Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[russell toon]

Berryhill 08:00 to 10:00

8 Wheatears this morning ,6 together in the Lap Bunt paddock and 2 down by the Shrike paddocks.Also 3 Whinchats,2 together around the Shrike paddocks and one on its usual perch on The Heath (next to the Lap Bunt paddock).3 Redstarts present including a adult male.The long staying juv Stonechat twins are now developing orange chests.
Good numbers of Swallows through with 4 Swifts.
A Small Long tailed Tit flock was out numbered by at least 11 Willow/Chaffs on a single small hawthorn,quite a sight.

Russell

 

[Steve Turner]

Berryhill 08:00 to 10:00

8 Wheatears this morning ,6 together in the Lap Bunt paddock and 2 down by the Shrike paddocks.Also 3 Whinchats,2 together around the Shrike paddocks and one on its usual perch on The Heath (next to the Lap Bunt paddock).3 Redstarts present including a adult male.The long staying juv Stonechat twins are now developing orange chests.
Good numbers of Swallows through with 4 Swifts.
A Small Long tailed Tit flock was out numbered by at least 11 Willow/Chaffs on a single small hawthorn,quite a sight.

Russell

Nice.
Was thinking the other day that Willow Tit is another good candidate for an addition (?) to the site list; they often wander with tit flocks at this time of year, and if I can record them in gorse up at the Wedgwood Monument then the habo around Berry Hill should be attractive to them also!

Steve

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Nice Russell - the only things I can add to your list are a juv Green Woodpecker and 2 Ravens flying over north. Must have missed you by minutes.

Berryhill 08:00 to 10:00

8 Wheatears this morning ,6 together in the Lap Bunt paddock and 2 down by the Shrike paddocks.Also 3 Whinchats,2 together around the Shrike paddocks and one on its usual perch on The Heath (next to the Lap Bunt paddock).3 Redstarts present including a adult male.The long staying juv Stonechat twins are now developing orange chests.
Good numbers of Swallows through with 4 Swifts.
A Small Long tailed Tit flock was out numbered by at least 11 Willow/Chaffs on a single small hawthorn,quite a sight.

Russell

 

[russell toon]

Nice Russell - the only things I can add to your list are a juv Green Woodpecker and 2 Ravens flying over north. Must have missed you by minutes.

Being a juv must be a new Green Pecker from the one thats been with us on and off this last year or two.

Russell

 

[russell toon]

Nice.
Was thinking the other day that Willow Tit is another good candidate for an addition (?) to the site list; they often wander with tit flocks at this time of year, and if I can record them in gorse up at the Wedgwood Monument then the habo around Berry Hill should be attractive to them also!

Steve

It would be a surprise to record Willow Tit here.Are there any trees,Willow scrub,etc up at the Wedgwood Monument

Russell

 

[Steve Turner]

It would be a surprise to record Willow Tit here.Are there any trees,Willow scrub,etc up at the Wedgwood Monument

Russell

There are some scattered trees, but not really any more than around Berry Hill; it's essentially loose hedgerows just like the eastern boundary/side of Berry Hill, and similar to the clump of Willows/Sycamores at the bottom of the 'Whinchat Heath'. I know it's a bit of a long shot, but it's surprising what can tag along with roving tit flocks!

Steve

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Silverdale Colliery

A few more gulls around The Void today, highlight being a second juv Y-L Gull, along with the 2 sub-adults, c18 Herring Gulls (4 ads, 14+ juvs). 750+ B-H Gulls is also an increase but with windy conditions it was hard to pick out the elusive Med - in fact I'm guessing there wasn't one :-O. 5 kestrels also

 

[russell toon]

A few more gulls around The Void today, highlight being a second juv Y-L Gull, along with the 2 sub-adults, c18 Herring Gulls (4 ads, 14+ juvs). 750+ B-H Gulls is also an increase but with windy conditions it was hard to pick out the elusive Med - in fact I'm guessing there wasn't one :-O. 5 kestrels also

I can see where this is leading to,someone who never goes near The Void is going to wander up and a Med Gull is going to present itself in front of him before flying off after about 10 minutes.
Nick and Steve will recall the 4 Whiskered Terns that flew over Keele university in 2005 and I am assuming you did not see them.To add insult to injury they probably flew over Black Bank. If they were flying south east they could have come over Berryhill.You cant make up stuff like this.

Russell

 

[Adam M]

on the slimbridge website, they have had a few sightings of goshawk on the reserve. is there anywhere they occur locally? or anywhere where they occur on a more regular basis?
i realise the trouble discussing birds of prey online, so probably best to send answers by personal message.
thanks for any help
adam

 

[Rob Jones]

Blithfield

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

Thanks Russell

I deleted my post when I found the WMBC club website! Basically tells everything you need to know really.

I've fished on there regularly in February and I'm always amazed at the huge gull population. The east arm is out of bounds for anglers in winter and no one fishes far up the west arm in the shallows. Noticed activity at Admaston and down in St Stephens bay on the same side and also the shallow bay on the other side at Portfields.

