30/12/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

on a walk around the Raz today at lunchtime I saw - Blackbird, Bullfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Crow, Magpie, Jay, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, 100+Black-headed Gull, 2 male Goosanders, and 2 Cormorants flew over.
I have added the new 2013 dates for the work parties on the Hatherton Reservoir page.

25/12/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

 As I was up early and it wasn't raining I went for a short walk around the Raz at 8.30am and saw

Great spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Crow, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, 2 Cormorants flew over and there was a Raven calling nearby. 

I got caught in the rain on the way back but enjoyed my bacon butty better for the fresh air and exercise.

Wishing you all A Very Happy Christmas

10/12/2012 National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas

This afternoon I had a walk around the Arboretum and saw - Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese, Mallard, Wigeon, Little Egret, Tufted Duck, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Pochard, Chaffinch, Rook and Crow. Also in the field opposite the entrance were a flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing.

08/12/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Raz this afternoon I saw - Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, c150 Black-headed Gulls,  2 male Goosanders and 1 Mistle Thrush on the football field.

28/11/12 Hatherton Reservoir

 I'm Back! after a forced absence from blogging due to a computer failure. 

 I went for a walk around the Raz today and saw-

Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Magpie, Song Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Buzzard, Reed Bunting, Great spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow and Cormorant.

Hatherton Reservoir



Gone Fishing

 Taken last week at the Raz.

01/10/2012 Carsington Water

We all met up at Carsington and I saw - Cormorant, Yellow-legged Gull, Coot, Lapwing, Lesser black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Pochard, Teal, Great crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel, Mallard, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit, Tree Sparrow, Great Tit, Canada Geese, Dunnock, Magpie, Crow, Barnacle Geese, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk, Gadwall and Starling.  Somehow I missed a Kingfisher twice!

30/09/2012 At home

I was just giving the car a quick hoover out when I heard the call of a Raven, it flew low above the house for several minutes before flying off. It's not very often I see one fly over the house!

24/09/2012 Belvide Reservoir

A few hardy or should that be 'Mad' members of the bird group turned out for a mornings birding at a very wet Belvide, we saw - Mute Swan, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Coot, Tufted Duck, Great crested Grebe, Cormorant, Reed Warbler, Mallard, Pochard, Black-headed Gull, Canada Geese,  Crow, Moorhen, Pintail, Gadwall, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Pheasant, Robin, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Marsh Tit, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit and Wood Pigeon.

22/09/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Reservoir this afternoon I saw - House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Kingfisher and Jay. 

Its the work party 10am tomorrow morning, I hope to see some birds in between all the hard work! 

17/09/2012 An afternoons birding in Staffs

I know it's a bit late but here is my birding report for Monday afternoon.

The first visit was to Whitemoor Haye it was very quiet but I did see - Swallow, Tree Sparrow, Lapwing, Crow, Starling, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon and Magpie.

Then it was over to Blithfield, I only had time to visit the dam area and the causeway but saw - Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Lesser black-backed Gull, Great black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, Mute Swan, Coot, Mallard, Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Swallow, Great crested Grebe, Wheatear and House Martin.

Then on the way home I made a brief stop at Cannock Chase and saw -Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Robin, Great Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie, Siskin, Wood Pigeon, Pheasant and Green Woodpecker.

This weeks Birding at Hatherton & Kingsbury

Hatherton Reservoir 09/09/2012
Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Black headed Gull and Collared Dove. 

Kingsbury Water Park 10/09/2012

Canada Geese, Coot, Gadwall, Lesser black-backed Gull, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Mallard, House Martin, Little Egret, Teal, Wigeon, Snipe, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Great spotted Woodpecker, Great crested Grebe, Greylag Geese, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Buzzard, Magpie, Little Grebe, Jay, Cormorant also a Muntjac Deer.

Hatherton Reservoir 11/09/2012

Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Kingfisher, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch and Jay.

