Friday, 13 May 2011
12-5-11, Coombes Valley RSPB.
A bit of a brucey bonus today, I had a meeting with RSPB and others at Coombes Valley, a place I have never been to. as I dipped on Pied Flycatcher on Cannock Chase last weekend I was quite excited as they were present here too. After a fruitful meeting (about Himalayan Balsam if you are interested), I had time for a small walk and was pointed out where to go for this cracking beauty. Within ten minutes I was staring at a nest box and another ten minutes passed a male Pied Flycatcher perched on a branch before heading to the nest box. result. I even managed a couple of photos though nothing special, another first. Double result. Then it was back to the van and home. Other birds noted on this very brief visit were Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Wren, Carrion Crow and Blackbird.
11-5-11, Whitemoor Haye.
With nothing much doing and a recent report of a Quail present I decided to head around Whitemoor Haye lanes and then attack the quarry pool. Birds noted were Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Common Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tit, Carrion Crow, Stock Dove, Mallard, Skylark, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Greenfinch, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Robin, Grey Partridge, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rook, MNagpie, Moorhen, Greylag Geese and Starling. No sight nor sound of any Quail, proberbly passing through. Onto ther quarry poolo I added Chiffchaff, Oystercatcher, Canada Geese, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Greenshank, Willow Warbler and Gadwall.
Croxall GP.
With nabout an hours light left I headed to Croxall, hoping that water would have receeded to show a bit more mud and maybe some waders. Birds noted were Chaffinch, Reed Warbler, Wren, Goldfinch, Canada Geese, Mallard, Magpie, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Sedge Warbler, Starling, Tufted Duck, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Coot, Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler couple showing quite niceley, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Dunnock, Black Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Gadwall, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Cormorant, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Swift, Grey Heron, Skylark, Song Thrush, Pheasant, Ringed Plover, Greenfinch and Blackcap. A nice haul of bird species but nothing special. One gull had me getting a tad excited but this was well and truly extinguished by a fellow blogger. You never know.
Croxall GP.
With nabout an hours light left I headed to Croxall, hoping that water would have receeded to show a bit more mud and maybe some waders. Birds noted were Chaffinch, Reed Warbler, Wren, Goldfinch, Canada Geese, Mallard, Magpie, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Sedge Warbler, Starling, Tufted Duck, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Coot, Chiffchaff, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler couple showing quite niceley, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Dunnock, Black Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Gadwall, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Cormorant, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Swift, Grey Heron, Skylark, Song Thrush, Pheasant, Ringed Plover, Greenfinch and Blackcap. A nice haul of bird species but nothing special. One gull had me getting a tad excited but this was well and truly extinguished by a fellow blogger. You never know.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
10-5-11, A couple of photos from the weekend.
A cracking Willow Warbler
Garden Warbler on Cannock Chase
Redstart, distant but quite nice.
Another Garden Warbler, this one at Croxall.
A cracking Spotted Redshank in summer plumage. My best effort!!!!!!!!!!!!9-5-11, Moan, moan, moan.
After the weekends birding at Croxall I could take it no more. I emailed Staffs Wildlife Trust with a list of moans that I and others have been pointing out. Im not going to mention them on here but I am not the only one to whinge about what I was whinging about. I think if we have a mass email blast to SWT then maybe they will listen but I know what will happen about my email, not a lot. I will let you know their reply in due course.
9-5-11, Croxall GP
Another Monday off so it was to Croxall GP at 06.00. Was hoping for a bit more wader action (to myself hopefully) but forgot about the rising waters from Sunday. The water was up about 18 inches covering all of the shallows so no waders showing. Birds noted were Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo, Lapwing, Great Tit, Canada Geese, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Tufted Duck, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Cormorant, Blackbirds, Willow Warbler, Gadwall, Reed Bunting, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Tern, Swallow, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Ringed Plover, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Greylag Geese, Blue Tit, Rook and Starling. I was present at Croxall between 06.00 and 07.30 and I was suprised to hear of a Bar-tailed Godwit only because the water levels were high and rising. Anyway!!!!