Rob

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

spent somtime down by britania staduim fishing pools and canal this morning
6:30 till 7:45
2 sedge warblers
1 lesser whitethroat
1 kestrel
other than tht been of county today down for stilt sandpiper , wood sandpiper and red necked pharalope

 

[Richard Powell]

Great stuff Rob, both locally and not-so locally. Fingers crossed that Stilt Sand stays in Gloucestershire, I've got my eye on it for Friday! That would then be two ticks in a week, after my journey to (near) Skeggy yesterday for the Audouin's Gull.

spent somtime down by britania staduim fishing pools and canal this morning
6:30 till 7:45
2 sedge warblers
1 lesser whitethroat
1 kestrel
other than tht been of county today down for stilt sandpiper , wood sandpiper and red necked pharalope

 

[Rockbirder]

Go for it!!!

Great stuff Rob, both locally and not-so locally. Fingers crossed that Stilt Sand stays in Gloucestershire, I've got my eye on it for Friday! That would then be two ticks in a week, after my journey to (near) Skeggy yesterday for the Audouin's Gull.

Hey up big fella,

Why wait 'til friday you're on holiday, get yourself off tomorrow pal. Audouin's wins on looks but Stilt Sand' is a cracker as well!

Cheers pal

Andy.

 

[Rockbirder]

Dip Hill.

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.

Steady tiger'

Don't get your twickers in a knist!! I'll be up there on friday a'noon after work.

At Diphill tonight 1 Redstart.

Cheers

Andy.

 

[Adam M]

for those of you with young relatives, theres a 'get closer to nature day' at coombes valley on monday. things like pond dipping, looking at butterflies, etc. 4 quid per child, accompanying adults go free. call 01538 384017, as booking is essential.
i to am planning to do some 'ticking' over the next week. im just 18 short of increasing my list by 100 since passing my driving test, at the end of feb. couple of trips next week should leave me alot closer.
just wondering rob, how someone as young as you already has a list of 230+? thats alot of miles to rack up by 17.
adam

 

[Richard Powell]

Hey up me old Beanflirter. I've heard of a similar phrase, but I'm not going into that on a family friendly forum! Not even after the watershed (where does that phrase come from anyway?).

I would go tomorrow, but that's what happens when you make arrangements to meet friends in advance! Typical, fingers crossed it stays for a couple of days at least.

Hey up big fella,

Why wait 'til friday you're on holiday, get yourself off tomorrow pal. Audouin's wins on looks but Stilt Sand' is a cracker as well!

Cheers pal

Andy.

 

[Upland Birder]

for those of you with young relatives, theres a 'get closer to nature day' at coombes valley on monday. things like pond dipping, looking at butterflies, etc. 4 quid per child, accompanying adults go free. call 01538 384017, as booking is essential.
i to am planning to do some 'ticking' over the next week. im just 18 short of increasing my list by 100 since passing my driving test, at the end of feb. couple of trips next week should leave me alot closer.
just wondering rob, how someone as young as you already has a list of 230+? thats alot of miles to rack up by 17.
adam

Hi Adam,

About three years back I helped out for a week up at Coombes and worked with something like 147 children and their families. It was a great experience with the children getting so involved in bug hunting, fungi id amongst other activities. Amazing to see parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles etc forgetting their children were with them, getting very involved in these activities and losing themselves. Its a good way of getting children and adults connected with the outdoors and nature. So many people are disconnected because of their busy lives.

I remember well a 6 year old arriving with his rucsac on his back which contained a bug hunting kit!! He was ready for action:eek!:

I have to say though I was completely knackered at the end of that week:-O

Dean

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Richard,

I have been wondering what 'Beanflirter' means and its origins. The man of rock and birding will have to let us know.

I reckon Friday could be very interesting and so does Kay I am sure. Its good to hear that we have been upgraded to friends. Look forward to meeting up with you again as long as you are aware that I am not a twitcher or a ticker but that could all change by January 1st 2009.

I think you will like Upton Warren as well. Who's the guy in your avatar?

Dean:t:

 

[Upland Birder]

Hi Nick,

I have noted your comments:-

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

You now need a passport and ID to enter the independant state of Cheadle, Dilhorne and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Dean:-O:t:

 

[russell toon]

Great stuff Rob, both locally and not-so locally. Fingers crossed that Stilt Sand stays in Gloucestershire, I've got my eye on it for Friday! That would then be two ticks in a week, after my journey to (near) Skeggy yesterday for the Audouin's Gull.

Ah the joys of twitching,Gulls can be tricky to twitch,Audouins is a very good one to get and not to far away, its not been seen today.
Have you had any horrible dips Richard.
My worst in terms of distance were Yellow Billed Cuckoo at the bottom end of Cornwall and Siberian Rubythroat on the south coast, both overnight trecks.
The Cornwall dip resulted in me stopping overnight twitch's and I only go now if the bird is present first thing.

Russell