Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (3 Viewers)

[GlynH]

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Knypersley pool at 11.30. Down the bottom end of the serpentine.
Glyn

 

[Wimpy]

Thanks for the heads up Martyn.

Found the Smew in the "Slurry" Pool which I think is the next pool north of the Swag.

Images here http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1711402&postcount=8988

I seem to post in the wrong area!!

 

[The Moore-hen]

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Knypersley pool at 11.30. Down the bottom end of the serpentine.
Glyn

The photos on the other thread appear to show a Great Spotted Woodpecker as has already been stated on that thread by Fair Isle is Best...nice shot...but no cigar!

News for the 24th Jan

2w Iceland Gull & 3w Caspian Gull - Stubber's Green at 13.00
Smew - drake Chasewater still in Fly bay
12+ Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods

Extra News for the 23rd Jan

2 Caspian Gull (near-ad & 3w) - Stubber's Green (+ad Yellow-legged Gull)
2 Jack Snipe - Chasewater

 

[Periwinkle]

2nd Win Iceland, Juv Glauc roosted at Chasewater this evening (per P Jeynes)

 

[The Moore-hen]

2nd Win Iceland, Juv Glauc roosted at Chasewater this evening (per P Jeynes)

Cheers Pezza, some nice shots on the Chasewater Wildlife Group site as always.

Extra News for the 25th Jan

2w Iceland & near-ad Caspian Gull - also in the Stubber's Green / Highfields South landfill area
female Scaup & 60 Mandarin - Brookley's Lake at 10.00
60 Crossbill - Cannock Chase in larches at Abraham's Valley

 

[GlynH]

The photos on the other thread appear to show a Great Spotted Woodpecker as has already been stated on that thread by Fair Isle is Best...nice shot...but no cigar!

Bu***r :gn:

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 25th Jan

2w Iceland & near-ad Caspian Gull - Stubber's Green at 15.10

Presumably having a nice 'wash and brush up' before heading to Chasewater for the night.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 26th Jan

Grey Plover - Drayton Bassett Pits

Extra News for the 25th Jan

Juv Glaucous (from 15.40) and 2w Iceland Gull (from 16.50) - Chasewater roost + drake Smew still
Pink-footed Goose - circled Belvide with Greylags then flew south
Crossbills - still at Hanchurch Woods

Seems the Glauc is roosting at Chasewater but not being reported during the day at Stubber's at the moment, i wonder if it is hanging out at Cannock Tip or somewhere else?

 

[The Moore-hen]

Plenty of birds about yesterday...seems Staffs had a bit of a 'hot' day yesterday...several Scarce birds reported as follows:

News for the 26th Jan

Great White Egret - Blithfield - north over the deep end then over Tad bay late afternoon.
Juv Glaucous, 2w Iceland & 3w Caspian Gull - Chasewater roost + drake Smew on the Slurry pool at 10.00
2w Iceland Gull - also seen at Stubber's Green
2w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost
2 Grey Plover - Fisher's Mill Pit, Middleton Lakes, Staffs / Warks at 12.45
30 Crossbill - Cannock Chase again in larches at Abraham's Valley at 12.00
Crossbills - still at Hanchurch Woods
Long-eared Owl - Park Hall CP
Merlin - Whitemoor Haye by the quarry entrance at 15.00

I'm off to a conference in London with work this afternoon and returning Friday morning so if anybody fancies being a guest updater for a couple of days be my guest...:t: But please nobody find anything mega in Staffs while i'm away...i'm not Bernie Smith remember...:-O

 

[s.g.]

tittesworth today,
10 whooper swans 9.00am on main res opp visitors centre.
s.g.

 

[Steve Turner]

Up to 3 Little Egret (just about still a scarce??!) in recent days at Madeley SW.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Periwinkle]

Actually 3 different Grey Plovers yesterday at Drayton Bassett/Fisher's Mill - see blog for details.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 27th Jan

30 Crossbill - still Cannock Chase in larches at Abraham's Valley, 400 yards south of the turning to Strawberry Hill

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Up to 3 Little Egret (just about still a scarce??!) in recent days at Madeley SW.

Cheers
Steve

Just the one today. See also Birding in Staffs thread for further information

Charlie

 

[tabs41]

Can you be more precise for those who don't know the chase that well, can find no ref on any map,s.

 

[Richard Powell]

Abraham's Valley is south of the Seven Springs car park, accessed from the A513 between Shugborough and Wolesley Bridge. It is mentioned on OS Explorer map number 244 (Cannock Chase & Chasewater) :t:.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Silverdale Colliery

Adult YL Gull on the building site area lunchtime but there's been no sign of the Caspian or Iceland all week.
Nick

 

[bull's birder]

Three Little Egrets still at Madeley at 2pm this afternoon.

Cheers
Craig

 

[andyr]

Cannock Chase Crossbills

Abraham's Valley is south of the Seven Springs car park, accessed from the A513 between Shugborough and Wolesley Bridge. It is mentioned on OS Explorer map number 244 (Cannock Chase & Chasewater) :t:.

Hi All

Although the light was not great at times, around 25 Crossbills were still showing well in Abraham's Valley today, during the hour or two I spent there until early afternoon.

Adding to what Richard has said, they are slightly more towards the top end of Abraham's Valley - the very top of which is roughly between the Rifle Range Shooting Butts and the Trig Point - with the bottom of the valley being the area around the small pools near the left-hand path up from Severn Springs car-park.

As you come up (or down) this narrow valley, aim for marker post no. 151 and look up into the larches along that part of the main path.

Cheers

Andy R.

 

[Richard Powell]

As Eric used to say on his hotline. Thursday 28th January, today's news:

Belvide: redhead Smew from Gazebo hide at dusk, also adult Med Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost, 2 Knot by Gazebo hide at 15:30.

Doxey: 25+ Goosander

Abraham's Valley, Cannock Chase: 20+ Crossbills in larches c400 yards south of the turn to Strawberry Hill.

Stubber's Green: second-winter Iceland Gull at 13:59.

Middleton Lakes: second-winter Glaucous Gull at Fisher's Mill Pool at 12:50 (view only from main track).

Perhaps I should've gone to the pub first? :-O