)

Stoke on Trent

9x Waxwing still in Fenton, 

Middleton Lakes

11x Pochard, 50x Teal, 5x Goldeneye, Great Egret, 3x Stonechat, Chiffchaff, (SPA)

Prestwood - Denstone (SE of Alton Towers)

Still at least 10x Red Kites visible at any one time, (LWh)

Berryhill

Great Egret over SE this afternoon, (CSi)

Cannock Chase

50x Siskin in Abrahams Valley, (IWi)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 3x GN Diver, 

Belgrave Lakes

Goosander, Little Grebe, (MSc)

Branston GPs

2x Green Sandpiper, 4x Snipe, 19x Curlew, 200x Lapwing, 3x Little Egret, 13x Goldeneye, 10x Pochard, 3x Shelduck, 42x Wigeon, 20x Shoveler, 4x Gadwall, 7x Egyptian Geese, 26x Little Grebe, ad Caspian Gull, 6x YL Gull, 16x GBB Gull, 6x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 2x Stonechat, 15,000x Starling, 22x Linnet, 10x Redpoll, 5x Siskin, (JWo, DSc, CEc, MCa)

Burton

Trent Washlands behind Tesco - 70x Wigeon, 26x Shoveler, 30x Teal, 8x Gadwall, 3x Common Gull, (DSc)

Thursday 21st December 2023

Stoke on Trent

16x Waxwing still in Fenton at 12:20, (JTu)

Branston GPs

2x Green Sandpiper, 19x Curlew, 3x Snipe, 70x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, 27x Goldeneye, 18x Pochard, 2x Shelduck, 55x Wigeon, 24x Shoveler, 8x Gadwall, 250x Teal, 11x Egyptian Geese, 24x Little Grebe, 6x YL Gull, 8x GBB Gull, 4x Common Gull, Peregrine, 2x Stonechat, 30x Linnet, 12x Greenfinch, 8x Redpoll, 15,000 Starling, (JWo, DSc)

Whitemoor Haye

Slavonian Grebe still, (CMa)

Wednesday 20th December 2023

Middleton Lakes

Pintail, 12x Goldeneye, 9x Pochard, 4x Shelduck, 2x Stonechat, Great Egret, (SPA)

Whitemoor Haye

Slavonian Grebe still on roadside pit, (JWo)

                                                       Slavonian Grebe by Jon Woodcock

Stoke on Trent

18x Waxwing still at Fenton, 

Catholme

Juv Marsh Harrier, 200x Wigeon, (JWo)

Alrewas NMA

50x Redpoll, Cetti's Warbler, 16x Gadwall, no sign of any Waxwings, (JWo)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 2x ad YL Gull in the roost, 3x GN Diver and Shag still, (JAl)

Radford Meadows Stafford

5x Black-tailed Godwit, 18x Snipe, 4x Pintail, 7x Greenfinch, (DBa, KMa)

Prestwood / Waste farm area (ST14 5DD)

Very large flock of Red Kites well into double figures at 15:30, (LWh)

Tuesday 19th December 2023

Whitemoor Haye

Slavonian Grebe on roadside pit mid day, (ICW)  -  still mid afternoon also 4x Pochard, 3x Goldeneye, 

Stoke on Trent

14x Waxwing still in Fenton along Frederick St this morning,  (RGi)  -  18x Waxwing mid afternoon, (ALo)

Alrewas NMA

Still at least 6x Waxwing in the NMA car park, Great Egret flew south, (BHa)

                                                                   By GJ Mant

Cannock Chase

c20 Crossbill in Abrahams Valley, (TJa)

Tucklesholme

Goldeneye, 7x Pochard, 9x Wigeon, (JTu)

Croxall

Great Egret, 5x Redshank, (ICW)

Chasewater

2x ad YL Gull, no sign of the ad Iceland Gull, 3x GN Diver still, (JAl)

