January 26th 2026

Twenty one Tufted Duck is a very good count for the site.  Very little else around at north end as the where cutting up fallen trees nearby .

January 25th 2026

95 x Pink-footed Geese over at 11-05 heading south/ east . Also 21 x Wigeon at north end and 6 x Little Egret south end along with Dipper on the Dam overflow.

January 24th 2026

Water Rail x 1 , Little Egret x 7 and a single Goosander today.

Wigeon x 24 north end.

January 21st

Miserable rain all day , cloudy 10dg.

Little Egret x 7 in the field approaching Rudyard village just before railway bridge.

January 20th 2026

Cloudy breezy start 7dg

North end

Common Snipe x 17

Water Rail

January 19th 2026

Misty / Foggy light drizzle 8dg.

At least 20 Common Snipe at the north end on the edge of reedbed.

Great Crested Grebe 20yrs

Our Great Crested Grebe population seems to be pretty stable with records pretty consistent over the past 20 years.

24 x Feb 2005

20 x Feb 2008

19 x Jan 2010

18 x Apr 2012

28 x Jan 2016

24 x Jan 2018

21 x Nov 2019

25 x Jan 2020

18 x Dec 2023

17 x Jan 2024

16 x Jan 2025

17 x Jan 2026

January 18th 2026

Cloudy light drizzle 9dg.

Three drake Pochard amongst the Tufted Ducks at the north end. These birds are very scarce here at Rudyard with only one or two sightings per year. Also of note a large flock of around at least 60 Siskin feeding along railway line north end , and a single Sparrowhawk. 

January 17th 2026

Cloudy start sun breaking through midday 7dg.

Eight Little Egret in field off Rudyard Rd opposite BT exchange building. 

Highfield Farm 

Ring-Necked Parakeet 

January 16th 2026

Overcast misty conditions first thing brightening up after midday 6dg.

Not much change really Tufted Duck upto 19 now which is a good count for us. Wigeon still stable at 14 birds , and still around 100+ Teal this morning.  Single Raven over north end car park , still a few Common Snipe can be found amongst the reeds at the north end. Very little else different to be honest.

I did come across some Trumpet Lichen (Cladonia fimbriata) which caught my eye on a fence post.

January 14th 2026

Overcast conditions overnight frost 3dg.

North end

Teal x 128

Mallard x 192

Common Snipe x 17

G C Grebe x 7

South end

G W Egret over

Little Egret

Dipper 

Redwing good numbers

Fieldfare good numbers 

Mistle Thrush

Common Snipe x 2

Water Rail x 2

Grey Wagtail x 2

Views of Heron Marsh looking frosty this morning .

January 13th 2026

Overcast light drizzle 5dg

Dipper along overflow stream south of the dam. Also 6 x Little Egret around Heron Marsh area early morning. 

Went back to the Dam after the rain eased this afternoon and the Dipper was singing its little heart out. 

January 12th 2026

Overcast conditions light rain.

Lake is now 80% open water with just the very far north end still frozen. Birds noted at the north end between 10-00 /12-00.

Water Rail on the ice by the reeds.

Mallard x 247

Canada Geese x 253

Wigeon  x 14

Teal x 36

Tufted Duck x 3

Greylag Goose x 1

Cormorant  x 7

Other birds around the north end.

Buzzard x 4

Chaffinch  x 9

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit 

L T Tit x 7

Treecreeper  x 3

Nuthatch  x 4

Song Thrush 

Blackbird

Carrion Crow 

Jay

Wood Pigeon 

B H Gull

L B B Gull x 4

Wren

Starling 

Robin

Grey Heron

Dunnock

Goldcrest

Siskin 

Moorhen

Mistle Thrush 

Birds noted south end below the Dam to Heron Marsh.

Dipper on channel below Dam.

Little Egret x 5

Redwing x 30

Fieldfare x 20

Teal x 20

Lesser Redpoll x 2

Siskin x 10

Raven x 2

All together 46 species were recorded on site this morning. 

January 9th

Today the lake is around 50% still frozen with overcast conditions and light rain at times. Only Birds of note really,  pair of Siskin on the north feeders and pair Goosander south end towards the Dam.

Scarce Species

Here at Rudyard we have 90 species which can usually be found quiet easily throughout the year . Along with another 10 species which are scarce but are usually recorded at least once or twice if we are lucky  during a twelve month period .  This forms the start of our yearly list which takes us to the magic 100 mark . The list below is of the 10 scarce species , which if anybody sees them it would nice if you could report the sighting to either myself or a Ranger who will pass the reported sighting on.

Scarce  (one or two records per year)

Goldeneye

Pochard

Gadwall

Shoveler

Gt W Egret

Barn Owl

Green Woodpecker

Skylark

Yellow Wagtail

Brambling 

Below is a short list of species not recorded during the last 10 years.

Black Tern

Knot

Wheatear

Whinchat

Stonechat

Wood Warbler

Agian if you see or here of anybody seeing any of the above species please get in touch with me or one of the Rangers who will pass the information on.

Like I have always say to people birds that are common at other local lakes and reservoirs may not be the case here. Its always best to record all sightings either on Birdtrack or eBirds where our local Staffordshire county recorder can pick them up. 

Thank You Steve.

January 7th

Water Rail heard calling from area near Heron Marsh again early this morning also Kingfisher present. 

First Time Looking

 If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open it up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer and will allow you access to more information  . All sightings are recorded and logged which adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife especially here at Rudyard. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case at this site , high counts of species are just as welcome . Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterfly and Dragonfly sightings to add to our records . 

Steve

January 6th

Still the lake is frozen over with temperatures down below minus again last night . All the common species around the lake as you would expect at this time of the year. Water Rail calling on Heron Marsh and 4 x Little Egret present along with a single Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. 

January 5th

Lake completely frozen over after overnight temperatures down to around -10.

January 4th

Rudyard is frozen over today with last night's temperatures dropping to -8 . Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare movement at north end but very little else. 

Late News December

December 27th

Dipper seen again on the overflow stream just south of the dam.

November 

Around 150 to 200 Snipe with apparently 20 Jack Snipe amongst them. Birds where flushed from the vegetation as the water was slowly rising at the far north end of the lake. They were seen and counted by a local birder with excellent knowledge of both species , so with the Jack Snipe that now takes the final year total to 125.

Happy New Year

We finished 2025 with a record 125 species well above the average total. I would like to say thank you to all who contributed to the year list by finding the unusual species. We also added two new species to the site with Marsh Harrier and White Stork both making an appearance. Once again thank you to all who visited and contributed to many to mention but you know who you all are.

Best wishes and have a bird filled 2026.

Steve.

December 22nd

Two Peregrine over contact calling.

8 x Wigeon 

5 x Goosander 

16 x Common Gulls 

November 27th

South End along feeder stream. 

Bullfinch 

Siskin 

Redpoll

Redwing

Fieldfare 

Water Rail x 2 same area.

Little Egret x 4

No sign of yesterday's Parakeet. 

November 26th

 A single Ring-necked Parakeet along the feeder down from the Rudyard Hotel this morning,  also two Water Rail heard In  the same place as I had two yesterday. Tawny Owl calling along the feeder stream aswell.

Photo by Gill Hammond. 

November 25th

South end of the Dam.

Goosander x 5

Little Egret x 1

Water Rail x 2 (Heron Marsh)

Kingfisher x 2

Plenty of Redwing/Fieldfare. 

October 26th 2025

Two hundred Wood Pigeon and 7 x Skylark overhead and 15 x Snipe , 70 x Teal north end .

October 25th 2025

The two Pink-footed Geese are still with the Canada flock this morning in the field at the point north end .

October 24th 2025

Two Pink-footed Geese feeding with Canada's in the Cattle field by the point .

October 23rd 2025

Around 45 x Pink-footed Geese over south of the lake 10-00 heading south east.

October 21st 2025

Small numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing moving south west this morning . Still plenty of mud around for any late wader passage but water levels are rising. 

