Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Rob Jones]

A brief walk into Berryhill this morning specifically to look for Painted Ladies alas didn't see any at all! A Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Browns and G V Whites was the best I could do.
A walk around the lower parts of Apedale tonight did produce a solitary PL. The summer growth is making it tough for bird-watching but there was plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats about.
The number of Hirudines seems to have increased and there was around a dozen Swifts high.

 

[russell toon]

Probable Corncrake in North Staffs

Received a report of a Corncrake calling at 19:30 on Friday just north of Barlaston Downs Bank in the cornfield south of the Higher House Hotel.
Was over there 21:30 till 22:30 with no luck and again last night 19:00 to 20:30.
This area is probably worth checking out now and again for Quail etc.

Russell

 

[Neil-T]

Best day yet

Picked Stuart up around 6.50am aiming to get to Belvide early. Lot's of bird song through the woodland on the way to the first hide. Spent an hour in the hide and woodland seeing: GS Woodpecker, Tree sparrow, Jay, Sedge warbler, Reed warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow warbler and Treecreeper, plus other common species.

West hide produced the goods. We were viewing the far bank and islands when someone reported a Osprey viewable from the lane, we got there and had views of it for a while being mobbed by crows. On the way back to the hide a shout came along that 7 Black tailed godwits had just landed, had really good views of them for a long time. Back to scanning the shoreline having good views of: Dunlin, LRPs, Lapwings, Black tern, Common tern, Shovellers, Pochard, Gadwall and a nice Dog fox in grreat condition.

Thinking that was it for the day as it was around 2.30pm we decided to go and try and find Aqualate mere, we found it, no problem, thanks to Stuart. Got to the hide and there was plenty of stuff bobbing around, Mute swans 30+ one with 6 cygnets, lots of Canada geese and Tufted duck, Cormorants, Buzzards, Greenfinches, Reed buntings and superb views of a MARSH HARRIER quartering over the right hand reedbed. Good views of a Mink in front of the hide too.1 lifer for me and about 5 or 6 for Stuart.

Appologies for the pictures of the Osprey and Marsh harrier being blurred and out of focus (especially the Osprey) as they were a fair distance away. The Godwits were digiscoped.

 

[carlj]

got some pics of a female common blue, small heath and dingy skipper (i think) all new species to me. also saw a drangonfly/damselfly i couldn't ID or get a photo of, all i can describe it as is thin and green. it just wouldn't settle long enough for me to get a photo. i would ask if anyone has got any idea what it might of been, but i would imagine thin and green applies to a few species.

plenty of plant species i couldn't ID either, can anyone recommend an ID book for wildflowers?? one for dragonflies and damselflies would be useful as well.

adam

Adam, was this the female in question below?

Books, the Works had a handy little wildflower book for about £4. Dragonflies will set you back a bit more. My bible is the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe by Dijkstra and Lewington at £21.95, but there is a Britain only version at about £15.00....

Carl

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

late raid on patch 20:30 till 22:20 after hearing russels news
6 groppers was good

but naff all else although had whitethroat singing at 21:58

possbliy heard a strange call once but didnt call again

4 song thrush mimicing stuff or mistle which ever mimics making very strange noises

also hundreds of moths about and biting flies
also piper bat
and possble dubentons bat but not sure cause i think all bats go low of water to get a drink

 

[GlynH]

Holland

Hi
Returned from Holland last week but no time for any postings, due to a three day stay around the Farnes.
Southern Holland is a great place for birding.
Saw at.
Hellevoetsluis

Large colony of Spoonbill:t:
Common Tern
Grey Heron
Large nesting colonies of Barnacle Geese
Large nesting colonies of Grey Lag Geese
Shelduck
Common Sandpipers
Redshanks
reed Warblers
Reed Buntings
Oyster Catchers
Green Woodpecker
Buzzard
Cuckoo:t:
Ring Plover
Great Crested Grebe
Shag
Mute Swan
White Stork:t:
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Jackdaw
Pied Wagtail

further down the Coast at Phillipsdam on the Krammersluis saw.
Marsh Harrier:t:
Buzzard
Yellow Wagtail:t:
Egyptian Geese:t:
Spoonbill 1
Tufted Duck
A colony of over 100 pairs of Sand Martin:t:
Oyster Catcher
Ring Plover
Red Shank
Wren

At Kinderdyke
went looking for Purple Heron and Setis warbler but it was a national holiday and the place was packed with tourists visiting the windmills so saw neither of them.
Did See.
Marsh Harriers 2
Black Tern 23 nesting pairs
Great Crested Grebe with young. See Pics

Will post pics and report from Farnes tomorrow morning, im off up to Bass Rock in the afternoon for tuesday trip.

 

[Rob Jones]

Belvide.....

An Osprey has stuck around for a while now. I wonder if there's a breeding pair somewhere close?

