Sunday 30 December 2012

30-12-12.

After visiting nearby Croxall pits I popped into good old WH and there was avery strange thing in the sky.  Every now and again there was a harsh shower but this round thing was pretty persistant today!!!!!!  I did the usuall places and birds noted around the quarry entrance and small wood were Goldfinch, 81 Wigeon, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, Redwing, Blue Tit, 4 Tufted Duck, 150+ Lapwing, 300+ Golden Plover, Pied Wagtail, 8 Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Robin, 10 Mute Swans (4 over and 6 more round the rest of the site), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Pheasant, 5 Stock Doves, 1 Goldcrest Woodpigeon, Chaffinch and Dunnock.
On to the rest of the site and I added 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Little Owl, 4+ Mistle Thrush, 1 Buzzard, couple of hundred Starlings, many Fieldfare and Redwing in the old pig field, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer, a smart male Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit, a single Tree Sparrow, 250+ Linnets in the old pig field, several House Sparrow at Sittles farm, Sparrowhawk, Wren and Carrion Crow.

Saturday 29 December 2012

29-12-12.

After getting an early visit trip to Tesco before dawn and with no rain, as soon as it was light enough to go birding it was also raining enough to get wet very quickly and I couldnt be bothered with that.  It was not until around lunchtime that the rain eased off so I set off, in hope rather than expectation, and it wasn't long until it was raining again so I birded mainly by car.  Birds noted were Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, 61 Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Sparrowhawk, 400+ Lapwing either on the flooded field or roosting on the far side of the quarry pool, 40+ Pied Wagtail - there was the odd one around the pool but loads in the old pig field, Meadow Pipit, 9 Mute Swan, Moorhen, 1 Little Owl, Robin, Woodpigeon, 1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Redwing, Starling, Canada Geese, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Buzzard and Chaffinch.
By now it was raining heavier so I decided to go home for a cup of tea however it did clear up later on so once again I popped down and had a final check over the pool and around the lanes and added 10 Redshank, Wren, 11 Teal, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldfinch, at least two Lesser Redpolls with the Goldfinch, and Blue and Great Tits.

Friday 28 December 2012

28-12-12

Todays forecast - rain.  Tomorrows forecast - rain.  Next days forecast - rain. Its getting a little bit tedious now.  Todays visit was delayed until the crappy rain had finally stopped and the first stop was by the quarry entrance.  In my very minimal experience afternoon birding at WH is not the most productive and today proved that.  Birds noted were 33 Wigeon, at least 600+ Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Black Headed Gull, 12 Tufted Duck, around 60 Golden Plover, Magpie, Woodpigeon, 2 Kestrel, 4 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Wren, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kingfisher feeding in the ditches, Chaffinch and a couple of Pied Wagtail. 
Onto around the lanes and I could only add the following. 3 Mute Swan, 2 Little Owl, 1 Buzzard, a few Linnet, 60+ Fieldfare, 80+ Redwing, 9 Grey Partridge, around 8 Yellowhammer, Canada Geese and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Wednesday 26 December 2012

26-12-12

Well thats that over and done with for another twelve months!!!!!!!!  I was able to get out today due to the lack of alcohol in my blood system for the first time since the weekend.  The floods had again returned to WH with the roads blocked and at one point my known drinking associated was concerned his parents were not going to get an Xmas lunch although my swimming trunks were at the ready and we were prepared for everything however no need to worry because as we sat it the pub on Xmas Eve the water was receding and all was well in the end. 
On to the birding and it was a case of hanging about un til the rains came at lunchtime.  First stop was the quarry pool and surroundings and this turned out very productive.  As I arrived I could here the Wigeon doin what Wigeon do but I was struggling to see the birds on the pool due to the low and very bright sun.  The following counts are what I could make out and then there was proberbly about another 100 different wildfowl.  Birds noted were 102 Wigeon, Woodpigeon (over 1000 birds were present where the Mute Swans have been present plus many more around the site), Starling, Black Headed Gull, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, several Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Blackbird, 3 Lapwing to begin with before a large group turned up of 800 birds plus, 37 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 5 Redshank, Magpie, 73 Teal, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Lesser Redpoll in a group of 60+ Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wren, 8 Cormorant, Great Tit, 20 Mute Swan, 200+ Golden Plover with the Lapwings, Pied Wagtail, Linnet, 6 Waxwings that were in the alders - a site tick for me as I missed the last few a couple of years ago to my MS and I was gutted but made up now, and finally a couple of Meadow Pipits present. 
Onto the lanes and I added several Skylark, 30+ Fieldfare, 1 Kestrel, Yellowhammer, 60+ Redwings, 1 Buzzard, Stock Dove, 7 Coot, 1 Little Owl, House Sparrow, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Pheasant, Dunnock and Carrion Crow.          
All in all not a bad few hours down the patch which included a site tick for life, Waxwing, and one for the year, Redpoll.  Bonus.

Wednesday 19 December 2012

19-12-12

With the weather forecasted to be pretty rubbish for most of the day and looking very overcast to start with I decided to head out first thing, check out near the quarry entrance before driving around the site to check out different areas and not get caught in the rain.  As it turned out we did not have too much but I had other things planned for the day.  Bloody forecasters!!!!!  Birds noted were 1 Grey Heron, 45 Wigeon, Black Headed Gulls, Goldfinch, 44 Cormorants all feeding on the pool, my most here by far, 5 Mallards, Great Tit, 13 Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 650+ Lapwings mostly over the far side of the workings and only seen when disturbed, Blackbird, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Chaffinch, 48 Golden Plover, 1 only Skylark, Robin, Woodpigeon, Starling, 2 Buzzards, 37 Fieldfare, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Pheasant, 1 Sparrowhawk, Magpie, 1 Kestrel, 2 Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush, Wren, House Sparrow, 4 Mute Swan and Carrion Crow.    

17-12-12

Things to do today but I was able to get in a visit to WH to see what was about.  I noted 1 Grey Heron, 4 Cormorant,  384 Lapwing, Long-tailed Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, 33 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Tufted Duck, Reed Bunting, Black Headed Gull, Wren, 70+ Golden Plover, Dunnock, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Starling, Blackbird, Pheasant, 4 Goldcrest, 8 Fieldfare, 52 Mute Swan (in several groups as still no sign of large flock), 40+ Skylarks feeding, Magpie, Linnet, Blue Tit, 1 Kestrel, 2 singing Corn Buntings, Redwing, Yellowhammer, 6 Mallards, at least 2 Bramblings in with a large Chaffinch flock feeding in the old pig field where the caravan is at the moment, 6 Collarded Doves over, 2 Little Owls, a few Tree Sparrows, Moorhen, House Sparrows near Sittles Farm, and a few Stock Doves around. 

