Just a quick visit this morning to the north end all the usual on the feeders Siskin , Redpoll , Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Coal Tits etc . Single Raven over and three Teal on the marsh pool next to the bridge feeders . A couple of confiding treecreepers and a report of a Green Woodpecker at the south end by Heron Marsh which is a scarce bird at Rudyard with only a handful of reports each year.
If you are looking at this blog on your phone scroll down to the bottom of the page and open up in Web version . This allows you to see all the information on the page as viewed on a computer. On the right hand side you will see my email address where to send information to 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 may not be the case here at Rudyard. Also high counts of species are required aswell. Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies, Dragonflies basically all wildlife that can be found here around the lake and surrounding area. Thank you Steve.
Fantastic news a Willow Tit has been seen and photographed along the old disused railway line just south of the Miniature Railway station next to Heron Marsh fishing pool. Also today 11 x Siskin around the feeders and two Grey Wagtail by the Cattle grid. Others noted Greenfinch, Goldcrest , Redwing , 2 x drake Tufted Duck and 6 x Goosander. Tawny Owl calling last night and early this morning.
Twenty three Wigeon just south of miniature railway station in flooded field along with 3 x Little Egret. Four Goosander on Heron Marsh fishing pool and three female Goosander on main lake . Kingfisher along the stream bottom of the Dam.
A Merlin was hunting the field behind the Scout Hut this afternoon , first Merlin record since 2018. On the lake we're 6 x Goosander , 5 x Tufted Duck , 12 x Cormorant, 16 x G C Grebe , 4 x Common Gull and a single G B B Gull. Also noted 8 x Little Egret , 2 x Grey Wagtail , 2 x Mistle Thrush and a single Sparrowhawk.
Twenty one Cormorant, 10 x G C Grebe and 6 x Goosander. Around 170 x Canada Geese and 145 x B H Gulls. Single Grey Wagtail and Raven.
South end early morning .
Five Goosander (3 x fem , 2 x drakes) , 3 x G C Grebe and 4 x Cormorant. Also Jay and a pair of Bullfinch.
Two drake Pochard at the north end this morning these are scare birds at Rudyard with only a couple of records each year usually of just single birds. Also noted 6 x Teal , 170 x Canada Geese , 180 B H Gulls and 19 x Cormorant. Redpolls and Siskins still frequenting the north end feeders , and we now have 11 x Great Crested Grebe's back on the lake after there disappearance due to it being frozen over. Three Little Egrets in the Cattle field below the Dam.
Around 300 Canada Geese were on the water north end this morning along with 150 plus B H Gulls. Also noted were 5 x Lesser Redpoll, 20 x Siskin , several Redwing , 8 x Common Snipe and singles of Raven , Grey Wagtail and a Little Egret. Nine Great Crested Grebe's were off the sailing Club along with two drake Tufted Duck , and 12 x Cormorant on the shingle spit.
Just one mile north of Rudyard Lake at Rushton Spencer a Dipper on the River Dane were it passes under the A523.
Even with good overnight temperatures of 4 degrees and daytime at around 10 degrees the lake is still frozen over . On the ice were around 200+ B H Gull's, Lapwing down from yesterday with 104 x counted. Common Snipe numbers up slightly with 15 noted and a single G C Grebe and 2 x Wigeon in one very small patch of open water. 10 x Teal around the edge of the reedbed along with a single Grey Heron and Cormorant. Other birds noted Lesser Redpoll x 3 , Siskin x 9 , Goldfinch x 8 , Nuthatch x 3 , Coal Tit x 11 , G S Woodpecker drumming. Down the south end good numbers of Redwing with 60 + and around 40+ Fieldfare. A single Little Egret on Heron Marsh along with Buzzard and 4 x Mistle Thrush.
Request.
If any visiting birders get a positive ID on any Willow Tits could they please let myself or a Ranger or county recorder Nick Pom no. Thank you Steve.
A report of a Hawfinch flying over the north end bridge towards the lake mid-afternoon . This would be only the second record for the sight , the other being a flyover on the same date in 2018 by M Stubbs. Record reported from Birdguides.
Also at Highfield Farm
Bullfinch x 5
Brambling x 1
Reed Bunting x 1
Even though temperatures are now above freezing for the second day the lake is still frozen over. On the ice at the north end were 267 x Lapwing , 87 x B H Gull's and 10 x Common Snipe. Lesser Redpolls are still visiting the feeders with 4 again today along with several Siskin and Goldfinch. Other birds noted were G S Woodpecker, 9 x L T Tits, L B B Gull , Song Thrush and 4 x Chaffinch. Appeal for sightings, I know not many birders visit Rudyard but if you do could you either drop me a text with your sightings most of you have my mobile number. If not my e mail address is top right hand side of this blog. Sightings you might not feel are important , but lots of birds that are common at other sites could be scarce here. Iam also after counts of species all will be gratefully appreciated and logged into a database. We especially would like to know of any Willow Tit sightings as we lost our regular pair from the north end in April 2023.
Lake is still completely frozen over from one end to the other. Its good to see Lesser Redpoll are back at the north end feeders , they have been missing over the past couple of winters. Birds all noted around North end feeders. Nuthatch, Siskin , Lesser Redpoll , Coal Tit , Goldfinch , Chaffinch , Great and Blue tit , good numbers of Robin with 11 noted between the car park and the bridge .
Siskin x 12 and 5 x Redpoll on north feeders . The lake is completely frozen over. Bad conditions under foot around North end car park and feeders.
I always spend new year away so this is the first time I have been able to get to Rudyard . Heavy snow again making the roads difficult to get here along with overnight temperatures of down to minus 7. Lesser Redpolls have finally found the feeders at the north end , with 5 birds present today along with 15 Siskin and 20 Goldfinch. The lake is completely frozen.
The Barn Owl has been seen a few times over the past week hunting on Heron Marsh and Harpers Marsh early evening. Today on the lake five Goosander (2 x drakes) and, 77 x Mallard at the Dam . Ten Lesser Redpoll and a male Reed Bunting on Heron Marsh and three Little Egret in the Cattle field opposite side of the road to Heron Marsh. At the north end feeders still no sign of any Willow Tits.
Thirteen Goosander on fishing pool south end and 3 x Little Egret in Cattle field by main road. Late report of two Pochard on Friday 29th November.
Ten Goosander have arrived during the cold snap along with 12 x Wigeon a single Little Egret and a report of a Dunlin at the north end.
Cold wintery conditions with heavy overnight snow temperatures around 1degrees. Seven Snipe noted north end along with 29 x Teal , 43 x Lapwing , single Kingfisher and 3 x Common Gull.
Report
Of a overwintering Blackcap on garden feeders in the village.
Female Goosander, 28 x Teal a single Little Egret and good numbers of Redwing passing over.
Nothing new to report the Teal are stable with 38 counted again today. One thing of note was a really good count of 71 L B B Gulls just off the spit this afternoon. And 73 Redwing feeding on what's left of the berries by the Old Hall.
Up by the old disused Hall several Redwing feeding on berries , also Kestrel hunting the field in front of the Hall . All usual stuff nothing exciting to add.
Very quiet today just 18 Teal feeding north end along with single Grey Heron. All the usual stuff elsewhere Nuthatch, Treecreeper , Goldcrest etc. A single Raven over and four Buzzard dotted around. Heart stopping moment at the south end when I noted a Egret feeding in amongst the Cattle. But alas it was a Little Egret 😕
Very quiet around the lake today just the usual subjects Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch , Grey Wagtail at the Dam. Three Teal , 2 x Grey Heron , Snipe and several Lesser B B Gulls at the north end. Could only find six Tufted Duck today looks like we are down to our usual number. A Tawny Owl was heard calling just as I was leaving the north end at mid-day.