Cannock Chase - Punch Bowl & Sheerbrook Valley.
After me and the dog had our brecky it was off to Cannock Chase to hopefully nail a nice year tick, a Pied Flycatcher. Not too tricky, I thought, as I know a couple of places where they are usually seen. Ha ha, doesnt work like that in the animal kingdom does it. I parked at the Punch bowl car park walked down to the stepping stones then into Sheerbrook Valley where I walk upto where there is the remains of a concrete bridge and weir, a place where I had great views of Pied Flycatcher last year. Birds noted around Punch bowl were Willow Warbler, Wren, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Tree Pipit, Robin, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Pheasant, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush. Around Sheerbrook Valley I noted Redstart, Wren, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Jay, Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Jackdaw, Great Tit, Magpie and Great Spotted Woodpecker. No, no Pied Flycatcher today. I will have to return. It was a very enjoyable walk, the Tree Pipits were in full song and doing their flights then parachuting back to the trees, ace.
Blithfield Reservoir.
I had the dog with me so I couldnt go around the bays but as I was near I thought I would walk the causeway and maybe land on a Black Tern. As it happens there was no white ones let alone black ones. From the causeway I noted Starling, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Buzzard, Blackbird and Black Headed Gull. Not very stunning so I drove around to the dam and had a scan from the sailing club car park and only added a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Whoooopeeeeee.
Whitemoor Haye.
It was back to the good old local patch and I decided to walk around the lanes first and then check out the pool, however it didnt all go to plan. birds noted around the lanes were Swifts in their hundreds - the southerleys over the weekend must have helped them finally arrive in numbers, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Skylark, Starling, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Linnet, Common Whitethroat, Dunnock, Corn Bunting, Kestrel, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin, Stock Dove, Buzzard, Mallard, Mute Swan, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail. I was only about two hundred yards from the car when the dark clouds above unleashed hell in the form of huge blobs of rain along with thunder and lightening. The dog legged it and I just managed to get her back and into the car. The rain worsened as I parked up by the lake. I appeared to get better for a short time enough for me to add Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and Black Headed Gull to the site list. I was going to sit out the rain but half an hour later and mine and the dogs bellies rumbling I went home and ate.
Cannock Chase - Punch Bowl & Sheerbrook Valley.
After me and the dog had our brecky it was off to Cannock Chase to hopefully nail a nice year tick, a Pied Flycatcher. Not too tricky, I thought, as I know a couple of places where they are usually seen. Ha ha, doesnt work like that in the animal kingdom does it. I parked at the Punch bowl car park walked down to the stepping stones then into Sheerbrook Valley where I walk upto where there is the remains of a concrete bridge and weir, a place where I had great views of Pied Flycatcher last year. Birds noted around Punch bowl were Willow Warbler, Wren, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Chaffinch, Tree Pipit, Robin, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Pheasant, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Song Thrush. Around Sheerbrook Valley I noted Redstart, Wren, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Jay, Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Jackdaw, Great Tit, Magpie and Great Spotted Woodpecker. No, no Pied Flycatcher today. I will have to return. It was a very enjoyable walk, the Tree Pipits were in full song and doing their flights then parachuting back to the trees, ace.
Blithfield Reservoir.
I had the dog with me so I couldnt go around the bays but as I was near I thought I would walk the causeway and maybe land on a Black Tern. As it happens there was no white ones let alone black ones. From the causeway I noted Starling, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Buzzard, Blackbird and Black Headed Gull. Not very stunning so I drove around to the dam and had a scan from the sailing club car park and only added a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Whoooopeeeeee.
Whitemoor Haye.
