marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Sadly, too many of them being forced above ground by the drought this year. Hadn't seen a live mole until this year and have had 3+ in as many months, plus many corpses. 110
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 15/01/2026General rule of thumb: nearest half of water to the path, Staffs; furthest, Warks. If in doubt, wait for the bird to swim/fly one way or the other! 010
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Here you go, Paul. Staffs to the north of the yellow line. 120
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 19/10/2025www.birdguides.com/news/yellow-...birdguides.comYellow-browed Warbler ringing project launchesA new Yellow-browed Warbler colour-ringing project has launched across Britain and Ireland – and birders are being asked to report sightings. Colour rings have been distributed to ringers, initially f... 010
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 16/08/20252j Ruff, 9 Blackwit, Oyc, 2 LRP, 17 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, 1 Goosander, 1 Wigeon at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 081
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 03/08/2025Wood Sandpiper still on West Scrape at #MiddletonLakes at 10:30. Green Sand, 5 Snipe & Dunlin on Canal Pool and a juv Yellow Wag on east Scrape. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 0121
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 03/08/2025Wood Sand on West scrape at #Middletonlakes. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 061
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 31/07/2025Stunning views of the Marsh Harrier again on North Pit this morning as it predated a Coot/Moorhen nest close to the hide. Otherwise pretty slack with 2 Green Sands, 1j LRP, 1j Redshank, 8 Common Tern & 1 GWE. #MiddletonLakes 0221
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 29/07/2025Pretty quiet this afternoon at #MiddletonLakes, though great views of 2 of its skulkier residents. A juv Water Rail continues to perform at the Silt Pool lookout and a juv Bittern was showing on Fishers Mill. 2 Green Sands & 3 juv Redshank were the only waders of note. #ukbirding 0100
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/07/2025Lousy weather at Rutland Water this morning but it didn't seem to hamper fishing... #ukbirding 020
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 25/07/2025Prolonged Marsh Harrier action over North Pit at #middletonlakes this morning plus a cracking juv Peregrine chasing the Lapwings on Jubilee. Also Blackwit, 5 GSand, Snipe, juv Redshank, 3 GWE & 2 Raven. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 1101
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 20/07/2025Greenshank, Blackwit, 4 GSand, 2 CSand, 4 Redshank (3j), 15 LRP (11j), 10 CTern (2j), Bittern & GWE at #middletonlakes this afternoon. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 091
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 02/04/20252 Red Kite east over Drayton Bassett heading towards RSPBMiddletonLakes 1105, plus 1st House Martin of the year. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 050
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 24/03/2025A colour-ringed Curlew "YA" from RSPB's CurlewLIFE project pitched in on Jubilee just before 1730 tonight at #MiddletonLakes. Also 2 Avocet & 6 LRP on Jubilee North. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 081
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Fist Swallows of the year at #MiddletonLakes this morning with one for me at Fishers Mill after @steveatkinson.bsky.social had 2 earlier. Also more than 70+Sand Martins over Dosthill NR & river, 4 Oyc, 4 LRP, 4 Redshank & both Common & Jack Snipe on N Pit. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 081
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 23/03/2025A late afternoon circuit of Jubilee at #MiddletonLakes started well with a Red Kite north along the river, followed by a Peregrine 30 mins later. Also Pintail, 8 LRP, Dunlin, Snipe, 7 Oyc, 4 Redshank, 25 Sand Martin & GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 071
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 23/03/20256 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Oyc, 5 LRP, Curlew, Snipe, 4 Redshank, 15 Sand Martin & a White Wag at #MiddletonLakes on a mizzly morning with poor visibility early on. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 091
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 21/03/2025First Wheatear of the year at #MiddletonLakes this morning along with a brief White Wagtail and 8 Sand Martin. 4 Avocet, 6 Redshank and an LRP also on Jubilee. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 051
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 19/03/2025First real movement at #MiddletonLakes this morning with 4(5?) LRP and a Blackwit new in as the sun warmed up. Also 2 Pintail, 3 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, Oyc, 3 Snipe, 4(6?) Redshank, 2 Dunlin & GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 191
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 16/03/20252 Jack Snipe topped the bill at #MiddletonLakes this morning, although rather distant. Also 8 Shelduck, 3 Pochard, 9 Goldeneye, 2 Avocet, 2 Common Snipe, Redshank & grunting Bittern heard. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 0101
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 12/03/20253 Avocet, LRP, 2 Redshank, Snipe, Pintail, Pochard & 8 Goldeneye at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 041
