Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[coloz]

Certainly summer breeding sites have been targeted but this is a long established winter roost. I saw my first one there in 1988. I think its a nature reserve as well if i'm not mistaken. Its common knowledge that there is a roost there and a quick check of recent WMBC reports will also tell you that.

Cheers for that nick.It was just a thought,we all know that these beautiful birds are still being targeted By mindless thugs. And i was just a bit worried about the naming of locations.I didn't know that area was a nature reserve nick i always thought it was further down where the black grouse used to be. thank you for your information lets hope these birds are with us for many winters to come and hope that one day they might breed again on the staffs moors.

 

[andymjukes]

Thanks for the advice and consern Coloz, but im not even a very active birder and know of this site, so Im sure anyone with an axe to grind about harriers would easily find this info out if they were inclined to do so. Normally, people wanting to do harm to birds of prey have quite a deep knowledge of where to find them. Having saying that, breeding sites should always be kept secret.
In terms of "said site" it is part of a huge SSSI known as the Leek Moors SSSI. Ill pop up on Sunday to see if there is anything about yet.
Andy

 

[Steve Turner]

News for Dec 4th;

Goshawk reported at Crakemarsh, Uttoxeter at 11:00.

Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for Dec 4th;

Goshawk reported at Crakemarsh, Uttoxeter at 11:00.

Steve

Cheers Steve...i was going to use the word 'reported' too knowing the history with claims of Gos from everywhere in the UK! I'm not saying this wasn't one but must be the most mis-identified bird in Britain!? Certainly, as with Hen Harrier, won't be a bird we should be reporting outside of the mid winter months (or from any known regular sites...just incase the monarchy are on-line...:eek!

Juv Great Northern Diver - still at Belvide this afternoon

 

[Steve Turner]

Cheers Steve...i was going to use the word 'reported' too knowing the history with claims of Gos from everywhere in the UK! I'm not saying this wasn't one but must be the most mis-identified bird in Britain!?

Yeah, you never know with Gos records...apparently it wasn't the Uttick Quarry boys who had it, so whoever had it, apologies for using the word reported.

Interestingly tho, the quarry boys did have a Gos at Uttick in September so perhaps it's still in the area.

Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

No more news for Staffs so far today but a redhead Smew just over the border at Dosthill Lake...this (or maybe others) should be in Staffs over the weekend...maybe even at Utch...:t:

 

[minkstone]

A friend of mine saw a barn owl at 4.30pm while walking his dogs behind coalville estate at weston coyney, Stuart

 

[Periwinkle]

No more news for Staffs so far today but a redhead Smew just over the border at Dosthill Lake...this (or maybe others) should be in Staffs over the weekend...maybe even at Utch...:t:

Presumably same Smew seen at Drayton Bassett 2.10pm. Keep an eye on my blog for sightings from the Staffs Smew hotspot!

 

[Martyn Yapp]

Whooper Swan still present at Blithfield Reservoir in Tad Bay this morning. No sign of the reported Great Northern Diver. A bird was seen in flight only on Thursday by Graham Mant over the dam. The Friday paged message is yet to be confirmed, at least three of the regular birders on site did not see it. Anybody got any info on that sighting please. There is also a flock of finches in Stansley Wood that is holding at least three Bramblings.

 

[Nick Smith]

Branston GP's this afternoon - Four Green Sands, three Redshanks and a Dunlin on the sandy pit with a few goldies.

 

[Rockbirder]

161 Mandarins at Brookleys Lake this a'noon! Think that might be a record for staffs. Also a 1st winter drake Scaup(or very good looky likey). Wouldn't mind a second opinion on the scaup. A very under watched site which as had Fudge Duck in the past.

Andy.

