December 23rd

A very quick visit this morning found 7 x Goosander , 1 x fem Goldeneye,  1 x Little Egret and 5 x Snipe.

December 17th

At the north end 10 x Goosander , 47 x Wigeon , 18 x Teal , 1 x Kingfisher.  At the south end 4 x Little  Egret , 8 x Snipe , 1 x Tawny Owl and 2 x Grey Wagtail. Good numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing around the lake and several good sized flocks of Siskin.

December 5th

A north end visit this morning produced our first Goldeneye of the winter period a single female.  Also recorded were 37 x Wigeon  , 12 x Teal , 7 x Goosander,  9 x Tufted Duck,  3 x Snipe , 11 x Cormorant,  267 x Canada Geese,  2 x Raven over calling and Siskin on the feeders. Temperatures were a little milder this morning with all the previous days snow and ice gone.

December 3rd

Overnight snow and a very misty start to the day , temperatures around -3 . Only birds of note were 2 x Goosander and 3 x Little Egret. 

December 2nd

Overnight temperatures of -4 saw some good duck numbers not seen on the lake for a while. With 5 x Gadwall and 5 x Shoveler making a welcome appearance.  Also 56 x Wigeon , 17 x Teal , 15 x Tufted Duck and 4 x Goosander all at the north end . This obviously didn't last long as paddle boarders (AGAIN) flushed them all . This situation needs dealing with urgently.  At the south end a Tawny Owl was getting some winter sunshine and 4 x Little Egret were feeding in the Marsh area. Good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare can be found and a female Reed Bunting and four Bullfinch were noted along with a single male Kestrel and two Buzzard.

Gadwall amongst the Wigeon , scarce here at Rudyard .

Kestrel getting some winter sun.

December 1st

A Willow Tit has been sighted on the Marsh at the southern end , also Lesser Redpoll at north end feeders.

November 30th

460 Pink-footed Geese over at 9-45 this morning heading west. Only birds of note on the water were two drake Goosander. Their are  several large flocks of Siskin at the north end.

November 29th

Pink-footed Geese over heading west at 12-20 , around 200 birds in one large group and one smaller group. Three Raven and a Sparrowhawk at the north end along with good numbers of Redwing. Also noted Bullfinch , Goldfinch , Chaffinch , 10 x Coal Tit and 8 x Nuthatch .

Whooper Swans

Just heard of a late record from Birdtrack of 6 x Whooper Swans being on the lake on Monday 20th last week. Record is genuine. 

November 26th

South End beyond the Dam.

Two drake Goosander and Kingfisher on the fishing pool and several flocks of Siskin (60+)  and Fieldfare along feeder stream. Several Teal feeding in the stream south of the model railway station . Good numbers of Bullfinch around the south end , also Raven and Kestrel noted. A single Grey Wagtail along the dam overflow and a dead Barn Owl along the main road from Leek to Macclesfield eastern Side of lake.

November 24th

Brief visit this morning to north end saw good numbers of Siskin moving around . The drake Goosander still present and 12 Teal noted amongst the Willows in the swamp area. Goldfinch's are now regular at the feeders with a female Reed  Bunting seen there aswell. Other birds noted were Mistle Thrush , Buzzard , Raven , Bullfinch and several Coal Tits , 4 x Nuthatch and 5 x Chaffinch.

November 23rd

Still no sign of any Willow Tits at the feeding station.  A good count of 43 x Lesser B B Gulls loafing on the water off the scout hut , also 8 x Common Gull amongst them. Also noted 5 x Cormorant,  a drake Goosander and still 12 x Tufted Duck . Plenty of Siskin and Redwing around along with good numbers of the more common species. 

November 21st

Good numbers of Redwing around the lake with several good sized flocks noted. Still concerning news that there is still no sign of the Willow Tits at the feeders. Siskin numbers seem to be good this year with quite a few small flocks especially around north end. No way of counting the size of the Teal flock this winter because the water levels are so high they are feeding down the channel from the reeds towards the bridge.  

November 13th

Still no sign of any Willow Tits at Rudyard this morning , have they been predated or have they simply not breed this year and moved area. 

November 11th.

Around 200 x Pink-feet over early morning. Good numbers of Redwing moving through.

November 10th

The Imm Scaup was relocated this morning unfortunately 4 miles up the road at Tittesworth. 

November 9th

I couldn't find the Imm Scaup this morning it dosnt mean it's not there it could have been further down the lake where I didn't go, it is over 2 miles long. Around thirty plus Siskin in one flock by the bridge feeders also a male Reed Bunting put in an appearance.  Eight Teal were feeding in the swamp area on the left after the bridge .There has been no sign of Willow Tit this winter period so a little concerning. A report of over 200 Redwing and Fieldfare coming into roost at the north end late last night. 

Old Record

Just had notification of a old record from last year of a pair of Red-breasted Merganser's on the lake on 4th May 2022 for the morning only. And apparently a day later a pair were noted at Carsington Water.

