Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[russell toon]

Berryhill

Sedge Warbler (in the Reedmace dell)
Grasshopper Warbler (still reeling early on at lower end of The Heath)
Redstart (lower paddocks)
Whitethroat -2
Wheatear -2
Willow Warbler 14 singing males-already up on last year
Chiffchaff-4
Reed Bunting -27 singing males

Russell

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

easter mega-ers

didnt get up early enough to check for grasshopper warbs again

but glad i didnt would of missed alot of stuff

Pintail 2 pair flew over heading north no i dea where they came from it caught my eye with long neck then saw the white on its neck and brown face also a slight flicky pointy tail

Pheasant finally saw a female bird that makes 2 males and 1 female knocking around up there

Grey Heron 4
Sparrowhawk 1
Buzzard 2

Osprey 1 brilliant bird being attacked by 1 of the 2 buzzards as they were all on the same thermal osprey didnt apreciate the buzzards hospitallity

Kestrel 1
Lapwing
Green Woodpecker calling
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
House Martin 1 at the back of screwfix

Lesser Whitethroat 1 this was a swine flitting in and out of hawthorn and a huge bramble patch got in for about 5 seconds at most but was singing all the time

Chiffchaff 14
Willow Warbler 12 highest count yet
Linnet 4 singing males
Reed Bunting 20+

still no normal whitethroats or sedge
redstarts have all dissapeared

 

[Rob Jones]

Westport and Berryhill

Hi Guys, had a look down at Wessa myself this morning and saw what I thought was the Sibe Chaff in the location it is seen before but I really needed to be with someone more knowledgable than me to confirm it.

Nice bumping into Russell up at Berryhill (thanks for showing me around) :t:
Small flock of Redpoll by the OAP home and plenty of Willow Warblers singing. A few Skylarks and Meadow pipits in the grasses.

 

[terryeyre]

dimmingsdale-plenty of singing chiffchaffs,willow warblers and blackcaps but not yet any sign of redstart or pied flycatcher.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Stuff

Hi all - just back from a week in Dorset :t:
15 crossbills at Hanchurch Woods this morning.
2 garganey in Blithe Bay, Blithfield.
Plenty of summer migrants around too since I was last in Staffs!

 

[Rockbirder]

Ridin' Shotgun

Hey up folks, been ridin' shotgun for Mad Malc today down in Hampshire for the Sparrow. Thankfully the bird was singin' as soon as we got out of the car but it still proved difficult to see, as it spent all its time in the carpark scrub. Eventually we managed some bostin' views despite the organised chaos with people almost standin' in the bush's to see our little yankee friend. At one point i couldn't see the bird because of the size of someones lens!3

We called in at Doxey on the way back and managed 1 LRP, 3 Redshanks, 9 Teal, 2 Oyst's and one or two Blackcaps, Chiff's, and Willie Wobblers3.

cheers

Andy.

 

[Gronk08]

Cutthroat Bridge

Hi All

Thought I would take a wander this morning across the boader into Derbyshire for the Great Grey Shrike.

Headed for said spot and saw a couple of birders heading on to the moor by the bridge, so quickly pull into the lay by and headed off after them. As I hadn't a clue where to head for. Turned out I was close but no cookie, they were after a Black Bird like bird, with one just up ahead in a tree.
Also another by the stream along the road.

Made my way further along the road and joined the gathered mass. Located the little fellow and proceeded to flow it up and down the road. Never managed to get a decent shot as it always kept on the move. But I least this time I could make out what I was looking at. Saw one at Martin Mere and all I could see though my scope was a grey bird shaped blob.

Had a walk around Silverdale in the afternoon, over in the void were plenty of Sky Lark and a Male Sparrow Hawk. In the woods were Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, the usual common Tit species. Heard the Green Woodpecker but could find it.

So not a bad day birding, of the explore the Wirral tomorrow.

Tim.

 

[Neil-T]

Day out with Stuart today. Started at Westport lake to look for the Sibe Chiff but no sign of it in the usual places it has been seen before, guess some people are just lucky. Did manage to see a Female Blackcap and a pair Willow warblers collecting nesting material. Great crested grebe is sitting on a nest very close to the edge of the water as we watched the other one catch a small perch. Also 2 LRPs on the smaller lake, they landed on the far shore where a coot chased them off causing them to fly straight towards us.

