31st May - Sightings

RSPB - Garganey(m), Turnstone (full sum plum), Teal(m), Hobby North Pit. 6 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (TP, K Thorpe, F Mosey et al)
Ladywalk - 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, Teal(m),

Oystercatcher, Cuckoo, Willow Tit (P Lichfield)

30th May - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Turnstone North Pit. 5 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (S Pick)

25th May - Sightings

RSPB - Turnstone, Garganey(m), 2 Dunlin Jubilee Wetlands. Also Black Tern North Pitt till c12pm only and 6 Little Egret (D Roberts per F Mosey et al)

24th May - Sightings

RSPB - 2 Garganey (m, fem/eclipse m) Jubilee Wetlands. Also Sanderling briefly, 11 Ringed Plover (A Archer et al)

23rd May - Sightings

RSPB - Little Egret, Peregrine, 13 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 2 Wheatear (G Williams, S Pick) Water levels up.

22nd May - Sightings

Garganey - Ladywalk - Paul Casey

Ladywalk - Garganey(m) (P Casey)
RSPB - 2 Turtle Dove "flying over field near canal bridge" (Simon Cull per Birdforum). Also Sanderling, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Garganey, 42 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper (G Williams, S Cull et al)
Kingsbury - Garganey(m), Common Sandpiper Cliff Pool (S Cawthray)
Shustoke -  Hobby, 500 Swift (S Cawthray)
Wishaw - Wheatear, Hobby Blindpit Lane (C Hiles)

21st May - Sightings

RSPB - Bar-Tailed Godwit, Garganey(m) still North Pit. 3 Dunlin, 25+ Ringed Plover, Barn Owl Jubilee Wetlands (J Allen et al)

20th May - Sightings

RSPB - Grey Plover 9.09am Jubilee Wetlands then flew towards North Pit and still present here in afternoon. Bar-Tailed Godwit North Pit still. Greenshank, Dunlin, 32 Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull(1st Sum), Barn Owl Jubilee Wetlands (per Staffs Birding, G Williams) Also report of Marsh Harrier(fem/imm) (per Staffs Birding)

19th May - Sightings

RSPB - Pectoral Sandpiper still on North Pit 7pm at least (many Obs) Also 10+ Sanderling Jubilee Wetlands (7 early morning then flew North with another 3 at c8.30am). Bar-Tailed Godwit, 14 Dunlin Jubilee Wetlands. Garganey North Pit (K Sargent et al) Also 9 Sanderling reported North Pit but no time given could be additional (per Birdguides)


This evening Bar-Tailed Godwit, Garganey(m), c20 Ringed Plover, Barn Owl Jubilee Wetlands. Mediterranean Gull (1st Sum) North Pit. No sign of any Sanderling or Dunlin (TP, J Allen, K Thorpe)





Please note the path up the west side of North Pit is closed until further notice due to disturbance to the nesting gulls (F Mosey)

18th May - Sightings

Pectoral Sandpiper (phone-scoped) - Julian Allen

Ruff and Grasshopper Warbler - Dave Hutton

RSPB - PECTORAL SANDPIPER North Pit 7.45pm at least. Best viewed from Lookout hide (TP, J Allen et al) Also 2 Ruff (2 males Sum Plum) Jubilee Wetlands but flew off NE mid morning. Also Mediterranean Gull (1st sum) (D Hutton, A Archer) Ruff(fem) (F Mosey) Garganey in morning (P Gurney) 22+ Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, Yellow Wagtail around reserve (J Allen, TP, A Archer, D Hutton et al)

17th May - Sightings

RSPB - Garganey(m) still Jubilee Wetlands. Also 6 Black-Tailed Godwit, 20+ Ringed Plover, Dunlin. 2 Hobby along river (A Archer, D Hutton, M Pollock, J Allen)

16th May - Sightings

RSPB - Turtle Dove Fisher's Mill late afternoon but not later ( per A Archer). Garganey(m) North Pit c8pm at least (TP et al) Teal, 3 Shoveler, 7 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (TP)
Wishaw - Wheatear Blindpit Lane (C Hiles)

