Blithfield Bird Report- January 2018...Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum...

Blithfield Bird Report- January 2018

January 2018. Was cold grey and damp with some frost and the water levels remained very high.

The following birds were present throughout the month:-

Mute Swan, Hybrid Goose, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant,

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black

Headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl,

Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch,

Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch,

Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders WeBS on the 20th and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month but there were no specific counts.

Oystercatcher. A single bird was present on the 1st, 3 were seen on the 6th and 4 on the 20th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month in good numbers but only two counts of 80 on the 6th and 70 on

the 7th

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month but only two records of 3 on the 6 and 22 on the 17th

Herring gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 7th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Just 2 records of one bird on the 20th and 2 birds on the 7th.

Ducks, Geese, Swans, Grebes, Herons, etc.

Bar-headed Goose One record of a single bird on the11th.

Bewicks Swan. One record of 3 birds recorded on the 20th.

Mute Swan. One record of 5 on the 20th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 606 birds on the 20th.

Greylag Goose. A maximum count of 121 on the 20th.

Pink Footed Goose. A record of 74 flying over on the on the 26th.

Farmyard Goose. 5 birds present throughout the month.

Teal. Present throughout the month in good numbers with maximum counts of 300 on the 1st and also on the 6th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 275 birds on the 1st.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum of 12 birds on the 2nd.

Shelduck. Just 1 bird seen on the 8th and 8 on the 20th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum count of 600 birds on the 1st and up to 500 birds on a number of days.

Gadwall. Just one on the 4th and the 11th and 4 on the 20th.

Pintail. One bird present on a number of days between the 1st and the 11th.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 59 birds on the 20th.

Pochard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 17 birds on the 12th and also 15 on the 20th.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 6 birds on the 2nd.

Goosander. Present throughout the month with maximum counts of 40 birds on the 12th and the 13th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 24 on the 6th and also 20 on the 12th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with maximum count of 10 on the 20th.

Little Egret. A single bird was present on the 12th.

Little Grebe. Just 1 bird on the 4th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 23 birds on the 20th.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a lower than January normal maximum count of 76 birds on the 20th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds on the 17th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with up to 1 bird recorded on the 4th.

Passerines

Fieldfare. A flock of 80 birds on the 17th and 35 on the 12th.

Redwing. A count of 6 birds on the 12th.

Reed Bunting. A single bird seen on the 4th.

Goldcrest. A single bird on the 1st.

P F Betts. 05 February 2018

Blithfield Bird Report- February 2018

February 2018. The month started off relatively mild but finished with a few days of severely cold weather with very

low temperatures and a strong easterly wind. The water levels continue to be very high and there were very few

counts recorded during the month.








Counts extracted from WeBS on the 17th, Diary, Staffs Birders and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with only one count of 50 on the 27th.

Oystercatcher. A few present throughout the month with a highest count of 12 birds on the 17th.

Common Snipe. There was only one count of 11 birds on the 17th

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a high count of 400 on the 1st.

Common Gull. A record of 1 bird on the 18th and the 21st and also 2 on the 19th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with only one count of 10 on the 1st.

Herring Gull. Just one record of 3 birds on the 1st.

Yellow-legged Gull. A single bird was seen on the 18th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Singles on a number of occasions with maximums of 2 birds on the 2nd and the 19th.


Mute Swan. One record of 7 birds on the 17th.

Whooper Swan. A flyover record of 3 birds on the 17th.

Canada Goose. Just one count of 160 birds on the 17th.

Greylag Goose. Just one count of 210 birds on the 24th.

Egyptian Goose. One bird seen on the 5th.


Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 150 birds on the 18th and also a count of 57 birds on the 17th.

Gadwall. Just two records of 2 birds on the 19th and also of 2 on the 23rd.

Mallard. A maximum count of 173 birds on the 17th.

Shelduck. Just one record of a single bird on the 17th.

Wigeon. A count of 400 birds on the 18th with a maximum count of 544 birds on the 17th.

Tufted Duck. A maximum count of 61 birds on the 18th and also 47 on the 17th.

Pochard. Present in small numbers on most days throughout the month with a maximum of 25 birds on the 21st and 19 birds on the 18th.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers during the month with a maximum of 6 birds on the 17th.

Goosander. A maximum count of 29 birds on the 18th and also 6 birds on the 17th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month in low numbers with a maximum of 24 birds compared to an exceptionally high count of 534 birds in February 2017.

Grey Heron. A maximum count of 8 on the 17th.


Coot. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 117 birds on the 17th.

Moorhen. One record of a single bird on the 17th.

