Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Steve Turner]

Wedgwood's Monument, Red Street, Newcastle

A juvenile Redstart here y'day evening in hawthorn bushes, was a sign that return passerine migration is already underway.

Steve

 

[terryeyre]

barn owls

nice to know that barn owls have bred again near to alton towers this year

 

[russell toon]

A juvenile Redstart here y'day evening in hawthorn bushes, was a sign that return passerine migration is already underway.

Steve

Must be something about the 3rd July with Redstarts had a juvenile on
Berryhill on the 3rd last year.

Russell

 

[Happy Hammer]

Minsmere

Just back from a few days in Suffolk after a family Wedding. Had my first visit to Minsmere; can see why RSPB call it their flagship reserve. Managed to see bittern twice, a flock of six bearded tits (all female), Cetti's Warbler, Little Tern & 2 Hobbies. Also walked around North Warren. There were loads of Marsh harriers about, must have seen 9 while we were away.
Got a great view of a male Dartford Warbler on the top of a gorse bush on Westleton Heath (but had left the camera in the car!)

Went back at night to hopefully see a nightjar, but only heard one, as it had got a bit misty.

Can anyone tell me where the best place to see them on Cannock Chase is, please?

Cheers
Neil

 

[Gronk08]

Spotted Flycatcher

Hi All

Went off Leek way today after getting a dead cert tip off From Neil aka Jugster3775 of where to see Spotted Flycatcher.

Had cracking views of the little beauty just a few metres in front of me, no need for my scope. Another lifer for me so a great day:t:

Managed to grab a few shots whilst there, got taking to one lady who says she saw a male Black Grouse on the moors 2 years back, are they out there some where?

Cheers

Tim.

 

[Steve Turner]

Must be something about the 3rd July with Redstarts had a juvenile on
Berryhill on the 3rd last year.

Russell

...went up Berryhill this afternoon and had what looked to be an adult female Redstart! It was in the Hawthorn bushes in the northwest corner of the 'Barwit Paddock'.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rob Jones]

Kingfisher fishing the stream at Whitmore village this afternoon. Lapwings in a Maize field at Butterton and Yellowhammers near the church. Plenty of House Martins and Swallows over the fields.

 

[Rockbirder]

Juv' Redstart at Dimmings Dale this a'noon.

Andy.

 

[Neil-T]

Belvide

Good day for bugs butterflies and a few dragons. We did see some birds, highlights included: Common Sand, LRP, Peregrine over, Buzzard, Little owl, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Sedge warbler, Reed warbler, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Teal and loads of Lapwings.

A few pics from today.

 

[Neil-T]

Belvide 2

Just a few more pics from today.

 

[Rob Jones]

The River Meece at Forton

Nice pictures there Neil. A good day for photo'ing :t:

Like Neil had a run down to south staffs to the Meece at Forton. I would really recommend this riverbank walk. It's the outflow from Aqualate and you walk from the stile on the bridge towards the Mere itself via an (overgrown) footpath.
Just a few birds seen.

Warblers....Reed,Sedge,Garden,Willow,Grasshopper.
Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Whitetroat.

8 species of Butterfly and a fallow Deer that I nearly fell over!

I'll post some pics in a bit.

 

[Upland Birder]

Had a good day today which saw me birding in Lancashire, Wirral and North Wales looking for waders to add to my tally since Friday evening.

Leighton Moss:

Black tailed Godwit
Greenshank (4)
Spotted Redshank (2)
Dunlin
Common Sandpiper (2)
Redshank
Wood Sandpiper (1)
Little Egret (5)
Little Gull (7)
Lapwing

Redshank, Black tailed Godwit and Lapwing were in large numbers.

Inner Marsh Farm:

Ruff (1)
Spotted Redshank (2)
Little Egret (30)
Black Headed Gull
Lapwing

Gronant Beach:

Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Little Tern
Dunlin
Mute Swan
Starling
Meadow Pipits
Linnet
Swallow

The Little Tern has done well at Gronant this year with 101 nests and breeding has been successful. The site is closely guarded by the RSPB. Had excellent views and in good numbers.

As I was about to leave the beach a pair of Mute Swans flew low close to where I was standing which was great to watch.

Since the start of July I have seen 14 Wader species(7 more added today) and the search continues to see as many species as I can in the UK before months end

Its a challenge but its also fun and I'm knackered.

Dean:t:

 

[Upland Birder]

Nice photo's there Neil and thanks for the info Rob. Might try that sometime soon.

Dean:t:

 

[carlj]

Neil, change the name on your hawker - it's Aeshna cyanea - Southern hawker mate! Common has tiny antehumeral stripes - yours has a block - always a giveaway!
Carl

 

[Neil-T]

Neil, change the name on your hawker - it's Aeshna cyanea - Southern hawker mate! Common has tiny antehumeral stripes - yours has a block - always a giveaway!
Carl

Thanks for that Carl, Stuart did email me to tell me it was a Southern Hawker, so I don't know why I named it Common. Cheers anyway mate.

Any idea what the other 2 bugs are?

 

[carlj]

Neil, top fly has me stumped, but I think the hoverfly is Episyrphus balteatus.
Carl

 

[Rob Jones]

Good report Dean. Still think that Gronant on a stormy October day last year was my best birding day so far.
The wind blew everthing onshore that day..........couldn't identify much, but it was impressive! :t:

 

[russell toon]

Berryhill

Birds seem to be on the move,Reed Warbler out of habitat in the long grass by the Lap Bunting paddock this morning.The femail/juv type Redstart still present.
Linnets now in flocks-about 50 with plenty of juvs with them.
Willow Warblers moving down the paddocks.
Black-headed Gulls have started to move back in here this last week or so.
Lapwing flock of 12 birds in the paddocks last week.

Russell

 

[minkstone]

Like Neil said in his report sunday was a good day for dragonfly's (they are becoming an obsession with me. ) three species were identified southern hawker,brown hawker,four-spotted chaser,at one point i left Neil in the hide and had a stroll,i spotted a dragonfly at rest,in a ditch that runs at the side of belvide, it was only small i took some good footage and i think it could be sympetrum flaveolum yellow-winged darter female.(migrant)

 

[Upland Birder]

Good report Dean. Still think that Gronant on a stormy October day last year was my best birding day so far.
The wind blew everthing onshore that day..........couldn't identify much, but it was impressive! :t:

Hi Rob,

Gronant is impressive with the Little Terns about at the moment and a few waders out on the shore. I can imagine that it has its classic moments such as that which you experienced last October and with the right weather conditions will bring in many species.

Looking forward to going back there soon and its not far from the Point of Ayr as well.

Birding With Bill Oddie was on the Blighty channel early this evening where he was in Wales and visited Gronant. Not seen this series for years.

Dean:t: