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RSPB Middleton Lakes (1 Viewer)

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
As the path to the reserve was flooded I only did Mill Plantation and then drove around to the east side of the reserve which doesn't flood.
65 species of birds were seen today but just the usuals including Shelduck, Goosander, Kingfisher, Raven, Cetti's Warbler and Treecreeper.
Geoff

Since the tips closed at Dosthill and Kingsbury it's much harder to get large Gulls now.
 
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JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Staffordshire Category A Changes
Effective from 1/1/2014, due to increased numbers in the county, the following species have been removed from Category A, meaning descriptions / photographs no longer need to be submitted.

Cetti's Warbler, Caspian Gull, Bittern.

Staffordshire County Recorder
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Warden Stefan Bodnar is shortly to leave the Reserve ( RSPB have a new warden from Oldmoor). Stefan who is a ringer and ringing trainer has a licence to handle bats and amphibians and also surveys local Dormice in his own time.
Stefan is going as a self employed Ecologist and part- time lecturer but will continue to be involved with RSPB Middleton lakes in his spare time.

Regards, John
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Middleton lakes

A nice full summer plumaged Male Mealy Redpoll was seen on the niger feeder today, small groups of Redpoll were breaking off from a larger Redpoll flock seen feeding on alder Mill plantation.
No areas of the Reserve were flooded today, but as expected water levels were high, 2 Shelduck were resting on the tip of an island on the North pit. 2 Dunlin circled jubillee wetlands and a big surprises was to find a Grass snake on the reserve today the Grass snake was taking in a bit of sun this morning, however the sun has no energy at this time of year and being cold blooded the Grass Snake had no energy also.


Regards, John
 

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geoffw1946

Well-known member
As the path to the reserve was flooded I only did Mill Plantation and then drove around to the east side of the reserve which doesn't flood.
65 species of birds were seen today but just the usuals including Shelduck, Goosander, Kingfisher, Raven, Cetti's Warbler and Treecreeper.
Geoff
With the reserve continuing to flood with every rain shower I haven't been visiting as often as usual, however it was good to see the first Oystercatcher of the year today. four days later than last year, (7/1/13, 11/1/12, 12/2/11, 19/2/10 and 21/2/09).
Also seen today were 6 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret and 4 Stonechat.
The year list is up to 79 species with highlights including, Jack Snipe, Little Owl, Siskin and Dunlin. We had 100 species last January so there is still a long way to go.
Geoff
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
With the reserve continuing to flood with every rain shower I haven't been visiting as often as usual, however it was good to see the first Oystercatcher of the year today. four days later than last year, (7/1/13, 11/1/12, 12/2/11, 19/2/10 and 21/2/09).
Also seen today were 6 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret and 4 Stonechat.
The year list is up to 79 species with highlights including, Jack Snipe, Little Owl, Siskin and Dunlin. We had 100 species last January so there is still a long way to go.
Geoff

A returning Oystercatcher was shot at Galley Reservoir today. (details Staffs rare and scarce thread Richard Powell)
 

keithr

Relapsus resurgam
Neandertals on bank....bang bang...woof woof......slash splash......

I had better not go there as there will be right trouble....I can get in an argument when no-one else is there never mind a bunch of wankers.

There's plenty of designated pests everywhere for them to have a go at...away from the public...surely its against the law to let a gun off in public anyway......


Keiith :t:
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
Presumably a shotgun? An air rifle would'nt kill an Oyk i would have thought. Does that mean Joe Public has access to Gailey and is discharging weapons?

Laurie:t:
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Oystercatchers

Numbers of Oystercatchers will slowly increase into Spring, looking at my notes there were groups of Oystercatcher at the end of July 2013 (would appear to be post breeding groups).
You would consider the Oystercatchers leave the Reserve area and then form groups on the coast through Autumn and winter, you would guess British Coasts. However it's never that simple with birds, highlighting this point is recently tagged Scottish Red-necked Phalaropes.

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=4164
 

rollingthunder

Well-known member
I visited Gailey ystda John and there appears to be shooting positions on the causeway. It does beg the question what do they shoot? Quite why an Oystercatcher would be shot, even by mistake needs an answer. The reservoirs are canal-feeders why have British Waterways/Canal Trust allow shooting?

The reservoirs are there to top up canal use obviously BW have been intent on making as much money out of them as they can including monies for fishing, sailing and birdwatching. I do not think that shooting is compatible with any other activites.........

As the owner of a narrowboat for which these bodies of water, including Belvide, actually exist for i will be sending an email with regard to the Oystercatcher incident and will post anything i receive.

British Waterways (as was) are not the most amenable and accommodating of landlords (are any?) in my experience and choose any opportunity to get on a boat owners case with little recourse so an answer with regard to this incident is required in my opinion.........

Laurie:t:
 

geoffw1946

Well-known member
Today on the north pit were 5 Goosander and a pair of Pintail. 7 Shelduck and a Raven were on the JW's. Also seen were 2 Woodcock, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and 6 Linnet.
Yesterday 3+ Yellowhammer were by the Pheasant feeders.
The year list is up to 87 species.
Geoff.
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Today on the north pit were 5 Goosander and a pair of Pintail. 7 Shelduck and a Raven were on the JW's. Also seen were 2 Woodcock, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail and 6 Linnet.
Yesterday 3+ Yellowhammer were by the Pheasant feeders.
The year list is up to 87 species.
Geoff.

Also Mealy Redpoll with Lesser Redpoll Dosthill NR East side feeding on alders, also 2 Goosander, 10 Goldeneye and a Cetti's.
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
20/1/14 Still a mild winter so far, a vocal Heron was on a nest in the Heronry, Lesser Redpolls 6 feeding in birches along mill plantation. Water levels still high with 2 Shelduck and a Little Egret jubilee wetlands and a Shelduck on the north pit. A Grey Wagtail regulary feeding on the mud along the track by the canal. A Chiffchaff along the river and also 2 Goosander on the river.
Dosthill NR 17 Goldeneye.
Fisher's mill meadow the EA are using a diesel pump to pump water to the river from the RSPB access road. The EA on site stlll and laying recycled Tarmac by Fisher's mill bridge to their bund, looks a mess and may keep the mud from your wellington's for 30 seconds.

Regards, John
 

JHDraytonbassettpits

Well-known member
Middleton Lakes today, muddy but not flooded

30/1/13 A couple of Heron in the Heronry again and a nice male Brambling on the feeders, 3 hen's were under the feeders taking any food that dropped, especially sunflower hearts, which would have gone to ground feeders like Chaffinch and Water Rail.
At Jubilee wetlands water levels were up, 200 Lapwing flew up from one of the few remaining spits and a Dunlin joined them.
Along the river in the long grass was a pale Chiffchaff and a Chiffchaff. The pale bird flew over the river to overhanging brambles on the Dosthill NR side where it's plumage was seen to be that of Siberian Chiffchaff but giving colybita type calls instead of the more charateristic peep call. These pretty little birds have left a few Ornithologists studying them scratching their heads.
There was an Oystercatcher on Dosthill lake and at Dosthill NR I had excellent views of the Siberian Chiffchaff as it moved through the rough grassland searching for food.
On the pools Dosthill NR were 6 Goosander, 12 Goldeneye and a Water Rail calling.


Regards, John
 

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