Branston GPs

Juv Marsh Harrier, Ruff, 2x Green Sandpiper, 21x Curlew, 250x Lapwing, 2x Snipe, 2x Little Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, 3x Shelduck, 8x Goldeneye, 32x Pochard, 32x Wigeon, 8x Gadwall, 20x Shoveler, 200+ Teal, 6x Egyptian Geese, 20x Little Grebe, 4x YL Gull, 8x GBB Gull, 4x Common Gull, 2x Green Woodpecker, 3x Stonechat, 2x Cetti's Warbler, 15,000x Starling, 8x Greenfinch, 10x Redpoll, 5x Siskin, 100x Stock Dove, (JWo)

 

Monday 18 December 2023

Alrewas NMA

9x Waxwing this morning, 22x Gadwall, 2x Little Egret, 3x Cetti's Warbler, Little Grebe, 8x Siskin, (JWo)  -  Waxwings still later by the Royal Artillery garden, (DJL, JNL)

                                                                 By Jon Woodcock

Brookleys Lake

Great Egret, Wigeon, Little Grebe, late morning, (ALa)

Stoke on Trent

12x Waxwing still in Fenton on Clarence St, 

Coombes Valley

c60 Pink-footed Geese over SSE at 11:55, (PBe)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 2x ad YL Gull, also 3x GN Diver and Shag still, (JAl)

Branston GPs

2x Green Sandpiper, Ruddy Shelduck, 2x Shelduck, 5x Goldeneye, 2x Pochard, 6x Shoveler, 2x Egyptian Geese, 6x Little Grebe, 8x YL Gull, 14x GBB Gull, 4x Common Gull, 15,000x Starling, (JWo)

Catholme (footpath)

Peregrine, 20x Wigeon, 100x Teal, Goldeneye, (JWo)

Sunday 17th December 2023

Uttoxeter Quarry

4x Golden Plover, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 300x Lapwing, Shelduck, 2x Pintail, 6x Goosander, 11x Shoveler, 30x Gadwall, 115x Wigeon, 477x Teal, 2x Stonechat, (RPo)

Rudyard Lake

10x Goosander, 4x Little Egret, 47x Wigeon, 18x Teal, 8x Snipe, (SSe)

Doxey Marsh

800x Golden Plover, Woodcock, 175x Lapwing, 39x Snipe, Great Egret, 2x Little Egret, 4x Stonechat, 2x GBB Gull, Barn Owl, (MBo, WeBS)

Radford Meadows Stafford

112x Golden Plover, 526x Lapwing, 3x Black-tailed Godwit, 10x Snipe, 333x Wigeon, 24x Pintail, 44x Shoveler, 432x Teal, Great Egret, 2x Little Egret, (CDa, WeBS)

Gailey Resv

64x Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, 2x Gadwall, (SRi)

Tittesworth Water

2x Goosander, 20x Wigeon, 4x Mandarin, Pochard, 9x Snipe, 2x Willow Tit, 55x Pink-footed Geese over east, (JWo, LH)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 1w Caspian Gull, 4w YL Gull, also 3x GN Diver still, (JAl)

Branston GPs

Male Merlin, 2x Green Sandpiper, 250x Lapwing, 16x Snipe, Curlew, Great Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, 2x Shelduck, 12x Shoveler, 8x Goldeneye, 36x Wigeon, 250x Teal, 10x Pochard, 2x Egyptian Geese, 7x YL Gull, 4x Common Gull, 9x GBB Gull, Little Egret, Green Woodpecker, 20x Redpoll, 8x Siskin, 25x Linnet, (JWo, CEc, DSc)

Saturday 16th December 2023

Middleton Lakes

13x Goldeneye, 3x Pochard, Shelduck, 60x Teal, 2x Great Egret, 3x Stonechat, (SPA)

Whitemoor Haye

c300 Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, 4x Grey Partridge, 9x Goldeneye, 14x Pochard, 92x Teal, 20x Wigeon, 51x Shoveler, 15x Gadwall, GBB Gull, YL Gull, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Egret, Little Egret, 6x Stonechat, 4x Little Grebe, (SCo)

Tamworth

Borrowpit Lake - 7x Goosander, 4x Little Egret, 3x Little Grebe, (MSc)

Chatterley Whitfield

Little Egret, Stonechat, (SHi)

Newcastle

9x Waxwing in Basford at Balloon St, 

Tittesworth Water

28x Common Gull, 10x Goosander, 6x Wigeon, Pochard, 5x Teal, 3x Snipe, Willow Tit, (SGi, IB)