 

03/09/2012 Chasewater and Hatherton

I didn’t want to go far today so when my other half said he was going for a walk around Chasewater I decided to join him. It was fairly quiet bird wise, but not human wise! But I did see - Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Jay, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Black headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Tufted Duck, Crow, Great crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Buzzard, Peregrine, Lapwing and I heard a Bullfinch.  I also saw a small Lizard and 2 Red Deer. The warm sunshine had also brought a few Butterflies and Dragonflies out such as Small White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral also a Small red Damselfly.  

Hatherton Reservoir

In the afternoon I went for a short walk around the Reservoir and saw - Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Reed Warbler, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Magpie,  I also heard Jay and Green Woodpecker.

26/08/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

I decided to go for a walk around the Raz this afternoon and risk a soaking from the dark clouds above, I saw - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Willow Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Magpie, Crow, and 2 Kingfishers and I didn't get wet! 

23/08/2012 A visit to Belvide Reservoir

Birds seen - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Great crested Grebe, 3 Common Sandpiper, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Long tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Black headed Gull, Grey Heron, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Lesser black-backed Gull, Gadwall, Swallow, House Martin, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Tree Sparrow, Great spotted Woodpecker, Common Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Starling, Pochard, Peregrine, Collared Dove, Tree Creeper, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Shovler, Teal and Wigeon.

20/08/2012 Blithfield and Cannock Chase

Blithfield Reservoir

Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Mallard, Crow, Pheasant, Tufted Duck, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Cormorant, Common Tern, Black Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Barnacle Geese, Common Scoter, Little Egret, Blue Tit, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Wheatear, Magpie, Nuthatch, Swallow, Linnet, Great Tit and House Martin.   

Wolseley Bridge SWT

House Martin, Mallard, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Canada Geese, Crow, Moorhen, Robin, Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon.

Cannock Chase

Coal Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, and 2 juvenile 1 Adult Redstart.

16/08/2012 Blithfield Reservoir

My first stop was the causway where I saw - Black Tern, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper and Pied Wagtail,  then at Tad Bay I saw - Buzzard, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Mallard, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Crow, Black Swan, Great crested Grebe, Gadwall, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Long tailed Tit, Robin, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Starling, Linnet, Magpie, Lesser black backed-Gull and Grey Heron.

13/08/2012 Shustoke Reservoir & Ladywalk

Today we all met at Shustoke Reservoir I saw - Black headed Gull, Cormorant, Canada Geese, Grey Wagtail, Great crested Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Lesser black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Greenfinch, Little Grebe, Nuthatch, Lapwing, House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Swallow, Mute Swan, Crow and a Stoat.

After lunch a few of us went over to Ladywalk I saw - Grey Heron, Canada Geese, Gadwall, Black headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Pheasant, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Jay, Cormorant, Great spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Robin, Marsh Tit and Greenshank.

06/08/2012 Overseal Derbyshire

Overseal & Spring Cottage Lakes Derbyshire
This was a new place for me, I saw - Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Lesser black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Swallow, Turnstone, House Martin, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Canada Geese, Crow and Blackbird.

On my home I had a drive around the lanes at Whitemoor Haye and saw -Little Owl, Tree Sparrow, Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Yellowhammer and Hobby.

I called in at at Blithfield Reservoir for an hour or so and saw - Osprey, Mute Swan, Mallard, Great crested Grebe, Cormorant, Common Tern, Coot, Canada Geese, Black Swan, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Crow, Swallow, Pheasant and Pied Wagtail.

26/07/2012 Blithfield Reservoir

Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Crow, Lapwing, Coot, Common Tern, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Buzzard, Long tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Swallow, Magpie, Lesser black-backed Gull. On our way home a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits flew over the Causeway. 

23/07/2012 Tittesworth Water and Moors

Tittesworth
Coot, Cormorant, Mallard, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Wren, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, House Martin, Canada Geese, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon and we heard Blackcap.

 Moors

After lunch we had a short drive onto the Moors where we saw Red Grouse, Raven, Curlew, Kestrel, Wheatear and Stonechat. 

