31/12/2011 My Local Patch

 Today I went for my last birding walk of 2011 around my local patch, there was not a lot about!

At Hatherton Reservoir I saw - Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Starling and a large flock of Redwing. 

Over the road at Redland Pool I saw - Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Magpie, Chaffinch and Crow.

Happy New Year and Happy Birding for 2012 to you all.

28/12/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

Today on a walk around the Raz I saw - House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Redwing, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Kestrel, Grey Heron, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Crow, Rook.
I took my new camera with me to gain some practice, here are a couple of the shots I took.

26/12/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a short morning walk around the Raz today I saw - Buzzard, Great Tit, Mallard, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Magpie, Blackbird, Crow, House Sparrow, and a flock of Redwing.
A Happy Christmas to all my readers.

12/12/2011 Blithfield Reservoir

Last Monday my friend and I went over to Blithfield Reservoir on our way there we passed a field with Red-legged Partridge in. At Blithfield we saw - Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Great spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Lapwing, Mallard, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Buzzard, Cormorant, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Crow, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Snipe, Pied Wagtail, Great crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Great black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Meadow Pipit, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pochard, Goosander, Long-tailed Tit, Coot, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Linnet, Redwing, Fieldfare, Rook, Blackbird and Starling.

05/12/2011 Belvide Reservoir

I spent the morning at Belvide an saw - Blackbird, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Robin, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Pheasant, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Willow Tit, Sparrowhawk, Coot, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Pochard, Shovler, Mallard, Grey Heron, Wigeon, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Teal, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail, Fieldfare, Redwing, Cormorant, Gadwall, Marsh Tit, Rook, Bullfinch, 2 Whooper Swans, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Siskin, Song Thrush, Crow, Lapwing and Nuthatch.  

28/11/2011 Cannock Chase

We all met at the Cadet Huts for a mornings birding we saw - Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Crow, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blackbird, Buzzard, Great spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and a flock of 11 Crossbills. Plus a couple of the group had a brief view of the Great grey Shrike.

A few of us went over to Marquis Drive and saw – Robin, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, Greenfinch, Rook, Long-tailed Tit.

Later in the day on other parts of the Chase I added - Jay, Fieldfare, Redwing, Lesser Redpoll and Willow Tit to my days list.

21/11/2011 Local Patch

This morning I went for a walk around my local patch, at Hatherton Reservoir I saw –

Mallard, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Crow, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Robin, Great Tit, Magpie, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull and Great spotted Woodpecker.

Over at Redland Pool I saw –

Kingfisher, Blackbird, Crow, Rook, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Redwing, Goldfinch, Mallard, Coot, Magpie and Wood Pigeon.  Not a lot but it is always nice to see a Kingfisher.

14/11/11 Cannock Chase

Today I went to Cannock Chase, the first place I visited was the old shooting buts I saw - Great Grey Shrike, 12 Crossbills, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 4 Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Bullfinch, and a few Bramblings amongst a Chaffinch flock around the Car Park.

Then I went to Wolseley Bridge SWT and saw – Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Robin, Redwing, Blackbird, Pheasant, Rook, Fieldfare, Crow, and Magpie.

Driving Back over Cannock Chase I also saw - Yellowhammer, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Dunnock.

07/11/2011 Belvide Reservoir

This morning on a very cold damp day at Belvide my mate and I saw - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Mallard, Moorhen, Teal, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Wood Pigeon, Pied wagtail, Black-headed Gull, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Lesser black-backed Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Pheasant, Coot, Willow Tit, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Sparrowhawk, Robin, Blackcap, Greylag Geese, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Goosander, Redwing, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Crow, Rook and Magpie.  

Later in the day on  a damp Cannock Chase we saw – Robin, Magpie, Stonechat, Bullfinch, and Fieldfare.

24/10/2011 Croxall and Whitemoor Haye

At Croxall we saw -Teal, Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Crow, Rook, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Skylark, Goldfinch and Wood Pigeon.  

Over at Whitemoor Haye we saw – Pochard, Tufted duck, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull and Buzzard. 

In the afternoon during a walk around the National Memorial Arboretum I saw a Kingfisher.  

17/10/2011 Carsington Water Park

It was a cold windy morning at Carsington but we saw - Mallard, Lapwing, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Coot, Moorhen, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Dunlin, Meadow Pipit, Black-headed Gull, Teal, Collared Dove, Dunnock and Cormorant.

16/10/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a short walk around the Raz today I saw - House Sparrow, Magpie, Jay, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Great spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Kestrel, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Goldcrest and Starling.

10/10/2011 Cannock Chase

In the afternoon my mate and I came home via Cannock Chase and saw - Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Magpie, Great Tit, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Robin, Siskin, Linnet, Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Tree Sparrow and a brief view of what looked like a Redpoll!

10/10/2011 Doxey Marshes

Today at Doxey Marshes we saw - Wood Pigeon, Crow, Blue Tit, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, Barnacle Geese, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Lesser black-backed Gull, Lapwing, Magpie, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Starling, Moorhen, Shovler, Teal, Kestrel, Buzzard also seen though not by me were - Pied Wagtail and Snipe. 

06/10/2011 Blithfield Reservoir

At last manged to get out for a bit of birding!  This afternoon at Blithfield we saw - Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Mute Swan, Shovler, Pintail, Grey Heron, Lesser black-backed gull, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Great-crested Grebe, Pheasant, Jay, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit and a flock of 100 + Goldfinches.

15/08/2011 Wolseley Bridge SWT

On a short walk around I saw - Bullfinch, Swallow, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Kingfisher, Mallard, Mute Swan, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Martin, and Wood Pigeon.

13/08/2011 My Local Patch

Hatherton Reservoir

Today it was very quite and the only birds I saw were - Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Grey Wagtail, Magpie, Robin, Buzzard and House Martin.

01/08/2011 Chasewater

Today the group met at Chasewater then after lunch a couple of us went over to Blithfield  in search of the Spoonbill,

Chasewater

Goldfinch, Crow, Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Little-ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Grey Heron, Linnet, Tufted Duck, House Martin, Swallow, Great-crested Grebe, Herring Gull, Mallard, Coot.

Blithfield

Spoonbill, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Common Tern, Greylag Geese, Grey Heron, Little-ringed Plover, Canada Geese, Cormorant, Lapwing, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Great-crested Grebe, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Buzzard, Lesser black-backed Gull, Coot, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Great-spotted Woodpecker. The Spoonbill was very active giving us a good view of his bill unlike last time when he was resting and you couldn't see his bill at all!! 

25/07/2011 Belvide Reservoir

This morning the group met at Belvide and we saw - Bluetit, Blackcap, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Jay, Wood Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Great-crested Grebe, Mallard, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Moorhen, Coot, Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Crow, House Martin, Swallow, Goldfinch, Gadwall, Kestrel, Tufted Duck, Lesser black-backed Gull, Pheasant, Magpie, Song Thrush.     

04/07/2011 Blithfield Reservoir

Today at Blithfield we saw - Peregrine, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Greylag Geese, Starling, Coot, Little Egret, Little ringed Plover, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Great-crested Grebe, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Great Tit, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, (apart from the one disguised as a squirrel) don't ask!!! Canada Geese, Pochard, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Robin, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Common Tern, Shellduck, Buzzard, Magpie Blackbird and Osprey.

27/06/2011 Belvide Reservoir

Today at Belvide I saw - Great-spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robin, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Little Owl, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Willow Warbler, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Mute swan, Mallard, Coot, Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Crow, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Tree Sparrow, Lesser black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Little Tern, Magpie, House Martin, Swallow, Kestrel, Jay.  Plus 1 rather large Hornet that joined us the hide for a few minutes!!!!

20/06/2011 Belvide Reservoir

On a mornings birding at Belvide we saw - Mute Swan, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Tern, Great crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Little-Ringed Plover, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, Lesser black-backed Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Common Whitethroat, Pheasant, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Magpie, Chaffinch, Crow and Swallow.

17/06/2011 Cannock Chase

On an evenings bird watching on Cannock Chase we saw - Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Cuckoo, Wood Pigeon, Tree Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Woodcock and Nightjar.

13/06/2011 Cannock Chase and Blithfield

On a visit to Cannock Chase we saw - Jay, Robin, Swift, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Blackbird, Crow, we also heard -Cuckoo, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon and Willow Warbler.

Then a few of us went over to Blithfield in the hope of seeing the Spoonbill that had been reported, and luckily it was still there.  After lunch I stayed at Blithfield to see what else I could find, I saw – Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Great-crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Mallard, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Jay, Gadwall, Coot, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Rook, Buzzard, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin and the days highlight apart from the Spoonbill that is! was an Osprey.  Two brilliant birds in one day can’t be bad!

06/06/2011 Branston Water Park

Today at Branston Water Park we saw - Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Greylag Geese, Pochard, Great crested- Grebe, House Martin, Swallow, Oyster Catcher, Sedge Warbler, Moorhen, Coot, Blue Tit, Cormorant, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Wren, Magpie, Swift, Wood Pigeon, we also heard Willow Warbler, Greenfinch, and Reed Warbler.

Later I went to Whitemoor Haye and saw –Mallard, Shellduck, Crow, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Swallow, Buzzard, Skylark, Wood Pigeon, Corn Bunting. I was hoping to hear the Quail that had been reported, but I had no luck! 

31/05/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On an afternoon walk around my local patch I saw - Blackbird, Jay, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Great spotted Woodpecker, Crow, Collared Dove, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe and Grey Wagtail. 

23/05/2011 Cannock Chase

A few of us met at Cannock Chase for a mornings bird watching, the first birds we saw were a large flock of Swift, House Martin plus a few Swallows there must have been about 300 ! Amazing! 

also we saw - Chaffinch, Pied Flycatcher, Crow, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Redstart, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon. We also heard - Magpie, Wren, Robin and Long-tailed Tit. 

20/05/2011 Hatherton and Redland

On an afternoons walk around my local patch I saw on Hatherton Reservoir  - Blackbird, Crow, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, I also heard - Chiffchaff, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Collared Dove.

On Redland Pool I saw - Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, and Coot.

16/05/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the reservoir today - I saw - Swift, Blackbird, Great Tit, Magpie, House Sparrow, Crow, Chaffinch, Great-crested Grebe, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Canada, Geese, Wood Pigeon, Bullfinch, Robin, Blackcap, Grey Heron, I also heard - Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker and Song Thrush.

02/05/2011 Croxall

Today At Croxall we saw – Black-tailed Godwit, Common Tern, Shelduck, Canada Geese, Little-ringed Plover, Ruff, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler, Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Mallard, Little Egret, Greylag Geese, Gadwall, Coot, Crow, Oystercatcher, Starling, House Martin, Reed Bunting, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit,

We also heard Greenfinch, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

Then At Whitemoor Haye we saw –Greenshank, House Martin, Blackbird, Crow, Great-crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallard, and Tufted Duck, then on drive around the lanes I saw Corn bunting and Swift my first this year. 

20/04/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

A walk around the Reservoir produced - Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeon, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, I also heard Common Whitethroat and Green Woodpecker.  There were quite a few Orange tipped and Speckled wood Butterflies about too.

18/04/2011 Chasewater

The group met up at Chasewater this morning and we saw - Lapwing, Mute Swan, Mallard, Crow, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Shovler, Lesser black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Little Gull, Great-crested Grebe, Ringed Plover, Little ringed Plover, Skylark, Wood Pigeon, Whinchat, Canada Geese, Linnet, Tufted Duck, House Martin, Cormorant, Sand Martin, Goldfinch we also heard Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler. We also saw a lot of Orange tipped butterflies.

After the meeting I went over to the Cadet Huts on Cannock Chase in search of the Great grey Shrike and Wryneck that had been seen, well I had no luck with those two!! But I did see – Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Buzzard, I also heard Raven, Cuckoo, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Over at Marquis drive I added Pied Wagtail to my list. Also at Freda’s grave I added Chaffinch, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit.

15/04/2011 My Local Patch

This afternoon I went for a walk around my local patch at Hatherton Reservoir I saw – Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Crow, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great–spotted Woodpecker Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Great–crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, I also heard Green Woodpecker and Coal Tit.

At Redland Pool I saw – Great-crested Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Common Whitethroat, Robin, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, 2 Buzzards I also heard Chiffchaff and Dunnock.

12/04/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the reservoir today I saw- Blackbird, Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Robin, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Jay, Buzzard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron and Mallard.

11/04/2011 Cannock Chase

Today the group met up at Seven Springs, Cannock Chase we saw -Chaffinch, Raven, Buzzard, Crow, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Linnet, Treecreeper, Great Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, we also heard Pheasant, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler. On my way to Seven Springs I stopped briefly at the Cadet Huts and I heard a Cuckoo, my first this year.

After the meeting I went over to Wolseley Bridge SWT there I saw- Robin, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Mallard, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Coal Tit and Pheasant then the rain arrived!

At Freda’s Grave I saw - Nuthatch, Robin, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Mallard, Blackbird, Great Tit and Yellowhammer.

April 2011 Norfolk

Last week me and my other half spent a few days in Norfolk we visited Titchwell, Snettisham and Cley Reserves and these are the birds I saw-

Fulmar, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Pink-footed Geese, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Barnacle Geese, Brent Geese, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Garganey, Shovler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Lapland Bunting and Reed Bunting.  total 85. I did attempt some digiscoping without much success.  Here are a few, but they are pretty rubbish!!!

Kestrel





Marsh Harrier





Avocet and Godwits





Black-talied Godwit



25/03/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On an afternoons walk around Hatherton Reservoir today I saw - House Sparrow, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, I heard at least 3, Green Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Wren, Magpie, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Pheasant, Crow, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk and Long-tailed Tit Also in the Brook I saw 1 Teal.

21/03/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Reservoir this morning I saw - Chiffchaff the first one I’ve seen this year, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Goldfinch, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Dunnock, Wren, Buzzard, Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, I also heard a Green Woodpecker.  Also on the walk back I saw Starling Chaffinch and House Sparrow.

18/03/2011 Wolseley Bridge SWT

On an afternoons walk around Wolseley Bridge with my mate we saw - Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Crow, Pheasant, Wren, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mute Swan, Mallard, Canada Geese, Coot, Coot, Moorhen, 1 Female Goosander  and we heard Green Woodpecker.

12/03/2011 Hatherton and Redland

Today I went for another walk around my local Reservoir this time I also visited the Redland pool.

At Hatherton Reservoir I saw –Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Robin, Crow, Great Tit, Magpie, I also heard – Jay, Green Woodpecker and Song Thrush.

On Redland Pool I saw - Cormorant, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Chaffinch, Wren, Magpie, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Bullfinch, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Crow and a flock of Fieldfare, I also heard Song Thrush here too.

08/03/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On a short walk around the Reservoir today I saw – Blackbird, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Goosander, Moorhen, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin and Buzzard

07/03/2011 Park Hall CP Stoke

Today the Bird group met at Park Hall Country Park, Stoke, in search of Long Eared Owls. Eventually after several pairs of eyes and cricked necks had searched through the treetops our leader managed to spot one, good job he did because I would never have found it!! We saw - Robin, Magpie, Bullfinch, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Willow Tit, Blackbird, Blue Tit and 1 Long-eared Owl.

