Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[Rockbirder]

Owt abowt owd?

Hey up folks, incase you haven't noticed there's been a few geese about over the weekend.

Around 250 Pinkies over Utch today heading n/w at 1045 and then another flock of 150 over Brookleys lake at about 1130, also heading n/w.

Also still at Brookleys lake was last weekends immature drake Scaup and at least 160 Mandarins.

According to one of the locals at Brookleys, a Red Kite as been knocking about for 3 weeks in that area and he'd seen it this morning.

No sign of any harriers at Swallows this a'noon. I think there's only been 2-3 sightings this autumn/winter.

Andy.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Oooops sorry lads! I read the last post as being by Dean but the photo's were Richard's...soz!! Didn't mean to mistake the 'Avi-ratzzi'...:-O

Sounds like a good day all round today...the Gailey Med might be the returning Polish ringed bird that has been seen the last few winters but was only seen in flight today so will have to wait and see when it's perched up.

Extra News for the 13th Dec

Whinchat - still at Tameside NR, Tamworth

 

[Upland Birder]

A good day out birding today bumping into Andy and Richard between Utch Quarry and Brookley's Lake.

Seeing and counting all those Mandarin was interesting with good numbers on the water and many perched in tree's. Managed to see the Scaup after two attempts :eek!:

Dean:t:

 

[Martyn Yapp]

Marvellous, just marvellous.

According to one of the locals at Brookleys, a Red Kite as been knocking about for 3 weeks in that area and he'd seen it this morning.

Andy.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Marvellous, just marvellous.

I see that one is still avoiding you for the WMBC Year List then Mart, what does the total stand at now? Looks like a trip to Brookleys then for you over the Xmas break!!

Extra News for the 13th Dec

8 Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods (+80 Pink-footed Geese btwn 11.45 & 12.15) directions and photos:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=71747&page=338

150 Pink-footed Geese - over Alton at 11.45

Pinky's are a good bird in South Staffs (i still need a wild one for Gailey!) but they are fairly regular in North Staffs on passage between East Anglia and Lancashire when the winds have a touch of north in to push them that bit further south. With the freezing easterly cold snap predicted for Thurs onwards i would expect the odd 'scarce' next weekend...:t:

 

[Nick Smith]

I see that one is still avoiding you for the WMBC Year List then Mart, what does the total stand at now? Looks like a trip to Brookleys then for you over the Xmas break!!

Extra News for the 13th Dec

8 Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods (+80 Pink-footed Geese btwn 11.45 & 12.15) directions and photos:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=71747&page=338

150 Pink-footed Geese - over Alton at 11.45

Pinky's are a good bird in South Staffs (i still need a wild one for Gailey!) but they are fairly regular in North Staffs on passage between East Anglia and Lancashire when the winds have a touch of north in to push them that bit further south. With the freezing easterly cold snap predicted for Thurs onwards i would expect the odd 'scarce' next weekend...:t:

I think we get good and bad goose yrs in North Staffs - Fridays birds were only my second gud'uns for Westport.

I think i will be joining Martyn on Saturday as i'm stuck on 188 for birds seen in Staffs this year - i need one more to beat my record. Merlin, Red Kite, a nice grebe would do very nicely. Don't tell Martyn but there used to be a pair of Black Swans at Brookleys - and all those Mandarins - a plastic duck haven!

 

[Rockbirder]

I see that one is still avoiding you for the WMBC Year List then Mart, what does the total stand at now? Looks like a trip to Brookleys then for you over the Xmas break!!

Extra News for the 13th Dec

8 Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods (+80 Pink-footed Geese btwn 11.45 & 12.15) directions and photos:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=71747&page=338

150 Pink-footed Geese - over Alton at 11.45

Pinky's are a good bird in South Staffs (i still need a wild one for Gailey!) but they are fairly regular in North Staffs on passage between East Anglia and Lancashire when the winds have a touch of north in to push them that bit further south. With the freezing easterly cold snap predicted for Thurs onwards i would expect the odd 'scarce' next weekend...:t:

Hopefully that "real" Snow Goose in Norfolk will tag on to some returning Pinkies and take a pit stop round here on it's way back north.

Andy.

 

[Upland Birder]

Hopefully that "real" Snow Goose in Norfolk will tag on to some returning Pinkies and take a pit stop round here on it's way back north.

Andy.

Now that would be nice........ "real" Snow Goose and Pink foot at Hales Hall Pool in Upper Cheesedale!!

Dean:t:

 

[Martyn Yapp]

I am afraid I can't join in the weekend search for the Red Kite due to a family wedding in Herrtfordshire, I presume that it must feature on the Weavers somewhere too, lots of sheep up there the last time I was there.

Regional Year List stands at 216.

Real Snow Goose in Norfolk, where? I have seen a flock of over twenty Snow Geese in Norfolk, in May!!!!!

 

[Nick Smith]

I am afraid I can't join in the weekend search for the Red Kite due to a family wedding in Herrtfordshire, I presume that it must feature on the Weavers somewhere too, lots of sheep up there the last time I was there.

Regional Year List stands at 216.

Real Snow Goose in Norfolk, where? I have seen a flock of over twenty Snow Geese in Norfolk, in May!!!!!

