West Midland Bird Club

Tittesworth Reservoir Latest News

Unless otherwise stated, reports on this page are anecdotal, and have not been verified by the relevant country recorder or rarities committee.

For the scientfic names of these birds, and their local status, see our county lists.

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The latest update covers July 2010.

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July 2010

31: A stag Roe Deer was seen on the eastern side of the Conservation Pool in the field behind the barn. Two juvenile Grey Wagtails and two juvenile Jays were noticed. Seventeen Swifts cythed through the sky. Two Sand Martins were also noticed along with 15 Swallows and eight House Martins. Corvids were in abundance - 200+ Rooks, 108 Crows and 85 Jackdaws; all in one field.
30: An adult Little Ringed Plover was discovered with one leg. Also present were three Kingfishers, 39 Lapwings + three juveniles, a pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding three youngsters, four Song Thrushes and a Kestrel.
28: Five juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were counted! Also of note were two Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher, the Barnacle Goose and a Snipe.
24: Nineteen Great Crested Grebes, eight Grey Herons, three juvenile Goosanders, eight Long-tailed Tits, four Coal Tits, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, five Lesser Redpolls, two Nuthatches, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Jays.
23: The star find of the day was a Greenshank.
21: Of note were five Common Sandpipers, 11 Little Ringed Plovers including four juveniles, five Common Sandpipers, 30+ Pied Wagtails and a male Goshawk!
17: The best find of the day was a single Black-tailed Godwit. Also of note were a female Mandarin plus two juveniles, two Sedge Warblers, two Spotted Flycatchers, four Common Sandpipers plus the Little Egret was located again.
15: The Barn Owl was seen again. Also seen were nine Little Ringed Plovers including three young, a Redshank, the Barnacle Goose and two Willow Tits.
13: A Barnacle Goose, 65 Lapwings, a Barn Owl and a Great Crested Grebe on a nest.
11: Many species identified including - 92 Lapwings, three Oystercatchers, eight Little Ringed Plovers including three juveniles, a juvenile Pied Flycatcher, a Barn Owl, a Nuthatch, a Bullfinch and two Reed Buntings.
10: Of note were fifty-eight Lapwings, 11 Curlews, a Barn Owl and a Little Egret.
5: Six adult Little Ringed Plovers + three chicks, 15 adult Lapwings with seven chicks, three Common Sandpipers, three Spotted Flycatchers, a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, three Whitethroats, six Garden Warblers, two Blackcaps, eight Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and the following butterfly species: Meadow Brown, Tortoiseshell and Large Skipper.
3: Eighteen Great Crested Grebes, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Barn Owl, a female Goosander with three juveniles, four Common Buzzards and two Stock Doves.
2: Dipper, Sparrowhawk on the west hide bird table, a Peregrine, a Wren, a Brown Hare and the following butterfly species: Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Painted Lady.

June 2010

30: Two Redshank, five Curlews a female Mandarin with two juveniles. An adult Barn Owl was found injured and taken to the Kingsley Bird & Falconry Centre. Due to its severe injuries it had to be put down.
29: Six Oystercatchers, two Common Sandpipers, two Curlews, two Lapwing chicks and a Barnacle Goose.
28: A rarely seen Linnet was noted. Butterflies on the wing included Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper and Meadow Brown. The Chimney Sweeper moth was also flying.
24: Six young Common Redstarts fledged from a nest in a cement mixer at South Hillswood to the south of the site. Also noted were a Treecreeper and four Ravens.
21: The Conservation Pool had dried up, only the feeder stream could be seen meandering across the bottom. Nine Little Ringed Plovers were counted and a Barnacle Goose observed.
20: Two hundred and fifty one Canada Geese were counted plus 19 goslings. Also noted were the two Little Egrets, three Little Ringed Plovers, a male Sparrowhawk and a pair of Peregrines with one juvenile. A Cuckoo was heard again.
19: The two Little Egrets were identified as juvenile birds. Also present, a Dunlin, a female Goosander with three flightless young, two Grey Wagtails, and the following feeding young, a pair of Common Redstarts, a pair of Spotted Flycatchers and a pair of Dippers with two young near the dam wall. Eight Lesser Redpolls and two Mistle Thrushes were also noted.
18: The two Little Egrets were still present.
17: Two Little Egrets arrived. Also present eight Grey Herons and 10 Cormorants.
16: Four Curlews, 11 Lapwings, three Little Ringed Plovers, a male Teal and Tufted Duck numbers had risen to12.
15: Eight Oystercatchers.
14: A pair of Common Redstarts, six Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Buzzard.
13: Four each of Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpipers, a Jay, a Little Owl, two adult Peregrines with three juveniles (Roaches) and a Cuckoo was heard again,.
12: Three Little Ringed Plovers, a Raven, a Kestrel and only six Tufted Ducks.
11: A Nuthatch family was found (2 adults + 2 young) and five Oystercatchers.
9: Four Grey Herons, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, 227 Canada Geese with 11 goslings and a Tawny Owl.
8: Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Lesser Redpoll and two Curlews.
6: A Ringed Plover, a Cuckoo was heard and Long-tailed Tit young noted.
5: A Kingfisher, four Little Ringed Plovers, five Common Sandpipers, a pair of Mandarins with two young, five Spotted Flycatchers and a male Common Redstart.
2: Ten Great Crested Grebes, a female Goosander and five juveniles, two Oystercatchers and a juvenile, a Pied Wagtail with a juvenile, and both Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher.

May 2010

31: A Lapwing was seen with four young plus two other larger young were seen elsewhere. Little Ringed Plover numbers were up to six. A female Goosander was seen with five young. Again the pair of Mandarins were seen with seven youngsters. Also there was a Mistle Thrush with four young.
30: A Peregrine flying over the reservoir attacked an unknown falcon species.
29: Waders included five Little Ringed Plovers, three Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Redshank and three Oystercatchers.
27: A Cuckoo was heard again.
26: Total Oystercatcher numbers had edged up to nine. Two Common Terns were seen. Five Grey Herons were counted.
24: Of note were five Redshank were counted.
23: Oystercatchers were back up to eight including a small juvenile. A pair of Mandarins was spotted with seven juveniles, The pair of Peregrines continued to be seen in the vicinity of the Roaches. Four Nuthatches were noted.
22: Male Pied Flycatchers had increased to three. There were four Common Sandpipers, three Little Ringed Plovers, a Ringed Plover and a Little Grebe.
19: Waders included six Curlew, one Dunlin, three Oystercatchers including a chick, two Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Lapwing and a Redshank. Also a female Mandarin, a pair of Peregrines over the Roaches and two Pied Flycatchers.
18: A pair of Shelducks, a Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin, a Curlew, six Lapwings and three adult Oystercatchers + chick. A Cuckoo was heard!
17: Of note were two Shelducks, two Grey Herons, a pair of Oystercatchers with one chick and two Peregrines.
16: Three Little Ringed Plovers, three Curlew, six Lapwings, a White Wagtail, a Peregrine over the Roaches, two Jays, a Kingfisher, two male Pied Flycatchers and a female Goosander with six young.
15: Of note were four Mute Swans, a Sanderling (a site rarity), a Ringed Plover, a Common Redstart, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and three Long-tailed Tits.
14: Three of each of Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher + one chick, a Little Ringed Plover, two Curlew and a Great Crested Grebe on a nest on the Conservation Pool.
13: Five Oystercatchers - one pair had a chick; two pairs of Common Sandpipers, two Dunlin, two male Pied Flycatchers, 30 Jackdaws — a very high count for Tittesworth, two male Pheasants, a Rook on the west hide bird table, a Coot nesting on a raft and a Ruddy Shelduck dropped in. Wild Garlic (or Ransoms) was in flower.
12: The highlight was most definitely the Honey Buzzard seen over the main reservoir between 10:30 and 11am! Also of note were two Little Ringed Plovers, three Oystercatchers, three Common Buzzards, over 20 Swifts, three Grey Wagtails, a Dipper, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher.
6: Three Common Sandpipers, 50+ Linnets — a very high count for this site, seven male Bullfinches, two Nuthatches and two Greylag Geese.
5: Two Whimbrel (on the large island), a Greylag Goose, two Oystercatchers, two Mute Swans, a Stock Dove and two Collared Doves.
2: Of note were two Whimbrel, five Curlews, a Redshank, a male Mandarin, two Sparrowhawks, three Common Buzzards, a Dipper, a Grey Wagtail, a Mistle Thrush, a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper, 12 Sand Martins, 40 House Martins, 300 Swallows, seven Swifts, a Tawny Owl and a Hobby.
1: The best sightings were - a Little Ringed Plover, a Spotted Flycatcher and four Swifts, the first of the year, plus 12 Great Crested Grebes, seven Sedge Warblers, 11 Whitethroats, 15 Garden Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Curlews, a Pied Flycatcher, seven Linnets and 53 Tufted Ducks.

April 2010

29: The best observation was a female Mallard with nine ducklings. The two long staying Oystercatchers were still present. Three Common Sandpipers were logged.
28: Tufted Duck numbers were up to 61 but quite suprisingly two Siskins were found. An equally good find was a male Pied Flycatcher near the River Churnet. In addition the following were logged: a Green Woodpecker, a Barn Owl, two ringed Cormorants, at least three occupied Grey Heron nests, regular observations of Jays and Mallard broods of seven and three. Also noted were two Whitethroats and two Whimbrel.
27: A Yellow Wagtail was found on the dam wall at about 6pm. Four young Robins were also located. Two large Dunnock chicks were also found.
25: Finding four Shelducks was the best result of the day. Also present were 28 Tufted Ducks, two Common Sandpipers, a Dipper, a Peregrine, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Pheasant, a Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush.
24: Of note were the first Sedge Warbler of the year, two Whimbrel, a Reed Warbler (a site rarity) and a Lesser Whitethroat — again the first of the year.
23: The first Garden Warbler of the year was located. Common and Lesser Redpoll were noted. Common Redpoll is also known as Mealy Redpoll and is not common! The following plant species were in flower: Marsh Marigold, Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot, Sun Spurge, Barren Strawberry, Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel, Common Violet and Butterbur. The following butterflies were on the wing: Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone.
21: No significant changes but a Raven was noted, over 200 Sand Martins were observed and a pair of Peregrines was seen over the Roaches.
20: The best find was a single Shelduck.
18: A Common Redstart was found. Around 45 Willow Warblers were singing. Waders located were two Common Sandpipers, a Lapwing, a Curlew and two Oystercatchers. Two Mute Swans were nest building. Twelve Lesser Redpolls were sighted. Fieldfare and Redwings were still around.
17: The following are noteworthy: a Common Sandpiper, two Oystercatchers, a Curlew, 11 Blackcaps, eight Chiffchaffs, 30 Willow Warblers, 27 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, a Tawny Owl, a Little Owl, a Jay, three Grey Wagtails, and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
14: Best finds: a pair of Mandarins, two Oystercatchers, five Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine.
13: A Hobby was located. A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was also found.
11: Three Greylag Geese were found. Also present were a Little Grebe, 15 Curlews, a Green Woodpecker, a Dipper and seven Reed Buntings.
10: There was a high count of 18 Willow Warblers. There were 22 Tufted Ducks and five Stock Doves plus the bonus of a Peacock butterfly.
7: Goosander numbers were reasonably high at 14. Also of note were two Oystercatchers still about, two Snipe, five Common Buzzards and four Reed Buntings.
6: Worth mentioning - two Oystercatchers , 14 Curlews, a male Peregrine over Crab Apple Bay, over 80 Swallows, 12 Chiffchaffs and 14 Lesser Redpolls.
4: Ten Great Crested Grebes, seven Goosanders, a female Mandarin, nine Teal, the continuing presence of the two Oystercatchers, a Curlew, a Tawny Owl, four Common Buzzards, a Song Thrush and five Willow Warblers.
3: The following are worth a mention: two Greylag Geese (uncommon at Tittesworth), a Common Pochard, four Mute Swans, two Oystercatchers, a Peregrine again, 42 Swallows, 12 Sand Martins, three Common Buzzards, a late staying Redwing, two Grey Wagtails, a Willow Tit and three Reed Buntings.
2: Of note were two Oystercatchers, 15 Curlews, a Peregrine, a male Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk and a Coal Tit.

March 2010

31: Five Rooks were found on site. This species is quite an uncommon site visitor.
30: Nine Sand Martins were observed.
28: By far the best find of the day was the first Little Ringed Plover of the year. However, four Swallows also turned up; also the first of the year. Also of note were two Peregrines, 18 Coots (not normally a plentiful species at Tittesworth), two Dippers, two Sparrowhawks and five Common Buzzards. Eight Chiffchaffs were also found on site.
24: The first Chiffchaff of the year was found by the River Churnet.
23: A pair of Gadwall was identified.
21: The first Sand Martins (three) of the year were seen. Two Dippers were located. Two Mistle Thrushes were welcome finds.
20: Good finds were a Redshank, a Dipper, 68 Fieldfares, four Herring Gulls and frog spawn in the pond by the River Churnet.
17: The pair of Mandarins, the two Oystercatchers and the four Mute Swans remain.
14: Still a good number of Curlews around, with over 60 counted. Two Peregrines put in an appearance and two Common Buzzards were noted. A routine count of the Canada Geese yielded a total of 93. It was also good to find a Jay; often an elusive species.
13: The best find of the day was a Kittiwake on the dam wall! Other interesting finds: 12 Great Crested Grebes, 91 Curlews, three Willow Tits, 4 male Reed Buntings, a Little Owl and two Oystercatchers.
10: Goosander numbers were still impressive at 31. Three Goldeneyes were still present. Also noted were a single Redwing and several Fieldfares, three Reed Buntings, six Pheasants, two Treecreepers and four Bullfinches.
8: Of note were a pair of Kestrels, 25 Goldfinches, a Grey Wagtail, a Common Buzzard with a green wing tag, 55 Lapwing and four Snipe.
7: Wigeon numbers had lifted to 63 and Curlew numbers were at 80. One Grey Heron located. Also noted were a Woodcock, two Ravens, two Stock Doves, 27 Common Gulls and the following raptors: Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard.
6: Two Ostercatchers were still present. Also of note were 45 Curlews, four Lesser Redpolls and a Common Buzzard.
5: The following were the only two species logged: a Kingfisher and a Willow Tit.
4: Of note were two Oystercatchers.
3: Wigeon up to 32 and Tufted Duck up to 36. Also two Goldeneyes, 14 Coots, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 67 Curlews, two Nuthatches, a Tawny Owl, four Mute Swans (two adults and two immatures), plus three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Tawny Owl, a Siskin, a Lesser Redpoll and a Reed Bunting.
1: Ducks present were 52 Goosanders, 21 Wigeon, 106 Teal, 21 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Mandarins and Mallards. Also present were an Oystercatcher, 11 Curlews, 57 Lapwings, two Snipe, a Skylark, two Treecreepers, a Siskin, a Grey Wagtail, six Song Thrushes, nine Redwings, a Raven, three Willow Tits, seven Long-tailed Tits, six Coal Tits and a pair of Bullfinches.

February 2010

28: Goosander numbers were quite high at 31 but 10 down on the 20th. Also of note 30 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Mandarins, 39 Curlew, 31 Lapwing, one Oystercatcher, two Common Buzzards, a Raven, a Tawny Owl and a Collared Dove.
27: Two Mute Swans — a species uncommon at Tittesworth, a Greylag Goose, a pair of Mandarins, 12 Curlews, an Oystercatcher, four Snipe, 22 Lapwings, three Moorhens, two Grey Wagtails, four Pied Wagtails and a Willow Tit.
24: Five Common Pochards were noted, a slightly higher number than of late. Coot numbers had risen to 16. Also worth noting: a Snipe, a Moorhen — very scarce at Tittesworth, two female Sparrowhawks, two Coal Tits, two Willow Tits, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, 11 Lesser Redpolls, a Raven, four Bullfinches and 41 Lapwings.
23: A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was observed with a flock of ~40 Siskins in Larches near the entrance to the east hide.
22: The best sighting of the day was a Peregrine.
20: Goosander numbers were now up to 41. Only one Grey Heron is currently resident on the site. Also of note: 21 Cormorants, 24 Redwings, two Coal Tits, two Nuthatches and two Mute Swans — uncommon at Tittesworth.
17: Three Pheasants, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a female Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Tawny Owl, a Little Owl, a Jay, three Song Thrushes and a Raven.
16: Of note: Long-tailed Tits — one flock of over 15 and another of 25+, 12 Lesser Redpolls, nine Bullfinches, a Jay, 28 Goosanders, a Goldcrest, a Grey Wagtail and a Brown Hare.
14: Goosander numbers had risen to 36. Wigeon had returned and 87 was a good count. Also of note: the wing tagged Common Buzzard, a Pheasant, five Mistle Thrushes, 30 Redwing, 30+ Long-tailed Tits, four Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 11 Coot — quite a high count for the site, four Bullfinches, three Willow Tits and two Reed Buntings.
13: Three Snipe, a male Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel and three Common Buzzards.
10: Only three Wigeon were found. Teal numbers had lifted slightly to 31. Also of note: Six Coot — scarce on this site, 73 Woodpigeon, two Ravens, 25 Fieldfares, 120 Redwings and 15 Long-tailed Tits.
7: A pair of Gadwall was an unusual observation for this site. The following are also worth a mention: a Curlew, five Snipe, a Mistle Thrush, 25 Lesser Redpolls and about 2600 Black-headed Gulls in the gull roost.
6: One thousand one hundred and thirty three Pink-footed Geese overflew the site heading NW. Also present — two Common Buzzards, a female Sparrowhawk, two Ravens, 32 Siskins, three Nuthatches, seven Long-tailed Tits, two Kingfishers, four Song Thrushes, 75 Rooks, a Grey Wagtail, a Willow Tit and a Brambling.
3: Twelve Great Crested Grebes, 29 Goosanders, 32 Tufted Ducks, 153 Common Gulls, 11 Herring Gulls, three Great Black-backed Gulls — uncommon on this site, two Kestrels, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Stock Doves, a Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker.

