CANNOCK CHASE-STAFFORDSHIRE

This morning, I stopped by Cannock Chase on my way to work in Birmingham and enjoyed a few hours of excellent wildlife watching.

Cannock Chase

Cuckoos were calling as soon as I arrived, and one in particular was clearly visible, a striking reminder of the Chase’s breeding population.

 

Cuckoo

Tree Pipits were also abundant, with seven individuals observed during my walk.

Tree Pipit

Other notable birds included a Stonechat and a Reed Bunting, both adding variety to the morning’s observations.

Stonechat

Reed Bunting

Butterflies were equally impressive. Green Hairstreaks were abundant, flitting in the morning sun alongside a single Brimstone, providing a perfect introduction to the day.

Green Hairstreak Butterfly

Brimstone

Overall, it was a thoroughly rewarding few hours, combining the joy of walking through the Chase with quality sightings of both birds and butterflies.

MIDDLETON RSPB-WARWICKSHIRE

After work tonight, I went for an evening stroll around Middleton RSPB and was treated to some excellent birdwatching. The calm of the reserve in the fading light made for perfect conditions to enjoy a variety of species, with several standout sightings that made the walk particularly memorable.

Middleton RSPB

Upon entering the reserve, I saw two Hobby's flying over the pools, and a Bittern was booming away.

What a bird! Summer is upon us. 

While continuing to walk around the reserve, I observed two Wood Sandpipers and a Great White Egret. Then, a male Garganey emerged from the reed bed.

Wood Sandpiper

Great White Egret

Garganey

Odanata were also out in the evening sunshine.

Banded Demoiselle

Large Red-eyed Damselfly

As I walked back to the car, I saw two Peacock butterflies finishing off a lovely evening stroll.

 

 

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

26th April 2025

National Mega News

Cape Gull-Adult-Redcar Tarn-West Yorkshire

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Wood Sandpiper and Whinchat-Woolston Eyes-Permit Only

Garganey-Drake-Burton RSPB

Wood Sandpiper in flooded field near Ness Gardens.

129 Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail (Lower Heswall) - Heswall Shore.

Ring Ouzel in horse paddock by west kissing gate at 5pm, also Yellow Wagtail, 3 Whinchat, Red Kite over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Wood Sandpiper heard flying over - Thurstaston Country Park.

25th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Male by Shropshire Union Canal at Wharton's Lock-Tiverton

Greater White Fronted Goose-Two flew north-west over Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Swift-One at Wistaston-Crewe

Wood Sandpiper-One in flooded field near Ness Botanic Gardens-Ness

Short Eared Owl-One flew over towards duck decoy-Pickerings Pasture

c100 Gannet feeding offshore - Red Rocks.

Great White Egret flew east - Hilbre.

4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Swift, Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat, Osprey high south this afternoon - Leasowe Lighthouse.

133 Whimbrel on rising tide - Heswall Shore.

24th April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Swift-Over-Neston

Ring Ouzel-Female at Woodchurch south of Landican Lane 200m from Arrowe Park Road junction but distant-Birkenhead

At least 20 Whimbrel  on ebbing tide - Caldy/Thurstaston Shore.

10+ Wheatear, Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whinchat and 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 50+ Gannet offshore - Leasowe Lighthouse.

2 Spoonbill in heronry - Burton Mere Wetlands.

57 Whimbrel, 175 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Ruff over high tide off Heswall Fields NT.

6+ Avocet, Spoonbill and 4 Tufted Duck - Old Baths, Parkgate.

23rd April 2025

National Mega News

Eurasian Crag Martin-Showed well for half an hour and then drifted south with Swallows-Winterton Dunes

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

(C) Mark Sutton

Forster's Tern-Lytchett Bay-Dorset 

Forster's Tern

(C) Dorset Bird Club

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

38 Whimbrel, 260 Oystercatcher, 280 Grey Plover, 1100 Dunlin, 85 Curlew, 170 Redshank on the shore, Whinchat and a Lesser Whitethroat at Heswall Fields NT.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling near boatyard, also 3+ Whimbrel - Heswall Shore.

Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel in field, Whinchat, 6 Wheatear, Common Redstart (fem), Grasshopper Warbler and a Barn Owl - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Whinchat

(C)Sean O'Hara

Wood Warbler-Singing male at Brown Knowl entrance-Bickerton Hill

Eurasian Spoonbill- One again in heronry-Burton RSPB

22nd April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Forster's Tern-Adult again from Middlebere Lookout-Arne-Dorset 

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Eurasian Spoonbill- One again in heronry then flew towards Ness-Burton RSPB

Little Stint-One off Dove Point-Meols

Little Stint

(C)Sean O'Hara

21st April 2025

National Mega News

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

2 Manx Shearwater, 800 Sandwich Tern, 14 Little Tern, 75 Gannet, 3 Eider, 4 Shag, 2 Yellow Wagtail (over), 4 White Wagtail (down) - Hilbre.

3 Whinchat (1 on Kerr's field, 2 east of River Birkett) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Little Gull - New Brighton.

Osprey-One at Doddington drifted west over fields this afternoon-Doddington Pool

Eurasian Spoonbill-Burton Rspb

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley 

Arctic tern- One at Budworth Mere- Marbury Country Park

20th April 2025

National Mega News

Booted Eagle-Pale-morph juvenile between Glandford and Cley-next-the-sea flew west over Sewage Farm mid-afternoon-Glanford-Norfolk

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Arctic Tern-60 at Weaver Sluices-Frodsham Marshes

2 Manx Shearwater, 750 Sandwich Tern, 14 Little Tern, 75 Gannet, 3 Eider, 4 Shag, 2 Yellow Wagtail (over), 4 White Wagtail (down) - Hilbre.

3 Whinchat (1 on Kerr's field, 2 east of River Birkett) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Eurasian Spoonbill,8 Spotted Redshank-On Centenary Pool-Burton RSPB

Whinchat-Burton Marsh

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

19th April 2025

National Mega News

Barolo-type-shearwater-One flew east-Prawle Point-Devon

Eastern Bonelli's warbler-In Plantation-Skaw-Whalsay

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Osprey-One over-Heswall

Whinchat-Four by dung heap at Station Road-Burton Village

Little Gull-one still on Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park

Eurasian Spoonbill-Adult on flash south of Bevyl Road-Parkgate

3 Whinchat-Near Weaver Bend-Frodsham Marshes

4 Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

Whinchat-Two still in horses paddock at Carr Lane Pool viewed from gate-Hale

Ring Ouzel in field, seen from footpath between Oldfield Farm and Dungeon Wood - Heswall.

10 Avocet off Old Baths - Parkgate.

Common Redstart (female) - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Common Redstart (female) - Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby.

18th April 2025

National Mega News

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Channel Wagail and 2 Whinchat-Hale

Whinchat-Maw Green Tip

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

4 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail between Burton Point and Decca Pools.

Spotted Redshank on flash - Denhall Quay.

c200 Pink-footed Geese headed north, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Whitethroat, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler, 3 Gannet offshore - Red Rocks.

17th April 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Female briefly at midday then flew east-Gowy Meadows

Garganey-Drake still on eastern cell of No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Common Redstart-Male in trees behind log pile at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm and a Whinchat-Bradley

Garden Warbler-One at Mere Farm Quarry; view only from public footpath-Chelford

Whinchat and Redstart-Hale

45 Little Tern, 300 Sandwich Tern and 15 Gannet - Hilbre.

Grasshopper Warbler (by Burton Point) and 3+ Whinchat (by rifle range) -Burton Marsh.

Whinchat - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Common Redstart (fem) - Lower Heswall.

Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 2 male Whinchat, 8 Wheatear, Whitethroat, 6 Willow Warbler - Heswall Shore (and adjacent scrub).

Osprey over Grange Hill, also seen over Meols heading north - West Kirby.

Whinchat on Kerr's Field, Grasshopper Warbler by inland path coastal paddocks, and 8+ Wheatear - Leasowe Lighthouse.

16th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Whinchat-Two in field along Station Road-Burton

Osprey-One flew west over Dutton Locks towards Frodsham-Dutton

15th April 2025

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-Female in fenced-off field above Goldford Lane car park and 2 Redstarts-Bickerton Hill

Whinchat-Burton Marsh

Common Crane-One flew south over River Dee-Aldford

Whinchat-Ashton's Flash

2 Whinchat-Burton RSPB

Ruddy Shelduck-Wigg Island

14th April 2025

National Mega News

Booted Eagle-Pale-morph juvenile flew in off the sea and continued north-west-Beeston Bump-Norfolk

Moussier's Redstart-Report of male photographed in paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse on 6 April-Leasowe-Cheshire

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Moussier's Redstart-Report of male photographed in paddocks by Leasowe Lighthouse on 6 April-Leasowe-Cheshire

2 Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Short Eared Owl-Hale

White Stork-One flew west towards Hilbre Island then U-turned-Hoylake

White Stork

(C)A.Conlin

Pied Flycatcher-Female in woodland at The Breck off Breck Road-Wallasey

3 Whinchat-Gowy Meadows

Tree Pipit in sea-front garden - Hoylake.

Tree Pipit

(C)J.Turner

Grasshopper Warbler west end of paddocks near groyne, Whimbrel over -Leasowe Lighthouse.

Whinchat-Male-Langfields-Hoylake

13th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley 

White Stork- One in fields by New Hay Lane although no sign since-Willaston

White Stork

(C)D.King

Whinchat-One at Kerr's Field-Leasowe

Whinchat

(C)P.Sutton

12th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern- Brownsea Island-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Water Pipit-Carr Lane Pools-Hale

Ring Ouzel-Female at lighthouse-Leasowe

Ring Ouzel

(C)G.Connolly

Osprey-One flew over this evening-Leasowe

Osprey

(C)A.Conlin

Ring Ouzel-Two (one male) still in paddock at end of Fornalls Green Lane-Meols

Black Necked Grebe-62 on No 4 Bed; do not walk along bunds-Woolston Eyes

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still at Aston Flash; follow path east along River Weaver from Frodsham Watersports-Frodsham Marshes

Osprey-Over mitigation Pools then flew out to Mersey Estuary-Frodsham Marshes

Common Redstart-Male briefly in shelter belt at south end of No 3 Bed-Woolston Eyes

Short Eared Owl-One flew east along shore-Hale

Pied Flycatcher-Peckforton

Ring Ouzel-One in paddock at end of Fornalls Green Lane-Meols

Garganey-Female still on No 3 Bed from Tower Hide-Woolston Eyes

Ring Ouzel-Female on farmland off Limbo Lane-Irby

Ring Ouzel-Male at south end of No 4 Bed then flew north-Woolston Eyes

Grasshopper Warbler-Hoylake

Grasshopper Warbler

(C)J.Turner

11th April 2025

National Mega News

Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Booted Eagle-Pale Morph-Cliffsend-Kent

KENTISH GLORY- PERTHSHIRE

Kentish Glory is one of the UK’s most spectacular and threatened moths. Despite its name, it is restricted to just four populations in Scotland, centred around the Cairngorms.

Jenna and I set off on a pre-dawn journey to Perthshire for a Butterfly Conservation event to observe this rare species. Rising at 4:00 AM, we made our way north, reaching Killiecrankie by around 9:30 AM. Killiecrankie is an excellent spot for Wood Warblers, and with half an hour to spare, we parked at the visitor centre and stepped out. Almost immediately, the distinctive rapid ‘zip’ note of a male Wood Warbler filled the air, accelerating into a beautiful trill. After a short search, I located the singing male, which displayed beautifully. Always a joy to witness the Wood Warbler’s return for the summer.

