***Scarce Bird Alert***

To see this bird you need the right conditions 

After this morning success at Blithfield which you can read about in the post below we thought we should try for the Grasshopper Warbler at Tucklesholme. When we arrived a large rain cloud blocked out the sun so it went very cold a windy, which is annoying because it had bee lovely weather all afternoon so it was set up perfect for a Grasshopper Warbler to start singing this evening.

Despite not seeing the Grasshopper Warbler we were able to see a Great White Egret flying over the main pit also two Commn Terns were seen flying along the Trent.

Have a Good week all - Joe and Martyn

A wet morning at Blithfield

After yesterdays fall of migrants especially in the tern department where there was a influx's of Black Terns in to the Midlands and the country along with good numbers of Arctic Terns, Common Terns and a few Grey Plovers knocking about. So we decided to set off to the nearest large volume of water which was Blithfield.


Copyright: Cornell Lab

On arrival we parked up on the car park next to the causeway, the rain was quite heavy so we spent most of the first hour and a half birding from the car (which is one of the best ways to birdwatch). We immediately dropped on a group of four Black Terns with some Common Terns which weren't in short supply. After twenty minutes or so the rain was still tipping down  we had a second group of three Black Terns coming in but we still haven't been able to find a Arctic Tern yet.

Terns weren't the only migrants we saw. We had a female Wheatear on the causeway which was joined by two Common Sandpipers also a Grey Plover on the shore next two the gate, probably one of the two birds from yesterday. Next we moved to the car park that over looked the area of water between the dam and the causeway. We saw many Common Terns sitting on boys also on one of the boys (number six to be specific the large one with a load of bird crap on it) we had good views of a Arctic Tern and occasionally we had the burst of excitement when a group of Black Terns flew through, in that hour we had a count of nine birds so that brought the total of Black Terns today up to fifteen.

Hope you all had a good Bank Holiday - Joe and Martyn

Not a lot happening

This evening over Tucklesholme it was a bit quite and the thing that surprised me the most was we didn't see an single Little Ringed Plover only two Ringed Plovers, I suspect this is probably because of the work that is going on the main pit where they are slowly covering it over with soil so reeds can be planted.

This evening wasn't a complete failure we were able to see two Green Sandpipers in the far south corner of the main pit, also two Shelducks, two Sand Martins a few singing Blackcaps and as I said before two Ringed Plovers on the main pit.

Have a good Friday all - Joe and Martyn

A Great Day Out

Today we had planned to go out with our good friend and birding companion Chaz Mason to do a tour of some of the sites in Staffordshire.

The day started out at Cannock Chase, while we were there we picked up some new birds to add to our year list. We had our first Cuckoo of the year and the first Tree Pipit both bird were seen near the scout huts

Next we made our way to Tucklesholme to try and find the Temminck's Stint for Chaz which had been seen earlier in the morning but as usual we couldn't find the bird,  it we did see the usual four Little Ringed Plovers and two Ringed Plovers. After that we went over to Whitemoor Haye which proved to be a much better place to see migrants today. On arrival we parked up next to the field where farmers were working on the field, but this proved not to disturb the birds in any great way. So in the same field we were able to pick out four of the seven Wheatears, two White Wagatils and a Yellow Wagtail and Chaz was telling us that last year he didn't notice until the autum that he hadn't seen a Yellow Wagtail, so this year he was going to make sure he would see one. Good job we were able to help him put that to bed.

What a great day birding and is always a even better day with the company of Chaz - Joe and Martyn

Monday morning update

We set off early this morning to see if we could find the Temminck's Stint which was found yesterday by Martyn Yapp, we had no luck ourselves in finding the bird but it was seen later on in the day. It is quite hard to spot a bird that small with all the different channels that are on the main pit so sometimes you have to sit and wait for the bird to show. The trip to Tucklesholme wasn't all a waste of time we did manage to see the usual six Little Ringed Plovers and the two Ringed Plovers, also a single Green Sandpiper was seen a Little Egret and the Whitethroat was heard.

We spent the rest of the morning at Whitemoor Haye in hope to find some Wheatears. When we arrived we had many singing Whitethroat and heard a Little Ringed Plover. Further along the track the were a lot of Yellowhammers but couldn't seen any Corn Buntings. On the ploughed field next to the grass runway we were able to find two Wheatears a male and female, three White Wagtails and a single Yellow Wagtail.

Tucklesholme today's morning list:

Green Sandpiper (1) - Temminck's Stint (not by us) - Little Egret (1) - Whitethroat - Little Ringed Plovers (6) - Ringed Plover (2) - Raven

Have a good bank holiday all - Joe and Martyn

***Scarce Bird Alert***

Photo: Birdwatch

We haven't been able to take a visit to Tucklesholme today but Martyn Yapp was able to take a visit and on his visit he found a Temminck's Stint on the main pit on the small areas of water. I suspect that this is the same bird from Branston GP which was seen a few weeks ago. On his trip he was also able to find a Wheatear and a Whitethroat. Thanks to Martyn for the news from Tucklesholme today.