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 3w Caspian Gull, 2x YL Gull in the roost, 3x GN Diver, Shag, 

Endon STW

Stonechat, Barn Owl, 49x Lapwing, 30x Pied Wagtail, Brown Hare, (GBr)

Branston GPs

Male Merlin, c300 Pink-footed Geese east at 13:44, 5x Egyptian Geese, 3x Shelduck, 30x Wigeon, 250x Teal, Goldeneye, 14x Curlew, 250x Lapwing, Ruff, 4x Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, c15,000 Starling, 4x Siskin, (DSc)  -  c300x Pink-footed Geese over NE at 14:30, (SJT)

Tucklesholme

2x Little Egret, 85x Wigeon, 20x Teal, 40x Pochard, 2x Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, Barn Owl, (DSc)

Claymills

2x Great Egret, Little Egret, 30x Wigeon, (DSc)

Belvide Resv

35x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, Barn Owl, 2x Goshawk, GBB Gull, YL Gull, 13x Yellowhammer, 7x Goosander, Shelduck, Mandarin, 

Alrewas NMA

2x Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, 3,000x Starling heading towards Branston, Cetti's Warbler, - Catholme 4x Shelduck, (JWo)  -  5x Waxwing this am (RBe)

                                                           Waxwing by Rob Bendelow

Friday 15th December 2023

Endon - Denford

2x Jack Snipe, 47x Snipe, 13x Wigeon, 66x Teal, 2x Water Rail, Green Woodpecker, (DCo)

Depp Hayes CP

3x Goosander, 30x Wigeon, c50 Teal also a further 6x Goosander on the Newsprings Pool, (DCo)

Stoke on Trent

8x Waxwing still in Fenton, 

Branston GPs

Female Merlin, Ruff, Dunlin, Redshank, 2x Green Sandpiper, 4x Snipe, 150x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, 5x Shelduck, 11x Goldeneye, 18x Pochard, 28x Wigeon, 16x Gadwall, 250x Teal, 16x Shoveler, 9x Egyptian Geese, 30x Little Grebe, 8x YL Gull, 6x GBB Gull, 6x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 15x Redpoll, 6x Siskin, Cetti's Warbler, 3x Stonechat, (JWo)

Alvecote

Little Egret, 70x Lapwing, Stonechat, 10x Wigeon, Little Grebe, (MSc)

Chasewater

Roost - Adult Iceland Gull, 3x Caspian Gull, 5x YL Gull, 42x GBB Gull, 5x Common Gull,  also 3x GN Diver, Shag, 16x Jack Snipe, 45x Snipe, Dunlin, 11x Pochard, 13x Goosander, 9x Goldeneye, (CW, CWG)

Belvide Resv

3x Woodcock in the area, 34x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, 

Thursday 14th December 2023

Chasewater

Adult Iceland Gull, 3w Caspian Gull, 4x YL Gull, 3x GN Diver, Shag,

Belvide Resv

28x Dunlin, 54x Golden Plover, 2x Oystercatcher, Woodcock over, imm Goshawk, 

Stoke on Trent

7x Waxwing still at Fenton, 

Branston GPs

Ruff, 2x Redshank, 2x Dunlin, 2x Green Sandpiper, Golden Plover, 250x Lapwing, 10x Curlew, 8x Snipe, 2x Little Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, 2x Shelduck, 26x Goldeneye, 31x Pochard, 12x Wigeon, 12x Gadwall, 16x Shoveler, 250x Teal, 11x Egyptian Geese, 42x Little Grebe, 6x YL Gull, 14x GBB Gull, 4x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 2x Cetti's Warbler, 8x Stonechat, 25x Redpoll, 8x Greenfinch, 23x Siskin, c15,000 Starling, (JWo, CEc, Dean)

                                                      Ruddy Shelduck by Jon Woodcock

Wednesday 13th December 2023

Radford Meadows Stafford

15x Black-tailed Godwit, c400 Golden Plover, c400 Lapwing, 21x Pintail, 7x Goosander, Little Egret, (CDa)