It was back to the good old local patch and I decided to walk around the lanes first and then check out the pool, however it didnt all go to plan. birds noted around the lanes were Swifts in their hundreds - the southerleys over the weekend must have helped them finally arrive in numbers, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Skylark, Starling, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Linnet, Common Whitethroat, Dunnock, Corn Bunting, Kestrel, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin, Stock Dove, Buzzard, Mallard, Mute Swan, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail. I was only about two hundred yards from the car when the dark clouds above unleashed hell in the form of huge blobs of rain along with thunder and lightening. The dog legged it and I just managed to get her back and into the car. The rain worsened as I parked up by the lake. I appeared to get better for a short time enough for me to add Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and Black Headed Gull to the site list. I was going to sit out the rain but half an hour later and mine and the dogs bellies rumbling I went home and ate.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
8-5-11, Croxall GP.
After a busy week and a very early start and long day yesterday, it was a couple of sites today and then grand prix and football. First site was Croxall and I was there nice and early only to be greeted by a couple of fisherman opposite the hide. Rubbish. Anyway I perserveared and birds noted were Chaffinch, Canada Geese, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Ringed Plover, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Gadwall, Oystercatcher, Blackbird, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Swallow, Starling, Redshank, Spotted Redshank which flew off just before 09.00, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Tufted Duck, Cuckoo, Pheasant, Cormorant, Sand Martin, Buzzard, Swift, Woodpigeon, Mistle Thrush, Rook, Robin and Wren. Not a bad session and it could have been better if we had spotted an Osprey which someone had spotted flying along the river nearby.
Whitemoor Haye.
After a nice couple of comfortable hours on a bench in a hide it was time for a slog around Whitemoor but first the lake and birds noted were Swift, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Mallard, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Swallow, Oystercatcher, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron, Wren, Starling, Gadwall, Lapwing, Redshank, Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Linnet, Yellowhammer and Great Tit. On to the and I added Skylark, Dunnock, Buzzard, magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail, Jackdaw and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Nothing special but plenty of birds around.
Whitemoor Haye.
After a nice couple of comfortable hours on a bench in a hide it was time for a slog around Whitemoor but first the lake and birds noted were Swift, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Mallard, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Swallow, Oystercatcher, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Carrion Crow, Grey Heron, Wren, Starling, Gadwall, Lapwing, Redshank, Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Linnet, Yellowhammer and Great Tit. On to the and I added Skylark, Dunnock, Buzzard, magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail, Jackdaw and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Nothing special but plenty of birds around.
7-5-11, circa Findern.
I have a volunteer group who are based around Findern and they wanted me to do a dawn chorus walk but a bit later. I agreed and we all met up at 05.00 in Findern village. We did a walk down to the canal, along the canal and then back to the village. I was expecrting the worse, weather wise, when as I got into my van to get to Findern there was a bright flash followed very quickly by and imense rumble, thunder and lightening. Fortunately that was the first and last of it and we got around the walk in lovely warm sunshine. Birds noted were Chiffchaff, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Wren, Buzzard, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Common Whitethroat, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Collared Dove, Peregrine, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Starling, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Garden Warbler, Reed Bunting and Blackcap. A very pleasant early morning walk followed by a nice breakfast put on by the group. Whilst eating the breakfast a text message had me eating up and heading to Croxall pits.
Croxall GP.
I was working all day and a very interesting text gave me ten minutes in the hide before I had to go to work. A Spotted Redshank in full summer plumage had been located from the main hide. I hgave seen a few Spotshanks before but only in winter or partial summer plumage so I was keen to get a look. It would also be a nice year tick too. With a little speed I was soon on site and in the hide. The Spotshank was still present and was a cracker. Other birds noted were Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Ringed Plover, Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Dunlin, Cormorant, Ringed Plover, Magpie, Grey Heron and Blackcap. A nice bonus for the day but its work time now.
Croxall GP.
I was working all day and a very interesting text gave me ten minutes in the hide before I had to go to work. A Spotted Redshank in full summer plumage had been located from the main hide. I hgave seen a few Spotshanks before but only in winter or partial summer plumage so I was keen to get a look. It would also be a nice year tick too. With a little speed I was soon on site and in the hide. The Spotshank was still present and was a cracker. Other birds noted were Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Ringed Plover, Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Dunlin, Cormorant, Ringed Plover, Magpie, Grey Heron and Blackcap. A nice bonus for the day but its work time now.
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