02/03/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

This afternoon I went for a short walk around the Reservoir, I saw - Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Goosander, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, House Sparrow, Starling and Crow.

31/01/2011 Cannock Chase

Today we all met for a mornings birding on Cannock Chase at the Cadet Huts we were hoping to see the GG Shrike alas we didn’t! But we did see - Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit Coal Tit, Magpie, Raven, Dunnock, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Raven, Blackbird, Robin, Jay and Tree Creeper.

Later a few of us went over to Marquis Drive and we saw - Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Raven, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit and I saw 1 Brambling,  though nobody else did, but I did see it honestly!! 

Later in the day I had a short walk by the Glacial bolder and I saw Green Woodpecker and Kestrel.

29/01/2011 Hatherton Reservoir

On my walk around Hatherton Reservoir yesterday I saw – Long-tailed Tit 4, Black-headed Gull 144, Greenfinch 1, Collared Dove 2, Wood Pigeon 2, Buzzard 2, Coot 3, Mallard 59, Moorhen 2, Tufted Duck 3, Mute Swan 4, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 3, Blackbird 3, Crow 6, House Sparrow 6, and the highlight was 20 Siskin, which made up for me missing these on Monday!

There is now a Friends Group for the Reservoir and work parties are being organised to clear litter and damaged trees etc.  More volunteers are welcome.

24/1/2011 Croxall Lakes

Today we all met up at Croxall for a cold mornings birding – we saw Little Egret, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gull, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Grey Heron, Great-crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Geese, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Cormorant, Coot, Magpie, Crow.

Then we went over to Whitemoor Haye where we saw – Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, Wigeon, Pochard, and Mallard.

After the meeting and a hot drink to warm me up I had a walk around the Memorial Arboretum I saw – Canada Geese, Coot, Mallard, Great-crested Grebe, Chaffinch, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit.

And that was about it, it was very quiet.  

I headed for home via a very short stop on Cannock Chase where I saw – Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon.   

17/01/2011 Branston Water Park

Today was our first outdoor meeting of the year and we all met up at Branston Water Park for a mornings birding we saw- Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, Cormorant, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Gadwall, Wigeon, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Magpie, Crow, Shovler, Chaffinch, Lesser black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Wren, Collared Dove, Rook.  Also spotted were Siskin and Redpoll but unfortunately I missed these!!

Whilst I was sitting in my car having my lunch I could hear a tap tap tap on my car. The culprit is pictured below

a cheeky hungry Swan

After lunch I went over to the National Memorial Arboretum and saw – Little Grebe, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Great-crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Crow, Magpie, Blackbird, Robin, Mallard, and Grey Heron. 

14/01/2011 Park Hall CP Stoke

On a short walk around Park Hall CP yesterday I saw 2 Long-Eared Owls, Willow Tit, Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Robin, Magpie, Crow, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, House Sparrow.  Though I would have missed the Owls if a kind chap hadn’t pointed them out to me, many thanks to him.

12/01/2011 Local Patch

On a short walk around my local patch this afternoon I saw – Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Magpie, Crow and 1 female Goosander.

02/01/2011 Local Patch

On my first walk around my local patch of the year the first birds I saw were 4 Goosanders on the reservoir, its’ the first time I’ve seen them there!  other birds seen were- 15 Black-headed Gull, 6 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 40 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Mute Swan, 7 Blue Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 16 Wood Pigeon, 6 Magpie, 4 Great Tit, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Crow, 3 Bullfinch, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackbird, 2 Jackdaw, 1 Rook, 5 House Sparrow.  The reservoir is still frozen in most parts and the other pool is still completely frozen.   I extended my walk to include a new area along a disused Canal where I added a Little Egret and another 3 Mute Swans to my days list.  Not a bad start to 2011.