16-12-12

First day of a very long holiday for me where, weather pemitting, I will be doing my fair share of local patchwork.  After checking out some local pits it was down to WH just before midday for a couple of hours.  Birds noted were 29 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 13 Mute Swan (due to a very load gas gun in the field the large flock were not present today), 3 Great Crested Grebe, Linnet, 8 Cormorant, Black Headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Magpie, Dunnock, Blackbird, Great Tit, 2 Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Moorhen, 30 plus Skylarks feeding, a few Tree Sparrows, 27 Stock Doves, Robin, Wren, Starling, 6 Mallards, 1 Little Egret, Chaffinch, 76 Lapwing, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, a Merlin that was hunting over the fields, Redwing, Reed Bunting and 9 Golden Plover flew through.

12-12-12

It was a stunning morning at WH today, sunny but chilly and the birds did not dissapoint.  Birds noted were 56 Wigeon, many Lesser Black-backed Gulls streaming over, 51 Pochard, 6 Mallard, Carrion Crow, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Snipe, Woodpigeon, Linnet, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 27 Golden Plover, Redwing, Goldfinch, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Fieldfare, Cormorant, 60 Lapwing, 43 Skylark, a single Redshank, Long-tailed Tits, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Tree Sparrow, 1 Kestrel, Magpie, 1 Buzzard, 91 Mute Swan, Collared Dove, 30+ House Sparrows, Pheasants and a single Jay.

Thursday 13 December 2012

11-12-12

Just using up my last few holidays of the year with a couple of days off, three days at work then three weeks off.  Get in!!!  After visiting a local site first it was then a walk around WH.  The lake was partially frozen and there was about a hundred wildfowl on there but I didn't stop as the sunlight was right over the pool and I was popping down to the rough track to put out some bird food and do a bit of photography before checking out what was on the lake, bad mistake as the outdoor centre staff were walking around the pool as I arrived and had scarred everything off!!!!! Not one duck was seen after.  I parked up for about half an hour and took a few photos which didn't turn out to good but birds noted whilst there were Dunnock, Moorhen, 4 Grey Partridge, 5 Tree Sparrow, 7 Yellowhammer, a few Robins, Blackbird, Chaffinch, 30+ Golden Plover (another 40+ were seen later), Carrion Crow, 43 Skylark was my highest count throughout my visit, 2 Mistle Thrush and about 120 Lapwing with another 100 seen throughout the visit.  Onto the quarry entrance area and with nothing on the lake I did a bit of hedge and woodland bashing.  Birds noted were Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Linnet, Wren, 3+ Jay, several Redwing, and lots of Woodpigeon.  A walk around the rough track was next and I added 3 Mute Swan, several Fieldfare, Goldfinch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker flying towards the wood, 3 Ruff had now joined the Lapwing/Golden Plover flock, 150+ Starling were feeding on the ploughed surface, Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull and a few Magpie.  The last thing to do was to count the Mute Swan flock further round the trackes and they totalled 115.  

Wednesday 5 December 2012

News

Just to let you know I have started putting photos under the photo tab.  As I do not know how to add new postings on the three tabs but not this one I will keep putting bird photos under each other so you will need to have a check every now and again in case I have put anything on.  I will also inform you on this tab if anything new is on.  The photos will not just be of birds around WH but anywhere.

Sunday 2 December 2012

2-12-12

Wow, what a morning it turned out to be, birding and weather wise.  If there was ever a weather I would like for the resty of my life then this mornings weather would do nicely, very cold frosty morning with a good sun.  Perfect.  The birding was not bad to with 50 species making it in to my little note book.
Birds noted around the site were Magpie, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, 105 Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, several hundred Woodpigeons, Starlings, 13 Teal, 28 Pochard, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, 300+ Lapwing, 150+ Golden Plover, Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch, 2 only Fieldfare, 3 Grey Heron, a few Redwing, Wren, Robin, 9 Grey Partridge, 110 Mute Swan, Stock Dove, Dunnock, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Tree Sparrow, Canada Geese, 1 Redshank calling whilst flying around the far pit, Meadow Pipits, Magpie, a cracking male Merlin hunting around the microlight field, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Kestrel, 11 Skylark, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Buzzards, 10 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 4 Cormorants, 3 House Sparrow, 1 Coot, Linnet, Song Thrush and a Collared Dove.  Fantastic.
Thats me done for a little while as I am workining all day Saturday and then fishing match on the Sunday with no days off until 14th December.

Saturday 1 December 2012

Aaaaargh

Help.  Does anybody that uses blogger know how to write posts in other tabs on the same blog?  Take my blog for example, I can happily produce posts under the first tab but I cannot write anything other than the first post in the other tabs.  If I click on away days, then click on new post, type something that then comes under the first tab, not where I want it.  I am not the smartest and I am sure I am missing something very obvious, I just can't bloddy see it!!!!  Any help would be fantastic.

1-12-12

Blimey, December already and it feels like it too.  Unfortunately my small break came to an end as I was back to work today for most of the day however I was able to get down to the old local an hour before sunset.  Birds noted on my small site visit were 22 Wigeon, 117 Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Black Headed Gull (quite a few during the visit buit as I left there must have been a 1000 gulls on the flooded field with most being BHG's), lots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls with well over 1000 and rising as they headed to roost, Pied Wagtail, 23 Tufted Duck, 400+ Lapwing (didn't have much chance to count as another birder showed some crap field skills as he got oit of his car and they all lifted a flew away), 500 Golden Plover (same problem as with Lapwing), Robin, Wren, Dunnock, a few Redwing, Linnet, Blackbird, 2 Redshank on the flooded field before flying off, Pheasant, Great Tit, Moorhen, 1 Little Owl, 12 Siskin, 18 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Meadow Pipits, Magpie, Woodpigeon and 1 Mistle Thrush. 

30-11-12

Another nice cool day but a bit overcast.  After a start at a local reserve I was at WH a bit later than usual and proceeded to cover as much as the site as I could. Birds noted - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, 155 Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Wren, easily 1000+ Lapwing along with 500+ Golden Plover on the flooded field opposite the large building (Whitemoor Haye house- that name took some thinking!!!!!!), over 100 hundred Starling, Robin, a few Reed Bunting, several small flocks of Goldfinch, Linnet and Meadow Pipits, 3 Tree Sparrow, 12 Redwing, 3 Wigeon, 91 Mute Swan, Bullfinch, 2 Blackcap, a single Siskin, Dunnock, Great Tit, 1 Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Magpie, 1 Dunlin on the flooded field, Yellowhammer, Cormorant, 30+ Skylarks, 5 Stock Doves, Canada Geese, 30+ Mallard, 10+ Tufted Duck, 20+ Teal, 6+ Shoveler, a few House Sparrows by Sittles farm entrance, Carrion Crow, Pheasants, Woodpigeon and Pied Wagtail.

29-11-12

What a gorgeous morning and the birding was not bad either.  Nothing special but just a great day to be out.  Birds noted. 
32+ Fieldfare, 6+ Redwing, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Starling, Black Headed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, Moorhen, Goldfinch, 3 Reed Bunting, Wren, 22 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, 1000+ mix of Golden Plover and Lapwing (majority being Lapwing), Canada Geese, 68 Mute Swan, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Pheasant, Chaffinch, Magpie, 3 Tree Sparrow, 12 Teal, 77 Wigeon, 6 Mallard, Robin, 1 Kingfisher, 56+ Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, Linnets, Blue Tit, 3 Stock Dove, 24 House Sparrow, 1 Shelduck and a few Yellowhammers.

28-11-12

Well its been a while since I have been able to get to the patch for a bit of birding due to work and fishing matches etc.  I have finally got a few days off and something else nearly put pay to a visit, water.  Bloody loads of it too.  WH was almost cut off due to floods that were too deep to drive through at the arboretum entrance and most of the other lanes under water but fortunately the rains stopped and the water levels started to fall by today.  I managed to reach the lakes and had a good look before driving around the lanes and checking out various places.  Birds noted were Carrion Crow, Magpie, 2 Kestrel, lots of Black Headed Gulls, 62 Mute Swan, Wren, 7 Mallard, 8 Linnet, a few Tree Sparrows, 1 Grey Heron, circa 100 Starling, 1 Fieldfare heard, several Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Dunnock, 39+ Lapwing, 3 Redwing, Robin, Cormorant, Greenfinch, Pheasant, Chaffinch, several Meadow Pipits, Woodpigeon, a few Skylarks, Blue Tit, 1 Grey Partridge calling, Yellowhammer and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.   

Sunday 18 November 2012

10-11-12

Its a case of slow postings lately due to excess work and no play.  In fact this will be the last post until at least the 28th November, thats my next day off with nowt planned.  On to today and after working till mid afternoon I enjoyed a cracking walk around Whitemoor Haye.  I stoped off at the pool to begin with, checked the lake and then the smalland behind.  Birds noted were 2 Mallard (as I parked up around 15 birds flew, I assume these were Mallard), 1 Mute Swan (another 10 were found around the lanes), Wren, Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, 2 Fieldfare (about 170 birds in total around the whole site), 14 Siskin were feeding in the alders, a cracking male Bullfinch was showing brilliantly in the afternoon sun, 22 Wigeon, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, about 300 Lapwing flew over the lake and they came from Croxall area and as I watched these a flock of about 200 Golden Plover was flying over quite high but kept changing direction as if looking for somewhere to land*, the Lapwing count increased to around 800+ with more groups seen*, a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the pool but there was 1000+ chilling out on the fields or flying around, Blue Tit, Blackbird, 1 Treecreeper, Greenfinch and Linnet.
On to a walk around the lanes and I added loads of Magpies, 2 Kestrels, 1 Moorhen, 15 Tree Sparrows, 9 Yellowhammer, 1000+ Black Headed Gulls following a tractor seeding, Dunnock, 14 Grey Partridge, 1 Buzzard, 4 Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, 2+ Great Black-backed Gulls in with the LBBG's, and Chaffinch.
A really enjoyable afternoon around Whitemoor Haye. 
* After I had done at WH I popped to Croxall GP and had a look over the road into a field where there were several hundred Lapwing and Golden Plover.  This was the direction I saw several groups of Lapwing fly to WH.  Worth a check again.

Stuff

Whilst many of you are filling your boots with a county mega in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper and some great views of Waxwings I am still very busy work.  Will the WRS hang on till then?  Will there be any berries for theWaxwings to eat?  I am seriously doubting it.
Is there anybody out there that can assist with my WeBS counting as I have struggled to do them of late?  I cover Croxall to Barton, some superb ground, and most pretty accessable etc.  I will be able to help some of the time but I am just not able to commit to it anymore.  If this could be you then contact me.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

28-10-12

With autumn coming and the clocks going back I was up at 05.00, a tad early and eager for a bit of sunlight to get out.  Todays plan, Whitemoor Haye and then a few more sites which I would like to put in the away day tab but unable.  If anyone can help then feel free.
Birds noted at Whitemoor haye.
Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Woodpigeon, 226 Lapwing, 8 Mallard, Grey Heron, Wren, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, 18 Wigeon on the main lake plus another 30 flying over, Chaffinch, 21 Pochard, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, 60+ Linnet around the site, 51+ Redwing, Jackdaw, several Meadow Pipits around, 17 Fieldfare, Great Tit, Starling, 50+ Goldfinch, 25 Stock Dove, a few Tree Sparrow, 37+ Skylarks, Moorhen, Greylag Geese, 57 Mute Swan, 8 Yellowhammer and a few Long-tailed Tits.

Saturday 27 October 2012

27-10-12

16th of October was my 100th visit to Whitemoor Haye this calendar year so during the long autumn nights I have already counted up my sightings as no calculator needed to work out the percentage.  Results are:-
1st - Wren, 94%
2nd - Carrion Crow, 93%
3rd - Woodpigeon, 92%
4th - Robin, 89%
5th - Mute Swan, 86%
6th - Black Headed Gull, 85%
7th - Mallard, 83%
8th - Tree Sparrow, 81%
9th= - Pheasant
9th= - Magpie
9th= - Linnet
9th = Yellowhammer.
13th - Lapwing, 76%

On to todays birding and my plan was to bird between dawn and 11.00 before my flu jab at 11.05 then I was popping off to work for a couple of hours but on the way to Whitemoor Haye I decided to pop to Croxall GP to take a look.  Once I had finished there I had about 30 minutes to kill so i checked out the pool, couldnt look in the small wood on the opposite side of the road as a local shooter was preping the wood to feed up the Pheasants so he can shoot them, then had a quick drive along the rough track, checked out the mound behind Sittles farm then i went home to be jabbed.  Birds noted were about 400 Fieldfare flew over on driving to the pool, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Magpie, Pheasant, Blackbird, circa 300 Lapwing, Goldfinch, 20+ Skylark, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, a single Little Owl, about 100 Mute Swans, 3 Golden Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 9 House Sparrows having a bath by the entrance to Sittles farm, a few Mallard on the old pig field, Long-tailed Tit and a single Stock Dove over.  

Friday 26 October 2012

28-9-12 to 26-10-12

I have been slacking on blog postings recently so I will catch up with a brief write up from each day to present (26-10-12).