15/07/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

Wow a dry day! so I took advantage of the weather and went a walk around the Raz, I saw -

Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Sparrowhawk, Great spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Great crested Grebe, Grey Wagtail, I also heard Chiffchaff , Bullfinch and saw a lot of Six-spot Burnet moths. 

04/07/2012 My local Patch

I decided to risk the weather and go for a walk around ,my local patch, at  Hatherton Reservoir I saw -

Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Great spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Coot, Mallard, Reed Warbler, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Wren, Chiffchaff, Crow, Song Thrush and Blackcap.

Then I walked over to Redland Pool which was very quiet, but I did see -

Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Blackbird, Swift, Wood Pigeon, Coot and Mute Swan.

I managed to get back home just before another heavy rain shower arrived!!

02/07/2012 Blithfield in the rain

The weather was awful but as I was on my back from the bird food farm I decided to go via Blithfield and spend a bit of time there, I got in the hide It was very quiet bird wise and I saw, well not a lot!! But there were 8 Common Tern just in front of the hide, also present were Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant, Mallard, Swallow, Swift.  I’d had enough of sitting in the hide listening to rain bouncing of the roof, so I headed back to the car I had a quick look at the feeders, Blue Tit, Great Tit, and a Great spotted Woodpecker were all I could see. A very disapointing day weather and bird wise.

28/06/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

There was not much on TV apart from football!! So an evening’s walk around the Raz was in order, birds seen - Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Swift, Magpie, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Great Tit, Chiffchaff and Sparrowhawk. It was very quiet bird wise maybe they were all watching the match!!!

25/06/2012 An evening on Cannock Chase

A few of us met on Cannock Chase for an evenings birding, I saw - Tree Pipit, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Stonechat, Common Whitethroat, Woodcock and Nightjar.  Unfortunatley I didn't see the Hobby everyone else saw!!! 

25/06/2012 Middleton Lakes

Middleton Lakes
Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Grey Heron, Mallard, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Oystercatcher, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Common Whitethroat, Wood Pigeon, Garden Warbler, Swift, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Robin, Crow, Wren, Rook, Blackbird, Great spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Magpie and Skylark.
I also saw Common Blue Damselfly also Banded Demoiselle and Grass Snakes. 

Chasewater
On the way home we made a brief stop at Chasewater and saw - Ringed Plover, Little ringed Plover, Lesser Black backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Common Tern, Coot, Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Crow and Black-headed Gull. Mallard and Mute Swan.

23/06/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

I decide to risk getting wet and go for a walk around the Raz to see what was about and check if there was any activity in the bird boxes, there was but not what I was hoping for!!!

However the birds I did see were - Chiffchaff, Willow Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Magpie, Nuthatch, Great spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Blackcap, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Common Tern, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail, Linnet and House Sparrow.

19/06/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

Around the Raz today - Mallard, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Common Tern, Coot, Moorhen, Buzzard, Blackcap, Great spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, Crow, Magpie, Willow Tit, Blackbird, Bullfinch, House Sparrow and Song Thrush.

18/06/2012 7 Springs Cannock Chase

We all met at Seven Springs for a mornings birding we saw - Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, House Martin, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Cuckoo, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Jay, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Wren, Crow, Redstart, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long tailed Tit, Magpie I also heard Pheasant and Common Whitethroat. 

After the meeting on other areas of Cannock Chase I saw Linnet, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Mallard, Swift, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Stock Dove, Willow Tit, Yellowhammer and Dunnock.   

15/06/2012 Cannock Chase in the rain

Although with the weather last night not being ideal to say the least! the three of us that turned up for an evenings Nightjar watching, did at least see 2 fly very close to us before disappearing in the trees.  We also had good views of Woodcocks and heard a Nightjar much earlier than usual in the evening.  But we weren't the only intrepid birders out in the rain and wind, if they had not gone when a large black cloud loomed overhead, they too would have had at least a brief view of the birds they had come to see.  

06/06/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a morning walk around the Raz today I saw – Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Great spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Jay, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Magpie, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Kingfisher and 1 Feral Pigeon.  On the walk home I also saw a family of Bullfinches. 

