Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (6 Viewers)

[Cheshire Birder]

15/5/12 Drayton Bassett pits North 2 Long-tailed Skua over low at 15:27 heading North West. Regards, John

Probably flew over Cheshire then. Shame they didn't stop off.

CB

 

[The Moore-hen]

Extra News for 18th May

3 Black-necked Grebe - Branston on south pit also Sanderling on sandy pit
5 Sanderling - Uttoxeter Quarry

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 19th May

3 Black-necked Grebe - Branston Pits
Osprey - north over Gailey at 13.20 also Spotted Fly
Sanderling - 10 Uttoxeter Quarry, 6 Branston Pits & singles at Croxden Quarry & Belvide
Turnstone - singles at Uttoxeter Quarry & Branston Pits

 

[chris23565]

Bluethroat at Doxey, anyone going from Stoke and can give a lift, please PM me cheers

 

[The Moore-hen]

Bluethroat at Doxey - on fence near entrance from former railway at 11.42 at least.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Bluethroat at Doxey - on fence near entrance from former railway at 11.42 at least.

Surprised there has been no update - is it still showing?

Ta Phil

 

[chris23565]

Surprised there has been no update - is it still showing?

Ta Phil

Male still showing at 1pm

 

[Periwinkle]

Can someone provide directions from M6 for bluethroat please? Will pop up this evening! Thanks

Tom

 

[Brian Stretch]

Can someone provide directions from M6 for bluethroat please? Will pop up this evening! Thanks

Tom

Hi Tom,

From M6 junction 14 take A5013 towards Stafford, over roundabout on to A34 Greyfriars and then first right on to Greyfriars Way to Homebase car park. Then walk along disused railway line (red dotted line on the map) and head for entrance.

Brian
___________
Birding Today

 

[Periwinkle]

Thanks Brian

 

[Rob Swift]

Stroke of Luck --Red-Spotted Bluethroat

Just about leaving Doxey Marshes this morn & chatting to Eric Clare in warrens lane, when the Bluethroat came on the pager.....couldn't believe it!! A quick dash to the other end of the reserve, a 45 minute wait ensued, but then the bird (singing at times) showed superbly off & on, for the next two hours.

Well done to the finder, Doxey regular, Chris Hawkridge. :clap:

Also seen of note...Arctic Tern x 2 flying though + Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat.

cheers

Rob

P.S a word of caution...if your going to Doxey later today,I believe the Homebase car park gates are shut after the store closes, so best to park on the service road.

 

[s.g.]

Bluethroat-doxey

well done to the guy who found it,showing really well at times. great to see a lot of familiar faces.

s.g.

 

[Bigshent]

Good phots Steve. Im hoping its still showing this evening:t:

 

[russell toon]

Short-eared Owls at Berryhill

It looks like they have finally vacated the premises, last seen on the 12 May and present
since the 13 November 2011 with up 4 birds present from 20 Dec to 1 Jan.
Real urban stars these birds who seemed amazingly unconcerned by the daily disturbance.

 

[Richard Powell]

Bluethroat

And a few more, what a little smasher! B

Something I've never noticed on Bluethroats before, and I'm now intruiged, are the yellow blobs at the base of the toes. Whats going on there?

 

[Martyn Yapp]

Although the images are not conclusive, Bluethroat's soles can be yellow.

Unfortuantley could not get there myself, a good record for Staffs, soemthing for the newly arrived birders of the region to un-block.

And a few more, what a little smasher! B

Something I've never noticed on Bluethroats before, and I'm now intruiged, are the yellow blobs at the base of the toes. Whats going on there?

 

[Richard Powell]

Thanks Martyn. I wondered if it's some kind of webbing substitute, to help them hop around marshy ground? But whatever it is, every day is a school day.

Although the images are not conclusive, Bluethroat's soles can be yellow.

Unfortuantley could not get there myself, a good record for Staffs, soemthing for the newly arrived birders of the region to un-block.

 

[sylvia staffs]

Was birding in 92 Martyn but the phone message never got passed onto me by my Mum as I was recovering from a stag night at a friends house and was un-contactable.

A very nice grip back for me :t:

B

 

[The Moore-hen]

Was birding in 92 Martyn but the phone message never got passed onto me by my Mum as I was recovering from a stag night at a friends house and was un-contactable.

A very nice grip back for me :t:

B

Good to see you there Phil and quite a few others I haven't seen for a while...:t:

Cracking bird as always and showed fantastically well just perched in the open at about a range of 20 feet!

I checked my notes as I was also sure the Tittesworth bird was '92 but my notes say i saw it on 22.5.1994 - so almost 18 years to the day since the last twitchable bird in Staffs...very much enjoyed this 2nd helping...B

 

[Phil Andrews]

What an absolute stonker! Cant believe I have seen Bluethroat in consecutive years in the West Mids. How many records have there been in Staffs?