Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (1 Viewer)

[steve_zodiac]

Those early editions of the WMBC annual reports always had the observers initials next to all the sightings. Who were the Gailey regulars in the fifties, sixties and seventies?

 

[The Moore-hen]

Those early editions of the WMBC annual reports always had the observers initials next to all the sightings. Who were the Gailey regulars in the fifties, sixties and seventies?

No particular 'regulars' but a lot of different observers, especially in the 50's and 60's when it was a popular haunt and held good numbers of wildfowl before boating started in 1970. I think a lot of observers dropped in after either Bellfields (Belvide) or Cannock Reservoir (Chasewater) and a lot of initials of the birders of the day including Arthur Jacobs, John Fortey, Gordon Ireson, Eric Clare (of course!) and some bloke called Bill Oddie...whatever happened to him...

The whole research has been really interesting reading...like taking a birding step back in time.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 23rd Dec

2 adult Caspian Gull - Blithfield roost
2 Caspian Gull (ad & 2w) - Chasewater roost
2w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost
1w drake Smew - Hanley Forest Park Lake
2 Ring-necked Parakeet - West Park, Wolverhampton on the island of the west lake

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Nine years from a BB rarity to not being on the county rarity list isn't bad going!

We did also consider removing Glossy Ibis - two years since being removed as a BBRC rarity! - but in the end decided not to. It will probably move off in the next year or two.

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Spotted Crake 16/5/1993

I have a record on this date with "site withheld" against it. If anyone knows where the location actually was, please could you let me know.

Thanks, Nick

 

[Steve Nuttall]

I have a record on this date with "site withheld" against it. If anyone knows where the location actually was, please could you let me know.

Thanks, Nick

Hi Nick,

it would have been Doxey. Me, Andy Lathem and Ian Moore I think, had a singing bird there on our Staffs bird race and also again on the 18th May with John Higginson.

Cheers Steve

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 28th Dec

4 Bewick's Swan - Blithfield off Beech Tree Point
3w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost
1w drake Scaup - Aqualate Mere
1w drake Smew - Hanley Forest Park Lake

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Thanks Steve :t:

Hi Nick,

it would have been Doxey. Me, Andy Lathem and Ian Moore I think, had a singing bird there on our Staffs bird race and also again on the 18th May with John Higginson.

Cheers Steve

 

[Richard Powell]

Happy new year all! B B B B

And good riddance to 2014 for Staffs rarities? 8-P Apart from the Pacific Golden Plover at Middleton of course. Lesser Scaup at Tittesworth, a couple of Roseate Terns at Belvide.

Can't think of much else? Hopefully now we're all safely in 2015 it'll be a marked improvement :t:

 

[russell toon]

Happy new year all! B B B B

And good riddance to 2014 for Staffs rarities? 8-P Apart from the Pacific Golden Plover at Middleton of course. Lesser Scaup at Tittesworth, a couple of Roseate Terns at Belvide.

Can't think of much else? Hopefully now we're all safely in 2015 it'll be a marked improvement :t:

Not really a vintage year either for the Staffs 2014 species list which at present stands at 204.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Happy New Year to all! Yep, 2014 wasn't a classic - surely the quietest autumn of all time? And still a while until we all get a Staffs Tick on the new 'mega' day in July! Roll on the summer!

News for the 2nd Jan

3 White-fronted Geese - Blithfield in Blithe bay
3 Caspian Gull - Chasewater roost
3w Caspian Gull - Belvide roost
Juv Great Northern Diver - still Ryder's Mere

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for 3rd Jan

Caspian Gull - 1w in Chasewater roost, adult in Blithfield roost and poss adult in Belvide roost
Great Northern Diver - still Ryder's Mere
1w drake Scaup - Aqualate Mere

 

[andyr]

Lichfield Peregrine

Hi All

Borderline "Rare and Scarce" I know, but I thought it worth mentioning that a Peregrine was perched up on Lichfield Cathedral today from 12.50 to 1.35pm.
It was sunning itself towards the top of one of the two smaller spires (Lichfield being the only three-spired cathedral in England) and still visible as I walked around the shopping precinct, a few hundred yards away, just prior to it flying off.
I appreciate it is common knowledge that this species has taken up residence on several Midland cathedrals, but I can only find one other Lichfield sighting and that was in February 2011. However, it would be good to know if Nick P. or anyone else knows of any others here.

Cheers
Andy R.

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 4th Jan

Imm Glaucous & 2 Caspian Gull (1w, 2w) - Chasewater roost
3 White-fronted Geese - Blithfield in Tad bay
Juv Great Northern Diver - still Ryder's Mere
1w drake Scaup - Aqualate Mere

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 5th Jan

4 Caspian Gull (ad, 2 x 2w, 1w) - Chasewater roost
Great Northern Diver - still Ryder's Mere

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Staffordshire Breeding Lapwing Survey - 2014

The report of the 2014 lapwing survey is now available on the WMBC web site here: http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk/research/

It's an excellent read! and many thanks to all who took part particularly Scott Petrek who helped out with much of the data collection, analysis and report writing.

Cheers, Nick

 

[NickPomiankowski]

I have no records for Lichfield Andy so please keep an eye out during 2015 and let me know - it helps to contact the owners of buildings where they nest so that accidental disturbance can be avoided which I'm happy to do (as per the Hanley birds) if I know about them.

Cheers, Nick

Hi All

Borderline "Rare and Scarce" I know, but I thought it worth mentioning that a Peregrine was perched up on Lichfield Cathedral today from 12.50 to 1.35pm.
It was sunning itself towards the top of one of the two smaller spires (Lichfield being the only three-spired cathedral in England) and still visible as I walked around the shopping precinct, a few hundred yards away, just prior to it flying off.
I appreciate it is common knowledge that this species has taken up residence on several Midland cathedrals, but I can only find one other Lichfield sighting and that was in February 2011. However, it would be good to know if Nick P. or anyone else knows of any others here.

Cheers
Andy R.

 

[Steve Sutton]

I have no records for Lichfield Andy so please keep an eye out during 2015 and let me know - it helps to contact the owners of buildings where they nest so that accidental disturbance can be avoided which I'm happy to do (as per the Hanley birds) if I know about them.

Cheers, Nick

Hi Nik about 3 months ago I had a peregrine fly and perch somewhere on the Guildhall building in Lichfield city centre but I failed to relocate it as I didn't have my bins with me at the time but they are about cheers Steve :t:

 

[Eddie the 'ed]

Hi Nik about 3 months ago I had a peregrine fly and perch somewhere on the Guildhall building in Lichfield city centre but I failed to relocate it as I didn't have my bins with me at the time but they are about cheers Steve :t:

Hi all, I also had Peregrine perched on St Mary's Church, Market Square in Lichfield last summer. I was until recently a Lichfield resident and am confident they are in the area. Never reported it though, more fool me :-/

Damian.

 

[andyr]

I have no records for Lichfield Andy so please keep an eye out during 2015 and let me know - it helps to contact the owners of buildings where they nest so that accidental disturbance can be avoided which I'm happy to do (as per the Hanley birds) if I know about them.

Cheers, Nick

Thanks for this Nick. I have already spoken to a member of the clergy who confirmed they are aware of the Lichfield Peregrine situation ... but I will PM you regarding your main point.

Cheers
Andy