A second weekend birding in Staffordshire. This time for a Common Crane that had arrived last week frequenting water meadows just outside the town of Stafford. A smart adult bird but just too distant for my camera. The area where the bird was feeding is quiet large and certainly the bird appeared to be well settled and undisturbed. A quick visit to Blithfield Reservoir, whilst in the area, is always worthwhile. On arrival the weather began to deteriorate and we had distant views of 3 Little Ringed Plover and a single Swallow with Sand Martin. Still a few Goldeneye about. […]
We were certainly in no mood for “Fooling Around” this morning!! Cannock Chase is only around 45 minutes drive from home and offers some good birds that are relatively on my doorstep. Providing, of course, you know where to go looking for them. It is a vast area and there are many access roads leading to all corners of this heathland habitat in the middle of Staffordshire. We were soon listening to the glorious song of the Woodlark and after putting in some time, we were eventually rewarded with good views of Dartford Warbler. Numerous small parties […]
Great Grey Shrike has eluded me on several occasions recently and so one that had been faithful to an area of Cannock Chase seemed to be a good bet this morning. It was a stunning morning, bright sunshine but gale force winds were blowing across the cleared fell area and it was two & a half hours later before I managed to locate the bird squatting on the tip of a pine tree stump. The bird was far to distant for any photography but nevertheless a smart individual. There were also numerous Brambling in the area, feeding on the […]
A morning birding on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire for spring migrants. No sooner had we started our walk, we quickly encountered a superb Wood Warbler, followed by Redstart, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo and several Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Garden Warbler. At the favoured location, we found a pair of Pied Flycatcher, more Redstarts and Tree Pipits. Eventually the elusive Dartford Warbler was found and along our route we had many Green Hairstreak butterflies and the Common Heath, a day flying moth. Elsewhere, at Blithfield Reservoir 4 Arctic Tern, a distant drake Garganey, a Greenland Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail. The […]