Raptors and Owls


Peregrine. A single bird was seen on the 5th.

Kestrel. A single bird was seen on a number of occasions during the month.

Sparrowhawk. A single bird was reported on the 26th.

Passerines

Mistle Thrush. 1 bird was in song on the 18th, 19th and 20th.

Song Thrush. There were 2 singing birds on the 18th.

Fieldfares. A flock of at least 400 birds on the 21st also 50 on the 18th.

Long Tailed Tit. A good count of 27 birds on the 2nd.

Goldcrest. Records of one on the 9th and also the 19th.

Nuthatch. 2 birds were seen on the 19th.

P F Betts. 07 March 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- March 2018

March 2018. The month started off with the most severe weather of the winter with very low temperatures and an

icy blast from the east coupled with heavy snowfalls. After the first week or so there was some rainfall on most days

until the end of the month, the last few days of which were mild and more Spring like. As a result of all of the

precipitation the reservoir remained at its maximum level. Other than the WeBS count there was very little recorded

in the month with not one Hirundine or Summer migrant which is unusual and most likely due to the delayed onset

of Spring.


Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Cormorant,

Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull, Lesser

Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl,

Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,

Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch,

Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from WeBS on 17th March, Diary, Staffs Birders and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in low numbers with a highest count of 8 on the 17th of the month.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a highest count of 2 on the 17th.

Curlew. A small flock of 8 birds flew into and around Blithe bay but did not appear to land.

Common Snipe. A maximum count of 5 birds on the 3rd.

Green Sandpiper. A single bird recorded on the 19th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 225 on the 17th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 2 birds on the 17th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 9 birds the 17th.


Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 57 birds on the 20th.


Shelduck. Just one count of 2 birds on the 17th.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 10 birds on the 17th.

Gadwall. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 4 birds on the 31st.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 34 birds on the 27th.

Mandarin. 2 birds were seen on the 17th.

Shoveler. A maximum count of 13 birds on the 17th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum count of 290 on the 20th.


Pochard. Present in small numbers with a maximum of 9 birds on the 31st.

Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers with a maximum of 4 birds on the 16th.

Goosander. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 birds on the 17th.

Common Scoter. One count of 6 birds on the 25th of the month.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 42 birds on the 17th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 5 on the 23rd.



Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 birds seen on a number of days.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with 1 bird recorded on the 23rd.

Passerines

Brambling. A single bird at the feeders on the 3rd.

Fieldfare and Redwing. A mixed flock of at least 250 birds on the 13th.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker. A single bird on the 9th.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 8 on the 23rd.

Raven. A pair recorded on the 3rd.

Reed Bunting. A single bird on the 28th.

P F Betts. 06 April 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report-April 2018

April 2018 Other than a warm dry period in the middle of the month and a few dry days in the last week the

weather was mainly grey and wet and with water levels remaining very high there were few records of waders.


Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey

Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Oystercatcher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed

Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion

Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling,

Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed

Bunting, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders, the WeBS on the 14th and also Personal counts.

Waders:-

Avocet. A single bird appeared briefly on the 4th.

Lapwing. Very few about during the month with a highest count of 8 on the 14th.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a highest count of 8 on the 3rd.

Little Ringed Plover. A pair was first recorded on the 3rd and remained for the rest of the month.

Grey Plover. Just one bird on the 12th.

Redshank. A count of 5 birds on the 28th

Whimbrel. 2 birds on the 4th and also one on the 19th and the 21st.

Common Sandpiper. Present in small numbers from the 7th onwards with a maximum count of 4 birds on the 28th.

Gulls and Terns

Common Gull. A record of a single bird on the 7th.

Little Gull. Counts of 2 birds on the 7th, 3 birds on the 15th, one on the 17th and 2 on the 18th.

Kittiwake. A single bird was seen on the 20th.

Black -headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 9 on the 28th.


Great Black-backed Gull. Just one record of 2 birds on the 28th.

Arctic Tern. Counts of 2 on the 19th, 6 on the 20th and 4 on the 28th.

Common Tern. Present from the 18th onwards with a maximum of 9 birds on the 28th.

Black Tern. 2 Birds on the 28th.


Mute Swan. Very few with a maximum of 2 birds on the 17th.



Egyptian Goose. A count of 2 birds on the 14th.


Teal. A maximum count of 9 birds on the 14th.

Gadwall. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 7 birds on the 14th.


Mandarin. A single bird on the 22nd.

Shoveler. A maximum of 6 birds on the 14th.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 8 birds on the 5th.

