Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (18 Viewers)

[The Moore-hen]

I took a drive down durin my punch break today and had a very quick 5 minute scout but couldnt find it! Gutted.

Saw it today on my way back from a meeting between about 11.45-12.20. It was originally showing very well loafing just off the dam then it started feeding by 'snorkelling' in the shallows between the dam and sailing club on the north side. It was quite easy to detect where it was, by the small flock of gulls hovering above it as it fed - if you go back that might be a good starting point to look for to locate it. Good Luck...:t:

No news on the Rough-legged today?? No exactly the best weather tho to look for it...

2 x 1w Scaup - still Belvide

 

[albional]

Hi Alan,
Belvide gets both Marsh and Willow Tit. I've looked at your photo in the ID forum and it's not possible to determine. However, because you saw them at the woodland feeding station they were more likely to have been Marsh Tit. I don't mention them on the blog as they are resident all year round and would only do so if there was an increase in number.
Also your other photo's were of Tufted Duck and not the Scaup. There are some decent photos on the Belvide blog to show you what they look like.

Cheers Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the info.
I have now picked up a couple of tips in identifying Willow from Marsh so hopefully on my next visit I can test them out and maybe my photographer (the Mrs ) can get a better shot to confirm .

As for the Scaup/Tuftie, there were numerous ducks diving and hiding in the waves , looks like the Mrs picked the wrong ones to photo , pretty sure I saw the Scaup although again they are very similar to Tufties to an untrained eye.

Thanks again

Alan

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 8th Nov

Great Northern Diver - Chasewater
2 x 1w Scaup - Belvide
32 Crossbill - Cannock Chase at Cherrytree Slade
21,800 Woodpigeon - over Berry Hill in 1hr this am

Extra News for the 7th Nov

2 Red-breasted Merganser - Doxey on Tillington Flash
c50 Crossbill - Cannock Chase on track to the trig point

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 9th Nov

Juv Gannet - flew SW over Branston Pits at 11.04 (earlier SW over Willington Pits, Derbyshire)
Great White Egret - flew NE over Aqualate Mere
Great Northern Diver - Chasewater also ad Caspian & 2w Med Gull roosted
2 x 1w Scaup - Belvide

 

[The Moore-hen]

Quite a bit of movement today that I never saw coming...was quite surprised to see what was about today (in the midlands as a whole) when I checked the pager...much too late to negotiate an early work departure to check Gailey...:-C

News for the 11th Nov

16 Common Scoter - Tittesworth
2 Kittiwake & Little Gull - Westport Lake
2 Kittiwake & Grey Plover briefly - Belvide
Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater
Great Grey Shrike - Cannock Chase opposite the Tackeroo

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 13th Nov

Great Grey Shrike - still Cannock Chase at Parr's Warren
Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater
1w drake Scaup - again Belvide

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 15th Nov

2 Imm/fem Long-tailed Duck - Belvide
Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater off the dam

News for the 14th Nov

2 adult Caspian Gull - Belvide roost also Barwit, 1w Scaup & Ruddy Shelduck
20 Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 16th Nov

Possible 1w Ring-billed Gull - Belvide at dusk also 2 fem Long-tailed Duck, adult Caspian Gull & 1w drake Scaup
Male Red-breasted Merg - Tittesworth
Water Pipit - Doxey Marshes
1w fem Scaup - Gailey on both main reservoirs
Great Northern Diver - still Chasewater

Be interesting to see if the gull comes into Belvide again tomorrow although weekends are notorious for a high turn over of gulls. Think The Snapper was hoping for some 'sloppy seconds' on the LTD's rather than the Scaup... Looks like that 1996 blocker will stay intact...for another day at least!

And what's going on with the lack of rare Crossbill in Staffs? 17, possibly 24, Two-barred Crossbill at one site in the Forest of Dean...now that is just being greedy...

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 18th Nov

Juv or 2w Glaucous & 2 x Caspian (ad+2w) Caspian Gull - Chasewater also Great Northern Diver still
2 Long-tailed Duck & 1w drake Scaup - still Belvide

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 21st Nov

2w Iceland, Juv Glaucous & adult Caspian Gull - Chasewater also Great Northern Diver still
2 Long-tailed Duck & 1w drake Scaup - still Belvide

 

[Dean Peach]

I've seen around 12 crossbills in the pine trees along the track next to Burrows the machinery specialist along the A34 opposite Bednall Head today at 2.30. Watched the for around 10 mins through my bins.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 23rd Nov

2w Iceland, Juv Glaucous & 3 Caspian (ad, 3w,2w) Gull - Chasewater roost also Great Northern Diver still
2 Long-tailed Duck, Bittern & 1w drake Scaup - Belvide
Fem Common Scoter - Aqualate Mere
Male Hen Harrier - Swallow Moss
60 Crossbill - Hanchurch Woods also c18 at Maer Hills
Ring-necked Parakeet - Cannock in gardens at Hawks Green
1w female Scaup - still Gailey

 

[The Snapper]

I've seen around 12 crossbills in the pine trees along the track next to Burrows the machinery specialist along the A34 opposite Bednall Head today at 2.30. Watched the for around 10 mins through my bins.