Few bits and bobs today.
First an old record has come to light of a Redshank on the spit dated April 21st.
From the weekend 5 x Snipe at the north end along with a pair of Teal.
Today 21st
Water Rail at the south end squealing from Marsh reedbed along side the fishing pool. Also Kingfisher and Raven over. And two Chiffchaff reported along south feeder stream today. Small numbers of Redwing about.
🍄 several more Fungi species today of which I have not put names to yet.
Very little to report just 5 x Teal , 17 x Tufted Duck and several G C Grebe on the water . Five Raven overhead along with a single Buzzard , only other birds of note where Kingfisher and Grey Heron. We are stuck on 99 species for the year a very poor showing compared with previous years.
🦋 single Peacock Butterfly noted.
A pair of Gadwall at north end were nice to see , don't get many records here . Very little else of note a single Teal ,Raven and Kingfisher best of the bunch.
🍄 Mushrooms/ Fungi starting to appear with six species noted on my walk these include .
Amanita muscaria ( Fly Agaric )
Helvella crispa ( White sadle )
Xylaria hypoxylan ( Candlestick fungus )
Hypholoma fasciculare ( Sulphur tuft )
Clitocybe geotropa ( Trooping funnel )
Armillaria ostoyae ( Dark Honey fungus )
276 x Pink-feet flew N/W at 8-40 this morning. Around the north end were 3 x Goosander , 2 x Wigeon , 5 x Teal and 2 x Little Egret. 5 x Raven flew over along with a single Buzzard.
First Teal of the Autumn with four birds noted this morning at the north end. Also 2 x female Goosander, 18 x Tufted Duck, 100 + B H Gulls and 35 x L B B Gulls. The only other birds of note were a Little Egret and a Kingfisher both at the north end.
Our first Redwing of the Autumn/Winter period with two birds flying south mid morning. A good walk around this morning with 47 species logged.
Nothing new today worth mentioning just 51 Black headed Gulls at north end and still 16 Tufted Duck . No sign at mid day of the Egret . Water levels are down slightly which has now exposed a muddy shoreline at the north end .
Great White Egret still at north end also our first Wigeon of the Autumn back with a single female present. Raven over calling and 51 x Lapwing flying around. Tufted Duck numbers have now gone up to sixteen , unusual for the site we usually have single figures of between 5 to 8.
Great White Egret x 1 north end
Little Egret x 3 North end
Kingfisher x 1 dam
Goosander x 3 females Dam end .
My first sighting of Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly today with two females and a male along the feeder stream . Also Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker. Bird wise very quiet jus a single Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher noted.
As many as seven Spotted Flycatcher's have been located around the lake , which constitutes as a site record as far as iam aware. Also today another Hobby and another Ring-necked Parakeet over the north end. That's three occasions this year so beginning to wonder if there is a nearby pair around. Also noted were 4 x Swift and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding young.
There as actually been a fall of Spotted Flycatcher 's overnight as apparently we have five all at different locations , that's our 91st species so far this year .
Very quiet around this morning only real bird of note was a single Common Tern fishing the lake.
Two Hobbies performed really well mid morning for over half a hour catching insects and displaying to each other . Unfortunately I only had my Butterfly and insect lens with me so had to work hard to get my images. Also present of note was a Tawny Owl being mobbed by finches and corvids , and four Common Whitethroat.
Butterflies 🦋
Brimstone
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Orange-tip
Green-veined White
Two Swift over the dam end of the lake . Four Whitethroat singing south end , also 8 x Garden Warbler , 1 x Common Sandpiper, 1 x Oystercatcher and single drake Mandarin. Still no Spotted Flycatcher yet.
Butterflies 🦋
Orange-tip
Green-veined White
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
It seems to be our best year ever for Garden Warbler , with at least 12 singing males . Obviously many more unaccounted for being such a large area. These 12 birds recorded at both north and south ends. So whatever birds are along both sides are unrecorded.
Hobby over north end today at 11-30 .
Butterflies 🦋
Orange-tip x 8
Peacock x 6
Green Veined White x 1 (first this year).
If anyone visits Rudyard in the next few days we are missing two of our spring migrants at present Spotted Flycatcher and Swift. Both are imminent so please drop me a text if you come across them . Or anything else you see for that matter.
Cheers Steve.
We must have had a fall of Garden Warber overnight as we have gone from just two yesterday , to six singing males at the north end and four at the south end. Also at the south end we have gone from a single Whitethroat yesterday , to three singing males this morning . All other stuff is as past few days nothing changed.
Butterflies 🦋
5 x Orange-tip
2022 2023 2024
Chiffchaff 12/03 19/03 16/03
Sand Martin 15/03 20/03 24/03
Swallow 10/04 06/04 07/04
House Martin 12/04 06/04 01/04
Blackcap 10/04 06/04 10/04
Redstart 21/04 08/04 10/04
Willow Warbler 10/04 23/04 11/04
Common Tern 02/05 20/04 29/04
Pied Flycatcher ------ 22/04 08/04
Garden Warbler 06/05 01/05 29/04
L R Plover 24/03 19/03 11/04
Common Sand 20/04 11/04 10/04
Spotted Flycatcher 21/05 03/05
Swift 11/05 09/05
We now have a remarkable 6 pairs of Pied Flycatcher's back on site along with our usual 3 pairs of Redstart. Also noted this morning our first returning Garden Warbler and first Common Tern of the year too. A drake Mandarin photographed in the sheep field and the usual waders around the point. Unusual sighting of 8 x Greylag Geese on the water , we only usual have one or two.
I would like to stress that all images of birds taken at Rudyard are done so from a safe distance as not to disturb the birds .
Yellow Wagtail in cow field towards the point early morning , also Common Whitethroat singing both birds new for the year.
Another movement of Chiffchaff through this morning with 21 birds noted singing . Just makes you think how many more there are undetected. Three Oystercatcher's on the point along with 3 x Common Sandpiper. Unfortunately yesterday's passage through Staffordshire didn't produce any more Arctic Terns , and yesterday's two must have departed overnight. Green Woodpecker calling in farm field but not seen , Raven and Buzzard overhead. And a Osprey seen at nearby Tittesworth didn't come our way .
Good numbers of Hirundines this evening hawking insects over the water with around 250 Swallow, 45+ House Martin and around 20+ Sand Martin . The two Arctic Terns were still present late evening.
Arctic Tern records are few and far between here at Rudyard , below is the last 20yrs that gives you some idea.
22/04/24 x 2
16/04/24 x 1
16/07/17 x 4
10/05/16 x 1
04/05/13 x 2
30/07/11 x 2
08/98/10 x 3
09/95/08 x 2
25/09/05 x 2
30/08/04 x 1
Two Arctic Tern's dropped in mid-afternoon after a large influx throughout the UK, with good numbers at large Staffordshire waters. Weather conditions were terrible and the three shots below are heavily cropped. But we don't get many Arctic's here so made the best of what I could get in the conditions.
A walk to the point this morning produced Curlew , 3 x Oystercatcher, 2 x Common Sandpiper and a LRP. Plenty of Warblers around calling , also 3 x G S Woodpecker drumming and a distant Green Woodpecker. Sand Martins and Swallows hawking insects over the water and three Buzzards displaying overhead.
Arctic Tern this morning very briefly between 9-00 and 9-30 when it flew off hight to the north . Still two Common Sandpiper and 5 x Oystercatcher's present .
Good early morning birding today with two Dunlin new in , also 5 x Oystercatcher's still. Two male Redstarts made a timely appearance, so did two male Pied Flycatcher's. Both different birds from last year as one was a first year male which could be one of our offspring from last year returning.
