Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
Not a bad selection at Blithfield today. 6 Ruff, 8 Dunlin, 22 Snipe, 102 Golden Plover, 7 Goosander, 16 Pintail, 6 Goldeneye, 1 Raven. Also 2 Rock Pipits and a Wheatear along the causeway.
-
BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!
Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Upland Birder
- Start date
JimMorris
Registered User
I've joined the West Midland Bird Club today so now I can visit Blythfield and the other reservoirs now. There seems to be quite a lot of the rarer species visit Blythfield. I not been out local for over a month.
Jim
Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
Five Whooper Swans at Tittesworth this evening, from the north end of the reservoir by the island. Also three Redwings and an excellent view of a Kingfisher from west hide.
Oatcake
Active member
Well, I'm moving 10 miles South next week, to near Marchington. So no more Churnet Valley walks in the evening, but hopefully the small lake behind our house will attract some interesting birds (although not a varied as the JCB lakes I doubt). Currently the garden is empty lawn, so the birds will have to make do with a table and some feeders, but by next winter we should have quite a cozy home for a range of wildlife.
Anyone following this thread live near Marchington or Draycott-in-the-Clay?
Anyone following this thread live near Marchington or Draycott-in-the-Clay?
Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
Hi Mr Oatcake!
I know Marchington and Draycott pretty well, I used to drive through Draycott regularly when I lived in Burton. I haven't walked round Marchington Cliff and Jacksons Bank for a long time, but they're good areas of woodland to try.
There's also the Fauld crater nearby that's worth a look in itself. It was created by a huge ammunitions explosion during the war.
Richard
I know Marchington and Draycott pretty well, I used to drive through Draycott regularly when I lived in Burton. I haven't walked round Marchington Cliff and Jacksons Bank for a long time, but they're good areas of woodland to try.
There's also the Fauld crater nearby that's worth a look in itself. It was created by a huge ammunitions explosion during the war.
Richard
Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
Took a walk round Dimmingsdale today. No sign of any winter finches, just the usual Nuthatch, Treecreeper, GS Woodpecker.
Afterwards I had a look round Brookleys Lake. 1 Raven and 3 Buzzard. 9 Mandarin were also there.
Also 1 Raven and 2 Buzzard at Croxden Quarry.
Afterwards I had a look round Brookleys Lake. 1 Raven and 3 Buzzard. 9 Mandarin were also there.
Also 1 Raven and 2 Buzzard at Croxden Quarry.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
RUDYARD, HERONS MARSH SUN 28th OCTOBER 2007
Tina and I took a late afternoon walk around the southern walkway end of Rudyard, in the late Sunday afternoon sunshine.
We saw :
Mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing of 100 plus birds
Little Owl
Common Buzzard
Kingfisher ( on the fishing pond)
Has anyone noticed the increased activity in the area over the past two years, since the building of the new visitors centre and the minature railway
station up grade ?
Mick
Tina and I took a late afternoon walk around the southern walkway end of Rudyard, in the late Sunday afternoon sunshine.
We saw :
Mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing of 100 plus birds
Little Owl
Common Buzzard
Kingfisher ( on the fishing pond)
Has anyone noticed the increased activity in the area over the past two years, since the building of the new visitors centre and the minature railway
station up grade ?
Mick
Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
I had a look around Swallow Moss this afternoon. There has been a Great Grey Shrike in the area, but I didn't see it. This time last year I saw a female Hen Harrier roosting here, so it's worth a visit.
gray38
Well-known member
Watched 2 peregine this morning at Croxden, saw 1 of them strike a gull down it fell behind a broom bush close to the water,the peregine circled low down then left the area,
I waited 15 minutes or so I dont know if it was alive and to dangerous to tackle on the ground or if it made it to the water.
I waited 15 minutes or so I dont know if it was alive and to dangerous to tackle on the ground or if it made it to the water.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Rudyard, Herons Marsh Sun 4th Nov 2007
RUDYARD, HERONS MARSH SUN 4TH NOV 2007
Lovely walk in the late evening sunshine.