Oct 20th 2025

Peregrine juvenile 

Great White Egret

Little Egret x 2

Pochard

Tufted Duck x 9

Teal x 147

Lapwing x 18

Common Snipe

Common Gull x 3

October 19th 2025

Three Goosander early morning and Red Kite over before the rain came in around 10-30. Still around 100 plus Teal and 19 x Lapwing. 

October 18th 2025

119 x Teal .

October 14th 2025

90 plus Teal , 38 x Common Snipe and a single Common Gull.

October 12th 2025

Around 90 plus Teal counted in foggy conditions this morning there could possibly  be more . Along  with 12 Snipe and two  small flocks of Redwing  .

October 8th 2025

150 plus Pink-footed Geese over 9-35 heading north west.

September 30th

Two Little Egret early morning. 

September 26th 2025

Great White Egret this morning also Ringed Plover , 3 x Snipe , 4 x Wigeon , 90 x Teal and 35 Linnet.  No sign of the Little Stint. 

September 25th 2025

Red Kite over mid morning. 

September 24th 2025

Little Stint still present along with 3 x Curlew , 2 x Ringed Plovers,  91 x Teal , 3 x Wigeon and a single Common Gull.

Redshank and Dunlin mid-day but know sign of the 3 x Curlew. 

First time looking.

If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your  phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open it up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer and will allow you access to more information  . All sightings are recorded onto a database and adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife especially here at Rudyard. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case at this site , high counts of species are just as welcome . Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly sightings to add to our records . 

Steve

September 22nd 2025

Little Stint still present   two skeins Pink-footed Geese over. Also a single Wigeon and 85 x Teal.

September 20th 2025

Our 3rd Little Stint of the year this morning also 5 x Ringed Plovers and Dunlin still.

65 x Teal .

September 19th 2025

Two Goosander over this morning .

September 18th 2025

First Wigeon of the Autumn back today along with 68 Teal. Also Shelduck,  Dunlin and 5 x Ringed Plovers. 

Sept 11th 2025

161 x Teal this morning , also Peregrine and Yellow Wagtail. 

Old photo

Just received a old image of seven Whooper Swans photographed at Rudyard on 9th December 1984.

Photographed by WJL. (Bill Low)

August 30th 2025

Dipper early morning on the stream below the Dam.

Black-tailed Godwit x 1

Ringed Plover x 1

Little Egret x 1 

Snipe x 1

Teal x 37

Grey Wagtail x 3 South end

Grey Wagtail x 3 North end

Raven x 2

August 29th 2025

Single Black-tailed Godwit still present. Also Yellow Wagtail,  5 x Ringed Plover , 6 x Little Ringed Plover and 28 x Teal. 

Up by the Old Hall building a single Tawny Owl and Spotted Flycatcher. 

One Common Tern hawking the lake as I left and Red Kite over.

228 x Canada Geese 

August 23rd 2025

Great White Egret x 1

Ruff x 3

Ringed Plover x 6

Little-Ringed Plover  x 4

Yellow Wagtail x 1

Teal x 21

August 22nd 2025

3 x Ruff

6 x Ringed Plover 

6 x Little-Ringed Plover 

2 x Yellow Wagtail 

25 x Teal

56 x Linnet 

Ruff photo by S Gibson. 

August 18th 2025

Greenshank still present 

2 x Ruff briefly 

4 x Goosander 

7 x Teal

3 x Ringed Plovers 

5 x Little Ringed Plovers

August 17th 2025

A Greenshank was new in this morning having been seen at Tittesworth earlier . 

Also present 

1 x Peregrine 

3 x Ringed Plover 

7 x L R Plover. 

Greenshank photo by S Gibson.

Ring-necked Parakeet early evening. 

