Steve Richards
@thesnapper1978.bsky.social
Avid Staffs & British Birder. Natural history & foreign travel. Heavy Music. Dad to Big Dave.
A couple of hours spent at Birches Valley on The Chase with the family was festive and very pleasant in the afternoon sun. Made even better by several Crossbills constantly knocking round and regularly perching above us.
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A couple of hours spent at Birches Valley on The Chase with the family was festive and very pleasant in the afternoon sun. Made even better by several Crossbills constantly knocking round and regularly perching above us.
Blithfield 08:20-14:20 walk to top of Blithe and deep end produced 9 Little Egret, 12 Pinkfeet, 47 Egyptian Geese, 300+Wigeon, drk Pintail, 2 Scaup(imm drk+imm fem) with 9 Pochard & 273+Tufteds, 4 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull(ad & 2nd w), 2 Snipe, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Blithfield 08:20-14:20 walk to top of Blithe and deep end produced 9 Little Egret, 12 Pinkfeet, 47 Egyptian Geese, 300+Wigeon, drk Pintail, 2 Scaup(imm drk+imm fem) with 9 Pochard & 273+Tufteds, 4 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull(ad & 2nd w), 2 Snipe, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds
Family walk home over Littleton Pit/Shoal hill was quite productive. Little Egret over, female Gos, Green Wood, small no’s Redwing, sev Siskin, 50+Redpoll, 3 Raven #staffsbirds
November 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Family walk home over Littleton Pit/Shoal hill was quite productive. Little Egret over, female Gos, Green Wood, small no’s Redwing, sev Siskin, 50+Redpoll, 3 Raven #staffsbirds
Gailey Res 07:45-11:00 searching for Dusky or Pallas’s Wblrs…I continue to dream! Of note 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 41 Pochard, Goldeneye, Cetti’s Wblr, 2 Crossbill SW. Also fields opposite holding good no’s of Skylark, Mipits and Pied Wags so worth keeping an eye on #staffsbirds
November 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Gailey Res 07:45-11:00 searching for Dusky or Pallas’s Wblrs…I continue to dream! Of note 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 41 Pochard, Goldeneye, Cetti’s Wblr, 2 Crossbill SW. Also fields opposite holding good no’s of Skylark, Mipits and Pied Wags so worth keeping an eye on #staffsbirds
After work visit to Gailey Res produced 2 Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, fem Shoveler, 39 Pochard, fem Goldeneye #staffsbirds
November 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
After work visit to Gailey Res produced 2 Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, fem Shoveler, 39 Pochard, fem Goldeneye #staffsbirds
Good family walk at Blithfield 10:00-15:00 produced the juv White-Rumped Sand still along Admaston Reach, 5 Whooper Swans(3ad,2juv) in Tad, Great Egret, 2 YL Gull, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, Green Sand, 3 Curlew, 2 Stonechat #staffsbirds
October 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Good family walk at Blithfield 10:00-15:00 produced the juv White-Rumped Sand still along Admaston Reach, 5 Whooper Swans(3ad,2juv) in Tad, Great Egret, 2 YL Gull, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, Green Sand, 3 Curlew, 2 Stonechat #staffsbirds
After work visit to Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, Australian Shelduck, 8 Pochard g #staffsbirds
October 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
After work visit to Gailey Res produced 1 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, Australian Shelduck, 8 Pochard g #staffsbirds
Successful visit to Spurn with some great views of the Black-Faced Bunting. Good to get this one back after missing last years Rimac individual.
October 21, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Successful visit to Spurn with some great views of the Black-Faced Bunting. Good to get this one back after missing last years Rimac individual.
Blithfield 07:30-11:30 produced the White-Rumped Sand showing nicely along Admaston Reach. Also Great Egret, 18 Little Egret, 2 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull, 8 Golden Plover, 4 Ringie, Dunlin, 2 Green Sand, 4 Curlew, Snipe, 20 Fieldfare, Rock Pipit, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds
October 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Blithfield 07:30-11:30 produced the White-Rumped Sand showing nicely along Admaston Reach. Also Great Egret, 18 Little Egret, 2 Goldeneye, 2 YL Gull, 8 Golden Plover, 4 Ringie, Dunlin, 2 Green Sand, 4 Curlew, Snipe, 20 Fieldfare, Rock Pipit, 3 Stonechat #staffsbirds
Quick after work visit to Gailey Res was decent with drk Common Scoter on fishing lake & Rock Pipit briefly on c’way before flying East 16:50. Also 2 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds
October 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Quick after work visit to Gailey Res was decent with drk Common Scoter on fishing lake & Rock Pipit briefly on c’way before flying East 16:50. Also 2 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 2 Egyptian Geese, 8 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, Cetti’s Wblr #staffsbirds
An hour at a foggy Gailey Res revealed the Whooper Swan still present late morning with 11 Mutes showing well on the sailing lake. Also 7 Pochard present. #staffsbirds
October 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
An hour at a foggy Gailey Res revealed the Whooper Swan still present late morning with 11 Mutes showing well on the sailing lake. Also 7 Pochard present. #staffsbirds
After yesterday’s Needletail success, thought I was dreaming when @belvidebirding.bsky.social phoned me to say he had a flock of White-Rumped Sands. 8 1st w birds!!! They flew East so I dashed to Gailey Res on the off chance. No joy but found only my second record of Whooper Swan there #staffsbirds
October 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
After yesterday’s Needletail success, thought I was dreaming when @belvidebirding.bsky.social phoned me to say he had a flock of White-Rumped Sands. 8 1st w birds!!! They flew East so I dashed to Gailey Res on the off chance. No joy but found only my second record of Whooper Swan there #staffsbirds
Still hasn’t sunk in. Incredible views of the White-Throated Needletail which performed for around an hour. One of the best birds I have ever seen in the UK. BOC shots from Steve Nuttall.