Wigeon. A maximum of 40 birds on the 14th and no records thereafter.


Goldeneye. Present in very small numbers up to the 15th of the month when 8 birds were counted .

Common Scoter. A count of 2 birds on the 14th and also 2 on the 17th.

Goosander. A maximum count of 2 birds on the 7th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 22 birds on the 14th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 4 on the 14th.



Red Throated Diver. A count of 3 birds on the 3rd.

Raptors and Owlsderoooosande

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds seen on the 4th.

Osprey. A single bird first reported on the 4th and 5th and the 17th.

Kestrel. A single bird recorded on the 21st.

Little Owl. A single bird seen on the 21st.

Passerines

Raven. A count of 2 birds on the 21st.

Mistle Thrush. 1 birds singing on the 5th.

Song Thrush. 2 birds singing on the 5th.

Sand Martin. First reported on the 3rd with a maximum of 40 on the 8th.

Swallow. A maximum count of 20 on the 8th.

Swift. A count of 2 birds on the 28th.

Wheatear. Up to 2 birds seen on a number of occasions from the 8th onwards.

Tree Sparrow. A count of 10 birds on the 21st.

Cuckoo. A single bird on the 22nd.

Treecreeper. A nest found on the 22nd.

Blackcap. Present throughout the month with up to 2 birds in song on the 4th.

Lesser Whitethroat. A record of 1 singing birds on the 21st.

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 6 on the 4th.

White Wagtail. A maximum record of 18 birds on the 14th.

Yellow Wagtail. The first record was of 1 on the 4th with a maximum of 9 on the 15th.

Meadow Pipit. A count of 12 birds on the 5th.

Skylark. Just 2 records of one on the 4th and also the 21st.

P F Betts.

05 May 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report-May 2018

May 2018 was fairly dry and with some very warm spells but the thundery storms helped to keep the water levels

very high and as a result there were few records of waders .







Bunting, Tree Sparrow,Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Swallow, Swift, House Martin and Sand

Martin.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders, Personal counts and the WeBS count on 21st May.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present in small numbers during the month with a highest count of 11 on the 19th.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 7 on the 19th.

Little Ringed Plover. A pair present throughout the month.

Dunlin. Reported on one occasion during the month when 25 put in an appearance on the 2nd.

Turnstone. A single bird reported on the 25th and the 26th.

Sanderling Singles on the 19th and the 26th and 5 birds on the 27th.

Common Sandpiper. Very few records for the time of the year with 2 birds on the 12th and the 19th and a single

bird on the 26th.

Gulls and Terns



Great Black-backed Gull. Just one record of 2 birds on the 19th.

Arctic Tern. A record of 60 birds on the 2nd and 1 on the 27th.

Common Tern. Present in good numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 23 birds on the 12th.

Black Tern. A record of 2 birds on the 7th then 3 stayed from the 19th to the 21st and also 9 were seen on the

24th and 4 on the 26th.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 19 birds the 19th.




Gadwall. At least 1 pair present throughout the month with a highest count of 7 birds on the 19th.


Mandarin. 2 birds on the 12th and 1 on the 27th.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 14 birds on the 19th.




Great White Egret. A record of 1 bird on the 6th.

Common Crane. A single bird flew over on the 27th.


Moorhen. A single bird reported on the 27th.


Raptors and Owls


Red Kite. A record of 1 bird flying over on the 9th.

Osprey. 1 bird recorded on the 8th and the 12th of the month.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with one bird recorded on a number of occasions.

Hobby. A record of one bird on the 12th.

Passerines

Cuckoo. A record of 1 on the 2nd.

Garden Warbler .A single bird recorded on the 8th and the 12th.

Blackcap. A single bird recorded on the 28th of the month.

Long-tailed Tit. A single bird on the 27th.

Swift. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 200 on the 25th.

P F Betts. 05 June 2018

Blithfield Bird Report-June 2018

June 2018 At last real hot summer weather arrived and much of the month was basked in sunshine with rainfall

around 15% of what was to be expected for June. Consequently the water levels started to come down exposing

some mud at last.

.







Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Swallow, Swift, House Martin and

Sand Martin.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders the WeBS on the 16th June and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present in small numbers during the month with a count of 56 birds on the 16th June At least 2 pairs bred and possibly more.

Grey Plover. A single bird was seen on the 2nd.

Oystercatcher. At least 1 pairs present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on 16th June.

Little Ringed Plover. At least one pair present throughout the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 16th.

Ringed Plover. Only one count of a single bird on the 16th.

Dunlin. One count of 3 birds on the 2nd.

