28th February

Alvecote Mill Pool - Pintail (R Smith).
KWP Broomey Croft Pool - Otter on ice near gate at 12:40 (T Hyde).

27th February

Alvecote - Great White Egret (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 21 Little Egret and just 1 Great White Egret rooosted. Water Rail under feeders.
Shustoke Res - Goosander & c.20 Pochard (R Walker).

26th February

Alvecote Pretty Pigs Pool - Great White Egret (R Smith).

25th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) -  This morning 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Pintail [Jubilee Wetlands], 3 Great White Egret [North Pit] ( K Sargent). This afternoon first returning AVOCET, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 (m&f) Stonechat, 2 (m&f) Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese & Lesser Redpoll (M Scott). Firecrest still along river (J Woodcock via @staffsbirdnews). Common Gull (G Williams).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on feeders (C Clements).
Alvecote Pretty Pigs Pool - Great White Egret (F Savage via @birdsofalvecote)
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (M Priest).

The Tamworth 3 - Mark Priest

The winner of the Avocet competition was Richard Hancox being only half a day out. Well done Richard.

24th February

KWP Otter Pool - Great White Egret (@WildSuburbiaUK).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Firecrest [Dosthill NR Riverside North end] (T Gardner), 3 Ringed Plover, 5 Oystercatcher, 5 Pintail, 7 Shelduck [Jubilee Wetlands], 3 Stonechat, Snipe & 2 Goosander [North Pit] (S Atkinson). Great White Egret (J Kenny).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest in Warks this afternoon North end of Fishers Mill (J Kenny).
Alvecote - Great White Egret (R Smith). 11 Shelduck, 4 Goosander, Little Egret & 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker (M Scott).
Lea Marston Lakes - Stonechat, 2 Little Egret & 2 Goosander (R Walker).

23rd February

Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (T Perrins).
KWP South - 2 Egyptian Geese (A Dean).
Lea Marston Lake - 23 Shelduck including a Ruddy Shelduck hybrid and pair of Pintail (A Dean).
Coton - 240 Shoveler (A Dean).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 5 (3m&2f) Pintail, 2 Ringed Plover, Common Gull, Great White Egret, c.2000 Black-headed Gulls & 3 Ruff [Jubilee Wetlands], 11 Goosander [North Pit].

22nd February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great White Egret [Dosthill NR], 5 Pintail, 7 Shelduck, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Siskin with small flock of Lesser Redpoll and singing Skylark (S Atkinson).
Tamworth Borrowpit Lake - 2 Oystercatcher (M Scott).

21st February

Tameside LNR - 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Goosander, Little Egret and 2 Nuthatch (S Allison).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Firecrest [river bridge], 5 Pintail, 3 Great White Egret, 10 Goldeneye & 2 Goosander (J Sirrett). 3 Ruff, 4 Oystercatcher, 8 Goosander & 6 Little Egret (J Woodcock via @staffsbirdnews).

20th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest [Dosthill side, South of river bridge] (T de Clermont & P Hyde). Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [feeder reeds] & Brambling [car park] - reported.  3 Great White Egret & 25+ Little Egret roosted [Heronry].
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 5 (3m&2f) Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, 5 Goosander & 8+ Shelduck (T de Clermont & P Hyde). 3 Ruff and Ringed Plover reported on Jubilee Wetlands.

19th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [car park Oaks], Firecrest, Chiffchaff & Great White Egret [Fishers Mill] (RSPB).

18th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest - River's edge brambles just South of the bridge on the Dosthill side (R Walker). 3 Great White Egret roosted in the heronry with 33 Little Egret. The dead bird on Dosthill NR, Friday, does therefore not appear to be one of the regular roosters.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 5 (3m&2f) Pintail, 4 Oystercatcher and 7 Goldeneye [Jubilee Wetlands], 8 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR].
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive and 2nd W Yellow-Legged Gull (T Perrins & J Allen).
Alvecote Mill Pool - Stonechat (F Savage via @birsdofalvecote)

17th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great White Egret, 9 Goosander, 2 Stonechat [North Pit], 2 Pintail, 4 Shelduck, 3 Oystercatcher, c.200 Lapwing [Jubilee Wetlands], 8 Goldeneye [various pools] (S Atkinson). Firecrest [Dosthill NR - First screen] (S Phillips).

