Steve Atkinson

This morning #middletonlakes Marsh Harrier 11 Goldeneye 6 Pochard 8 Snipe small flock of Redpoll 3 GWE #staffsbirdnews + 2 Oystercatchers have moved onto the Ski Lake (Warks) #ukbirding

Highlights #middletonlakes this morning Oystercatcher 3 Pintails Red Kite 2 Stonechats 2 GWE 12 Goldeneye 2 Meadow Pipits #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding #pwc2026

Patchwork Challenge

THE PATCHWORK CHALLENGE 2025 ROUND-UP IS NOW LIVE ON THE BLOG!

Go head over and see where you finished #PWC2025 and sign up for #PWC2026!

The link for the blog is: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com

The county border is marked on OS maps Paul but it is wriggly! On the wetlands of Middleton Lakes it wriggles through Fisher's Mill pool and crosses the river just south of the river bridge across the Tame. The woodland and south of Fisher's Mill are Warks.

Lovely to see a group of 4 Grey Partridge RSPB Middleton Lakes today, after not seeing any for a couple of years. @rspb.bsky.social
#warksbirding
#ukbirding

Yes. They've been in the same area all week I think. I had them there on Monday. Towards the north end near the hedge bordering the old track.

PWC2026

3 of the 5 Grey Partridge present

Highlights from my second #pwc2026 visit to a still frozen & misty #middletonlakes this morning. 5 Grey Partridge Marsh Harrier 3 Goldeneye 2 GWE Chiffchaff small flock of Siskins #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

First visit to #middletonlakes this afternoon. Most areas frozen over. Of note 2 Grey Partridge in the field w of Jubilee North, f type Marsh Harrier, Pochard, Raven, Goosander, Snipe Grey Wagtail #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

YBW still showing well at Hurley Water Treatment Works Warks 5/1/26 #ukbirding

Excellent Dave

Ar least 2 Marsh Harriers now

Make that at least 2 Marsh Harriers. 2 on Dosthill NR heading for the North Pit

The first Pink-footed Goose since early 2022 was the highlight of this morning at #middletonlakes Also f type Marsh Harrier still 11 Goldeneye 10 Pochard 2 GWE Stonechat of note #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Highlights from #middletonlakes this morning - Marsh Harrier 5 Goldeneye 4 Pochard Goosander Shelduck 11 Siskins Redwings Fieldfares 3 Snipe c600 BHGs 12 LBBG & Herring Gull in the pre-dawn roost. 2 Grey Partridge reported #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Marsh Harrier 22 Snipe 10 Redpoll 5 Siskins 7 Pochard (4 Staffs) single f Goldeneye c650 Greylags the highlights #middletonlakes this morning #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Good to meet you Rob. Was that you on your own with a scope? I had 2 Bitterns in flight on Thursday, my first for quite a while.

First Goldeneye of the winter on Dosthill NR #middletonlakes this morning. Nothing else out of the ordinary to report #staffsbirdnews

9 Grey Partridge #middletonlakes by the barn and in the field to the east of the farm @bins-on-a-stick.bsky.social @groughgruff.bsky.social #ukbirding

Possible disturbance from HS2 works nearby?

Entertained at dawn by a juv Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier battling it out over Jubilee Wetlands #middletonlakes Also Jack Snipe 3 GWE 2 Herring Gulls, 3 Goldcrests & 9 Chiffchaffs with the Tit flocks 12 Mipits 17 Pochard (10 of which in Warks) #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Grey Plover record shot

A Grey Plover on Jubilee Wetlands was the highlight this morning at #middletonlakes The chances are that it was the same bird as seen flying through Ladywalk 30mins earlier. Also female/imm Marsh Harrier & a Pochard (all Staffs). 10 Pochards on Dosthill (ski) Lake (Warks) #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

This morning's highlights #middletonlakes Garganey Marsh Harrier 11 Golden Plover over 9 Pochard 2 Stonechats #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Pipe bridge nearby path and path to the hide only accessible with wellies #middletonlakes highlights Jack Snipe Marsh Harrier Ruff Redshank Shelduck 19 Snipe Grey Wag 11 Pochard on Dosthill (Ski) Lake & 1 on Fisher's Mill (both Warks) #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Snow Bunting showing well today at 12:30. Beacon Hill CP Leicestershire #ukbirding

Jack Snipe and C70 Golden Plover the highlights #middletonlakes staffs this morning. Best of the rest Blackwit 4 Little Grebes 8 Goosander 9 Snipe 2 GWE Barn Owl. 15 Pochard on Dosthill (Ski) Lake (Warks) #staffsbirdnews #ukbirding

Cheers!

Back on the patch after 2 weeks on the Scilly Isles. 9 Pochards on Ski Lake (Warks). On #middletonlakes highlights were a Siskin 3 Stonechats 160+ Lapwings 4 Little Grebes 7 Snipe Blackcap 3+ Chiffchaffs 2 GWE. The screen for West Scrape has been removed ready for a replacement (pic) #staffsbirdnews

Pleased to get a couple of photos of Cory's Shearwaters with my humble P900 on an excellent Scillies Pelagic 19 miles SW of the islands today. 15 Cory's 5 Sootys c18 Great 9 Manx 2 Bonxies plus plenty of Auks a couple of Puffins 3 Fulmars and a Blue Fin Tuna leaping #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk

American Pipit this evening St Mary's Scilly. Record shot #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk