Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Rockbirder]

David and Goliath.

A stroll around this evening produced a small (!) 'arrival' of at least 5 Wheatears up around the mast area.

Steve

Hey up Steve, good result on with the Wheatears tonight, i couldn't stay in either with this unsettled weather but all i managed was three Cuckoo Geese of the race CHAYDLENSIS at Poxy.

I thought TICKHILL might interest people, i've been up there many times and always thought it could be productive in the right conditions during spring and autumn. So this time spurred on by whats been happening at Berryhill i thought i'd give it a try. It is as you said farmland on top of a hill with lots of broken hedges and several damp meadows, ideal for chats, wheatears etc.It is easily covered by walking up and down the road, one stretch in particular is crying out for an RB FLY or Yellow- browed.

So i think it only right to accept your challenge in the battle of the 'hills. I always did like the tale of David and Goliath during my Sunday school classes.

So Tickhill v Berryhill it is me old beanflirter!!! Only one problem there's only me and "ozzy" Powell covering it at the moment so we could do with a little help from all these birders springing up in Cheadle. Come on lads dust your bins off and give us a hand!

Reminds me of the 1973 cup final Sunderland v Leeds Utd, only problem is i wasn't supporting Sunderland.

Cheers pal

Andy.

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Neil.

Its great to have new people on here and it would be great to meet and have a chat at the Berry Hill get together.

What set up do you have for digiscoping. I am completely new to it and am looking forward to having a go. I have done a few hand held photo's in the past with another compact and recognize its potential.

There are secret birders emerging from all corners of Cheadle. Have you managed any decent photo's? I understand its a real learning curve.

Dean:t:

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Andy,

I am happy to get out there and help any time. However, I must warn you I have my own hill:-O

I love the competition that's arising between the Stoke birders and the Cheadle birders. Oh and I love that term 'Beanflirter'.

I also remember the cup final of 1973 and I was a Leeds fan. Don't know why but there you go.

Dean:t:

 

[JimMorris]

Today I ordered a a cable release bracket/cable and Nikon UR~E20 adaptor from SRB Griturn to complete my digiscoping set up. Once these arrive in the next 3 days I will be ready to begin learning the art of digiscoping.

I need to set up the camera modes best suited to digiscoping first so will spend a little time getting my head around the camera specifications over next couple of evenings.

I am eager to get started but will take it step by step. So if you see me in a hide somewhere can you make sure that you tip toe about and don't jump up and down as I will have to keep the camera/scope etc very still for that perfect digiscoped image:eek!:

Dean

When you get the hang of it Dean you know where I live. Come round and show me. I was at Rutland 10 days ago trying to digiscope the Ospreys. Didn't get one decent shot due to kids moving about the hide. I won't go into detail as to what was said.

I reckon your best bet is on the side of the road at Blithfield or Tittesworth for a bit of practice. Water birds don't move around so fast.

This is the best photo I have taken in a year of digiscoping and that was more luck that judgement. You, Neil and me should get together. Three heads are better than one.
Jim

 

[JimMorris]

Tickhill

So Tickhill v Berryhill it is me old beanflirter!!! Only one problem there's only me and "ozzy" Powell covering it at the moment so we could do with a little help from all these birders springing up in Cheadle. Come on lads dust your bins off and give us a hand!


Andy.

(TICK) me down for that one Andy. Never heard of it before. Strange as it's next door to me at Forsbrook. Got nothing on this morning so I'll have a look.
Jim.

 

[Steve Turner]

Hey up Steve, good result on with the Wheatears tonight, i couldn't stay in either with this unsettled weather but all i managed was three Cuckoo Geese of the race CHAYDLENSIS at Poxy.

I thought TICKHILL might interest people, i've been up there many times and always thought it could be productive in the right conditions during spring and autumn. So this time spurred on by whats been happening at Berryhill i thought i'd give it a try. It is as you said farmland on top of a hill with lots of broken hedges and several damp meadows, ideal for chats, wheatears etc.It is easily covered by walking up and down the road, one stretch in particular is crying out for an RB FLY or Yellow- browed.

So i think it only right to accept your challenge in the battle of the 'hills. I always did like the tale of David and Goliath during my Sunday school classes.

So Tickhill v Berryhill it is me old beanflirter!!! Only one problem there's only me and "ozzy" Powell covering it at the moment so we could do with a little help from all these birders springing up in Cheadle. Come on lads dust your bins off and give us a hand!

Reminds me of the 1973 cup final Sunderland v Leeds Utd, only problem is i wasn't supporting Sunderland.

Cheers pal

Andy.

Tickhill sounds ace, I might even defect for a day and go have a look!! It's got a bit of catching up to do mind, seeing as the mighty Berry Hill has already had a quality movement of chats, plus some mega waders

Steve

ps As for being a beanflirter, you're going to have to explain that one to me?!! Never heard the term before!

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Silverdale Colliery

I asked Lord Nuttall of Belvide to take a look at the Gull photos and he said nos 3 & 4 were argenteus - which is good enough for me!

 

[NickPomiankowski]

You good people might be interested to know that a pair of (feral) barnacles bred for the first time in Staffs this year, so I guess we should expect increasing numbers in the future!

The Barnacle Geese flock at Blithfield come in every summer. I'm afraid they are more Cat C than Cat A and probably have only ever read about Spitzbergen in a travel guide. There's also a nice Lesser Canada Goose with the flock this year. There were three in the flock last year.

 

[russell toon]

Hey up Steve, good result on with the Wheatears tonight, i couldn't stay in either with this unsettled weather but all i managed was three Cuckoo Geese of the race CHAYDLENSIS at Poxy.

I thought TICKHILL might interest people, i've been up there many times and always thought it could be productive in the right conditions during spring and autumn. So this time spurred on by whats been happening at Berryhill i thought i'd give it a try. It is as you said farmland on top of a hill with lots of broken hedges and several damp meadows, ideal for chats, wheatears etc.It is easily covered by walking up and down the road, one stretch in particular is crying out for an RB FLY or Yellow- browed.

So i think it only right to accept your challenge in the battle of the 'hills. I always did like the tale of David and Goliath during my Sunday school classes.

So Tickhill v Berryhill it is me old beanflirter!!! Only one problem there's only me and "ozzy" Powell covering it at the moment so we could do with a little help from all these birders springing up in Cheadle. Come on lads dust your bins off and give us a hand!

Reminds me of the 1973 cup final Sunderland v Leeds Utd, only problem is i wasn't supporting Sunderland.

Cheers pal

Andy.

In the long distance past I had a few walks up to the Tickhill/Handley Banks area.Used to walk from Hulme along Malthouse Lane,cross the A520 and along the track to Sheepwash and up the bank to Handley Banks and Tickhall.
There used to be some singing Yellowhammers up here along with Tree Sparrows and Tree Pipits,wonder if these birds are still here.
This area is probably underwatched along with the damp meadows/small marsh along Malthouse Lane (between Hulme and the A520).
You can still see Curlews and Lapwings around Malthouse Lane but the sight of Snipe displaying is no longer.Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails are also now absent here.
Lets hope you have some luck up at Tickhall Andy.

Russell

 

[Rockbirder]

Tickhill.

In the long distance past I had a few walks up to the Tickhill/Handley Banks area.Used to walk from Hulme along Malthouse Lane,cross the A520 and along the track to Sheepwash and up the bank to Handley Banks and Tickhall.
There used to be some singing Yellowhammers up here along with Tree Sparrows and Tree Pipits,wonder if these birds are still here.
This area is probably underwatched along with the damp meadows/small marsh along Malthouse Lane (between Hulme and the A520).
You can still see Curlews and Lapwings around Malthouse Lane but the sight of Snipe displaying is no longer.Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails are also now absent here.
Lets hope you have some luck up at Tickhall Andy.

Russell

Hey up folks,

Thought i'd give it a try since you've all got Berryhill well and truely covered, trying Berryhill would be like going to Belvide after Lord Nuttal's been there all day or like doing Blithers when Manty's there all day and night!

Around work today were Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 10 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings and 2 Meadow pipits.

Cheers folks

Andy.

 

[Rockbirder]

Former Leeds fan.

Hi Andy,

I am happy to get out there and help any time. However, I must warn you I have my own hill:-O

I love the competition that's arising between the Stoke birders and the Cheadle birders. Oh and I love that term 'Beanflirter'.

I also remember the cup final of 1973 and I was a Leeds fan. Don't know why but there you go.

Dean:t:

Hey up Dean,

don't like the sound of "was a Leeds fan" i know the're hopeless nowadays but who can forget the likes of LORIMER, BREMNER, HUNTER,CLARKE and the greatest left winger that ever crossed a ball EDDIE GRAY!

The Berryhill bunch are streets ahead at the moment but you never know what a bit of extra bush bashin' will uncover!!!

Cheers

Andy.

 

[Nick Smith]

You good people might be interested to know that a pair of (feral) barnacles bred for the first time in Staffs this year, so I guess we should expect increasing numbers in the future!

Re 1991 WMBC Annual Report

Barnacle Goose
A free-flying introduced pair bred successfully at Westport, raising one gosling.
But in the 1990 WMBC report, it says one or two Barnacle Geese arrived with Canada Geese on 2 Jun 1990. I will have to check with WJL to see if they were the same birds or not.

This is a photo of a photo i took in Jun 1991 of the gosling.

 

[Steve Turner]

Hey up folks,

Thought i'd give it a try since you've all got Berryhill well and truely covered, trying Berryhill would be like going to Belvide after Lord Nuttal's been there all day or like doing Blithers when Manty's there all day and night!

Around work today were Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, 10 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings and 2 Meadow pipits.

Cheers folks

Andy.

Actually Andy, you'd be surprised how easy it is for one observer to visit after/before you, only to record more/less than you! Stuff seems to arrive/depart throughout the day.
I think two observers had already visited before I had the Hoopoe, and the big fall of September 2005 only seemed to arrive late morning after one dedicated observer (Nick!) had made an early morning visit!

Anyway, look forward to hearing about your Tickhill exploits.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Upland Birder]

When you get the hang of it Dean you know where I live. Come round and show me. I was at Rutland 10 days ago trying to digiscope the Ospreys. Didn't get one decent shot due to kids moving about the hide. I won't go into detail as to what was said.

I reckon your best bet is on the side of the road at Blithfield or Tittesworth for a bit of practice. Water birds don't move around so fast.

This is the best photo I have taken in a year of digiscoping and that was more luck that judgement. You, Neil and me should get together. Three heads are better than one.
Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for sharing the photo. Just goes to show what can be achieved and the potential. I might go over to Inner Marsh Farm sometime soon and spend a day practicing. It would be good to get together. There are some good digiscoped photo's in the gallery and some interesting stuff in the Nikon P5100 thread.

We could do a raid on Berry Hill and photograph fair Isle, Adam, Russell and Nick in action!! We would need to keep a low profile though.

Dean

 

[JimMorris]

I'm up for that Dean. We will have to find a new parking spot at berry as the end of Mossfield is full of traverlers
Didn't go to Tickhill. Too wet.

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Jim,

I take the next road on the right past Mossfield and drive up some way and park in a cul de sac on the right, next to the top of Berry Hill and walk across field and over to the Lapland bunting paddock area. Safe parking and quiet little road. Can't remember name of road but will let you know.

Lets hope it brightens up. I am just waiting for arrival of Nikon adaptor and cable bracket from SRB~Griturn and then I'll be ready. We must sort out a day for Inner Marsh after this. There are plans to extend Inner Marsh into a major north west reserve-watch this space!!

Dean:t:

 

[russell toon]

Hi Jim,

I take the next road on the right past Mossfield and drive up some way and park in a cul de sac on the right, next to the top of Berry Hill and walk across field and over to the Lapland bunting paddock area. Safe parking and quiet little road. Can't remember name of road but will let you know.

Lets hope it brightens up. I am just waiting for arrival of Nikon adaptor and cable bracket from SRB~Griturn and then I'll be ready. We must sort out a day for Inner Marsh after this. There are plans to extend Inner Marsh into a major north west reserve-watch this space!!

Dean:t:

The road after Mossfield Road is Bambury Street and runs on down towards Fenpark Road,as you say Dean plenty of parking down here.

Russell

 

[russell toon]

Hi Folks,

About Blithfield. Now, I know the reservoir very well. but not from a birders point of view though. Spent hundreds of hours on the water. I know where the hides are but I'm not sure about public access around the shores. I know there's a public right of way from the yacht club by the dam up to watery lane and Portfields Bay. Beyond the causeway their are two arms where the water shallows up (West and East) I've regularly seen people on the shore at Stansley. Is there public access here?
I'm fairly sure there's no public access up from Duckley wood on the east arm.
So I guess I'm asking where the best place to go. I take it permits are needed for the hides?

As a novice I'd be grateful for any info.

Rob

Hello Rob

Public access is only on the the causeway and along Watery Lane.Public access to the shoreline and hides is by permit only issued by the WMBC.
The Admaston end of the causeway is a good place to view without a permit.
The west arm Blithe Bay and east arm Tad Bay depending on water levels can also be good.

Russell

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Thanks for the correction WPLBC. 1991 is well before my time I'll check the annual reports for the rest of the 1990's in case there were other breeders. Do you or WJL know if the Westport pair were a "first" for the county?

Re 1991 WMBC Annual Report

Barnacle Goose
A free-flying introduced pair bred successfully at Westport, raising one gosling.
But in the 1990 WMBC report, it says one or two Barnacle Geese arrived with Canada Geese on 2 Jun 1990. I will have to check with WJL to see if they were the same birds or not.

This is a photo of a photo i took in Jun 1991 of the gosling.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Hear hear! The Red-backed Shrike wasn't found till late afternoon too - after several birders including me/Russ/Jack Haye had been round the site. It's such a large place to cover that unless you're there for 3+ hours, you're unlikely to cover it all. The more people covering the Hill the better :t:

Next time I pass through Cheadle, I'll check out Diphill :eek!:, err I mean Tickhill - sounds interesting.

Actually Andy, you'd be surprised how easy it is for one observer to visit after/before you, only to record more/less than you! Stuff seems to arrive/depart throughout the day.
I think two observers had already visited before I had the Hoopoe, and the big fall of September 2005 only seemed to arrive late morning after one dedicated observer (Nick!) had made an early morning visit!

Anyway, look forward to hearing about your Tickhill exploits.

Cheers
Steve