Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[russell toon]

Berryhill Woodlark?

Anyone got any info on the "possible Woodlark" reported on Birdguides and WMBC yesterday.

Russell

 

[Adam M]

early morning trip to bathpool produced.... not alot. woodland seemed really quiet, lake wasn't much better. 9 bh gulls, 1 juvenile, both the swans and gc grebes had no chicks, possibly taken by predators. got some nice shots of the gulls in flight though.
went westport afterwards, got really close to a heron, nice shots again. also took some photos of a butterfly, thick it was a meadow brown, also a massive green caterpillar, probably from a moth of some sort, will have to look it up. will also have to get my pc fixed so i can start posting pics again.
as for that woodlark, i was going to ask you about it russell. it was posted as possible than no further sign, probably a mis-identification, or wishful thinking?
adam

 

[namron]

early morning trip to bathpool produced.... not alot. woodland seemed really quiet, lake wasn't much better. 9 bh gulls, 1 juvenile, both the swans and gc grebes had no chicks, possibly taken by predators. got some nice shots of the gulls in flight though.
went westport afterwards, got really close to a heron, nice shots again. also took some photos of a butterfly, thick it was a meadow brown, also a massive green caterpillar, probably from a moth of some sort, will have to look it up. will also have to get my pc fixed so i can start posting pics again.
as for that woodlark, i was going to ask you about it russell. it was posted as possible than no further sign, probably a mis-identification, or wishful thinking?
adam

I find Bathpool is quiet for birds at all times of the year and I've walked it many times. Don't know why this is? You'd think with it the line southish Westport and onto Berryhill and so on it would have more birds. Seems up and over the top (Blackbank) gets them all.
Have you tried for the juv Whinchat by the Monument? I've been since and had no luck.

 

[Steve Turner]

Have you tried for the juv Whinchat by the Monument? I've been since and had no luck.

Went for a walk up to the monument Thurs evening, but only thing of note was a Willow Tit.

Steve

 

[NickPomiankowski]

4 Yellow-legged Gulls remain a daily feature at Silverdale Colliery - the juv, 3rd summer + 2 adult/sub-adults still there today, as they have been most days this week, but no sign of any Med Gulls amongst the 450 LBBGulls and 350 B-h Gulls.

A quick look at the south end of Berry Hill produced 80 house sparrows (in case you're doing a total count Russell - these were all south of the farm), 60 juv starlings, 1-2 juv stonechats and a weasel. No idea who claimed the woodlark Russell - saw one skylark though.

Nick

 

[jackhaye]

A quick look at the south end of Berry Hill produced 80 house sparrows (in case you're doing a total count Russell - these were all south of the farm), 60 juv starlings, 1-2 juv stonechats and a weasel. No idea who claimed the woodlark Russell - saw one skylark though.

Nick

Berryhill Woodlark sounds interesting. Couldn't find any chats this morning, but didn't walk the S and E bits. Snipe off from the pool in the lower field and one Wheatear on the coal mound in paddock nearest Tiddlers' Pool though.

Andy

 

[russell toon]

4 Yellow-legged Gulls remain a daily feature at Silverdale Colliery - the juv, 3rd summer + 2 adult/sub-adults still there today, as they have been most days this week, but no sign of any Med Gulls amongst the 450 LBBGulls and 350 B-h Gulls.

A quick look at the south end of Berry Hill produced 80 house sparrows (in case you're doing a total count Russell - these were all south of the farm), 60 juv starlings, 1-2 juv stonechats and a weasel. No idea who claimed the woodlark Russell - saw one skylark though.

Nick

Has there been a higher count of 4 YL Gulls in North Staffs.Thanks for the House Sparrow info Nick,thats a record count for that area. I had about 50 mid June, presume there's plenty of juvs about. The total count in June was about 215 but if these extra numbers are juvs then it looks like theres far more than 215 at present.

Russell

 

[Richard Powell]

At Blithfield today:

2 Garganey, 1 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 7 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Common Sandpiper, 3 Raven.

