Blithfieldblue.
@blithfieldblue
Regional birder, VC37, VC38 and VC39. Love birding the mighty Blithers and Cannock Chase. Bird sightings only, NO info on breeding birds or birds in sensitive areas in Summer or Winter. NO Plastic poultry, Storks, ect, ect.
Some very distant record shots of Blithfield`s third Lesser scaup, previous records were 03/11/2006 and 06-29/01/2019. Also of note today Sanderling and three Clouded Yellow butterflies.
Couple of shots of Clouded Yellow today, also Marbled White seen.
No birds so thought i`d have a go at photographing Black-tailed skimmer.
I don`t see many Great white`s in this plumage, also of note today was a juvenile Wheatear, one of the earliest returning birds I can remember.
I`ve always wanted to find a Caspian Tern at Blithfield and I always thought it would be on the mud in Blithe Bay and at 07.30 this morning it came true. "The Beast"
Some better shots of the Wood sandpiper this morning, also an Avocet was present.
Some well cropped shots of tonight`s Wood sandpiper. Also seen two Whimbrel and a Ruff with MJD this morning and a female type Scaup and Hobby tonight with MPR.
The only birds of any note this morning were a couple of smart Sanderlings.
Some movement this morning with three Common scoters, a Black-tailed godwit, a Redshank, 11 Dunlin and 9 Ringed plover.
Some shots of this morning`s Bar-tailed godwit, one of my favourite waders.
Some distant shots of a short staying Whimbrel in Blithe Bay, first of the "proper" waders. Not many years I see Whimbrel before Redshank but I have this year.
First Wheatear of the year also plenty of White Wagails about.
Cracking morning with MDJ, started with an adult Kittiwake thru Blithe then 4 sum plum Black-necked grebes (unfortunately moved across the bay by the time i`d got the camera) when we got back to the car park 22 Kittiwakes flew over going south east. Also new for the year 4 Swallows at Admaston reach
Best I could do with this morning`s distant Scoters at Blithfield.
The pair of Scaup showed well this morning but very little else did.
Nipped 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.
The first winter male Scaup which arrived on the 18th November last year is now a smart adult.
Nipped 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.
The Goose fest continues this morning with twelve adult Russian white-fronts in Blithe Bay. With MPR.
A 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.
Four 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.
Main 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.
A 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.
Another cracking Saturday morning with MPR. Started of with a Spoonbill then Blithfield`s second White-rumped sandpiper also a Knot flew through backed up with Black-necked grebe and 7 Ruff.
Some really bad record shots of the Common Scoters at Blithers this morning, part of a movement through the greater midlands. Not much else, 7 Ruff, Common Sand and first sign of winter thrushes moving north.