31st July

Shustoke Res - Black-necked Grebe, Common Sandpiper (P Forbes), 2 drake Common Scoter (S Cawthray).
Birchmoor - Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 4 Red-legged Partridge (M Scott).

30th July

RSPB Middleton  - Great Egret (D Chetwynd), Wood Sandpiper [North Pit], 10+ Green Sandpiper, 3+ Common Sandpiper ,Garganey, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 + 3 juv Egyptian Geese, Little Ringed Plover (D Corfield, C Waring).

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Garganey, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, 10 Little Egret, 1 pos 2 juv Cuckoo (P Softley)

29th July

RSPB Middleton  - juv Mandarin [North Pit], 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper (M Smiles), late morning - Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 + 3 juv Egyptian Geese (M Scott).

Shustoke Res - Black-necked Grebe, 4 Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Hobby (P Forbes).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Garganey, 9 Little Egret (P Lichfield, K Bentley), juv Cuckoo (P Softley), 3 Hobby (P Forbes).

Black-necked Grebe at Shustoke Res - Sean Allison

28th July

Shustoke Res - Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Hobby, Raven (P Forbes).

KWP Bodymoor Heath Water -  at least 2+ Arctic Terns among 30 + Commons (T Perrins).

RSPB Middleton  - Garganey [North Pit], 6 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper (M Smiles), Afternoon - 2 Garganey (North Pit & West Scrape], 7 Dunlin, 5 Green Sandpiper.
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Redshank, 10 Little Egret (P Softley).

Garganey - North Pit at RSPB Middleton

27th July

RSPB Middleton  - 6 Snipe, 2 Dunlin [East Scrape], Ringed Plover [West Scrape], 3 Little Ringed Plover [North Pit], 7 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper (S Atkinson), Afternoon - 5 Dunlin ( S Atkinson), Mediterranean Gull [Jubilee Wetland] ( M Smiles), Evening - Bittern [Fishers Mill].

Alvecote - 2 Turnstone & Dunlin through Mill Pool (A Archer), 3 Little Egret (M Scott).

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2  Green Sandpiper, Garganey, 8 Little Egret, Peregrine, Little Ringed Plover (P Softley).

Shustoke Res - Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Sandpiper (P Forbes).

26th July

RSPB Middleton - Garganey (Jubilee), 3 Black-tailed Godwit [North Pit], Common Sandpiper, 7 Green Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, Redshank (M Smiles), Red Kite (S Nikols).

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 3  Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 3 imm Goosander (P Lichfield).

25th July

RSPB Middleton  - 9 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, Redshank (M Smiles)
KWP - Red Kite, 2 Hobby (J Scragg)

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 5  Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover. 5 juv Goosander, Oystercatcher (P Lichfield).

24th July

RSPB Middleton  - Female Marsh Harrier [Fishers Mill], 3 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit (T Barter), Evening - 3 Common Sandpiper [West Scrape], 4 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, 6 Black-tailed Godwits (5 dropped in at 8.15pm and were soon joined by the lone bird) [all on East Scrape].

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 5  Green Sandpiper, 5 juv Goosander, Oystercatcher (P Softley).

Alvecote - 8 (7 +1 juv) Black Tern [Mill Pool], 2 Black-tailed Godwit (M Scott), Whinchat [between Teal Pool and river] (A Archer).

23rd July

RSPB Middleton  - 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Snipe, 2 Greenshank (D Corfield) also 4 + 3 juv Egypian Geese, 22 Common Tern (S Atkinson).
Shustoke Res - juv Peregrine (P Forbes).

22nd July

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Garganey, 2  Green Sandpiper, Redstart, Dunlin, Wigeon, Peregrine (P Softley).
RSPB Middleton  - 7 Little Ringed Plover [West Scrape], Dunlin [Jubilee South], 2 Green Sandpiper [East Scrape].

21st July

RSPB Middleton  - 2 Whimbrel, Great Egret & Dunlin reported.

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Egret, Wigeon, Peregrine (P Lichfield).

20th July

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Greenshank, Curlew, 5 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, 3 + 3 young Egyptian Geese, 2 Shelduck [Jubilee & Scrapes], Green Sandpiper [North Pit] (S Atkinson, M Smiles), 2nd Greenshank [Jubilee] (T Perrins). Late evening 7 Little Ringed Plover [West Scrape].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Green Sandpiper [Hall Lake] (T Perrins).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Garganey, 2 Hobby, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 8 Little Egret  (P Lichfield).

19th July

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) -  Garganey, Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Peregrine, Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets (B Eaton). Dunlin  through, 7 Little Egrets (P Softley).
RSPB Middleton - Little Tern on Jubilee North at 9am (M Wiltshire), late evening - Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 6 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3+ 3 young Egyptian Geese [East Scrape], Redshank, Little Ringed Plover [Jubilee North], 4 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe [North Pit], 2 Egyptian Geese [Fishers Mill].

18th July

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper (P Lichfield).

17th July

RSPB Middleton - Yellow-legged Gull [East Scrape], 4 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 10 Little Egret, 5 Snipe, 10 Common Tern (M Smiles), late afternoon 8 Green Sandpiper, Hobby, 2 young Shelduck (S Atkinson).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Hobby, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 5 Goosander (P Lichfield, K Bentley)

16th July

RSPB Middleton - Little Tern [Jubilee Wetlands] , Yellow-legged Gull [East Scrape], 2 Green Sandpiper (C Waring),  Dunlin, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 3 + 3 Young Egyptian Geese, Raven [Jubilee], Peregrine [Dosthill NR] 22+ Common Tern, 2 young Shelduck, 4 Green Sandpiper, 6 Little Egret (S Atkinson).

15th July

KWP  - Yellow-legged Gull (Bodymoor Heath Water), 5 Oystercatcher, Grasshopper Warbler, Willow Tit , 2 Egyptian Geese (C Waring).
Tameside NR - 2 Oystercatcher (M Scott).

14th July

RSPB Middleton - Ruff, 3 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, 2 Raven (M Smiles, D Corfield, M Pollock et al), 17 Little Egret roosted riverside.
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern [flew from B Pool at 7.30am] (C Lee, M Royston), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, Wigeon.

13th July

RSPB Middleton - Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Wigeon, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine, Raven, 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geeese (S Atkinson), Curlew, 4 Green Sandpiper [North Pit] (A Archer).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern [B Pool], Greenshank, 5 little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper (J Holian).
Alvecote - Redstart, 3 Little Egret (M Scott).

12th July

RSPB Middleton - 2 Garganey, 4 Little Egret [North Pit], Pochard (Fishers Mill) 4 Green Sandpiper,  2 Common Sandpiper (M Smiles).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Peregrine, Hobby, 5 Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper (P Lichfield, K Bentley), Garganey, Wigeon (S Frost).
KWP North - 6 Little Egret (Cliff Pool), Pochard (Canal Pool).

11th July

RSPB Middleton - 2 Garganey, Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Egret [North Pit], 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, Hobby, 4 Egyptian Geese + 3 chicks [Jubilee Wetlands] (G Williams, M Smiles et al)
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern [B Pool], 1+ Garganey, 8 Little Egret, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Wigeon (P Softley)


Must thank my Son Tom for updating the blog over the last 2 weeks as I shaved 3 days off my 40 year old Pennine Way PB which now stands at 11 days. Good to see Curlew, Golden Plover & Wheatear close up on their breeding grounds.

10th July

RSPB Middleton - Knot [River Scrape], Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Snipe [Jubilee Wetlands], Great Egret, Little Egret [North Pit] (K Sargent). Afternoon additions - Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, Oystercatcher (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Hobby, 2 Wigeon, Common Tern, 4 Little Egret (P Lichfield).

Knot at RSPB Middleton - Karl Sargent

1 of the 2 first returning Wigeons & Hobby at Ladywalk NR - Pete Lichfield

9th July

RSPB Middleton - 2 Hobby [Dosthill NR], 5 Green Sandpiper, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Little Ringed Plover (1 juv), Ringed Plover, 12+ Common Tern (1 juv), Egyptian Goose, 2 Yellow Wagtails [Jubilee Wetlands], Common Sandpiper, 5 Egyptian Geese (3 young) [East Scrape], Grasshopper Warbler [West Jubilee], Hobby [North Pit] (S Atkinson).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 9 Black-tailed Godwit, Peregrine (juv), Common Tern (P Lichfield).
Shustoke - 3 Common Sandpiper, Redstart, 18 Common Tern (few juv) (P Forbes).
KWP South - Yellow-legged Gull (back for its 11th successive winter), Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, 7 Common Tern [Bodymoor Heath Water] (A Dean).
Alvecote - Hobby, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 60+ Swift, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Little Egret (M Scott).

8th July

RSPB Middleton - 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 5 Common Tern, (D Corfield), 2 Dunlin, 5 Green Sandpiper, Ringer Plover, 3 Little Ringer Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Goose [Jubilee Wetlands] (S Atkinson). Afternoon additions - 2 Ringed Plovers, Garganey, 4 Little Egret (D Bate).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Dunlin, 2 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 2 juvenile Peregrine (P Lichfield, P Sofley).

One of the 3 Grasshopper Warblers at RSPB Middleton - Steve Atkinson

7th July

RSPB Middleton - Mediterranean Gull (juv) [over canal], Sparrowhawk [Fishers Mill], Garganey, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, Snipe [Jubilee Wetlands], 3 Little Egret (including ringed bird) [East Scrape], Grey Wagtail [West Scrape] (M Smiles), 2 Green Sandpiper [North Pit] (C Clements), Grasshopper Warbler [nr. West Scrape] (Many obs).
KWP - Yellow-legged Gull (C Waring).
Alvecote - Redstart (R Smith).

6th July

RSPB Middleton - Little Egret (ringed) [East Scrape], 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Egyptian Goose (3 young), Green Sandpiper, 6 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Teal (3m), 8 Oystercatcher [Jubilee Wetlands], 3 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper [North Pit], Grasshopper Warbler [between screens], 2 Raven, 3 Common Tern (Steve Atkinson). Afternoon additions - Garganey [West Scrape], Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 3 Green Sandpiper [Jubilee Wetlands], Green Sandpiper [North Pit], 2 Little Egret (M Smiles), 3 Green Sandpiper [Hall Lake] (T Perrins).
Alvecote - Redstart (R Smith).

Little Egret with rings - Steve Atkinson

The ringed Little Egret today at RSPB Middleton is the same bird that was at Sandwell Valley on 16th & 17th June and originally ringed as a nestling at Walthamstow Wetlands on 23rd May 2018 by Southern Colour Ringing Group (NTGG).

5th July

RSPB Middleton - 2 Garganey [North Pit], 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Green Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, 4 Little Egret, Grasshopper Warbler [nr. West Screen] (M Smiles).
Alvecote - Redstart (R Smith).

4th July

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Garganey (f), 2 Little Egret (H King).
Birchmoor Flash - Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover (4 juv) (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton - 10 Black-tailed Godwit [East Scrape], 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Egyptian Goose, Little Egret [West Scrape], 2 Raven overhead (J Hexall), 3 Greenshank, Snipe, Ringed Plover, 2 Grasshopper Warbler (D Corfield).

3rd July

RSPB Middleton - 27 Black-tailed Godwit [East Scrape], 5 Green Sandpiper, Mandarin (juv) [North Pit], 2 Ringed Plover [Jubilee Wetlands] (D Corfield & M Smiles).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 5 Garganey, Hobby, 2 Lapwing (juv) [B Pools], 2 Green Sandpiper [1 Bay, 1 River], 4 Lapwing (juv) [Main Pool] (P Sofley).
Birchmoor Flash - Green Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover (4 juv) (R Smith).

2nd July

RSPB Middleton - Wood Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper [Jubilee Wetlands], 4 Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper [North Pit] (M Smiles).
Birchmoor Flash - Green Sandpiper (R Smith).

1st July

RSPB Middleton - Spotted Redshank [West Scrape], 6 Black-tailed Godwit, Garganey [East Scrape] (RSPB). Later, 36+ Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper [Jubilee Wetlands] (T Perrins).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 4 Garganey, 6 Teal, 5 Shoveler, Little Ringed Plover, 18 Lapwing, 2 Hobby. Later, 2 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, 31 Lapwing (P Forbes), 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Little Egret (S Cawthray).
KWP Cliff Pool - 30+ Black-tailed Godwit flew over (D Wallbank)

Hobby over New Bay, Ladywalk NR (Pete Lichfield)