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.

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).

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

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. 

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

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

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).

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).

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).

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.