August 16th 2025

All at North End

G B B Gull x 1 second summer 

Green Sandpiper  x 1

Common Sandpiper x 3

L R Plover x 6

Oystercatcher  x 3

Redstart  x 2 ( 1 x male , 1 x juv )

Spotted Flycatcher  x 1

Yellow Wagtail  x 1 juv

Mandarin  x 4

Teal x 4

Red Kite x 1

Peregrine  x 1

Lapwing  x 45

Stock Dove x 6

Yellow Wagtail juvenile. 

Late afternoon/early evening. 

1 x Common Tern

1 x Pied Flycatcher fem

3 x Common Sandpiper 

2 x Yellow Wagtail in cow field by the point.

Peregrine over again.

No sign of Green Sandpiper possibly hiding from the Peregrine. 

Peregrine. 

August 15th 2025

Marsh Harrier flew through heading south 8-40.

1 x Green Sandpiper 

3 x Yellow Wagtail 

1 x Peregrine over 

2 x Spotted Flycatcher's 

3 x Teal

Marsh Harrier photo by Ray Scalley.

August 13th 2025

13 x Little-Ringed Plover 

3 x Ringed Plover 

3 x Red Kite

2 x Teal first back this autumn 

4 x Stock Dove

August 12th 2025

North End

1 x Yellow Wagtail 

1 x Ringed Plover 

4 x Little-Ringed Plover 

1 x Common Sandpiper 

1 x Common Tern 

45 x Lapwing 

August 11th 2025

White Stoprk heading north over the lake at 10-40 .

Also

7 x Little-Ringed Plover 

2 x Snipe

1 x Common Sandpiper 

34 x Lapwing 

2 x Spotted Flycatcher's ( juveniles)

August 10th 2025

North End

Green Sandpiper x 2 early morning. 

Also

7 x Little-Ringed Plover 

1 x Ringed Plover 

1 x Little Egret 

2 x Hobby 

August 9th 2025

North End

Black-tailed Godwit x 1

Little-Ringed Plover x 5

Lapwing x 44

Redstart  x 1

August 4th 2025

Shelduck x 2 

Oystercatcher  x 2

July 16th 2025

12 x Little Ringed Plover 

9 x Oystercatcher 

2 x Common Sandpiper 

4 x Common Tern 

July 13th 2025

Water levels very low vast amount of mud at the north end looking good for wader passage later this month.

Oystercatcher  x 7

Redshank x 2 flew through

Red Kite x 2

Pied Flycatcher x 1 female 

Spotted Flycatcher x 2 juveniles 

July 5th 2025

Seven Black-tailed Godwit at north end early morning. 

June 11th 2025

Single Common Tern this morning. 

June 8th 2025

Oystercatcher  x 7

L R Plover x 3

Common Sandpiper  x 1

Redstart  x 2

Spotted Flycatcher x 1

June 2nd 2025

No sign of the Little Stint today but two summer plumage Sanderling early morning found by Tom . That's only the second ever Sanderling record the last being August 1992. 

Today's other sightings

Reed Warbler x 1 (first this year) .

Hobby x 1

Swift x 2

Ringed Plover  x 6

L R Plover  x 4

Oystercatcher x 10

Common Sandpiper x 1

Redstart x 6 ( 5 x males )

Spotted Flycatcher  x 1

Note ......

10 x Oystercatcher's (adults) is a site record.

Distant record shot of the two Sanderling taken through Tom's scope. Well done fella nice find.

June 1st 2025

The summer plumage Little Stint is still present at the north end along with , 8 x Ringed Plover,  2 x L R Plover , Dunlin , Common Sandpiper and 3 x Oystercatcher's.  

Frustratingly the bird is very distant and is almost impossible to get a decent image . 

Little Stint photo's by Phil Jones.

LATE REPORT

A late report of a Sandwich Tern on 26th May for the morning only.

May 31st 2025

Little Stint on the mud north end . First spring record , the last record on site was August 1995.

Only photo I could get way out of my camera range. The Little Stint is far right of the picture , also Dunlin , Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper in same photo.

Hobby over north end early afternoon. 

Little Stint photo by Steve Gibson. 

Little Stint still present at the north end this evening. 

