Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Bananafishbones]

A Reed Bunting turned up in the garden this afternoon. This was a first sighting of this species for the garden. It was feeding on seed that I had scattered on the ground.

Dean:t:

Great stuff Dean

I had a female just before xmas, then a male just after xmas and a female again in the new year.... my excuse was 18" of snow at the time, I guess they must still be out and about foraging.

Well done hope it returns for you :t:

 

[Adam M]

at uni today

black headed gulls 100+ (i counted 101 but a small group had just flown off and others came in as i was going so there was deifinitley more)
bullfinch 6
redwing 15
mistle thrush 4
plus the usual woodland birds, including a male great tit who did seem to be claiming a territory.

male brambling in the garden for most of the after noon now, almost a permanent fixture. my brothers missus has said she saw 5 mute swans fly over today, which is another for the garden list.

adam

 

[Neil-T]

Thanks to Mick Hurst for the tip off I finally got to see the LE owl at Parkhall. nipped in to Huntley Quarry to search for the Ruddy shelduck but couldn't find them anywhere.
A quick look around Westport lake produced a good number of birds, 2 Female gooseander on the small pool, lot's of gulls on the main pool but didn't have time to scan them. Top bridge area, lot's of Robins, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Great, Blue, Coal, Willow and LT tits, Chaffinch and Blackbird.

 

[Martyn Yapp]

Of interest I saw at least 167 in two flocks on Cannock Chase the weekend. I have seen the odd flock in winter on here before but only in smaller numbers (max 40).

Are they a result of cold weather movement from further north (Scandinavian origin) or if fact are they held up spring movement birds homing in on breeding grounds (mid February to April). Large pure Reed Bunting flocks are a bit of a rare event.

So the new garden bird fits in.

Anybody else seen these flocks in Sherbrook Valley this year?

A Reed Bunting turned up in the garden this afternoon. This was a first sighting of this species for the garden. It was feeding on seed that I had scattered on the ground.

Dean:t:

 

[russell toon]

Of interest I saw at least 167 in two flocks on Cannock Chase the weekend. I have seen the odd flock in winter on here before but only in smaller numbers (max 40).

Are they a result of cold weather movement from further north (Scandinavian origin) or if fact are they held up spring movement birds homing in on breeding grounds (mid February to April). Large pure Reed Bunting flocks are a bit of a rare event.

So the new garden bird fits in.

Anybody else seen these flocks in Sherbrook Valley this year?

Certainly unusual to see Reed Buntings flocks of this size.They have moved away from Berryhill this winter following the harsh weather conditions with only a single bird being seen of late.There was 27 singing males here last year,who knows where these birds go.

Russell

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Martyn,

You make an interesting point there which has given me food for thought.

I have not seen any Reed Buntings locally in the Churnet Valley or immediately around where I live in recent weeks and was surprised that there has been one in the garden.

Lets hope that there are more of them out there. If I see any including flocks I will report them on here.

Dean:t:

 

[coloz]

Hi Martyn,

You make an interesting point there which has given me food for thought.

I have not seen any Reed Buntings locally in the Churnet Valley or immediately around where I live in recent weeks and was surprised that there has been one in the garden.

Lets hope that there are more of them out there. If I see any including flocks I will report them on here.

Dean:t:

I was wondering since the EU have removed set aside that this has taken lot's of suitable habitat for wintering bird's away. I know when the farmer at caverswall always used to leave the stubble in over winter. There was always good numbers of farmland birds about. But since he as started putting in winter crops there's been very little about. Just makes you think where these bird's go, It's Just like us start feeding birds then taking the feeders away,they will have to move on to search for food.And with the weather we have been getting i bet it's been tough. col

 

[Upland Birder]

Female Reed Bunting in the garden this morning feeding on seed that is scattered on the ground. The previous one was a male.