I can fully understand you twitching Norfolk for a flock of 20. I know you like your out of season ducks and geese - but surely Belvide was closer!

 

[mosschops]

Pink Feets

Ey Up Folks,
Just to add the Goose theme i had 300 Pink Feets at Baddiley Mere nr. Nantwich yesterday. There seems to be lots around this winter, where will they all be heading?

Jason

 

[The Moore-hen]

Ey Up Folks,
Just to add the Goose theme i had 300 Pink Feets at Baddiley Mere nr. Nantwich yesterday. There seems to be lots around this winter, where will they all be heading?

Jason

Hi Jason

They will be moving between the two main wintering grounds of the north norfolk marshes and the lancashire mosses. I think their usual passage route is a bit further north than Staffs but they are sometimes pushed further south by northerly winds or i have heard of flocks being heard when it's foggy so presumably they get lost.

News from the 14th Dec

GREAT WHITE EGRET - Himley Hall Lake until 09.00 then flew north.

I don't know any more details of this report except for that it came on the RBA pager last night! It's only about 2 mile from my house so would have been nice to see before work. It may have roosted overnight and left early morning. Any more news would be appreciated!

2 Yellow-legged Gull - Belvide

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 15th Dec

2 Pink-footed Geese - Belvide in stubble field below the dam at 13.00

They sound wild enough to me!! Shame they aren't the Tundra Bean Geese returning from last early winter...

 

[midlands birder]

Hi Jason

They will be moving between the two main wintering grounds of the north norfolk marshes and the lancashire mosses. I think their usual passage route is a bit further north than Staffs but they are sometimes pushed further south by northerly winds or i have heard of flocks being heard when it's foggy so presumably they get lost.

News from the 14th Dec

GREAT WHITE EGRET - Himley Hall Lake until 09.00 then flew north.
I don't know any more details of this report except for that it came on the RBA pager last night! It's only about 2 mile from my house so would have been nice to see before work. It may have roosted overnight and left early morning. Any more news would be appreciated!

2 Yellow-legged Gull - Belvide

that place is only a few mile from my house(30 mins walk), hope it returns wouldent mind getting ito
MB

 

[The Moore-hen]

that place is only a few mile from my house(30 mins walk), hope it returns wouldent mind getting ito
MB

Yeh i think i exaggerated a touch with the distance, according to google maps it's 5 miles from my house but as it flew north it probably flew over it while i was at work!! Still no more details on the Himley sighting.

News for the 16th Dec

2 Pink-footed Geese - Belvide still in the stubble field below the dam

News from the 15th Dec

Juv Iceland & near-adult Caspian Gull - Chasewater roost
5 adult Yellow-legged Gull - Belvide roost
23+ Goosander - Doxey Marshes

 

[Rockbirder]

Twenty plus Goosander on JCB South Lake this a'noon. Not seen by moi, i was in a redundancy meeting, which i survived:t: Drinks are on moi, well they are at Barker TowersB B B

Andy.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Twenty plus Goosander on JCB South Lake this a'noon. Not seen by moi, i was in a redundancy meeting, which i survived:t: Drinks are on moi, well they are at Barker TowersB B B

Andy.

Nice one Andy, congratulations...:t: on avoiding the chop i mean...not dipping the Goosanders...

News from the 16th Dec

Water Pipit - reported still at Doxey Marshes
Whinchat - still at Tameside NR, Tamworth SK.206.025
probable 2w Caspian Gull (+ ad Yellow-legged Gull & ad Med Gull) - Chasewater roost
8 ad Yellow-legged Gull (with c5000 LBB Gull) - Belvide roost

 

[The Moore-hen]

News from the 17th Dec

Juv Iceland (from 16.15) & ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost
2 Pink-footed Geese - Belvide until 09.00 when flushed and no further sign
Ruff - flew NW thru Drayton Bassett GP's

No sign of the Whinchat at Tameside NR, Tamworth...no suprise really with the big freeze on the way...off to warmer climes...jammy git...:-C

 

[Steve Turner]

News from the 17th Dec

Juv Iceland (from 16.15) & ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost
2 Pink-footed Geese - Belvide until 09.00 when flushed and no further sign
Ruff - flew NW thru Drayton Bassett GP's

No sign of the Whinchat at Tameside NR, Tamworth...no suprise really with the big freeze on the way...off to warmer climes...jammy git...:-C

...so 'our' Whinchat pops off, and a smart male Sibechat pops up in Notts! Grrrr, jammy b*ggers.

Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

...so 'our' Whinchat pops off, and a smart male Sibechat pops up in Notts! Grrrr, jammy b*ggers.

Steve

I know!! I'm quite amazed at how little interest there is on the rarity thread and reporting there has been of the Notts Sibechat considering what a rarity it still is...and an adult male...and it's likelyhood of being 'split'! Shame Notts didn't get the Whinchat and we could of had the Sibe...:C I see the site is up the A1 north of Newark so maybe there will be a bit more interest the weekend...if it's not deep in snow!!

Nice photo's of the Notts Sibechat here:

http://www.birdholidays.co.uk/SiberianStonechat.htm

Staffs News for the 18th Dec

Long-eared Owl - Park Hall Country Park below the metal seat

not quite as good here is it!!