Have a good Easter Sunday all - Joe and Martyn

More migrants arrive

 

After yesterdays showers we thought that this morning would be a good opportunity to find some more migrants. When we arrived there was many singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, on the main pit there were still six Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers and four Lapwings. Over the river and the surrounding fields there was an increase in Swallows and Sand Martins, also the first House Martins of the year. The woodland produced the first Willow Warbler of the year and many singing Blackcaps, we also heard a Treecreeper but couldn't connect with it. On the second pit there were still two Little Ringed Plovers taking the overall total to eight birds. The pair of Egyptian Geese were still present on the river. When we arrived back at the entrance the hedges surrounding the main pit produce the first Common Whitethroat of the year.

Todays List:
Little Ringed Plover (6) - Ringed Plover (2) - Lapwing (4) - Swallow (5) - Sand Martin (10) - House Martin (2) - Egyptian Goose (2) - Willow Warbler - Common Whitethroat (1) - Treecreeper (Heard)

Have a good Easter Sunday all - Joe and Martyn

Whitemoor Haye and Thursday evening update

At Whitemoor Haye this evening it was a bit quite, the birds we saw was a count of about of 50 Sand Martins and a single flying Snipe but the star bird was a flock of about 10 Tree Sparrows which is a new bird to add to the year list of 2017, which takes my total up to 121 birds.

Todays Egyptian Geese

 

Over at Tucklesholme this evening there was still no new migrants in, I'm still waiting on the arrival of Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler.

The birds that were present today include a count of six Little Ringed Plovers and a single Ringed Plover on the main pit. Along the river we had five Swallows, two Sand Martins and two Flying Little Egrets, but the main bird of today was a pair of Egyptian Geese which had five chicks which could be seen on the little pool on the Derbyshire side of the river opposite the second pit.

 

Have a good rest of the week all - Joe and Martyn

Tuesday Update

Photo: Scottish Wildlife Trust

Today was a successful trip there were good numbers of singing Chiffchaffs all over the site but still no Willow Warblers yet. We also had our first Swallows of the year with three bird flying around the main pit, on the main pit itself we had two Little Ringed Plovers, a single Redshank and one Ringed Plover also four Lapwing. In the woodland area we had many singing Chiffchaffs and four singing Blackcaps. On the second pit there was a adult and Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers which gave us good views because bird on the second pit are usually a bit distant. On the river there were only two Sand Martins present.

Today:

Little Ringed Plover (4) - Ringed Plover (1) - Swallow (3) - Sand Martin (2) - Redshank (1) - Blackcap (4) - Gadwall (2)

Joe and Martyn

A weekend on the East coast

This weekend there hasn't been an update from Tucklesholme because we have taken a short break over in Suffolk and were able to take a visit to Minsmere R.S.P.B.

Photo: Norfolk Wildlife Trust

The trip to Minsmere produced some good ticks for the year. The first tick was a Cetti's Warbler which provided us with great views because it was only in a small clump of reeds on a small pond out side the visitor centre. We weren't able to see the Stone Curlews but they are very hard to spot, on the sea provided the first Gannet of the year. When we reached the scrape we were able to find one of the Caspian Gulls, good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls, two Turnstones, a pair of Pochards, a single Swallow and a male Mandarin Duck. 

 

By the sluice we found a single Yellow Legged Gull sitting on a post on the beach. In the woodland gave us the delight of seeing a pair of Marsh Tits which are always nice to see because of there status in the UK. At the Bittern Hide we saw three displaying Marsh Harriers and one Bittern was seen briefly in flight but we didn't manage to see it, but we did hear one booming on the North Wall, We also manage to see two Snipe in flight.

Have a good week all - Joe and Martyn

Sunday Update and Riverside Restoration Works

 

We paid a visit to Tucklesholme this morning. On the main pit we had a count of four Little Ringed Plovers and two Shelducks. As we made are way to the are of woodland we were greeted by five Sand Martins and we also notice that a lot of earth has been pilled up but I will talk about that in a bit more detail later. In the woodland area we had our first male Blackcap which was singing in the hedge line and was accompanied by many singing Chiffchaffs.  

Now on to the pile of earth, over the last couple of weeks earth as been removed from the riverside to give it a more natural state. A notice has been put up around the site to inform people on what is going on and this is what it said;

Over the next few weeks, the topsoil will be removed, leaving a low-lying area of gravels with pools and shallows which will be a haven for wetland birds, fish and invertebrates.

I think this is the start of the creation of Tucklesholme and work is well under way to bring back breeding Bitterns to Staffordshire.