October 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Still hasn’t sunk in. Incredible views of the White-Throated Needletail which performed for around an hour. One of the best birds I have ever seen in the UK. BOC shots from Steve Nuttall.
Early afternoon visit to Gailey Res with the family didn’t produce much except for lots of wind! Shoveler, 3 Pochard and Common Sand only birds of note. The Dunlin and Swallow were still present on Thursday & the Australian Shelduck reappeared with Egyptian Geese #staffsbirds
October 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Early afternoon visit to Gailey Res with the family didn’t produce much except for lots of wind! Shoveler, 3 Pochard and Common Sand only birds of note. The Dunlin and Swallow were still present on Thursday & the Australian Shelduck reappeared with Egyptian Geese #staffsbirds
After work visit to Gailey Res produced another wader on the shoreline. A Dunlin on this occasion and a species only occasionally seen here. Also noted 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler, Teal, 5 Pochard, Common Sand, & a single Swallow #staffsbirds
October 1, 2025 at 4:13 PM
After work visit to Gailey Res produced another wader on the shoreline. A Dunlin on this occasion and a species only occasionally seen here. Also noted 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler, Teal, 5 Pochard, Common Sand, & a single Swallow #staffsbirds
At long long last PECHORA PIPIT is added to my British list. Several flight views to start then brilliant views on the deck walking around a grassy ride. Happy days 🍻
September 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
At long long last PECHORA PIPIT is added to my British list. Several flight views to start then brilliant views on the deck walking around a grassy ride. Happy days 🍻
Didn’t expect much as I arrived at Gailey Res with a fisherman and 2 dogs on the shoreline. Couldn’t believe it when I saw a juv Knot feeding completely oblivious to everything. My first here and the first for many years. Also 2 Common Sans #staffsbirds
September 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Didn’t expect much as I arrived at Gailey Res with a fisherman and 2 dogs on the shoreline. Couldn’t believe it when I saw a juv Knot feeding completely oblivious to everything. My first here and the first for many years. Also 2 Common Sans #staffsbirds
Late afternoon visit to Belvide Res was pleasant in the sun and the 1st w Grey Phal giving great views off the dam #staffsbirds
September 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Late afternoon visit to Belvide Res was pleasant in the sun and the 1st w Grey Phal giving great views off the dam #staffsbirds
Blithfield 06:30-12:30 produced Great Egret, 9 Goosander, 2 Red Kite, Pergerine, Hobby, 1st w Caspian Gull, 5 YL Gull, Common Tern, 18+Black Tern, 2 LRP, c110 Ringie, 10 Dunlin, 17 Curlew Sand, 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common Sand, 3 Greenshank, 2 Blackwit, sev Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear #staffsbirds
September 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Blithfield 06:30-12:30 produced Great Egret, 9 Goosander, 2 Red Kite, Pergerine, Hobby, 1st w Caspian Gull, 5 YL Gull, Common Tern, 18+Black Tern, 2 LRP, c110 Ringie, 10 Dunlin, 17 Curlew Sand, 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common Sand, 3 Greenshank, 2 Blackwit, sev Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear #staffsbirds
After visit work to Gailey Res failed to produced the hoped for reappearance of the Lesser Scaup but a Snipe feeding along the shore gave a sure sign of Autumn #staffsbirds
September 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
After visit work to Gailey Res failed to produced the hoped for reappearance of the Lesser Scaup but a Snipe feeding along the shore gave a sure sign of Autumn #staffsbirds
Got to Blithfield 5am and had a proper slog all around Blithe Bay till 15:30 when Dave joined me for a while. Small team of 7 reached 101 species as I left #westmidsalldayer
September 6, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Got to Blithfield 5am and had a proper slog all around Blithe Bay till 15:30 when Dave joined me for a while. Small team of 7 reached 101 species as I left #westmidsalldayer
…. Glad I did as found ecl drk Lesser Scaup showing well on sailing lake with small no’s of Tufted Duck. Present until 17:40 when I left #staffsbirds
September 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
…. Glad I did as found ecl drk Lesser Scaup showing well on sailing lake with small no’s of Tufted Duck. Present until 17:40 when I left #staffsbirds
A message from Steve N @belvidebirding.bsky.social encouraged me to check Gailey Res on way home. I was greeted by a stunning rainbow…..
September 4, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A message from Steve N @belvidebirding.bsky.social encouraged me to check Gailey Res on way home. I was greeted by a stunning rainbow…..
Evening visit to Gailey Res produced another Ringed Plover on the exposed mud, a nice adult. Also 2 Common Tern(ad&juv) & 2 Common Sand present #staffsbirds
September 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Evening visit to Gailey Res produced another Ringed Plover on the exposed mud, a nice adult. Also 2 Common Tern(ad&juv) & 2 Common Sand present #staffsbirds
Family walk into Blithe Bay at Blithfield 09:30-14:15 produced Great Egret, 2+Red Kite, Hobby, 9 YL Gull, 1st S Caspian Gull, 7 Common Tern, 4 Ringie, 2 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, Green Sand, 5 Blackwit, Curlew, 10 Ruff, 2 Snipe, Stonechat #staffsbirds
August 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Family walk into Blithe Bay at Blithfield 09:30-14:15 produced Great Egret, 2+Red Kite, Hobby, 9 YL Gull, 1st S Caspian Gull, 7 Common Tern, 4 Ringie, 2 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, Green Sand, 5 Blackwit, Curlew, 10 Ruff, 2 Snipe, Stonechat #staffsbirds