Always nice to see the Wood warbler returning for the summer

From there, we joined the Butterfly Conservation group and listened to the leader explain their efforts to protect the Kentish Glory:

Formerly widespread across the UK, the Kentish Glory is now restricted to the Cairngorms National Park and surrounding areas. This large and striking moth is on the Scottish Biodiversity List and is of principal importance to biodiversity conservation in Scotland.

The moth is visually impressive, with bright colours and bold markings. Females are about 25% larger than males, while males possess feathery antennae to detect the pheromones released by females. Adults emerge in mid-April and are on the wing until mid-May. Females lay 10–20 eggs on the tips of regenerating silver birch trees under 3 metres in height. Eggs start yellow and turn purple-brown, hatching in May.

Kentish Glory, egg batches

Caterpillars begin life feeding gregariously on birch leaves, leaving distinctive feeding signs before becoming solitary. In late summer, the large green caterpillar pupates underground, remaining there for 1–3 years.

Surveying this species has always been challenging due to its short flight season and fast flight. However, a partnership between Butterfly Conservation Scotland and Canterbury University led to the development of an artificial pheromone that mimics a female Kentish Glory, attracting males to chosen areas. This has proved highly successful, with the moth being found in 90 new 1km squares over the last two years, including several new sites on Rothiemurchus. Strathspey remains a stronghold for the species. This technique has greatly improved understanding of the moth’s distribution and habitat requirements, allowing targeted conservation work with landowners to ensure the survival of young birch habitat for caterpillars.

After the talk, we opened moth traps set the previous evening. I added 22 new species to my moth list, including the rare Ringed Carpet. The Ringed Carpet occurs as two races: the nominate race is centred in the New Forest, Hampshire (also occurring locally elsewhere in southern England and Ireland), while the Scottish subspecies bowesi is generally whiter and greyer and occurs in scattered locations across Scotland.

We then moved to the field to set up the pheromone lures, and it wasn’t long before a male Kentish Glory was drawn in.

It wasn't long before a male was attracted to the pheromone lures.

What a beauty!

We waited for more Kentish Glory, but time was pressing. On the journey home, I aimed to see two target birds for my Scottish list. Our first stop was Broomhill Castle grounds near Stirling, where I recorded my first target: the Green Woodpecker. Three birds were observed, one calling constantly. Though elusive, I managed a distant photograph.

Always elusive, this was the only distant photograph I could get

Continuing toward the England-Scotland border in search of the Marsh Tit, we visited two sites with no success. As dusk approached, I heard a male Marsh Tit calling. To my surprise, it flew in and landed nearby, singing beautifully. Marsh Tits are in decline in Scotland and considered rare, making this encounter particularly special.

Marsh Tit, on the list!

With the day winding down, the distant call of a Cuckoo accompanied our journey south, marking the end of an unforgettable day. Encountering one of Scotland’s rarest moths and several target birds made it a truly remarkable experience.

HARBURY SPOILBANK NATURE RESERVE-WARWICKSHIRE

This afternoon, I explored a charming new nature reserve in Warwickshire, a site with a rich history dating back to the construction of the Leamington to Oxford railway in the 1840s.

The highlight of my visit was adding two new butterflies to my list: the Dingy Skipper and the Grizzled Skipper. Both species were surprisingly easy to locate on the reserve, and their delicate markings were a delight to observe.

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

The reserve itself proved excellent for wildlife. Along my walk, I recorded a diverse range of birds, including:

Orange Tip

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Sedge Warbler

It was a wonderfully peaceful afternoon, combining historical interest with the simple joy of spotting new species in the wild. Between the two new butterflies and the variety of warblers, it was a memorable outing and a fantastic addition to my Warwickshire wildlife experiences.