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England Staffordshire

Nuthatch Sitta europaea ŠMartin Kessel http://www.martinkessel.net/birds/birdsindex.htm

Staffordshire consists of the North Staffordshire Moorland and South Pennines to the north, and mainly farmland further south, although a large heathland relic is still present at Cannock Chase. Prime sites for rarities are Blithfield and Belvide reservoirs in the centre of the county.

top sites

Belvide Reservoir

(SJ865118)Situated near Gailey, 7 miles NW of Wolverhampton, the reservoir has 3 hides on the south bank. It is good all year round, but spring/autumn passage and winter usually throw up wader and waterfowl rarities. Access to the hides is by permit only, available from the West Midlands Bird Club.

Blithfield Reservoir

(SK060240)Situated just north of Rugeley, near Abbots Bromley. The largest reservoir in Staffordshire, this site regularly attracts passage waders and wintering duck, with some rarities each year. Best in autumn and winter. The road causeway over the reservoir is good for casual observations, but hides and muddy bays are situated at the NW end, furthest from the dam wall. Access to the latter is by permit only, available from the West Midlands Bird Club.

Branston Gravel Pits

(SK205198)This site is situated just north of Barton-under-Needwood, near Burton on Trent. Although tricky to find, it is well worth a visit. Some of gravel pits are still being worked, but the disused ones attract many waders and waterfowl at all times during the year. Travel to Barton-under-Needwood, and in the centre of the village, opposite the war memorial by a pub [the Shoulder of Mutton], is a road [Dunstall Road] heading north to Dunstall/Tatenhill. Go along here for less than 1/2 mile, and just on the outskirts of the houses [just after Barton Hall] turn right down a no-through road called Small Meadows. The road sign is partially hidden. At the end of the road is a cattle grid into a private road. There is parking before this on the verge but DO NOT obstruct the road or gates into fields. Walk along the private road until you get to the farm. Just before it, to the left is a field. Enter the field over a stile hidden behind the gate to the field. Cross diagonally over the field along a small track, and you arrive at the Gravel Pits. NB A Fatbirder visitor reports that the site is very exposed, isolated and dangerous (flooded pits with steep banks, etc.). It would be well for visitors to be accompanied, or at least notify someone of their destination and intended time of return. A scope is advisable.

Cannock Chase

(SJ990150)Situated in a large area north of Cannock. A large area of wood and heath-land, notable for nightjars in the summer, especially near the Katyn Memorial. Also holds a few woodlark, hobby in summer, great grey shrike in winter, goshawk, lesser-spotted woodpecker, and the usual woodland birds. Best in early morning or evening - avoid the large crowds during summer daytime.

Chasewater Park

(SK035075)Situated near Brownhills, this is a prime spot for Iceland and Glaucous gulls in the large winter roost. Park at the car park at the southern end and scope the roost. Also interesting for passage migrants and wintering waterfowl, especially in the areas to the north which are cut off from the water sports taking place on the main reservoir.

Coombes Valley Nature Reserve

(SK005530)Owned by the RSPB, but accessible by anyone, this is a great site for the bird lover rather than twitcher. The best time to visit is late spring/early summer, when you are almost certain to see pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler. Also present are lesser spotted woodpeckers, dippers and kingfishers.

North Staffordshire Moorlands

As with most moor-land, it is difficult to predict where to find some birds, but a summer walk could reveal ring ousel, hen harrier and short-eared owl. The river Dane between Danebridge and Gradbach is good for dippers, Knotbury for twite in the summer, and red grouse can be found on most areas with heather (e.g. The Roaches and Lum Edge). Swallow Moss was the place to go for black grouse, with a specially built hide overlooking the lek, but virtually no birds were present in 1999, and it may become extinct in Staffordshire. Rudyard Lake and Tittesworth Reservoir are also worth investigating for water and waterside birds. The latter has a conservation area with hides.

Whitemore Haye

(SK175130)There are several gravel pits in this area, some still being worked, so this is an excellent area to look for passage waders. The first pit on the left as you come down the access road is particularly worth investigating. Look too for corn buntings and tree sparrows.

contributor

Nick Pomiankowski
n.pomiankowski@fin.keele.ac.uk

county recorder

Gilly Jones
4 The Poplars, Lichfield Road, Abbots Bromley, Rugeley, Staffs. WS15 3AA
01283 840555
staffs-recorder@westmidlandbirdclub.com

numbers

Number of bird species:303

useful reading

Guide to Watching Birds in North Staffordshire

Jenifer M Wright Paperback (December 1988) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, North Staffordshire Local Members? Group
ISBN: 0951407007
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The New Birds of the West Midlands

...covering Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the former West Midlands County - Graham Harrison and Janet Harrison 496 pages, colour photos, line drawings, maps. West Midlands Bird Club 2005
ISBN: 0950788120
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to watch birds in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcester and the former West Midland County

Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the Former West Midlands - F Gribble, G Harrison, H Griffiths, J Winsper and S Coney - Series: WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN BRITAIN AND EUROPE: HELM SERIES 312 pages, 53 maps, 24 line drawings. Christopher Helm due June 2007
ISBN: 9780713664195
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

Proact

Coordinator: Bevan Craddock (Salop, Staffs., Warks., West Midlands and Worcs.)
Members: 1
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
Contact your coordinator via mailto:info@proact-campaigns.net

clubs

Chasewater Wildlife Group

http://www.chasewater.org.uk/
Chasewater Country Park is situated in the heart of the Forest of Mercia, on the southern edge of Staffordshire and immediately north of the West Midland conurbation. It lies on the 150 m contour 3 miles south of the Iron-Age hillfort of Castle Ring, which at 244m is the highest point on Cannock Chase. The Country Park covers 300 ha of which the lake and dam make up 93h and Jeffrey`s Swag 10ha. The Norton Bog restoration area, which includes the Slurry Pool (5ha), is additional to the Country Park...

RSPB - North Staffs Local Group

http://www.geocities.com/nsrspb/
Local RSPB members group. Details of programme of events and places to birdwatch in North Staffordshire...

South Staffordshire Naturalists' Society

http://www.sstaffsnaturalists.org.uk/
We are the South Staffordshire Naturalists Society, a club of about 200 members, which was founded in 1894. We learn about and enjoy: birds, flowers, trees, fungi and insects, whilst walking through beautiful countryside. We have a full programme of field trips and indoor presentations and we are seeking new members...

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

http://www.staffordshirewildlife.org.uk/
The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1969 to conserve wildlife, wildlife habitats and sites of geological importance in Staffordshire. It aims to promote the conservation of the natural environment for the public benefit and to provide opportunities for people to enjoy and to learn about it. We now have over 5,300 members and 69 Corporate Members with 1,578 acres of land held as 30 nature reserves...

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - Leek Group

http://www.leekonline.co.uk/community/wildlife/events.htm
Nature Reserves in Staffordshire Moorlands - In late 1999 the Trust purchased 160 acres at Cotton Dell, near Oakamoor; further details in future leaflets and on this web-site. At Coombes Valley nature reserve near Leek the Trust has an agreement over 60 acres of the 260 acre total. The whole site is managed by the RSPB. The Trust also has an agreement over nature reserves at Longsdon Woods, Spring Cottage and Ward`s Quarry. Access by permit only.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - North West Group

http://www.staffswildlifetrust-nwgroup.co.uk/
We plan thirteen meetings a year covering a variety of interesting topics. The vast majority of our speakers have been recommended to us, thus ensuring an interesting and valuable evening. We also try and arrange guided walks and coach trips during the year. Some of the places visited in the past have been the Red Kites in mid Wales, Angelesley during the bird breeding season, Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Rutland Water.

West Midland Bird Club

http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com
e-mail: secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.com
The West Midland Bird Club offers the widest range of indoor and field meetings for its members. Probably more than any other provincial bird club in the whole of the UK.

West Midland Bird Club - Stafford Branch

http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/stafford/
Andy Lawrence, 14 Jack Haye Lane, Light Oaks, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 7NG 01782 253502

museums

Potteries Museum

http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/museums/collections/natural-history/
Our Natural History gallery shows some of the fungi, plants, animals, rocks and fossils which you can find in and around the Potteries. There are also exciting interactives and activities here, see our events page for details.

reserves

Berryhill Fields

http://www.berryhillfields.org
The main beneficiaries of this diversity are the birds and mammals. Five species of warbler, including the uncommon grasshopper warbler, breed alongside nationally threatened farmland species such as grey partridge, snipe and skylark. Skylarks epitomise the Fields, delivering their songs even on cold, windy winter days with the freedom that the Fields offer. Mammals include nationally protected water vole, brown hare and pipistrelle bats.