04/06/2012 Croxall, Whitemoor and Cannock Chase

The Bird Group all met at Croxall this morning.
At Croxall I saw - Swift, Buzzard, Black headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Mallard, Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Coot, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Cormorant, Dunnock, Sand Martin, Swallow, Gadwall, Lapwing, Skylark, Blue Tit, Rook, Crow and Magpie.

After a few of us went over to Whitemoor Haye, in the hope of hearing the reported Quail, we didn't!!  But I did see Linnet, Skylark, Wood Pigeon, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Goldfinch.

I then made my home via Wolseley Bridge and Cannock Chase

at Wolseley Bridge I saw - Grey Wagtail, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Canada Geese, Blackbird, Kestrel, Jackdaw, Reed Warbler, Rook, Magpie, Mallard, Blue Tit, Wren and Nuthatch. 

 

Then a brief visit to Cannock Chase in the hope of adding Wood Warbler to my year list and the first birds I saw were Wood Warblers, (If only it was always that easy!!) also Chiffchaff, Great spotted Woodpecker, Wren and Blackbird.

28/05/2012 Cannock Chase

I didn’t want to go too far today so I decided to go over to Cannock Chase I saw –Stonechat, Kestrel, Cuckoo, Crow, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Great spotted Woodpecker, Mallard, Pheasant, Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Robin, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon and Goldfinch.

Last night my mate and I went over to Cannock Chase to look for Nightjars, birds seen - Stonechat, Skylark, Linnet, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, House Martin, Swallow and great views of Nightjar and Woodcock.

26/05/2012 This weeks Update

Over the last few days I have been to the following places

Slimbridge WWT   birds seen -

Jackdaw, Shelduck, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Great black-backed Gull, Peregrine, Rook, Lapwing, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Common Cranes, Wood Pigeon, Canada Geese, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Oystercatcher, Stock Dove, Crow, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Robin, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Little Egret, Skylark, Swift, Swallow, Goldfinch, Greenshank, Common Tern, Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Wren, Buzzard, Starling, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Greenfinch.

Newport Wetland Centre Wales  birds seen -

Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Coot, Tufted Duck, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Curlew, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Crow, Rook, Swallow, Blue Tit, Little Grebe, Reed Bunting, Mute swan, Great crested Grebe, Mallard, Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Pheasant, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, House Sparrow and the Cetti’s Warblers were very vocal but kept out of sight, until I was leaving then I had a cracking view of one.

Great Bustard Project Salisbury Plain  birds seen -

Great Bustard, Corn Bunting, Wheatear, Buzzard, Jackdaw, Mallard, Crow, Little Owl, Red-legged Partridge, Swallow and Stone Curlew.

16/05/2012 Cannock Chase

With a couple of hours to spare this morning I went over to Cannock Chase to see what I could find the result was - Common Whitethroat, Linnet, Cuckoo, Skylark, Buzzard, Crow and Wood Pigeon.

Well at least it wasn't raining!

14/05/2012 Whisby Nature Park Licolnshire

Whisby Nature Park

Black headed Gull, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Pigeon, Whitethroat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Common Tern, Greylag Geese, Robin, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Great crested Grebe, Dunlin, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Buzzard, Lapwing, Pochard, Mallard, Pheasant, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Crow plus a probable Short Eared Owl (see photo) and not forgetting the bird we all came to seeThe Nightingale.



Distant view of an
 Owl flying over Lake



On the way home my mate and I called into Whitemoor Haye and saw Grey Partridge, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Song Thrush.

08/05/2012 Belvide Reservoir

Jay, Great Tit, Blackcap, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Willow Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot, Common Tern, Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Lapwing, Sedge Warbler, Dunnock, Wren, Swift, Robin, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Pheasant, Crow, Redshank, Shelduck, Teal, Starling, Stock Dove, Rook, Dunlin, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Great spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch and Magpie.

