Rare and Scarce Birds in Staffordshire (5 Viewers)

[Steve Turner]

1W bird present this lunchtime (12.50 - 13.00) loafing on the Silverdale Colliery building site. Viewable from Cannel Row

(west out of Silverdale on Scot Hay Road, past Pepper St on your left, up to the traffic lights, turn right into Silverdale Business Park and then right into Cannel Row)

Cheers,
Nick

Nice one :t:

 

[Nick Smith]

I'm led to believe it was an ex Staffordshire birder and ex Westport Wanderer who spotted the White-bellied Storm Petrel today. We don't half produce top birders in our county don't we!

 

[The Moore-hen]

I'm led to believe it was an ex Staffordshire birder and ex Westport Wanderer who spotted the White-bellied Storm Petrel today. We don't half produce top birders in our county don't we!

Seems like it all went crazy yesterday while i was running a training course for Head teachers on the exciting subject of Financial Awareness!! Much more excitement when I came out to find that there had been a Black or White-bellied Storm Petrel off Severn Beach (presumably found by John Martin then Nick??) and that the Belvide Wader had been confirmed as a Dunlin (probably of the artica race). Fair play to the lads who saw it for agreeing the change of ID, it takes balls to admit that something is not what you first thought. It was a good experience bird and just shows the vast differences in size and plumage that some common waders can show. Nice one lads...:t:

News for the 26th Nov

Juv Great Northern Diver & Juv Shag - still at Belvide (+2 Little Egret)

News from the 25th Nov

probable Woodlark - briefly at Chasewater then flew over Fly bay also in the roost 3 Caspian (ad, near-ad & 3w) and 3 Yellow-legged Gull

Juv Great Northern Diver & Juv Shag - Belvide

drake Scaup - Blithfield

News from the 24th Nov

1st winter Little Gull - briefly at Drayton Bassett GP's at 12.00
ad Med Gull - Chasewater

 

[The Moore-hen]

News from the 26th Nov

4 Caspian Gull (2 x ad, near-ad & 3w) - Chasewater roost

Is this a regional record? I can't imagine there has been 4 Caspo's at one site on one day in the region before? I'm sure i'm going to be proved wrong now i have posted this...:eek!:

 

[Steve Turner]

News from the 26th Nov

4 Caspian Gull (2 x ad, near-ad & 3w) - Chasewater roost

Is this a regional record? I can't imagine there has been 4 Caspo's at one site on one day in the region before? I'm sure i'm going to be proved wrong now i have posted this...:eek!:

Hmmm, interesting question. Off the top of my head I can't think of a larger count for Staffs, as for it being a 'regional' record I guess if you include all 'Midlands' counties, then somewhere else may have had a larger count in the past...nonetheless, it's still an excellent count and Caspo Gulls seems to be getting more and more regular in Staffs.

Steve

 

[Kevin Clements]

News from the 26th Nov

4 Caspian Gull (2 x ad, near-ad & 3w) - Chasewater roost

Is this a regional record? I can't imagine there has been 4 Caspo's at one site on one day in the region before? I'm sure i'm going to be proved wrong now i have posted this...:eek!:

There were six birds at Draycote Water on 25th January 2007, which coincided with an influx of Yellow-legged Gulls. Up to three were seen on at least 19 dates during the period 3rd January to 17th February, with at least seven individuals involved: three adults, a third-winter, second-winter and two first-winters. Ref: West Midland Bird Club 2007 Annual Report - admittedly you will not have this, but it is as the printers and should be distributed soon.

Kevin.

 

[The Moore-hen]

There were six birds at Draycote Water on 25th January 2007, which coincided with an influx of Yellow-legged Gulls. Up to three were seen on at least 19 dates during the period 3rd January to 17th February, with at least seven individuals involved: three adults, a third-winter, second-winter and two first-winters. Ref: West Midland Bird Club 2007 Annual Report - admittedly you will not have this, but it is as the printers and should be distributed soon.