Hi Dean,

If you get chance, it would be worth keeping an eye on these given the amount of Two-Barred Crossbills currently in the country.

You never know and its about time this blocker gets unblocked in Staffs :t:

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 24th Nov

2w Iceland, Juv Glaucous & 3 Caspian (ad, 3w, 2w) Gull - Chasewater also Great Northern Diver still
2 Long-tailed Duck & 2 1w Scaup - Belvide
2w Iceland Gull - Poplars Landfill Site, Cannock
1w Caspian Gull - Kingswood on ARC building

 

[Dean Peach]

Hi Dean,

If you get chance, it would be worth keeping an eye on these given the amount of Two-Barred Crossbills currently in the country.

You never know and its about time this blocker gets unblocked in Staffs :t:

:t:

 

[The Snapper]

Ring-necked Parakeet - Cannock in gardens at Hawks Green

Another report of this bird from yesterday with further details on Staffs Bird News site.

Now I know that this isn't everybody's cup of tea and certainly has a 'plastic' feel to it, but for keen Staffs listers, this must surely be a good chance to add to many lists(myself certainly included).

Its pretty close to where I live but with dark mornings/evenings I can't get up till the weekend with work.

Would be interested to know who's had this and if its been seen easily or not.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 25th Nov

Adult Greenland White-fronted Goose - Belvide this afternoon then appeared to fly to fields north of the A5 also 2 Long-tailed Duck & 1w Scaup still.

A proper Staffs Mega that! I certainly haven't had one before, although one was at Whitemore Haye in 2009 as per Richard Powell (accepted but for some reason I can't remember from the time?) As a long touted split from Eurasian I'm sure it will be popular if it hangs around for a while...

2w Iceland & adult Caspian Gull - again Chasewater
21 Crossbill - Cannock Chase between trig point and cadet huts

Still 12+ Two-barred Crossbill in the Forest of Dean - we have to get one eventually...don't we! :eek!:

 

[The Snapper]

Adult Greenland White-fronted Goose - Belvide this afternoon then appeared to fly to fields north of the A5 also 2 Long-tailed Duck & 1w Scaup still.

A proper Staffs Mega that! I certainly haven't had one before, although one was at Whitemore Haye in 2009 as per Richard Powell (accepted but for some reason I can't remember from the time?) As a long touted split from Eurasian I'm sure it will be popular if it hangs around for a while...

I remember the Whitemoor bird and I think there was a decent pic around at the time. There was also an Eurasian bird at the same time. I went on the weekend and only saw the latter :C

I saw a Greenland in January 2007 in Warks near Lea Marston(I think with you mucka), but certainly a very rare (sub)species in Staffs and the mids. Would be nice if it sticks(or better moves to nearby Gailey :eek!: )

 

[Nick Smith]

I remember the Whitemoor bird and I think there was a decent pic around at the time. There was also an Eurasian bird at the same time. I went on the weekend and only saw the latter :C

I saw a Greenland in January 2007 in Warks near Lea Marston(I think with you mucka), but certainly a very rare (sub)species in Staffs and the mids. Would be nice if it sticks(or better moves to nearby Gailey :eek!: )

Seen at Croxall in March 2009. Same time as the 15 Barnacle Geese, some of which were colour rung. We dipped the GWFG on the Saturday then when news came on the summer Smyrna and myself headed down. Was a general lack of interest cos it was probably only a subspecies and no one was bothered. Quality bird as you say for Staffs

 

[The Moore-hen]

I remember the Whitemoor bird and I think there was a decent pic around at the time. There was also an Eurasian bird at the same time. I went on the weekend and only saw the latter :C

I saw a Greenland in January 2007 in Warks near Lea Marston(I think with you mucka), but certainly a very rare (sub)species in Staffs and the mids. Would be nice if it sticks(or better moves to nearby Gailey :eek!: )

Yep that was me mucka - remember twitching it as an insurance Mids tick! Just can't remember the Croxall bird...then again I am getting older and me memory ain't what it was...

Like you say, hope it wonders over to Gailey and joins the Greylag flock there...would make a nice double of Eurasian and Greenland in the same year...if it can avoid the pain in the arse shooters there!