Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[smyrna]

Caspo

Hows it goin mucka,

The gull looks v good for Caspo in many ways(bill, eye, P10 etc), but don't you think the mantle looks a bit dark? Maybe this is the light on the photo?

I always associate Caspos with a paler mantle and this individual looks as dark as Y-L Gull.

I'm certainly not doubting the record, just a comment on first impression.

Maybe Mr Nuttall could give us his opinion.

Merry Christmas to all! I'm off to get intoxicated B

Cheers

Yep its the light thats making it look darker, Nut has already seen the pic and in his words says '' What a cracking bird a classic individual '' no sign again
today of the Caspo but a 1st W YL Gull on the ice this pm

Merry Christmas to all Staffs birders

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Hows it goin mucka,

The gull looks v good for Caspo in many ways(bill, eye, P10 etc), but don't you think the mantle looks a bit dark? Maybe this is the light on the photo?

Cheers

Steve

Steve - I'd say it's the effect of photographing in winter sunlight, the herring looks dark mantled too.
Cheers
Nick

 

[Rockbirder]

News for 26/12/09

6 Goosander and a Barn Owl at Utch this mornin'.

Have a good un folks.

http://birdsbeerandrocknroll.blogspot.com

 

[Richard Powell]

In addition at Utch this morning, 1 Jack Snipe. :t:

Might go out again this afternoon now, as Port Vale v Burton Albion is postponed. :-C Perhaps it's just as well for all those Vale supporters :-O

6 Goosander and a Barn Owl at Utch this mornin'.

Have a good un folks.

http://birdsbeerandrocknroll.blogspot.com

http://birdsbeerandrocknroll.blogspot.com

 

[sylvia staffs]

Steady on Richard, no need for that!!

:king:

sylvia

 

[Richard Powell]

I thought that might provoke a response. :-O

First winter drake Scaup still at Brookleys Lake this afternoon, along with 2 female Goldeneye.

Steady on Richard, no need for that!!

:king:

sylvia

 

[Rockbirder]

News for 27/12/09

1st Winter drake Scaup at Utch also 17 Goosander and an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the ice.

Andy.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Aye up folks...hope everyone is recovering from the Xmas festivities...B B

It's been very quiet over Xmas but with another cold snap on the way there might be a few more bits and pieces on the way for the 2010 listers...not just a year list to start but a decade list...now that's a challenge...:eek!:

Festive Staffs Review

News for the 27th Dec

2w Caspian, 3 Yellow-legged & ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost (+57 Goosander)
3w Caspian Gull - Stubber's Green
redhead Smew - Blithfield in Tad bay in afternoon

News for the 26th Dec

probable Great White Egret - over Drayton Bassett GP's at 12.00 but distant (+2 Little Egret)
adult Caspian & 2 Yellow-legged Gull (2w+3w) - Chasewater roost
12+ Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods

News for Crimbo Day

Great White Egret - flew south over Dosthill, Warks but must have been the Alvecote bird and flown over Drayton Bassett Pits, Staffs...:t:

adult Caspian Gull - reported Drayton Bassett Pits at 15.30 (+1st winter drake Smew & 2 Little Egret)

adult Yellow-legged Gull - Belvide roost (+adult Snow Goose)

I have to admit the best bird i have seen over the Xmas period was the 'out of county' Black-necked Grebe at Priorslee Lake, Shrops!! I wasn't being a traitor to the County...honestly i was just passing...

 

[The Moore-hen]

Hows it goin mucka,

The gull looks v good for Caspo in many ways(bill, eye, P10 etc), but don't you think the mantle looks a bit dark? Maybe this is the light on the photo?

I always associate Caspos with a paler mantle and this individual looks as dark as Y-L Gull.

I'm certainly not doubting the record, just a comment on first impression.

Maybe Mr Nuttall could give us his opinion.