Middleton Lakes

7x Goldeneye, 9x Pochard, 2x Goosander, 4x Shelduck, 2x Great Egret, 2x Stonechat, 2x Chiffchaff, (SPA)

Leek

7x Waxwing still along John St, (TMe)

                                                                    By Tammy Mellor

                                                        By Steve Gibson

Chasewater

Roost - Adult Iceland Gull at 15:55, 2x 1w Caspian Gull, 5x YL Gull and the GND and Shag still,  (JAl

Brankley Pastures

Female Merlin, 5x Yellowhammer, 5x Redpoll, (JWo)

Branston GPs

21x Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 5x Snipe, 100x Lapwing, Pintail, Goosander, 6x Goldeneye, 18x Pochard, 20x Shoveler, 12x Gadwall, 250x Teal, 12x Egyptian Geese, 22x Little Grebe, 8x YL Gull, 10x GBB Gull, 12x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 15,000, Starling, (JWo)

Belvide Resv

46x Dunlin, 84x Golden Plover, 176x Lapwing, 2x Oystercatcher, ad Caspian Gull, imm Goshawk, Barn Owl, 5x Little Egret, 15x Goosander, 

Tuesday 12th December 2023

Leek

10x Waxwing still opposite the Wellington Inn.

                                                                   By Dave Cope

Stafford

Ring-necked Parakeet at New Garden St, (RBr)

Endon

Barn Owl off Post Lane, 2x Willow Tit, 25x Siskin, (DCo)

Tucklesholme

7x Pochard, (JTu)

Belvide Resv

46x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, 5x Little Egret, 2x YL Gull, 

Monday 11th December 2023

Leek

7x Waxwing still this am along John St, (JWi)  -  Up to 10x Waxwing late morning, (GSt)

Stoke on Trent

9x Waxwing still in Fenton along Cumberland St, Frederick St and Brookes Court, (COs)

Endon - Denford

105x Wigeon, c120 Teal, Snipe, 2x Stonechat, Peregrine, Ashes pool - Woodcock, 2x Common Gull, 80x Lapwing, Snipe, (DCo)

Windy Arbour

Red Kite near the A52 this am, (GSt)

Chasewater

1w Caspian Gull, 4x YL Gull and the 3x Great Northern Diver and Shag, (JAl)

Branston GPs

2x juv Marsh Harrier over the Ashy pit at 13:15, 2x Dunlin, Ruff, Redshank, 4x Snipe, Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, 120x Lapwing, 3x Little Egret, 2x Water Rail, 2x Goosander, 19x Goldeneye, 24x Pochard, 300x Teal, 22x Gadwall, 4x Shelduck, 16x Shoveler, 34x Little Grebe, 2x ad Caspian Gull, 7x YL Gull, 14x GBB Gull, 3x Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 3x Stonechat, 2x Cetti's Warbler, c15,000 Starling, 8x Greenfinch, 10x Redpoll, (JWo)

Sunday 10th December 2023

Pool Hall

Great Egret, 18x Little Egret, 18x Goosander, Water Rail, (GCl)

Leek

7x Waxwing still along John St this morning, (RWi)

Stafford 

Ring-necked Parakeet along Sandon Road, (RSt)

Stoke on Trent

7x Waxwing still in Fenton along Cumberland St, 

Tittesworth Water

Great Egret, 3x Pochard, 3x Snipe, 5x Willow Tit, 8x Common Gull, (JOa, LH)

Dimmingsdale (Alton)

18x Woodcock over at dusk, (TEy)

Chatterley Valley

Water Rail at 14:00, (SHi)

Biddulph Grange CP

14x Goosander, (MSv)

Furnace Grange

2x Stonechat, 2x Shoveler, 19x Goosander, Little Grebe, 46x Lapwing, (IMo, GCl)

Branston GPs

2x imm Marsh Harrier briefly at 15:30 before appearing to head off south separately, c15,000 Starling in roost at Sandy pit, Little Egret, c300 Teal, 11x Pochard, 6x Goosander, Water Rail, 85x Lapwing, 2x Snipe, Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, 2x Brambling, 5x Redpoll, (DSc)  -  SMP2 only 2x Green Sandpiper, 6x Shelduck, 4x Goldeneye, 14x Shoveler, YL Gull, 4x GBB Gull, Peregrine, (JWo)

