Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (5 Viewers)

[terryeyre]

snow buntings

snow buntings at the mermaid pool

 

[Upland Birder]

Snow buntings x 2

Thanks Steve and nice photos there from both you and Terry.

Yep at about 2.30pm this afternoon myself and Terry Eyre walked along the track next to the Mermaid Pool aka Blake Mere on OS map in search of the reported Snow bunting. We met Steve Seal and Ann Pallas-Bentley who had also been looking for the bird while at the same time Nick Smith arrived. Nice to meet you Nick:t:

Terry and I continued along the track which after a short distance comes to an abrupt end but out of sight of the road just across the moor. I noticed some movement at the far end of the track and alerted Terry and saw not one but two Snow Buntings in the bins. I then went back along track and alerted Steve, Ann and Nick who also got to see these two birds.

Both birds came out in the open on the track and sometimes stayed close to the edge. We watched them for quite a while and as you can see both Steve and Terry managed some good photos. At one point we got caught up in a rain/hail downpour that swept in from behind us and with the wind and wind chill factor we became very cold plus we got soaked by the time we decided to leave.

It would be good if a photo could be put on the Staffs Bird News blog.

* I would add that if anyone is thinking of going up there this weekend to see these birds dress for winter condition's! also avoid parking on track and don't drive up it you might not get your car back to the road:eek!: The Snow Bunting clearly use this track to feed and disturbance needs to be kept to a minimum. Also don't walk on the moor anywhere to the right of the track as the bunting use this bit of moor.

Myself and Terry visited earlier in the day and did not see the birds on the ground. However, we did see two birds Snow bunting size take to the air on the wind and although we were unsure if those were the birds we began to discuss the possibility that there might be two Snow bunting about.... and the rest is history.

For me and Terry its been good to see Snow bunting on the moor and lets hope they stay.

Has there been any previous records of this species on the Staffs Moors?

Dean:t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

Extra News for the 23rd Nov

Great Northern Diver - Blithfield off the dam
31 Waxwing - west over Silverdale CP at 15.55
10 Waxwing - over Doxey Marshes at 12.10
Waxwing - over Black Bank
1w Scaup - drake still Westport Lake

With the 2 GND at Chasewater & Blithfield and another in Shropshire at Chelmarsh obviously a bit of displacement yesterday in the high winds. Maybe more to be found over weekend - maybe Gailey tomorrow (haven't had chance to check it this week with work) 

 

[Richard Powell]

I know what you mean, but whether heading straight on (north) from the Mermaid or turning right, then left, you'd still get there. :t:

The Mermaid Pool area can be popular at weekends with people flying kites and model hairyplanes. So that could be problematic for the Snow Bunters, but perhaps not tomorrow looking at the forecast. Otherwise, lets hope they can find somewhere to hide, plenty of ground up there.

thanks, that makes sense. i think the directiosn need changing as they take you the long way round.

 

[The Moore-hen]

No sign of the Snow Buntings at Mermaid Pool by 09.30 but Short-eared Owl

Dean - yes been quite a few records of Snow Bunts on the moors - they are probably annual - just the small matter of trying to track them down in such a big area!

Great Northern Diver - still Blithfield off the dam
Juv Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater on The Swag
2 Waxwing - Wombourne at Common Rd / Wombourne Park

 

[Upland Birder]

Thanks for the latest info on the Snow buntings. Good to hear about Short eared owl up there this morning. Not seen one for the last couple of weeks.

Dean:t:

 

[Rob Swift]

Not our White-rumped sandpiper but in the first film is interesting narration, photos and song of this species in its Arctic breeding grounds. The second film is of the species feeding and preening and was filmed through a Swarovski scope! Hope you don't mind me putting these on here. Take a look its fascinating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqeL4vAYgWo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzTVokJJCvs&feature=related

Dean:t:

I enjoyed watching these...thanks for putting them on Dean. It brings it home to where some of these migrants come from and how far they travel!

I was thinking of going for another look at the W R Sand today, but I take it the place is flooded...(like my local patch!)

cheers

Rob :t:

 

[Eddie the 'ed]

I'm going to be taking a look at Chasewater tomorrow but never been before and was hoping to see the GND that's been there this week. As a newbie, can anyone explain to me what 'The Swag' is and how to get to it from the car park. Also, what's the best way to access Chasewater from the direction of Lichfield?

Thanks in advance.
Damian.

 

[Topspot]

I'm going to be taking a look at Chasewater tomorrow but never been before and was hoping to see the GND that's been there this week. As a newbie, can anyone explain to me what 'The Swag' is and how to get to it from the car park. Also, what's the best way to access Chasewater from the direction of Lichfield?