15th May - Sightings

RSPB - Whinchat (per Birdguides)

14th May - Sightings

Ladywalk - 3 Goosander (1m, 2f), Pair of Wigeon (P Lichfield)
Wishaw - Wheatear(f) Blindpit Lane. 2 Wheatear in area yesterday (C Hiles)
RSPB - Arctic Tern, 3 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (per Birdforum)

13th May - Sightings

RSPB - Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Arctic Tern, Turnstone, 12+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail Jubilee Wetlands this evening. The 2 Arctic Tern also seen on Fisher's Mill (TP) The report of Bar-Tailed Godwit on Birdguides is presumably erroneous unless anyone knows differently.
Ladywalk - 3 Little Egret, 2 Common Tern, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Goosander (f), 2 Wigeon (pr) (P Lichfield)

12th May - Sightings

RSPB - Grey Plover over to North this morning. Also 2 Turnstone, Sanderling (partial sum plum), 50+ Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Pink-Footed Goose, Wheatear et al (F Mosey et al)

11th May - Sightings

RSPB - 3 Turnstone [different to yday's birds], Sanderling (sum plum), 70+ Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, Arctic Tern briefly, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail (TP, D Hutton et al)

10th May - Sightings

Spotted Redshank, Turnstone and Wood Sandpiper - Dave Hutton

RSPB - Spotted Redshank (full sum plum), Wood Sandpiper and many Dunlin this morning Jubilee Wetland (D Hutton et al) Turnstone Jubilee Wetlands late morning (F Mosey et al) No further sign of Spotted Redshank since late morning but this evening Wood Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull (1st Sum) Jubilee Wetlands. 2 Turnstone, Pink-Footed Goose North Pit. Also 50+ Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper on site (TP)


Groups of Dunlin/Ringed Plover arriving and departing all day so true figures will be much higher (Many Obs)


Fergus has written a review of the all-dayer on 3rd May. See here.

9th May - Sightings

Wood Sandpiper - Steve Pick

RSPB - Wood Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling Jubilee Wetlands this morning (G Williams) This evening Wood Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling, 50+ Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper Jubilee Wetlands. Whinchat(m) by track to west screen. 3 Goosander(3m), Pink-Footed Goose North Pit. Barn Owl over river side. Hobby Silt Pool (TP, S Cawthray, S Pick)

8th May - Sightings

RSPB - Bar-Tailed Godwit, Avocet, 60 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, Pink-Footed Goose, Goosander, 2 Wheatear (G Williams et al)

7th May - Sightings

RSPB - Avocet, Wood Sandpiper, Bar-Tailed Godwit, 76 Dunlin, 28 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, Pink-Footed Goose,  4 Goosander, 2 Teal, Whinchat(m), Wheatear (G Williams, V Garvey et al)  Additionally Little Stint, 105+ Dunlin, 40+ Ringed Plover, Barn Owl late evening (S Cawthray) The Little Stint is presumed to be a new bird as it wasn't seen until late evening.


Also Report of possible American Wigeon (1st Sum Male) North Pit (J Harris per S Haynes,V Garvey et al) EDIT: A picture here seems to rule out American Wigeon.


Shustoke - c1000 Swift (S Cawthray)

6th May - Sightings

Wood Sandpiper - Karl Sargent

Little Stint and Bar-Tailed Godwit - Steve Pick

Wheatear and Whinchat - Adam Archer

RSPB - Temminck's Stint reported North Pit mid-morning only(G Williams) Also Bar-Tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Sanderling, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull(1st Sum), Whimbrel through, 4 Common Sandpiper, 40+ Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, Little Egret,  6 Goosander(5m,f), 3 Teal, 2 Hobby, 2 Whinchat (2F), 3 Wheatear, 6+ Yellow Wagtail, 100+ Swift (Many Obs) Waders regularly commuting between North Pit and Jubilee Wetlands

5th May - Sightings

Bar-Tailed Godwit - Steve Pick

RSPB - 6 Black Tern Jubilee Wetlands this morning but not later (G Williams et al) Bar-Tailed Godwit 4.30pm at least North Pit (TP) Also Pink-Footed Goose, Goosander(m), 2 Teal(pr), Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, 100+ Swift North Pit. Mediterranean Gull(1st Sum), 6 Dunlin, 24+ Ringed Plover Jubilee Wetlands (TP et al) Bar-Tailed Godwit relocated to Jubilee Wetlands late evening (S Pick)

3rd May - Species List

List of species seen on 3rd May all day bird watch at Middleton RSPB. Thanks to Fergus Mosey for providing it. Did anyone get anything else?


1. Blackbird
2. Goldfinch
3. Greenfinch
4. Coot
5. Moorhen
6. Nuthatch
7. Reed bunting
8. Chiffchaff
9. Grey heron
10. House sparrow
11. Sedge warbler
12. Lesser whitethroat
13. Great tit
14. Blue tit
15. Dunnock
16. Robin
17. Wood pigeon
18. Collared dove
19. Wren
20. Whitethroat
21. Song thrush
22. Canada goose
23. Blackcap
24. Pheasant
25. Mallard
26. Carrion crow
27. Rook
28. Great spotted woodpecker
29. Black-headed gull
30. Buzzard
31. Kingfisher
32. Magpie
33. Skylark
34. Long-tailed tit
35. Willow warbler
36. Chaffinch
37. Cettis warbler
38. Lapwing
39. Bullfinch
40. Swallow
41. Green woodpecker
42. Mute swan
43. Tufted duck
44. Common tern
45. Oystercatcher
46. Feral pigeon
47. Reed warbler
48. Grasshopper warbler
49. Gadwall
50. Shelduck
51. Little ringed plover
52. Great crested grebe
53. Ringed plover
54. Redshank
55. Avocet
56. Pied wagtail
57. Shoveler
58. Grey wagtail
59. Water rail
60. Coal tit
61. Treecreeper
62. Mistle thrush
63. Dunlin
64. Cormorant
65. Jackdaw
66. Common sandpiper
67. Mediterranean gull
68. Stock dove
69. Swift
70. Lesser black-backed gull
71. Cuckoo
72. Raven
73. Goldcrest
74. Sand martin
75. Little owl
76. Linnet
77. Kestrel
78. Yellowhammer
79. Teal
80. Greylag goose
81. Herring gull
82. Lesser spotted woodpecker
83. House martin
84. Yellow wagtail
85. Jay
86. Goosander
87. Starling
88. Common gull
89. Sparrowhawk
90. Little grebe
91. Whimbrel
92. Tawny owl
93. Meadow pipit
94. Brambling
95. Garden warbler

4th May - Sightings

RSPB - 19+ Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Mediterranean Gull(1st Sum)  (D Hutton, TP et al) Greenshank early morning only (per D Hutton) 4 Goosander (4m) flew south along river (TP) Pink-Footed Goose again at North Pit (G Williams)

3rd May - Sightings

Whimbrel - Steve Pick

RSPB - Avocet commuting between Jubilee Wetlands and North Pit. Also Goosander(f), Teal(f), 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull(first-summer), 45 Swift, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, Brambling  (A Archer, N Shaikh, F Mosey, G Williams et al) 3 Whimbrel this evening Jubilee Wetlands 5.20-6.05pm then flew North (TP et al) Little Owl entrance track (S Pick)


93 species provisionally seen on reserve today - I will publish the full list if someone sends it to me!

2nd May - Sightings

Shustoke - Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 100+ Swift, 3 Garden Warbler (K Wimbush)
RSPB - Turnstone, Goosander(f) North Pit. 32 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail Jubilee Wetlands (S Pick)

1st May - Sightings

RSPB - 56 Dunlin Jubilee Wetlands (K Thorpe) Also c10 Ringed Plover, Pink-Footed Goose. report of ground feeding Tree Pipit briefly (per Birdforum)