Thought this thread would be of some use?....
Here are a few sites that I use regularly....
Venus Pool - situated just outside of Cross House, nr. Shrewsbury, VP is my patch!! Over the years it has held boast to some cracking county birds, Purple Heron, Velvet Scoter, Spoonbill... this year alone it has had Bittern, Avocet, Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Scoter, Honey Buzzard & Grey Phalarope!!
But usually it hosts a good collection of species, a 'normal' visit for me I'd look at clocking up 40 odd species - basically, a MUST!!
Priorslee Lake/Priorslee Flash - just off M54 (signposted Priorslee), between M54 & A5 - A good place for gull roosts, this year it has held Iceland & Glaucous Gulls, with Caspian & Ring-billed being seen here recently also!!..
Firecrest is a scarce regular, Willow Tit & Water Rail are usually found here, plus past rarities of Red-rumped Swallow!
Wood Lane NR - Found just outside Ellesmere, used to be the jewel of Shropshire, but seems pretty quiet of late? A permit to access the hides must be sought from the SWT. Large Lapwing flock here & breeding Shelducks, good for Water Rail & waders in passage.
The Mere/Ellesmere - Arguably the best gull roost in Shropshire with 1000's of gulls roosting here!! Recently held Iceland & Ring-billed Gulls in the roost. Good place for winter wildfowl, recently has had Grey Phalarope, Leach's Petrel, Black-necked Grebe & (this year), Great White Egret!! (Plus a Cattle Egret, also this year, just a mile or so away)...
Colemere - nr. Ellesmere/Wood Lane, only recent rarity I know of is a Ferruginous Duck!! But this year it held 6 Scaup! Always good for Goldeneye & Goosander. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker breed in the surrounding woodland & the marsh area used to be a hotspot for Jack Snipe!!
Bury Ditches - Situated just outside Clunton, in the south of the county, great place for Crossbill & Siskin. Tree Pipit breed in summer, always a great spot for Goshawk & I have had Ring Ouzel there in spring!!
Brown Clee/Titterstone Clee - both just outside Ludlow, Titterstone Clee is THE place for Ring Ouzel, whilst Brown Clee is always good for Great Grey Shrike & Black Redstart!!
Chelmarsh Reservoir - Outside Bridgnorth, has held a few rarities, Spotted Crake, Red-breasted Merganser & Black-throated Diver. & is also good for Jack Snipe & winter wildfowl!! (Great place for Common Scoter).
Catherton Common - nr. Clee Hill, recently has held Hoopoe & Woodchat Shrike!! Great spot for Tree Pipit & Whinchat!!
Long Mynd/Stiperstones - outside Church Stretton, both great places for heathland species like Merlin & Red Grouse. Dartford Warbler was seen on the Stiperstones in recent years (also Nightjar!!), whilst Dotterel made a welcome return to the Mynd last year!!
.....More locations to add (or please feel free to add your own!!), there are places like The Wrekin & Bridges which hold Wood Warbler, Redstart & Pied Flycatcher...
But I'm at work & I gotta log off before my boss shouts at me!!...
Later!!...
Here are a few sites that I use regularly....
Venus Pool - situated just outside of Cross House, nr. Shrewsbury, VP is my patch!! Over the years it has held boast to some cracking county birds, Purple Heron, Velvet Scoter, Spoonbill... this year alone it has had Bittern, Avocet, Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Scoter, Honey Buzzard & Grey Phalarope!!
But usually it hosts a good collection of species, a 'normal' visit for me I'd look at clocking up 40 odd species - basically, a MUST!!
Priorslee Lake/Priorslee Flash - just off M54 (signposted Priorslee), between M54 & A5 - A good place for gull roosts, this year it has held Iceland & Glaucous Gulls, with Caspian & Ring-billed being seen here recently also!!..
Firecrest is a scarce regular, Willow Tit & Water Rail are usually found here, plus past rarities of Red-rumped Swallow!
Wood Lane NR - Found just outside Ellesmere, used to be the jewel of Shropshire, but seems pretty quiet of late? A permit to access the hides must be sought from the SWT. Large Lapwing flock here & breeding Shelducks, good for Water Rail & waders in passage.
The Mere/Ellesmere - Arguably the best gull roost in Shropshire with 1000's of gulls roosting here!! Recently held Iceland & Ring-billed Gulls in the roost. Good place for winter wildfowl, recently has had Grey Phalarope, Leach's Petrel, Black-necked Grebe & (this year), Great White Egret!! (Plus a Cattle Egret, also this year, just a mile or so away)...
Colemere - nr. Ellesmere/Wood Lane, only recent rarity I know of is a Ferruginous Duck!! But this year it held 6 Scaup! Always good for Goldeneye & Goosander. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker breed in the surrounding woodland & the marsh area used to be a hotspot for Jack Snipe!!
Bury Ditches - Situated just outside Clunton, in the south of the county, great place for Crossbill & Siskin. Tree Pipit breed in summer, always a great spot for Goshawk & I have had Ring Ouzel there in spring!!
Brown Clee/Titterstone Clee - both just outside Ludlow, Titterstone Clee is THE place for Ring Ouzel, whilst Brown Clee is always good for Great Grey Shrike & Black Redstart!!
Chelmarsh Reservoir - Outside Bridgnorth, has held a few rarities, Spotted Crake, Red-breasted Merganser & Black-throated Diver. & is also good for Jack Snipe & winter wildfowl!! (Great place for Common Scoter).
Catherton Common - nr. Clee Hill, recently has held Hoopoe & Woodchat Shrike!! Great spot for Tree Pipit & Whinchat!!
Long Mynd/Stiperstones - outside Church Stretton, both great places for heathland species like Merlin & Red Grouse. Dartford Warbler was seen on the Stiperstones in recent years (also Nightjar!!), whilst Dotterel made a welcome return to the Mynd last year!!
.....More locations to add (or please feel free to add your own!!), there are places like The Wrekin & Bridges which hold Wood Warbler, Redstart & Pied Flycatcher...
But I'm at work & I gotta log off before my boss shouts at me!!...
Later!!...