16th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 17 Goosander [North Pit], Great White Egret, 2 Pintail, 9 Goldeneye, 6 Oystercatcher and the 3 Ruff arrived to roost at 16:49 [Jubilee Wetlands].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Merlin [Southern Meadow] (J&P Hughes).
KWP (South) - Ruddy Shelduck & 2 Egyptian Geese (S Haynes).
KWP Cliff Pool - drake Pintail, Willow Tit, 190 Lapwing (S Haynes), Great White Egret, 2 Goosander & 2 Raven (J&P Hughes).

15th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great White Egret, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Egyptian Geese, 16 Shelduck and 3 Goldeneye (S Atkinson).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Water Rail [feeders] (C Workman).
KWP (South) - 3 Egyptian Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, 3 Shelduck, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 6 Little Egret, 2 Oystercatcher and 20 Golden Plover over West (A Dean).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - 5 Chiffchaff one a "Siberian" morphotype but giving common Chiffchaff call (A Dean).
Lea Marston Lakes - 4 Shelduck. Gull roost at Coton has now dispersed (A Dean).


Water Rail at RSPB Middleton - Claire Workman

13th February

No news from the valley today
Report of Long-Eared Owl at RSPB Middleton yesterday - awaiting further details.

12th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Great White Egret roosted in the Heronry and Barn Owl hunting Play Meadow.

Lea Marston Lakes - 14 Shelduck (A Dean).

Alvecote Gilmans Pool - Great White Egret (R Smith).

With the first guess in the Avocet competition being the 14th of February then it's only fair entries close at midnight tomorrow. The competition is open to everyone - nothing to lose nothing to gain,  just a bit of fun. 9 Avocet were at Frampton Gloucestershire today which potentially is less than a days flight from Middleton. Dates still available are under the Middleton year list and some background information is in the news section to the right. Just email me your guess.

11th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 (m&f) Pintail, Great White Egret & 3-4 Oystercatcher (R Walker). 2 Stonechat reported. Confirmed that there are 2 pairs of Pintail on the reserve (NP and JW West). Also 20+ Goosander [North Pit], 3 Ruff roosted [Jubilee] and Great White Egret [Dosthill NR].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest still, same area Fishers Mill riverside (T Perrins). Chiffchaff [South of FM riverside] and Barn Owl [Southern Meadow].
Dosthill Lake - 15 Oystercatcher on grass to the East.
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (T Perrins).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - 3 Siberian Chiffchaff [Fulvescens type, classic type and a duller bird with a bright wing panel], 12+ Common Chiffchaff and 6 Goosander (D Hutton).
River Tame near Ladywalk - 2 (m&f) Pintail (Y Moore).

10th February

Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (T Perrins).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - 2 "Siberian type" Chiffchaff  & 6 Common Chiffchaff (T Perrins)
KWP Bodymoor Heath Water - 2 Egyptian Geese (T Bassnett).

9th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 23 Goosander, 2 Pintail [NorthPit], 3 Ruff arrived at 16:53, Common Gull, 2 Pintail that could have been NP birds, 12 Oystercatcher, 6 Goldeneye [Jubilee Wetlands],  Great White Egret flew from Dosthill NR to roost.
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Water Rail [feeders].
Coton - Great White Egret and 3 Goosander (A Dean).
Kingsbury (South) - 204 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 2 Little Egret and 2 Oystercatcher (A Dean).
Marston Fields - 2 (m&f) Stonechat (A Dean).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - "Siberian type" Chiffchaff  & 5 Common Chiffchaff (P Casey).