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 11/03/20254 Sand Martins at #MiddletonLakes this morning were the first of the spring. No sign of yday's LRPs but 3 RLP were a much rarer find! Also Pintail, 4 Pochard, Goldeneye, iffy RB Goose, 4 Redshank, 3 Oyc, Snipe & 2 GWE, one developing breeding colours nicely. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 0111
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 06/03/202518 Goldeneye, 7 Pochard, Pintail, Oyc, 2 Redshank & 4 Curlew at #MiddletonLakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 0102
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 23/02/2025First Ringed Plover of the year on Jubilee at RSPB Middleton Lakes this morning. Also 13 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, Pintail, 4 Oystercatcher, GWE. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 091
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/12/2024One possible drawback may be potential damage to the phone charging port if knocked when connected. 020
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/12/2024Was also detecting what I presume were mice in sedge clumps yday at 5+m range. 120
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/12/2024One issue is screen contrast on bright days, James. Although it has several display modes (eg colour, red/white/black hot) it can be hard to see when sunny. Detected a perched robin at 30m easily enough. 210
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 25/12/2024Bought it for ca £300 a few months back, Phil. The link to Amazon has it for £275. Never going to rival the 'proper' gear but cheap & portable for travelling & very occasional use. 230
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 25/12/2024First time testing out the ultra budget Hikmicro E20 thermal plug-in camera for mobiles tinyurl.com/bdzjt2eb in my local snipey field near Middleton ahead of a spectacular dusk tonight. Quite impressed to pull a real Xmas cracker Jack Snipe on first outing! #UKbirding #BirdingGear 1282
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 25/11/2024River overtopping at #middletonlakes this morning with riverside path & hide impassable. Jubilee just one big lake with 2m Pintail, 8 Shelduck, 8 Pochard, 17 Snipe & 2 GWE the best. #staffsbirds #ukbirding 070
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 15/09/2024#MiddletonLakes this morning: 2 Pintail, Avocet, 2 RP, 1j LRP, 1j Blackwit, 5 Snipe, Greenshank, 4 GWE & Hobby. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 0111
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 08/09/2024Yesterday's #Middletonlakes species list (88sp) from the #Westmidsalldayer. 0102
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 08/09/20242 Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Dunlin & 4 Snipe at Bodymoor GPs this morning. #Warksbirds 051
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 06/09/20243 Pintail, 2 Ringed Plover, Blackwit, 3 Snipe, 2 Common & 4 Green Sandpipers, Greenshank & 3 GWE at #middletonlakes this morning. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #staffsbirds 0101
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 05/09/2024Top job, Pete. It's looking great. Nice clear views across most of the wetland now. Cheers! 140
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 03/09/2024A rather underwhelming patch tick for #middletonlakes this morning in the form of 3 RN Parakeets that flew over as I walked down the canal on my way there. Also Greenshank, 4 RP, LRP, Blackwit, 7 Snipe, Green Sand, 4 GWE, Hobby & Peregrine. @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social #staffsbirds #ukbirding 071
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 30/08/2024Pec Sand still at #middletonlakes this morning as the mist cleared but no confirmed sightings since c0730. Greenshank, Redshank, Blackwit, 2 RP, 8 Snipe, CSand, 34 LEgret & 3 GWE but no Garganey. #StaffsBirds #UKBirding 0112
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 29/08/2024Pec Sand on West scrape #Middletonlakes. Also 3 Garganey, Ruff, Blackwit, 3 RP, LRP, CSand, Hobby & Lesserthroat. #Staffsbirds #ukbirds 0385
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/08/20242 Whinchat on HS2 land near Middleton this afternoon. #WarksBirds 0201
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 26/08/2024Little Stint showing well but distant on Jubilee South #middletonlakes. #StaffsBirds 0213
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 25/08/20242 Garganey, 3 RP, 2 LRP, 2 Blackwit, 6 Snipe, Greenshank, GSand, CSand, 3 CTern, 31 LEgret, 3 GWE & YWag at #middletonlakes this morning. #StaffsBirds 050
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 24/08/2024Nice weather for herons at #middletonlakes this morning with 4 GWE, 27 Little, 6 G Heron & a flyover Bittern. 3 Garganey still, plus 3 RP, 1j LRP, Blackwit, 8 Snipe & 5 Common Tern, inc 2 juvs being fed on Jubilee. #StaffsBirds 140
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 23/08/2024Still 2 Greenshank & 4 Green Sand at Bodymoor GP 1600-1620. #WarksBirds 070
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 23/08/2024Not much change at @RSPBMiddleton despite the overnight wind & rain. 1j Garganey, 2 Oyc, 4LRP, Blackwit, 8 Snipe, 2 Green & 1 C Sand, 3 GWE & 18 L Egret. #Staffsbirds 160
marksmiles.bsky.social @marksmiles.bsky.social · 21/08/2024Nice. Saved me getting out of bed tomorrow. 😜 110
