Quick visit to the deep end at Blithfield after visiting the tip this morning produced the mobile RT Diver close to the causeway and the 1st w drk Scaup with Tufteds off Watery Lane. Also noted Red Kite, Bullfinch and Nuthatch #staffsbirds

Annual family visit to @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social was quality with over 70 species. 1 Great & 8 Cattle Egrets, 2 Whooper and 55+Bewick’s, c110 Russian Whitefronts, 14 Tundra Beans, 2 Pinkfeet,2 Peregrine,3 unringed Cranes, Water Rail,41 Avocet, 2 Little Stint, Firecrest, Chiffchaff the highlights

A late afternoon visit to Gailey Res in the bitter cold until produced an unexpected Chiffchaff along the causeway in hawthorns and even bathing. Also noted 4 Little Egrets, 15 Pochard, drk Goldeneye, Common Sand along with a few new bits for the year like Grey Wag and Nuthatch #staffsbirds

Being fortunate enough to live close to The Chase, it was only a short journey in the icy conditions this morning. Not a great deal of wildlife but a few new bits for the year in beautiful conditions.

A decent first day of 2026 totaling 73 species. Started at Gailey Res at dawn ending at Whitemoor Haye at dusk with a couple of sites in between.Highlights 5 Great Egret, 3 Slav Grebe, 3 Whoopers, 2 Russian Whitefronts, 2 RC Pochard, Red Kite, Goshawk, Water Rail, 6 YL Gull, Common Sand #staffsbirds

Dawn visit to Gailey Res to early afternoon produced 2 Great Egret, 6 Little Egret, 3 Goldeneye, 10 Pochard, Water Rail, Common Sand, 5 Snipe, Cetti’s Wblr, good no’s regular Thrushes, 4 Redpoll, a few Raven #staffsbirds

Happy New Year to all! Dawn starts at Gailey Res with 2 Great Egret & 7 Little Egrets still at roost #staffsbirds

Another visit to Gailey Res was largely the same. 2 Little Egret, 12 Pochard, drk Goldeneye, ad GBBG, Common Sand, 13 Snipe, 5 Redpoll #staffsbirds

Gailey Res this morning produced 2 Wigeon, 10 Pochard, Water Rail, Common Sand, 6 Redpoll, 8 Siskin. At the nearby WMI drk Shoveler, 1st w GBBG with 80 LBBG, 123 Herring, 145 BHG, 400+Lapwing #staffsbirds

A few hours at Gailey Res this morning produced 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Pochard, 2 fem Goldeneye, Water Rail, Common Sand, a decent count of 25 Snipe, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

After early morning birding, this afternoon was all about a Santa train ride. Such a magical time of the year ❤️

Couple of hours at Gailey Res this morning produced Great Egret which flew to grounds of Hatherton Hall, drk Goldeneye, 2 Water Rail, Common Sand, 6 Snipe, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

Late afternoon visit to Gailey Res was predictably quiet in the mild weather. 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, & Common Sand only birds of note #staffsbirds

A couple of hours spent at Birches Valley on The Chase with the family was festive and very pleasant in the afternoon sun. Made even better by several Crossbills constantly knocking round and regularly perching above us.

Quick visit to Gailey Res this morning in the drizzle produced Little Egret, 40+Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, Common Sand, c200 Fieldfare #staffsbirds

Quick hour at Gailey Res with Dave before doing the shopping produced 1 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, drk Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye, a decent count of 97 Pochard, & Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

Blithfield 08:20-14:20 walk to top of Blithe and deep end produced 9 Little Egret, 12 Pinkfeet, 47 Egyptian Geese, 300+Wigeon, drk Pintail, 2 Scaup(imm drk+imm fem) with 9 Pochard & 273+Tufteds, 4 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull(ad & 2nd w), 2 Snipe, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds

At Blithfield Res 2 Scaup(imm drk + imm fem) + 10 Pinkfeet in Blithe Bay 09:50 #staffsbirds

Late morning family walk around Gailey Res was disappointingly quiet. 1 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon & c40 Pochard only birds of note #staffsbirds

Family walk home over Littleton Pit/Shoal hill was quite productive. Little Egret over, female Gos, Green Wood, small no’s Redwing, sev Siskin, 50+Redpoll, 3 Raven #staffsbirds

Gailey Res 07:45-11:00 searching for Dusky or Pallas’s Wblrs…I continue to dream! Of note 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 41 Pochard, Goldeneye, Cetti’s Wblr, 2 Crossbill SW. Also fields opposite holding good no’s of Skylark, Mipits and Pied Wags so worth keeping an eye on #staffsbirds

At Gailey Res 2 Crossbill flew SW over dam 08:38 #staffsbirds

After work visit to Gailey Res produced 2 Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, fem Shoveler, 39 Pochard, fem Goldeneye #staffsbirds

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res in the fading light produced 2 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, drk Shoveler, 9 Pochard, fem Goldeneye #staffsbirds

Pleasant few hours at Gailey Res this morning but pretty quiet. 4 Little Egret, 18 Pochard, 4 Snipe, small no’s Redwing & Fieldfare, sev Siskin of note. Also big no’s of Woodpigeon heading South off The Chase #staffsbirds

Quick after visit work to Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 2 Little Egret, 8 Pochard, 1st w Common Gull #staffsbirds

Couple of hours at Gailey Res this morning produced Great Egret, 12 Whooper Swan over North 07:32, 3 Egyptian Geese, drk Wigeon, 24 Pochard, 2 drk Goldeneye, 7 Goosander over, 1st w Common Gull, 14 Fieldfare, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

At Gailey Res 12 Whooper Swan flew over North 07:32 #staffsbirds

Good family walk at Blithfield 10:00-15:00 produced the juv White-Rumped Sand still along Admaston Reach, 5 Whooper Swans(3ad,2juv) in Tad, Great Egret, 2 YL Gull, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, Green Sand, 3 Curlew, 2 Stonechat #staffsbirds

After work visit to Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, Australian Shelduck, 8 Pochard g #staffsbirds

After work visit to Gailey Res was pretty quiet. Of note 3 Little Egret, Australian Shelduck, 6 Pochard, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

Successful visit to Spurn with some great views of the Black-Faced Bunting. Good to get this one back after missing last years Rimac individual.

Blithfield 07:30-11:30 produced the White-Rumped Sand showing nicely along Admaston Reach. Also Great Egret, 18 Little Egret, 2 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull, 8 Golden Plover, 4 Ringie, Dunlin, 2 Green Sand, 4 Curlew, Snipe, 20 Fieldfare, Rock Pipit, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res was decent with drk Common Scoter on fishing lake & Rock Pipit briefly on c’way before flying East 16:50. Also 2 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds

After work check of Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 7 Wigeon, 8 Teal, ad Common Gull. No sign of the recent Whooper #staffsbirds

An hour at a foggy Gailey Res revealed the Whooper Swan still present late morning with 11 Mutes showing well on the sailing lake. Also 7 Pochard present. #staffsbirds

Gailey Res fog bound but ad Whooper Swan still present #staffsbirds

After yesterday’s Needletail success, thought I was dreaming when @belvidebirding.bsky.social phoned me to say he had a flock of White-Rumped Sands. 8 1st w birds!!! They flew East so I dashed to Gailey Res on the off chance. No joy but found only my second record of Whooper Swan there #staffsbirds

Still hasn’t sunk in. Incredible views of the White-Throated Needletail which performed for around an hour. One of the best birds I have ever seen in the UK. BOC shots from Steve Nuttall.

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

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