Black-tailed Godwit. There was only one record of 16 birds on the 21st.

Common Sandpiper. A maximum count of 2 birds on the 16th.

Redshank. A count of 3 birds on the 2nd and 1 on the 17th.

Curlew. A single bird recorded on the 27th.

Gulls and Terns


Kittiwake. A single bird was seen on the 3rd.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 4 on the 16th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Very small numbers present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds on the 16th.

Herring Gull. A count of 1 bird on the 16th.

Caspian Gull. A count of 1 bird on the 16th.

Common Tern. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 25 birds on the 16th. Breeding occurred again and at least 11 chicks were counted.

White Winged Black Tern. A single bird was seen on the 22nd.


Mute Swan. A highest count of 39 birds on the 16th.


Barnacle Goose. A count of 8 birds on the 16th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 116 birds on the 16th. Also a number of broods.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on the on the 16th.


Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 202 birds on the 16th. There were a number of broods also.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 8 birds on the 16th.

Gadwall. Present throughout the month with a count of 17 birds on the 16th.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 16th including 35 ducklings.

Teal. A count of 10 birds on the 16th .

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 28 birds on 16th.

Goosander. A count of 2 birds on the 27th.



Little Egret. Seen on a number of occasions in the month with a maximum of 4 birds on the 26th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 201 birds on the 16th with a number of broods.

Coot. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 156 birds on the 16th including a number of broods

Raptors and Owls


Kestrel. A record of 1 bird on the on the 16th.

Passerines

Cuckoo. Heard on at least 3 occasions on the 10th , 11th and the 16th.

Common Whitethroat. A record of 1 bird on the 17th.

Yellow Wagtail. Present throughout the month with possible breeding.

Jay. A record of 1 birds on the 16th.

P F Betts. 06 July 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report-July 2018

July 2018 The hot dry weather continued right until the last week of the month but even then there was barely a

whole day of rain and as a result the water levels continued to fall.







Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Swallow, Swift, House Martin and

Sand Martin.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders and the WeBS count on the 14th and Personal sightings.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum count of 216 birds on the 14th.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 25 on the 30th.

Little Ringed Plover. Present throughout the month with up to 15 birds present on a number of days and a

maximum count of 18 birds on the 30th.

Ringed Plover. Present in small numbers on a number of days with a maximum count of 15 birds on the 16th.

Turnstone. A single bird seen on the 31st.

Dunlin. Small numbers present throughout the month with a maximum of 21 birds on the 22nd.

Curlew Sandpiper. One bird seen on 29th and the 30th.

Ruff. Reported on most days of the month with a maximum count of 10 birds on the 9th and 10th.

Black–tailed Godwit. Seen on most days in small numbers with a maximum of 17 birds on the 5th.

Greenshank. Up to 4 birds recorded on most days of the month.

Redshank. Reported on a number of days with a maximum of 10 birds on the 10th.

Common Snipe. Reported on a number of days with a maximum count of 5 birds on the 22nd.

Curlew. Reported on a number of days with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 26th.

Common Sandpiper. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 17 birds on the 25th.

Green Sandpiper. Seen on a number of days throughout the month with a maximum count of 4 birds on the 27th.

Gulls and Terns

Black -headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 300 birds on the 21st.

Mediterranean Gull. A single bird seen on the 21st and the 22nd.

Herring Gull. A count of 2 birds on the 14th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 25 birds on 14th.

Greater Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 14th.

Yellow Legged Gull. 1 bird on a number of days with a maximum of 2 on the 28th.

Kittiwake. 1 seen on the 29th.

Black Tern. A count of 6 birds on the 26th of the month.

Common Tern. Present throughout the month a maximum count of 50 birds on the 19th.


Mute Swan. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 19 on the 14th.

Barnacle Goose. A count of 1 on the 1st.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 250 birds on the 21st.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 190 birds on the 14th.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds present from the 18th.


Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 240 birds on the 14th. There were a number of broods also.

Shelduck. Present throughout the month with a very high count of 70 birds including juveniles on the 4th.

Teal. A maximum count of 4 on the 21st.

Tufted Duck. Very few present with only one count of 14 on the 14th.

Goosander. A single bird seen on the 30th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 109 birds on the 21st.


Little Egret. Seen on a number of days in the month with a maximum count of 17 on the 14th.

Spoonbill. A single bird present from the 1st to the 4th.

Great White Egret. A single bird present from the 14th to the 18th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 150 birds on the 21st.

Coot. Only one count in the month of 54 birds on the 14th.

Moorhen. Present throughout the month just one count of 1 bird on the 2nd.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds seen on the 21st.

Peregrine Falcon. A record of a single bird on the 27th.

Hobby. A single bird recorded on three days in the month.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month and seen on most days.

Little Owl. A single bird reported on the 15th.

Passerines

Pied Wagtail. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum count of 12 on the 21st.

Yellow Wagtail. Small counts on a number of occasions with a maximum of 8 on the 9th.

Blackcap. A record of a single bird on the 6th.

Redstart. A single bird reported on the 6th.

Stock Dove. Just one record of a single bird on the 6th.

Raven. A count of 2 birds on the 6th.

P F Betts. 04 July 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- August 2018

August 2018. The dry warm weather finally came to an end in the middle of the month, and the very low water level

encouraged waders to visit. The weather for the latter half of the month was more normal.



Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Black

Headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared

Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted

Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied

Wagtail, Swallow, House Martin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders, WeBS count on the 1th and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 150 birds on the 2nd.

Oystercatcher. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 14 birds on the 4th and the 12th.

Little Ringed Plover. Present during the first half of the month in small numbers with up to 12 birds recorded on a number of days.

Ringed Plover. Present in good numbers for most of the month with a maximum count of 86 birds on the 28th.

Dunlin. Up to 40 birds present on a number of days.

Sanderling. Up to 2 birds seen on a number of days of the month.

Red Knot. Records of 1 bird on the 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th and another on the 24th (not the same bird).

Ruff. Up to 6 birds seen on a number of days throughout the month.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with up to 12 birds counted on a number of days.

Curlew. A few present throughout the month with a maximum count of 10 on the 20th.

Whimbrel. A single bird on the 7th and the 8th.

Greenshank. A few seen on most days of the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 20th and the 31st.

Redshank. Up to 3 birds counted on 5 days in the month.

Spotted Redshank. Single records on the 24th, 25th and 26th and another on the 31st (not the same bird).

Black-tailed Godwit. Up to 9 birds recorded on most days of the month.

Green Sandpiper. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 5 on the on the 7th.

Common Sandpiper. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 19 on the 1st.

Wood Sandpiper. A single bird seen on most days up until the 11th of the month.

Turnstone. A record of 3 birds on the 10th and 1 on the 20th and the 31st.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month in good numbers with one count of 1860 birds on the 24th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a count of 5 birds on the 11th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Up to 6 birds present on a number of days.

Great Black-backed Gull. A maximum of2 birds recorded on the 19th.

Black Tern. 2 birds recorded the 26th and the 28th.

Arctic Tern. A count of 2 on the 26th.

Common Tern. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 55 birds on the 11th and still 40 on the

30th.


Mute Swan. Only one record of 7 birds on the 11th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a high count of 1200 on the 25th.

Egyptian Goose. Up to 2 birds recorded throughout most of the month increasing to 5 on the 29th.

Barnacle Goose. Eight counts during the month with a maximum of 29 birds on the 15th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 1000 plus birds on the 31st.


Common Scoter. A record of 4 birds on the 20th and a single bird on the 26th.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 63 birds on the 19th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 198 birds on the 11th.

Shelduck. Recorded on two occasions during the month with highest of count of 2 on the 27th.

Wigeon. The first record was one bird on the 25th rising to 5 by the 28th.

Tufted Duck. Just one record of 11 birds on the 11th.

Goosander. A few counted on a number of days with a maximum of 16 birds on the 27th and the 29th.

Goldeneye. A single record of 1 bird on the 10th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 164 on the 11th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 24 on the 11th.

Little Egret. Present throughout the month with a site record of 23 birds on the 2nd.

Great White Egret. A site record of 3 birds on the 5th and a number of other days throughout the month.

Little Grebe. A single bird recorded on 3 occasions during the month.

Great Crested Grebe. A highest count of 159 birds on the 11th.

Coot. One record of 18 birds on the 11th.

Raptors and Owls


Red Kite. A single bird record flying over on 3 occasions in the month.

Marsh Harrier. A single bird recorded on 5 occasions and 2 juveniles on the 9th.

Osprey. A single bird recorded on most days from the 17th onwards.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on a few days during the month.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a single bird seen on a few days.

Hobby. Records of a single bird on 3 occasions during the month.

Little Owl. A single bird seen on the 12th.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 2 on the 24th.

Swift. Just one count of 8 birds on the 27th.

Spotted Flycatcher, Recorded on a number of days throughout the month with a maximum of 6 birds on the 31st.

Yellow Wagtail. A few recorded throughout the month with a maximum count of 20 on the 31st.