28-9-12.
Carrion Crow, Blackbird, 2 Mute Swan, Linnet, 29 Coot, Black Headed Gull, Swallow, 27 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Shoveler, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wren, Pied Wagtail, 12 Tree Sparrow, 90 Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, Goldfinch, 4 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Starling, Cormorant, 5 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover flying over and calling, Pheasant, 1 Jay, small group of Herring Gulls and Greylag Geese.

29-9-12.
Robin, Starling, Carrion Crow, 4 Grey Heron, Blue Tit, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, 8 Mute Swan, 6 Shoveler (as I was setting up a large flock of ducks departed the main lake and headed for the far pit which I guess were more Shoveler and Mallard), Wren, Swallow, 60+ Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Dunnock, 2 Sparrowhawk, 31 Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Greylag Geese, Kestrel, 5 Tree Sparrow, 80+ Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Moorhen.

12-10-12.
Linnet, Robin, 48 Mute Swan, Long-tailed Tit, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, 78 Mallard, 27 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Peregrine, Black Headed Gull, 2 Tufted Duck, Meadow Pipit, 355+ Lapwing, 6 Redwing, Wren, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Starling, Blackbird, Skylark, Dunnock, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Chaffinch, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Buzzard, Yellowhammer, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Magpie, 2 Jay, 2 Collared Dove, 4 Grey Partridge and Carrion Crow.

14-10-12.
Starling, Blackbird, Dunnock, 50 Lapwing, Skylark, Yellowhammer, 100+ Linnet, Carrion Crow, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Magpie, 2 Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 31 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard, Canada Geese, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 2 Jay, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, 3 Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Moorhen and Cormorant.

16-10-12.
96 Mute Swan, 1500+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, 13 Lapwing, 36 Mallard, Woodpigeon, Canada Geese, Kestrel, Dunnock, Pheasant, Skylark, Cormorant, Wren, Grey Partridge, Robin, Grey Heron, a single Wigeon heard only, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Moorhen.

26-10-12.
Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, 1500+ of Lesser Black-backed and Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Canada Geese, 89 Mute Swan, Starling, Robin, 17 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, at least 652 Fieldfare in several areas around the site, 1 Little Owl, 9 Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, 13 Grey Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, Wren, 6 Mallard, Pied Wagtail, 3 Skylark and a single Moorhen.

Thats me up to date now and as you can see thnere is not much there due to a very busy work and social schedule and this weekend is my last weekend off as I am working solid up to Christmas!!!!

Recently plans have been on show which are going to have a massive impact on birding in the Trent and Tame valley between Burton Upon trent and Tamworth.  Five new villages plus lots of new leisure facilities are planned to be constructed in the coming years.  I couldnt make it to the national arboretum to see the plans but I have heard there is going to be an olympic rowing centre built at Whitemoor Haye on the second pit.  This along with the Whitemoor Lakes will surely see the end of breeding wader birds along the shorelines and I am currently enjoying the vast numbers of gulls roosting on the second pit, these will no doubt be going elsewhere.  If it was not fot he Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting and other regionally rare birds then this site would be wiped off the list, there is chance yet especially with new villages planned very close and increase in traffic.  Frightening times ahead for this marvellous site.  Dawn is heer so I am off birding before going to work.  Oh yeah, flu jab as well today!!!!!!!!!!!! 
 

Tuesday 25 September 2012

25-9-12

No birding tonight as the rain was pretty constant however the news of a Long-tailed Skua flying through Belvide reservoir was a bit exciting.  What else is flying past this afternoon?????
Anyway down to this post.  A few posts ago I mentioned about I keep a record of each visit to Whitemoor Haye and at the end of the year I tally up totals of visits and be a nerd and turn them into percentages of presence and below are the previous five years if anyone is slightly interested!!!!!

2011  103 visits
1 Carrion Crow - 95.1%
2 Black Headed Gull - 87.4%
3= Woodpigeon - 86.4%
3= Mallard - 86.4%
5 Tree Sparrow - 85.4%

2010  87 visits
1 Woodpigeon - 91.1%
2 Carrion Crow - 90%
3 Magpie - 85.3%
4 Black Headed Gull - 81.1%
5 Lapwing 77.7%

2009  64 visits
1 Carrion Crow - 92.2%
2 Magpie - 81.2%
3 Black Headed Gull - 78.1%
4 Wren - 76.6%
5 Woodpigeon - 75%

2008  57 visits
1 Carrion Crow - 94.7%
2= Magpie - 80.7%
2= Woodpigeon 80.7%
4 Black Headed Gull - 77.2%
5 Lapwing - 68.4%

2007  58 visits
1 Carrion Crow - 89.6%
2 Magpie - 77.6%
3 Woodpigeon - 65.5%
4 Mute Swan - 60.3%
5 Lapwing - 56.9%

Something a little bit nerdy!!!!!!!!!

Monday 24 September 2012

24-9-12

Having left work to go home at lunchtime (work from home rather than spread the disease around the office) I decided to get a bit of fresh air once the rain had stopped and had an hour down WH.  A hung around the quarry lake but the birding was poor.  Birds noted were Magpie, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull - there was a steady stream of these and Black Headed Gull onto the far lake prior to dusk, these birds must be using here as a roost, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, Robin, Linnet and a Pied Wagtail.  A drive around the lanes produced 56 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawks, a few Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, a Pheasant, 1 Buzzard, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 Tufted Duck and 4 Mallards.
Lots of Swallows were passing through tonight in quite high numbers on their epic trip back to Africa.

Whilst hanging around the pool tonight I couldnt help thinking about the demise of the birding on the pool obviously down to the activity centre.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing and this blog really is ten years to late, Alrewas Birder should only just have started and this one just ended.  Never mind, I wiull perservere and I will soon get round to adding my away adventures, there have been a few but just cannot remeber how to put them on the seperate tabs.   

23-9-12

With no change in my horrendous man-flu I managed to drag myself off ther couch and pop down to WH to see what was around, especially as the forecasted rain had not yet arrived.  Birds noted around the quarry pool area were 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull, Canada Geese, Mipits, Blackbird, Wren, 2 Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, about 250 Woodpigeons flew over + another 50+ around the site, Starlings, 1 Little Egret, circa 200 Goldfinch, several Robins around, 300+ Linnets - I do not remember these numbers around here before, Stock Dove, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallards and a few Pheasants.  On to the lanes and I added around 100 Lapwings, Moorhen, Magpie, a single Jay, Skylarks, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Dunnock, Swallow and Long-tailed Tits. 