November 7th

Imm Scaup still present at North end frequenting between the point and reedbed by caravans. Siskin numbers are increasing around the feeders , 30+ noted last week.

Scaup Records

Past Scaup records

08/05/1980.......... x 4 Birds (2 pair)

02/02/1985.......... x 1 Bird (drake)

16/12/1985.......... x 1 Bird ( imm drake)

07/11/1987.......... x 1 Bird (imm)

20/12/1987.......... x 3 Birds ( imm)

14/04/2013.......... x 1 Bird (adult fem)

16/04/2013.......... x 1 Bird (adult drake)

05/11/2023.......... x 1 x Bird ( imm)

November 6th

Imm Scaup still present at North end along with Peregrine  , Kingfisher and Raven. Good numbers of Redwing around and all the local suspects around the feeders.

November 5th

A large Aythia type duck (possibly Scaup) seen from distance by MS early this morning.  No further sign by mid- morning , also 70 Pink-feet over .

Imm Scaup refound and identified by M Stubbs. Last record was 16/04/2013 M B.

November 4th

Pink-footed Geese x 200 over this morning. 

High Water Levels

High water levels throughout the year have had a major effect on wader passage at Rudyard or as the case maybe the lack of it. Usually each spring / Summer the levels are dropped to feed the canal systems nearby. Exposing a vast amount of shoreline at the north end which in turn attracts a variety of wading species. For reasons unknown the levels were not dropped and kept high throughout.  

November 3rd

1 x overwintering Chiffchaff , 4 x Snipe  and 1 x fem Mandarin .

Oct 29th

 1 x R N Parakeet over by boathouse.

Oct 18th

 2 x Red Kite over the Dam.

October 10th

1 x eclipse drake Wigeon .

October 4th

200+ Pink-feet over N/W.

August 20th

First visit for a while as I try to stay away in July and August , especially around school holidays. Early this morning Little Egret x 2 , Common Sandpiper x 2 , Dunlin , Redstart,  Spotted Flycatcher,  Common Tern,  Bullfinch and my first Hare at the site a big beast aswell.

August 10th

 Six Spotted Flycatcher's and Hobby this evening. 

17th July 2023

Not much of note today before storm came through just Kingfisher , Common Sandpiper and Mandarin. 

Little Grebe Hunt

If anybody visits this year and sees a Little Grebe can you let me know , as we seem to have lost the pair we have had for the last couple of years.

June 2nd

All the usual stuff doing well , no Black Terns here unfortunately.  Red Kite over the north end , looks like the same bird as a few days ago. Five Greylag Geese over and two Garden Warblers singing well , also adult male Grey Wagtail noted. We seem to have lost our Spotted Flycatcher this year. He was around during early May but has not been seen for couple of weeks now , perhaps the female has not returned this year so he has moved on to pastures new.

Blackcap

Several Blackcap were singing well this morning in the early morning sunshine.

The Annual Bird Report has just dropped through my letterbox . If you not a member of the West Midland Bird Club why not. The Report is always packed with information and sightings and the region has some excellent photographers who's work can be seen throughout the Report. Just log onto th WMBC website for further details. 

May 31st

My first Common Blue of the year today long overdue.

Another Long-horned Beetle photographed,  this time it's Strangalia maculata.

May 26th

Red Kite over the north end around 9-00 this morning. 

Photo by David Collis.

Longhorn Beetle.

Found this Golden-bloomed Longhorn Beetle this morning,  a first for me at this site. Normally a open grassland species this was along the path at the northern end of the lake.

May 16th

First Broad-bodied Chaser today , also 2 x Common Tern , 2 male Pied Flycatcher's , 3 x Common Whitethroat and single Spot Fly.

Broad-bodied Chaser. 

May 9th

Three pairs of Pied Flycatcher's and three pairs of Redstart's today also , two Common Whitethroat and two Common Sandpiper and our first Swift over this morning .

My first photo of the second male Pied Flycatcher. 

May 6th

Spotted Flycatcher still at North end , and now three male and two female Pied Flycatchers on site.

May 3rd

First Spotted Flycatcher of the year and Hobby through twice.

Hobby.

May 2nd

Pied Flycatcher x 4 , Redstart  x 6 , Common Tern  x 1 , Common Sandpiper  x 3 , Garden Warbler x 3 , Whitethroat  x 2 and Oystercatcher x 5.

Treecreeper. 

May 1st

Garden Warbler and two Shelduck both new in this morning. Second male Pied Flycatcher still singing by the Dam. South end two Common Whitethroat which are scarce here and another Garden Warbler .

April 28th

We now have six Redstart on site , four singing males and two females. Also noted today were 3 x  Common Sandpiper  , 8 x Oystercatcher ( equals site record) . Single L R Plover and Common Tern , 2 x Willow Warbler and hundreds of Sand Martin and Swallow with a few House Martin.

Redstart.

Common Sandpiper. 

