A short video summary

The start of the year has seen a few bits turning up in Staffordshire plus a few trips to Norfolk, North Yorkshire and North Wales. Here's a quick video, ending with the Ferruginous Duck, Lapland Buntings and Pallid Harrier in Norfolk.

Green-winged Teal at Aqualate, 1w Caspian Gull at Chasewater, Ring-necked Duck at Uttoxeter, Kumlien's Gull at Barmston, Richard's Pipits on Flamborough, Surf Scoter off Filey (and I was nearly too), Ferruginous Duck at Holkham, Lapland Bunting at Blakeney FM, Pallid Harrier at Flitcham.

January 2016 - Staffs has a decent run at last

Following the new year rush, things just carried on happening. On Monday 4th January, I saw the 1w Red-necked Grebe at Trentham Gardens on my second attempt. The first attempt, although we snook in for free, ended empty handed, rushed, very wet and my car broke down. 

The following weekend I saw the wintering Pallas's Warbler in Cheshire, and in the following week, a male Black Redstart was found in Burslem of all places (my second for Burslem as I ticked the one in 1987 that sang on top of the town hall).

The county's decent start to the year continued with a brief Green-winged Teal at Aqualate Mere. I was in the hide with The Stalker and Richard Powell and we watched it fly off to the left and out of sight. Little did we know this would be its final showing.

The Aqualate Green-winged Teal

 

 The same day also produced a 1w Caspian Gull at Chasewater.

1w Caspian Gull found by Snapper Richards

Then, after deciding to pop into North Wales for Black Grouse and Hawfinch, we had to race back to Staffs and Uttoxeter Quarry where Richard Powell had found a female Ring-necked Duck.  

Ring-necked Duck at Uttoxeter Quarry

And so to the final weekend (an amazing five Saturdays this month - should happen every month and cut back on the Tuesdays in my opinion), we popped up to the East Yorkshire coast where the Kumlien's Gull had returned for its fourth winter. Having only seen one before (and I don't beyond to the One Only Club), it was nice to watch such a good example loafing about on the beach.  

Next stop was just up the coast at Flamborough. This time we visit the North Landing, a place I've only been to on the odd occasion before. The three wintering Richard's Pipits were showing quite nicely in the field by the car park.

North Landing

Richard's Pipit Flamborough Head

The final stop was on Filey Brigg for the 1w Surf Scoter. By this time, the wind had whipped up, and walking along the Brigg was quite hair raising to say the least (despite my lack of hair it was that windy it was still raised). I tried my best to find the duck, but holding the scope still was almost impossible. I couldn't understand why the birder I'd asked for directions was only carrying bins and had seen it. Then it dawn on me. The Surf Scoter was directly below me on the smoother water. It all clicked into place then.

Surf Scoter from a video grab

And then in a repeat of the previous week, we headed back to see the female Ring-necked Duck at its next venue on its tour of the county. This week it was at Tittesworth, making it my only site in Staffordshire where I've seen six Aythya species.
 

New Year 2016

It was a two day birding start to the new year. On Friday 1st, we toured Staffordshire in an attempt to see all the decent birds that remained from 2015. We started off at Westport at first light and managed a slightly below par 35 species. We headed off to Rudyard for the immature Shag which was showing again on the same blue boat.

 

Shag at Rudyard Lake - my first in North Staffs

Next was the long trip back down for the wintering Hoopoe at Wall Heath. The field is a bit muddier than last time but we didn't have to wait too long for it to show. The Whooper Swan at Whitemoor was next, along with Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow. Another pit was checked out before we ended the day at Branston GP.  

The following day, a full Clayhead trip out to Norfolk took place, where we also met up with the Clayheads No1 stalker and his crew and the annual New Year Norfolk day out bird race took place between the two teams (Sorry guys but we may have forgot to tell you about this). The Clayheads obviously won with 79 species, with the Stalkers team seeing only 34 species all day. 

First stop was at Wolfreton where eventually, the drake Golden Pheasant put on an excellent performance for us.

Golden Pheasant by PJ

It was then across to Flitcham for the PALLID HARRIER. The bird had already been seen just before we arrived, and as we parked up, they saw it again drop below the ridge. We stood and waited, seeing a large flock of Brambling in the field in front of us.

Brambling by PJ

A few numpties joined us, including one odd chap who set his scope up and immediately found a brown bird of prey sat in the field in front of us. We told him it was a Buzzard as it had been sat there all the time we'd been there. But he insisted on spotting these brown birds of prey for us. Then a ringtail Hen Harrier flew in and landed in front of us. It was called out as a Hen as it dropped in. But the Pallid observers from earlier then decided as it sat amongst the stubble that it looked like a Pallid. And as it flew off, it was called a Hen again. We decided at this point to leave due to the fact that there had probably been no confirmed sightings of the Pallid yet today.  

We popped into Chosely to see a very showy frame filling Rough-legged Buzzard before heading down to Thornham Harbour

Rough-legged Buzzard at Chosely

We saw the flock of Twite straight away, but following an assessment on the path to the SHORE LARK, we decided that it wasn't smooth enough for us to walk on, so we left it.

