31th January

Dosthill Lake (Water Ski Pool) - 6 Oystercatcher (S Atkinson).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Raven, 4 Shelduck, 11 Goldeneye, 2 Egyptian Geese (S Atkinson], 2 Pintail [Jubilee], 3 Great Egret roosted riverside with 10 Little Egret.
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) -  6 Mandarin, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Peregrine (D Eaton).
KWP North & South - Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 4 Oystercatcher, 23 Pochard, 17 Goldeneye, Goosander, 2 Egyptian Geese, Common Gull (C Waring).

29th January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Mill Plantation] (RSPB).
Lea Marston - Rose-ringed Parakeet (R Walker).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Mandarin, 2 Willow Tit (R Walker).

28th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 9 Shelduck, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Great Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese (S Atkinson].

27th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, 8 Shelduck, 7 Goldeneye, Great Egret [Jubilee], 9 Shelduck, Goldeneye [North Pit] (K Sargent].
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern 4.45pm, 2 Mandarin, 3 Goosander, 3 Shelduck,Peregrine (S Cawthray).

26th January

KWP North - Ruff, Great Egret, 4 Oystercatcher (Cliff Pool), 31 Pochard, c250 Lapwing, 5 Goldeneye (C Waring), 2 Green Sandpiper on Cliff pool late afternoon.
Lea Marston - 41 Pochard, 20 Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, 3 Chiffchaff (D Hutton).
Shustoke Res - 3 Pochard, Goldeneye, 11 Goosander, 2 Common Gull (J Kenny).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Goldeneye, 2 Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Great Black-backed Gull [Jubilee], 15 Goosander [North Pit], 5 Great Egret roosted riverside.

25th January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Great Egret & 12 Little Egret left the Heronry at dawn (D Corfield)
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Stonechat, 3 Goldeneye (D Corfield), 2 Pintail, 3 Great Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull [Jubilee].
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 3 Peregrines (S Allison).

24th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Great Egret, 5 Little Egret, 2 Pintail, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Water Rail, 7 Shelduck (D Corfield), 4 Redpoll [Dosthill NR], 3 Oystercatcher [Jubilee] (S Atkinson).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern (P Lichfield), Knot (J&P Fincham) - both birds on B Pool.

Bittern at Ladywalk NR - Peter Lichfield

23rd January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern [B pool] (A Powell), 2 Mandarin, Pochard, 2 Little Egret [Main Pool], Peregrine [car park] (P Lichfield), 4 Woodcock [2 B hide, 2 woodyard] (J&P Fincham, S Cawthray).

22nd January

Alvecote - Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 3 Goosander, Shelduck. Also Peregrine [Robeys Lane] (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern on B pool at 16:40 (S Allison).

21st January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern roosted on B pool (P Softley), 3 Peregrine [car park], Siskin, Willow Tit (P Lichfield), 2 Mandarin, 5 Egyptian Geese, 5 Goosander (R King).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, 4 Shelduck, 5 Goosander, 7 Goldeneye (S Atkinson), Great Egret, 15 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher [Jubilee] (RSPB).
Dosthill Lake (Water Ski Pool) - 3 Oystercatcher (S Atkinson).
Alvecote - 3 Goosander, Great Egret, 3 Little Egret (M Scott).

20th January

KWP South - 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (ad + 2W), 9 Goldeneye, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Goosander (A Dean).
Lea Marston - drake Scaup, 16 Shelduck (A Dean).
Alvecote - Pink-footed Goose [Pretty Pigs Pool], Goldeneye [Mill Pool](R Smith).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members Only) - 3 Bittern at dusk - all seen together (P Softley).

19th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Peregrine, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit (M Smith).

18th January

Shustoke Res - 10 Egyptian Geese, 2 Goldeneye (P Forbes).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 4 Great Egret left the Heronry at dawn (D Corfield).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, 4 Goldeneye, 4 Egyptian Geese 3 Water Rail, 2 Stonechat, 7 Shelduck (D Corfield), Oystercatcher (R Walker). 6 Great Egret roosted riverside and Great Black-backed Gull in the roost on Jubilee.
KWP - 2 Oystercatcher, Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Goldeneye, c10 Pochard (R Walker).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern roosted on B pool at 16:45 (S Allison, J Allen). Also Curlew calling [Eon Meadow], Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [Riverwalk] (P Softley), Peregrine, Willow Tit (S Cawthray).
Lea Marston - drake Scaup, 56 Pochard (D Hutton).

The Scaup has now been present since 25th November 2019 commuting between KWP South, Coton and Lea Marston Lakes. The full moult history since it arrived can be found on Alan Dean's blog - link below.

http://deanar.org.uk/general/localgallery/wildfowl/scaup.htm

17th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Hen Harrier (f) [Dosthill NR], 4 Egyptian Geese, 6 Shelduck, Great Egret, 2 Goldeneye, Common Gull (S Atkinson).

16th January

KWP- 65 species seen including - Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Egyptian Geese, Snipe, Great Egret, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 15 Pochard, 12 Goldeneye, 7 Goosander, 6 Little Egret (C Waring).
Alvecote - Great Egret (M Scott).

15th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Great Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Water Rail, 8 Shelduck, 2 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Raven (D Corfield).
RSPB Middleton (Warks - 2 Willow Tit [Southern Meadow] (D Corfield).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern roosted B pool 16:40 (P Softley)

14th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Firecrest [car park], 2 Willow Tit, 3 Redpoll, 23 Siskin, Woodcock over, 10 Egyptian Geese, 2 Peregrine, (P Softley).

13th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) -  3 Lesser Redpoll, c10 Shelduck, Peregrine (R Walker), 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Egret, Pintail (f) [Jubilee], 2 Goosander [North Pit] (K Sargent), 6 Shelduck, Raven (S Atkinson), 6 Siskin (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Great Egret, 2 Little Egret (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 10 Egyptian Geese, 12 Shelduck (P Softley).

12th January

KWP North - 4 Great Black-backed Gulls through, 5 Shelduck, Snipe, 6 Little Egret, 9 Pochard, 7 Goldeneye (C Waring).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Great Egret, Water Rail,  4 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Stonechat (D Corfield).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Marsh Tit [Mill Plantation], Lesser Spotted Woodpecker [through feeder pool], Red kite [over hall] (D Corfield).
Alvecote - Great White Egret, 3 Little Egret (M Scott).

11th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Cattle Egret (4pm), 2 Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Goldeneye [Jubilee], 4 Shelduck [North Pit], 2 Pochard [Fishers Mill], 3 Great Egret roosted riverside.

10th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) -  Bittern from B hide at midday (A Powell) and a second bird flew into B pool at dusk, 2 Willow Tit, 9 Shelduck, 10 Pochard, 6 Goosander, 4 Mandarin, 4 Egyptian Geese (P Softley)
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Great Egret, 7 Little Egret, 90 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, 3 Water Rail, Stonechat, 6 Redpoll (D Corfield), 2 Green Sandpiper, 10 Goosander [North Pit], 5 Great Egret roosted riverside.

9th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Willow Tit, 9 Pochard, 4 Shelduck, 5 Goosander, 2 Little Egret (P Lichfield), Bittern [B Pool 4pm], 7 Mandarin, Siskin, Redpoll, 2 Peregrine (S Cawthray).

8th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese [Jubilee], Great Egret, 2 Goosander [North Pit], Great Egret [Dosthill NR], 2 Pochard, Water Rail, 4 Goldeneye, 5 Cetti's Warbler (S Atkinson).

7th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern, 8 Pochard (P Softley).
Coton - 21 Shelduck, 51 Pochard, 1121 Tufted, 7 Goosander, 56 Shoveler, 120 Teal, 262 Mallard, 250 Wigeon, 165 Gadwall 168 Mute Swan, 28 Canada Geese, 105 Greylag Geese (P Forbes).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 27 Little Egret and 2 Great Egret roosted in the Heronry, 2 Woodcock through (RSPB).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 19 Little Egret in the riverside roost (RSPB).

6th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Bittern, 10 Egyptian Geese, Willow Tit, 5 Pochard (P Softley).
Tameside NR - Redshank, 22 Lapwing,  Little Egret, Goosander (M Scott).

5th January

RSPB Middleton - 7 Pochard [Fishers Mill], Great Egret, Pintail, 2 Goldeneye [Jubilee], 4 Goosander [river], 4 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR] (K Sargent).

4th January

RSPB Middleton - 3 (m,2f) Pintail [Jubilee].
Alvecote - Great Egret, Little Egret (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 6 Mandarin (J Holian).
Coton & Lea Marston - 14 Shelduck, 76+ Pochard, 2 Chiffchaff (D Hutton).

3rd January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Shelduck [Hall Lake], Raven (S Atkinson), Bittern [Fishers Mill] (D Corfield), 28 Little Egret roosted in the Heronry but no Great Whites.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese, Shelduck [Jubilee], Great Egret [North Pit], 3 Goldeneye (S Atkinson) - later 3 Pintail, Woodcock, 3 Pochard, Water Rail, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Redpoll (D Corfield).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 FIRECREST behind Riverwalk hide , 4 Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, 3 Redpoll, (P Softley), Peregrine, 2 Raven, 2 Mandarin (P Forbes).

2nd January

RSPB Middleton - 20 Goldeneye, Great Egret (S Atkinson), 3 Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese, 9 Little Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gulls, 8 Pochard (M Smiles).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - FIRECREST between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides (possibly 2 birds) also Bittern on B pool, 5 Mandarin, 7 Egyptian Geese, 4 Snipe (P Softley, S Cawthray, D Eaton).

1st January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 3 Peregrine, Oystercatcher (K Whiston).
KWP North - Great Egret [Otter Pool], 5 Goldeneye, 3 Little Egret (C Waring).
KWP South - Scaup, 6 Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Yellow-legged Gull (A Dean).
Coton - 13 Goosander, 3 Chiffchaff (A Dean).
Lea Marston - 12 Shelduck (A Dean).
RSPB Middleton - 3 Pintail, 15 Goldeneye, 8 Pochard, 5 Shelduck, Great Egret, 5 Little Egret (M Smiles), 44 Golden Plover through, 3 Egyptian Geese, Stonechat (J Owen), 13 Goosander (North Pit), 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls (Jubilee) and 5 Great Egret roosted riverside.

Happy New Year - Thanks again for all your sightings from last year. Much appreciated and makes the blog well worthwhile.

The RSPB Middleton year total finished on 157. This was 10 less than the previous year with the winners and losers when compared to 2018 as follows:-

Additions                                  Omissions

Kittiwake                                   Common Crane

Little Stint                                  Firecrest

Little Tern                                  Glossy Ibis

Redstart                                    Green-winged Teal

Ring Ouzel                                Hawfinch

Wryneck                                    Little Owl

                                                  Long-eared Owl

                                                  Marsh Tit

                                                  Pied Flycatcher

                                                  Red-crested Pochard

                                                  Short-eared Owl

                                                  Siberian Chiffchaff

                                                  Spoonbill

                                                  Spotted Crake

                                                  White-fronted Goose

                                                  White-rumped Sandpiper