Mark Smiles

14/04. Avocets continue to set records with 26 now at @RSPBMiddleton. Barnacle Goose, 10+LRP, 2 Oyc, 2 Blackwit, 9 Snipe, CSand, 6 Redshank, GWE, 10 SMartin, 7 Swallow, 4 WWarbler, Gropper, Wheatear & 2 White Wag. @Staffsbirdnews

Not much change at @RSPBMiddleton this morning once the early fog cleared. Barnacle Goose, 2 Wigeon, Pochard, 4 Shelduck, 23 Avocet, 10 LRP, 9 Blackwit, 4 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 2 Bittern, Yellow Wag, White Wag. @Staffsbirdnews

Nice movement of hirundines at @RSPBMiddleton this morning with low double-figure counts of Swallows & Sand Martins with at least 4 House Martins. Also Common Tern, Barnacle Goose, 24 Avocet, 8 LRP, 9 Blackwit, 6 Redshank, 4 WhiteWag , 4 YWag. @Staffsbirdnews

10/04 @RSPBMiddleton: Barnacle Goose, Goosander, 22 Avocet, 3 Oyc, 12 LRP, 9 Blackwit, 2 Snipe, 1 CSand, 6 Redshank, 1 Yellow & 5 White Wagtail. @Staffsbirdnews

Much quieter at @RSPBMiddleton after y'day's flurry of arrivals but 24 Avocet set a new spring record. At least 10 LRP, 3 Oyc, 9 Blackwit, 6 Redshank, White Wag, Yellow Wag,15 Sand Martin & increasing Sedge & Reed Warblers numbers but no sign of y'day's Gropper. @Staffsbirdnews

@pmandrews1973 @Staffsbirdnews @RSPBMiddleton Yeah. Heard it, Phil.

@MarkSmiles5 @Staffsbirdnews @RSPBMiddleton Gropper also reported this morning

First Cuckoo of the spring at @RSPBMiddleton. Also Barnacle Goose. At least 5 Sedge Warbler scratching around Jubilee. @Staffsbirdnews

Also Reed Warbler on Square Pool.

Plenty of interest at @RSPBMiddleton this morning, though nothing overly spectacular. Curlew, 3 White Wags & the first Sedge Warbler being the best. More notable sightings in attached images. @Staffsbirdnews

First Common Sand of the year at @RSPBMiddleton this afternoon with at least 8 Ringed Plovers amongst the LRPs. Nice to see plenty of Sand Martins, probably close to 100, feeding actively over Jubilee. @Staffsbirdnews

05/04 @RSPBMiddleton: Kittiwake (2nd in 5 days), 2 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, 22 Avocet, 2 Oyc, 6LRP, 4 RP, 5 Blackwit, 8 Snipe, 6 Redshank, 3 Dunlin, Bittern, GWE, 50 Sand Martin, Swallow, White Wag. @Staffsbirdnews

Kittiwake back on Jubilee South 0710.

Adult Kittiwake again briefly in early morning gull roost @RSPBMiddleton @Staffsbirdnews

Still waiting for the main push at @RSPBMiddleton but an impressive 23 Avocet, surely a spring site record, and 3 Bitterns playing kiss-chase were the highlights of an otherwise grey morning. Also 3 Oyc, 4 LRP, 7 Snipe, 5 Redshank, RN Parakeet, & Sand Martin. @Staffsbirdnews

Kittiwake briefly on Jubilee @RSPBMiddleton 0815 plus 2 Meds at daybreak. 18 Avocet, 4 Blackwit, 2 LRP, 6 Redshank, 2 Oyc, 12 Snipe, 4 Shelduck & 4 Pochard. @Staffsbirdnews

Tigers in the garden this afternoon.

Gorgeous male Wheatear at Drayton Bassett this afternoon along the public footpath near the 'Hoopoe fields'. Also Grey Partridge, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk & several Buzzards but, alas, no sign of the Osprey reported upriver despite a 40 minute vigil.

31/03 @RSPBMiddleton: 12 Avocet, 2 Oyc, 2 LRP, 3 Blackwit, 6 Redshank, 19 Snipe, Bittern, GWE, 2 RN Parakeet thru N & 20 Sand Martin. @Staffsbirdnews

Fair to say the lingering Ring Ouzel showed pretty well at Lutley this afternoon.

Sadly, the Spoonbill reported from Kingsbury & Alvecote earlier went under the radar at @RSPBMiddleton this morning, leaving a Curlew as a consolation prize. 17 Avocet, 2 LRP, 5 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 3 Shelduck, 2 Pochard, 4 Goosander, GWE, Peregrine & Sand Martin. @Staffsbirdnews