birding...

Aqualate Mere National Nature Reserve

Information
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Aqualate Mere NNR is situated 3km to the east of Newport, at the heart of a private estate, centred on Aqualate Mere - the largest natural lake in the West Midlands. Extensive reed beds surround this NNR which supports wildfowl throughout the year. Marsh and Willows Tits can be found feeding new the hide on the east shore...

Belvide Reservoir

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Situated near Gailey, 7 miles NW of Wolverhampton, the reservoir has 3 hides on the south bank. It is good all year round, but spring/autumn passage and winter usually throw up wader and waterfowl rarities. Access to the hides is by permit only, available from the West Midlands Bird Club.

Berry Hill

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Situated on high ground in the middle of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation, the horse paddocks and fields are particularly good for spring and autumn passage migrants such as ring-ouzel, redstart, whinchat, wheatear and black redstart...

Blithfield Reservoir

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Situated just north of Rugeley, near Abbots Bromley. The largest reservoir in Staffordshire, this site regularly attracts passage waders and wintering duck, with some rarities each year. Best in autumn and winter. The road causeway over the reservoir is good for casual observations, but hides and muddy bays are situated at the NW end, furthest from the dam wall. Access to the latter is by permit only, available from the West Midlands Bird Club.

Cannock Chase

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Situated in a large area north of Cannock. A large area of wood and heath-land, notable for nightjars in the summer, especially near the Katyn Memorial. Also holds a few woodlark, hobby in summer, great grey shrike in winter, goshawk, lesser-spotted woodpecker, and the usual woodland birds. Best in early morning or evening - avoid the large crowds during summer daytime.

Chasewater Reservoir

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Situated near Brownhills, this is a prime spot for Iceland and Glaucous gulls in the large winter roost. Park at the car park at the southern end and scope the roost. Also interesting for passage migrants and wintering waterfowl, especially in the areas to the north which are cut off from the water sports taking place on the main reservoir.

Coombes Valley Nature Reserve

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Owned by the RSPB, but accessible by anyone, this is a great site for the bird lover rather than twitcher. The best time to visit is late spring/early summer, when you are almost certain to see pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler. Also present are lesser spotted woodpeckers, dippers and kingfishers.

Middleton Lakes RSPB

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Opened in 2011, this reserve near Tamworth on the east of the county, borders Warwickshire and was previously a working quarry. New marshland habitat is being developed but the site is already attractive to waders, waterfowl and marshland dwellers. Recent rarities include Least Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Glossy Ibis...

North Staffordshire Moorlands

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As with most moor-land, it is difficult to predict where to find some birds, but a summer walk could reveal ring ousel, hen harrier and short-eared owl. The river Dane between Danebridge and Gradbach is good for dippers, Knotbury for twite in the summer, and red grouse can be found on most areas with heather (e.g. The Roaches and Lum Edge). Swallow Moss was the place to go for black grouse, with a specially built hide overlooking the lek, but virtually no birds were present in 1999, and it may become extinct in Staffordshire. Rudyard Lake and Tittesworth Reservoir are also worth investigating for water and waterside birds. The latter has a conservation area with hides.

Whitemore Haye

There are several gravel pits in this area, some still being worked, so this is an excellent area to look for passage waders. The first pit on the left as you come down the access road is particularly worth investigating. Look too for corn buntings and tree sparrows.

Chasewater Wildlife Group

Website

Chasewater Country Park is situated in the heart of the Forest of Mercia, on the southern edge of Staffordshire and immediately north of the West Midland conurbation. It lies on the 150 m contour 3 miles south of the Iron-Age hillfort of Castle Ring, which at 244m is the highest point on Cannock Chase. The Country Park covers 300 ha of which the lake and dam make up 93h and Jeffrey`s Swag 10ha. The Norton Bog restoration area, which includes the Slurry Pool (5ha), is additional to the Country Park...

RSPB - North Staffs Local Group

Website

Local RSPB members group. Details of programme of events and places to birdwatch in North Staffordshire...

South Staffordshire Naturalists' Society

Website

We are the South Staffordshire Naturalists’ Society, a club of about 200 members, which was founded in 1894. We learn about and enjoy: birds, flowers, trees, fungi and insects, whilst walking through beautiful countryside. We have a full programme of field trips and indoor presentations and we are seeking new members...

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Website

The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1969 to conserve wildlife, wildlife habitats and sites of geological importance in Staffordshire. It aims to promote the conservation of the natural environment for the public benefit and to provide opportunities for people to enjoy and to learn about it...

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - Leek Group

Website

Nature Reserves in Staffordshire Moorlands - In late 1999 the Trust purchased 160 acres at Cotton Dell, near Oakamoor; further details in future leaflets and on this web-site. At Coombes Valley nature reserve near Leek the Trust has an agreement over 60 acres of the 260 acre total. The whole site is managed by the RSPB. The Trust also has an agreement over nature reserves at Longsdon Woods, Spring Cottage and Ward's Quarry. Access by permit only...

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - North West Group

Website

We plan thirteen meetings a year covering a variety of interesting topics. The vast majority of our speakers have been recommended to us, thus ensuring an interesting and valuable evening. We also try and arrange guided walks and coach trips during the year. Some of the places visited in the past have been the Red Kites in mid Wales, Angelesley during the bird breeding season, Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Rutland Water.

West Midland Bird Club

Website

e-mail: secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.com
The West Midland Bird Club offers the widest range of indoor and field meetings for its members. Probably more than any other provincial bird club in the whole of the UK.

West Midland Bird Club - Stafford Branch

Website

Andy Lawrence, 14 Jack Haye Lane, Light Oaks, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 7NG 01782 253502