Birds - Keele University
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Keele University Arboretum

Birds of Keele

Mallard The deciduous woodland at Keele holds a good resident population of the commoner species such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker with a few pairs of Stock Dove and Jay. The coniferous plantations hold Goldcrests and Coal Tits as well as an occasional Sparrowhawk nest. Buzzards and Ravens are frequently seen and now nest on campus.

Summer migrants include Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. In the winter the areas of Larch towards the M6 and Alder around the lakes attract small flocks of Redpoll and Siskin.

Keele is particularly well endowed with Yews and these can attract large numbers of wintering thrushes as well as Greenfinches. In some years the outbreak of spangle gall on the oaks can attract large numbers of thrushes and Wood Pigeons to the floor of the deciduous woodland. Some of the denser woodland can attract sizeable roosts of birds in the winter, generally of thrushes and Wood Pigeons. Of particular note is the large Holly hedge by Chemistry, once one of the largest of its kind. This regularly houses a roost of finches in the winter.

The lakes on campus have a small breeding population of Mallard and Moorhen. Canada Goose and Little Grebe have started to nest on the top lake and Mandarin has bred on lake 5. Mute Swan used to breed here but no longer do so. Kingfishers occasionally pass through and we sometimes see Grey Wagtails too.

The surrounding farmland can hold large numbers of Lapwing in the winter with the occasional flock of Golden Plover. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of Curlews heard during the breeding season. The large sports fields provide a good feeding area for wagtails and hirundines in the summer and Black-headed Gulls with occasional Common Gulls in the winter.

The list that follows is a complete record of all the species that have occurred at Keele over the past 35 years. New additions or updated information are always welcome. The sequence is not alphabetical but follows the recognised order used in all field guides.

Please email any sightings to me or by post to Geography, Geology and the Environment, William Smith Building.

The List - updated 6th January 2013

As well as my own, these records are based on sightings by a number people; in particular Bill Low WJL, Neil Carter NC, Nick Pomiankowski NDP, Mark Sutton MS, Steve Turner ST and Andy Lawrence JAL. My thanks to them all. Further records can be sent to me in Geography, Geology and the Environment or by email.

Mute Swan : used to breed but no longer does so. Four flew SE over the village and Lymes Lane on 8/1/05 MS.

Pink-footed Goose : regularly recorded passing over North Staffordshire in the early part of the year. Such movements are often in response to cold and freezing conditions on the coast. Here records include a flock of 60 flying over on 3/1/01 NC; 115 NW on 4/1/03 MS and 100 on 29/12/03 NC. One was seen feeding on the field in front of Keele Hall on 12/2/04 MS. In 2005 a skein of 250 passed over NW on 22nd January and a total of 280 on the 23rd MS. 1150 flew over in 5 skeins on 6/2/10.

Canada Goose : A pair was seen on several dates from 19th March to April 2003, around the pool opposite Drive Lodge MS. A pair bred on Lake1 in 2010 – the first breeding record for 30 years. They have since bred each year.

Shelduck : three flew over Clock House Drive on 22/4/12 MS.

Mandarin : a small colony on the nearby Mainwaring estate is probably the source of birds visiting Keele. Records include;  two females/immatures which flew from lake 5 towards Clayton on 26/5/04; a pair on Lake 3 on 27/5/05; a pair on 25/03/06 and two pairs on lake 1 on 27/3/07. A pair bred in 2007, probably close to lake 5. A pair displayed on Lake 1 on 26/3/10.

Wigeon : a female was seen on Lake 1 on 18/11/03 MS.

Teal : three on the pool opposite Drive Lodge 25/8/01 and a pair on Lake 2 Feb – March 2006 and on 27/3/07 MS, one on Lake 7 9/01/10 MS.

Mallard : resident, 4 or 5 pairs. 38 were seen on Lake 1 on 24/11/03.

Shoveler : three birds (1 female and 2 males) circled low over Drive Lodge on 19/3/2000. MS

Pochard : a rare winter visitor. Only 1 or 2 old records.

Tufted Duck : 1 or 2 pairs used to be found on lakes 1,2 and 5. One on Lake 1 on 15/7/10 NDP.

Goldeneye : a female was seen on the lake 1 on 14/10/89 NC.

Goosander : a male flew low over phase 3 site 13/02/10 MS.

Red-legged Partridge : occasionally recorded on fields adjacent to the motorway. The last record was of two on 17/3/05 between Drive Lodge and Lymes Road MS.

Grey Partridge : a once common breeder on adjacent farmland but the last record is 25/4/86 NC.

Pheasant : common breeder in surrounding woodland and fields.

Quail : one was flushed from a cereal field along Lymes Road on 21/7/05 MS.

Cormorant : occasionally recorded flying over.

Grey Heron : occasional records, especially by lakes 1 and 2.

Little Grebe : 2 or 3 pairs used to be found on lakes 1,2 and 6 then, after an absence of 5/6 years one was seen on Lake 1 on 15/4/10, 3 overwintered in 2010/11 and there were 5 on 14/01/13.

Red Kite : one flew over Drive Lodge on 6/6/04. It had a red tag on the left wing MS. One was seen by Home Farm 25/4/07 JAL, one over the campus entrance on 27/9/08 (Pat Callaghan) and one over Keele Hall on 2/6/10 DWE.

Goshawk : one was flushed from a tree at the bottom of Clock House Drive 16/3/03 NC.

Sparrowhawk : breeds nearby and is frequently seen flying over.

Buzzard : once a rare bird in Staffordshire (first Keele record 4/5/75), it now breeds here and nearby. Wandering birds are often seen flying over and a group of 7 circled over the top lakes in spring 2004. Up to two pairs have bred.

Osprey : one flew over campus on 9/9/97 NC.

Kestrel : a common visitor to the campus, especially the areas of rough grassland around Home Farm and towards the motorway.

Merlin : there is a record of a bird flying over the sports field in the 1970s and a male on 12/3/82 DWE. A male was pursuing Linnets on Phase 3 site 22/3/09 NDP.

Hobby : records include single birds flying over Drive Lodge 31/5/00 and 23/5/03 MS, one in a tree on Lymes Road 2/8/03, one over Keele Hall on 22/7/04 NC, one over IC2 19/5/06 ST, one over campus on 3/6/10 ST, one over the Terrace 5/8/10 DWE.

Peregrine : a probable female was hunting over the fields between the Campus and M6 on 23/02/05 at around 7.30. It was perching in trees along Lymes Lane / Clock House Drive MS. One was seen over Home Farm on 7/8/07, one over Clock House Drive on 3/9/08 MS and another on 6/10/08 JAL.

Water Rail : singles in 1972, on  6/12/73, 21/3/74 and another on 22/2/96; all at the base of the waterfall between lakes 1 and 2.

Moorhen : one or two resident birds.

Coot : a once common breeder and absent for many years until two appeared on the top lake on 04/10/09.

Oystercatcher : one in a field by the M6 19/5/03 NC,  one flew over campus on 11/5/05 DWE, two on the Playing Field 8/6/08 (Pauline Weston). Has bred at nearby Cudmore Fisheries.

Golden Plover : occasional records of birds flying over in winter, usually with Lapwings but in recent years there has been a wintering flock on fields alongside Lymes Road. Counts include there include 200 in March 2003, a flock of 145 on 29/12/03 and 200+ on February 28th/29th 2004 and 120 on 23/1/05, 800 on 9/4/07, 470 on 6/4/08, 200 on 25/11/08.

Lapwing : breeds on fields adjoining the motorway. Also occurs in small flocks in the winter along Lymes Road; often with Golden Plovers.

Snipe : as well as occasional records of birds flying over in the winter there were 9 in a field by Keele Hall on 3/1/04 and 6 on 17/1/04 and 6 by the Lodge on Clock House Drive on 2/3/04 NC. A flock of up to 100 wintered in a field by Clock House Drive in 2006/7.