Blithfiled Reservoir

http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/blithfield/
Blithfield is a 800-acre (324 hectare) drinking-water supply reservoir, situated to the West of Abbotts Bromley in Staffordshire, operated by South Staffordshire Water plc, who have granted a lease to the West Midland Bird Club for the issue permits for the purpose of observing and recording birds and for the study of natural history...

Branston Water Park

http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/index.php?fuseaction=services.servicedetails&id=472
Branston Water Park is a premier wildlife site in East Staffordshire. Located just outside Burton off the A38 Branston Water Park was originally an open cast gravel pit and is now home to many species of plant and animal, both common and nationally rare...

RSPB Reserve - Coombes Valley

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/coombesvalley/index.asp
In winter, redwings, fieldfares and winter finches are frequent visitors...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

tour operators

Mercia Birding Tours

http://www.merciatours.com/merciabirdingtours/
Mercia Birding Tours specialises in offering birding tours and days out, for U.K. residents and visitors alike. Although based in the English Midlands/Birmingham area, we can arrange personally guided trips to all parts of the country. All abilities catered for!

places to stay

Abbot`s Haye

http://www.ukbed.com/heart-of-england/abbots-haye.htm
Abbot`s Haye is a 7 bedroom country house with Tudor origins, standing in 6 acres of Staffordshire countryside, with 2 acres of mature gardens, where guests may relax or play. We are situated 4 miles from Alton Towers, 12 miles from the Potteries and the Peak District. Abbot`s Haye has 4 en suite family rooms and 1 en suite double room available. Ample off-road parking is provided.

White Hart

http://www.ukbed.com/heart-of-england/white-hart.htm
The White Hart is a traditional country pub based in the picturesque village of Alton, less than one mile away from the top UK tourist attraction, Alton Towers. We provide 3 letting rooms - 2 double and 1 twin/family - all newly refurbished. All major credit cards are accepted.

mailing lists

WMBC-Staffs

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WMBC-Staffs
To post to list:WMBC-Staffs@yahoogroups.com
List contact:WMBC-Staffs-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:WMBC-Staffs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
This mailing list is for discussion of birds and birding in the English county of Staffordshire, especially notable sightings and site reports, and the activities there, of the West Midland Bird Club (WMBC):

Belvide Birding

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/Belvide84/
Belvide Reservoir is a 180 acre canal feeder situated in south west staffordshire. I have been visiting Belvide since 1984 in which time I have made nearly 4000 visits.Over the years I have managed to see 223 species...

Birds of Keele

http://www.keele.ac.uk/university/nathist/
The deciduous woodland at Keele holds a good resident population of the commoner species such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker with a few pairs of Stock Dove, Jay, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Woodcock and, more recently, Green Woodpecker. There is a Rookery of 20 to 30 nests behind the Students Union building and shopping precinct. The coniferous plantations hold Goldcrests and Coal Tits as well as an occasional Sparrowhawk nest.

Gulls in the West Midlands Region

http://www.deanar.btinternet.co.uk/
This is a personal website which presents data and images relating to gulls in the West Midlands Region (the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the metropolitan county of the West Midlands).

Webcam - Blackbird Nest

http://ukmjk.ww.com/
Martin Kessel's webcam at a Blackbird's nest 2007...

West Midland Birding

http://www.thomas1976.freeserve.co.uk/
Welcome to West Midland Birding, my new web page dedicated to birdwatching. This website describes some of the best birdwatching sites in the West Midlands area. A description is given of how to find them and which birds you are likely to see at different times of the year. Covers some sites in Staffordsire too.

artists

Artist - Roger Gregory

http://www.geocities.com/naturart2002/
Photos and designs etc.

Photographer - Martin Kessel

http://www.martinkessel.net/birds/birdsindex.htm
Bird Photos from home and away....

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