31st December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Woodcock [Dosthill NR], 14 Goldeneye, 11 Pochard, 6 Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, 4 Cetti's Warbler (S Atkinson). Late afternoon 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Egyptian Geese, 4 Common Gull & 3 Great Egret in the riverside roost.
KWP - DUSKY WARBLER still calling from the same location and showed briefly at around 2pm. Also Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (S Atkinson).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Peregrine, 9 Pochard, 67 Lapwing, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff (J Kenny), Willow Tit, Marsh Tit & 2 Goosander (P Softley, P Lichfield).
Shustoke Res - 17 Pochard, 8 Goosander and 3 Raven over (J Kenny).
Alvecote - Great Egret, 5 Goosander & 2 Shelduck (M Scott).

A Happy New Year to everyone and a special thanks to all who submit sightings as it makes the blog well worthwhile and continues the Tame Valley recording that Tom Perrins started some 10 years ago.

The RSPB Middleton year list finished on 167 which is 4 more than the previous year, the highlight being the White-Rumped Sandpiper found by Steve Atkinson & John Harris.

For those interested Geoff Williams and myself will attempt an all day list tomorrow at RSPB Middleton so please come and join us as we will be hard pushed to break 60.

30th December

KWP - DUSKY WARBLER calling from same location this morning (D Hutton). Showed briefly at 9am before going quiet until 1pm at least (S Nikols).
Alvecote - Great Egret, Stonechat (m), 2 Little Egret, 3 Goosander & Shelduck (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 7 Snipe, 6 Pochard, Goosander, Water Rail & Little Egret (P  Lichfield).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 11 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR], Egyptian Goose [West Side], 2 Stonechat (m&f), 5 Shelduck [Jubilee] (P Morgan). Also on JW Great Black-Backed Gull. 51 Goosander, Pintail (m) [North Pit], 4 Great Egret in riverside roost.

29th December

KWP - DUSKY WARBLER same location (T Hollier).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 4 Great Egret [Riverside roost], 53 Goosander [North Pit], 4 Goldeneye, 6 Shelduck [Jubilee Wetlands], 3 Egyptian Geese [West side] & 14 Pochard [Reedbed Pool].
Alvecote - Great Egret (R Smith)

28th December

KWP - DUSKY WARBLER still in same location (T Perrins, A Archer). Red-crested Pochard [Canal Pool].
Alvecote - Great Egret, Stonechat (R Smith).

27th December

Tamworth Tameside NR & Borrowpit - 2 Little Egret, 4 Goosander, Grey Wagtail, Water Rail, Snipe & 18 Lapwing (S Allison).
KWP - DUSKY WARBLER still [West of M42 river Tame bridge], Red-Crested Pochard [Canal Pool] (R Walker).
RSPB Middleton - Great Egret, 11 Goldeneye, 10 Pochards, 9 Goosander, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Shelduck & c.400 Lapwing (M Scott).

26th December

KWP - DUSKY WARBLER in same location but more active in the morning and the 3 idiots guys that did the early session Christmas Day were rewarded today with the bird in flight calling as it crossed the river and headed back into the reedbed. Mid morning Richard Walker managed to get the first picture of the bird and well deserved after finding it on Sunday and putting in many hours since.
KWP North - 14 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye (Cliff Pool).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 5 Stonechat, Pintail (f), 10 Pochard, Goldeneye, Egyptian Goose [Jubilee & North Pit]
Alvecote - Goldeneye (m), Snipe & 7 Goosander [M Scott].

25th December

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

KWP - DUSKY WARBLER in same location as yesterday but heard only today (P Forbes). Also in the vicinity, Great Egret, Willow Tit & 5 Chiffchaff (T Perrins).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Canal Meadow] (D Corfield).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great Egret & 2 Goosander [North Pit] (D Corfield).

24th December

Tamworth Tameside NR - Little Egret, 3 Goosander, Grey Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler & 38 Lapwing (S Allison & M Scott).
KWP - DUSKY WARBLER showed briefly this afternoon. Approx 100m North West of the M42 bridge over the river Tame (S Haynes)  - found yesterday by R Walker.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Pink-footed Goose in with Greylag on Jubilee Wetlands. Also 2 Stonechat, 4 Goosander & 7 Shelduck.
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 24 Little Egret roosted in the Heronry.