22-9-12

Its been sometime since the last blog post but I have had the audacity to go away on holiday and not a birding holiday either, none of them for me this year.  Nuff said on the holiday front, do not want to tell me people of my other sad hobbies.  Anyway a nice break was followed by man-flu.  Bad or what.  Baird's Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers, all lifers to go on my quite tragic life list, and all I could do is sit at home sniffling, shivering and coughing.  I did pop down to the old faithful though and birds noted here were Starling, Woodpigeon, Robin, 3 Mallards, Wren, a single Tufted Duck, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, Magpie, Great Tit, circa 55 Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, several Skylarks, a steady stream of Swallows passing through, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tits, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, Blackbird, a single Treecreeper, circa 250 Linnets, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Buzzards, circa 200 Lapwing, a few Meadow Pipits, a nice bonus in the shape of a female/juvenile Merlin hunting pipits and larks, 3 Grey Herons, Jackdaws and the sound of a Curlew over the far pits but not seen.  With my energy levels seriously lacking it was home to sleep, cough, sneeze and whimper.

Monday 3 September 2012

3-9-12

I was not meant to be birding tonight but my dog needed a walk so we went round WH and carried my binoculars with me however my scope was in the car and I suppose a stop at the quarry pool would not go amiss.  Around the lanes first and birds noted were Carrion Crow, about 130 Linnet, Black Headed Gull, about 40 Tree Sparrow around the site, 1 Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Robin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Swallow, Magpie, Yellowhammer, Wren, and about 10 Goldfinch on the pig field however there were definately more feeding on the thistle heads.  A quick stop at the quarry pool and I added 1 Cormorant flying over, 1 Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, 2 Common Sandpiper, Pied Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Yellow Wagtail on the quarry, Great Tit, 2 Lapwing over, 2 Treecreeper, Blackbird and Starling.   

2-9-12

Not a very good day as I was not feeling too good today but I neede to get a bit of fresh air and the dog needed walking so I got my backside off the seteeand headed out.  At the quarry pool I noted about 100 restless Goldfinch flying and feeding, Linnet, Robin, 2 calling Grey Partridge, Wren, Swallow, Canada Geese, Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Magpie, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, 2 Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff in the hedges, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Pheasant and Great Tit.  On to the lanes and I added Moorhen, 2 Yellow Wagtails over, 1 Little Owl, about 20 Tree Sparrows, Jackdaw, Starling, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a fly over Mallard.

27-8-12

Twitching.  Local patch birding.  Garden birding Whatever the birding that you prefer ther is a reason for it.  I love all of the above but my main birding is local patch birding, trying to find new stuff for a patch as wellas recording what and how many are present.  Having birded Whitemoor Haye for over 10 years I am slowly building up records of birds present on days and I keep these in various forms.  One form is a kind of scatter graph that I keep and at the end of the year I count up how many times a bird has been recorded and then work out the percentage for the year.  Sad eh????  Anyway one day maybe I will show my findings, in the meantime it is back to good old patch work and I was in  for a bit of a bonus.
First stop was the usual quarry pool and birds noted were Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Pheasant, Black Headed Gull, Tree Sparrow, Sand Martin, Buzzard (in total I counted 7 throughout the area), Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 14 Lapwing over, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldfinch and also a cracking bonus.  Whilst checking over the pool I heard a Buzzard calling and I had a look through the bins at what I thought were two but in fact one was a Red Kite.  Not a suprising bird nowadays as they seem to be reported almost weekly but this was my first for Whitemoor Haye and also my first for Staffordshire at long last.  It hung around for 10 minutes before heading towards the field by Sittles farm so I decided to jump in my car hoping to photograph the bird but when I got to the field there was no sign for a short while before I suddenly saw it flying westwards before disappearing over the quarry.  Unfortunately no photograph but what a bird.  I headed back to the quarry to add House Martin before heading around the lanes and I added Stock Dove, 1 hawking Hobby, Linnet, 4 Mallard, Canada Geese, Common Whitethroat and Great Tit.  Not a bad session and the reason why local patch work is great. 

Tuesday 28 August 2012

25-8-12

I decided to take notice of my advice to stay away from afternoon birding around here so was up with the lark, well almost and the lark I was following had a small lie in.  First stop was around the quarry entrance and birds noted were Robin, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Common Whitethroat (2 here and one around the lanes), Starling, 5 Mute Swan, Blue Tit, Linnet - small flock of about 15 with the odd few around the lanes, a single Chiffchaff along with a rough looking female Blackcap, about 50 Goldfinch with another 20 to 30 around the lanes, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Great Tit, Wren, Black Headed Gull, 7 Pied Wagtails, 2 Buzzards, several House Martins in with Swallows, 4 Cormorant over, 3 Mallard flew in to the far lake, the odd Sand Martin and a steady string of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying in and out of the far lake.  Onto the lanes and I added Moorhen, Stock Dove, Blackbird, Canada Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Owl, a Garden Warbler was a suprise in with a small flock of Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer, 1 Kestrel, Reed Bunting and Pheasants.

22-8-12

Today was another afternoon as I had to go out early in the morning however it turned to be an absolute waste of time and effort.  Do not do afternoon birding around Whitemoor Haye, it can ruin you.  Birds noted around the pool area were Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Wren, Swallow, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Linnet, Pheasant, Blue Tit and Pied Wagtail.
On to the lanes and I added Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Common Whitethroat, Magpie, Little Owl, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Yellowhammer and a Grey Heron
You have been warned.

21-8-12

After a visit to Croxal very first it was back to the usual.  As is the norm the first place I stopped off was the quarry pool.  Water levels are still very high with very little shoreline showing but with the busy outdoor centre I think a half empty quarry would not attract much stuff these days.  Very disappointing really.  On to the birds and I noted Robin, Linnet, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Tufted Duck (wow), Pied Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Goldfinch (a flock of about 50 birds was on the seeding thistle heads on the edge of the conveyor belt in the quarry with a few more seen around the lanes), Black Headed Gull, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Pheasant, Wren, Cormorant and a Grey Heron.  On to the lanes and it did not get any better.  I noted Tree Sparrow, Mallard over, Stock Dove, 2 Little Owls, Yellowhammer, 2 Grey Partridge calling, Great Tit, Buzzard, Blackcap, Blackbird, Magpie and Moorhen.
The lack of photography may have been noted in this blog, reason being my camera broke and I cant find a decent replacement for it however I have just had a new phone.  Not bad eh? 


Monday 20 August 2012

20-8-12

I have decided to have my first week ofof the year and with nothing planned I am hoping to keep up my attendance at Whitemoor Haye even though it has been pretty poor this summer.  First site was the quarry pool and birds noted were Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Yellowhammer, Black Headed Gull, 2 Common Sandpipers, Linnet, Swallow, Wren, Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Goldfinch, 1 Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Black-backed Gulls,  Very quiet. On to the lanes and I added Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Common Whitethroat, 1 Buzzard, Stock Dove, a suprise in the shape of  a Nuthatch in a tree near the Little Owl tree, 1 Little Owl in the Little Owl tree!!!!!, Magpie, Blue Tit, Starling, Moorhen and Pheasant.  All in all a very disappointing visit with very little showing.  Oh for the autumn.  

