Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[NickPomiankowski]

Gulls

Hi Glyn - the black band on the bill of common gulls is a common feature on a lot (but not all!) of them. The slender appearance of the bill is another reason why it wouldn't be ring-billed though. Btw - you'll never find a book which will give you all the different appearances of gulls as they all vary so much, particularly the larger ones - that's part of the appeal for some and a turn-off for others, but I'd advise you to keep looking and learning but be prepared for a "long haul" on gull ID!!
Nick

i ruled out the common gull because the Collins shows the summer adult with no beak markings. This birding lark is difficult even with a picture and a book in front of you.:-C.

 

[Gronk08]

Hi All

Had a Green Woodies displaying and calling in the woods this lunch time at Silverdale.
Seemed to be doing circuits between the trees.

Tim.

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

18 swift above fletcher road at 7 :25 this morning
also about 20 + at college

 

[Adam M]

my pc is now, hopefully, back to normal. which means i can start posting pics again. i was ready to buy a new one, but my mate offered to have a look at it and all it needed was a dodgy wire replacing, saving me 400 quid. money for a new lense or bins i think.

adam

 

[Bananafishbones]

Hi Folks
Given the rotten weather coming up this week the idea of sat in a hide is slightly better than getting soaked through to the skin. Dave

:'D

What a Glorious evening, I think the weather station got that a bit wrong :t:

 

[Steve Turner]

2 patch tick afternoon - desperate times!

I can sense that you're all now intrigued, and I can hear the screams of "please Steve, tells us what your patch ticks were".

Well, fear not my fellow birdforumers, let me put you out of your misery;

Tick number one - Helmeted Guineafowl :-O on the roadside driving up to Apedale CP (I was driving, not the Guineafowl).

Tick number two - Oystercatcher, hardly more exciting than the fowl, but a very rare sight indeed on the Void at the former Silverdale Colliery site...oh dear, think I'll be praying for some south-easterlies with rain before I go to bed tonight :t:

Cheers
Steve

 

[russell toon]

I can sense that you're all now intrigued, and I can hear the screams of "please Steve, tells us what your patch ticks were".

Well, fear not my fellow birdforumers, let me put you out of your misery;

Tick number one - Helmeted Guineafowl :-O on the roadside driving up to Apedale CP (I was driving, not the Guineafowl).

Tick number two - Oystercatcher, hardly more exciting than the fowl, but a very rare sight indeed on the Void at the former Silverdale Colliery site...oh dear, think I'll be praying for some south-easterlies with rain before I go to bed tonight :t:

Cheers
Steve

I dont think you will have any luck with your prayers tonight,according to the forecast if we can believe them a easterly airflow is due about Sunday.

Russell

 

[GlynH]

Have a read of this and break out the Sun lotion nature never lies.
http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...aff--and-prepare-for-a-hot-spring-444462.html

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Mr Fair Isle,

Excellent sightings there :eek!:

Went to Tittesworth this evening. 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, a few Swallows and Sand Martins about. These were the highlights:eek!:

We definately need a change in the weather and airflow. What a drag!!

Even the House Martins above the house have buggered off. No sign of the pair that were using the nest last week.

I think there are real problems on the House Martin front this year. I was concerned last year but things did pick up. I hope things pick up soon.

I have seen plenty of Swallows, Swifts and Sand Martins on my travels so why are the House Martins not being seen in greater numbers ?

Dean:t:

 

[Adam M]

bit of a back log of pics to sort through, but heres a couple of the ones i've picked out. i've got some on my camera of robins in the snow, it's been that long since i emptied my card.

 

[Steve Turner]

I dont think you will have any luck with your prayers tonight,according to the forecast if we can believe them a easterly airflow is due about Sunday.

Russell

Oooh goodie, nothing like the prospect of an easterly airflow to get the imagination running wild...ah yes, I can see it now, a cracking male Siberian Stonechat perched up on one of the many lines of barbed wire fencing up on Berry Hill

Steve

 

[Upland Birder]

Two nice shots there Adam B

Dean

 

[Neil-T]

Nice shot's there Adam. Great tits have hatched in the box......7 of them I think. Parents getting busier now.

Sure I saw a flyover Hobby today. I was coming down the bank (Cheadle road) into Cheadle from Draycot. Thought I saw it last Saturday but wasn't sure. Rapid wing beats then a short glide, it repeated this until out of sight. Anyone else seen a Hobby around this area. Neil.

 

[Steve Turner]

Hi Mr Fair Isle,

Excellent sightings there :eek!:

I have seen plenty of Swallows, Swifts and Sand Martins on my travels so why are the House Martins not being seen in greater numbers ?

Dean:t:

Delighted you think so 3

Yes, House Martins do seem to be a bit scarce in comparison to other aerial feeders at the moment, and I seem to remember this being commented upon last Spring too, and then numbers picked up a bit I think?

Steve

 

[Adam M]

Delighted you think so 3

Yes, House Martins do seem to be a bit scarce in comparison to other aerial feeders at the moment, and I seem to remember this being commented upon last Spring too, and then numbers picked up a bit I think?

Steve

think we thought numbers locally were down, but they were actually up nationally, not sure though, might have to search the thread to find out.

post 2277 by russell

 

[russell toon]

Nice shot's there Adam. Great tits have hatched in the box......7 of them I think. Parents getting busier now.

Sure I saw a flyover Hobby today. I was coming down the bank (Cheadle road) into Cheadle from Draycot. Thought I saw it last Saturday but wasn't sure. Rapid wing beats then a short glide, it repeated this until out of sight. Anyone else seen a Hobby around this area. Neil.

Hobbies are on the move at the moment the second this spring over Berryhill this afternoon around 16:00 which seems to be the time for raptors here at the moment with 2 Hobbies,a Osprey and 3 Buzzards during the last week or so.

Russell

 

[russell toon]

think we thought numbers locally were down, but they were actually up nationally, not sure though, might have to search the thread to find out.

post 2277 by russell

Strewth Adam spot on with the post.They were a bit late arriving in good numbers last year.The colonies in the Berryhill area held up well last year and theres a few birds around the Mossfield Rd area colony at present.

Russell

 

[Rockbirder]

Whitearses.

Hey up folks, finally managed to get a little of the Wheatear action this last couple of days. A single female yesterday at work, followed by three today.

With this in mind i hit Tickhill tonight hopin' for quite a few more. True to form i was disappointed and managed just a single male bird. Also a couple of Swifts flyin' head first into the gale force winds that were blowin' up there.

I was hopin' to stumble across a Dotterel or two as well, but top form was duely maintained there too:t:

Oystercrapper at Poxey.

Still not added House Martin to the Cheesdale yearlist despite extensive searchin'.

cheers

Andy.

 

[John Sherratt]

House Martins

Even the House Martins above the house have buggered off. No sign of the pair that were using the nest last week.

I think there are real problems on the House Martin front this year. I was concerned last year but things did pick up. I hope things pick up soon.

I have seen plenty of Swallows, Swifts and Sand Martins on my travels so why are the House Martins not being seen in greater numbers ?

Hi Dean, and Andy, and Steve,

In a way I'm glad to hear you say that about House Martins, I thought it was just me! I've not seen a single one yet this year and judging by past years, I would have expected them to be about by now. It is a bit worrying, I wonder what has happened to them.

Plenty of Swallows around here anyway, last year a pair nested in next door's garage here's hoping they do the same this year.

John

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Berry Hill

Good fall of Wheatears again today with the same count as yesterday - 23. I assume (!) they aren't yesterdays staying put as there didn't appear to be too much rain overnight. Just one whinchat seen.

Nick