23rd December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Tawny Owl, Brambling, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Tit & 150 Lapwing (S Cawthray).
Alvecote Railway Pool - Great Egret (R Smith).
KWP - Red-crested Pochard, 2 Great Egret, 2 Willow Tit & 12 Little Egret of which 10 were on Richard's Meadow (R Walker).

22nd December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Goosander, 4 Pochard, Little Egret (P Lichfield), 292 Lapwing (JLA).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Stonechat, Goosander [North Pit], 13 Shelduck, 3 Goldeneye, 8 Pochard, 121 Lapwing, 2 Cetti's Warbler [Jubilee Wetlands], 4 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR] (S Atkinson).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 2 Cetti's Warbler & 81 Lapwing (S Atkinson).
Alvecote - Great Egret & 5 Goosander (M Scott).
KWP North - Great Egret, 3 Goldeneye, 7 Pochard [Cliff Pool], 19 Little Egret & Great Egret over [Richard's Meadow]. 16 of the Little Egret headed to the heronry roost, the remainder to the riverside roost.

21st December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Woodcock, 4 (2m,2f) Mandarin & c300 Teal (P Softley).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Stonechat, 12 Shelduck, 6 Goosander, 3 Pochard.
KWP Richards Meadow - Great Egret with 15 Little Egret.

20th December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (A Bladon), Common Gull, 3 Shelduck, Pochard, 4 Goosander (P Lichfield), Siberian Chiffchaff + 4 Common, 3 Brambling, 2 Snipe, C250 Lapwing (P Softley).
RSPB Middleton - Pink-footed Goose, Peregrine (S Haynes), Brambling [Car park] (RSPB).

19th December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Mealy Redpoll in flock of 24 Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. 2 Chiffchaff, Brambling, March Tit, Willow Tit & pair of Mandarin (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Smew [Pretty Pigs Pool], 4 Goosander (M Scott).

18th December

Alvecote - Smew, Great Egret (R Smith).

17th December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great Egret, 3 Goldeneye, Stonechat [Jubilee Wetlands] (K Sargent), Woodcock [Doshill NR] (G Williams).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Water Rail [Feeder Pool] (K Sargent), Short-Eared Owl [Southern Meadow] (RSPB Vol].
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Willow Tit, Marsh Tit & several Chiffchaff (P Lichfield).
Alvecote - Smew still [Pretty Pigs Pool], Great Egret [Gilmans Pool] (R Smith).

Water Rail at RSPB Middleton - Karl Sargent

16th December

Tamworth, Tameside NR & Borrowpit - Snipe, 5(3m2f) Goosander, 2 Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, 25 Lapwing, Grey Wagtail and also an Otter (S Allison).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, 4 Common Chiffchaff, 4 Mandarin, Willow Tit, Shelduck (S Cawthray).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Pink-footed Goose, 5 Egyptian Geese [West side field], 3 Goldeneye, Pintail (f), 5 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, Stonechat [Jubilee Wetlands], 2 Great Egret [NP & West Scrape].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Just 13 Little Egret using the Heronry roost.
KWP South - 41 Goosander [29 Hemlingford Water, 11 Bodymoor Heath Water & 1 Swan Pool] (T Perrins).
Alvecote - Smew (f) still on Pretty Pigs Pool & 2 Great Egret (R Smith).
Shustoke Res - 14 Pochard, 8 Goosander, 2 Little Egret & c220 Lapwing over (J Kenny).
Weeford, Hints Quarry - Tree Sparrow, 3 Shelduck, c30 Linnet and numerous Yellowhammer (M Scott).
Tame Valley Wetlands Walk - 70 species seen including Red Crested Pochard and Willow Tit [assumed KWP Cliff Pool] (R Walker).

14th December

KWP North - Red-Crested Pochard (f) now on Cliff Pool, Barn Owl [Richards Meadow] (G A Williams).
RSPB Middleton - drake Pintail, Goosander, 3 Great Egrets, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Stonechat (D Corfield), Cetti's Warbler (A Powell).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Siskin, 2 Shelduck, Water Rail (P Lichfield).

