A Quail in Staffs - quick quick quick.
Berry Hill - Staffordshire 6.20 - 9.45pm
The more birding affluent of my readers will realise that the opening line referred to the call of Quail. If you didn't, you have just learnt something, now go out and find me one please because I am having a mid-year crisis with this notoriously difficult bird within the region.
I have now been for two in Worcestershire, twice and two lots in Staffordshire, including a session in suitable habitat trying to find my own.
Anyway, the Quail here tonight did call several times really close to the path over looking the area where the Lapland Bunting was. Looks a little different now with tall grass everywhere and needless to say I didn't get a sniff even with the use of a little field craft at times.
A Grasshopper Warbler reeled occasionally and there were a few Common Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Common Swift and House Martin around.
Damn it!
MY
13th JUNE 2009
Tatenhill Lane, Branston - Staffordshire 6.30am
A fruitless search for a Quail that had been heard by Arlewas Birder in crop close to the pub on the bridge. The area looks more than suitable for them, but I presume the road gets a little busy here making the task of hearing one difficult.
Interestingly I saw a Marsh Tit in one the hedgerows bordering the fields on the opposite side of the road, it called a few times confirming my initial thoughts.
Common Whitethroat 2, Reed Bunting 2, Skylark 5, Common Swift 20, Song Thrush 1 and a couple of over flying Cormorants were also noted.
Blithfield Reservoir - Staffordshire 8.30am
I managed to catch up with another year tick in the form of a Spotted Flycatcher.
Sometime was spent in the hide in Tad Bay which produced 2 Garden Warbler, 7 Common Teal, 2 Pochard, 2 Common Shelduck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 31 B.H Gull.
Luckily the Ruddy Shelduck had left, presumably to relocate with it's plastic brothers in Holland, or to grace a UK400 club members year list. No offence to UK400 Club members, but when you have seen hundreds of real ones in Asia, it just ain't the same in the UK.
A look down the Deep End produced two Hobbies that circled about St Stephen's Bay for a while before disappearing. 5 Common Buzzard were also counted here.
High Offley - Staffordshire
Why here I hear you ask? Well, this area has in the past produced Quail. Not today it didn't, I cruised and walked the area in the heat to no avail. In fact looking at my notebook I didn't really note anything, bar a few Common Whitethroat and Chaffinch. If fact I could have done with some of the Opium to get back focused after all that nothingness.
MY
A fruitless search for a Quail that had been heard by Arlewas Birder in crop close to the pub on the bridge. The area looks more than suitable for them, but I presume the road gets a little busy here making the task of hearing one difficult.
Interestingly I saw a Marsh Tit in one the hedgerows bordering the fields on the opposite side of the road, it called a few times confirming my initial thoughts.
Common Whitethroat 2, Reed Bunting 2, Skylark 5, Common Swift 20, Song Thrush 1 and a couple of over flying Cormorants were also noted.
Blithfield Reservoir - Staffordshire 8.30am
I managed to catch up with another year tick in the form of a Spotted Flycatcher.
Sometime was spent in the hide in Tad Bay which produced 2 Garden Warbler, 7 Common Teal, 2 Pochard, 2 Common Shelduck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 31 B.H Gull.
Luckily the Ruddy Shelduck had left, presumably to relocate with it's plastic brothers in Holland, or to grace a UK400 club members year list. No offence to UK400 Club members, but when you have seen hundreds of real ones in Asia, it just ain't the same in the UK.A look down the Deep End produced two Hobbies that circled about St Stephen's Bay for a while before disappearing. 5 Common Buzzard were also counted here.
High Offley - Staffordshire
Why here I hear you ask? Well, this area has in the past produced Quail. Not today it didn't, I cruised and walked the area in the heat to no avail. In fact looking at my notebook I didn't really note anything, bar a few Common Whitethroat and Chaffinch. If fact I could have done with some of the Opium to get back focused after all that nothingness.Doxey Marshes - Staffordshire
I finished off here, in hope that a late Marsh Harrier or something would pass my way, yep right. A few birds showed well the heat, namely 5 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 20 House Martin, 10 Common Swift, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Shoveler and 2 Sand Martin. Oh and Water Rail was heard.
MY10th JUNE 2009
Another year tick at a large shallow lake with a hide in Staffordshire..............
Thank goodness there is a hide here, because it was throwing it down. Not another birder on site this evening.
MY
Thank goodness there is a hide here, because it was throwing it down. Not another birder on site this evening.