Pied Wagtail. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 11 birds on the 11th.

Wheatear. Recorded throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum count of 5 on the 24th.

Whinchat. Two records of a single bird on the 7th and the 27th and one of 2 birds on the 20th.

Stonechat. A single count of 5 birds on the 17th.

P F Betts

01 September 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- September 2018

September 2018. The warm dry weather continued but there were some heavy storms, but water levels remained

very low leaving plenty of exposed mud to attract plenty of the more common waders.







Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Swallow and House Martin.

Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders, WeBS on the 9th and also Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 44 on the 9th.

Oystercatcher. Single birds present until the 23rd and no counts thereafter.

Little Ringed Plover. A maximum count of 5 on the 7th and tailing off in numbers to 3 by the 23rd and none thereafter.

Ringed Plover. Present throughout most of the month in good numbers with highest counts of 35 on the 2nd and around 30 for most of the month.

Turnstone. Five records of a single bird up to the 22nd.

Dunlin. Small numbers present throughout the month with a maximum count of 12 birds on the 21st.

Ruff. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum count of 7 birds on the 3rd.

Common Snipe. Present throughout the month with counts of 20 on the 4th and the 5th.

Curlew. Up to 7 birds present throughout the month.

Black-tailed Godwit. Just single birds seen on 4 days throughout the month.

Redshank. Just one record of a single bird the 19th of the month.

Spotted Redshank. A single bird reported on 9 days up until the 14th.

Green Sandpiper. A single bird seen on five separate days throughout the month.

Common Sandpiper. Present in small numbers up until the 23rd of the month with a maximum of 3 birds on the 5th.

Greenshank. Present throughout the month with maximums of 14 birds seen on the 5th and the 9th.

Knot. One record of a single bird on the 2nd.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with a highest count of 258 birds on the 9th.

Little Gull. A single bird recorded on the 6th and the 7th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum count of 5 birds on the

9th.

Herring Gull. 1 bird recorded on the 9th.

Caspian Gull. A single bird recorded on 4 the 4th.

Yellow-legged Gull. Recorded in small numbers on 5 days with a maximum of 4 on the 2nd.

Great Black-backed Gull. A single bird recorded on the 9th.

Black Tern. Recorded on 6 days with a maximum 5 birds on the 2nd.

Arctic Tern. A record of 1 bird on the 22nd.

Common Tern. Present in small numbers up until the 23rd with a maximum of 10 on the 16th.


Mute Swan. Just one count of 1 bird on the 9th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with just one count of 268 on the 9th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a count of 347 birds on the 9th.

Egyptian Goose. 2 birds seen on a number of days throughout the month.


Gadwall. A count of 3 birds on the 23rd and 4 on the 30th.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 80 birds on the 9th.

Garganey. A record of a single bird on the 21st.


Pintail. Counts of a single bird on 5 days with a maximum of 5 birds on the 30th of the month.

Shoveler. Only 4 counts with a maximum of 5 on the 30th.

Common Shelduck. Just 4 records with a maximum of 3 on the 30th.

Wigeon. Ones and twos from the start of the month building up to a maximum of 50 birds by the 23rd.

Tufted Duck. Very scarce with only one record of 14 birds on the 9th.

Pochard. Just one record of 3 birds on the 4th.

Goosander. There was only 1 record of 4 birds the 30th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 93 on the 9th.


Great White Egret. Up to 2 birds recorded on most days throughout the month.

Little Egret. Recorded in good numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 18 on the 8th.

Little Grebe. Just one record of a single bird on the 19th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 100 birds on the 23rd.

Coot. Just one record of 6 birds on the 9th.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 birds on a number of days.

Red Kite. One record of a single bird on the 2nd.

Osprey. 1 bird seen on 6 days up until the 9th of the month.

Peregrine Falcon. A single bird recorded on most days with 2 birds on the 17th.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with 1 bird recorded on a number of days.

Hobby. 3 birds recorded on the 7th and the 9th and then singles on 4 days up until the 23rd.

Merlin. A record of one bird on the 22nd and the 23rd.

Passerines

Raven. Just one count of 2 birds on the 17th.

Chiffchaff. Just one record of a single bird on the 11th.

Sand Martin. 1 bird recorded on the 7th.

Swift. Two records, 2 birds on the 7th and 1 on the 9th.

Wheatear. Recorded up until the 23rd of the month with a maximum count of 8 on the 5th.

Whinchat. Recorded on every day up until the 12th with a maximum count of 6 birds on the 7th.

