Overview
For the birdwatcher Wetley Moor is of interest, but not a place where rare birds can be expected (or perhaps even hoped for!) - you more or less know what you're going to see.
Birds
Notable Species
Perhaps of most importance for wintering Reed Bunting, it also holds an assemblage of "rough-ground" breeders during the summer with Meadow Pipits a characteristic bird. Only Common Snipe and Jack Snipe are found on the ground within the moorland area, although Northern Lapwing and Eurasian Curlew are noted around the adjacent fields. Grasshopper Warbler on-site during the summer, with visiting Wheatear occasional. Linnets are summer birds, plus the usual array of summer visitors with Willow Warbler totals probably well over 40 pairs around the edge of the site.
Stonechats regular during the October and March movement period and has also overwintered.
Rarities
Check-list
Current bird list runs as follows (additions to list would be useful):
Birds you can see here include:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Swift, Green Woodpecker, Sky Lark, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting,
Incomplete total = 64
Please note: The only approved and complete list of birds for this site is held within the Staffordshire birds database - contact the Staffordshire County Bird Recorder for details.
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
Access and Facilities
Main access from the car park near Armshead although access points around the site allow entry from several other points although these not well served for parking.
Disabled access
An edit from anyone with a perspective on this would be valuable
Ground is very rough throughout most of the site.
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
Area has been split into biological recording areas largely according to natural boundaries - details with Staffs Moorland District Council I think
Survey work known
Three-visit Common Bird Census (CBC) performed in summer of 2007 - results with Staffs Moorland District Council.
One square included in the Breeding Bird Survey [any details?]
Possible commissioned survey in early 2000s [any details?]
Contact Details
Wetley Moor Joint Planning Committee [details?] help to manage this location.
Regularly watched by:
add names; jackhaye
Bibliography and further reading
No writing specifically on the birds known;
Some records placed within Birdtrack >> WMBC Staffs Database >> Staffs Record Centre.
Map published by Wetley Moor Joint Planning Committee - any details?
External Links
Please add if any reputable, non-commercial, sites are known.
Other sites nearby are:
within a few minutes travel: Park Hall, Berry Hill,
a little further afield: Tittesworth Reservoir, Rudyard Lake, Westport Lake, Apedale, Blackbank, Consall,
External Links
References
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Reviews
Please add any visit details
