Thursday 31 May 2018

31st May

Birchmoor Flash - 2 Avocet, 3 Ringed Plover, Tundra Ringed Plover (A Archer).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - m&f Wigeon [North Pit].

Wednesday 30 May 2018

30th May

Birchmoor Flash - 2 Avocet (R Smith), both birds still there pm plus 2 Ringed Plover, Tundra Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck (A Archer).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Grey Plover both very vocal with one flying out North at 8.20pm whilst the other remained in the centre of Jubilee Wetlands. Also 2 Egyptian Geese and pair of Shelduck with a brood of 4.

Current Flooding Status
KWP - Broomey Croft and Canal Pools - Unaffected by the flooding
KWP - Cliff Pool - All islands have been fully submerged with vegetation on the central one now visible. The few surviving BH Gull chicks are on the river bank.
Southern Meadow - Back to normal
Fishers Mill - Water levels high - BH Gull chicks everywhere. 
Jubilee Wetlands - Division bank has reappeared. Scrapes will remain flooded until sluices are opened.
North Pit - Almost back to normal.
All paths accessible although some standing water between the screens and down the east side.

Tuesday 29 May 2018

29th May

Birchmoor Flash - 2 Avocet still (J Morgan)
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Turnstone, Grey Plover, 6 Redshank, 2 Common Tern, 4 Oystercatcher & drake Wigeon (A Bladon, S Atkinson).

Monday 28 May 2018

28th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - At one point this morning there were 11 species of wader on East Scrape - Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin (Alpina), Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Avocet, Snipe & fly over Oystercatcher. Mid afternoon 2 Dunlin [West Scrape] (M Whalley] and late evening Turnstone and Grey Plover still (A Hyde).
Birchmoor Flash - Avocet (dont know who found it - so R Smith, A Archer & @ladywalknature). Later 2 Avocet (A Archer).
Turnstone - RSPB Middleton East Scrape
Yesterday's torrential rain has had tragic consequences on the breeding birds throughout the valley. Ladywalk is inaccessible, I'm told the islands on KWP Cliff Pool have gone and Middleton is just one lake with the river flowing directly into Southern Meadow, Fishers Mill and Jubilee. Most if not all ground nests have been lost. This year there have been two pairs of breeding Avocet with eggs due to hatch today and on the 8th of June. Both nests are now several feet under. On the same date last year after spells of heavy rain two nest were lost although one is believed to have been predated. Neither pair attempted a second clutch so it's doubtful this year's birds will especially as they are already late due to the previous flood. Let's keep our fingers crossed though as you never know.
RSPB Middleton East Scrape - Where all the action was this morning. What a difference in just a few hours

Sunday 27 May 2018

27th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover [East Scrape], 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Egyptian Goose & Cuckoo (R Strong) - Rob managed 76 Species 6-11am including all 10 Warblers. Turnstone 1.50pm [West Scrape] (C Clements). Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover still present at dusk plus Dunlin (possible Alpina race).
Birchmoor Flood - Sanderling (R Smith). Later - summer plumage Grey Plover (new bird), Golden Plover, 22+ Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, Sanderling still, Common Sandpiper & Red Kite (A Archer).
Turnstone - RSPB Middleton West Scrape
The Middleton Grey Plover is almost certainly the same bird that was at Birchmoor yesterday afternoon. 

Saturday 26 May 2018

26th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Sanderling [West Scrape], Greenshank [Jubilee North], female Blue-Headed Wagtail type with Yellow Wagtail [East Scrape], female Wigeon, Drake Teal (T Perrins). Tonight Grey Plover [East Scrape] and Greenshank & Sanderling still present.
Birchmoor Flood - Sanderling, Little Stint & several Yellow Wagtail (S Haynes). Later 2 Sanderling & Oystercatcher (B Duckhouse) and by 3pm Grey Plover had joined them (A Archer).

Sanderling - RSPB Middleton West Scrape
Grey Plover - RSPB Middleton East Scrape

Friday 25 May 2018

25th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Jubilee Wetlands] (S Atkinson & J Harris) also 2 Sanderling, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and Greenshank (S Atkinson & RSPB). No further sightings of WR Sandpiper after 1.30pm but Sanderling and Greenshank still present this evening although water levels rising rapidly.
Birchmoor Flood - 2 Sanderling am (R Smith) still present late afternoon plus Little Stint, Common Sandpiper and 4 Yellow Wagtail (A Archer).
White-Rumped Sandpiper - Steve Atkinson

Thursday 24 May 2018

24th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Greenshank & 38 Swift [Jubilee Wetlands], 66 Swift [Dosthill Lake] (S Atkinson), Cuckoo [Dosthill NR] (M Scott). Female Wigeon still on JW.
KWP South - Red Kite heading North East (J Scragg), Black Tern [Bodymoor Heath Water] (M Pollock).
KWP North - 6 Black Tern reported at 10.38am [Cliff Pool] (per S Cawthray).

Wednesday 23 May 2018

23rd May

KWP South - 30+ Swift, 20+ Swallow & just a couple of House Martin [Hemlingford Water], 6 Common Tern [Bodymoor Heath Water] (M Pollock).
Birchmoor flood - 2 Common Sandpiper & Dunlin (J Morgan), this evening Turnstone circled and headed North East, Dunlin still, Red Kite & Hobby (A Archer).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Greenshank, Cuckoo & Egyptian Goose (R Baker).

Tuesday 22 May 2018

22nd May

Birchmoor - Dunlin & Common Sandpiper (R Smith). Birds still present later in the day plus Yellow Wagtail (M Scott).
KWP/RSPB Middleton - Osprey through heading North (S Cawthray, RSPB).

Monday 21 May 2018

21st May

Struggling to find any news from the valley. Several Black Terns passed through the region today so keep an eye out for them tomorrow. Who knows may even get a White-Winged Tern. 

Sunday 20 May 2018

20th May

Dordon - Red Kite (J Morgan).
Birchmoor - Red Kite, Yellow Wagtail and possible Common Sandpiper (M Scott).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Yellow Wagtail, 3 Little Ringed Plover & 9 Ringed Plover including a group of 6 which headed off North.
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Cuckoo [play meadow].
Alvecote - Little Tern [Mill Pool] (R Smith).

Saturday 19 May 2018

19th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover & 3 Egyptian Geese (S Atkinson), Snipe, drake Teal, Hobby, Mediterranean Gull and Cuckoo (G Williams).
Birchmoor - Ruff (R Smith).

Friday 18 May 2018

18th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Mediterranean Gull & 2 Hobby (S Cawthray), drake Teal and female Wigeon still.

Thursday 17 May 2018

17th May

Birchmoor - Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith), Little Stint evening (A Archer) Also 3 Yellow Wagtail.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Black Tern, Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover [Jubilee Wetlands], pair Goosander [river] (S Atkinson), 2 Cuckoo & Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill] (C Workman).

Wednesday 16 May 2018

16th May

KWP - Minimum of 413 Black-Headed Gull nests & Cuckoo [Cliff & Canal Pools], 4 Oystercatcher [Bodymoor Heath Water] (S Haynes).
Shustoke Res - Hobby (S Haynes).
Birchmoor - Sanderling in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Wheatear, 3 Egyptian Geese, female Wigeon [Jubilee Wetlands], pair Goosander [river], 1-2 Cuckoo (G Williams).

Tuesday 15 May 2018

15th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Dunlin, 2 Hobby, 4 Ringed Plover, 8 Common Tern, Egyptian Goose (S Atkinson), Yellow Wagtail & Mediterranean Gull.
KWP Cliff Pool - Cuckoo
Alvecote - 2 Raven, 2 Common Tern and Wigeon still (M Scott).

Monday 14 May 2018

14th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 4 Dunlin [Jubilee Wetlands] (K Sargent).

Sunday 13 May 2018

13th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover [Jubilee Wetlands], Pochard & Egyptian Goose [Dosthill NR] (R Strong), 3 Hobby over & drake Goosander on [River] (C Hiles), Snipe [East Screen] & Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill].
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - c.3 Cuckoo [Fishers Mill and River area] (R Strong).
Shustoke Res - Yellow Wagtail (P Forbes).
Alvecote - Avocet [Mill Pool] & Dunlin [Railway Pool] (F Savage per @birdsofalvecote).

Saturday 12 May 2018

12th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Ringed Plover  Marsh Harrier 7.15am [over Jubilee Wetlands] (S Atkinson) - this is a different bird to the one seen on the 5th. Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill] and Cuckoo (M Cottingham).
KWP South - Arctic Tern and 4 Common Tern [Bodymoor Heath Water], Cuckoo [Mill Meadow] (M Pollock).
KWP Cliff Pool - Common Sandpiper (T Perrins).
Birchmoor - 12 Yellow Wagtail & 3 Little Ringed Plover (R Smith).

Friday 11 May 2018

11th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover, Mediterranean Gull & 2 Yellow Wagtail (P Forbes). TEMMINCK'S STINT 1.30pm [West Screen], Greenshank (J&P Hughes), Whinchat [between screens] (R Pugh). Dunlin and an increase in Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover numbers.
Shustoke Res - 300+ Swift and 200+ Hirundines (P Forbes).

Temminck's Stint was still present at dusk and on Jubilee Wetlands South, best viewed from between the screens.

Thursday 10 May 2018

10th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage, Bar-Tailed Godwit (RSPB), Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover & 2 Little Ringed Plover (S Atkinson) [all Jubilee Wetlands], Egyptian Goose & Cuckoo [Dosthill NR] (C Workman), Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill]. Grey Plover and Bar-Tailed Godwit still present late evening plus Barn Owl (T Perrins).
KWP Cliff Pool - 4 Ringed Plover per log book

Wednesday 9 May 2018

9th May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage [back on North Pit], 10 Ringed Plover, 2+ Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Cuckoo & Common Sandpiper  [Jubilee Wetlands] (J Sirrett), 2 Mediterranean Gull (M Scott). Grey Plover still present 6pm (R Walker).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Goosander on the river - Where were you Saturday?
Dosthill Lake (Waterski Pools) - 50+ Swift, Male Pochard and 2 Common Tern (M Scott).
KWP Cliff Pool - 4 Ringed Plover per log book

Tuesday 8 May 2018

8th May

Birchmoor - 2 Wheatear in flooded field (J Morgan).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage (G A Williams & P Andrews), Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover [All Jubilee Wetlands] & Mediterranean Gull [Fishers Mill] (S Atkinson).

Monday 7 May 2018

7th April

Birchmoor - 2 Avocet in flooded field before flying North West (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Grey Plover in summer plumage [North Pit] (@BirderAlrewas). imm  Little Gull (G Williams).

Sunday 6 May 2018

6th May

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - Marsh Tit [Fishers Mill/Mill Plantation] (D Hutton).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Osprey [Dosthill NR at 7.40am] (C Lee & M Royston).
Wishaw Blindpit Lane - Golden Plover (G A Williams).

Saturday 5 May 2018

5th May

RSPB MIDDLETON ALL DAYER
TOTAL =  95 (updated 20:00)
Green - Seen
Red - Not Seen

1             Arctic Tern
2             Avocet
3             Barn Owl
4             Barnacle Goose
5             Bar-tailed Godwit
6             Black Tern
7             Blackbird
8             Blackcap
9             Black-headed Gull
10           Black-tailed Godwit
11           Blue Tit
12           Bullfinch
13           Buzzard
14           Canada Goose
15           Carrion Crow
16           Cetti's Warbler
17           Chaffinch
18           Chiffchaff
19           Coal Tit
20           Collared Dove
21           Common Gull
22           Common Sandpiper
23           Common Tern
24           Coot
25           Cormorant
26           Corn Bunting
27           Cuckoo
28           Curlew
29           Dunlin
30           Dunnock
31           Egyptian Goose
32           Feral Pigeon
33           Fieldfare
34           Gadwall
35           Garden Warbler
36           Garganey
37           Goldcrest
38           Goldfinch
39           Goosander
40           Grasshopper Warbler
41           Great Black-backed Gull
42           Great Crested Grebe
43           Great Spotted Woodpecker
44           Great Tit
45           Great White Egret
46           Green Sandpiper
47           Green Woodpecker
48           Greenfinch
49           Greenshank
50           Grey Heron
51           Grey Plover
52           Grey Wagtail
53           Greylag Goose
54           Herring Gull
55           Hobby
56           House Martin
57           House Sparrow
58           Jack Snipe
59           Jackdaw
60           Jay
61           Kestrel
62           Kingfisher
63           Lapwing
64           Lesser Black-backed Gull
65           Lesser Redpoll
66           Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
67           Lesser Whitethroat
68           Linnet
69           Little Egret
70           Little Grebe
71           Little Gull
72           Little Owl
73           Little Ringed Plover
74           Long-tailed Tit
75           Magpie
76           Mallard
77           Marsh Harrier
78           Meadow Pipit
79           Mediterranean Gull
80           Mistle Thrush
81           Moorhen
82           Mute Swan
83           Nightingale
84           Nuthatch
85           Osprey
86           Oystercatcher
87           Peregrine
88           Pheasant
89           Pied Wagtail
90           Pintail
91           Pochard
92           Raven
93           Red Kite
94           Red-legged Partridge
95           Redshank
96           Redstart
97           Redwing
98           Reed Bunting
99           Reed Warbler
100         Ringed Plover
101         Robin
102         Rook
103         Roseate Tern
104         Ruddy Duck
105         Ruff
106         Sand Martin
107         Sanderling
108         Sedge Warbler
109         Shelduck
110         Short-eared Owl
111         Shoveler
112         Siskin
113         Skylark
114         Snipe
115         Song Thrush
116         Sparrowhawk
117         Spotted Flycatcher
118         Starling
119         Stock Dove
120         Swallow
121         Swift
122         Tawny Owl
123         Teal
124         Tree Sparrow
125         Treecreeper
126         Tufted Duck
127         Turnstone
128         Turtle Dove
129         Water Rail
130         Wheatear
131         Whimbrel
132         Whinchat
133         Whitethroat
134         Wigeon
135         Willow Tit
136         Willow Warbler
137         Wood Pigeon
138         Wood Sandpiper
139         Wood Warbler
140         Wren
141         Yellow Wagtail
142         Yellowhammer

Friday 4 May 2018

4th May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper & 3 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) -  Mediterranean Gull (2nd Year) [Fishers Mill] (P Forbes).  3+ Red Kite, 6 Buzzard & 2 Hobby (T Perrins).
Shustoke Res - Little Ringed Plover (J Kenny). 
Wishaw - Wheatear near rusty roller (C Hiles).

Thursday 3 May 2018

3rd May

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 (2m&f) Wheatear, Whinchat [2 benches North Pit], Cuckoo, Mediterranean Gull [looks like new bird - black in primaries] (C Workman), 2 Dunlin, Goosander (S Atkinson), Hobby (T Hyde), Peregrine (@6NAM8), 2 Yellow Wagtail late evening.
Birchmoor - 3 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).

Wednesday 2 May 2018

2nd May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover & 5 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Wood Sandpiper & Dunlin [West Scrape from screen] (S Pick). 2 Whinchat (S Cawthray), 3 Wheatear [All 5 West Side of JW], 7 Avocet none of which were the French ringed bird, 4 Dunlin (S Atkinson), 2 Dunlin [Jubilee Wetlands], Red Kite [over North Pit], Cuckoo [Dosthill NR] (G Busby) - No sign of Wood Sandpipers this afternoon.
KWP South - 8 Arctic Terns [Bodymoor Heath Water], 2 Common Sandpiper & c.300 Hirundines [Hemlingford Water] (S Cawthray). At least 3 Arctic with 18 Common at 6.30pm (C Doyle).
Wishaw - 3 Wheatear & 2 Yellow Wagtail (C Hiles).
Junction 9 M42 Dunton Island - Marsh Harrier (f) over KSD Aggregates 6.45pm (C Doyle).
Shustoke Res - Common Sandpiper (R Walker).
Alvecote - Common Sandpipe & Garden Warbler (M Scott).
Tamworth Wilnecote - 2 Red Kite over A5 Morrisons roundabout (E Pick)

Wood Sandpiper - RSPB Middleton

Tuesday 1 May 2018

1st May

Birchmoor - Ringed Plover & 5 Little Ringed Plover in flooded field (R Smith).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - Dunlin, Ruff, Wheatear (f), Common Sandpiper, 50 Swift (RSPB), 2 Hobby (B Duckhouse), Whinchat (R Going), 2 Egyptian Geese, Cuckoo [Jubilee Wetlands], 2 Yellow Wagtail [North Pit] (M Scott).
Wishaw - 2 Wheatear [Blindpit Lane] (D Baker), 4 Wheatear [Lower Wishaw Lane] (S Cawthray).
Alvecote - Little Ring Plover [Pretty Pigs Pools], Common Sandpiper & Garganey [Mill Pool] (R Smith).