We're excited to announce a brand new partnership with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social, offering the chance to for two aspiring conservationists to visit the Obs for two weeks in August this year! For more details and how to apply, see www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/opportunitie...

❗Please be aware that some membership renewals have failed. If you previously paid via Worldpay or Standing Order, you need to re-join through our website. Reserve gate codes change on 1st March - make sure you don't miss out on access to some of the best birding sites in the West Midland region!

Birmingham City; Kingfisher & 3 Tawny Owls Great to see; Peregrine & Raven mid air tussle, 2 Black Redstart across their territories @ecorecord.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Great Crested grebes this morning.. @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Whitemoor Haye 08.00 - 12.00, 2 of 3. 5 grey partridge, 10 cormorant, 1 ruff, 3 meadow pipit, 4 little grebe, 2 slavonian grebe, 1 little egret, 84 mute swan, 1 merlin, 8 egyptian geese, 4 yellowhammer (2m, 2f), 1 gw egret, 2 peregrine. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Don't miss Chris Evans' talk TOMORROW on the final day of The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. 'From Black Redstarts to Nightjars - iconic birds of the West Midlands area' 📆 Sun 25 Jan 📍Wolverhampton Art Gallery 📸 (c) Bence Máté, Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Would you like a local branch near you? Following the success of our Stafford branch, we’re looking to set up more local groups for members. Come along to one of our meetings to share your thoughts! 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️

A monster 1st winter Caspian Gull dropped in mid afternoon. A real big hooter on this one. #UKBirding

📣 Save the date!!! 📣 The WMBC Open Day & AGM will return this year! 📅 Saturday 16th May 2026 📍 Middleton Hall & Gardens. We have lots of exciting plans which we'll be sharing with you shortly. Watch this space 👀

All are welcome to join the Stafford branch this Tuesday, 13th January, for a talk about Costa Rica with David Tolliday. £3 admission including refreshments. Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We look forward to welcoming you there! ✨

The Club was saddened to hear of the death of popular Worcestershire birder and member Tony Smith. He was a long-standing member of the former Kidderminster WMBC Branch for many years.

@westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Stafford Branch next talk on Tuesday 13th January, Walton Village Hall Stafford. Refreshments provided, all welcome

Circa Alrewas 14.09 - 17.00. C150 Linnet in fields north of Alrewas woth several Skylark. 2 Snipe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 1 Goosander and 1 Cetti's Warbler @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

📣 2026 Membership Renewal! 📣 If you're a WMBC member, you will need to renew now to continue your membership for 2026. Check your email inbox for step by step instructions on how to do this!

All are welcome to join the Stafford branch THIS TUESDAY for a talk by Paul Hill entitled Tarifa - "Gateway to Africa". £3 admission including refreshments. Doors will open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We look forward to welcoming you there! ✨

WMBC legendary oldest member would have been 100 today Dec6th but sadly died on October 6th 2025 . Eric Clare aka Sam will be rememberedv for his west midland bird club birdline and his times on Scillyb especially on Agnes. Happy birthday Eric and thank you for all that information.

Join the WMBC Stafford Branch coach trip to WWT Slimbridge on Sunday 7th December! You can book your place via our website: www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk/event-detail... or by emailing Chris Evans: staffordfieldmeets(at)westmidlandbirdclub(dot)org(dot)uk.

⚠️ Ladywalk Flooding ⚠️ Please be aware that due to flooding, Ladywalk is currently inaccessible until water levels go down.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Blithfield, Staffs – From a couple of weeks back, stayed asleep for the first half hour in low sun and semi concealed which made picking out the ID features difficult but educational, showed well as morning progressed. @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Eric Samuel Clare's funeral will be held on Monday November 10th 2025 at 2.30pm at Lichfield Crematorium, Fradley Lane, Fradley Lichfield WS13 8GA. The family of Eric wish to invite friends, neighbours and WMBC members afterwards to The Crown, 7 Post Office Lane, Alrewas, Staffs DE13 7BS.

Come and join the WMBC at the Midland Arts Centre's (MAC) 'Birdland Trail' Launch! Visit our stand to find out more information about WMBC, or join our knowledgeable reserve representatives on a bird spotting walk around Cannon Hill Park, at 10.30am or 2.30pm 🌳🦆🐦

2 Black Redstarts in Lichfield. Birds are visiting various gardens and streets. Remember its an urban area,I had permission to access a property to get these pics @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of our oldest and well-loved member, Eric Samuel Clare, or Sam as he was known to some of you. He passed away peacefully at his Alrewas home in the early hours of Monday 13th October.

Bourn Brook dazzling Kingfisher in the rain Yday Birmingham City Black Redstart sat on a red car😃 Great! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds #ukbirds

Whitemoor Haye this am. 1 of 2. C130 lapwing, c60 cormorant, 1 cettis warbler, 6 grey heron, 130 mallard, 1 swallow, 12 egyptian geese, 7 shoveler, 1 raven, 61 pochard, 3 snipe, 48 tufted duck 10 teal, 23 mute swan, 11 great white egret. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Good views of the White-rumped Sandpiper at Blithfield Reservoir along Admaston Reach this afternoon; also Black-necked Grebe south of the causeway but no sign of the Spoonbill. Pair of glasses left on the gate to Blithe Bay @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Richard King of West Midlands Bird Club @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social notes where it is still possible to hear skylarks singing at a disused airport in the Midlands

Come and join the Stafford Branch coffee morning on Saturday 8th November! ☕ A great chance to meet like-minded people, followed by an optional birding trip to Doxey Marshes 🦆 No need to book, just turn up!

Great to see a Glossy Ibis making it's debut appearance at Wildgoose Reserve last week! 🤩 Find out more about Wildgoose on our website: www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk/wildgoose-re... 📸 Photo by Rob (Wildgoose Rural Training)

Whitemoor Haye this am. 2 of 2. 6 great white egret. 5 grey heron, 1 kingfisher, 1 raven, 3 goldcrest, 14 greenfinch, c20 house martin and c10 swallow, 2 stonechat, 47 wigeon, 5 yellowhammer, 1 snipe, 6 little egret. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

….a bit of last light Snipe photography this eve, after checking in with the Stewardship mowing contractor @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide Reserve, Staffs. Now all ready for the winter season refill. 👍🏻

Frankley Reservoir sunrise this wk Bourn Brook Kingfishers, Peregrine, Tawny Owls Great! @ecorecord.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds #ukbirds

⚠️ CHANGE OF DATE ⚠️ for the Stafford Branch Coach Trip to Rutland Water Due to essential work on the reserve, the trip has been postponed to Sunday 21st September 📆 There are still plenty of spaces on the coach! Please book before 9th September to join 🎉

Many thanks to the 20 sites who participated in yesterday's #westmidsalldayer - 4 sites managed to break the 100 mark with Blithfield narrowly pipping Belvide to the post. I'll pull together a list of all the species seen across the sites (usually c140 species). Well done all 👏

Good luck to all of the #westmidsalldayer on the biannual @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social all dayer. Think it's gonna be a tough one at Whitemoor Haye

#WestMidsAllDayer tomorrow at #LadywalkNR Out at first light, If anyone wants to join in then come along at any time but breakfast at woodyard. Or if your around tomorrow then let us know your sightings please. Always a good day with plenty 👀’s we find something good! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Ahead of tomorrow's #WestMidsAllDayer I remembered I hadn't posted the final final final scores from the 23 sites which participated in the Spring event on the 3rd May.

A reminder that the autumn edition of the West Midlands All-Day Birdwatch will be on the traditional date of the first Saturday in September (6th). Here's hoping for a good day and lots of sites (new and old) to be participating #westmidsalldayer

Don't forget it's the West Mids all dayer tomorrow!! A chance to see how many bird species can be spotted at different sites in one day, across the region. Use #WestMidsAllDayer and tag @pmandrews1973.bsky.social to share updates from your local patch tomorrow! 🐦

Belvide Reservoir work party season kicks off next month! 💪 There is lots of work to do to this year, and we would love more volunteers to join! Could you help us? 🌳

⚠️ CHANGE OF DATE ⚠️ for the Stafford Branch Coach Trip to Rutland Water Due to essential work on the reserve, the trip has been postponed to Sunday 21st September 📆 There are still plenty of spaces on the coach! Please book before 9th September to join 🎉

The new bridge over the Chad Brook at Harborne Reserve is complete! Find out more about Harborne Reserve and how to visit on our website: www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk/harborne-res...

If you haven’t already done so, please submit your 2025 BBS and WBBS data to us by the end of this weekend. The deadline to submit your data is 31 August, which is this Sunday! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #CitizenScience

Apply to join BTO's Youth Advisory Panel👉 bit.ly/_YAPVolunteer If you're aged 16-24, passionate about nature and people’s engagement in the natural world, then this is your chance to have a positive impact. 📆 Applications close on Sunday 7 September. We look forward to hearing from everyone!

August is very much the start of autumn for many migratory birds - read the latest BTO Migration Blog for news & tips for what to look out for in the next couple of weeks! Don't forget to add your own sightings to @birdtrack.bsky.social & contribute to #CitizenScience! #Ornithology #Birding

Whitemoor Haye today. 1 of 2. 9 common tern, 111 lapwing, 112 mallard, 204 coot, 8 little grebe, 2 raven, 63 tufted duck, c60 linnet, 1 cettis warbler, at least 4 lesser w'throat, 9 gc grebe, 1 shoveler, 1 little egret, @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social

Birmingham City Black Redstart moult Busy year! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social @ecorecord.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social #birds #wmbirds

🚨 Peregrine Falcon update! 🚨 ADX, originally ringed on 15/06/25 in Bewdley after being rescued + returned to her nest, has been spotted on (25/08/25) @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social Belvide, Staffordshire, 23 miles away! 💨🦅 Fantastic to see it thriving & flying strong! @belvidebirding.bsky.social

Ladywalk Nature Reserve are holding a moth morning! Come along on Saturday 6th September to find out what's been caught in the trap overnight! Book your place by visiting our website: www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk/event-detail... or by emailing Geoff Adams (see details below).