Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 30th Sept

2 Little Stint - Blithfield

Well, that's September gone and it was hardly a memorable one! At least October can't be any worse...can it!? :eek!:

 

[NickPomiankowski]

2014 Lapwing Survey

Please find attached the results of the county lapwing survey this year - hope you'll find it an interesting read and thanks to all who contributed. We'll be doing a repeat survey next year so any records from next spring would be gratefully received.

Cheers, Nick

 

[upstarts1979]

Blithfield Work

Just read that there are habitat improvements being carried out at Blithers. Anyone got any details or photos info. Its always nice to see wetlands being improved.
:t:John

 

[The Moore-hen]

At last, something of note to report...the quietest Autumn (so far) I can remember for a long time...

News for the 12th Oct

Shag - Imm Whitemore Haye on main pit
Grey Plover - over Blithfield and Branston Pits

 

[Phil Andrews]

Common Crane at Blithfield in Tad Bay

 

[The Moore-hen]

Common Crane at Blithfield in Tad Bay

Still there 12.20 at least.

Purple Sand reported yesterday at Clifton Campville at new pool (for 4th day) SK.251.104

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 14th Oct

Common Crane - still Blithfield in Tad bay also 3 Rock Pipit
Dark-bellied Brent Goose - circled Chasewater then flew NNE
Rock Pipit - Middleton Lakes RSPB

17 Stonechat at Berry Hill is certainly worthy of note...especially if a Siberian one joins the party!

Surprised nowhere joined in the Skua-fest of slightly further east...maybe tomorrow...

 

[russell toon]

Stonechat passage North Staffs
An unprecedented and unlikely count of 22 Stonechats at Berryhill this afternoon by far a site record and 9 at Silverdale CP also a possible site record.
Makes you wonder where they have come from.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Extra News for the 15th Oct

Common Crane - still Blithfield in Tad bay also Rock Pipit by causeway
2 x 1w Ring Ouzel - Cannock Chase opposite the Takeroo

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 17th Oct

Great Grey Shrike - Cannock Chase in the White House area
Rock Pipit - Blithfield

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 20th Oct

2 Ring Ouzel - Berry Hill also 26 Stonechat

 

[The Moore-hen]

Interesting report on the pager tonight of a possible Red-breasted Flycatcher at JCB Rocester in scrubs between the lorry and staff car parks...

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 25th Oct

No sign of the reported Red-breasted Fly early am
Firecrest - Fradley Junction NR at far end viewed towards the conifers
Ring Ouzel - Silverdale Country Park
Bittern - Aqualate Mere

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 29th Oct

Great White Egret - Belvide from 10.45-11.35 then flew east also ad Kittiwake and 1w Med Gull
Knot, Sanderling, Grey Plover over & Rock Pipit - Middleton Lakes on Jubilee Wetlands

 

[The Snapper]

Had a decent hour up Shoal Hill Common on Monday morning.

A Jack Snipe was unexpectedly flushed a couple of times from dry heath.

Best bird was a Woodlark which flew over low to the West calling.

Also Stonechat, a couple of Raven, Green Woodpeckers etc.

The site is well worth a visit and must get birds. There is a reasonable area of heath, decent sized woodland, an old quarry pool and rough grassland. Its pretty high up so must attract stuff. The only issue is that it can be very disturbed with dog walkers etc which puts me off a little.

I'd be interested to see if any other birders visit to see what it will produce.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Have you got a Google map thingy for it Steve?

 

[The Snapper]

Have you got a Google map thingy for it Steve?

I'm a bit of a dinosaur with that sort of thing Phil.

The site is basically parallel(to the West) to the Stafford Road(A34) than runs North of Cannock through Huntington.

 

[The Snapper]

Was wondering if anybody has ventured up the Moors recently?

There is quite a good influx of Rough-Legged Buzzards including birds now coming inland i.e Derbys, West Yorks etc.

Got to be a good chance we could score in Staffs. I am very tempted to pop up over the next week or so.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Was wondering if anybody has ventured up the Moors recently?

There is quite a good influx of Rough-Legged Buzzards including birds now coming inland i.e Derbys, West Yorks etc.

Got to be a good chance we could score in Staffs. I am very tempted to pop up over the next week or so.

Beat me to it there mate! Was just about to post something similar then read your post! Must be a chance of one hanging about the Swallow Moss area this winter...with maybe a GG Shrike thrown in for good measure...

News for the 31st Oct

Curlew Sand & drake Red-crested Pochard - Blithfield

 

[Richard Powell]

Yes I did, last weekend, with exactly the same thoughts. Absolutely zip! :-O Well, apart from a flock of Golden Plover and some Red Grouse. But I don't think that's any reason at all to give up on the moors, far from it.

Birders may well want a shufty at Gib Tor, just to the north of the Winking Man pub. There's a large area of clearfell there now. Looks excellent for a GG Shrike, and other clearfell goodies for next spring. :t:

Was wondering if anybody has ventured up the Moors recently?

There is quite a good influx of Rough-Legged Buzzards including birds now coming inland i.e Derbys, West Yorks etc.

Got to be a good chance we could score in Staffs. I am very tempted to pop up over the next week or so.