May 30th 2015

A first summer Kittiwake was at the north end this morning,  the bird looked oiled and unwell but was surface feeding when I left. It's our first record of Kittiwake since 30th June 2012.

First summer Kittiwake. 

Dunlin re-located this evening showing well with a bit of patience. 

Get the best out of this Blog.

If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your  phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open it up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer and will allow you access to more information  . On the right hand side you will see a new email address  where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database and adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife especially here at Rudyard. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case at this site , also high counts of species are just as welcome . Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterfly and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation and please send us your sightings however common you might think they are. 

Steve

May 29th 2025

The area at the north end is looking good for passage waders . 

Today

6 x Ringed Plover 

2 x L R Plover 

4 x Oystercatcher 

1 x Common Sandpiper 

5 x Lapwing 

Several young Pied Wagtails. 

May 28th 2015

Thirteen Ringed Plovers on the mud at the north end along with a single Dunlin and four Oystercatcher. The previous highest count was 11 in 1983 and 10 in 2021.

Spotted Flycatcher. 

Redstart female. 

May 25th 2025

Seven Spotted Flycatcher's noted at various locations around the lake this morning. 

May 22nd 2025

Peregrine over this afternoon. 

May 19th 2025

First Cuckoo of the year today .

May 17th 2025

The second Osprey of the year over this morning straight through heading north . All the usual stuff as expected along with two Spotted Flycatcher's showing reasonable well at the north end .

May 8th 2025

First Swift of the season back seen at the north end also single Spotted Flycatcher singing by the cottages. All the usual still present Pied Flys , Redstart's,  Garden Warbler etc.

May 5th 2025

Three Spotted Flycatcher's now back at Rudyard , we are still waiting for our first sightings of Common Tern and Swift then we have all our spring migrants back.

April 26th 2025

Hobby and Lesser Whitethroat found this morning by Phil Locker both new for the year . Also another 2 x  Pied Flycatcher's and male Redstart fresh in . Best of the rest Garden Warbler , Willow Warbler and Blackcap. 

April 25th 2025

Two drakes and one female Mandarin in the stream by the feeders yesterday and this morning.  Pieds and Redstart's settling down now , two more Garden Warblers fresh in and singing .  All the usual stuff around , noted 12 x  Great Crested Grebes all at the north end  possibly all none breeding birds . Three Buzzards over along with single Raven and a female Common Whitethroat seen , unusual at this end as they are usually seen at the south end.

Mandarin drake .

Several Orange-tips around the cottages.

April 23rd 2015

Excellent news our first female Pied Flycatcher has returned. 

April 22nd 2025

We have a third male Pied Flycatcher back today.

Speckled Wood. 

April 20th 2025

A very early visit this morning as I don't like the weekend crowds and especially this weekend. Only did the north end to see if we have got any female Pieds back yet but alas no. The Redstart's put on a fine display showing very close at times going about there courtship in the early morning sun. Two Garden Warblers were new in singing well . This male Pied Fly needs a female soon or else we could loose him too. 

Female Redstart. 

April 19th 2025

We are down to only two male Pied Flycatcher's now as one male has moved on . We need the females to return quickly or we could loose the others. A pair of Redstart's were showing very well early morning also there seems to be more Willow Warblers around today. Also noted a drake Mandarin,  two Oystercatcher's and good numbers of Blackcap and Chiffchaff and several Swallow over the water.

Late News

Garden Warbler singing by the caravans north end late afternoon our first record for the year.

April 18th 2015

A walk around both ends this morning with good friend Phil Jones .

Osprey through at 9-00 heading north.

Redstart x 7 singing males

Pied Flycatcher x 3 singing males

Whitethroat x 3

Willow Warbler x 4

Snipe x 3

Teal x 2

Mandarin x 1

Blackcap x 6

Common Sandpiper x 2

LR Plover x 2

Kingfisher x 1

Both Osprey and Whitethroat are new birds for the year. Also seven singing male Redstart's is a site record the previous being six in 2012.

WMBC Open Day.

 

WMBC Annual Bird Report 2023

The WMBC Bird Report2023 is now available .

If your not already a member WHY not .

The Report covers our region Staffordshire,  also Warwickshire,  Worcestershire and the West Midlands. 

Website for further details. 

http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk 

Summer Migrants

We are still waiting for six of our summer migrants to appear , so if anybody sees these on there visit please drop me a text or email .

Common Whitethroat 

Garden Warbler 

Common Tern

Spotted Flycatcher 

Hobby

Swift

We are currently on 92 species this year.

April 15th 2025

A White Wagtail was a nice surprise this morning along with 3 x male Pied Flycatcher's,  3 x male Redstart,  2 x Common Sandpiper,  2 x L R Plover , 7 x Teal , 6 x Swallow and a single Snipe.

Phone settings

 If youu are looking at this blog for the first time on  phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see a new email address  where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are also interesting aswell. Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation regards Steve.

scseal29@yahoo.co.uk 

April 14th 2015

Pied Flycatcher  x 3

Redstart  x 1

Willow Warbler  x 3

Blackcap  x 4

Common Sandpiper x 1

Oystercatcher  x 4

Swallow  x 5

Sand Martin  x 3

Teal x 4

Butterflies 🦋

Brimstone 

Orange-tip 

Peacock

Speckled Wood 

Small Tortoiseshell 

Comma

Green Veined White 

April 12th 2025

Now three Pied Flycatcher's on site along with three Redstart. Common Sandpiper on the spit and a couple of Sand Martin and Swallows over the water.  Four Blackcap , Willow Warbler and good numbers of Chiffchaff. 

Butterflies 🦋

Speckled Wood (new this year)

Brimstone 

Peacock 

Orange-tip 

Comma

Small Tortoiseshell 

Green Veined White 

April 8th 2025

Three Redstart's back this morning along with another male Pied Flycatcher (2 x now). Also the first Willow Warbler of the year. Also noted ..........

Blackcap x 2

Chiffchaff ( everywhere)

Oystercatcher  x 6

Common Sandpiper  x 1

L R Plover x 1

Kingfisher  x 1

Swallow x 5

Sand Martin  x 2

House Martin  x 1

Teal x 4

Butterflies this morning 🦋

Orange-tip x 6 (first of the year)

Green Veined White  x 2

Peacock x 1

Small Tortoiseshell  x 3

Comma x 1

Comma .

April 7th 2025

We have our first male Pied Flycatcher back on site one day earlier than last year.

April 5th 2025

First Swallow noted today over the lake.

April 4th 2025

First Blackcap of the year singing at the north end .

March 27th 2025

Nine Oystercatcher's were photographed today which is a site record . We usually get between 5 and eight during March each year , before they dissappear to there breeding grounds elsewhere.

🦋 Butterflies 

The first Butterflies of the year were noted , 1 x Brimstone,  2 x Small Tortoiseshell. 

Small Tortoiseshell. 

Also noted this morning 

1 x L R Plover

3 x Mandarin 

4 x Buzzard 

9 x Greylag 

1 x Goosander female 

3 x G S Woodpecker 

2 x Bullfinch

18 x G C Grebe

4 x Teal 

Plus the usual common birds.

March 26th 2015

Our first Little Ringed Plover of the year is back on site . Also Oystercatcher's are down to six birds from eight , and we now have a pair of Shelduck at the north end. Also this morning 4 x Buzzard,  14 x Chiffchaff singing , 4 x Teal and a single Lesser Redpoll on the feeders. Two Jay , single Raven and Grey Heron  , no sign of any Hirundines this morning. 

Little Ringed Plover (first back this year).

Oystercatcher's,  three of the six present. 

March 25th 2025

First House Martins of the year with two at the north end. Five Oystercatcher's on the spit and five Mandarin also north end.

Afternoon visit

8 x Oystercatcher's 

1 x Shelduck 

9 x Greylag 

3 x Buzzard 

9 x Chiffchaff 

2 x Lesser Redpoll 

March 22nd 2025

Early morning .