Little-Ringed Plover x 1 ( first back)
Common Sandpiper x 3
Oystercatcher x 5
Willow Warbler x 4 ( first back)
Blackcap x 7
Chiffchaff x 18
Pied Flycatcher x 1 male (until mid day)
Redstart x 2 male (long periods dissappearing)
Raven
Mandarin x 5 drakes (along inlet stream)
Little Egret x 2
Butterflies 🦋
Peacock x 2
First Dates
Mar 16th Chiffchaff
Mar 24th Sand Martin
Apr 1st House Martin
Apr 7th Swallow
Apr 8th Pied Flycatcher
Apr 10th Blackcap
Apr 10th Redstart
Our first Redstart of the year this morning with two males seen at different locations. Also Common Sandpiper x 3 , Oystercatcher x 2 , Blackcap x 1 and good numbers of Swallow and House Martin over the water.
And some good news it looks like we have Willow Tits back in a completely different location at Rudyard.
Sand Martin x 2
Chiffchaff x 6
Greylag Geese x 5
Oystercatcher x 8
Greenfinch
G S Woodpecker
Mistle Thrush
I couldn't find the Merganser in a two hour search this morning , but did manage two female Goldeneye. 5 x Goosander, 30 x Tufted Duck , 78 x Canada Geese , 89 x Lapwing ,and a single Little Egret. Also good numbers of Siskin around , 3 x Buzzard , 2 x Jay and a Kingfisher.
The female Red-breasted Merganser has reappeared at the north end of the lake , found this morning feeding 100mts down from caravans. Also a single Oystercatcher , 5 x Goosander and 5 x Snipe . At the south end past miniature railway 3 x Little Egret, Kingfisher, Gt S Woodpecker and Kestrel.
The lake is still frozen but in one of the pockets of unfrozen water a single Goldeneye amongst the Mallards and Coots. Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare around , 7 Snipe along the edge on west side and several small flocks of Siskin. Two separate Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming this morning.
Overnight temperatures again down to minus 7 has completely frozen over the 2.5 mile lake . Just three very small pockets of unfrozen water. Holding quite a few wildfowl.
Wigeon x 78
Teal x 38
Goosander x 7
Mallard x 97
Coot x 17
Canada Geese x 217
Snipe x 8
Little Egret x 1
38 species recorded in two hours.
Single Little Egret .
Late News
Yesterday Jan 17th
Brambling x 6 at house feeder in village.
Red-breasted Merganser female still frequenting the area opposite the scout hut. Also female Goldeneye, 2 x Goosander and 3 x Snipe.
Late News
Tawny Owl x 1 on 14th.
Just a quick visit this morning , I try not to visit at weekends as there are too many people around for my liking . Red-breasted Merganser was at north end by caravan park, also female Goldeneye .
For anyone visiting the bird it is at the north end commuting between the reedbed by the caravans and the scout hut which is about 800 yds down the old Railway line. Its usually on the far side which is the west bank. Occasionally it can be seen feeding just in front of the scout hut. Merganser's are rare inland especially at Rudyard as you can see from the records below.
Red-breasted Merganser past Records.
09/01/24 ......1 x female
04/05/22 ......1 x pair
04/04/95 ......1 x pair
14/11/87 ......1 x female
13/11/83 ......1 x female
Red-breasted Merganser still at the north end also 17 x Wigeon , 2 x Goosander , fem Goldeneye, Common Gull and another rare visitor to Rudyard a Great Black Backed Gull.
Female Red-breasted Merganser still present opposite scout hut , also female Goldeneye eighteen Wigeon , 26 Siskin and a Great Black Backed Gull.
A female Red-breasted Merganser at the north end today. Also 17 x Wigeon , 10 Goosander and a couple of Lesser Redpoll.
A very quick visit this morning found 7 x Goosander , 1 x fem Goldeneye, 1 x Little Egret and 5 x Snipe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Willow Tit has been sighted on the Marsh at the southern end , also Lesser Redpoll at north end feeders.