MY
7th JUNE 2009
With the awful weather causing a slight lull in my birding activities yesterday I decided to get out into the field today. The weather was probably worst with torrential rain for the best part of the morning.
Essington Quarry Pool - Staffordshire 6.30am
A bit after the event I decided to try and see the recently present Quail to the south of the pool. Me not really knowing the area that well I decided to walk down the side of pool. Bad idea, I got soaked in every department and came away one hour later with my earlier enthusiasm wained.
The only birds I lifted my bins to look at were a few mixed hirundines and Swift that flew low over the pool. Sand Martin 20, Swallow and House Martin 1 ea.
Blithfield Reservoir - Staffordshire 8.00am
I do go on about sunshine birders, but even at this late stage, spring migration does have the habit of producing a crippler or two, so relax at your peril.
Well I could only do the Deep End from the car which surprisingly held 2 Black Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and 2+ Common Terns. 6 Common Shelduck flew around for a while and the place was a heaving with Common Swift and hirundines. Greenshank was only heard.
Belvide Reservoir - Staffordshire
Thanks for personal ring from Steve Nuttall I was on my way to this "Golden Pond" on the A5. The weather had brought in a superb Spotted Redshank in full summer plumage. It graced the north shore and spent long periods feeding in a inlet just out of sight of the Briant Hide.
Whilst there it was obvious that there was still a little bit of stuff still in the migration pipe and at least 12 Ringed Plover flew in and joined single Ringed Plover that was already present. A Redshank and the odd Oystercather was also seen.
Aqualate Mere - Staffordshire 2.30pm
Apparently a Marsh Harrier had been seen last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Looks at pager and can't see any messages, suppression rears it's ugly head all over the place and I don't care what anyone says I now more than several people that would of been interested in trying to see this bird, but they were not given the chance. Disappointing to see this kind of attitude regarding semi-rare birds, you can bet your life that many of the people concerned visited Belvide to see the Red-necked Phalarope. Steve would get shot if he suppressed a good bird on his patch, but luckily the good birders of our county are prepared to share there finds.
Needless to say I did not see it in three hours of watching the reedbed. In fact I was the first in the hide today because the benches were all put together and the cushions were spread out in bed position. A tramp or a bonker, who knows.
Birds seen were 2 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, Cuckoo (h), Common Buzzard 3, Reed Bunting 1
MY
Essington Quarry Pool - Staffordshire 6.30am
A bit after the event I decided to try and see the recently present Quail to the south of the pool. Me not really knowing the area that well I decided to walk down the side of pool. Bad idea, I got soaked in every department and came away one hour later with my earlier enthusiasm wained.
The only birds I lifted my bins to look at were a few mixed hirundines and Swift that flew low over the pool. Sand Martin 20, Swallow and House Martin 1 ea.
Blithfield Reservoir - Staffordshire 8.00am
I do go on about sunshine birders, but even at this late stage, spring migration does have the habit of producing a crippler or two, so relax at your peril.
Well I could only do the Deep End from the car which surprisingly held 2 Black Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and 2+ Common Terns. 6 Common Shelduck flew around for a while and the place was a heaving with Common Swift and hirundines. Greenshank was only heard.
Belvide Reservoir - Staffordshire
Thanks for personal ring from Steve Nuttall I was on my way to this "Golden Pond" on the A5. The weather had brought in a superb Spotted Redshank in full summer plumage. It graced the north shore and spent long periods feeding in a inlet just out of sight of the Briant Hide.
Whilst there it was obvious that there was still a little bit of stuff still in the migration pipe and at least 12 Ringed Plover flew in and joined single Ringed Plover that was already present. A Redshank and the odd Oystercather was also seen.
Aqualate Mere - Staffordshire 2.30pm
Apparently a Marsh Harrier had been seen last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Looks at pager and can't see any messages, suppression rears it's ugly head all over the place and I don't care what anyone says I now more than several people that would of been interested in trying to see this bird, but they were not given the chance. Disappointing to see this kind of attitude regarding semi-rare birds, you can bet your life that many of the people concerned visited Belvide to see the Red-necked Phalarope. Steve would get shot if he suppressed a good bird on his patch, but luckily the good birders of our county are prepared to share there finds.
Needless to say I did not see it in three hours of watching the reedbed. In fact I was the first in the hide today because the benches were all put together and the cushions were spread out in bed position. A tramp or a bonker, who knows.
Birds seen were 2 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, Cuckoo (h), Common Buzzard 3, Reed Bunting 1
MY
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