19-8-12

If yesterdays heat down in Buckinghamshire was anything to go by this place needs an early morning visit before the heat haze sets in.  With Friday nights lack of sleep catching up on me (more down to very strong winds during the night, which in a tent is not good fun. rather than beer!!!!!) I was not up as early as I would have liked.  Once on site I checked out around the quarry pool first.  Birds noted were Robin, Wren, Swallow, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Mallard, Starling, 70+ Linnet flying between the lake edge and the woodland with another 60ish noted around the lanes in various size flocks, Woodpigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, 2 Treecreeper, Blackbird, a single Tufted Duck, around 20+ Goldfinch with another 20+ around the lanes, a couple of House Martin in with the Swallows, Canada Geese, 2 Raven flying over, 6 Yellow Wagtails and a couple of Black Headed Gulls.  On to the lanes and I added Blue Tit, Yellowhammer, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, 35+ Tree Sparrows, 1 Little Owl, a couple of Common Whitethroats, a steady trickle of Lesser Black-backed Gulls towards the far pool, and the usual single Mute Swan.  On the way back home and another quick check of the quarry pool and I managed to find a couple of Common Sandpipers flying over the lake.    

17-8-12

I have a fishing match down in Buckinghamshire on Saturday, driving down about midday today so it was an early morning visit before getting ready for the jopurney.  First stop was around the quarry pool area and birds noted were Carrion Crow, Magpie, Canada Geese, Swallow, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, a single Tufted Duck - as said before a rarity on this lake these days, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, Linnet - quite a few birds flocking together now, 6 Mallard, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, a couple of Cormorant flying off from the far lake, and lots of Swifts over the far lake.  Onto the lanes and I added several Common Whitethroat, a single Mute Swan in the ditch along with a family of Moorhen, Yellowhammer, 1 Buzzard, Robin, a couple of Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Starling, Chaffinch and a couple of Stock Doves.     

14-8-12

A quick visit to check out the pool area this evening before a quick drive around the lanes produced the following.  Magpie, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Yellowhammer, Carrion Crow, Canada Geese, Linnet, Black Headed Gull, Robin, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Cormorant, Blue Tit, Common Sandpiper, Wren, Grey Partridge, Blackbird, Mallard, Moorhen and a single Little Owl

Monday 13 August 2012

12-8-12

Yet another busy weekend so only one visit to WH on early Sunday morning to beat any heat haze or canoists or wind surfers.  First stop, as usual, was at the lake to check out what was around.  I noted 3 Lapwing flying over, Pheasants, Stock Dove, Carrion Crow, Swallows, several Common Whitethroats plus lots more when I got around the lanes, 1 Grey Heron, 40+ Pied Wagtails, Wren, Robin, 14 Linnets, 20+ Goldfinch, Yellowhammers, Blackbird, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Cananda Geese.  Next stop was to park up down the road and check out the lanes.  Birds added were Magpie, Moorhen, 4 Grey Partridge, 30+ Tree Sparrows, 1 Little Owl, Greenfinch, Mallards flying over, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, 8 Corn Bunting on top of the barley including possibly 5 juveniles, 1 Cormorant flying over, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Buzzard and several Black Headed Gulls.  Whilst walking around the lanes I also heard a Greenshank which must have been flying over the far lake.  This time last year we had a good run of Greenshanks with up to 10 birds at any one time.  I am doubting very much that will happen again with all of the disturbance going on however I shudder to think what goes on on that far lake.  Arrrrrgh.   

7-8-12.

I decided to pop down to check out Whitemoor Haye, first a quick drive down the lanes then to the area around the lake to see if I could get anything.  Unfortunately it turned out to be a bit dissapointing.  Birds noted around the lanes were Mute Swan, Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, 1 Little Owl, 15 Tree Sparrows, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Magpie, Swallows and single Buzzard and Song Thrush.  Over to the lake and I pulled up at the side of the road and checked out the lake and coppice behind.  Birds added were 1 Cormorant over, 18 Mallard (some on the lake, some flying over), 26+ Linnets feeding on the thistle heads, Wren, a couple of Common Whitethroats, Greylag Geese, 1 Grey Heron, 100's of Swifts flying over the back pit again, Wren, Goldfinch, Robin, a couple of House Martins, Black Headed Gull, 20ish Pied Wagtails including juveniles, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Blackbirds.

Whilst at the lake another regular birdwatcher to WH turned up to see what was about and he managed to find a Common Sandpiper on the fare shore but it didn't hang around too long.  We got chatting and he mentioned he had been approached by staff at the outdoor centre about them not liking birdwatchers looking over the lake.  I have been thinking what would happen if they started complaining, I definately already know what I will tell them!!!  I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced any of these comments.

Sunday 5 August 2012

5-8-12

Just one visit to the patch this weekend and it was decent weather early Sunday morning so out I went.  Starting off at the lake and checking the small wood before checking the lanes I noted the following.  Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Wren, a vocal Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Common Sandpiper, a now rare (in these parts) Tufted Duck - there was lots of shooting around the quarry and had pushed a solitary bird up the lake along with 6 Mallards, a few hundred Swifts over the far lake, Greylag Geese, Swallow, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, 6 Mute Swans, Magpie, Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer, Stock Dove, Great Tit, Linnet, Chaffinch, Moorhen, 1 Little Owl, 1 Buzzard, about 30 Tree Sparrows in various places around the lanes, a couple of Skylarks, a single Great Crested Grebe which flew over, a single Common Whitethroat over the whole site, Starlings and finally two Green Sandpipers which were in the marshy field by the start of the rough track.  An enjoyable visit this morning even though several men were blasting geese out of the sky, they didnt do too much for the waders on site nor for the geese they managed to kill!!!! 

Sunday 29 July 2012

29-7-12

Yet another busy weekend but I did manage to get out early to have a quick look what was on and around the pool before a quick drive round the lanes then home.  Birds noted were Tree Sparrow, Wren, Linnet, Chaffinch, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Sandpiper, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Robin, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Swallow, Swift, Blue Tit, a single Common Tern, Common Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, 1 Garden Warbler, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Mute Swan, 1 Little Owl and a family of Lesser Whitethroats.
Once the Grand Prix was done this afternoon I had another couple of hours before going out for my tea.  I managed an hour on the pool beforer walking round the lanes.  I noted Woodpigeon, Song Thrush, Swallow, Pheasant, Carrion Crow, 2 Common Sandpiper, Black Headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Yellowhammer, 1 Common Tern, Linnet, Swift, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, the family of Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, only about 4 Tree Sparrows in total, Mute Swan, 3 Buzzzards, Goldfinch, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blackbird, Moorhen, 2 Little Owls, Skylark, Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Magpie, an adult and a juvenile Peregrine,a Cormorant and cracking bonus in the shape of a juvenile Marsh Harrier.  I was on the bend along the rough track when I saw a couple of Buzzards however one didnt look right so bins onto it and I noticed a pale head.  The scope went up next and then I knew it was definately a Marsh Harrier and my latest site tick.  Bonus.

