Belvide, Stubbers Green and Chasewater
Decided to take our chances against the weather yesterday morning and headed out to WMBC's Belvide Resevoir in Staffs. The feeding station in the resevoir plantation was excellent; highlights being lots of Tree Sparrows, 2 very aggressive Nuthatch, a Willow Tit and we also had a pair of GS Woodpeckers nearby. On the shore by the dam there was a Grey Wagtail and we had excellent views of the drake Scaup and the sun even decided to come out for a while. Also a few Pochard and Goldeneye about.
The weather soon turned so we stocked up on snacks then drove round aimlessly for a while. We nearly went home but then I suggested a visit to Stubbers Green to see if the Caspian Gull was around. It wasn't there but it was useful to find Stubbers Green anyway; official designated 'nature zone' (that means its ok for Canada Geese to stand in the middle of the road apparently). Its quite an interesting and compact little place actually and the gulls are very close so we'll go back again to have a look at the Caspian soon. It was a bit too late in the day I think. We did see Great & Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Common Gulls and Black Headed Gulls also Pied Wagtail, Lapwing and Pochard.
The weather soon turned so we stocked up on snacks then drove round aimlessly for a while. We nearly went home but then I suggested a visit to Stubbers Green to see if the Caspian Gull was around. It wasn't there but it was useful to find Stubbers Green anyway; official designated 'nature zone' (that means its ok for Canada Geese to stand in the middle of the road apparently). Its quite an interesting and compact little place actually and the gulls are very close so we'll go back again to have a look at the Caspian soon. It was a bit too late in the day I think. We did see Great & Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Common Gulls and Black Headed Gulls also Pied Wagtail, Lapwing and Pochard.
The weather had now dried up so we headed over to Chasewater to have a go at the gull roost. Huge numbers of all the commoner gull species present but nothing too exciting (well not as far as we could see, but we're hardly roost veterans). It was a good specactle anyway and good to get some practice in. We had the Great Northern Diver close in to the dam, which finished off the day nicely.