 

[Rob Jones]

Hi
Returned from Holland last week but no time for any postings, due to a three day stay around the Farnes.
Southern Holland is a great place for birding.
Saw at.
Hellevoetsluis

Large colony of Spoonbill:t:
Common Tern
Grey Heron
Large nesting colonies of Barnacle Geese
Large nesting colonies of Grey Lag Geese
Shelduck
Common Sandpipers
Redshanks
reed Warblers
Reed Buntings
Oyster Catchers
Green Woodpecker
Buzzard
Cuckoo:t:
Ring Plover
Great Crested Grebe
Shag
Mute Swan
White Stork:t:
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Jackdaw
Pied Wagtail

further down the Coast at Phillipsdam on the Krammersluis saw.
Marsh Harrier:t:
Buzzard
Yellow Wagtail:t:
Egyptian Geese:t:
Spoonbill 1
Tufted Duck
A colony of over 100 pairs of Sand Martin:t:
Oyster Catcher
Ring Plover
Red Shank
Wren

At Kinderdyke
went looking for Purple Heron and Setis warbler but it was a national holiday and the place was packed with tourists visiting the windmills so saw neither of them.
Did See.
Marsh Harriers 2
Black Tern 23 nesting pairs
Great Crested Grebe with young. See Pics

Will post pics and report from Farnes tomorrow morning, im off up to Bass Rock in the afternoon for tuesday trip.

Hi Glyn

I lived in Rockanje for a number of years which isn't far from Hellevoetsluis.
(Couldn't afford to live in Hellevoetsluis) Brielle is another place worth looking at if you ever go again. :t: Seems like you had a gret trip. :t:

 

[GlynH]

Holland

Hi Rob the Spoonbill colony was very close to Rockanje its on a reserve that belongs to the Dutch equivalent of our RSPB. your supposed to be a member to enter but tourists are made welcome. Strange hide they have, its a metal platform and barrier open to the elements, more of a viewing platform really. Either the Dutch are hard core birders or fair weather ones only.

 

[GlynH]

farnes

Hi
Visited the farnes for a couple of days.
Went to Inner Farne and Staple Island with Billy Shiels boat trips

On Staple Island saw

Fulmar
Shag
Eider
Oyster Catcher
Kittiwake
Guillemot also several of the Bridled variety
Razorbill
Puffin
Black Headed Gull
LBB Gull.

Inner Farne

Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Sandwich Tern
Mallard
Puffin
Guillimot both varieties
Wren!
Pied Wagtail
Kittiwake
Herring Gull
Eider
Shag.

Around Seahouses.
By the golf course
5 Whimbrel. no camera with me but we saw them on two occasions and we are there again later today so maybe get some pics this time.
Little tern at the Beadnell tern colony 48 pairs
Greater Black Back Gull
Lesser BBG
Grey Heron
Sedge Warbler
Meadow Pipit
Turnstone
Rock Dove
Goldcrest
greenfinch
Yellow hammer
Linnet
Collared Dove
House Martin
Sand Martin

 

[minkstone]

As you can tell by Neils post we had a fab day out yesterday,they were many highlights but my favorite has to be the Marsh harrier quartering the reed beds,absolutely stunning a day to remember for a novice like myself.Thanks Niel. :t:

 

[ScottPetrek]

Bats

late raid on patch 20:30 till 22:20 after hearing russels news
6 groppers was good

but naff all else although had whitethroat singing at 21:58

possbliy heard a strange call once but didnt call again

4 song thrush mimicing stuff or mistle which ever mimics making very strange noises

also hundreds of moths about and biting flies
also piper bat
and possble dubentons bat but not sure cause i think all bats go low of water to get a drink

Daubentons Bat hunt on the water level, usually on rivers, canals or larger ponds and lakes. They have a white tummy which is the main not audio ID feature when in flight.

 

[Neil-T]

Super pics Glynn, love the Tern and the Puffin. Hope you enjoyed your hols.

 

[Rockbirder]

Lotto Numbers.

Hey up folks, had the pleasure of seeing an adult female Marsh Harrier fly low over Poxey tonight at c1940:t:. Also single Wood Wobbler at hawksmoor. So seeing as the Harrier as got rid of the back to work blues and considering my recent run of form, i've decided to share my Lottery numbers with you.

They are: 51, 52, 54, 57, 59 and 60. Good luck

cheers

Andy.

 

[Adam M]

had another walk around the old railway lines today, no change on the bird front, but saw something i picked out as a target species earlier this year, 2 cinnabar moths as i walked back through the park gorgeous little things. just wish i had seen them before i disturbed them so i could have got a good look instead of seeing them flying off. caterpillars look good as well, hopefully i can find some of them for a photo.

adam

 

[carlj]

Adam,

did you catch my previous post? Book suggestion and a possible/hopeful id for your odonata?

Carl

 

[Neil-T]

Dimmingsdale and Freehay area last night. 7.30-9.30pm. Buzzards over and one landing in a large fir to roost. Peregrine over. Tawny owl down hedgerow.

Watched a pair of Blackcaps at Dimmingsdale feeding young. A Robin pretending to be a flycatcher, darting out from a perch and catching a fly then returning to same perch. Pair of Spotted flycatchers prospecting. Pied fly Male. Wood Warbler. Wren feeding young. Chaffinch feeding young and a swallow going into the open shed next to the carpark.

 

[sylvia staffs]

All the ususal suspects seen on Cannock Chase last night including Nightjar at 10.45 pm, roding Wodcock, Grasshopper Warbler and S E Owl.

B

Sylvia.

 

[minkstone]

i need help too identify a moth or butterfly what i have videoed in my back yard,it was the size of my thumb nail black with 2 crimson lines on the inside and out side of wings 2 crimson dots on the end of wings,cheers.

 

[carlj]

Sounds like a Cinnabar moth to me.

Carl