Steve Richards

Gailey Res 07:00-10:00 produced 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Gadwall, 9 Pochard, 2 Red Kite, 12 Golden Plover, Common Sand, Cetti’s Wblr, singing Chiffchaff #staffsbirds

Early afternoon visit to Gailey Res with the family didn’t produce much except for lots of wind! Shoveler, 3 Pochard and Common Sand only birds of note. The Dunlin and Swallow were still present on Thursday & the Australian Shelduck reappeared with Egyptian Geese #staffsbirds

After work visit to Gailey Res produced another wader on the shoreline. A Dunlin on this occasion and a species only occasionally seen here. Also noted 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler, Teal, 5 Pochard, Common Sand, & a single Swallow #staffsbirds

Blithfield in Blithe Bay 07:00-11:15 produced 2 Great Egret, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 5 YL Gull, 1st w Caspian Gull, 32+Ringie, 4 LRP, 8 Dunlin, Little Stint, Curlew, Wheatear, 5 Stonechat, 12 Siskin #staffsbirds

After work visit to Gailey Res produced more wildfowl than recently with 2 Gadwall, Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 7 Teal, fem Goosander #staffsbirds

2 birds together Karl!

Nice one Stewart. Please excuse my expletives when it showed those tramlines 😁 Indeed, a great bird to see!

At long long last PECHORA PIPIT is added to my British list. Several flight views to start then brilliant views on the deck walking around a grassy ride. Happy days 🍻

Blithfield 06:45-10:30 produced 2 Great Egrets, 6 Wigeon, 15 Goosander, 2 YL Gull, 50+Ringie, LRP, 12 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sand, Barwit, Blackwit, 9 Ruff, Yellow Wag, 3 Wheatear, Siskin & Redpoll over #staffsbirds

Didn’t expect much as I arrived at Gailey Res with a fisherman and 2 dogs on the shoreline. Couldn’t believe it when I saw a juv Knot feeding completely oblivious to everything. My first here and the first for many years. Also 2 Common Sans #staffsbirds

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res failed to produce any storm blown waifs. Of note, Australian Shelduck(not brought in by the winds!) was presumably the character we were seeing at WMI previously, Little Egret & 2 Common Sand #staffsbirds

Late afternoon visit to Belvide Res was pleasant in the sun and the 1st w Grey Phal giving great views off the dam #staffsbirds

Blithfield 06:30-12:30 produced Great Egret, 9 Goosander, 2 Red Kite, Pergerine, Hobby, 1st w Caspian Gull, 5 YL Gull, Common Tern, 18+Black Tern, 2 LRP, c110 Ringie, 10 Dunlin, 17 Curlew Sand, 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common Sand, 3 Greenshank, 2 Blackwit, sev Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear #staffsbirds

Blithfield early morning update. 18 Black Tern, 2 Wood Sand, 1 Curlew Sand. Other totals to follow #staffsbirds

Evening visit to Blithfield Res was decent. 2 Great Egret, 1st w Caspian Gull, sev YL Gull, 3 Common Tern, 17 Black Tern, 90+Ringie, 16 LRP, 10 Dunlin, 17 Curlew Sand, 4 Common Sand, 2 Blackwit, 2 Ruff #staffsbirds

After visit work to Gailey Res failed to produced the hoped for reappearance of the Lesser Scaup but a Snipe feeding along the shore gave a sure sign of Autumn #staffsbirds

Evening visit to Blithfield produced 2 Ruddy Shelduck, Great Egret, 85+Ringie, 10 LRP, 25+Dunlin, 13 Curlew Sand, 15 Common Sand, 3 Greenshank, Redshank, 4 Ruff, 5 Wheatear #staffsbirds

Quick 90 minute visit to Blithe Bay at Blithfield this evening produced 4 Curlew Sands(ad+3juvs) till 18:30 at least. Also 2 Great Egrets, 70+Ringie, 7 LRP, 20+Dunlin, 10 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 5 Curlew 4 Ruff, 2 Wheatear #staffsbirds

Quick check of Gailey Res before doing the shopping this morning revealed a vocal Cetti’s Wblr along the causeway and a juv Shelduck on the fishing pool #staffsbirds

It hasn’t ended yet as @mpradford.bsky.social has gone back

Got to Blithfield 5am and had a proper slog all around Blithe Bay till 15:30 when Dave joined me for a while. Small team of 7 reached 101 species as I left #westmidsalldayer

And so it begins. LRP calling at Blithfield Res to start off the #westmidsalldayer

I was thinking exactly the same Gaz. Blithe Bay is my bet 😁

…. Glad I did as found ecl drk Lesser Scaup showing well on sailing lake with small no’s of Tufted Duck. Present until 17:40 when I left #staffsbirds

A message from Steve N @belvidebirding.bsky.social encouraged me to check Gailey Res on way home. I was greeted by a stunning rainbow…..

Evening visit to Gailey Res produced another Ringed Plover on the exposed mud, a nice adult. Also 2 Common Tern(ad&juv) & 2 Common Sand present #staffsbirds

Blithfield this evening 18:30 till dusk produced Great Egret, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, Hobby, 8 YL Gull, 1 S Caspian Gull, Golden Plover, 3 Ringie, 13 LRP, 3 Dunlin, Greenshank, Common Sand, 4 Blackwit, 8+Ruff #staffsbirds

At Blithfield 0645-12:00 Great Egret, 2 Red Kite, 2 Hobby, 8 YL Gull, 1st S Caspian Gull, 8 Common Tern, 9 Ringie, 16 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 2 Green Sand, 5 Blackwit, 6+Ruff, Snipe, 2 Swift, Reed Wblr, #staffsbirds

Family walk into Blithe Bay at Blithfield 09:30-14:15 produced Great Egret, 2+Red Kite, Hobby, 9 YL Gull, 1st S Caspian Gull, 7 Common Tern, 4 Ringie, 2 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, Green Sand, 5 Blackwit, Curlew, 10 Ruff, 2 Snipe, Stonechat #staffsbirds

Osprey SW over my Huntington garden 17:23. My 2nd garden record #staffsbirds