Thanks in advance.
Damian.

dont know the best way from Lichfield being an ignorant Stokie, but the swag I believe is the smaller lake/pool accessed going NW(left) around the reservoir is quicker from the car park, and the swag is the pool to the left.:t:

 

[Eddie the 'ed]

dont know the best way from Lichfield being an ignorant Stokie, but the swag I believe is the smaller lake/pool accessed going NW(left) around the reservoir is quicker from the car park, and the swag is the pool to the left.:t:

Cheers Topspot. I'm going to get there via the A5. I know there is an entrance directly off the A5. Would that be closest the car park?

 

[The Moore-hen]

Cheers Topspot. I'm going to get there via the A5. I know there is an entrance directly off the A5. Would that be closest the car park?

Hi Damian - yeh the main car park is the closest car park - from Lichfield go to big island on A5 just after Chasewater and come back on yourself on correct side of dual carriageway then take exit to Chasewater over M6 toll and onto car park. For shorter walk park as close as possible to powerboat club and then continue walking around south shore until you come to where railway crosses, turn right and railway runs between main reservoir and smaller pool (The Swag). You can park on the road by the Swag but if it's closest off the causeway probably won't save you much of a walk. Good luck...:t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

Extra News for 24th Nov

Near-ad Caspian Gull - Belvide late anoon
Drake Scaup - Blithfield in Dimsdale shallows
21 Waxwing - Lichfield on Cappers Lane
No Sign of Waxwings in Wombourne this anoon

 

[Upland Birder]

I enjoyed watching these...thanks for putting them on Dean. It brings it home to where some of these migrants come from and how far they travel!

I was thinking of going for another look at the W R Sand today, but I take it the place is flooded...(like my local patch!)

cheers

Rob :t:

Hi Rob,

Pleased you enjoyed watching them and hope others on here did to. I feel that when you see a rare species in Staffordshire or elsewhere outside the county it is interesting to consider and take into account the bigger picture for the species. The call of the White-rumped sandpiper is amazing. I thought the footage of our WRS was quite good.

...and hey I think its the first time we have had moving film on the thread.

Dean:t:

 

[Nick Smith]

No sign of the Snow Buntings at Mermaid Pool by 09.30 but Short-eared Owl

Dean - yes been quite a few records of Snow Bunts on the moors - they are probably annual - just the small matter of trying to track them down in such a big area!

Great Northern Diver - still Blithfield off the dam
Juv Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater on The Swag
2 Waxwing - Wombourne at Common Rd / Wombourne Park

I can find these records for the moors
1982 Roach End One on November 26th.
1983 Tittesworth Res A female or immature on November 28th.
1988 Boarsgrove A pair on March 12th and 13th.
1989 Boarsgrove Three on January 1st and 2nd, with two from January 4th to February 12th.
1995 North Staffs Moors One by the pool north of the Mermaid Inn on November 5th.

 

[Upland Birder]

Thanks for sharing those records Nick. Its really interesting when you look back over past records.

Dean:t:

 

[Upland Birder]

Some of you on here will no doubt remember this bird from 1991. I'm sure it will bring back some happy memories. Its a short piece of film footage (24 seconds) of the Nutcracker seen at Cocknage Wood: October 14th to November 9th 1991. Its amazing what you can find on You Tube if you look. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNpL0m-xX8

Dean:t:

 

[Steve Seal]

Some of you on here will no doubt remember this bird from 1991. I'm sure it will bring back some happy memories. Its a short piece of film footage (24 seconds) of the Nutcracker seen at Cocknage Wood: October 14th to November 9th 1991. Its amazing what you can find on You Tube if you look. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNpL0m-xX8

Dean:t:

Awesome mate remember it well ........8-P

 

[Upland Birder]

Great Grey Shrike

.....and finally bringing us back to the present here is a link to recent excellent film footage of the Great Grey Shrike, at Upper Longdon, Cannock Chase on 04/11/2012 and 15/11/2012 plus for the creator of this thread footage of the Black necked Grebe at Gailey Res also filmed this month. All three films are taken by talented Philip Parsons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO8SVomGIkQ&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh5XE3YxIWU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6aQNmrG70&feature=relmfu

Dean:t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

Nice one Dean - great to see the Nutcracker again, happy memories of over 20 years ago when I was just a lad (well teenager anyway!) and footage from Gailey too, excellent stuff!

 

[Upland Birder]

Philip Parson's films on You Tube include other recent historic footage from Gailey of a Red-necked Grebe, Juvenile Sabine Gull, Franklin's Gull and some interesting footage of scarce gulls at Stubbers Green including Iceland, Glaucous and Caspian species. All fascinating film footage and kinda brings it all alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvkPLhIBumQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_qd0nYuDXw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyij-WSMKIs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3STiOsSqVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi76Odth6yI

Dean:t: