Birding In Staffordshire (2 Viewers)

[The Moore-hen]

Does anyone know if Gordon Ireson is still alive? I understand he's been birding in Staffordshire in recent years, and am hoping to get in contact with him about a Purple Heron he found near Earlswood Lakes in the 1950s.
Matt

A good few records from GMI in my research into the birds of Gailey...and I'm only up to 1958 so far! There is a report entitled 'The Birds of Earlswood' in the 1956 edition of 'The West Midland Bird Report No.23' by A Winspear Cundall and John Sears which I'm assuming you have already seen? The Purple Heron is in the 1956 report and states 'An imm first identified by A.W.C (AW Cundall) remained on the canal near Earlswood from 31.8-15.9.56 (GMI) and was described by several observers'.

Hope this helps.

 

[Matt Griffiths]

A good few records from GMI in my research into the birds of Gailey...and I'm only up to 1958 so far! There is a report entitled 'The Birds of Earlswood' in the 1956 edition of 'The West Midland Bird Report No.23' by A Winspear Cundall and John Sears which I'm assuming you have already seen? The Purple Heron is in the 1956 report and states 'An imm first identified by A.W.C (AW Cundall) remained on the canal near Earlswood from 31.8-15.9.56 (GMI) and was described by several observers'.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Ian, yes I've seen that article and found it really useful as a starting point, though it doesn't go into the level of detail I need. I find those "Birds of..." articles in general really interesting and it's a shame the bird club stopped publishing them in their Reports.

Have you also tried looking through the North Staffs Field Club Annual Reports for Gailey records? The older ones at least had a bird section in, and an article I have says there's some notes on the birds of Gailey Pool in the Report for 1905-06. Happy researching :t:

Matt

 

[The Moore-hen]

Have you also tried looking through the North Staffs Field Club Annual Reports for Gailey records? The older ones at least had a bird section in, and an article I have says there's some notes on the birds of Gailey Pool in the Report for 1905-06. Happy researching :t:

Matt

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the information. No, haven't looked through any of the North Staffs Field Club Reports - in all honesty I wasn't aware of them! At the moment I've just been through the West Midland Bird Club books and mine and The Snapper's notes from the last 20 years. I've ploughed through some WMBC reports back to about 1985 then The Snapper has kindly lent me his collection of old reports going back to 1947 that I'm working forwards from...I'm up to 1958 so far! When I've got from '59 to '84 I'll have to start filling in some of the gaps! I might publish my 'report' on The Birds of Gailey by about 2020...

Cheers, Ian.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the information. No, haven't looked through any of the North Staffs Field Club Reports - in all honesty I wasn't aware of them! At the moment I've just been through the West Midland Bird Club books and mine and The Snapper's notes from the last 20 years. I've ploughed through some WMBC reports back to about 1985 then The Snapper has kindly lent me his collection of old reports going back to 1947 that I'm working forwards from...I'm up to 1958 so far! When I've got from '59 to '84 I'll have to start filling in some of the gaps! I might publish my 'report' on The Birds of Gailey by about 2020...

Cheers, Ian.

These type of books / reports can take an absolute age - mine for Upton Warren took a solid 14 months to complete and that was with "proper" annual reports going back to 1984 - but are also very illuminating and rewarding. Luckily the updated UW version due in 2018 should be a lot simpler to write (and printed in a more professional manner).

 

[The Moore-hen]

Looks like some decent flocks of Fieldfare heading south down the 'Smestow Valley' this am...

 

[The Moore-hen]

These type of books / reports can take an absolute age - mine for Upton Warren took a solid 14 months to complete and that was with "proper" annual reports going back to 1984 - but are also very illuminating and rewarding. Luckily the updated UW version due in 2018 should be a lot simpler to write (and printed in a more professional manner).

I know what you mean - but I'm lucky in a way that Gailey has never been that particularly well watched! Finding out some good records and interestingly decent duck counts as I plough through the old reports. Right, less chat, time to go back in time and start 1959...

