Birding In Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Adam M]

sabines gull showing well at hanley forest park this evening 19:00 hrs

i was there today until about 12, but not birding so never looked through the gulls. and im busy tomorrow, charity walk up snowdon, so i cant go then either, then im back in work.....chances of it staying until next saturday?? thought as much.

about time we got a sabs in north staffs, its been a full year since the last one!!! :-O

adam

 

[carlj]

i was there today until about 12, but not birding so never looked through the gulls.
adam

Ah, I thought that 'boarder looked familiar grinding the ledges! :t:

 

[Rob1991S-O-T]

back from dungeness

first birds see in north staffs are 7 swift heading south

im glad didnt miss much hopefully things will pick up soon

 

[Rockbirder]

Utch 0700-0920.

Meadow Pipit 50, all heading w/sw in small single figure flocks.
Chiff' 4
Green Sand' 3
Common Sand' 2
Curlew 7
Teal 50

Good result for somebody with the Sab's "up anley duck".

Andy.

 

[mike a]

Guys,

Managed to get some pics of the RND at Westport on Friday afternoon:
http://mikeatkinson.net/RingNeckedDuck.htm

It was being very lazy - the 2 pics of it diving were taken the only time I saw it dive. It also refused to open its wings!

I might pop back in the hope of getting closer views - these shots were all taken at long distance at 700mm focal length.

BTW, are the Sabine's Gull reports confirmed?

Mike (Congleton-based bird photographer)
http://mikeatkinson.net

 

[Neil-T]

Great pics there Mike. What set up are you using? I assume it's a 500f/4 with a 1.4 TC or similar. Thanks for sharing. Neil.

 

[mike a]

Thanks, Chrysophylax.
Yes, I used a Canon 40D with 500mm f4 IS and 1.4x TC (handheld).
Mike.

 

[Rob Jones]

Some posts have been deleted?

Anyway anyone know if the Sabs gull has been confirmed at Wessa? I had a look earlier and couldn't pick it up.

 

[Rob Jones]

Thanks, Chrysophylax.
Yes, I used a Canon 40D with 500mm f4 IS and 1.4x TC (handheld).
Mike.

Agree with Neil, super shots Mike and you have a very good range of shots on your website. Particularly like the flight shots of the Jay. :t:

Chop my own arm off for the Canon 500

 

[Steve Turner]

sabines gull showing well at hanley forest park this evening 19:00 hrs

Great stuff :t: Adult or juv?!

Before this year, I'd never heard any bird news coming out of here, and now it's had Sab's and Med Gull in the last couple of months!

Is Hanley Park your local patch Lucybirder? If so, keep up the good work!!

Cheers
Steve

 

[Neil-T]

Agree with Neil, super shots Mike and you have a very good range of shots on your website. Particularly like the flight shots of the Jay. :t:

Chop my own arm off for the Canon 500

Then I would have to come with you to hold it.:t::-O

 

[Adam M]

not much out and about up snowdon, just a few ravens and meadow pipits. there were a few herring gulls as well and a pair of kestrels. be nice to get up somewhere like that earlier in the year, before all the breeding birds are heading south.

adam

 

[mike a]

Thanks, Rob.

I suffered with '500mm longings' for ages before I finally managed to save up for one. I'd have chopped my arm off if I'd thought it would have helped!

I've just been back to Westport to see if I could get any better shots of the RND and to see if there was any sign of the reported Sabine's. No luck on either count! :-(

The RND was there but distant and the light went to pot as soon as I arrived.

I'm still not sure whether the Sabine's reports are a wind-up. Any photos would be great!

Mike.

 

[russell toon]

Thanks, Rob.

I suffered with '500mm longings' for ages before I finally managed to save up for one. I'd have chopped my arm off if I'd thought it would have helped!

I've just been back to Westport to see if I could get any better shots of the RND and to see if there was any sign of the reported Sabine's. No luck on either count! :-(

The RND was there but distant and the light went to pot as soon as I arrived.

I'm still not sure whether the Sabine's reports are a wind-up. Any photos would be great!

Mike.

The Westport Sabine's has since been reported as erroneous.

Russell

 

[Mad_Sunday]

The Westport Sabine's has since been reported as erroneous.

Russell

erroneous gull eh', I'll have to get up there, erroneous gull is a lifer for me :-O

Pete

 

[Rockbirder]

Utch 1610-1820.

Hobby 1
Wheatear 1
Green Sand' 2
Common Sand' 2
Ringy 2
Curlew 7

Andy.

 

[Upland Birder]

Thanks Mike for showing us your photo's of the RND. look forward to seeing more of your future photo's and postings.

Dean:t:

 

[namron]

Rob1991

back from dungeness

first birds see in north staffs are 7 swift heading south

im glad didnt miss much hopefully things will pick up soon

Wot Rob! No Bairds Sandpiper either tut tut you should have come with us to Anglesey today m8 :-O
Sorry hope this doesn't start a spat :t:

 

[Upland Birder]

Its about time we had a spat. Can't think of anything to have a spat about though :-O

Dean:t:

PS Rob mentioned that some posts had been deleted. What were they about I missed those. I feel like I'm missing out on something!!

 

[Upland Birder]

Visited Conwy RSPB today with Terry Eyre, 200 plus Curlew, Black tailed Godwit, several Red Breasted Merganser, Ruff, Knot, Redshank, Little Grebes, Teal, Cormorant, Black Headed Gulls, LBB Gulls and no Red-backed Shrike.

Then it was back to Inner Marsh Farm which was quiet with Great Spotted Woodpecker, a few Ruff and a few hundred Lapwings.

On the way back went to look for Red Street and the Wedgewood Monument. Looks like an interesting hill, with a great view. Is it any good for Visible Migration me asks?

Dean

PS I reckon we should all do a co-ordinated visable migration watch en masse one of the weekends soon. We need birders to be on Tickhill, Berry Hill, the Wedgewwod Monument, Mow Cop, Gun Hill, Morridge, and put all our reports on here. Are there any other good hills? Could be interesting:eek!: