Birds and Water

by Dave Emley 

Living on an enclosed estate, you would be forgiven for thinking that water plays little part in what birds we see here.  However, we do have a sizeable pond off Blackies Lane, plus several streams.  We also sit on the east side of the valley of the River Trent, which also contains the canal and a number of pools, and together, their presence does have an effect on what birds we see here. It is also well known, that migrating birds will follow river valleys and other landmarks - even the M6!  So, anything could turn up!

On the estate, most water birds are seen just flying over, but we don't have far to go to see some at close quarters, so places like the river pool at Burston, the River Trent, and the canal in Stone, are all worth looking at.

Waterfowl - Ducks, Geese & Swans

The pond off Blackies Lane regularly attracts a few ducks in the winter, but water levels fall too far in the summer months for them to remain.

Mallard

Our commonest duck, and one of the parents of many of the domestic and exotic species that occasionally get seen locally.  They are dabbling ducks, getting most of their food either by upending or more often, just dabbling round the waters edge, so The Pond is ideal for them.  They are quite common by the canal in Stone, on the river, and by the Marina.

Teal

Our smallest duck.  Occasionally seen in the winter, they fly off quickly when disturbed.  In fact, they launch themselves almost vertically, hence the collective term for them is a “spring” of Teal.  I have seen up to 7 on The Pond.  Like Mallards, they are dabbling ducks.  The pond by the river at Burston is probably the best place to see them.

Goosander

This species is a success story.  Not that long ago, you would only find them in the Peak District; or on reservoirs like Blithfield and Aqualate, in the winter.  However, it is now not uncommon to find them locally on the Trent in Stone.  I have seen a pair flying over the estate.  You can see from their bills that they are fish-eating birds.

Mandarin

Surely one of our most colourful of ducks.  It hails from China, but has been widely kept in collections for a long while.  Of course, birds escape into the wild, and over the years their numbers have increased to the level that there are now more here, than in their native China!  Over recent years they have become quite common in Staffordshire.  They nest in holes in trees, but are unusual among ducks for feeding on acorns and the like.

Moorhen

This familiar species is related to the crakes and rails, rather than ducks and geese, but it inhabits the same places.  Its large, un-webbed feet enable it to walk on mud and floating vegetation.  I have occasionally seen one by The Pond, but they are common at Burston (river and village pools), on the Trent and along the canal in Stone.

Coot

A common species that I have yet to see on the estate, but it is common at Burston.  It likes to dive for food, so the shallow pond off Blackies Lane is not suitable for it.

Mute Swan

It is not unusual to see one or two Mute Swans flying over the estate, and I have once seen one by The Pond off Blackies Lane.  They need a long, clear path in order to take off, so The Pond is really too small.  However, they are common on the canal and river.

Grey Heron

It is not uncommon to see this bird flying over, or sitting on roofs, eyeing up the goldfish ponds!

Little Egret

A species that is becoming quite common.  I have seen a couple of birds on the estate by The Pond, but others have seen them along the stream that crosses Mercer Avenue.  It's not unusual to see them on the meadows, off Valley Road in Stone.

Cormorant

Quite a common bird flying over the estate, either singly or in small groups.  Regularly seen perched by the Trent, off Valley Road.

Canada Goose

This increasingly common species, is often seen flying over the estate in noisy groups or skeins.

Pink-footed Goose

While unlikely ever to land here, this migrant from Iceland regularly passes through North Staffs, usually heading to the west coast and up to Southport, to winter on the fields there.  Occasionally, some of these geese pass over our estate.  They are often in “ribbons” and quite high up.  They have a distinctive call, like a yapping dog.  Stirring stuff.

Kingfisher

The bird everyone wants to see and yes, they have been seen on the estate.  One was seen where the stream crosses under Mercer Avenue.  I have seen one fly over Lichfield Road just past the garage.  The best place, is either along the canal, or on the Trent, off Valley Road.

Waders

Aston Lodge is not really suitable for wading birds, but we do see species flying over and occasionally, certain ones on the ground.

Lapwing

This distinctive wader occasionally flies over, especially in harsh weather, when it is looking for clear ground on which to feed.  A few pairs nest near the marina and have tried unsuccessfully to land on fields to the east of the estate.  The pool by the Trent at Burston can be a good place to see them.

Green Sandpiper

This small wader is a common winter migrant, but you never see large numbers though.  They are quite happy feeding around small ponds or the edges of larger lakes, like the one by the river at Burston.  One is seen quite often in the winter, by The Pond, but is easily disturbed.

Snipe

A once common breeding wader in the county, but no longer... draining of damp meadows has seen to that.  However, we still get good numbers in the winter, but seeing them is not easy, as they don't usually feed out in the open.  I have seen occasional birds by the streams on the estate.

Gulls

The word “seagull” is a bit of a misnomer, as many of them rarely (if ever), see the sea... nesting, as they often do, on small islands in ponds or lakes, and increasingly on the roofs of urban buildings.  The word “gull”, often sends a shiver down the spine of birdwatchers, for they are not easy to identify, yet they are very common.  The problem is, that they can take up to 4 years to reach adulthood and their plumage changes each year as they mature, so that at any one time a Herring Gull, for example, can have up to 4 different plumages!.

On the estate, we regularly see and hear them overhead - it can sound like the seaside at times!  Occasionally, especially if the fields have been manured or ploughed, gulls will land, but they are soon disturbed.

We generally get three species so let's look briefly at them:

Black-headed Gull

This is the commonest of the three, and the smallest.  Identification is confused by the fact that in winter, it loses its dark hood.  It only takes one year to reach adulthood, so just one juvenile plumage.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

The commonest of the larger gulls.  Birds take 4 years to reach adulthood, so they have three juvenile plumages, each one getting nearer to the adult one.  This species used to migrate to Africa in the winter, but the availability of easy food on rubbish tips, means that most now stay here.  They have also taken to nesting on urban rooftops... you may have seen them in Stafford.

Herring Gull

This is the gull that we associate with the seaside, but large numbers do winter inland.  Occasionally they will land on the estate, with the Lesser Black-backs.  The juveniles of the two can be hard to separate, especially in their first year.

If you are out with your binoculars and you want to impress your friends, you can identify Herring and Lesser Black-backs as they fly overhead.

The underwings of adult Lesser Black-back (left) are quite dark and opaque, while those of Herring (right) are not, and indeed are rather translucent.

Wagtails

Both these species can be found around water.  The Grey Wagtail is strictly a water species, as it breeds alongside water, often beneath bridges and the like.  It is a frequent species on the estate, and occasionally visits gardens.  The Pied Wagtail is not a water-related species, but it can often be found feeding on insects around the edges of ponds and lakes, and it's not uncommon in gardens.

Other species

A number of other water-related species have been occasionally seen flying over the estate, and they include Whooper Swan, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Curlew, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher and Osprey.