Saturday 9th December 2023

Stoke on Trent

7x Waxwing still in Fenton off Frederick St this am and later at nearby Brookes Court, also a Brambling,  (RPa)

                                                                 By Bill Goldstraw

Leek

5x Waxwing still opposite the Wellington pub this am, (DCo)  - still late morning, (ALi, SGi, IB, MB, LRa,)  -  Up to 7x Waxwing this afternoon, (SGi)

                                                                   By Steve Gibson

Ellastone

Red Kite over, also 5x Greenfinch in Rocester, (JDr)

Cannock Chase

70x Siskin at Tar Hill, (IWi)

Claymills

Great Egret in waterlogged field just north of the sewage farm at 15:30, (DSc)

Chasewater

2x YL Gull in the roost also the 3x Great Northern Diver (SRi, JAl)

Friday 8th December 2023

Stanley Pool

10x Goosander, 4x Tawny Owl, (GBr)

Larks Rise Woodland

11x Waxwing over heading towards Chasewater this morning,  (GHa)

Leek

5x Waxwing on John Street, (GBr)

Stoke on Trent

Fenton - Still at least 7x Waxwing along Frederick St, (LRa)

Cannock Chase

30x Redpoll in Abrahams Valley, (MHe)

Gailey Resv

44x Pochard, 8x Goldeneye, Goosander, 13x Gadwall, 3x Shoveler, (SRi)

Alrewas NMA

Great Egret, (RBe)

Branston GPs

Juv Marsh Harrier, 12x Curlew, 2x Green Sandpiper, 12x Snipe, 120x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, 24x Goldeneye, 37x Pochard, 3x Shelduck, 420x Teal, Barnacle Goose, 10x Egyptian Geese, 46x Little Grebe, 8x YL Gull, 6x Common Gull, 3x GBB Gull, Peregrine, Green Woodpecker, 2x Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, 55x Redpoll, 9x Siskin, (JWo)

Belvide Resv

40x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, 130x Golden Plover, 2x Shelduck, Goshawk, 5x YL Gull, GBB Gull, Pink-footed Goose, 

Thursday 7th December 2023

Belvide Resv

Knot, 39x Dunlin, Oystercatcher, 2x GBB Gull, 3x YL Gull, 

Stoke on Trent

7x Waxwing again in Fenton this afternoon along Frederick St, 

Endon - Denford

2x Egyptian Geese, 54x Wigeon, 13x Teal, 25x Siskin, 2x Stonechat, 4x Snipe, 51x Lapwing at the Ashes Pool, DCo)

Burslem Park

4x Goosander on the lake, (PMo)

Wednesday 6th December 2023

The West Midland Bird club have asked me to post their appreciation of everyone making the effort to attend the talk by Craig Round at the Stafford branch meeting last night at Walton-on-the Hill.

Stanley Pool

4x Goosander, Wigeon, (GBr)

Endon

50x Pink-footed Geese over west at 10:35, (DCo)

Cannock Chase

2x Crossbill Abrahams Valley this am,  (JTu)  -  7x Crossbill, Woodcock, Stonechat, (DBa, IG, ML, KM)

                                                          Crossbill by Jean Tuck

Himley Great Pool

Pochard, ad Common Gull, Goosander, Little Egret, (IMo)

Radford Meadows Stafford

32x Black-tailed Godwit, 37x Golden Plover, c150 Snipe, c300 Lapwing, 2x Pintail, (CDa)

Westport Lake

4x Goosander, (AR)

Tittesworth Water

Barn Owl, Woodcock, 4x Willow Tit, 4x Pochard, 2x Goosander, 7x Wigeon, (SGi)

                                                             Siskin by Steve Gibson

Ford Green NR

Goosander, 3x Teal, Ring-necked Parakeet, Cetti's Warbler, (GBr)

Chasewater

3x Great Northern Diver, Shag, 52x GBB Gull, (CW) - Roost 2x Caspian Gull (ad,1w), 9x YL Gull, (CWG)