07/05/2012 Blithfield Reservoir

Today my friend and I decided to go birding at Blithfield Reservoir.  As we approached the causeway the air was filled with low flying Swifts, Swallows and House Martins with a few Sand Martins thrown in for good measure!  Even non-birders had stopped to admire the spectacle.  It was an amazing sight.

As we walked around the reservoir we saw- Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Black Swan, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Pintail, Mallard, Crow, Reed Bunting, Cormorant, Mistle Thrush, Lapwing, Wood Pigeon, Lesser black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Kestrel, Buzzard and Shelduck.

05/05/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

As it was not raining I went for a walk around the Raz, I saw – Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Great Tit, Tree Creeper, Chaffinch, Long tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Willow Warbler, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard and Robin.  On the walk back home I also saw Greenfinch and Starling.

02/05/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

A walk around the Raz today produced - Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Buzzard, Wood Pigeon, Great spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Wren, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Crow, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush, Magpie, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Great crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese and Grey Heron. 

30/04/2012 Cannock Chase

We all met at Cannock Chase in search of Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers. I saw -Kestrel, Buzzard, Blue Tit, Pied Flycatcher, Robin, Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Tree Pipit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren and Great Tit, I heard a Cuckoo.  A lucky few saw a Redstart. But not me!!

After Lunch I paid a brief visit to Wolseley Bridge SWT produced – Mistle Thrush, Goosander, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Chiffchaff and Blackbird. 

28/04/2012 Hatherton and Redland Pool

As it was a dry morning for a change! I took the opportunity to have a walk around my local patch.

Hatherton Reservoir

Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Great spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Bullfinch, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Canada Geese with 7 goslings, Mute Swan, Coot, Mallard, Great crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Crow, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron, Jay, Magpie, Dunnock, Treecreeper, and Green Woodpecker.

Canada Geese and Goslings

Redland Pool

The first bird I saw here was a Kingfisher I don't know why but I hadn't seen one of these beauties yet this year!! I also saw - Blue Tit, Robin, Great crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Coot, Crow, Buzzard, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Bullfinch and Blackcap.

24/04/2012 Belvide Reservoir

On a mornings birding at Belvide I saw-

Pheasant, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Moorhen, Blackbird, Jay, Mallard, Common Tern, Goldeneye, Great crested Grebe, Magpie, Wheatear, Shovler, Pied Wagtail, Little ringed Plover, Rook, Swallow, Snipe, Chiffchaff, House Martin, Cormorant, Redshank, Lesser black backed Gull, Pochard, Tree Sparrow, Nuthatch, Wigeon, Teal, Willow Tit, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Coot, Gadwall, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Crow, Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher, Greylag Geese, Wren, Long-tailed Tit and Black-headed Gull.

23/04/2012 Cannock Chase

On todays Bird Group meeting on Cannock Chase we saw-

Willow Warbler, Buzzard, Wren, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Robin, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Crow, Tree Pipit, Pied Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Mallard and Chiffchaff.

After lunch I had another trip across to Stafford to see if the the Crane was still about, at Radford Meadows  I saw Common Crane, Blackcap, Grey heron, Mute Swan, Wood Pigeon, Kestrel, Mallard, Blue Tit and Magpie.

On my way home across Cannock Chase I also saw - Cuckoo, Greenfinch, Yellowhammer,  Jackdaw and Red legged Partridge.

17/04/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Raz today I saw - House Sparrow, Magpie, Starling, Chiffchaff, Robin, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Great spotted Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen and Black-headed Gull.

16/04/2012 Blithfield, Radford Meadows and Wolseley Bridge

Blithfield Reservoir

Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Great crested Grebe, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Goldeneye, Mute Swan, Shelduck,

Cormorant, Black headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher, Greylag Geese, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, House Martin, Blackbird, Magpie, Crow, Rook, we also heard Chiffchaff.

After lunch a few of us went in search of the Common Crane at Radford Meadows

After a short walk along the canal we had good but distant views of the Common Crane, also I saw –Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Mallard, Grey Heron, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Crow, Jackdaw and Great Tit. 