Kevin.

Nice one Kev (stato...) i knew i could rely on somebody to prove me wrong haha. I'd forgotten about Draycote...not because it's in W*arwickshire but that as it's a big as an inland sea it doesn't count (unfair advantage and all that...:-O)

News for the 27th Nov

Juv Great Northern Diver & Juv Shag - still at Belvide this afternoon (limited parking still today due to car park works)

2 Jack Snipe - Caverswall Cricket Club

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Caspian Gull

1W again on Silverdale building site this lunchtime - spending most of its time asleep.
Nick

 

[RetroDude]

Caspian Gull

And again today Saturday, from at least 1250-1318 when all the gulls flushed.

Jonathan

1W again on Silverdale building site this lunchtime - spending most of its time asleep.
Nick

 

[The Snapper]

Hi All,

Just spoke to my parents whos friend had a Black Redstart on the Chase yesterday.

I know the guy, and although not a majorly keen birder(more of a walker), this should be ok.

Apparently, it was at the Rifle Ranges not far from the cadet buildings near a small quarry.

I'll prob pop up tomorrow and update any news.

Cheers

 

[Richard Powell]

Took a gander at the Great Northern Diver at Belvide this afternoon, still showing well from the Scott hide. Also seven adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost.

Speaking of gander, the really wild Snow Goose was also around.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Nice one Snapper for the Black Red update...that's the sort of info that this thread will be excellent for, general info on scarce stuff in the county...good luck with that tomorrow...:t:

Extra news from the 27th Nov

2nd winter Caspian Gull - Belvide roost (+ 3 ad Yellow-legged Gull). No sign of the Shag after mid afternoon and also no sign today.

2 Caspian Gull (ad & 3w) - Chasewater roost (+ 6 ad Yellow-legged Gull)

drake Scaup - Blithfield in Tad bay

 

[The Moore-hen]

News for the 29th Nov

Juv Great Northern Diver - Belvide still

21 Goosander - Uttoxeter Quarry (any excuse to get Utch on the thread ay lads...:t

News from the 28th Nov

2 Caspian Gull (near-ad & 3w) - Chasewater roost (& 4+ ad Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Jack Snipe)

 

[nutcracker1965]

one long eared owl in the roost at a very wet parkhall today

 

[NickPomiankowski]

Caspian Gull

Adult bird present in the roost at Copmere (first mention on this thread - premier N.Staffs gull roost!) - my 2nd find in North Staffs in a week :t:. Also there about 1500 LBB Gulls and 15 Herrings, 1 goosander, 15 goldeneye, 4 wigeon. Got there just before 3pm and good numbers of gulls already present. With tomorrows strong northerlies - who knows what else might turn up in the next few days!
Nick

 

[The Snapper]

Checked the few likely spots around the Rifle Ranges on the Chase today, but no sign of the reported Black Redstart. Bernie Smith had a small flock of Crossbills near the trig point though.

The Chasewater roost was very difficult with a lot of wind and rain. Managed to pick out ad w Med Gull and 3 ad Y-L Gulls. Didn't manage to locate any Caspians, but deteriorating weather made it almost impossible.

 

[smyrna]

Caspo

1W again on Silverdale building site this lunchtime - spending most of its time asleep.
Nick

Heres a pic of said Caspo taken by Dave Kelsall ( it woke up after Nick left )
also nearby a Barn Owl has been seen on several occasions hunting the 'Alpine meadow' area just off the Silverdale track at Black Bank

 

[Nick Smith]

Welcome smyrna to the thread

Love Nick

 

[Neil-T]

Great Northern Diver still showing well from the Scott hide at Belvide this morning, also 2 Little egret. Didn't see them myself, but reports from Aqualate said there were Bramblings around the feeders this morning. Neil.

 

[smyrna]

Welcome smyrna to the thread

Love Nick

Bless you for that