 

[The Moore-hen]

161 Mandarin is an amazing total and i would be amazed if a number anywhere near that had been recorded in the WMBC region before (although as with the Caspian Gulls i'm likely to be proved wrong...:t

Extra News from the 5th Nov

Great Northern Diver - still at Belvide (+ ad Yellow-legged Gull)

Extra News from the 4th Nov

Caspian (near-ad), 4 Yellow-legged (3 x ad, 3w) and ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost

5 Little Egret & ad Yellow-legged Gull - Drayton Bassett Pits

2 ad Yellow-legged Gull - Belvide

Bit of a late update for yday and today as it was my works Xmas party last night...B B good job i haven't been birding today...god knows what i might of seen (there would have been two of them whatever...) :-C

 

[NickPomiankowski]

I'm Mandy Fly Me

Yes - new county record beating the 98 recorded at the same site (by Fair Isle) on 16/12/07. Nice one Mandy-Andy
Nick

161 Mandarin is an amazing total and i would be amazed if a number anywhere near that had been recorded in the WMBC region before (although as with the Caspian Gulls i'm likely to be proved wrong...:t

 

[Steve Turner]

161 Mandarins at Brookleys Lake this a'noon! Think that might be a record for staffs. Also a 1st winter drake Scaup(or very good looky likey). Wouldn't mind a second opinion on the scaup. A very under watched site which as had Fudge Duck in the past.

Andy.

Can't think of a nicer bloke to pass on 'my' Mandarin record to

Re the Scaup, are we talking potential Lesser Scaup, or maybe a hybrid?!

Cheers
Steve

 

[Rockbirder]

Can't think of a nicer bloke to pass on 'my' Mandarin record to

Re the Scaup, are we talking potential Lesser Scaup, or maybe a hybrid?!

Cheers
Steve

OOOOOH 'er missus! No mate i wish. Looks sound for Greater but i'm not really familiar with 1st winters. There haven't been regular flocks of Scaup in the Cheesedale recording area for quite a while.

Andy.

 

[Steve Turner]

OOOOOH 'er missus! No mate i wish. Looks sound for Greater but i'm not really familiar with 1st winters. There haven't been regular flocks of Scaup in the Cheesedale recording area for quite a while.

Andy.

Ah furry nuff! Perhaps Rico 'Bailey' Powell will be able to get a snap of it tmrw :t:

This Cheesedale recording area seems to be increasing all the time :-O

Cheers
Steve

 

[Richard Powell]

I shall give it a whirl tomorrow :t:. Meanwhile, just wondering if it's the recent Blithfield bird? Exclusive pictures can be seen on Blurred Birding, not very blurred though.........

Ah furry nuff! Perhaps Rico 'Bailey' Powell will be able to get a snap of it tmrw :t:

This Cheesedale recording area seems to be increasing all the time :-O

Cheers
Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

I shall give it a whirl tomorrow :t:. Meanwhile, just wondering if it's the recent Blithfield bird? Exclusive pictures can be seen on Blurred Birding, not very blurred though.........

What's this! Is Martyn keeping exclusive blurred photos to himself and not posting them on this thread?? We had the LTD photo but not sign of the Scaup one...:-O

News for the 6th Dec

Juv Great Northern Diver - still at Belvide this morning.

News from the 5th Dec

2 Caspian (near-ad & 3w), 4 adult Yellow-legged & ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost

 

[Richard Powell]

One Papped Scaup

Unless of course, Martyn has a vast library of other Scaup pictures.

This is the Brookleys Lake bird, still around this morning. Couldn't get it quite blurred enough, I need to learn from the master. :-O

What's this! Is Martyn keeping exclusive blurred photos to himself and not posting them on this thread?? We had the LTD photo but not sign of the Scaup one...:-O

 

[Martyn Yapp]

1st winter Greater Scaup

Yes a nice find at this north Staffordshire duck pond for Rockbirder.

Certainly not as advanced as the Blithfield Reservoir bird, picture herwith.

Notice in RP's images the black tip to the bill bleeds over the nail, typical of much younger birds. In their first autumn they typically moult new feathers on head, mantle, scapulars, chest and flanks semi resembling non breeding plumage. Note the rest of plumage is juvenile, cinnamon tips to the chest and flanks are visible.

I would like to hazard a guess that Richard was more interested in seeing the Mandarin?

Unless of course, Martyn has a vast library of other Scaup pictures.

This is the Brookleys Lake bird, still around this morning. Couldn't get it quite blurred enough, I need to learn from the master. :-O