Later in the day I decided to go for walk around Wolseley Bridge SWT, I sat by the river in the hope of seeing a Kingfisher but had no luck! but the time wasn’t wasted as I saw Canada Geese, Mallard, Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, a pair of Great spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Magpie, Chaffinch and a pair of Mistle Thrush.

10/04/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Raz today I saw - Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Great crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Great spotted Woodpecker and I heard a Song Thrush.

09/04/2012 A wet morning at Croxall and Whitemoor Haye

Croxall

Canada Geese, Great crested Grebe, Oystercatcher, Gadwall, Mallard, Shellduck, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Redshank, Little Egret, Teal, Lapwing, Curlew, House Martin, Reed Bunting, Little ringed Plover, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Black-headed Gull, Rook and Greylag Geese.

Whitemoor Haye

Skylark, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Grey Heron, Chaffinch, Magpie and Wood Pigeon. 

02/04/2012 An afternoon around South Staffordshire

Whitemoor Haye – Tree Sparrow, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Blackbird, Robin, Magpie, Chiffchaff, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Crow, Grey Heron, Dunnock, Mute Swan, Skylark, Little Owl, Wood Pigeon, Kestrel, Blue Tit, Corn Bunting, Pheasant and Great Tit.

National Memorial Arboretum & Croxall
– Red legged Partridge, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Coot, Shovler, Wigeon, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, 2 Little ringed Plover, 2 Little Egret, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Blue Tit, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Great-crested Grebe, Teal, Crow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Starling, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon. 

At Blithfield Reservoir Causeway there was a Shellduck and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

 A brief stop at Cannock Chase produced – Long tailed Tit, Robin, Yellowhammer, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Great spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Magpie, Rook and House Sparrow.

31/03/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a walk around the Razz yesterday I saw - Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, House Sparrow, Green Woodpecker, Great spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Rook, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe.  On the walk home I also saw Long- tailed Tit and Greenfinch.   

It was great to hear all the birds singing and watch them gathering nesting material.

25/03/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

This morning we had our monthly work party, after we had finished I went for a walk around the pool and saw - Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Jay, Goldcrest, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Canada Geese.

20/03/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a short walk around the Raz today I saw - House Sparrow, Blackbird, Magpie, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Canada Geese, Redpoll and Crow.

27/02/2012 Croxall etc

The Group met at Croxall for a mornings birding we saw - Shellduck, Black-headed Gull, Lesser black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Oystercatcher, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Wigeon, Coot, Little Egret, Canada Geese, Redshank, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Rook, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Magpie, Skylark, Buzzard, Kestrel and Wood Pigeon. 

After the meeting a few of us went over to Whitemoor Haye where we saw -Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Stock Dove and 2 Little Owls.

Later on a walk around the Memorial Arboretum I added Ringed Plover, Little Grebe and Goldfinch.

23/02/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

It was lovely warm sunny 'springlike' day so I had to get out for a walk around the Raz I saw - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Teal, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Great spotted Woodpecker and Crow.  

20/02/2012 Belvide Reservoir

An afternoon's birding at Belvide produced the following - Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Pheasant, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Willow Tit, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mute Swan, Mallard, Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, Scaup, Great crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Shovler, Gadwall, Canada Geese, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Wigeon, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Lesser black-backed Gull, Shellduck, Reed Bunting, Crow, Rook, Teal, Nuthatch, Curlew, Pintail, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Redwing, Fieldfare and Starling.

19/02/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a late morning walk around the Reservoir today I saw - Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Black headed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Magpie, Wren, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Redwing, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit and Collared Dove.

13/02/2012 'A damp cold day' on Cannock Chase

We all met up at Marquis Drive for a mornings birding and we saw -Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Magpie, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Robin, Crow, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Long-tailed Tit. Coal Tit, Buzzard, Kestrel and Jay.

Whilst having my lunch at Penkridge Bank CP  I added - Nuthatch and Raven to my list.

On the Chase Road I saw - Yellowhammer and Green Woodpecker.

On my way home we saw a field full of Redwing,  Fieldfare and Lapwing also Redlegged Partridge were in another field.