Branston GPs

Ruff, Redshank, 12x Snipe, 2x Common Sandpiper, 2x Green Sandpiper, 200x Lapwing, 21x Curlew, 2x Goosander, 18x Goldeneye, 31x Pochard, 350x Teal, Ruddy Shelduck, 8x Shelduck, 19x Egyptian Geese, 38x Little Grebe, 7x YL Gull, 2x Common Gull, 8x GBB Gull, Cetti's Warbler, 5000x Starling, (JWo)

Belvide Resv

9x Pintail, 3x Shelduck, 39x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, 110x Golden Plover, 2x Caspian Gull, 2x GBB Gull, 2x YL Gull, 

Tuesday 5th December 2023

Rudyard Lake

7x Goosander, Goldeneye, 37x Wigeon, 12x Teal, 3x Snipe, (SSe)

Belvide Resv

Short-eared Owl briefly over at 12:45, 

Lichfield

2x Stonechat and a Little Egret at HS2 workings off Cappers Lane, (BHa)

Radford Meadows Stafford

39x Black-tailed Godwit, 16x Snipe, 3x Dunlin, c200 Golden Plover, c400 Lapwing, 4x Goosander, 2x Pintail, (CDa)

Chasewater

3x Great Northern Diver still at 15:00, close to the dam,  (KWh)

                                                                By Keith Whitehouse

Himley Pool

Pochard, Goosander, (DBa)

Stoke on Trent

Fenton - 2x Waxwing feeding on Rowans in Clarence St off Frederick St, (AFi)

Dimmingdsale (Alton)

8x Woodcock over at dusk, (TEy)

Branston GPs

Juv Marsh Harrier, 4x Woodcock, 12x Snipe, 7x Golden Plover, 21x Curlew, 3x Redshank, 2x Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 250x Lapwing, 2x Little Egret, 3x Water Rail, 4x Goosander, 9x Goosander, 24x Pochard, 6x Shelduck, 18x Gadwall, 12x Shoveler, 300x Teal, 23x Egyptian Geese, 36x Little Grebe, 2x YL Gull, 6x GBB Gull, 3x Common Gull, Barn Owl, Peregrine, Cetti's Warbler, 2x Stonechat, 6x Brambling, 50x Redpoll, 40x Linnet, 15x Greenfinch, (JWo)

                                                         Redpoll by Jon Woodcock

Endon - Denford

3x Goosander, 48x Wigeon, 35x Teal, 8x Snipe, - Ashes Pool, 65x Lapwing, 8x Snipe, (DCo)

Branston Water Park

12x Pochard, 26x Gadwall, 2x Egyptian Geese, 6x Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, (JWo)

Belvide Resv

Short-eared Owl briefly over at 12:45, 35x Dunlin, 40x Golden Plover, Goshawk, 2x Oystercatcher, 2x Stonechat, 4x Goosander, Little Egret, 4x YL Gull, 

Monday 4th December 2023

Parkhall CP

Barn Owl at dusk towards Winterfield Lane, (BW)

Sunday 3rd December 2023

                                 WEST MIDLAND BIRD CLUB STAFFORD BRANCH

                                  Invites you to a talk on Tuesday 5th December 2023

                                  Birds of the Highlands and Islands with Craig Round

                     At Walton-on-the Hill village hall, Green Gore Lane, Stafford ST17 0LD

                 Doors open 7:00 PM  for a 7:30 PM start, admission £3 including refreshments

Gailey Resv

1w YL Gull, 42x Pochard, 6x Goldeneye, 6x Gadwall, 8x Shoveler, 12x Skylark over (SRi)

Whitemoor Haye

9x Pochard, 43x Wigeon, 4x Goldeneye, 26x Shoveler, 4x Gadwall, 14x Teal, 2x Shelduck, 5x Golden Plover thru, 2x Stonechat, Peregrine, c30 Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, (SCo)

Radford Meadows

14x Black-tailed Godwit, 77x Snipe, (CDa)

Rudyard Lake

2x Goosander, 3x Little Egret, (LRa)

Tucklesholme

18x Dunlin, 18x Curlew, 50x Pochard, 5x Goldeneye, (@Ochruros)