 

[andyr]

Trentham Gardens

Hi All

Nothing rare or scarce, but proof that common birds and autumn sunshine can be enjoyable nevertheless.
Good numbers of Redwing were moving through the garden centre and golf course edges of Trentham Gardens today, between mid-morning and early afternoon, giving a bit of a "thrush-fest" feel to the area today.
A decent number of Mistle Thrush too were noisily bossing many of the tree tops and I watched at least three lively scraps between pairs of squabbling Crows and Magpies. Also a double-figure number of Jay, and a pair of Bullfinch with the male bird looking stunning in the early Winter sun, helped to make for a very pleasant hour or two (away from the shops!) ... all capped off by two Kingfisher dashing along the River Trent.

Cheers

Andy R.

 

[steve_zodiac]

I know what you mean - but I'm lucky in a way that Gailey has never been that particularly well watched! Finding out some good records and interestingly decent duck counts as I plough through the old reports. Right, less chat, time to go back in time and start 1959...

Talking of Gailey........fully albino Pheasant there today. From the car parking patch beside the sailing club, in the distance, against the woodland edge in fields north of the res. Thought it was a Little Egret till I scoped it.

 

[wolfbirder]

Nice walk around the edge of Bilbrook and Pendeford (Wolverhampton/Staffs border) yesterday, starting at Oxley Marine.............highlights were 3 Lesser Redpolls, Green Woodpecker, 4 Bullfinches, a Few Redwings and Fieldfares, plenty of commoner birds.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Around 220 Pied Wagtails roosting in trees alongside the Matalan unit at Venture Way retail park, Tamworth this evening.

 

[The Snapper]

Of interest to any potential visitors(not that we get too many), the wildfowling at Gailey has now stopped for the winter.

There may now be a chance of something decent turning up and at least sticking around.

Yesterday saw the most wildfowl in weeks(still not v impressive tho) inc 43 Greylags with 144 Canada's, 14 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 19 Pochard and 5 Goldeneye. Also calling Tawny Owl at dusk.

Let's hope we get another cold spell to bring something decent in .

 

[keithr]

WILDFOWLING............does this mean people shoot any thing that happens to appear in sky of land ?

 

[keithr]

FOUR ASHES ....cant post it on that page as not active (?)

Hundreds of Lapwing in previously ploughed fields just opposite and past Straight Mile turn on way to Gailey.
Some were being chased by the Gulls...also lots of Pigeon and Corvids.
The Kestrel is also to be spotted around here - mostly on the wires.

 

[delia todd]

FOUR ASHES ....cant post it on that page as not active (?)

Keith: if you scroll down below the message pane you'll see this message

I am aware that this Thread is rather old but I still want to make a reply.

and there's a tick box. Just click into that before you submit your post and all will be fine!

 

[keithr]

He he...thanks Delia...now that was a senior moment again......I looked but didn't see it.

 

[delia todd]

Glad to be of help Keith.

Don't beat yourself up though... a few have missed it.:-O

 

[terryeyre]

oystercatchers at rocester today

 

[Adam M]

I can not tell you how happy I was to see a barn owl last night as I headed home. My first one in years, despite many hours driving along country roads in twlight and night time hours. Such a stunning bird! Here's hoping they continue to recover after a bad year in 2013.

http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/news/2014/10/16/barn-owl-population-shows-signs-improvement

Any sightings can be submitted here http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/node/6378 as well as via BirdTrack to help focus conservation efforts by groups such as the Barn Owl Action Group.

Adam

 

[Dean Peach]

Of interest to any potential visitors(not that we get too many), the wildfowling at Gailey has now stopped for the winter.

There may now be a chance of something decent turning up and at least sticking around.

Yesterday saw the most wildfowl in weeks(still not v impressive tho) inc 43 Greylags with 144 Canada's, 14 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 19 Pochard and 5 Goldeneye. Also calling Tawny Owl at dusk.

Let's hope we get another cold spell to bring something decent in .

Glad to hear it Steve !

 

[Gronk08]

Seen my first Brambling of the Winter just in our garden.

Tim