Not much about though, only grey wag, bullfinch, kestrel and the little owl in it's usual roost.
RUDYARD, HERONS MARSH SUN 4TH NOV 2007
Lovely walk in the late evening sunshine.
Not much about though, only grey wag, bullfinch, kestrel and the little owl in it's usual roost.
Attachments
JimMorris
Registered User
I spent a day up at Swallow Moss last week and went back on Tuesday of this week looking for the Shrike but no luck. There have been reports of male and female Hen Harriers there over the weekend. All I got were Stonechat and Reed Bunting in the bushes by the first cattle grid after leaving Warslow heading for Leek.
Nice photos there Mick. I must take another stroll up there.
Richard Powell
Once Bittern, Twice Shy
Hello Jim
For the Hen Harriers, you really need to be there as it gets dark. If you're going to see them (if they are in the area of course), they'll be there to roost. As for the Shrike, you got the right area by that cattle grid from the road north of Warslow. But as with any Shrikes from my experience, you either see them really well or you don't see them at all.
Richard
For the Hen Harriers, you really need to be there as it gets dark. If you're going to see them (if they are in the area of course), they'll be there to roost. As for the Shrike, you got the right area by that cattle grid from the road north of Warslow. But as with any Shrikes from my experience, you either see them really well or you don't see them at all.
Richard
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Rudyard, Herons Marsh Sun 11th Nov 2007
Took a walk around our local patch to day, conditions were cool and breezy.Lots of robins, finches,tits and wrens about to day.
Of the less common species there were :
1 common thrush
6 fieldfare
4 redwing
2 bullfinch
4 teal
4 reed buntings
4 teal
1 snipe
1 cormerant
1 kestrel
Took a walk around our local patch to day, conditions were cool and breezy.Lots of robins, finches,tits and wrens about to day.
Of the less common species there were :
1 common thrush
6 fieldfare
4 redwing
2 bullfinch
4 teal
4 reed buntings
4 teal
1 snipe
1 cormerant
1 kestrel
Oatcake
Active member
Well our move to our first home was quite eventful. First we broke a key in the lock, and worse the chimney caught fire - extinguished thanks to Uttoxeter and Tutbury finest firemen.
On the bird front we've not had much special yet - we're keeping a house list, the most notable so far have been a chaffinch and a cormorant. There is an artificial lake behind the house - dug by the farmer (about 10 million gallons) with a colony of ducks, a pair of swans, some moorhens and this comorant. Oh, and a small flock of little gulls (small-ish and all white, not had a chance to positively confirm the ID). Heard an owl last night - which is great as we heard one at our old house only the week before leaving, and the prospect of missing out was quite grim.
Anyway, not sure if I still count as a Staff's Moorland birder as we're now most certainly in East Staffs, but the Moorland thread seems to have a good life to it.
Oh, and in case anyone reads this before I find the answer elsewhere, what kind of wood is best for a bid table. I wouldn't have thought tanelised wood would be good if the birds nibbled it, nor using some preservative on it - is there some nature friendly method of protecting the wood.
Philip
On the bird front we've not had much special yet - we're keeping a house list, the most notable so far have been a chaffinch and a cormorant. There is an artificial lake behind the house - dug by the farmer (about 10 million gallons) with a colony of ducks, a pair of swans, some moorhens and this comorant. Oh, and a small flock of little gulls (small-ish and all white, not had a chance to positively confirm the ID). Heard an owl last night - which is great as we heard one at our old house only the week before leaving, and the prospect of missing out was quite grim.
Anyway, not sure if I still count as a Staff's Moorland birder as we're now most certainly in East Staffs, but the Moorland thread seems to have a good life to it.
Oh, and in case anyone reads this before I find the answer elsewhere, what kind of wood is best for a bid table. I wouldn't have thought tanelised wood would be good if the birds nibbled it, nor using some preservative on it - is there some nature friendly method of protecting the wood.
Philip