 

[Steve Turner]

A quick look at the south end of Berry Hill produced 80 house sparrows (in case you're doing a total count Russell - these were all south of the farm), 60 juv starlings, 1-2 juv stonechats and a weasel. No idea who claimed the woodlark Russell - saw one skylark though.

Nick

I had a Stoat in the LapBunt paddock this morning (a site tick For me!)...I guess we'll go with the 2 mammal theory

Steve

 

[Bananafishbones]

Hi Everyone
Could you give me directions to Blithfield from Macclesfield.

I have been spending too much time at Tittesworth and nothing new happening their at the moment

Best regards Dave

 

[Richard Powell]

PM sent Dave.

I suppose someone ought to add in the caveat regarding access to Blithfield. Public access is only along the causeway and Watery Lane. Anywhere else on the reservoir then you'll need to be a member of the West Midland Bird Club.

South Staffs water, and the WMBC Blithfield Group (ie. regular birders), are stricter on access than they used to be.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Thanks Richard

I will reply to your PM

Regards
Dave

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Well, you know the difference don't you?

A Weasel is weasily wecognised and a stoat is stoataly different :-O

And mine didn't have a black tail tip neither B

I had a Stoat in the LapBunt paddock this morning (a site tick For me!)...I guess we'll go with the 2 mammal theory

Steve

 

[Nick Smith]

Westport Lake sightings - 3rd August

Another corker this morning with a Black-tailed Godwit roosting on the point with a few bhg's. I knew Mrs Osama had already walked passed without flushing and so i thought there was a chance of organising a mass twitch. Phone in hand i paused as a dog walker came into view. The godwit then flew onto the main lake and landed on the edge. Cyclist came into view. It then flew onto the beach and seconds later it was heading north. I had the bird in view for four minutes - not long enough for anyone to get down so i'm glad i didn't wake anyone up at 06-50hrs. Also two Pochard, increasingly regular again Kingfisher and Jay top pool. Not a bad week at all.

 

[namron]

Mrs Osama, Ha Ha .......... Very good, I know who you mean lol..... She must have new sandals every week haha........

 

[Nick Smith]

She wears trainers now. Incredible lady. She says hello every morning. I've been there at 06-20hrs and she's already started. Someone asked her one day and she was on her 7th lap. If you are tuning in Mrs O - Why do you do it?

 

[terryeyre]

dimmingsdale feeding station,g s woodpecker robins coal blue and great tits blackbirds and chaffinch,overhead buzzard 2 ravens and 15 siskins

 

[namron]

She wears trainers now. Incredible lady. She says hello every morning. I've been there at 06-20hrs and she's already started. Someone asked her one day and she was on her 7th lap. If you are tuning in Mrs O - Why do you do it?

I have my own views on that one she's going around in circles looking for her husband Mr Bin Laden...........!

 

[s.g.]

sunday tittesworth,
2 green sands, 3 common sands, 2 L. egrets, common tern, 2 dunlin also in the village is a diamond dove [not a mourning dove as reported in the log book oops!!]
s.g.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Interesting to hear the Diamond Dove is still at large - it has been around since about March. It's also been mistaken for a cuckoo!!

WPLBC: I bet Mrs O goes home to her husband telling him about a guy at the Lake every day looking at the birds, and her old man says "Ask him. Mr S, Why do you do it?" :-O

A quick look round Berry Hill this morning - 1 juv stonechat and the 2 redstarts. Also a gropper reeling (I think this is my first gropper reeling in August). Many juv Reed Bunts - looks like they've had a good breeding season along with the linnets/greenfinch/sparrows/goldfinches.

Uttoxeter Quarry yesterday: 7 Green Sands (apparently someone had 9 in the morning) and 4 Common Sands.

sunday tittesworth,
2 green sands, 3 common sands, 2 L. egrets, common tern, 2 dunlin also in the village is a diamond dove [not a mourning dove as reported in the log book oops!!]
s.g.