January 2010

31: Of note: 121 Wigeon, 23 Teal, 26 Tufted Ducks, four Pochard, 15 Goosanders, three Goldeneye, 42 Common Gulls, two Tawny Owls and one Little Owl.
27: Ten Whooper Swans were recorded — eight adults and two juveniles. They were only on-site for about three hours. Also present: two Pochards, three Goldeneyes, 25 Tufted Ducks, a Herring Gull, a Snipe and 30 Siskins.
24: Four Tawny Owls were found, a high count for this site.
20: The best find of the day was a black-bellied Brent Goose, a site rarity. Also of note: a Greylag Goose, 73 Wigeon, 26 Long-tailed Tits, a Tawny Owl, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and seven Greenfinches.
19: A Dipper was observed on the River Churnet.
17: Goosander numbers had lifted to 21. Also note the following: 41 Wigeon, eight Lapwings, a Snipe, 23 Herring Gulls, 52 Common Gulls, four Nuthatches, four Bullfinches, a Reed Bunting, a single Grey Heron, a Jay and a Raven.
16: Duck numbers: 71 Wigeon, 28 Teal, three Goldeneyes, 147 Mallards, five Tufted Ducks and 12 Goosanders. Also two Snipe, four Goldcrests, a Tawny Owl and two female Kestrels.
10: Of note: a Little Grebe, 94 Teal, 12 Coots, three Moorhens and a female Sparrowhawk.
9: A flock of about 450 Pink-footed Geese flew over the site.
8: Two Woodcocks were found, an unusual species for Tittesworth. Also noted: two hundred and sixty six Mallards, 121 Teal, a female Mandarin, three Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, 16 Blackbirds and nine Robins.
7: Two Ravens were recorded.
3: A Little Grebe was noted, uncommon on this site. Also worth a mention were two Common Buzzards, three Moorhens, 33 Long-tailed Tits, a Jay, two Goldcrests, a Willow Tit, five Bullfinches and two Nuthatches.
2: The most unusual sighting was of two Cackling Geese with 62 Canada Geese. Fifty-six Pink-footed Geese flew over the site and the following were also of note: fifteen Great Crested Grebes, six Goldeneyes, 115 Teal, 42 Wigeon, 38 Tufted Ducks, 11 Goosanders and three Song Thrushes.
1: Sixty-one Teal, five Goldeneye, 14 Goosanders, 13 Tufted Ducks, just three Pochards, a Woodcock, a Red Grouse, eight Stock Doves, two Kestrels, a Raven, 16 Long-tailed Tits, 60 Siskins and eight Lesser Redpolls.

Reports by Ray Perry.

The Tittesworth Visitor Centre is at Meerbrook, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8SW; map reference: SJ9960 .

Ornithology in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & the West Midlands county, since 1929.

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