Jack Snipe : one flushed from the Phase 3 site on 06/01/13 MS.

Woodcock : birds sometimes disturbed from woodland towards the motorway (1974, 29/3/76, 7/12/77). More recently, one was seen over the Day Nursery on 17/1/03 and another was found dead by the Library on 25/3/03. Other records include one on 8/11/08 between Lymes Road and Drive Lodge, one in Stacy Plantation on 8/1/09, one over Keele Hall 9/01/10.

Whimbrel : there are a couple of records in the early 1970s of birds calling while flying overhead at night. One passed over Drive Lodge on 2/8/03,  one flew over Clock House Drive on 8/5/08, one on Phase 3 on 13/04/10 MS.

Curlew : breeds in fields nearby and is sometimes seen or heard flying over campus.

Spotted Redshank : one flew over campus on 21/10/03 DWE.

Greenshank : one flew over the old sewage works 18/9/85 DWE.

Green Sandpiper : one was seen along Lymes Road 18/8/08 NC. First record for Keele.

Common Sandpiper : one was seen flying south on 12/9/78 WJL.

Kittiwake : on was found dying in the Student’s Union car-park on 13/2/72.

Black-headed Gull : can be seen flying over at any time of year but is more common in winter when they may be seen on the sports fields or flying westwards in the evening to roost, possibly at Doddington Pool.

Mediterranean Gull : one was seen with other gulls in a newly-manured field between Lymes Road and the M6 Services on 19/1/09; one al ploughed field along Lymes Road 13/02/10 MS.

Common Gull : occasionally seen flying over in the winter.

Lesser Black-backed Gull : commonly seen flying over in the winter months.

Herring Gull : commonly seen flying over in the winter months.

Yellow-legged Gull : a fourth-winter bird was seen with Lesser Black-backed Gulls in fields along Lymes Road 22/1//11 MS.

Iceland Gull : a juvenile over Drive Lodge 8/1/12 had been frequenting a rubbish tip at the foot of Keele Bank for some weeks MS.

Great Black-backed Gull : only a few records of birds flying over each winter. The latest was a first-winter bird that flew over the campus on 28/2/04 MS.

Whiskered Tern : a flock of four, that had earlier been seen over Northwich, was seen flying over Clock House Drive on 20/5/05 MS. This is the first county record since 1970 of this national rarity.

Common/Arctic Tern : one unidentified bird flew over the new development at the top of Keele bank on 26/06/08 (Steve Turner). This is the first record of either of these two species.

Stock Dove : a few pairs breed in the woodland. Can be seen in small numbers on the surrounding fields in winter.

Wood Pigeon : breeds and roosts in the thicker plantations. Common in flocks on surrounding fields in winter.

Collared Dove : resident.

Turtle Dove : only three records : 1973 and 13/5/77 and 15/5/2007 MS.

Ring-necked Parakeet : one by the Clock House 23/1/06 (Russell Toon).

Cuckoo : occasionally heard on passage in the spring; bred in 1972. Last record 25/5/04 in Springpool Wood.

Barn Owl : seen near Keele village on several occasions in February 2002 and captive-bred birds were released near Whitmore in the past.

Little Owl : breeds on nearby farmland.

Tawny Owl : one or two pairs breed in the area.

Swift : common summer visitor. There are several exceptional dates : 5/11/76, 26/11/76 and 30/4/77.

Kingfisher : occasionally seen flying over the lakes.

Hoopoe : one in Clock House Drive on 12/5/75 (Dr. Ross)

Green Woodpecker : occasionally heard in the spring with one record of breeding. Three were seen on Observatory Ridge on 24/9/94 NC; one near the rugby field on 29/7/03; one along Lymes Road on 5/10/03, one by Lake 1 on 12/2/04 MS, one in Springpool Wood 15/4/05 Malcolm Wright, one in Springpool 4/3/08 – 19/3/08 DWE, Debbie Knight.

Great Spotted Woodpecker : resident.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker : probably breeds here but is seldom seen. A bird was seen for a week or so by Barnes Dell in 2001. Pair was displaying, drumming (both birds) and calling around the 3rd lake on 3 dates in mid March 2004 MS. One seen and heard by Lake 3 19/2/05 MS.

Jay : common resident.

Magpie : common resident.

Jackdaw : common resident.

Rook : there used to be a rookery of up to 30 nests near the Students' Union buildings but this has now gone. Feeding birds are often seen on adjacent farmland.

Carrion Crow : common resident.

Raven : the first record is of four birds, flushed from a field behind Paris Avenue, Westlands on 23/8/97, which then flew over Observatory Hill WJL. One was seen over Keele village on 20/8/00, one over Drive Lodge on 14/8/01, 2 on 1/1/02, two on 22/3/02 and one on 12/10/03 MS. Two flew west over campus on 27/12/03 (Keith Longshaw) and one south on 28th/29th February 2004 NC. One was seen from Clock House Drive on 4/1/05 JAL and two were mobbing a Buzzard on 14/1/05 DWE. Has now bred on campus and sightings are regular.

Goldcrest : resident; more common in the coniferous plantations.

Firecrest : one was seen on 1/1/84 near the motorway DWE and another remained from 16/1/03 into February in the Larchwood area, visiting resident’s gardens.

Blue Tit : common resident.

Great Tit : common resident.

Coal Tit : common resident, usually in coniferous areas.

Marsh Tit : rare visitor. Records include one by Lake 8 on 11/5/05 (Phil Evans), one along Lymes Road on 16/6/06 MS.

Willow Tit : rare visitor. Last recorded 7/9/05 by the Library (Phil Evans).

Sky Lark : breeds on surrounding farmland. Sometimes gathers in flocks in the winter especially on fields near to the M6 service station. Up to 250 were seen on 6/11/90.

Sand Martin : occasionally seen flying over.

Swallow : common summer visitor. A very late record on 17/11/77.

House Martin : common summer visitor. A notable decline with only nine nests in 2008 compared to 16 in 2007 NDP.

Long-tailed Tit : common resident.

Wood Warbler : heard singing on spring passage in the 1970s; one by the Clock House 27/4/10 DWE.

Chiffchaff : common summer visitor. Occasional winter records.

Willow Warbler : once common summer visitor but numbers have fallen. For example 24 were recorded in song in 1977; in 2002 only 4 or 5

Blackcap : common summer visitor. Occasional winter records.

Garden Warbler : uncommon summer visitor. Records include 4/5/06, 12/5/06, 2/5/07, 24/4/08, 28/4/10.

Lesser Whitethroat : an uncommon summer visitor: 6/6/73, 1/5/77, 27/5/03 to 29/5/03, 24/8/07.

Whitethroat : an uncommon summer visitor. Records include: 25-27/4/04, 28/4/08, 9/5/08.

Grasshopper Warbler : one on 6/5/76 DWE and one by Keele Hall on 01/05/06 MS.

Sedge Warbler : one on 17/8/76 DWE.

Waxwing : three in February 1996 following a major influx in which some 4000 were recorded in Britain. A flock of up to 50 was resident in Newcastle at the time. A flock of around 110 flew over Lymes Road on 15/2/05 at a time when flocks of up to 1000 were seen in North Staffs area in January and February MS. One was seen on 3/2/05  in a Larchwood garden (Pauline Weston).

Nuthatch : common resident.

Treecreeper : common resident.

Wren : common resident.

Starling : common resident supplemented by winter migrants.

Dipper : one or two old (pre 1970) winter records from the stream by the motorway (between lakes 6 and 7).

Blackbird : common resident with numbers supplemented by migrants in the winter.

Fieldfare : common winter visitor.

Song Thrush : resident, though numbers reduced in the winter months as birds move southwards.

Redwing : common winter visitor.