Merry Christmas to all! I'm off to get intoxicated B

Cheers

Steve

Merry Xmas Snapper...B

Yeh i texted Lars 'Golden Balls' Nuttall to tell him there was a nice photo of a Caspo on the thread and his reply was 'A classic individual'...never one for long texts is our Lars... Yep as said earlier in the thread think it's just the light on the mantle that gives the darker impression. Have a good break mate, looking forward to the New Year?? ATB

 

[Topspot]

4 jack snipe Caverswall marsh this morning with 18 snipe-50+goldenplover in top meadow Park Hall.


SJO

 

[Steve Turner]

Brookleys Lake

drake Ferruginous Duck here this afternoon!

One of you 'quarry boys' find this??!!

It could be a returning bird, first found here a few years ago, which then did a tour of a few sites in Staffs.

Other news; GND at Blithfield

Steve

 

[Nick Smith]

Great Northern Diver was in Blithe Bay off Dairyhouse Reach. Diving frequently, viewing conditions tricky with the fog and low sunlight. Eventually had slightly better views from the causeway. No sign Smew bottom of Blithe Bay.

 

[Richard Powell]

Ferruginous Duck

Guilty! :eek!:

Pictures aren't great but the light was fading. And my shaking hands might have something to do with it as well! :-O

Certainly a fully winged bird. Appears to be unringed as well.

 

[Adam M]

bittern reported at doxey today, any one got any more news on it? tried 3 times for the one last year/earlier this year and still never saw it.

adam

 

[Adam M]

while im here, just to make i've got the directions to brookleys right.

head from cheadle on the b5032 ashbourne road to alton
from there head north on farley lane to farley
turn right on to wooton lane
and then park on waste lane just north of the lake?

adam

 

[Nick Smith]

Piece od advice for the Doxey Bittern based on observations made in Jan and Feb. While we were sat there waiting for it, birdwatchers would walk up, stand two mins and then wander off. "Not seen it mate!" i'm sure they would say. Been 4x and not seen it. Bitterns require a bit of hard work and patience. You have to constantly scan the pool edge and pick up on any movement. Having said that, i believe today's sighting was stood on the ice. Be prepared to sit there all day if you want to see it.

Plenty about for those 1st January birdwatchers making their annual trip out :-O

 

[Rockbirder]

Fudge Duck at Brookers!

drake Ferruginous Duck here this afternoon!

One of you 'quarry boys' find this??!!

It could be a returning bird, first found here a few years ago, which then did a tour of a few sites in Staffs.

Other news; GND at Blithfield

Steve

The Quarry boys? Wasn't that an early version of the Beatles? Full marks to RP again, this time i was five minutes away instead of at a barby:-C

Andy.

http://birdsbeerandrocknroll.blogspot.com

 

[Steve Turner]

Guilty! :eek!:

Pictures aren't great but the light was fading. And my shaking hands might have something to do with it as well! :-O

Certainly a fully winged bird. Appears to be unringed as well.

Nice one doooode! Spoonbill and Fudge Duck finds for you this year in the mighty Cheesedale recording area - top trumps!

Steve

ps so now we botrh know what comes in to roost at Brookleys

 

[The Moore-hen]

Nice work RP - as Fudge Duck is still a BBRC description species you can have that as a Rarity Find!! I found one at Gailey once for my Rarity Finds List (total 4...:-O)...but it had been at Belvide the previous day so it was a bit of a cheat that 'un...:-O

A few new birds turning up today...a change in the weather or just more observer coverage i wonder? Cold for next few days so i expect a few more 'bits and pieces' to turn up...:t:

Extra News for the 28th Dec

adult Caspian, 3 ad Yellow-legged & ad Med Gull - Chasewater roost
2 Scaup (1st winter drake & female) - Uttoxeter Quarry (+Pink-footed Goose)
2 Jack Snipe - Berry Hill Fields this am.

The Bittern was reported from Boundary Flash on the ice at 12.15 and was showing well. As mentioned earlier this is probably the best way to see Bittern when the reedbeds freeze and they stand on the edge on the ice...if you don't score at Doxey try Aqualate - no reports recently but sure to be at least 1-2 wintering there again.

 

[Martyn Yapp]

Ferruginious Duck was removed from the BB list in 2006, I am sorry to inform.