Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[ScottPetrek]

Doxey Marshes

Shelduck still rather comfortable in front of the hide. Lapwing and Little-ringed Plover still about, a few Redshank too. Damselflies starting to build in numbers but highlight of the day was a Lesser Whitethroat singing in the centre of the reserve, and even showed briefly. :-O

Anybody been to see the Nightingale at Branston? How is it best to get there etc.?

 

[carlj]

Scott, the damsels, any idea of what sort? I'm hoping that the Beautiful Demoiselles are showing, alongside Banded Demoiselles. Also, should be increasing numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers if last year was anything to go by.
Carl

 

[wyrley-birder]

The Nightingale at Branston is located in dense scrub along trent and mersey canal about 100 meters North of Tatenhall lock this is best approched by parking at the end of factories on A38 and walking along path boardering the water park.

 

[dan pointon]

Not quite north Staffs but had two Red Kite today at Blitfield over the dam. See on the pager there's also a Purple Heron near Belvide!

 

[jackhaye]

NS Moors

Hey up folks, a stroll round the head with the missus and the canine shite dispensers produced naff all. Just a single Redstart. No Wheatears, Whinchats, Stonechats or Ouzels. One or two pairs of Curlews and lappys around Knotbury.

Andy.

I was up there for an hour or so with the WMBC on Wednesday (absolutely b*** freezing) and like you saw Lapwing and Curlew. Also did the Moors March with the bird club in mid-may through the same area and this was the first year that we didn't see any ouzels at all - would not surprise me in the least to hear that they are extinct as a Staffordshire breeding bird! Likewise Whinchat which we used to meet one or two pairs of but again has been absent in the last few years. Wheatear seemed around in good numbers though.

Just out of interest I went into the Staffs Bird Report for 1985 where there is a report on the survey of the whole moorland area in that year - the total Ring Ouzel population was considered then to be probably 61 pairs and Whinchat at 51 pairs . . . what a difference 25 years have made!!

Andy

 

[Rockbirder]

Utch 1830-2010.

Hey up folks, nothing of note this evening at Utch. Best we could manage were 2 Common Sands and 5 Ringys. Bloody nippy as well, think the shorts will have to go back in the draw for a bit!

Andy.

 

[Rockbirder]

I was up there for an hour or so with the WMBC on Wednesday (absolutely b*** freezing) and like you saw Lapwing and Curlew. Also did the Moors March with the bird club in mid-may through the same area and this was the first year that we didn't see any ouzels at all - would not surprise me in the least to hear that they are extinct as a Staffordshire breeding bird! Likewise Whinchat which we used to meet one or two pairs of but again has been absent in the last few years. Wheatear seemed around in good numbers though.

Just out of interest I went into the Staffs Bird Report for 1985 where there is a report on the survey of the whole moorland area in that year - the total Ring Ouzel population was considered then to be probably 61 pairs and Whinchat at 51 pairs . . . what a difference 25 years have made!!

Andy

Hey up Andy, as it says in the Metallica song "sad but true" as far as our moorland species are concerned.

Andy.

 

[Periwinkle]

Picture of "Purple" Heron Here

 

[Richard Powell]

There's that "E" word again

You just beat me to it Tom. Looks like an immature (perhaps a bit melanistic, it is quite dark, or perhaps that's just my screen) Grey Heron.

Picture of "Purple" Heron Here

 

[russell toon]

I was up there for an hour or so with the WMBC on Wednesday (absolutely b*** freezing) and like you saw Lapwing and Curlew. Also did the Moors March with the bird club in mid-may through the same area and this was the first year that we didn't see any ouzels at all - would not surprise me in the least to hear that they are extinct as a Staffordshire breeding bird! Likewise Whinchat which we used to meet one or two pairs of but again has been absent in the last few years. Wheatear seemed around in good numbers though.

