Report a wildlife sighting

Think you've spotted something interesting in Staffordshire? Report the sighting with us! Sending your sightings in helps us to learn of population changes and trends in Staffordshire's wildlife. From our records we can also analyse what impact climate change is having on local wildlife and what can be done to help. For example, we are noticing species moving north as climate warms and migratory birds arriving earlier.

Keeping a record of sightings allows us to see what animal species are struggling and in need of support, so that we can come up with ways to support them and help them recover

An invaluable source of information

Staffordshire Ecological Record (SER), based at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, maintains a database of all records of wild species in the county. The database currently holds 1.5 million records.

Records are sent in by amateur naturalists, special interest groups and members of the public. The database provides invaluable information to conservationists about what species are under threat, the trends and movements of different species, and where wildlife surveys may need to be undertaken. It is also used by planning authorities and developers who want to find out information about the wildlife in a particular area.

All wildlife records are welcome, from very common to rare species. You can send details of your sighting to SER online, by email to records@staffs-ecology.org.uk or in writing to SER, The Wolseley Centre, Wolseley Bridge, Stafford, ST17 0WT.

If you are emailing your records to the Trust or sending them via post, please remember to note the following details for your record to be complete; name of recorder, detail of where the sighting took place & date of sighting. You can also attach a photo of what you have spotted too.

Send in a sighting

Need help with identification?

If you have spotted something and you would like help in identifying it, SER can also help. Send an email with photographs of the species and your contact information to enquiries@staffs-ecology.org.uk

More about SER

SER also offers the following services and information for anyone interested in the county's wildlife:

Distribution maps for species - many are also available online
Species lists for sites, or areas, either full or just protected and important species
Information on protected sites
Information on habitats throughout the county
A variety of other analyses

A charge may be made for these services, however, enquiries from general public, amateur naturalists and educational establishments are normally free of charge.

SER is a partnership operated by Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, together with additional funding from Natural England, most local authorities in Staffordshire and other partners.