15 x Chiffchaff 

32 x Wigeon

5 x Oystercatcher's 

5 x Little Egret 

7 x Buzzard 

1 x Water Rail calling 

Small flocks of Meadow Pipits passing over.

March 20th 2025

5 x Oystercatcher's 

8 x Curlew

2 x Little Egret 

9 x Chiffchaff 

Tawny Owl 

Green Woodpecker 

March 19th 2025

Oystercatcher  x 4

Wigeon x 32

Curlew x 8

Green Woodpecker x 1

Mandarin x 1 (drake)

Common Gull x 8

Little Egret x 2

March 17th 2025

South end

Chiffchaff  x 5

Wigeon x 32

Green Woodpecker  x 1

Also 7 x Curlew on the ground which is a good number for us , as we usually only get one or two and they are usually fly overs.

March 9th 2025

A short walk this morning south end produced 5 singing Chiffchaff,  36 Wigeon a single Little Egret and Raven. 

March 8th 2025

Little Egret  x 1

Grey Wagtail  x 1

Goosander x 5 (1 x drake)

March 7th 2025

Two Tawny Owls calling this morning , and around 50 plus Redwing in the field off the north car park . The first Buff-tailed Bumblebee for the year was seen today but we still wait for our first Butterfly sighting for 2025. 🦋

March 6th 2025

Tawny Owl x 2 calling

Redwing / Fieldfare mixed flock 50 plus

Wigeon x 30

Shoveler  x 1 drake

Little Egret  x 1

Goldcrest x 4

Chiffchaff x 3 ( overwintering birds)

Weasel x 1 

Phone settings

 If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see a new email address  where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are also interesting aswell. Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation regards Steve.

March 3rd 2025

No sign of the Red-breasted Merganser since Friday now so obviously it was disturbed by the weekends boating activities. The Pink footed Goose is still present at the north end of the lake feeding with the Canada flock along with 8 x Oystercatcher's.  Eight being the highest count and always in March before they dissappear to there breeding locations. The past 4 years totals below.

8 x 11/03/2022

7 x 01/03/2023

8 x 24/03/2024

8 x 03/03/2025

Oystercatcher's. 

Also present today 4 x female Goosander,  2 x Little  Egret , Kingfisher  , 6 x Greylag and 18 x Teal.

Pink-footed Goose. 

March 2nd 2025

No reports of the Merganser since Friday . Pink footed Goose still at the north end with the Canada flock,  also Green Woodpecker at the north end. South of the dam 32 x Wigeon , 2 x Teal , 2 x Little Egret and a single drake Shoveler. 

Pink-footed Goose. 

March 1st 2025

Tawny Owl , 5 x fem Goosander,  20 x Pink-footed Geese over early morning and single Raven.

Phone settings

If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see a new email address  where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are also interesting aswell. Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation regards Steve.

Love is in the Air

It's gone past valentines day but love was most certainly in the air today , three pairs courtship displaying .

Twenty two birds counted on site today.

February 28th 2025

The Merganser was showing really well this morning  just up from the dam amongst the moored boats. It was nice to see some old friends and meet some new faces aswell. Best of the rest today,  1 x Pink-footed Goose still with Canada flock at the north end  , 7 x Goosander  , 11 x Teal , 1 x Kingfisher  , 5 x Mistle Thrush , 4 x Grey Wagtail , 4 x Oystercatcher's and 1 x Red Kite. Selection of Red-Breasted Merganser images below taken early this morning. 

Additions to February 27th list

B  H Gull x 50

Canada Geese  x 107

Cormorant  x 13

Curlew x 2 ( New for 2025)

G B B Gull x 2

Lapwing  x 5

L B B Gull x 20

Oystercatcher  x 2

Tufted Duck  x 10.

Nuthatch

We have a good healthy Nuthatch population here at Rudyard,  you can't go very far without hearing their distinctive call . But can you tell the difference between male and female.  The males have a deeper chestnut flank and undertail than females as shown in the two images below.

Nuthatch male.