A Birding Focus on: Radford Meadows, Stafford -Rob Swift

Introduction

Whilst, perhaps not in the top half of the Premier League of Staffordshire’s best Birding places, Radford Meadows can none the less offer some really good Birding at certain times of the year. Probably its first step into the awareness spotlight for Birders was when a Common Crane spent a few days on site in April 2012. This and several other good sightings sparked my interest in this site but it was not until 2015 that I started to watch it regularly. Situated towards the eastern edge of the county town of Stafford, it’s considerably less well known (by Birders) than its ‘big brother’ Doxey Marshes at the western edge of Stafford. Both sites have urban surrounds, but Radford has the topographical advantage of being very considerably less disturbed site by human activity, which is a pleasing aspect when bird watching and for the birds at the site!

Location

As previously mentioned, Radford Meadows sits on the south-eastern edge of Stafford, flanking the River Penk for 2.4km as it enters the towns fringes. On the western edges of the site we have the older Rickerscote and Queensville urban areas and on the eastern edge hillside of the site, sits the housing estate of Wildwood. The southern edge of the site opens out onto the open countryside south of the county town and what we (Radford Birders) call the north perimeter of Radford Meadows site is basically ‘pinched in’ at the A34, running east out of Stafford at Radford Bank.

Habitats

Radford Meadows’ primary attraction habitat is its traditional low lying, seasonal ‘flood meadows’ which hold varying amounts of water near year round. It’s worth saying, that 85% of the land east of the river Penk to the eastern perimeter of the site, is owned but only token managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the land west of the river Penk is low key farmed, beef cattle grazed by Rickerscote Hall Farm. On both sides of the river there are various flood scrapes, marshy pools and numerous reed fringed ditches and drains. The site also has various scrub areas, old hedge-lines, several small copses and a large fen area on the Rickerscote side.

The eastern perimeter of the site is edged by the Staffs – Worcs Canal, which offers some typical wild canal-side habitat (of which we include in our Birdtrack sightings as the Radford site).

Birding the Site

By far the main/best way of viewing over the site, is to traverse south, along the canal tow-path, at the eastern edge of the site. Starting at the A34, northern point. Side road parking off the A34 at Radford Bank can be had and the pub roadside car park (at non busy times) is a choice for some. Access the canal tow-path via the steps off Radford Bridge on the A34 or cross the A34 and take the public footpath around the BMW garage.

On the Rickerscote, western edge of the site, there are suitable parking/viewing positions at the end of Rickerscote Ave and the entrance to Rickerscote Hall Lane, off Old Rickerscote Lane. I/several other Radford Birders only tend to use these locations for winter bird counts or to get closer to a ‘good bird’ etc.

Observing the birds and scanning the various habitat areas/distances, is considerably enhanced by the use of a Spotting Scope at Radford. Relax and don’t expect to see into every nook & cranny of the site. On bright sunny days, morning visits are best, as you will have the sun behind you, as you view west from the canal. Make use of the numerous hedge ‘cut out’ viewing points (made & maintained by Radford Birders) which give different angles of observation over the site. Several of the viewing points give a good panorama of the sky for prolonged scanning and the field gate adjacent to Hazelstrine canal bridge is a good spot to scan the scrubby hedges.

It’s worth noting that there’s no pedestrian access to or public footpaths dissecting the Radford site. (it would not be safe to traverse anyhow, as the site has many criss-crossing deep ditches, drains and boggy areas)

Times to Visit

For Birding, Radford Meadows is at its best in the autumn and winter period. It is then that the site comes alive with thousands of wintering Ducks, Geese, Gulls and certain wader species e.g. Lapwing & Golden Plover. The site will always have a degree of standing flood water in the winter and this has a knock on effect in regard to species variety. For instance lower water levels, suddenly enhanced by more rain will attract in additional Pintail, Gadwall & Shoveler to feed in the fresh grassy, flooded areas. Hard weather will see additional Snipe, Lapwing & Golden Plover on site. Flocks into the thousands of both latter species will put on spectacular aerial displays. By the far the most numerous water fowl species in winter are Wigeon and Teal, which can number into the mid to high 100’s of both species, indeed the ‘sound’ of Radford in winter is the constant, evocative, whistling calls of Wigeon. Interestingly, since we’ve been watching the site we have observed a gradual increase in number of both species and on several occasions the large amount of Teal have included on close scrutiny, the American Green-winged Teal. In winter, large numbers of feral Canada & Greylag Geese use the site. It is always worth looking through these as they act as a ‘carrier’ for other species, indeed in recent winters there’s been records of Russian White Fronted, Pink-footed and Barnacle Geese, obviously attracted in by their conspicuous cousins. There’s a few records of Whooper Swan dropping in during flooded periods as well.

