Monday 7th August 2017

0920 - 1115 generally cloudy, 15c : Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing 99, Yellow-legged Gull adult, Herring Gull 4, LBb Gull 35, Bh Gull 100+, Cormorant 10, Heron 2, GC Grebe 3, Coot 25, Moorhen 8, Teal 3, Tufted 4f, Mallard 50+, Canada Geese 150+, Mute Swan 7, Pied Wagtail 5, Grey Wagtail, Starling 30, Jackdaw 8, Carrion Crow 4, Magpie 8, Rook 2, Collared Dove 3, Stock Dove 3, Wood Pigeon 30+, House Martin 3, Sand Martin 10+, Swallow 10+, Swift 8, Blackcap 3m & 2f, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff 20+ incl juv.birds & 2 Willows giving sub-song, Song Thrush juv., Blackbird 3, Robin 3 incl juv., Dunnock 3, Wren 2, Long-tailed Tit 8, Blue Tit, Great Tit 4, Green Woodpecker, House Sparrow 5, Goldfinch 6, Bullfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch m, Buzzard adult & juv. (49 sp.).

Godwit, Buzzard & Green Sand. today.

Wednesday 2nd August 2017

1300 - 1345 Rainy, 16c : Black-tailed Godwit (photo), Lapwing 52, Yellow-legged Gull, Cormorant 6, Heron 2, GC Grebe 4, Herring Gull 9, LBb Gull 60, Swift 20+, Swallow/Sand & House Martin 35+, Blackcap m, Pied Wagtail 2, Long-tailed Tit 4, Collared Dove 2, Stock Dove, Sparrowhawk f, etc. Nuthatch & Great Spotted Woodpecker m at Rushall.

Monday 31st July 2017

1230 - 1330 sunny, SW breeze, 20c : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 4, Cormorant 8, GC Grebe 4, Heron 3, Mute Swan 7, Lapwing 38, Tufted 6, Moorhen 5, Coot 25+, Yellow-legged Gull 3 adults (1 shown), LBb Gull 60, Herring Gull 7, Sand Martin 5, Swallow 3, House Martin 3, Swift 2, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff, GS Woodpecker, Collared Dove 3, Stock Dove 2, Buzzard, etc.

Friday 28th July 2017

1130 - 1200 overcast, breezy, 16c : Yellow-legged Gull 2, Herring Gull 3, LBb Gull 42, Bh Gull 100+, Cormorant 4, Lapwing 108, Heron 3, GC Grebe, Pied Wagtail 3, Collared Dove 6, Swallows & Sand Martins 20+, Swift 8.

Little Egret on 18th July.

Thursday 27th July 2017

1000 - 1030 overcast, drizzle, 15c : fairly quiet - Cormorant 3, Lapwing 7, GC Grebe 2, LBb Gull 10, Chiffchaff, a few Swallows & Sand Martins, Swift 12, Stock Dove 3, Collared Dove 12, Long-tailed Tit 10+.

Yl Gull on 24th July.

Monday 24th July 2017

1500 - 1545 breezy becoming sunny, 19c : Yellow-legged Gull 2, Herring Gull 17, LBb Gull 81, LR Plover, Lapwing 33, Cormorant 2, Heron 2, GC Grebe 3, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, Tufted 8, Moorhen 5, Pied Wagtail 4, Linnet m, Greenfinch, Goldfinch 2, Long-tailed Tit 4, Swallow 6, Sand Martin 10.

5 Bee-eaters at East Leake quarry yesterday. Would be good to find some at a West Midlands quarry site... Photo : Phill Robinson.

Saturday 22nd July 2017

1315 - 1415 fairly sunny, 19c : Cormorant, Lapwing 72, Oystercatcher, LBb Gull 4, GC Grebe, Tufted 12, Moorhen 3 + 2 chicks, Mute Swan pair +5 cygnets, Heron 2, Swallow 4, Sand Martin 2, House Martin 2, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove 2, Rook over, Buzzard, Kestrel, Linnet 2.

Also seen - Red Admiral 2, Hedge Brown abundant, Meadow Brown 10, Speckled Wood 3, Small Skipper 2, GV White 4, Small White 3, Common Blue damselfly 3. Yellow Shell and Common Carpet moths 4.   (GR)

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden

 on 4th June (mobile phone photo) (GR)

Tuesday 18th July 2017

1100 - 1200 sunny, 22c : Cormorant 3, Little Egret, Heron 3, Mute Swan 7, Lapwing 101, Tufted 18, Moorhen 3, LBb Gull 33, Herring Gull 2, Bh Gull 150, Kestrel, Buzzard, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 8, Swift 4, House Martin 4, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Collared Dove 3, Red Admiral.

"Nettle Tap" micro moths.

Saturday 8th July 2017

1100 - 1200 fairly sunny, 21c : Little Egret, Common Tern 4, Cormorant, GC Grebe 2, Tufted 16, Heron, Lb Gull 9, Lapwing 26, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan pair + 5, Collared Dove 6, Stock Dove, Jackdaw 12, Swift 8, Swallow 7, House Martin 5, Sand Martin 2, Chiffchaff 2 juvs, Blackcap, Pied Wagtail 2, Song Thrush etc.

Long-horned Caddisfly

Thursday 6th July 2017

1000 - 1120 sunny, 23c : Lapwing 71, Common Tern, LBb Gull 5, Heron 4, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, GC Grebe 2, Tufted 22 + 7 young, Swift 10+, House Martin 6, Swallow 8, Collared Dove 7, Stock Dove 2, Sparrowhawk f, Long-tailed Tit 4, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Linnet 2, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting 2m.

Also seen - Hedge Brown (Gatekeeper) 5, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Ringlet 12+, Meadow Brown 10, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Small White 3, Large White, Green-veined White, Clouded Border, Yellow Shell, Cinnabar larva, Common Hawker dragonfly 2, Common Frogs at the marsh.

Hedge Brown, Small Skipper & Linnet today.

Monday 3rd July 2017

1100 - 1130 sunny 19c : Common Tern, a few Black-headed & Lesser Black Gulls, Lapwing 8 + 50 at brickworks field, Tufted Duck 18 + 7 small ducklings, Canada Geese 250+, Heron 3, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets still, GC Grebe 2, a few Swallows Sand Martins & Swifts, Pied Wagtail 2, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Collared Dove 8, etc. Also Comma, Ringlet 2 & Small White 3.

7 Cormorants north-west over Rushall early morning.

Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Wednesday 28th June 2017

1530 - 1600 overcast, 13c : Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 34, Tufted Duck 16, LBb Gull 60, Herring Gull 8, Swift 12, House Martin 8, Swallow & Sand Martin 20+, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, etc.

Cinnabar, Silver Ground Carpet & Degeers Longhorn moths on 7th June.

Tuesday 20th June 2017

1030 - 1130 light cloud, 22c : Oystercatcher 2, Lapwing 35, GC Grebe, a few Herring & LBb Gulls, Heron, Tufted 8, Pied Wagtail 3, Swift 8, Swallow 6, House Martin 6, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Collared Dove 3, Buzzard 2. Also - Ringlet 4, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Common Blue Damselfly 20+, Broad-bodied Chaser m.

Herring Gull on 6th June.

Wednesday 14th June 2017

1230 - 1330 sunny, 26c : Meadow Brown 8, Ringlet, Small Heath 4, Speckled Wood 6, Large Skipper 4, Common Blue 3, Small White 2, Yellow Shell 6, Five-spot Burnet 3, Burnet Companion, Common Wave, Spotted Longhorn beetle 3, Green Flower Beetle 3, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Also seen - large gulls 50+, Lapwing 26, Heron ad + 2 juvs, Mute Swan pair + 5, Grey Wagtail, Swift 8, Swallow 3, Whitethroat 3, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler 2, Stock Dove 2, Song THrush in song, Linnet, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting 2, Buzzard.

Meadow Brown & Spotted Longhorn today.

Wednesday 7th June 2017

1000 - 1200 sunny to 15c strong SW : Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail 2, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, LBb Gull 170, Herring Gull 9, Bh Gull 8, GC Grebe 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5, Swift 12, a few Swallows Sand & House Martins, Whitethroat 2 with juv, Blackcap m, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush 2, Rook 2, C Crow pair with 2 juvs, Collared Dove 2, Buzzard, Greenfinch pair with 2 juvs, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting 3, also 2 juvs, etc.

Also seen - Large Skipper, Small Heath, Speckled Wood 6, Degeers Longhorn moths 30+, Nettle Tap moths 6, Silver Ground Carpet, Cinnabar, Common Blue Damselfly.

Reed Bunting, young Crows and Bullfinch today.

Monday 5th June 2017

1030 - 1200 rainy, breezy, 12c : Oystercatcher, LR Plover, Lapwing 8, LBb Gull 136, Herring Gull 9, Bh Gull 9, Heron 2, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnet, Tufted 12, Mallard 40+, Canada Geese 100+, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 2 + 2 juvs, Swift 30+, Swallows House & Sand Martins 80+, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove 3, Collared Dove, Jackdaw 6, Goldfinch 3, etc.

Friday 2nd June 2017

1030 - 1100 rain, 18c : LBb Gull 116, Herring Gull 15, GBb Gull juv, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 5, Mute Swan pair + 5, Heron 2, GC Grebe 4, Tufted 8, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 2, Whitethroat 2, Song Thrush.

Tuesday 30th May 2017

1130 - 1230 light cloud, southerlies, 15c : Common Tern 2, GBb Gull juv, LBb Gull 109, Herring Gull 7, Bh Gull 8, Greylag Goose, Heron 3 flew in, GC Grebe 2, Lapwing, Mute Swan pair, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Swallow 3, Swift 6 over Rushall, Whitethroat, Blaxckcap, Collared Dove 2, Buzzard, Kestrel, etc.

Jay in the garden at Rushall today.

Friday 26th May 2017

1215 - 1330 Quarry & marsh (hot & sunny, 27c) - Common Blue, Small Heath, Dingy Skipper, Burnet Companion 8+, Mother Shipton 2, Latticed Heath, Speckled Wood 5. Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit family group of about 8, Skylark over, Stock Dove 2, Linnet, Reed Bunting. < p > 1330 - 1400 Pools etc : Common Tern 2, LBb Gull 84, Herring Gull 3, Lapwing 2, Pied Wagtail, Swift 5, Swallow 3, Heron, Song Thrush, etc.

Common Blue male, and day-flying moths Burnet Companion & Mother Shipton this afternoon.

Wednesday 24th May 2017

1130 - 1230 sunny, 22c : Common Tern, LBb Gull 71, Herring Gull 5, LR Plover, Lapwing 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5, GC Grebe 4, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow 3, Buzzard, etc. Also Holly Blue 2, Red Admiral, GV White & Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Linnet on Monday (a bit distant!).

Monday 22nd May 2017

1000 - 1130 usual hazy sun, 15c : Oystercatcher, Lapwing, LR Plover, Common Tern, Swift 6, Swallow 7, GC Grebe 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, Tufted Duck 4, LBb Gull 25, Herring Gull 2, Pied Wagtail 2, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Collared Dove 6, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk. Also Speckled Wood 2, Orange Tip 2m, Gv White 3.

Longhorn moth 2nd May.

Friday 19th May 2017

Thursday 18th May, evening - Ringed Plover still present (KMC).

Friday 19th May 1000 - 1115 rainy, 10c : LR Plover 2, Lapwing, GC Grebe 5, Heron, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 3, LBb Gull 41, Herring Gull 2, Swift 20+, Swallow 40+, House Martin 20+, Sand Martin 10, Whitethroat, Blackcap 2m, Chiffchaff, GS Woodpecker, Collared Dove 2, LT Tit 2, Chaffinch, etc.

Ringed Plover on 17th May.

Wednesday 17th May 2017

1030 & 1230, rain 11c : Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover 2, LBb Gull 58, Herring Gull 6, Bh Gull 9, GC Grebe 2, Heron, Swift 8, Swallow 80+, House Martin 10+, Sand Martin 6, Jay, Whitethroat. (KMC / GWR)

Enjoying a swim in the rain this morning...