Common Redstart. A record of 1 bird on the 9th.

Stonechat. A record of a single bird on the 30th.

Spotted Flycatcher. Records of ones and twos on 3 different days until a maximum of 4 on the 15th.

Skylark. A very good record of 7 birds on the 28th.

Yellow Wagtail. Recorded on a number of days in the month with a maximum of 50 birds on the 4th.

Grey Wagtail. 1 bird recorded on the 11th.

P F Betts. 03 October 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- October 2018

October 2018 . Water levels remained very low during the month and continued to be mild until the last week in the

month when northerly winds brought in much colder weather with some morning frosts. Rainfall was average and

there also some strong winds .


Mute Swan, Hybrid Goose, Greylag Goose, Farmyard Goose, Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant,

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed

Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl,

Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Wren,

Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Tree

Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, WeBS on the 13th, Staffs Birders and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Ringed Plover. The highest count was 7 birds on the 7th and three further records of 3 birds up until the 14th.

Lapwing. Good numbers at the end of the month with a maximum count of 180 birds on the 27th.

Golden Plover. Only one record of 2 on the 19th.

Oystercatcher. Just one record of a single bird on the 21st.

Dunlin. Present in small numbers early in the month with a count of 10 on the 14th and 4 on the 28th.

Little Stint. A single bird was recorded on the 13th and the 14th.

Greenshank. One bird recorded on 3 days up until the 10th

Common Sandpiper. Just one record of 2 birds on the 7th.

Gulls and Terns etc

Black Headed Gull. Present throughout the month with a count of 690 on the 13th

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a count of 305 on the 13th.

Herring Gull. A record of a single bird on the 31st.

Yellow-legged Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 7th and 2 on the 13th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 2 on the 13th.

Ducks, Geese , Swans, Grebes, Herons, etc.

Mute Swan. Only one record of 2 birds on the 31st.

Whooper Swan. Records of 2 birds on the 22nd and the 27th, one bird on the 26th and 7 birds on the 28th.


Farmyard Goose. Present throughout the month with a count of 4 birds on the 13th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a count of 754 birds on the 13th.

Barnacle Goose. One bird on the 7th and the 26th.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 27 birds on the 2.

Gadwall. Only one count of a single bird birds on the 5th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 149 birds on the 13th.

Teal. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 300 on the 14th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a highest count of 473 birds on the 13th.

Pintail. Counts of up to 3 birds on most days between the 13th and the 22nd.

Tufted Duck. Present in very small numbers throughout the month with a highest count of 28 birds on the 13th.

Goosander. Records on only 4 days in the month with maximums of 28 birds on the 30th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 89 birds on the 7th.

Little Egret. Just two records of a single bird on 7th and the 10th and 2 birds on the 14th.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 12 on the 31st.

Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with one bird recorded on a number of days.


Coot. Only one count of 2 birds on the 13th

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 3 on the 4th.

Red Kite. One bird flying over on the 3rd.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with a count of 1 on the 7th.

Peregrine. A frequent visitor with a single bird recorded on a number of days in the month.

Passerines

Raven. Present throughout the month with a count of 2 on the 27th.

Meadow Pipit. Just one count of 28 birds on the 13th.

Rock Pipit. Records of 1 bird on the 11th, 14th and 27th and 2 on the 14th.

Pied Wagtail. A count of 13 birds on the 13th.

Goldfinch. Present throughout the month with only one count of 24 birds on the 13th.

Lapland Bunting. A single bird on the 27th was the first Blithfield record of this species.

P F Betts.

03 November 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- November 2018

November 2018. The month started off on the cool side with some early morning frosts but became milder for most

of the month with average rainfall. The water level continued to be extremely low for the time of the year. From the

birdwatching point of view there were plenty of the common ducks and geese and very little else. There were very

few records in the month from which to compile the report.

The following birds were present for most of the month:-


Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black Headed Gull, Lesser

Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl,

Jackdaw, Jay, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,

Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Goldfinch,

Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Tree Sparrow.

Counts extracted from Diary, the Staffs Birders blog, the WeBS count on the 10th and Personal counts.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a highest count of 147 on the 10th.

Golden Plover. Just one record of a single bird on the 25th.

Dunlin. Only two records of 2 birds on the 10th and 15 on the 25th.

Curlew. A record of 2 birds on the 23rd and 25th and 3 on the 18th.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 390 birds on the 10th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 95 birds on the 1st.

Yellow-legged Gull. Just one record of a single bird on the 30th.

Caspian Gull. A single bird recorded on four different days throughout the month.

Great Black-backed Gull. There were only two records of a single bird on the 10th and 1 on the 29th.


