The Town Hall in Burton will live for me forever because of one thing, beer festivals.  Last night it held the latest, the 1st Spring festival.  Usually the festivals are end of September and end of January.  the January one has been scrapped and they have started a spring one.  Myself and a few known drinking associates (got no mates) had quite a few real ales and the selection last night was very good.  I did not have a bad pint really, not even the one that tasted of ginger (called Ginger!).  Anyway, the morning after the night before is usually a bit of a struggle but today I have felt fine but didi not want to risk driving so no birding for me today as the weather is against us this pm.  I have been playing around with my new scope and the two cameras I use and the pictures I am getting are superb, I can't wait to get to a good reserve and good hide to get some great photos.  Tonight will be a relaxed affair so I have a trip planned for tomorrow with the dog to track down Red Grouse.  I am going to The Roaches, so if anyone has any tips, please let me know.  This afternoon I am collecting a drum kit so tonight I will proberbly be homeless.  Oh well, never mind.

As I was walking to the car at Croxall the pager went off with the sighting of an Iceland Gull at Chasewater, so i got to the car and got to Chasewater as soon as poss.  I have dipped on this bird every time this year and I needed it for the year list.  I had a quick scan of the lake and saw Black-headed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Mute Swan, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  Then I came across the Iceland Gull.  It was quite easy to find and I managed some digi-photos of the bird.  The other birds I saw were Sand Martin, Great-crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Magpie, Wood Pigeon and Mallard.  Not a comprehensive list but it was getting late and cold.

I can't go to Whitemoor and ignore Croxall.  Birds present were Canada Geese, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Oystercatcher, Coot, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Reed Bunting, Moorhen, Ruddy Duck, Goldfinch, Starling, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, Snipe, Greenfinch and Blackbird along the main side.  Over on the east side I added Lapwing, Cormorant, Rook, Kestrel and Shelduck.

I took the dog for a walk in the afternoon, hoping to find some more migrants.  Around the usual walk I found Magpie, Grey Partridge, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Little Owl, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove (which I digi-scoped - number 192 bird photographed), Linnet, Buzzard, and Pheasant.  On the lake I saw Black-headed Gull (if it was begining of winter I would be getting excited as there are quite a few gulls roosting here at the moment - I shall dream of Iceland or Glaucous Gull at Whitemoor/Croxall), Great-crested Grebe, Wigeon, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Goldeneye, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Teal, Starling, Tufted Duck and Reed Bunting.  I was scanning the edges for some sandpipers when I saw a male Wheatear in with the Reed Buntings.  Just what I was looking for. 

I visited a few places today for various reasons so I will give a brief list at each site.

News came through yesterday of a Lapland Bunting.  This is a big bird for Staffordshire but, a) I did not know where it was and, b) I was not that fussed on getting it.  Today i was planning on visiting the moors so I made a slight diversion.  I don't know if I was at the right place (I followed the directions given on the internet), but there was no-one around.  I had a look in some fields and hedgerows but I knew I had a slim chance of finding it.  I did see Wood Pigeon, Robin, Moorhen, Blackbird, Magpie and Chaffinch.

I was on the look out for Red Grouse but, again, I failed to find any.  I did see Carrion Crow, Mallard, Meadow Pipit and (suprisingly) Grey Heron.

Again, a place to find Red Grouse and again, failure.  I did see Carrion Crow, Curlew, Golden Plover (about 500 all in various stages of breeding plumage, a great sight), Lapwing, Meadow Pipit and Kestrel.

Waxwings have been present here for a few days and it is only ten minutes away from East Moor so I blasted into the village and found five (there have been seven) Waxwings in a poplar tree.  There was a cotoneaster bush near the pavement and every now and then they swooped down to feed.  I did get some really rubbish photos.  Light was rubbish, too windy to keep steady, wrong lens, errr can't think of another excuse.

Not a bad trip, failed in the Red Grouse department but got a bonus of the Waxwings and some stunning Golden Plovers.

The last birding of the day was at Croxall and I saw Moorhen, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Coot, Teal, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Black-headed Gull and Great Tit on the main side of the reserve.  Through to the east side and, along with some vicious storm clouds, I saw Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Rook, Redshank, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant and Robin.  Back towards the car park and I added Wigeon, Ringed Plover, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail and Greenfinch.  Oh yes, also a fair bit of sleet and snow showers to add to the birds.

