Notebook from Rudyard: January 2026

Thursday, 1 January 2026

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.

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Rudyard Lake Staffordshire

Rudyard Lake lies on the edge of the North Staffordshire moors and covers some 168 acres and is over 2.5 miles long . It is owened by the Canal & river Trust built in 1799 as a canal feeder . The area is abundant in wildlife and due to Rudyard still feeding the canal systems the water levels do vary , and many wading and migrating birds can be seen on the mud flats at the northern end. Rudyard holds a very impressive list of bird species with 188 recorded to date.

Lake Ranger 07718 808881

Post Code ST13 8XB

SJ9458

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN BY MYSELF UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED AND ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED ELSEWHERE WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Calendar

Resident
G C Grebe , Grey Heron , Mute Swan , Canada Geese , Mallard , Mandarin ,Sparrowhawk , Kestrel , Kingfisher , Grey Wagtail , Gt S Woodpeckers , Raven , Buzzard .

April/June
Oystercatcher , L R Plover , Ringed Plover , Dunlin , Curlew , Common Sandpiper , Common Tern , Redstart , Pied and Spotted Flycatcher , Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler , Blackcap , Garden Warbler .

July/Sept
Passage Species.Osprey , Whimbrel , Redshank , Greenshank , Green Sandpiper , Little Stint , Curlew Sandpiper , Black-tailed Godwit , Wood Sandpiper , Arctic Tern , Black Tern , Yellow Wagtail .

Oct/March
Whooper Swan , Pink-footed Goose , Shelduck , Wigeon , Teal , Gadwall , Pintail , Shoveler , Pochard , Goldeneye , Goosander , Water Rail , Woodcock , Snipe , Willow Tit ,Brambling , Siskin ,Lesser Redpoll and occasionally we will get a rare Sea Duck.