The Spring passage period can be half decent at Radford, the key factor being if there’s water still lying in some of the scrapes come April. If so, waders can drop in as they migrate north, the classic being Wood Sandpiper, which is now almost annual in the Spring. Early morn visits are the best bet to catch a wader or two dropping in, or ‘overnighters’ moving on. During Spring migration periods, prolonged sky scanning from the first viewpoint you come to (with a SWT sign) can be rewarding. Small passerines, Hirundines etc often follow the river due north and quite often flocks of Martins/Swallows will cluster over the wet areas to feed, before moving on. Species such as Wheatear & Whinchat are worth checking for and the numerous fence posts across the site are a good place to start. The summer period can be quieter on Radford, particularly if the weather conditions result in very dry ground conditions. However, breeding Skylark, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and various Warbler species always give interest. A particularly attractive scene that can occur early morn, late summer, is the hundreds of Swifts that emanate from their urban Rickerscote breeding grounds early morn. They will flock and feed over the wider area (sometimes including over the Radford Meadows site) for 30-45 mins before dispersing high & wide on their daily foraging trips further afield. September arrives and we wait for the cycle to start once again, with the first returning Wigeon mid to the end of month.

A few Notable Bird Records

Avocet – a pair frequented the site on three different occasion during March-April 2023. The first date was 21/3/23 A site tick on my list.

Cetti’s Warbler – 41 wintering records for the canal perimeter of the reserve. All in the last three winters, starting 26/12/20. 2023 involved a probable three birds present.

Golden Plover – numbers have been building in recent winters, culminating in 1th Birds present on site on 26/11/22.

Goldeneye – surprisingly two records for this deep diving species on what are essentially flooded fields. First record 17/1/16

Great crested Grebe – as with the above species a surprising three records. 13/3/16 the first.

Great White Egret – 23 records for my site list, starting on the relatively recent date of 29/9/18.

Green Winged Teal- I have 4 records for the site. First date 19/4/15.

Hen Harrier – a migrating male bird that flew straight through, north on 1/4/21.

Jack Snipe – 4/2/23 first record for the site. Three birds present, located by Thermal Imager at the drier southern end of the site.

Little Egret – 149 observations for the site since 2015 (6 birds present at once being the highest count for me).

Marsh Harrier – just the two observations dates for me, the first being 4/5/16.

Merlin – surprisingly only two records, the first being 13/3/16

Ring Ouzel – just a single record of a male on migration, on the evening of 5/4/19

Common Snipe – a exceptional count of 189 visible birds, feeding on thawing ground on 20/1/23.

Short eared Owl – several records of probably the same bird on the 29/12/20 & 30/12/20

Whimbrel – first site tick was of two resting/ migrating birds on 23/4/23.

White fronted Geese (European) – 20 bird flock arriving 5/12/20 then observed daily until the third week of January 2021.

White tailed Eagle – One of the sat-tagged Isle of Wight re-introduction scheme birds, seen circling & drifting south, high to west of Radford Meadows on the morning of 13/4/20.

Whooper Swan – single birds have been attracted into the site by Mute Swans on the floods on several occasions. The first record for me 19/1/16

Wood Sandpiper – a good nine records for the site, the first for me being on 18/4/15

To conclude, Radford Meadows is an under-watched site and a few more eyes added now and again, to the handful of regular Birders watching the place, would surely add to the birdlife records for the site. If you bird on nearby Cannock Chase or Doxey Marshes, consider ‘popping in’ at Radford for a couple of hours, especially in autumn & winter, you might be pleasantly surprised! If you’ve any queries etc to do with birding the site, I don’t mind being contacted on robswift63@gmail.com

Rob Swift