 

2012 work party dates Hatherton Reservoir

This morning I went for a walk around my local patch, the weather wasn’t that good with the snow thawing and the fog, visibility was poor as you can see from photos!  I started at Hatherton and then went over to Redland Pool.

Hatherton Reservoir

Grey Heron 3, (I usually only see one) Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, 3 Lesser black-backed Gull were amongst the large flock of Black-headed Gulls, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Crow, Goldcrest, Redpoll, Jay, Buzzard, Song Thrush I also heard a Green Woodpecker. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redland Pool

Bullfinch, Jay, Fieldfare, Blue Tit, Great tit, Robin, Blackbird, Starling, Magpie and Wood Pigeon



Redland



An update of my walks around Hatherton Reservoir last week.

02/02/2012

Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Buzzard, Crow, Rook, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Song Thrush.

03/02/2012

Buzzard, Jay, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Rook, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck and Grey Heron.

28/01/2012 My Big Garden Birdwatch

I took part in 'The Big Garden Birdwatch' this morning in my garden, I saw - 3 Blackbird, 3 Blue Tit, 5 Bullfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Collared Dove, 4 Dunnock, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Great Tit, 2 Greenfinch, 10 House Sparrow, 2 Magpie, 1 Robin, 2 Wood pigeon, 1 Wren.      

23/01/2012 Blithfield Reservoir

Today we all met at Blithfield and we saw -

Mallard, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Wigeon, Pochard, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Great spotted Woodpecker, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Pintail, Great black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Teal, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Coot, Buzzard, Crow, Shovler, Blackbird, Magpie, Goldeneye, Great crested Grebe, Gadwall, Pheasant, Goosander, Wren, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Moorhen, Coal Tit, Rook, Starling, Pied Wagtail,  and a possible Caspian Gull!

16/01/2011 Branston, Whitemoor Haye, Upper Longdon and The Chase

Today we all met at Branston Water Park for a morning's birdwatching and we saw - Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Redwing, Fieldfare, Wigeon, Pochard, Little Grebe, Shellduck, Lesser black-backed Gull, Magpie, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Crow, Cormorant, Great crested Grebe, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Lapwing.

Branston Water Park

Branston Water Park

Then after lunch my mate and I decided to go and try to see the GG Shrike at Longdon ,but first we stopped off at Whitemoor Haye and saw - Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Lapwing, Fieldfare, Stock Dove, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Starling, Crow and Collared Dove.

Then at Upper Longdon we were lucky enough to see the Great grey Shrike, plus Brambling, Chaffinch, Redwing and Magpie.

Great Grey Shrike

On a drive through Cannock Chase on our way home we saw -

Rook, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Willow tit, Chaffinch, Jackdaw, and Yellowhammer.

14/01/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

This morning on a walk around the Raz I saw - 6 Goosanders, Mallard, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Treecreeper and I heard a Green Woodpecker.

07/01/2012 Hatherton Reservoir

On a  short walk around the Raz today I saw - Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Redwing, Blackbird, Jay, Magpie, 100+ Black headed Gulls, and in amongst them was a lone immature Lesser black-backed Gull, Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Moorhen, and Crow also a Cormorant flew over.

02/01/2012 Gailey and Belvide Reservoirs

We set off for a mornings birding at Belvide but on the way we visited Gailey to look for the Black Redstart that had been around for a while we saw - Grey Heron, Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Lapwing and Mute Swan and the Black Redstart.  Which was a good start to 2012's birding!


Then on to Belvide Reservoir where we saw - Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Robin, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Great spotted Woodpecker, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard, Shovler, Goldeneye, Great crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Teal, Wigeon, Greylag Geese, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Gadwall, Lapwing, Great black-backed Gull, Reed Bunting, Crow, Starling, Wood pigeon, Kestrel, Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Magpie and Fieldfare.

On quick visit to Cannock Chase on our way home we added Yellowhammer to the days list

01/01/2012 My Garden

A small flock of Redwings feeding on the Hawthorn berries in my garden this morning, only usually get them during a very cold spell!