Just out of interest I went into the Staffs Bird Report for 1985 where there is a report on the survey of the whole moorland area in that year - the total Ring Ouzel population was considered then to be probably 61 pairs and Whinchat at 51 pairs . . . what a difference 25 years have made!!

Andy

Looking at the Knotbury/Orchard Farm area its not obvious that the habitat has altered much over the last 15 years yet Twite which could be seen here regularly have gone.
Recorded 2 singing Whinchats in 2005 and 2006 and with nothing at all in 2008.Ouzels are also harder to see in this area.
I think the decline is reflected nationally and I wonder if its all down to Habitat change or theres less returning back from their wintering grounds.

Russell

 

[John Sherratt]

Moorland Birds

Just out of interest I went into the Staffs Bird Report for 1985 where there is a report on the survey of the whole moorland area in that year - the total Ring Ouzel population was considered then to be probably 61 pairs and Whinchat at 51 pairs . . . what a difference 25 years have made!!

When you put it like that, it seems to me to be a shocking fall off in the last 25 years. I wonder what the cause of the decline is? Are there more predators about, or is it a case of human interference, either in this country or overseas? There seems to have been a lot of talk about decline of farmland birds such as Yellowhammer, Lapwing and so on, but not so much about the decline up on the Moorland like here.

On different note, if the rain lets up I might go and have a look for the Nightingale at Branston this evening. Question is, can I treat it as a county tick if I only hear it ? Hmm.....

John

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

red neck phal back at belvide

black terns still at blithfield

that heron was very strange plumage wait till theres a albino grey heron

weather not too good for weekend but will have see what it drops for us

 

[russell toon]

On different note, if the rain lets up I might go and have a look for the Nightingale at Branston this evening. Question is, can I treat it as a county tick if I only hear it ? Hmm.....

John

Bird song is usually diagnostic of a birds Id and is counted if you are out counting bird populations or a census.
If a bird is a lifer then I would certainly have to see it to claim a life tick.
You can count song and calls for year ticks.
Theres opposite viewpoints on counting a heard Nightingale/Quail for a County tick but I suppose it comes down to personal choice.

Russell

 

[terryeyre]

redstarts

saw two male redstarts fighting near a nest at dimmingsdale yesterday managed a few shots of one

 

[bull's birder]

Anyone used the Natureview Roof Prism, just been on e-bay and they wanted £170 but found a dealer in the States who'll do 'em for £117 with p&p. Just gotta decide between them and the Opticron Discovery...any advice?

Cheers
Craig

 

[coloz]

Anyone used the Natureview Roof Prism, just been on e-bay and they wanted £170 but found a dealer in the States who'll do 'em for £117 with p&p. Just gotta decide between them and the Opticron Discovery...any advice?

Cheers
Craig

always try before you buy.

 

[carlj]

It's wet, miserable and I ache all over.

Anyone identify this duck, in the vicinity of Fletcher Road earlier

 

[jackhaye]

moorland birds

Looking at the Knotbury/Orchard Farm area its not obvious that the habitat has altered much over the last 15 years yet Twite which could be seen here regularly have gone.
Recorded 2 singing Whinchats in 2005 and 2006 and with nothing at all in 2008.Ouzels are also harder to see in this area.
I think the decline is reflected nationally and I wonder if its all down to Habitat change or theres less returning back from their wintering grounds.

Russell

Gawd, yes, forgot about Twite! Suppose there could be some holding on somewhere in the Staffs bit of the moors as they could be missed. Does that make a possible 4 species "lost" this century so far from Staffs: Black Grouse (which probably just fell short of Y2000), Twite, RO and Whinchat?

Andy

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Duck

Its a mega - Cinnamon Teal. Might be plastic tho

It's wet, miserable and I ache all over.

Anyone identify this duck, in the vicinity of Fletcher Road earlier

 

[Richard Powell]

Drastic Plastic

Speaking of which, a couple of orange things at Uttoxeter Quarry this afternoon. Some birders may want to look away now. 3

Its a mega - Cinnamon Teal. Might be plastic tho