Dean:t:

 

[Adam M]

could everyone please follow the link and at least sign the petition, any donations are obviously more than welcome, but i know not everyone can spare the cash, but to add your name to a list is free. click either pledge only (sign only), pledge and donate or donate only.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/illegalkilling/index.asp

if you have a little more time spare, there is a 'letter to the future' campaign running as well. thats basically asking the government to preserve our wildlife and habitats for future generations. again, all it wants is a name on a list, probably your adress and e-mail as well, but not so then can contact you though.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/lettertothefuture/index.aspx

thank you

adam

 

[Neil-T]

could everyone please follow the link and at least sign the petition, any donations are obviously more than welcome, but i know not everyone can spare the cash, but to add your name to a list is free. click either pledge only (sign only), pledge and donate or donate only.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/illegalkilling/index.asp

if you have a little more time spare, there is a 'letter to the future' campaign running as well. thats basically asking the government to preserve our wildlife and habitats for future generations. again, all it wants is a name on a list, probably your adress and e-mail as well, but not so then can contact you though.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/lettertothefuture/index.aspx

thank you

adam

Nice one Adam, the RSPB are after 300,000 signatures by the end of April (letter to the future).

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Recent Sightings

An adult yellow-legged gull was present on The Void (Silverdale Colliery) today.

3 Little Egrets at Penkridge "on the stream" have been present for a few days now and a Red Kite was seen at Aqualate 2 days ago (news courtesy of Frank Gribble OBE)

Nick

 

[bull's birder]

could everyone please follow the link and at least sign the petition, any donations are obviously more than welcome, but i know not everyone can spare the cash, but to add your name to a list is free. click either pledge only (sign only), pledge and donate or donate only.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/illegalkilling/index.asp

if you have a little more time spare, there is a 'letter to the future' campaign running as well. thats basically asking the government to preserve our wildlife and habitats for future generations. again, all it wants is a name on a list, probably your adress and e-mail as well, but not so then can contact you though.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/applications/lettertothefuture/index.aspx

thank you

adam

Job done bud!!

 

[Upland Birder]

Went up to the Woodhead pool on Cherry Lane (edge of Cheadle) at dusk this evening. No sign of Barn Owl but had three Woodcock over in 5 minutes.

Happy Birding

Dean:t:

 

[Wimpy]

Great morning on the Chase today. Thin layer of snow very pretty. Parked up by Freda's Grave. Four young dear grazing by the road. Large flock of siskins/redpolls on the tall trees. Some on had put some food down in Brocton Coppice, plenty of coal tits and nuthatches. But sadly no crossbills.

Roger

 

[Neil-T]

Stopped off at Hanchurch on the way home, around 3.30pm. 12 Crossbills, huge flock of Goldfinches, well over 100, Siskins and Redpolls, Jay, Nuthatch, GSW, common tits including LT, Bullfinch, Robin, Wren, Treecreeper, Dunnock and Chaffy.

 

[Adam M]

no sign of the barnacle geese at westport by 13:00, did however drop on a female shoveler, another year tick, i think anyway, i will have to check the list.

also bumped into a birder who lives just up the road from me, i mentioned a swift colony up the road over the summer, he is the bloke with a swift weather vane on top of his house. says hes been birding some 50 odd years and reeled off a load of past experiences about birds both locally and further a field. its nice to finally know a birder who lives within walking distance of my house.i'll try to direct him towards the thread in the future.

adam

 

[Rockbirder]

Peregrines Huntin' by Night.

Hey up folks, if like me you're keen on those pesky Peregrines take a buchas at thishttp://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/

Andy.

 

[terryeyre]

2 skylarks at 10 am heading south and 100+ pink footed geese heading north west at 10.15 over the house this morning

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Hanchurch Woods

Results of a walk this morning: 25 crossbills, 1 jack snipe, 2 woodcock (i'd guess there are far more hanging out here at present), 10 snipe, 600 siskins, 50 lesser redpolls (couldn't find a Mealy but they were by the gamekeepers cottage in the dip in Dog Lane between the two car parks if anyone fancies a look), 1 green woodpecker, etc.....

Nick

 

[jackhaye]

Goose Saturday again

Big skein of geese over stoke at 10.35 this morning heading North, 200+ I guess

Andy