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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

After work visit to Gailey Res was pretty quiet. Of note 11 Egyptian Geese, Australian Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Pochard, 1st w Common Gull. The shoreline is still extensive but continued disturbance and now water pumps due to pure oxygen levels means little will linger #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Family walk from home over Shoal Hill produced a fem/imm Marsh Harrier for 5 mins before it headed high S at 11:45. Also got Dave pishing with the best result behind a Bullfinch #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Blithfield 06:45-12:30 with GJM & MPR produced 9 Great Egret, 3 Red Kite, 2 Peregrine, 2 YL Gull, 40+Ringie, juv Little Stint, 18 Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 9 Ruff, 7 Snipe, 7 Stonechat, Clouded Yellow #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A couple of hours in Blithe Bay at Blithfield with SE & HF produced 4 Grey Plovers which were mobile and eventually headed high NE just before dusk. Also present 15 Great Egrets, 1st w Caspian Gull, 3 Common Terns, 5 YL Gull, 6 Curlew, 6 Ruff, 2 Stonechat #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Blithfield 06:15-12:00 produced 14 Great Egrets, 25 Ringie, 7 Dunlin, 2 Green Sand, 5 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 10 Ruff, 4 Wheatear, Whinchat, 6 Stonechat #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Evening visit to Blithe Bay, Blithfield produced the Glossy Ibis chilling amongst the BHG. Also present 9 Great Egrets, 8 Wigeon, sev YL Gull, 26 Ringie, 1 LRP, 6 Dunlin, Blackwit, 2 Curlew, 5 Ruff, 3 Wheatear #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Couple of hours in Blithe Bay at Blithfield this evening produced 12 Great Egrets, Pintail, 5 Goosander, 6 YL Gull, 15 Ringie, 13 Dunlin, 5 Curlew, 4 Ruff, Snipe, Yellow Wag, 3 Wheatear #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Blithfield 06:30-12:00 produced 8 Great Egret, 7 Wigeon, 2 Red Kite, 2 Peregrine, Hobby, 1st w Caspian Gull, 6 YL Gull, 17 Ringie, 16 Dunlin, 5 Ruff, 5 Curlew, Yellow Wag, 4 Wheatear, Whinchat #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Was at uni in ‘96 when the Blithfield bird was present, & stood at Gailey Res when the Chasewater bird was being watched but not reported. Baird’s Sand has been one of my most wanted in Staffs until today. The superb juv gave great views along with 35 Pinkfeet over W, 5 Ringie, 2 Blackwit & 2 Ruff

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Blithfield 06:15-13:30 with my first attempt at the WeBS count. Of note, 19 Great Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, 25 Goosander, Red Kite, Peregrine, 2 Caspian Gulls(1st w + 2nd w), 6 YL Gull, 18 Common Tern, Oyc, 26 Ringie, 18 Dunlin, Common Sand, Green Sand, 6 Ruff, 5 Curlew #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

After work visit to Gailey Res was pretty quiet. Of note, 1 Little Egret, 6 Egyptian Geese, 5 Teal, Common Sand, Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Didn’t realise it was 15 species of wader 😮

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A good 11 hour slog at Blithfield. Our team of 8 found a total of 110 species by 16:00. Highlights inc 24 Great Egrets,sev species of raptor, 1st w Caspian Gull, Arctic Tern + 23 Commons, 2 Turnstone & Wood Sand amongst sev other commoner wader sp, Cuckoo, Whinchat, Wheatear etc #west mids all dayer

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Early start at Blithfield for the #westmidsalldayer Tawny Owl first bird heard. Good luck to all taking part.

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Hour at Gailey Res this morning was pretty quiet. Of note 3 Little Egret, 9 Shoveler, Hobby, Common Sand, 1 Swift #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Couple of hours at Gailey Res this morning produced an Osprey which headed East at 09:44. Thanks to @belvidebirding.bsky.social for the heads up. Also present 4 Little Egrets, 2 Egyptian Geese, 5 Shoveler, a super family of 4 calling Hobby, 2 Common Sand, Kingfisher, 2 Swift #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Blithfield 06:30-11:15 produced 13 Great Egrets, Red Kite, Peregrine, 4 YL Gull, 13 Common Tern, 20 Ringie, 5 LRP, 6 Dunlin, 4 Common Sand, 8 Blackwit, 5 Curlew, 9 Ruff, 10 Yellow Wag, 3 Wheatear #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 2 Little Egret, 4 Egyptian Geese, 7 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 3 Common Sand, 4 Swift #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced a record 5 Great Egrets on the upper pool. Also present 3 Egyptian Geese, 12 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 3 Pochard, juv Ringed Plover still & Snipe feeding on sailing club shore #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

After work visit to Gailey Res produced a juv Ringed Plover on the shore. The 8th wader sp in the last few weeks at a usually waderless site. Also 5 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, Shoveler, & 5 Snipe #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

After work visit to Gailey Res was pretty quiet but 16 Shoveler was a decent count for there. Also noted 3 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Teal, & a Snipe on the upper lake #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Blithfield 06:15-11:45 produced 6 Great Egrets, 13 Goosander, Hobby, 1st w Caspian Gull, 10+YL Gull, 50+Common Tern, ad Black Tern, 10 Ringie, 5 LRP, 6 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 30 Blackwit, 3 Snipe, 5 Curlew, 12 Ruff, 8 Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

