upstarts1979
Well-known member
Geoff try and get them to do 5th May our spring 'all-dayer'. I will contact Steve Nuttall (belvide)and Nick Barlow (marsh lane) so we can have a 4 way contest.
B
John
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RSPB Middleton Lakes (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter JHDraytonbassettpits
- Start date
Geoff try and get them to do 5th May our spring 'all-dayer'. I will contact Steve Nuttall (belvide)and Nick Barlow (marsh lane) so we can have a 4 way contest.
B
John
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Hi John,Geoff try and get them to do 5th May our spring 'all-dayer'. I will contact Steve Nuttall (belvide)and Nick Barlow (marsh lane) so we can have a 4 way contest.
B
I have emailed Nick Martin mentioning the above date, but it may depend on what other commitments they have around that time.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Managed to get two more year ticks today, a Redshank on the hall lake and 2 Raven mobbing a Short-eared Owl over the bund hills about 1:30pm.
The drake Smew was back to being elusive, just glimpsed in the distance on the middle pool. A Cetti's Warbler sang briefly in the canal ditch and there were 81 Greylag Geese in adjacent fields but no unusual geese were with them.
Geoff
The drake Smew was back to being elusive, just glimpsed in the distance on the middle pool. A Cetti's Warbler sang briefly in the canal ditch and there were 81 Greylag Geese in adjacent fields but no unusual geese were with them.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Nice one John.
It's a shame I didn't go to the reserve today with two new year ticks available, List now stands at 86. I see that the Short-eared Owl was also seen again, still I did see the Great Grey Shrike at Upper Longdon, Cannock Chase, made a change.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
An Oystercatcher on Dosthill NR was 4 to 5 weeks earlier than usual, a Goosander was also there. 8 Shelducks were reported. A Collared Dove and 2 singing Mistle Thrush were new for 2012. A Kingfisher was along the river and the pair of Stonechat were still in the middle section of the reserve.
The year list now stands at 89 species.
Some of the volunteers were clearing the islands on Fishers Mill Pool, just in time for the Oystercatchers.
Geoff
The year list now stands at 89 species.
Some of the volunteers were clearing the islands on Fishers Mill Pool, just in time for the Oystercatchers.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Two Short-eared Owls were reported again today flying around Dosthill bund hills per Bob Duckhouses blog.
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Afternoon visit, a Short-eared Owl was hunting around the bund hills and a Little Egret was on the north pit with 8 Shelduck. 4 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were soaring over Dosthill Wood. The Oystercatcher was still on Dosthill NR and a Woodcock was by the southern meadow but still no Snipe were seen.
Geoff
Geoff
nitram55
Active member
Early afternoon visit today, 2 Buzzards over the silt pool, 5 Goldeneye on the middle pools no sign of the Smew, 6 Shell Duck on north pit along with a Little Egret, a Water Rail on one of the small pools at the eastern end of north pit was followed by a Grey Wagtail on the river close by, SEO seen over the bund then reappeared over new reedbed pool and made its way up to north pit crossing back over to dosthill reserve, a second Little Egret flew north up the reserve.
All in not a bad day.
Martin
All in not a bad day.
Martin
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Hi Martin, the weather wasn't bad either. I did see Snowdrops in flower by the hall. Two Short-eared Owl were reported but I only saw one of them.
The Grey Wagtail makes 90 species for the year.
At dusk I looked for Barn Owl but all I had were 15 Little Egret flying to roost at Kingsbury or maybe Midd Lakes.
Geoff.
geoffw1946
Well-known member
2 pair of Pintail on the north pit and my first Snipe of the year were the highlights. The male Stonechat was seen again and 3 Little Egret were on the north pit.
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest and a Treecreeper were in the Mill Plantation.
The Pintail take the year list to 91 species.
Geoff
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Goldcrest and a Treecreeper were in the Mill Plantation.
The Pintail take the year list to 91 species.
Geoff
toadoftoadhall
Well-known member
Hi to everyone, I am passing your way on wednesday or thursday to go to Yorkshire. I cant find a decent map of where the car park is. Is it easy to find. Any maps of the lakes and viewing hides etc? Directions from the A4091 would be good too, what to look out for.
Many thanks,
toad.
Many thanks,
toad.
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Quiet birdwise, a Stonechat was in the middle section, 3 Siskin were with a few Lesser Redpoll in Mill Plantation, but best of all was a flyover Peregrine as I got back to the car park, the 92nd species for the year.
Geoff
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Hi Toad, If you check the RSPB website it will give you directions to Middleton Lakes. The reserve is signposted off the A4091. The carpark has a notice board with free maps of the reserve available.
For info on what to see I would suggest you check the pages of this forum or the notice board when you arrive.
Hope you enjoy yourself.
Geoff
toadoftoadhall
Well-known member
thanks Geoff, will do.
geoffw1946
Well-known member
A cold but sunny day, many of the pools had some ice on them, very few birds were noted.
1 Little Egret, 1 Goosander, 7 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail were the highlights!
The WeBS bird surveyors were doing their monthly count but I don't think they saw much either, they did see 3 Snipe.
Geoff
1 Little Egret, 1 Goosander, 7 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail were the highlights!
The WeBS bird surveyors were doing their monthly count but I don't think they saw much either, they did see 3 Snipe.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Another cold day and more pools frozen up.
1 Little Egret, 10 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, a Redshank was reported along the river, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Mill Plantation, 1 pair Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler sang at the silt pond and a Willow Tit called by the southern meadow.
Geoff
1 Little Egret, 10 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, a Redshank was reported along the river, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Mill Plantation, 1 pair Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler sang at the silt pond and a Willow Tit called by the southern meadow.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
I see on Tame Valley Birding that Steve C had a fly over Bittern at the southern meadow yesterday, hope it stays around.
My highlights today were 2 Little Egret, 1 Goosander, 2 Water Rails and a Skylark singing.
Bittern brings the year list to 93 species.
Regarding some one reporting a possible Slavonian Grebe today, I didn't see it but will keep a look out for it.
Geoff
My highlights today were 2 Little Egret, 1 Goosander, 2 Water Rails and a Skylark singing.
Bittern brings the year list to 93 species.
Regarding some one reporting a possible Slavonian Grebe today, I didn't see it but will keep a look out for it.
Geoff
Last edited:
geoffw1946
Well-known member
Only got as far as Fishers Mill Pool and Dosthill Lake with the showery weather.
A Brambling was with a small flock of Chaffinch in the Mill Plantation, this bird was also recorded on the notice board by someone on the 17th Jan. (94th species for 2012). Otherwise only 3 Goosander over were of note.
I did notice that the two old hides at Middleton Hall Lake are no longer there, I wonder if they will be replaced? Note that they are not RSPB owned and were on private land.
Geoff
A Brambling was with a small flock of Chaffinch in the Mill Plantation, this bird was also recorded on the notice board by someone on the 17th Jan. (94th species for 2012). Otherwise only 3 Goosander over were of note.
I did notice that the two old hides at Middleton Hall Lake are no longer there, I wonder if they will be replaced? Note that they are not RSPB owned and were on private land.
Geoff
geoffw1946
Well-known member
The last two days have been quiet birdwise with few highlights. Today 1 Little Egret, 4 Goosander, 1 Peregrine, 2 Snipe, 1 Robin feeding from the hand, a Cetti's Warbler was singing at the silt pond and a Treecreeper was in Mill Plantation.
Geoff
Geoff
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