Twite by PJ

The day then slightly de-railed. It started drizzling frequently, and we couldn't find the Pink-foot flock at Kelling that contained the TUNDRA BEAN GEESE. The day finished at Titchwell, where a Merlin, Avocet etc were all added to the list. A Black-tailed Godwit was my 100 species - the quickest 100 I've done from the start of the year (39hrs 30mins)

One of the most memorable things about the day was the number of Barn Owls we saw. I ended up with a tally of seven birds (one en route, one Flitcham, one Docking, three at Holkham and one Titchwell for the record). The one at Flitcham was especially showy as it sat on the fence at the side of the road.  

Barn Owl by PJ

2015 - A review

A splash of colour to brighten up a dull Staffordshire winter

Staffordshire has suddenly sprung into life now its winter, and the last few weekends have been happily spent birding in the county. Its times like this when you realise the importance of having more than one list to concentrate on. I myself keep 48 different lists so I have plenty of opportunities to keep the ticks rolling in. 

It all started on 21st November when I popped into Chasewater to see the drake Red-crested Pochard. I only realised when I returned home that it was infact my first ever one at Chasewater. 

 

Red-crested Pochard at Chasewater

The following weekend following Storm Brenda, we returned to Chasewater for a Shag. CJW had never had one in Staffs before so he was over the moon when we finally had it on the dam. It was also my first at Chasewater, although I'd managed one at Blithfield and two at Gailey before.

Shag at Chasewater

On Saturday 28th November, the day was almost ruined again by another storm, this time Storm Colin. A wet day was forecast, but we decided to head down to deepest south west Staffordshire where a HOOPOE had been found. On the way down the M6, we received information that it had flown off strongly to the east. We hastily made up plan B and carried on down to Farmoor Resv. Of course the HOOPOE reappeared, but we were already well on our way to Oxfordshire. Despite the wind and rain, we managed excellent views of the Grey Phalarope as it swam just a few feet offshore. We also saw the Red-necked Grebe from the comfort of the hide on the causeway. This was a nice surprise as we assumed (incorrectly) that all the hides would be locked. 

We headed back north, driving through continuous heavy rain and arrived at Wall Heath at 14:45hrs. It was nearly dark, and we were told that the HOOPOE had just flown into a tree, possibly to roost. We grabbed just our bins and headed up the hill, not really expecting to see anything. We'd waited about half an hour when the Hoopoe suddenly reappeared, and showed very well on the grassy slope. No photos though of either bird today as it was raining most of the day, and I didn't want to get my optics wet.

And into December. I decided to return to the Hoopoe again on Saturday 5th to try and get some photos. I arrived at 11:00hrs only to find there had been no sign yet today. Hardly surprising as this week it was the turn of Storm Derek to ruin another Saturday. This time it was dry, but there were 80mph winds. My hair was a complete mess. I stuck it out for an hour, and then headed back to the car, passing Grizzly Adams on the way in. I gave him the low down, told him it was windy and off I headed.

We'd only travelled ten minutes down the road when Grizzly rang to say it had just flown back in. We screeched to a halt, slammed the car in reverse and just kept reversing all the way back to Wall Heath. I ran up the hill and there was the Hoopoe feeding away. The wind from Storm Douglas was too strong, so I had to lower the scope and (peter) crouch down. I did manage a few shots though.

And look what it's found to eat here

and another one. Wonder where that came from?

Then it was onto Chasewater and bird of the day. A RING-NECKED PARAKEET had been coming into roost for nearly two weeks now. There was a good turn out, with Messrs Jones and Richards, Chaz Mason and Clayheads No1 Stalker himself, stalking us as he always does. At just after c15:00hrs ish, I heard the call of the Ring-necked Parakeet, and like clockwork it had flown in to roost as per usual. Eventually, it settled down and sat in a bush along the main path, but it was still flying over the main lake at nearly 16:00hrs. A fine county tick, and my last easy tick has fallen. It's all down to waiting for the 90's rares to make a return visit to the county now.

PJ took this fine photo tonight.

 In the roost, "Caspo" Richards managed to find a quite perfect adult Caspian Gull, plus I saw a brief 2w Mediterranean Gull.  

Adult Caspian Gull with the 2w Mediterranean Gull to the right

 

Crag Martin in Chesterfield November 2015

At 12:30hrs on Sunday 8th November, news started filtering out that a CRAG MARTIN was circling around the crooked spire at Chesterfield. It was less than an hour and a half away, but Sunday dinner was already being prepared. I contacted CJW and he said he would wait for me until after dinner. It’s always a tricky day for me, and I wasn’t really sure that I could escape during the afternoon anyway. PJ got in touch, and eventually I persuaded them to set off straight away without waiting for me. It flew around until 12:40hrs and then flew off, returning again from 13:30hrs to 13:50hrs. CJW and PJ arrived and they waited all afternoon for it to return again, but it didn’t. 

It was a bit of a surprise that it was again present on Monday morning. I was travelling in between work locations when the news broke, and I was actually parked up at Westport. The situation at work was perfect, and I decided to go for it there and then. I was prepared anyway, and all my equipment was in the trailer behind the car. It was a very easy journey considering the time of day, and I arrived in Chesterfield at 09:40hrs. I drove straight up to the church, and as I drove past I could see the Crag Martin flying around. I managed to find my way into the town centre, and found a large turning area right by the church. It was covered in double yellow lines but I just stood by the car and managed a few more views, including once when it almost came overhead. It was still raining, and so I drove back round the front of the church, pulled up in the lay by there and waited for a further sighting, but it had drifted off again. I decided not to push my luck any further (I was after all only a phone call away from being in deep trouble!) and headed back to Stoke.   

Despite being on a late shift, CJW went on news on Tuesday morning and was succesful this time, and incredibly, the Crag Martin lingered all afternoon at the site allowing GAS to finally arrive. An unusual occasion where we all travelled separately for a tick.

Following a few days with no sign, it suddenly reappeared on Friday. I was off and so I decided to pop back to Chesterfield for seconds and try to get a photo. The sky was blue and the Crag Martin was again zipping all over the place, especially as the wind was quite strong. But I managed to get these full framers. I'm almost certain I would have had some of these shots published in Birding World, but instead I will send one off to British Birds for the front cover of the 2015 Rarity report. Magic!

      

American Golden Plover at Eyebrook Resv

On Sunday 25th October, we made our way over to Norfolk again for the second weekend running. Our target birds for this trip were the week long staying SIBERIAN STONECHAT at Caister on Sea plus any ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS in the area and the recently arrived juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Breydon Water. For CJW, it was his second trip over to East Norfolk in three days. He had successfully seen the SIBERIAN STONECHAT on Friday, along with a nice sprinkling of other scarcities. But he agreed to come with us again as there was just nowhere else better to go. Credit to him, he didn't sulk or moan once all day, nor did he say the phrases "I've not had a single year tick all day", "I've been here before" or "On Friday, I ... " many times.

We headed straight for Caister-on-Sea on the East Norfolk coast, arriving at 08:00hrs. Just outside the village, CJW had expertly spotted two Cranes feeding in a field near Billockby. We walked through the dunes and were soon watching the male Siberian Stonechat showing rather closely on the fences surrounding the golf course. The only other bird of note was a fly over Snow Bunting.  

  Caister on Sea dunes with our new friend "Dog" playing with his ball. He was actually a guide dog on his morning off!

News was a little bit slow in coming through, so we headed up to Waxham where a SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF and DARTFORD WARBLER had been seen. We wandered around a bit, walked through the dunes but there wasn't a lot of birds or birders in the area. We felt that maybe we'd peaked already, and a lot of the previous days birds had departed. A decision was made and we headed down to Breydon Water to start looking for the juv AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. We were virtually on the outskirts of Great Yarmouth when we received news that there were two GREAT GREY SHRIKES at Horsey. We'd only just driven past here. With negative news from Breydon, we handbrake turned in the carriageway and screamed our way back up to Horsey and the Nelson Head track. 

It was now late morning and the sun was out. We were amazed at what we saw next. The track down to the dunes at Horsey was packed with walkers. I know I occasionally exaggerate on this blog, but it was so busy, if you stopped to look through your bins, someone would have bumped into the back of you. We had to step aside and stand on the edge of the path or end up being swept away on the tide of Sunday walkers. 

We finally found a group of birders in the distance sitting on the dunes watching something, and with careful scanning, we found the Great Grey Shrike flying backwards and forwards in front of them. On the way back to the car, we stood and watched a ringtail Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl duelling and sparring. It was all quite pleasant.  

With no more news forthcoming, we headed up towards Leicestershire and our last stop of the day at Eyebrook. As we parked up, the moulting adult American Golden Plover had just been refound. Amazingly for CJW, it was his second American Golden Plover in three days, and even more amazinger, both were at Eyebrook, and both were moulting adults! What are the odds of that happening?

American Golden Plover on the Leicestershire / Rutlandshire border 

And so to the final week of October. I'd resigned myself to not getting a tick in October this year, but we always hoped that the magic of Teachers Week and October 31st would work again. I've had three quite decent ticks on this date in the past, and we dared to dream the same would happen this year. But in the end, it became the first time I hadn't had a tick in either September or October. With only November left, could I finally be joining the "I've had no ticks this Autumn" club?

Both myself and CJW had been off all week, but we didn't manage a single trip out at all. We decided to go out year listing again on Saturday 31st October. We were both on 249 for the year, and so we headed off for the nearest year tick to Staffordshire. We headed to Rutland Water, where all five grebes had been reported. We parked up at Barnsdale overlooking the North Arm. The two Black-necked Grebes were spotted first, along with many GCG and LG. The Red-necked Grebe took longer and was more distant, but for over an hour the SLAVONIAN GREBE eluded us. None of the birders around us had seen it either except for one gentleman who had been watching it while we were stood there, close in to the shore......indeed. 

And so thats 250 (BOU) up for the year and onto November. 

(And in case you were wondering, the October 31st ticks were MASKED SHRIKE in 2004, AMERICAN BITTERN in 2010 and HERMIT THRUSH in 2013).