Mistle Thrush : resident. Flocks of up to 30 can be seen in the autumn, feeding on Rowan and Yew berries

Spotted Flycatcher : a scarce summer visitor; the most recent record include one near the rugby pitch on 9/6/03, one by Drive Lodge on 1/9/07.

Robin : common resident.

Redstart : very few records, all on spring passage: 1/6/74, 3/5/75, 29/4/05 MS.

Whinchat : very few records on spring passage. Last records 2/5/84, 1/5/05 MS, 24/4/07 JAL, NC, 9/5/10 MS.

Stonechat : one along Lymes Road 26/9/2008 JAL.

Northern Wheatear : two on 26/3/76, one in April 1978, one on the playing fields on 10/7/03 and two along Lymes Road on 2/4/05 NC, four along Lymes Road 24/4/07 NC, JAL, two Lymes Road 30/4/08, two on Phase 3 23/4/10 MS.

Pied Flycatcher : one on 2/5/96 by old sewage works site (D. Woodward )

Dunnock : common resident.

House Sparrow : common resident.

Tree Sparrow : There is a record of 25 being seen around Home Farm in 1977 and there were 12 along Lymes Road from January-March 2003 with three there on October 5th. Small numbers now appear to be regular along Lymes Road.

Yellow Wagtail : occasionally seen in spring. May breed on surrounding fields though it is a scarce species these days. One was seen by Lymes Road on 1/5/08 and on 24/4/10 MS.

Grey Wagtail : Frequently seen around the lakes and occasionally around campus buildings. Breeds nearby, if not within the grounds.

Pied Wagtail : resident. Often seen around the campus buildings and frequents the sports fields where large numbers (up to 100) are seen in the autumn.

White Wagtail : one on the lawn below Keele Hall 9/5/02 NC.

Tree Pipit : has bred in the past but no longer does so. One over Lymes Road 5/8/2005 was the first record since the 1970s while another was seen over Drive Lodge on 16/8/07 MS.

Meadow Pipit : seen or heard on spring/autumn passage. Sometimes seen in winter on surrounding fields.

Chaffinch : common resident supplemented by winter migrants.

Brambling : uncommon winter visitor. In 2002/3 winters there has been a large flock in the Whitmore Hall area. Maximum count of 11 in garden of Drive Lodge 17/4/04 MS. A very early bird was seen by Drive Lodge on 9/10/05 MS.

Greenfinch : common resident. Sometimes large numbers feed on Yew berries e.g. by the Clock House.

Goldfinch : a not uncommon visitor, often seen on thistles in the autumn and occasionally on Alder catkins in Barnes Dell and Larches near the motorway in the winter.

Siskin : common winter visitor, feeding on Alder catkins in Barnes Dell and Larches near the motorway in the winter.

Linnet : can occasionally be heard or seen flying over at any time of year. There were 30 along Lymes Road on 20/3/07 NDP. A flock of 210 was on Phase 3 site in March 2009 NDP.

Lesser Redpoll : uncommon winter visitor when they can be found with Siskins feeding on Alder catkins. May also breed.

Crossbill : In years of eruptive dispersal they have been recorded flying over. Records include 8 flying low over Drive Lodge 4/3/00 (at this period there were quite a few scattered records in the county); one over Drive Lodge on 22/8/01; one flew over campus on 1/11/02 (again there were flocks on nearby Hanchurch Hills); one flew over on 1/10/03 and another on 7th November. Two flew over campus on 15/8/05 NDP. Six were seen by Firs Hill on 14/10/11 DWE.

Bullfinch : common resident.

Hawfinch : a pair was seen in a Yew by the Keele Village entrance to campus on 21/5/00 MS.

Yellowhammer : breeds on surrounding farmland.

Reed Bunting : occasional visitor, more so in the winter.

EXOTICA

Muscovy Duck : one on lake 1 19-20/5/75

Grey Cockatiel : one by the Terrace on 23/1/2006.

Green Singing Finch : September 1981 in the Covert DWE.