A quick look around freehay produced a few common species including a fly over Raven.

Went over to Doxey marshes but we didn't really know the best spots or where the hide was, so we just scanned around a little and left after seeing bugger all.

Finished off at Wedgewood where we met up with Glyn looking for the Lesser spot, no sign of it this time but we did manage to see a 26lb common carp (sorry, that's not a bird) plenty of nuthatches and a couple of Treecreepers.

All in all a good days birding in good company.

 

[Neil-T]

What's this?

Hi all, Glyn has sent me this picture which he took on the bridge at Knypersley in January of this year.

Take a close look at the markings and they are typical Ring Ousel. So is the bill. What are your opinions of this bird please.

 

[minkstone]

Thanks for another excellent day Neil,you forgot too mention the LRP's.good idea of yours waiting till glyn left before we shared the pork pie,see you soon stuart.

 

[carlj]

Neil,

Try this attachment.

Alternatively, pick us up next time :king:

 

[GlynH]

Cannock Chase Saturday

Spent the day (Sat) on the chase
Lots of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff around Freydas grave
3 Buzzard overhead, One got mobbed by a pair of raven.
Spotted what i think is a Nordic Jackdaw see pic attached
Stone chat
1 LSW
2 Green Woodpecker
Meadow Pipit
Also a few Butterflies about
Green Hairstreak
and Peacock

 

[Upland Birder]

Great reports on here this weekend and good photo's.

I've been in Warwickshire for most of it and checked out Brandon Marsh, Middle Tame valley. Highlights across weekend have been Little Ringed and Ringed Plover, 26 Snipe and a Yellow Wagtail. Today saw my first 3 Terns of the year.

Another highlight was seeing a male/female Muntjac at Brandon Marsh.

Full report in the West Midlands/Warwickshire thread.

Will check out Upton Warren tomorrow before returning to Staffordshire.

Dean:t:

 

[Rob Jones]

Hi all, Glyn has sent me this picture which he took on the bridge at Knypersley in January of this year.

Take a close look at the markings and they are typical Ring Ousel. So is the bill. What are your opinions of this bird please.

My uneducated opinion that it's a 1st winter male RO.

 

[Steve Turner]

Hi all, Glyn has sent me this picture which he took on the bridge at Knypersley in January of this year.

Take a close look at the markings and they are typical Ring Ousel. So is the bill. What are your opinions of this bird please.

It's an aberrant male Blackbird.

 

[carlj]

Looks like sun is coming out. Should end up at Westport Lake in a couple of hours.

 

[Rockbirder]

Utch Quarry 0700-0930.

Hey up folks, not a bad mornin' at Utch. Thankfully the sun was hidden by the low cloud and this meant good visibility for a change. Early visits can often be spoilt if we get a nice sunrise.

Bird of the mornin' as to be the Redshank that dropped in briefly but then headed off North-West. First one i've actully seen on site, only heard them calling overhead before today. Also there were 1 Common Tern, 1 Green Sand', 6 LRP's, 3 Oyst's, 3 Chiff's, 1 Willie Wobbler, 2 Swallows, 3 Teal, 1 Yellow wag' and 2 Mandarin.

Missed out on Nick's Arctic Tern from yesterday, that would have been a welcome addition to me old Utch list.

cheers

Andy.

 

[mosschops]

Green Sands

There are plenty of Green sandpipers along the River Weaver at the moment - 4 at Northwich and i had 2 near Crewe and 1 at Nantwich yesterday so i'm sure there will be plenty along the Trent also.

 

[Steve Turner]

Berry Hill 10:15-11:45

Yellow Wag 1 (flyover)
Gropper 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Whitethroat 4
House Martin 2


Steve

 

[carlj]

Westport Lake today

Wrens in good voice. Pochard, GC Grebe, as Neil pointed out close to shore, female on eggs near path. Thought I'd got 2 willow tits, until they sang, and I believe they're marsh tits. Does the Sibe go "Chiff-chaff....warble warble"? No see, but heard. And swear I heard willow warbler too.