Grant Hames
@cuckoobirder.bsky.social
Birdwatcher and lister for 50 years mainly around Burntwood in south staffs sometimes further afield
Spent an hour freezing my nuts off on the causeway at Blithfield this morning looking for the GN Diver reported last weekend with no luck, popped into Chasewater Swag on the way home watching the Little Grebes fishing
November 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Spent an hour freezing my nuts off on the causeway at Blithfield this morning looking for the GN Diver reported last weekend with no luck, popped into Chasewater Swag on the way home watching the Little Grebes fishing
Nice to see 3 red kites thermaling over Norton Bog/ Chasewater Heath just before midday
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Nice to see 3 red kites thermaling over Norton Bog/ Chasewater Heath just before midday
A few of the dozen+ meadow pipits from the Hawkshutts hide at Belvide mid morning
November 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A few of the dozen+ meadow pipits from the Hawkshutts hide at Belvide mid morning
Cracking views of this male bullfinch from the Gazebo hide at Belvide this morning, one of 3 pairs between the Hawkshutts and Gazebo hides
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Cracking views of this male bullfinch from the Gazebo hide at Belvide this morning, one of 3 pairs between the Hawkshutts and Gazebo hides
At least 50 goosander on Chasewater Swag this pm the highest since Jan 2011 along with 150ish tufties a lone drake Pochard with 60 or so wigeon, a few teal and shoveller, cormorants and a kingfisher
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
At least 50 goosander on Chasewater Swag this pm the highest since Jan 2011 along with 150ish tufties a lone drake Pochard with 60 or so wigeon, a few teal and shoveller, cormorants and a kingfisher
Went back for seconds with the Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, they were a bit closer today
October 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Went back for seconds with the Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, they were a bit closer today
Incredible morning on my Winter Bird Survey @bbs-birds.bsky.social it's a 50/50 mix of farmland and quarries (was 100% farmland when I started in 2006 but HS2 has meant quarrying is taking over) 740 individuals of 46 species logged with the help of a few big flocks of starling and lapwings
October 16, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Incredible morning on my Winter Bird Survey @bbs-birds.bsky.social it's a 50/50 mix of farmland and quarries (was 100% farmland when I started in 2006 but HS2 has meant quarrying is taking over) 740 individuals of 46 species logged with the help of a few big flocks of starling and lapwings
Two of a trio of Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, less than annual
October 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Two of a trio of Red Crested Pochards on Chasewater Swag this afternoon, less than annual
My first 6 redwings of the autumn over Chase Terrace Burntwood this morning
October 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM
My first 6 redwings of the autumn over Chase Terrace Burntwood this morning
Decorating today so no birding, the dog has been very energetic helping 😂
September 21, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Decorating today so no birding, the dog has been very energetic helping 😂
Couple of the Chasewater stags at Burntwood rugby club this lunchtime
September 19, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Couple of the Chasewater stags at Burntwood rugby club this lunchtime
The Black Tern flock yesterday at Blithfield just after the Peregrine had had a go at them ( unsuccessfully)
September 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Black Tern flock yesterday at Blithfield just after the Peregrine had had a go at them ( unsuccessfully)
According to Google this is a Western Conifer Beetle (unless anyone knows different) from North America on my daughter's bedroom window this morning in Burntwood Staffordshire
September 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM
According to Google this is a Western Conifer Beetle (unless anyone knows different) from North America on my daughter's bedroom window this morning in Burntwood Staffordshire
This lady was cooling off in Chasewater Swag this lunchtime, birdwise about 120 Canada Geese with some in and out of the trees plus about 150+ Tufted Ducks again some out of sight in the trees plus the usuals
September 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This lady was cooling off in Chasewater Swag this lunchtime, birdwise about 120 Canada Geese with some in and out of the trees plus about 150+ Tufted Ducks again some out of sight in the trees plus the usuals
Finished on 51 species for Cuckoo Bank from two sessions, highlight by far was a female Goshawk this afternoon drifting east
September 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Finished on 51 species for Cuckoo Bank from two sessions, highlight by far was a female Goshawk this afternoon drifting east
The cocodamol has kicked in so another trip up Cuckoo Bank rewarded with the best bird of the day, a stonking huge female Goshawk drifting east. Currently on 45 species (46 if you count the Helmeted Guineafowl that's absconded from Bradshaw's alpaca experience)
September 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The cocodamol has kicked in so another trip up Cuckoo Bank rewarded with the best bird of the day, a stonking huge female Goshawk drifting east. Currently on 45 species (46 if you count the Helmeted Guineafowl that's absconded from Bradshaw's alpaca experience)
Hard going on Cuckoo Bank this morning (as usual) just 41 species best being a Whinchat (I've only been able to cover about 1/4 of it because of my knee - on the waiting list for a new one - that's my excuse😂)
September 6, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Hard going on Cuckoo Bank this morning (as usual) just 41 species best being a Whinchat (I've only been able to cover about 1/4 of it because of my knee - on the waiting list for a new one - that's my excuse😂)
Kingfisher having a good old preen at Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning
August 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Kingfisher having a good old preen at Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning
2 crossbills over Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning
August 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
2 crossbills over Staffs Wildlife Wolesley Centre this morning
Late Swift with half a dozen House Martins over the garden this morning
August 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Late Swift with half a dozen House Martins over the garden this morning
First walk up Cuckoo Bank for yonks, 6 bullfinch & 4 greenfinch (inc 2 juvs) and a small flock of goldfinch in the lane, 6 chiffys 2 will warbs 2 blackcaps whitethroat less whitethroat and redstart in the other hedges + raven buzzard & sparrowhawk
August 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM
First walk up Cuckoo Bank for yonks, 6 bullfinch & 4 greenfinch (inc 2 juvs) and a small flock of goldfinch in the lane, 6 chiffys 2 will warbs 2 blackcaps whitethroat less whitethroat and redstart in the other hedges + raven buzzard & sparrowhawk
Never had woodpigeons nest this close before in the garden, they usually scrap like hell. Pigeon 1 had 1 juvenile fledge last week and pigeon 2 currently has 2 juveniles being fed in the tree but not fully fledged
August 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Never had woodpigeons nest this close before in the garden, they usually scrap like hell. Pigeon 1 had 1 juvenile fledge last week and pigeon 2 currently has 2 juveniles being fed in the tree but not fully fledged
5 little gulls just gone over the garden heading west very high up (wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been watching a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Dalaman go over with my bins - yes ok sad😂)
August 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
5 little gulls just gone over the garden heading west very high up (wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been watching a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Dalaman go over with my bins - yes ok sad😂)
Cracking views of the Memorial flight of Britain at the National Memorial Arboretum this lunchtime
August 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Cracking views of the Memorial flight of Britain at the National Memorial Arboretum this lunchtime
Brimstone moth at Belvide and a Bronze Shieldbug on my patio table this afternoon
August 12, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Brimstone moth at Belvide and a Bronze Shieldbug on my patio table this afternoon