Hope you have a good Sunday all - Joe and Martyn

The first Hirundine arrives

 

Another evening visit to Tucklesholme today produced the first Sand Martin of the year, this was only a single bird which was following the river Trent. On the main pit the five Little Ringed Plovers were still present along with the five Ringed Plovers, also a single Redshank was on the west shore as well as two Shelduck.

On the main pit there have been large numbers of Pied Wagtails about 10 - 15 birds and on todays visit we managed to find two White Wagtails a subspecies of the Pied Wagtail with a all grey back not glossy black..

Todays List:
Sand Martin (1) - Little Ringed Plover (5) - Ringed Plover (5) - White Wagtail (2) - Stock Dove (3) - Wigeon (4) - Redshank (1) - Shelduck (2) - Chiffchaff (4) - Teal (1) - Lapwing (5)

Have a Good Sunday all -  Martyn and Joe

Friday Update

Its Friday, the end of the week and we thought we should take the opportunity to go and visit Tucklesholme. With the nice weather and high pressure we suspected that most migrating bird would just fly over. When we arrived we noticed that an area by the river Trent and been cleared and earth had be transported on to the main pit, I suspect to use in the creation of the reed bed.

Birds to note from this evening was five Little Ringed Plovers which were with six Ringed Plovers, also a Redshank was heard flying over head and two Little Egrets flying along the river Trent.

Tucklesholme - 18/3/17

Today the male Goldeneye and Great White Egret still present, most of the wintering ducks have cleared out just leaving 2 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 5 Gadwall and 6 Tufted Duck. The first Little Ringed Plovers (photos) of the year with a count of 3 birds, 5 Ringed Plovers still present. A Redshank flew through and a Peregrine circled over the main pit, also 2 chiffchaffs, Kingfisher, Mistle Thrush and 5 Goosander.

Tucklesholme - 15/3/17

Tucklesholme today provided the first Stock Doves for the year also 5 Ringed Plovers were present but still no sign of the Temminck's Stint. A Great White Egret (photo) which was a first for the year also a roost of about 15 Grey Herons, 3 Little Egrets, 3 Goldeneye, 30 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Tucklesholme - 12/3/17

Reports today of Wheatear which is a first for the year and 2 Ringed Plovers but no sign of the Temminck's Stint.

Tucklesholme - 11/3/17

A Shoveler on the east shore was the first of the year. An increase in Wigeon. The male Goldeneye (photo) was joined by a second male today, also 2 Oystercatchers and a male Sparrowhawk (photo).2 Greylag Geese were a first for the year. Three Chiffchaffs which is a first for the year, two Ravens and a TEMMINCK'S STINT on the main pit with five Ringed Plovers. Other birds include 4 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings, 4 Meadow Pipit and 3 Skylarks

Tucklesholme - 5/3/17

The male Goldeneye was joined by another three Goldeneye, but all four birds flew off south. Five Ruff dropped in the flew off south. Two little Grebes on the south shore, also 2 Shelduck flew through.

Tucklesholme - 4/3/17

The 2 Oystercatchers were still present on the second pit. Three Shelducks dropped in during the showers. Also a single female Goosander on the Trent. The male Goldeneye was still present along with 20+ Wigeon, 50+ Lapwing, 5 Great Crested Grebe and a single male Goosander on the south shore.

Waxwings on Cannock Chase

One of my own photos

 

This morning we went out to Cannock Chase to try and find the flock of Waxwings which have been arriving in good numbers over this winter, but they have mainly been seen on the east coast and Scotland and not really inland much,  but the really cold weather we had last weekend brought an influx's of Waxwings into Staffordshire.

 

When we parked up, we walked over the back of the car park we found a group of about twenty odd birds which we sort of doing a circular route around the back of the car park looking for berry's. Waxwings are one of those birds that get birds coming from every where to see them because they don't come over very often.

Here are some photos I took

 

 

 

 

Have a good Sunday all - Joe and Martyn

 

First visit of 2017

Today isn't the first trip to Tucklesholme it was actually on the second January but I haven't been able to write it up so here its is. The list includes 35 species which including audible.

Mute Swan - Stonechat (6) - Wren - Pied Wagtail - Teal (44) - Wigeon (4) - Gadwall (9) - Mallard - Grey Heron - Meadow Pipit - Reed Bunting (3) - Moorhen - Song Thrush - Cormorant - Buzzard - Kestrel - Magpie - Fieldfare - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Long Tailed Tit - Sparrowhawk - Pheasant - Black Headed Gull - Lesser Black Backed Gull - Woodpigeon - Dunnock  - Robin - Redwing - Blackbird - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Treecreeper (h) - Jackdaw - Crow - Chaffinch

Have a good weekend all - Joe and Martyn