Pied Flycatcher

The pair of Pied Flys are settling into life at Rudyard very well. I have checked on them every day since their arrival and they have picked a box and are starting to take nest material in , so all looks good. All photography as been done from a distance with a 600mm lens and pictures are heavily cropped as not to disturb.

April 27th

All quiet today nothing new in , Pied Flycatcher's seem to be settling down . Couple more shots below of yesterday's surprise Whimbrel.

April 26th

Pied Flycatcher still singing its head off in search for a female. Also three Redstart and pair Mandarin. Five new boxes put up in a different area.

Female Pied Flycatcher noted at around 10-30 in and around a box along with the male.

A Whimbrel flew in around 2-15 and landed in the field with cows next to the spit. Its a Mega bird for the patch.

Late afternoon the single Common Tern again , 2 x Common Sandpiper,  single L R Plover and a singing Willow Warbler in the car park.

April 24th

First Common Tern of the year arrived late afternoon,  also single Pied Fly , Redstart's still and 2 x Common Sandpiper and single LR Plover. Three Siskin on feeder and couple Mistle Thrush noted , also several Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Male Reed Bunting around feeding station.

Butterflies 

First Orange-tip today , also Peacock and Brimstone. 

April 23rd

Just like busses we now have two male Pied Flycatcher's  on site. Also the pair of Mandarin showed again this morning. And a bit late but the first Willow Warbler singing. House Martin , Sand Martin and around 30 Swallows . A single Common Sandpiper and LR Plover still.

April 22nd

We have our first record of Pied Flycatcher on site today the first one recorded in over 15 yrs. Not unless anyone can inform me differently.  A male was heard singing then located and watched for around a hour. 

April 21st

Nothing new it at Rudyard today , two visits made due to the influx of Little Gull's in the country especially around Staffordshire but no such look here. 

April 19th

Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing , also single Oystercatcher,  2 male Redstart and a pair of Mandarin. A female Redstart has also been noted back at her usual place.

April 11th

Right place right time as a Osprey passed over low looked like it was going to fish , but got chaced off by corvids . Also our first Common Sandpiper of the year and still three singing male Redstart.

April 9th

Redstart  x 2 , Oystercatcher  x 6 , Swallow 30+ , Blackcap x 2 .

April 8th.

Three male Redstart singing this morning.  Two Little Ringed Plover,  2 x Oystercatcher,  3 x Blackcap , 18 x Chiffchaff,  single Raven and Curlew. 

April 6th

Chiffchaff x 21 , Blackcap x 1  , Swallow x 2   Sand Martin  x 3  , House Martin x 1 , L R Plover  x 1 , Mandarin  x 1 and Willow Tit  x 1 .

March 30th

Red Kite over late afternoon. 

March 25th

Brambling fem by Old House first for couple of years.

March 20th

Red Kite drifted North, Sand Martin new in with five noted . Still Oystercatcher x 4 , Chiffchaff  numbers up with 7 at North end and 5 at South end. Mandarin on the stream and LR Plover still , and the Siskin flock is still present. 

March 19th

First Chiffchaff,s and L R Plover,s back today.

Chiffchaff x 3 , LR Plover x 1 , Oystercatcher x 4 and single Curlew over. Also the Siskins have found the new feeder with several seen also a larger flock of around 40+ further along. 

March 15th

No spring migrants yet really the weather needs to warm up a few degrees.  Five Oystercatchers on spit bank this morning along with a count of 26 Cormorant.  Over 500 B H Gull on the water mainly adults with full hoods. 10 x Tufted Duck and Siskins starting to use the new feeder.

March 5th

Oystercatcher x 6 , Raven x 3 , Curlew x 1 and Goosander x 4. Also Bullfinch , G S Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Willow Tit.

March 1st

Seven Oystercatcher,s at the north end this morning along with 3 x Goosander , 2 x Snipe and 12 x Great Crested Grebes. Also of note 3 x Bullfinch, 3 x Buzzard , Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 x Raven.

Feb 23rd 2023

Oystercatcher x 2 , Curlew , Wigeon x 12 and Goosander x 2.

January 23rd

Sunny intervals milder today 6dg.

A walk around the north end today and ended up with a excellent flock of 88 x Wigeon , which is the highest count since December 2009. Also today two Snipe flushed from vegetation,  4 x Coot , 8 x G C Grebe , 5 x Goosander , single Grey Wagtail , single Little Egret  and 29 x Redwing.  Around the feeders were a single Willow Tit , 18 x Siskin in Alders by the bridge , and good numbers of resident birds . 

Wigeon part of the flock of 88.

January 21st

Sunny clear skies but cold just 2dg. Overnight frost -5dg.

A walk around the south end this morning produced 12 x Teal , 11 x Snipe , Kingfisher,  Water Rail ,  2 x Buzzard , 2 x Raven , 4 x Little Egret , several Nuthatch , 3 x Moorhen , L B B Gull , 2 x Bullfinch and 3 x Siskin.

Raven. 

Little Egret.