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
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
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
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
Burntwood back garden in Staffordshire same time
October 11, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Burntwood back garden in Staffordshire same time
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
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
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
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
Dunlins at Blithfield on Sunday and juvenile Shelduck and a Bar Headed Goose at Belvide yesterday
August 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Dunlins at Blithfield on Sunday and juvenile Shelduck and a Bar Headed Goose at Belvide yesterday
"Mom I want a snack"
"No"
"I want a snack"
"Here now bugger off"
Gannets at RSPB Bempton Cliffs
"No"
"I want a snack"
"Here now bugger off"
Gannets at RSPB Bempton Cliffs
August 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"Mom I want a snack"
"No"
"I want a snack"
"Here now bugger off"
Gannets at RSPB Bempton Cliffs
"No"
"I want a snack"
"Here now bugger off"
Gannets at RSPB Bempton Cliffs
The Gannets and Kittiwakes at Bempton Cliffs have had a good breeding season with hundreds of juveniles, the guillemots and razorbills have already departed, also seen a Minke whale
August 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The Gannets and Kittiwakes at Bempton Cliffs have had a good breeding season with hundreds of juveniles, the guillemots and razorbills have already departed, also seen a Minke whale
This area of Larks Rise woodland that nobody walks through was a haven for wildlife yesterday full of mature grasses nettles willow herb etc this morning absolutely scalped and devoid of life, Lichfield council haven't got a fuckin clue when it comes to biodiversity management
July 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This area of Larks Rise woodland that nobody walks through was a haven for wildlife yesterday full of mature grasses nettles willow herb etc this morning absolutely scalped and devoid of life, Lichfield council haven't got a fuckin clue when it comes to biodiversity management
Nice to find a pristine Gatekeeper in my garden on this dull afternoon, less than annual in my garden
July 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Nice to find a pristine Gatekeeper in my garden on this dull afternoon, less than annual in my garden
Flying ant season, just a few of well over 100 large gulls from Chasewater over the back garden
July 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Flying ant season, just a few of well over 100 large gulls from Chasewater over the back garden
I see some are saying the Nikon is not very good at flight shots but get the settings right and it's not too bad these fulmars was taken from the deck of a moving cruise ship
July 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I see some are saying the Nikon is not very good at flight shots but get the settings right and it's not too bad these fulmars was taken from the deck of a moving cruise ship
Hi Phil I used a Nikon P900 for 3 years before I upgraded to the P1000. I was really happy with it, it's not too bulky and has a "birds" mode for wildlife but I found I got better results in "sports" mode
July 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Hi Phil I used a Nikon P900 for 3 years before I upgraded to the P1000. I was really happy with it, it's not too bulky and has a "birds" mode for wildlife but I found I got better results in "sports" mode
A few from Belvide this morning
June 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A few from Belvide this morning