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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 1d

Also GC grebes, little grebes, a few gadwell mallards coots moorhens BH gulls GS woodpecker buzzard and kestrel and a youth rescuing over 1000 perch and roach out of the stream opposite and releasing into the swag

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 1d

At least 50 goosander on Chasewater Swag this pm the highest since Jan 2011 along with 150ish tufties a lone drake Pochard with 60 or so wigeon, a few teal and shoveller, cormorants and a kingfisher

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 9d

Seen at Belvide earlier?

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 17d

Went back for seconds with the Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, they were a bit closer today

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 18d

Incredible morning on my Winter Bird Survey @bbs-birds.bsky.social it's a 50/50 mix of farmland and quarries (was 100% farmland when I started in 2006 but HS2 has meant quarrying is taking over) 740 individuals of 46 species logged with the help of a few big flocks of starling and lapwings

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 21d

Two of a trio of Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, less than annual

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 23d

Burntwood back garden in Staffordshire same time

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · 26d

My first 6 redwings of the autumn over Chase Terrace Burntwood this morning

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 21

Decorating today so no birding, the dog has been very energetic helping 😂

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 19

Couple of the Chasewater stags at Burntwood rugby club this lunchtime

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 14

The Black Tern flock yesterday at Blithfield just after the Peregrine had had a go at them ( unsuccessfully)

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thanks Dave

Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 9

According to Google this is a Western Conifer Beetle (unless anyone knows different) from North America on my daughter's bedroom window this morning in Burntwood Staffordshire

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 8

This lady was cooling off in Chasewater Swag this lunchtime, birdwise about 120 Canada Geese with some in and out of the trees plus about 150+ Tufted Ducks again some out of sight in the trees plus the usuals

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 6

Finished on 51 species for Cuckoo Bank from two sessions, highlight by far was a female Goshawk this afternoon drifting east

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 6

The cocodamol has kicked in so another trip up Cuckoo Bank rewarded with the best bird of the day, a stonking huge female Goshawk drifting east. Currently on 45 species (46 if you count the Helmeted Guineafowl that's absconded from Bradshaw's alpaca experience)

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Sep 6

Hard going on Cuckoo Bank this morning (as usual) just 41 species best being a Whinchat (I've only been able to cover about 1/4 of it because of my knee - on the waiting list for a new one - that's my excuse😂)

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 30

Kingfisher having a good old preen at Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 30

2 crossbills over Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

Late Swift with half a dozen House Martins over the garden this morning

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 20

First walk up Cuckoo Bank for yonks, 6 bullfinch & 4 greenfinch (inc 2 juvs) and a small flock of goldfinch in the lane, 6 chiffys 2 will warbs 2 blackcaps whitethroat less whitethroat and redstart in the other hedges + raven buzzard & sparrowhawk

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 17

Never had woodpigeons nest this close before in the garden, they usually scrap like hell. Pigeon 1 had 1 juvenile fledge last week and pigeon 2 currently has 2 juveniles being fed in the tree but not fully fledged

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 17

5 little gulls just gone over the garden heading west very high up (wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been watching a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Dalaman go over with my bins - yes ok sad😂)

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 15

Cracking views of the Memorial flight of Britain at the National Memorial Arboretum this lunchtime

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Grant Hames @cuckoobirder.bsky.social · Aug 15

The singing chiffys and willow warblers will be juvenile males trying out their voices ready for the real thing next spring

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