Croxall

10x Goosander, 3x Little Egret, (@Ochruros)

Barton Marina

Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, (@Ochruros)

Rocester JCB

8x Goosander on North lake, (JDr)

Chatterley Whitfield

                                                              Redpoll by Sylvia Hill

Alrewas NMA

2x Goldeneye, 2x Goosander, Cetti's Warbler, (JWo)

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Doxey Marsh

10x Snipe, Great Egret, Little Egret, Goosander, 10x Wigeon, 12x Shoveler, Cetti's Warbler, (GPr)

Stoke on Trent

Fenton - Frederick Street/Fenton Park, one Waxwing initially (BMo) then 5x Waxwing, (IBu)  -  10x Waxwing this afternoon in the Rowans at the junction of Cumberland St and Frederick St, (TJE)

                                                                    By Jean Tuck

Rudyard Lake

4x Little Egret, 17x Teal, 56x Wigeon, 5x Gadwall, 3x Shoveler, 4x Goosander, 5x Snipe, (SSe)

Trentham

5x Waxwing on Jonathan Road at 10:30, (NRo)

Burston

Trent floodplain, 2x Stonechat, 3x Snipe, (IWi)

Croxall

2x Great Egret, 6x Little Egret, 15x Goosander, Goldeneye,  Stonechat, (ICW)

Whitemoor Haye

Great Egret, 26x Gadwall, 2x Goldeneye, 4x Golden Plover, (ICW)

Tittesworth Water

Barn Owl, Redshank, 26x Wigeon, 4x Pochard, (SG, IB)

Belvide Resv

30x Dunlin, 2x Oystercatcher, 4x Shelduck, 2x Little Egret, 6x Egyptian Geese, 

Tucklesholme

80x Wigeon, 11x Shoveler, 65x Pochard, 2x Goldeneye, GBB Gull, Stonechat, Raven unusual here, (DSc)

Branston GPs (SMP only)

2x Green Sandpiper, 4x Goldeneye, 4x Shelduck, 19x Egyptian Geese, 6x Little Grebe, 4x YL Gull, 12x Redpoll, (JWo)

Radford Meadows Stafford

40x Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Pintail, 80x Wigeon, Little Egret, (DBE)

Friday 1st December 2023

Stanley Pool

8x Goosander, 7x Teal, 10x Wigeon, (GBr)

Stoke on Trent

Fenton - 9x Waxwing this am at the junction of Frederick St and Cumberland St also later 10x Waxwing in Fenton park, (SE, HF)

                                                     By Steve Edwards (at Fenton Park)

Croxall Lakes

3x Great Egret, 6x Little Egret, 5x Goosander, (TJE)

Endon - Denford

80x Pink-footed Geese over NW at 10:30, 64x Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, (DCo)

Stafford

6x Goosander  at Victoria park, (JJo)

Dimmingsdale (Alton)

Red Kite, 5x Woodcock over at dusk, (TEy)

Radford Meadows Stafford

59x Black-tailed Godwit, 108x Snipe, 9x Pintail, 67x Shoveler, many Wigeon and Teal, Little Egret, (RBr)

Middleton Lakes

2x Bewick's Swan on JW,  Bittern over JW, 3x Great Egret, 2x Little Egret, (RBe)

                                                       Bewick's Swans by Rob Bendelow

                                                                  Bittern by Rob Bendelow

Branston GPs

4x Woodcock, 8x Snipe, 4x Dunlin, 3x Redshank, 2x Green Sandpiper, 220x Lapwing, 7x Curlew, Great Egret, 3x Little Egret, 2x Water Rail, 20x Goldeneye, 9x Goosander, 18x Pochard, 15x Wigeon, 22x Gadwall, 26x Shoveler, 250x Teal, 6x Shelduck, 22x Egyptian Geese, 60x Little Grebe, Adult Caspian Gull, 8x YL Gull, 2x Common Gull, 5x GBB Gull, Peregrine, 23x Greenfinch, 15x Redpoll, 15x Siskin, 40x Linnet, 4x Stonechat, (JWo, DSc, CEc, Dean)

Belvide Resv

2x Caspian Gull, (1w and 2w) in the roost,