Mute Swan. Very few present in the month with just one record of 2 birds on the 10th.

Whooper Swan. A count of 4 birds on the 13th also 14 flew over Blithe Bay on the 20th and 4 flew over on the 30th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 765 on the 10th.

Greylag Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 235 birds on the 10th.


Teal. Present throughout the month in good numbers a maximum count of 250 plus birds on the 30th.

Mallard. Present throughout the month with a highest count of 297 birds on the 10th.

Shelduck. Present in small numbers throughout the month with 7 on the 1st and the 8th and 19 on the 23rd.

Shoveler. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 65 birds on the 1st.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 300 plus on the 30th.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month in small numbers with a maximum count of 110 birds on the 10th.

Common Scoter. One bird reported on the 19th.

Goldeneye. Present throughout the month in very small numbers with a maximum of 30 birds by the month end.

Goosander. Present throughout the month in very small numbers with a maximum of 9 birds on the 8th.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 77 birds on the 10th.


Little Grebe. Present throughout the month with just one count of a single bird on the 10th.


Coot. Very few in the month with only one count of 12 birds on the 10th.

Raptors and Owls


Peregrine. Present throughout the month with 1 bird recorded on a number of days.

Kestrel. A single bird seen on most days near to the Admaston end of the causeway.

Passerines

Meadow Pipit. A flock of 75 counted on the 10th.

Pied Wagtail. A count of 12 birds on the 24th.

Goldcrest. Two seen on the 13th.

P F Betts. 03 December 2018.

Blithfield Bird Report- December 2018

December 2018. The month was mild and wet in the main with very few frosts and as a result the water levels

increased considerably from the very low levels which prevailed until the end of November.








Counts extracted from Diary, Staffs Birders, Personal counts and WeBS on the 8th.

Waders:-

Lapwing. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum of 146 on the 18th.

Oystercatcher. Just one count of a single bird on the 8th.

Green Sandpiper. Just one count of 2 on the 13th.

Curlew. There were counts of 3 on the 8th and 1 on the 23rd.

Gulls and Terns

Black Headed Gull Present throughout the month with only one count of 55 birds on the 8th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 30 on the 23rd.

Herring Gull. Just one record of 3 birds on the 23rd.

Yellow-legged Gull. A record of 2 birds on the 18th.

Caspian Gull. Just 2 records of 3 birds on the 1st and 2 on the 18th.

Great Black-backed Gull. Single birds on the 3rd and the 8th.


Mute Swan. Just one record of 31 birds on the 8th.

Whooper Swan. A count of 2 birds on the 4th.

Barnacle Goose. A record of 1 bird on the 8th.

Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with one count of 765 birds on the 8th.


Pink-footed Goose. There were two count of 2 birds on the 8th and 8 birds on the 16th.


Gadwall. Just one record of a single bird on the 21st.

Teal. Present throughout the month with counts of 240 birds on the 8th and 400 on the 31st.


Shoveler. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 33 birds on the 31st.

Shelduck. Counts of 10 on the 12th and and 16 on the 8th.

Wigeon. Present throughout the month in good numbers with a maximum of 460 birds on the 31st.

Tufted Duck. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 118 birds on the 31st.

Pochard. Present in small numbers for most of the month with a maximum count of 8 on the 31st.

Goldeneye. Up to a maximum of 35 birds throughout the month.

Goosander. Just 4 counts of up to a maximum of 4 birds on the 8th and 31st.

Cormorant. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 197 birds on the 8th and 190 on the 31st.

Grey Heron. Present throughout the month with a maximum of 12 birds on the 31st.

Little Egret. Just one count of 5 on the 27th.

Great White Egret. Just one count of 1 on the 6th.

Slavonian Grebe. A single bird was first seen on the 2nd and last recorded on the 13th.

Great Crested Grebe. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 97 birds on the 31st.

Coot. Present in small numbers throughout the month with a maximum count of 33 on the 31st.

Raptors and Owls

Buzzard. Up to 2 birds present on a number of days.

Peregrine Falcon. Up to 2 birds present throughout the month.

Kestrel. Present throughout the month with up to 1 bird seen on a number of days.

Passerines

Meadow Pipit. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 125 birds on the 8th.

Pied Wagtail. Present throughout the month with a maximum count of 49 birds on the 8th.

Fieldfare and Redwing . A mixed flock of around 120 birds recorded on the 31st.

P F Betts. 04 January 2019.

Blithfield Bird Report- January 2018...Canada Goose. Present throughout the month with a maximum...

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