8th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest just North of shelter riverside Fishers Mill also 20 Lesser Redpoll same area (S Atkinson). Chiffchaff again same area (T Hyde).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Pintail, c.150 Lapwing, 8 Shelduck [Jubilee Wetlands], 2 Egyptian Geese [Dosthill NR], Great White Egret and 6 (1m) Goosander [North Pit] (S Atkinson]. Also 8, 8.5 or possibly 9 Oystercatcher (S Atkinson & T Hyde].
Grendon - Woodcock flushed from wood off Waste Lane (J Morgan).
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (R Kinson) per Staffs Birding.
Tamworth Bolehall - 2 Ruff per West Mids Facebook.

Firecrest at RSPB Middleton - Anne Powell

7th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Bittern [Fishers Mill] (RSPB), Lesser Redpoll [feeders].
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Ringed Plover (G A Williams), 2 Pintail (m&f) and 8 Shelduck [all Jubilee Wetlands].
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff still, in flooded field off Selker Drive (J Morgan).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - Firecrest , Siberian Chiffchaff and 4 Common Chiffchaff (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Great White Egret (R Smith).
Coton Lakes - Goosander (m)(A Dean).
Lea Marston Lakes - 8 Shelduck and Pintail (m) (A Dean).

6th February

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Great White Egret roosted [Heronry] 2 from the East off the reserve and one from the South. Also 29 Little Egret.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Pintail reported.
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - "Siberian type" Chiffchaff, 3 Common Chiffchaff & Green Sandpiper (J Harris).

5th February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Water Pipit 11am East Scrape (RSPB).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Barn Owl at dusk in Play Meadow (J Hollier).
Alvecote - 3 Stonechat (R Smith).
Coton Lakes - 7 Whooper Swans heading North tonight (A Dean).
Lea Marston Lakes - 6 Shelduck and 109 Pochard (S Haynes).

Also some late news for the 30th Jan added, including Jack Snipe.

4th February

Tameside LNR - 8 Goosander, Oystercatcher & 30 Lapwing (S Allison).
KWP Cliff Pool - c.600 Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, 2 Great White Egret, Snipe, and Willow Tit [Feeders] (S Cawthray).
Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff in flooded field off Selker Drive (T Perrins).
Hams Hall Edison Road Outflow - 2 Siberian Chiffchaff & 5 Common Chiffchaff (D Hutton).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 White-Fronted Geese through heading North, 2 Great White Egret & Peregrine (J Allen & S Cawthray), 2 Pintail [Jubilee West] (M Priest), Water Pipit [East Scrape bank] (A Archer), Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff [Jubilee Wetlands] and 27 Goosander roosted [North Pit].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Firecrest still along river near Fishers Mill shelter (M Priest & S Cawthray) and 8 Lesser Redpoll [FM Canal Bridge] (T&A Hyde). 2 Great White Egret and 12 Little Egret Roosted [Heronry] and 2 Tawny Owl [Mill Plantation] (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - 2 Great White Egret (R Smith).
Dosthill Lake [Water Ski Pools] - 8 Oystercatcher.


Willow Tit - KWP Cliff Pool - Mark Priest

3rd February

Tamworth Amington - 3 Ruff in flooded field off Selker Drive (T Perrins).
KWP - 673 Lapwing, 2 Goosander, 4 Pochard, Goldeneye, Snipe, Little Egret and Willow Tit [Cliff Pool], 18 Pochard, Goldeneye & 3 very vocal Oystercatcher over [Canal Pool].
Alvecote - Great White Egret [Railway Pool] (R Smith).

2nd February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail (m&f), 2 Stonechat [Jubilee Wetlands] (J&P Hughes), 2 Great White Egret both on North Pit at one stage and 26 Goosander roosted.

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 2 Redpoll [Feeders & Fishers Mill] (J&P Hughes). 

1st February

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - The 3 Ruff roosted at 4.20pm, 11 Shelduck [Jubilee Wetland] & Goosander [North Pit] (S Atkinson). 2 Stonechat [West side NP] (T Hyde).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 2 small mixed flocks of Siskin/Lesser Redpoll [Mill Plantation], 500 Corvids, mainly Jackdaw [over car park] c.200 Starling [Silt Pool] and Great White Egret roosted [Heronry] (S Atkinson). Brambling (m) on road behind car park feeders (T Hyde).


3 Ruff Jubilee Wetlands - Steve Atkinson