13th December

Ladywalk NR [WMBC Members only] - 2 Woodcock, 2 Egyptian Geese (B Eaton, P Softley).

12th December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Siberian Chiffchaff, Brambling (P Softley), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Siskin, Redpoll, Water Rail, Willow Tit & Marsh Tit (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - 2 Great Egret (R Smith).

11th December

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Bittern flew across reedbed on East side of Fishers Mill Pool at 9.50am (B Richardson per C Lee).
Alvecote - Great Egret, 3 Goosander (M Scott), Smew still [Pretty Pigs Pool] (R Smith).

10th December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Pintail, Shelduck, 4 Pochard, 2 Goosander, 3 Water Rail, 2 Woodcock, 206 Lapwing (B Eaton), c300 Cormorants roosted (P Softley).
RSPB Middleton - 5 Stonechat, 2 Great Egret, 10 Shelduck, 7 Goldeneye (RSPB).
Alvecote - Smew back again on Pretty Pigs Pool (R Smith).

9th December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Pink-footed Goose with Greylag, 4 Goosander, Great Egret [North Pit], 2 Pochard, 8 Shelduck, Goldeneye & 7 waders, probably Dunlin, through [Jubilee Wetlands], 7 Pochard, 2 Raven, 2 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR]. 29 Goosander roosted on North Pit.

8th December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Smew [North Pit] (R Walker), Bittern [Reedbed Pool], 6 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR], Water Rail [East Scrape] (D Corfield), 7 Redpoll, Siskin [Fishers Mill], Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, 6 Shelduck [Jubilee Wetlands], 2 Great Egret & 30 plus Little Egret in the riverside roost.
Alvecote - 2 Great Egret (R Smith), 4 Goosander (M Scott).

7th December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 5 Great Egret left the riverside roost this morning (RSPB).
Alvecote - Smew [Pretty Pigs Pool] (C Waring).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - (f) Pintail, 9(3m) Goosander, 2 Pochard, 2 Water Rail, Shelduck, Willow Tit & Marsh Tit (P Lichfield).

6th December

Alvecote - Smew [Pretty Pigs Pool], Great Egret, 2 Little Egret  (M Scott).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 8 (4m) Goosander [North Pit], Stonechat, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Pochard, 5 Shelduck, 3 Cetti's Warbler [Jubilee Wetlands], 4 Great Egret roosted riverside with 50 Little Egret. Gull roost on JW now containing 1000+ birds (S Atkinson).

5th December

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Siberian Chiffchaff plus 4 Chiffchaff along the river, 3 Brambling, 18 Redpoll & Willow Tit (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Smew, Great Egret (R Smith).

4th December

Shustoke Res - Tawny Owl (P Forbes).
KWP South - 3 Great Egret [Hemlingford Water] (R Walker).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - (f) Pintail, 4 Pochard (P Lichfield).
Alvecote - 4 Goosander, Little Egret (M Scott).

3rd December

RSPB Middleton - 2 Great Egret, Peregrine [Jubilee Wetlands], Snipe [Fishers Mill] & flock of Redpoll [canal bridge] (RSPB).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 6 Pochard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Goosander, (f) Pintail (P Lichfield).
Alvecote - 3 White-fronted Geese, Smew & 3 Great Egret (R Smith).

2nd December

Alvecote - Smew, 3 White-fronted Geese [Pretty Pigs Pool], Great Egret [Teal Pool] (S Allison, J Allen & M Scott].

2 of the 3 White-fronted Geese - Sean Allison

1st December

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great Egret, Goosander [North Pit], 2 Egyptian Geese [West Side], 3 Goldeneye, 5 Shelduck, c170 Lapwing [Jubilee] (S Atkinson). 76 Little Egret roosted with 5 Great Egret.
Alvecote - Smew (C Vaghela), 3 White-fronted Geese & Great Egret (R Smith).
KWP - Yellow-legged Gull, Red-Crested Pochard, Great Egret (R Walker).