25-7-12

Another nice evening with total crap on the TV and the Olympics have not even started yet.  A quick look on and around the pool and then around the lanes and I noted Yellowhammer, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blackbird, Swallow, Black Headed Gull, 4 Common Tern, Goldfinch, Canada Geese, Linnet, a juvenile Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Mute Swan, Wren, Robin, a single Little Owl, 5 Snipe which I heard then saw flying over near the Little Owl tree, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Magpie, Stock Dove and a single singing Reed Bunting.  Very quiet tonight.

Monday 23 July 2012

23-7-12

A decent evening with crap on the tv so I thought I would check out the pool area around WH and maybe a drive down the lanes.  Around the pool I noted Carrion Crow inc juveniles, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Tree Sparrows (c40 around the whole area) Robin inc juveniles, Magpie inc juveniles, Greylag Geese inc juveniles, Swallow - lots of waves of birds coming through the lake feeding then off again, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, 2 Common Sandpipers, a single Mute Swan which is currently in the ditch by the rough track!!!!!, Coot inc juveniles (seen earlier on a walk seen by the small pool by the microlight field, a couple of Common Whitethroat, Stock Dove, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit inc juveniles, Reed Bunting, 2 Oystercatchers, Dunnock, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Tern, Long-tailed Tits inc lots of juveniles, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Canada Geese, a juvenile but well grown Great Crested Grebe, Pheasants, Linnet, Mallard, Black Headed Gull and a probable Greenshank - seen through binoculars then went to get my scope but the bird had gone.  After a search it was a drive around the lane before home and I added a single Little Owl and some singing Chaffinches.  A proper decent evenings birding with lots of juveniles present.

22-7-12

With more things to do today I had a slight window to pop down first thing to check out the lake and surrounding area but this was just a waste of time.  Birds noted were Woodpigeon, Wren, Tree Sparrows, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch, Mute Swan, Goldfinch, Swallow, Pheasant, Blackbird, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Bllue Tit, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Magpie, Robin, Starling, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Common Sandpiper.  Rubbish.

21-7-12

A busy weekend lay ahead so I was up early nice and early to get to WH however as I drove from Alrewas the mist started rolling in, so much in fact I couldnt see the water on the pool let alone no birds which would be on it!!!!  Because of this I changed my plans for the day and went home and went to work but I did come down mid afternoon but this is never a good time around WH.  Birds noted were 14 Mute Swans, a single Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, 2 Oystercatchers, about 30 Tree Sparrows, several Wrens, 1 Buzzard, 1 Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Swallows, Pheasant, Robin, Blue Tit, Yellowhammer, Linnet, 1 Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swift, 5 Shelduck which flew through possibly landing on the furthest pool, Dunnock, a pair of Reed Buntings, Magpie, the odd Black Headed Gull, 1 Little Owl, Chaffinch, 4 Common Whitethroats, Stock Dove, a single Common Tern, Moorhen, 3 Cormorants, Pied Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Greylag and Canada Geese

Tuesday 17 July 2012

17-7-12

During April and May this year I managed to get down to WH (Whitemoor Haye) on quite a lot of evenings just to check out the pool for migrating birds and then a drive arouind the lanes to get anything else.  The weather was pretty good tonight so I went down there to have a look.  Unfortunately the adventure centre was still having fun out on the boats and a windsurfer was getting ready for a spin around the pool.  Around the pool I did manage to note Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, several Yellowhammer, 6 Mute Swans, 5 Common Sandpipers, Dunnock, Wren, Swallows, Pheasants, Starlings, lots of Swifts - a couple of hundred in the air proberbly feeding up getting ready to head back, only a single Common Tern again, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Black Headed Gulls, Long-tailed Tits in the woodland on the other side of the road, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker in the same area, 5 Mallards flying over, Linnet, Sand Martin, Chaffinch, and several Lesser Black-backed Gulls over.  I also noted 30+ Tree Sparrows, a single singing Reed Bunting and a single Grey Partridge as I drove around the lanes before heading home. 

15-7-12

Well I took my time to set out the design for the new blog but I did not think I would be waiting this long to start blogging for real.  As readers of Alrewas Birder will know I am avery busy person this time of year with shows, work and fishing matches however the crap weather has put a stop to most shows I go to/work on.  Instead it has been a matter of chilling at home with at least one broken rib (dont ask) and watching the rain coming down.  All that and dodgy sleeping pils (again dont ask) has seen me have a three week break however I have been monitoring sites and blogs and I do not think I have missed much.
On to todays visit and it was a check on the pool followed by a walk around the lanes.  Unfortunately a load of kids were on the boats on the lake so I was not expecting much and I was not disappointed.  Birds noted here were plenty of Swifts, Robin, Wren, at least two Blackcaps, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Martin, Mute Swan, Swallow, a single Common Tern, loads of Canada Geese, Black Headed Gulls, Sand Martin, Linnet, Blackbird, Greylag Geese, two Common Whitethroat, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker, one Chiffchaff and lots of Woodpigeons.  Along the lanes I saw the following.  Skylark, two in song, Reed Bunting, lots of Yellowhammers, Chaffinch, Dunnock, about 40 Tree Sparrow in various areas buty mainly on the barley, a single Little Owl, one singing Corn Bunting and one Buzzard

Thursday 28 June 2012

28-6-12

Ok, now the foundation has been laid I suppose it is time to start blogging. 
With one thing or another my year list is not happening this year, I have dipped or not been able to go to easy common birds so I have scrapped this year and mainly concentrating on patch work.  I have already visited Whitemoor Haye 71 times to date and my ain is 150 so slightly behind but with the autumn coming no problem.  So far I have seen 102 species, not bad I suppose especially when 107 is my best and I managed to do that last year and I have still yet to add Bewick's and Whooper Swan to the year list but I have also dipped on Osprey and Little Gull already this year. Doh!!

On the break I have also been looking for and watching juvenile birds and along with the usual species I have been watching a pair of Treecreeper first of all nesting then bringing up some juveniles however I have not seen any of these birds since the beginning of June.  Nearby there has also been a pair of Long-tailed Tits nesting but not sure whether any young were raised as since the end of April I have hardly seen them but once the breeding season is over I am hoping to see if I can find the nest as I have never seen one of their amazing nests yet.