Tuesday 16th May 2017

1200 - 1245 rainy, 16c : 41 large gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed and a few Herrings & a Yellow-legged Gull (photo), Little Ringed Plover 2, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing 2, Little Egret, Cormorant, Mute Swan pair + 5 cygnets, GC Grebe 4, Heron 2, Pied Wagtail 5, Kestrel, Swift 12+, a few Swallows & House Martins, Stock Dove 2, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, etc.

Saturday 13th May 2017

1230 cloudy 12c : Mute Swan 5 cygnets hatched, Lapwing 2, Collared Dove, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swift 25+, Swallow 3, House Martin 2 & also 6+ at Winterley Lane nests.

Thursday 11th May 2017

Wednesday 10th May, evening - Greenshank 2 flew north towards quarry, LR Plover 6, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Bh Gull darvic-ringed bird bearing ring from Marsh Lane NR 2016. (Kev Clements).
Thursday 11th May 1015 - 1130 sunny, 17c : Ring-necked Parakeet over to south & calling, Heron 2, GC Grebe 2, Swift 5, Swallow 2, Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lt Tit 2, Wren pair with 4 fledglings, Robin juv., Kestrel 2, Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 2. Also Dingy Skipper, Orange Tip 2m, Small White, Longhorn moths 5. (GR)

Just-fledged Wren & Dingy Skipper this morning.

Monday 8th May 2017

1100 - 1200 cloudy, 8c : Greenshank 2, Common Sand. 2, LR Plover 2, Lapwing 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 3, Swift/Swallow/Sand Martin/House Martin 30+, Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff, Kestrel.

Greenshank today.

Sunday 7th May 2017

0820 - 1100 sunny 9 - 11c : Greenshank 2, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern 3, Lapwing 4, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 3, Whitethroat 5, Blackcap m (photo), Willow Warbler 3, Chiffchaff, Swift 10, Swallow 6, Reed Bunting 2, Kestrel, etc. Also Orange Tip f, Gv White 2, Speckled Wood & a Fox.

Saturday 6th May 2017

1300 - 1400 overcast, 9c : Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank 2, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper 2, LR Plover 3, Lapwing 3, Grey Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 3, GC Grebe 2, Heron, Swift 12, House Martin 10+, Swallow & Sand Martin 40+, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting m, Kestrel, Buzzard, Jay. 6 Yellow Wagtails on southern bank at 1930 & Kingfisher at Swan Pool (KMC / GWR / PPN). 

Wood Sand. & Greenshank seen in poor light today.

Friday 5th May 2017

1030 - 1130 sunny but easterly wind, 15c : Swift 18, Grey Wagtail 3, Pied Wagtail 2, Raven, Common Sandpiper, LR Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Tern 2, GC Grebe 4, Whitethroat, Blackcap 3, Reed Bunting, Linnet 2, Greenfinch 2, Heron, Mute Swan pair, Kestrel 2, Buzzard 4. Also Orange Tip f & Gv White.

Orange Tip on 30th April.

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

0930 - 1100 sunny, breezy, 11c : Swift 4, Swallow 5, Sand Martin 5, Common Sandpiper 2, Oystercatcher, Lapwing 2, Common Tern 2, GC Grebe 4, Mallard with 7 small ducklings, Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, LT Tit 4, Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 4, Buzzard 3. Also seen - Orange Tip 2m, Gv White, Small Tort.3, Longhorn moths 20+, Hornet.

Black Tern yesterday & Swift this morning.

Monday 1st May 2017

Barr Beacon 0845 - 0915 rainy, 9c : Ring Ouzel 2, Wheatear 6, Yellow Wagtail, Kestrel, Buzzard, Blackcap.

Stubbers Green 0925 - 0945 rain, 9c : Black Tern, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, LR Plover 2, Oystercatcher 2, Whitethroat, Blackcap, a few hirundines, Pied Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit pair.

Ring Ouzels and Wheatears in the rain at Barr Beacon this morning.