The pair of Scaup showed well this morning but very little else did.
28.02.2026 11:47 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0@blithfieldblue.bsky.social
Regional birder, VC37, VC38 and VC39. Love birding the mighty Blithers and Cannock Chase. Bird sightings only, NO info on breeding or sensitive wintering birds. NO Plastic poultry, Storks, ect, ect.
The pair of Scaup showed well this morning but very little else did.
28.02.2026 11:47 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The Red-throated diver appears to have gone, it was Blithfield's longest staying bird (52 days) and I think Staffordshire's. Previous long stayers at Blithers were in 1995-96 (48 days) and 2024-25 (47 days).
27.02.2026 17:33 — 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Blith still quiet but nice to see rather than just hear 17 Crossbill over Tad Bay. Then on to Fauld to see geese flock. MPR counted 320 pinkfeet, the most I'd seen on the deck in Staffs. The other side of the river Dove we could see 20+ White-fronts but most of the flock was hidden by the willows.
22.02.2026 14:38 — 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0A pair of Scaup were the only birds of note this morning.
21.02.2026 15:11 — 👍 8 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Only birds of note this morning was a flock of ca 180 Pinkfeet south east over Blithe Bay at 10.20 hrs.
20.02.2026 12:06 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Nipped over to Stafford to try and catch up with the White-fronted goose flock at Radford Meadows SWT reserve, my third attempt but well worth the effort. About ca 150 birds I think but very difficult to count in the sedges by far the most I`ve seen in the region.
18.02.2026 13:03 — 👍 12 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The first winter male Scaup which arrived on the 18th November last year is now a smart adult.
17.02.2026 13:30 — 👍 14 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Did the gull roost tonight with MPR our first of the year, only birds of note were an adult Caspian gull and three Yellow- legged gulls (2 adults 1 2nd Cal.yr).
12.02.2026 18:06 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Nipped over to Amerton flood meadow to have a look at the White-fronted geese, very impressed with the place. Scaup still present at blithers but couldn't see the diver but often can't find it.
08.02.2026 11:35 — 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Female Scaup was the only bird of note today.
27.01.2026 17:34 — 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0This morning's White-fronted geese was the largest flock I'd seen at Blithfield since 26 on 28th December 1976.
26.01.2026 14:12 — 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The Goose fest continues with 18 White fronts dropping into Blithe Bay this morning. Still 183 Pochard.
26.01.2026 09:59 — 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Since the 1990's Pochard numbers have been low, 30+ was a good count, this morning I counted a staggering 184 !
20.01.2026 09:45 — 👍 15 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Previous message should have read ten not twelve, silly me !
18.01.2026 12:43 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The Goose fest continues this morning with twelve adult Russian white-fronts in Blithe Bay. With MPR.
18.01.2026 12:21 — 👍 12 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0A very distant shot of this morning`s White-fronts. With MPR.
04.01.2026 12:44 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Today was a bit of a wild goose chase, started of at Blithers where after a 5 day hiatus the RTD put in an appearance the Scaup fest continues with the f/w male being joined by 2 imms 17 pinkfeet still. Then off to Whitemoor Haye for WFG's then Willington for the 8 Tundra beans. With MPR. Blith leg.
03.01.2026 16:09 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Year over, 161 species recorded, star birds Red-throated diver (2), Tundra bean goose (Blith tick), Leach's petrel, Temmincks stint, White-rumped sandpiper. Notable absentees Woodcock and Cattle egret. Here we go again !!!
01.01.2026 07:08 — 👍 14 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 08 Whoopers south east over the Deep End this morning also Brambling, a Blith year tick and the first I've seen there for over three years.
30.12.2025 13:10 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0A couple of distant shots of Blithfield`s 26th Red-throated diver, also seen today a juvenile Little gull, first winter Scaup, 18+ Pink feet and 10 fly over Crossbills. With MPR.
28.12.2025 15:47 — 👍 13 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Four Whooper swans were new for the day, the f/w drake Scaup was still present. Good numbers of dabbling ducks were noted in Tad Bay with 800+ Teal and ca 340 Wigion present. 10 Crossbill were seen over Duckley Plantation. With MDJ.
21.11.2025 16:15 — 👍 13 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Some very distant record shots of this morning`s Scaup.
20.11.2025 14:07 — 👍 9 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Only that it was reported on Birdguides.
18.11.2025 16:51 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Don't really know anything about it apart from no one I know seeing it . Just reported on Birdguides.
18.11.2025 16:49 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Yet another Scaup this morning this time a first winter drake my sixth of the Autumn and the most since the 16 in 2012. Only other birds of note were 6+ Pintail.
18.11.2025 12:59 — 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Only birds of note this morning were two female Scaup, presumably new birds as it's nearly a month since the last ones. Duck numbers have risen with the water level, 5-600 Teal and over 300 Wigeon were noted plus 1 Pintail, 11 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, 25 Mute Swan and 9 Shelduck. No waders.
16.11.2025 11:47 — 👍 13 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Main highlight of this morning were seven Whooper swans (six adults and one juvenile) which dropped in the Deep End. Only other birds of note were 2 Ruff and 2 Great-white egrets. With M.P.R.
08.11.2025 11:45 — 👍 12 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Sorry folks just found an old Devon record for 11/11/1984 but still is my latest regional date.
07.11.2025 14:41 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0The only highlight this morning was my latest ever Swallow in Britain beating my previous latest record ( Blithfield 28/10/1989 ) by eleven days.
07.11.2025 13:19 — 👍 10 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0A new immature Scaup was the main highlight today with three adult Whooper swans, 4 Pintail, White-rumped sandpiper and Wheatear also present. Also good movement of Redwings and Fieldfare.
23.10.2025 14:33 — 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0