Anybody visiting Whitemoor Haye will no doubt have noticed the massive structure next to the lakes, Whitemoor Lakes (funnily enough).  Its an outdoor centre for inner city people and religious groups to name but a couple and I personally think it has had an effect on the bird life around the main pool.  Yellow Wagtails and Little Ringed Plovers have definately been present but not in the numbers or the length of time that they usually have had.  Also there has been a huge reduction in wildfowl numbers, just Canada and Greylag Geese and the odd Mallard to show for it.  Last year we enjoyed a most of August with numbers of Greenshank sometimes reaching 8 birds, this year I am not expecting many.  Access is still denied onto the quarry itself and I shudder to think what we are missing on the back pool.  I know of only one birder who has access but I am pretty sure a few others get on there too.  I have worked out a way though, pretend to be hunting Hare's, everytime I report to the farmer the presence of illegal hunting he says he will deal with them but never does but happy to confront a nasty man with bins and a tripod, ooooh what chaos that man will cause.  Back to the lake and a couple of weeks ago I saw something that I thought was going to be the end of birding on the pool, a sailing boat turned up on a trailer, was unloaded and parked up until a couple of days later when a chap and two kids went sailing around, where thers one sailing boat more would come.  I was expecting a load more followed by a cabin and then soon a sailing club, oh deep joy, however good news as the boat was gone a week later.

Right thats all the rubbish up to date, well ish.  If you remember, this time of year is my busy period with the next few weekends booked up with various things however as from Sunday evening the Euro 2012 will have ended so weekday evenings will be back spent at Whitemoor Haye however I am sitting hear nursing suspected broken ribs so I am hoping these willnot effect me carrying my stuff around.

Till the first post proper, ta ra a bit.

Friday 22 June 2012

Whitemoor Haye bird list

I want to start by tring to create a bird list for Whitemoor Haye and I currently have 143 birds on my list.  They are the following:-
1. Little Grebe, 2. Great Crested Grebe, 3. Black-necked Grebe, 4. Cormorant, 5. Little Egret, 6. Grey Heron, 7. Mute Swan, 8 Bewick's Swan, 9. Whooper Swan, 10. Bean Goose, 11. Pink-footed Goose, 12. White-fronted Goose, 13. Greylag Goose, 14. Canada Goose, 15. Barnacle Goose, 16. Brent Goose, 17. Egyptian Goose, 18. Ruddy Shelduck, 19. Shelduck, 20. Wigeon, 21. Gadwall, 22. Teal, 23. Mallard, 24. Pintail, 25. Shoveler, 26. Pochard, 27. Tufted Duck, 28. Scaup, 29. Goldeneye, 30. Smew, 31.Goosander, 32. Ruddy Duck, 33. Sparrowhawk, 34. Buzzard, 35. Kestrel, 36. Merlin, 37. Hobby, 38. Peregrine, 39. Red-legged Partridge, 40. Grey Partridge, 41. Pheasant, 42. Moorhen, 43. Coot, 44. Oystercatcher, 45. Avocet, 46. Little Ringed Plover, 47. Ringed Plover, 48. Dotteral, 49. Golden Plover, 50. Grey Plover, 51. Lapwing, 52. Sanderling, 53. Curlew Sandpiper, 54. Dunlin, 55. Ruff, 56. Woodcock, 57. Jack Snipe, 58. Snipe, 59. Black-tailed Godwit, 60. Bar-tailed Godwit, 61. Whimbrel, 62. Curlew, 63. Redshank, 64. Greenshank, 65. Green Sandpiper, 66. Common Sandpiper, 67. Turnstone, 68. Mediterranean Gull, 69. Black-headed Gull, 70. Lesser Black-backed Gull, 71. Herring Gull, 72. Yellow-legged Gull, 73. Great Black-backed Gull, 74. Common Tern, 75. Arctic Tern, 76. Black Tern, 77. Stock Dove, 78. Woodpigeon, 79. Collared Dove, 80, Barn Owl, 81. Little Owl, 82. Tawny Owl, 83. Short-eared Owl, 84. Swift, 85. Kingfisher, 86. Green Woodpecker, 87. Great Spotted Woodpecker, 88. Skylark, 89. Sand Martin, 90. Swallow, 91. House Martin, 92. Meadow Pipit, 93. Yellow Wagtail, 94. Grey Wagtail, 95. White Wagtail, 96. Pied Wagtail, 97. Wren, 98. Dunnock, 99. Robin, 100. Whinchat, 101. Stonechat*, 102. Wheatear, 103. Blackbird, 104. Fieldfare, 105. Song Thrush, 106. Redwing, 107. Mistle Thrush, 108. Grasshopper Warbler, 109. Sedge Warbler, 110. Reed Warbler*, 111. Lesser Whitethroat, 112. Common Whitethroat, 113 Garden Warbler, 114. Blackcap, 115. Chiffchaff, 116. Willow Warbler, 117. Goldcrest, 118. Long-tailed Tit, 119. Willow Tit, 120. Marsh Tit, 121. Blue Tit, 122. Great Tit, 123. Treecreeper, 124. Woodchat Shrike, 125. Jay, 126. Magpie, 127. Jackdaw, 128. Rook, 129. Carrion Crow, 130. Raven, 131. Starling, 132. House Sparrow, 133. Tree Sparrow, 134. Chaffinch, 135. Brambling, 136. Greenfinch, 137. Goldfinch, 138. Linnet, 139. Lesser Redpoll, 140. Bullfinch, 141. Yellowhammer, 142. Reed Bunting, 143. Corn Bunting. However the ones with asterixes (*) I think are a bit dodgy, seen whilst I was learning I suppose but if anyone has them on their list it would be good to hear.
To add to the above I am also aware of the following being seen around.
Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Waxwing, Bufflehead, Quail, Redstart, Water Pipit, Wood Sandpiper, Temmink's Stint, Little Stint, Little Gull, and Glaucous Gull.
So there we have it, the first list is up to 155

From now on the latest additions to the list will be shown on the Whiutemoor Haye Bird List tab just under the main picture,

Site visit reports will follow shortly.

Sunday 10 June 2012

A new start.

Hello and welcome to my new blog.  It is exactly what it says in the title, this blog is about Whitemoor Haye.  I love this place and get there whenever I can, either a good stomp around the lanes, checking the pool and the various woody areas or just sitting by the pool and seeing what turns up.  Whitemoor Haye is not the best place in the county to bird by a long way and most posts will be pretty dull but every now and again something turns up pretty good, take the Woodchat Shrike in 2010 for starters, a first for Staffordshire, found by yours truly.  Birding is my main hobby but I also take note of other wildlife whilst walking around so I will report these on here when necassary and I will also ask any readers I have to also send your sightings to me and I will happily put them on here.