At Blithfield another 4 Turnstone flew in & joined the original 2. Also 30 Blackwit just landed in Blithe Bay #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

At Blithfield 2 juv Turnstone Admaston Reach 06:30 #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

After work check of Otherton revealed Redstart, Wheatear & 2 Yellow Wag. Gailey Res pretty much the same with 3 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Common Tern, just 1 Swift, and a really showy lemon juv Willow Wblr #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Check of Gailey Res this morning produced a juv Hobby terrorizing the grouping hirundines. My first there this year in what has been a poor year so far for them personally. Also just 1 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 5 Swift, 7+Yellow Wag, & a ground feeding Sedge Wblr #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced 2 Little Egret, Egyptian Goose, 2 Common Tern, 14 Swift, 7+Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced Great Egret, Egyptian Goose, drk Shoveler, 2 Common Tern, 20 Swift, 4 Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Quick hour this evening at Gailey Res produced Great Egret, 5 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 3 Common Tern, 3 Swifts. Interesting to see that now even the fishing(upper) pool is extremely low #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

No worries mate. Good to have a catch up 👍

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Just about to leave Blithfield when @pmandrews1973.bsky.social found a Pec Sand at Croxall Lakes. Short drive and this smart adult gave nice views. Also 2 LRP, 3 Greenshank, 2 Common Sand, 7 Green Sand, Ruff, & sev Snipe seen in a pretty small area #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Blithfield Blithe Bay 06:30-11:00 produced 3 Great Egrets, 5 Goosander, 2 Hobby, 5+YL Gull & this poss hybrid(?), 60+Common Tern, 9 Ringie, 3 LRP, Dunlin, 3 Blackwit, Greenshank, 3 Ruff, 15 Swift, Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced 4 Little Egret, 3 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 2 Common Tern, Common Sand, Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Warm evening at Blithfield with GJM. 3 Great Egrets, delightful Ruddy Shelduck, 5 YL Gulls, Golden Plover, 11 Ringie, 3 Dunlin, Greenshank, Green Sand, 7 Common Sand, Blackwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, family of Spot Flys #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res in the heat produced my first Clouded Yellow there in years. Also noted 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Common Tern, & 3 Yellow Wags. The 2nd family of Little Egrets have now fully fledged the nest. The shoreline continues to increase #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

The joys of being a parent. Not watching Dave chill on a bench in Hyde Park, me having to clean dogsh*t off his shoes 😂

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

After enjoying the exhibits, we spent some time chilling in the Darwin Garden. I even managed to find a Willow Emerald Damselfly

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Family weekend in London. No better way to spend time with a few hours at the Natural History Museum. A truly amazing experience which Dave found fascinating. What a planet we live on ❤️

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res didn’t produce anything on the shore after the rain but 9 Yellow Wag on the telegraph lines was a good count. Also 4 Little Egret, Egyptian Goose, 2 Gadwall, 5 Common Tern #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Quick after work visit to Gailey Res produced another wader on the shore with a juv LRP(always rare here) + Yellow Wag. Also the usuals with Little Egret family, 2 Egyptian Geese & 3 Common Tern #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Superb Dave! That’s exactly what I was after.

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

What would you recommend doing with it Dave? The insects certainly love it!

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

After a quiet morning visit to Gailey Res, Dave & I decided to have a go at our ‘insect part’ of the garden. New pollinator friendly plants put in & we watched to see what happened. 8 species of butterflies, numerous bees & hoverflies.

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Couple of hours at Gailey Res produced imm/fem Redstart in hedge to East of sailing lake & moulting ad Dunlin on increased shoreline. Also present 5 Little Egret, Egyptian Goose, 4 Common Tern, 2 Common Sand & big increase of Painted Lady #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Early morning at Gailey Res was interrupted by a call from @belvidebirding.bsky.social Unfortunately the WR Sand flew off just as I arrived. Juv BN Grebe & 2 Turnstones as compensation. At Gailey 7+Little Egrets, 2 Egyptian Geese & 4 Common Tern. Certainly no WRS in the shore there #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

After the LTS, I headed to Belvide where @belvidebirding.bsky.social had found a Stone Curlew. Only my 2nd in Staffs(the other in ‘old’ Staffs). A little distant in haze but an amazing record. A nice backup with juv BN Grebe, 2nd s YL Gull, Blackwit & Turnstone.

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Up early this morning & instead of checking the local patch made the pretty short journey down to the Gloucs/Oxon border to see the Long-Tailed Shrike. Great views despite the bright conditions. Unbelievable to think I saw the 2nd for Britain in Fife a couple of weeks ago

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced 2 Great Egrets roosting amongst 5+Littles. Also Common Tern up to 7 including 2 juvs #staffsbirds

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Steve Richards @thesnapper1978.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Early morning check of Gailey Res produced a fine ad Arctic Tern(presumably the Belvide bird from yday) giving great views but getting constant hassle from the 4 Common Terns(3ads & juv). Also regular family of Little Egrets, pr Oyc with juv, Common Sand #staffsbirds

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