Whilst I was writing the 'news' entry it was blizzard conditions so I thought that was my last birding.  Soon after it cleared up to be the best spell of weather all weekend, so it was into the car with the dog and the gear, including the new scope , and off to Whitemoor Haye.  I saw Pied Wagtail, Black-headed Gull, Grey Partridge, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Mute Swan, Skylark, Cormorant, Mallard, Robin, Little Owl (which I have managed to get some digi-pics of and I have to say I am very impressed with the scope),  Dunnock, Blue Tit, Kestrel, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird and Buzzard.  Unfortunately the lads who are killing the hare's are back, they were walking around with two dogs and then picked up in a black Hilux.  I spoke to the landowner who said he was threatened by them.  Scum is what they are.  Anyway I decided to scan the lake and added Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Starling, Linnet, Teal, Redshank, Long-tailed Tit and Dunlin. 

After a visit to Croxall I popped back to have another look around the lake and added Fieldfare, Sand Martin and Oystercatcher.  I also had a Merlin whiz pass me whilst I was having a last look from a gate.  Excellent.

I have good news and I have bad news.  First the good news.  I have replaced my scope today.  My old one (Imagic 80) has had a few knocks over the years and I have been struggling to get good photographs from digi-scoping.  In-focus were at Wolseley Centre today so i paid a visit and walked out with an Opticron ES 80.  Ok, it's not a Zeiss or a Swarovski but I do my birding on a budget and this is what I could afford.  Now for the bad news.  My old scope could not cope with digi-scoping, this one can.  That means I will be putting up more digi-photos than ever.  Told you it was bad news.

This is a great place to see loads of birds.  I sometimes think Steve Nuttal's blog (which is excellent in its own right) only reports the unusual species.  I read his blog every night and generally the site is quite but I went around today and recorded 49 different bird species.  Please don't go running to Steve or his mates and say I hate his blog because I don't, I think it is excellent, I am just saying for those of you who have not been there because it seems generally quiet, go because there are loads of birds to see.  Back to the birding and here is what I saw around the resevoir today.  Red-legged Partridge, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Moorhen, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Nuthatch, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Scaup, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Ruddy Duck, Teal, Rook, Jay, Lapwing, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Mute Swan, Meadow Pipit, Redshank, Coal Tit, Magpie and Redpoll.  Not a bad list and I missed a few too (someone said they had Garden Warbler and Little Grebe).  It is just a brilliant place to go birding.

I was up early this morning and was about to set off for Belvide but I thought I would have a quick look what was around.  I read Richard Powell's blog (local birding for local people) and saw he thought he had a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Seven Springs.  So whilst most people were sleeping off there Sunday nights beer (I was in bed by eight), I made use of the time and got to Cannock Chase before the masses descend there.  By the time I got there, it was sleeting quite hard but I was determined to add this bird to my black book so I got covered up and braved the elements.  I did see Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, and Herring Gull (there was about ten of them flying over and making a racket, I thought I was near the sea for a second).  I should have stuck to my original plan as the bird never materialised.  Never mind, maybe next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not been here for some time and I was hoping for a couple of sandpipers which I should have seen by now.  I saw the following.  Great Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird, Collared Dove, Coot, Canada Geese, Mallard, Redshank, Cormorant, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck, Goosander, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Sand Martin, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Teal, Snipe, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Great-crested Grebe, Curlew, and I also heard but did not see a Water Rail.  For my year and life lists I have to see the bird, not just hear it.  Once I have seen the bird, if I hear it at another place I can add it to my day list, so the Water Rail can only be noted as heard as I have not seen one yet this year.

After breakfast I popped to Croxall to see what was around but the weather got worse with light flurries of snow.  I did make around though.  I saw Moorhen, Canada Geese, Coot, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Blue Tit from the car park.  Up to and around the hide I saw Skylark, Pheasant, Mallard, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Dunnock, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Teal, Wren, Ringed Plover, Little Grebe, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Great Tit, Wigeon, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan and Goldeneye.  Onto the east side and I added Rook, Grey Heron, Cormorant and Goldfinch.  Back towards the car and I also had a couple of Robins.

Good news, good news.  My Staffordshire list has increased by one without going out (well kind of anyway).  The recent Firecrest at Alvecote pools has always come up on the pager and Birdguides as Warwickshire.  Whilst having breakfast this morning, I was looking at a map of Staffordshire and for some reason I was looking at the Alvecote area.  I noticed that the border between Staffordshire and Warwickshire runs up from Stonydelph, cuts along the edge of Amington, up to Shuttington Road, turns right along the road, over Shuttington Bridge, turns left up Laundry Lane and then at the top of the lane carries straight on along the footpath.  As you stand on Laundry Lane and look northish, I saw the Firecrest on the left hand side (or the Pretty Pigs pool side), which is in Staffordshire.  I will put a photograph up to show the map but if anyone disagrees please contact me.  I hope I have also helped out anyone else with a new county tick.  Come on the weekend, loads of birding.

Yesterday there was a pair of Garganey reported yesterday but I could not make it.  I thought I would give it a go tonight but I thought the chances would be low as they are usually a very shy bird and the area around the pools is constantly worked during the day.  Walking up to the pool I saw Pheasant, Great Tit, Black-headed Gull, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Blackbird, House Sparrow, and Mallard.  On the pool which was very full of water i saw Coot, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Canada Geese, Redshank, Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pied Wagtail, Teal, Gadwall, Ringed Plover, and Moorhen.  No sign of the Garganey and I am not really suprised.  I did spot Dave Scattergood walking further up the footpath and if the birds are there he will find them.  I did not go any further as the quarry was still working and I had the dog.  I walked back and added Chaffinch, Starling, Barn Owl, Wren, and Jackdaw.  I have, today, booked my seats on a boat to go to the Farne Islands.  I am going on the 2nd and 3rd of June.  Cannot wait for that.  Plenty of really dodgy photos for you to get excited at.  Ha  ha

 

Other birds reported locally:- Whitemoor Haye had 1 Merlin, 3 Redshank, and 15 Tree Sparrow.  Blithfield had 26 Whooper Swan and 30+ Sand Martin.  Cheers Richard.

Due to work commitments I have done no birding.  One thing I do is read various blogs to keep up to date.  The main ones I read are Steve Nuttals blog from Belvide, Martyn Yapp's Blurred Birder, Kay and Max's Brightside birding and Richard Powell's Local Birding for Local People.  All are excellent sites in there own ways.  We have all links to each other somehow and I was just reading some other blogs advertised on other sites.  Please read the following, they are all excellent and very different. 

birdscreatures.blogspot.com

skills-bills.co.uk (not for the faint hearted or people under the age of 25 - very strong language but @$£*&?! funny)

freewebs.com/punkbirder/index

brandonbirding.co.uk

draycotebirding.co.uk

shustoke.blogspot.com

freewebs.com/gonebirding

wildenvironmentalist.blogspot.com

cid-f8a953b04beu6bf7.spaces.live.com

I am gutted I couldn't get out this weekend, especially as the weather turned out not too bad.  Bring on the Easter hols.  Happy birding.

Managed an hour and a half birding session/dog walk after work.  Decided to walk around the square and then scan the lake.  On the walk I saw Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Moorhen, Skylark, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Magpie, Wren, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, and Pheasant.  On and around the lake I saw  Long-tailed Tit,  Pied Wagtail (I counted at least 45 feeding on the high water line in the field plus quite a few more around the lake), Gadwall, Lapwing, Goldeneye, Teal, Canada Geese, Wigeon, Redshank, Song Thrush and Tufted Duck.  Nice.

I will give the regular readers prior warning that, due to work commitments, my birding oppurtunities will be very low.  After work on Saturday I will be watching Wales win the Grand Slam (at least I think it is Saturday).  Sunday I only have three hours spare so I will try and get out.  Happy birding for nthose going to nice places.

 

There is only one reason, at the moment, for visiting this area of the chase, a Lesser spotted Woodpecker.  Regular readers will know the fun I have with this species, and it continued today.  There was a no show but I did see Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin, Treecreeper, Blackbird, Canada Geese, Wren, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Magpie, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Siskin. 

 

 

I had a Woodlark here last year so I thought I would have a walk around and see if anything showed up.  The glorious weather had bought out loads of folk and so there was not many quiet places.  As I walked around I saw Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Wren, Magpie, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Buzzard, Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker.  

It was back to these small pools to see more birds.  When I arrived this time, the gulls stayed put so I started scanning to see if I could pick out a Caspian Gull.  There was one bird which seemed to match the description and I tried to get some photos.  Will check them out later.  Other birds seen were Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Canada Geese, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Carrion Crow, Mute Swan, Coot, Magpie, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Great-crested Grebe and Pochard.  I will let you know about the possible Caspian Gull.