An adult Kittiwake was at the west end between 1.15-1.55pm when it flew off east. A Bar-tailed Godwit on the north west shore was an unusual November record. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam. 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Barnacle Goose and 307 Canada Geese were counted. A male Stonechat was on the shingle island. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. There was no sign of the Great Egret, which is the first day since September the 5th there hasn't been one. 2 Little Egret were noted.
The Bittern was again left of the Scott hide this afternoon and seen briefly in flight at dusk. A juvenile female Goshawk (photo by Trish Wellings) gave amazing views at dusk as it hovered above the reed bed hunting the roosting Starlings. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also a Goosander was noted. The Great Egret was flushed out of the ditch behind the Gazebo hide. 22 Snipe were counted. 5 Water Rail were below the Scott hide. 5 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.
There was no sign of the Bearded Tits all day. The Bittern was again left of the Scott hide at 4.15pm. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 2 Pintail, 1 Goosander and a Pink-footed Goose were present. An impressive flock of 60 Lesser Redpoll were along the south east bay this morning. Stonechat was on Hawkshutts ridge. 8 Common Gull and 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted.
The pair of Bearded Tit were still either side of the Scott hide though remain elusive. The Bittern was found again with the thermal imager this evening, roosting just west of the Scott hide. A juvenile female Goshawk flew over the south east bay this morning, also 3 Red Kite and a Peregrine were noted. Today's WeBS count produced the Lesser Scaup, 300 Tufted Duck, 105 Pochard, 12 Goldeneye, 3 Pintail, 159 Wigeon, 58 Teal, 62 Shoveler, 90 Gadwall, 89 Mallard, 245 Coot, 8 GC Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 Bar Headed Goose, 217 Greylag Geese, 106 Canada Geese, 2 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 8 Grey Heron, 114 Lapwing, 8 Snipe and 9 Water Rail.
Some video of the Bittern can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pta-7tMuFqI
The pair of Bearded Tit remain in the Scott hide reed bed, ranging either side of the Scott hide, though generally elusive. The Bittern was seen briefly in flight from the Scott hide this afternoon. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also a single Pintail. A Whooper Swan dropped in this morning, also a Pink-footed Goose was at the west end. Both adult and 1st winter Caspian Gulls roosted this evening. 2 Cetti's Warbler and 16 Redpoll were along the south east bay.
The pair of Bearded Tit (photo by Trish Wellings) were still present ranging either side of the Scott hide though elusive. A Bittern (photo by Trish Wellings) flew in front of the Scott hide this morning and dropped in the corner near the ringing station. It was found again this evening roosting along the shore closer to the Chappell hide. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 2 Pintail and a Goosander were present. A Great Egret and Little Egret were present. 9 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.
The main highlight today was a pair of Bearded Tit in the Scott hide reed bed. I found them calling this afternoon. They were generally elusive, but did show very well on one occasion. They were still present at 3.40pm east side of the Scott hide. This becomes the 6th record for Belvide and the first since 2 were present between 3rd-5th November 1985. The Lesser Scaup was from the Gazebo hide. A 1st winter Caspian Gull roosted this evening. A Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were noted.
The Lesser Scaup was from the Gazebo hide, also 290 Wigeon and 6 Shelduck were counted. A male Merlin flew over the west end this afternoon. An adult Caspian Gull (photo) and 6 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. At least 15,000 Starling roosted in the Scott hide reed bed putting on a great display. A Great Egret and Little Egret were noted.
The Lesser Scaup was from the Gazebo hide, also 256 Wigeon were counted. A Pintail x Pochard hybrid (photo) was along the north shore and has been present for 11 days. 2 Dunlin were on the north shore. A single Great Egret was at the west end. A single Pink-footed Goose was with 590 Greylag Geese, 197 Canada Geese and 1 Bar Headed Goose.
An adult Whooper Swan (photo by Ken Mather) dropped in this morning. The Lesser Scaup was still present, also a Goosander. A Black-tailed Godwit was a new arrival, also 1 Redshank, 1 Dunlin and 31 Golden Plover were present. A Great Egret and Little Egret were noted.
Today, I took a trip to West Yorkshire to see a Scarlet Tanager at Northowram. A curious resident had posted a mystery bird in their garden on social media, not realising the interest it was going to cause.
After a 3 hour wait the bird finally perched up in some trees to the gathered crowd. It showed 4 times between 2.30-3.15pm. This is the 8th record of this North American vagrant. I had seen one previously on the Isle of Barra in 2014.
The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 200 Wigeon were counted. 3 Dunlin and 382 Lapwing were on the north shore. 2 Golden Plover flew over and a Redshank dropped in late afternoon. 2 Mediterranean Gulls roosted including an adult and a new 1winter bird. The Starling roost is starting to build, with 10,000 birds estimated. A Great Egret and Little Egret were noted.
4 Knot dropped in briefly on the shingle island at 10.27am, before continuing south at 10.38am, also 1 Dunlin and 1 Golden Plover were present. The Lesser Scaup remains off the dam, also 10 Goldeneye and 5 Pintail were counted. A Great Egret and Little Egret were present.
The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 590 Tufted Duck, 102 Pochard and 7 Goldeneye were counted. 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls roosted this evening, also 10 Common Gull and 8 Yellow-legged Gulls. An adult male Goshawk flew over again at dusk. A Great Egret was noted. 1 Dunlin and 356 Lapwing were on the north shore.
The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 16 Goosander dropped in briefly this morning. 3 Dunlin and 71 Snipe were at the west end. 2 Great Egret were present. A different adult Mediterranean Gull roosted this evening, also 4 Yellow-legged Gulls before I had to leave early. A Tawny Owl was along the south east bay, also 2 Cetti's Warbler were noted.
The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 189 Wigeon were counted. The Black-necked Grebe was off the Gazebo hide. 3 Dunlin, 64 Snipe and 228 Lapwing were at the west end. The 1st winter Caspian Gull roosted again, also 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, juvenile GBB Gull (photo) a possible adult Baltic Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull. An adult male Goshawk flew along the dam at dusk. A Tawny Owl was roosting along the south east bay.
A Black-necked Grebe off the Gazebo bay was a new arrival. A 1st winter Caspian Gull (Photo) was present this afternoon and stayed to roost. 3 Dunlin, 7 Golden Plover and 38 Snipe were at the west end. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam. A single Great Egret was present. 5 Lesser Redpoll were noted.
A Knot on the north shore was the first of the year, also 3 Dunlin, 1 Golden Plover and 32 Snipe were present. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 6 Goldeneye and a Goosander flew east. 63 Stock Dove were below the dam this morning. 379 Fieldfare, 309 Redwing and 6 Siskin flew over this morning The 45 Pink-footed Geese roosted again this evening.
A really good afternoons birding was reward for the hard work on the morning's work party. 5 Brent Geese dropped in at 12.48pm, before departing north at 12.56pm. Also the 45 Pink-footed Goose flew out north at dawn. A Sanderling, 3 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatcher were on the north shore. A late House Martin was hawking above the west end this afternoon. Not quiet the latest, which was on the 7th November 1964. The Lesser Scaup was still present, also a pair of Mandarin. An adult Mediterranean Gull dropped in this afternoon and stayed to roost. Several hundred Redwing and Fieldfare were in the area. 4 Lesser Redpoll flew over. A single Great Egret remains.
This morning's work party concentrated in the Scott hide reed bed, where we cleared an area for viewing and took out the willow scrub that would choke out the reed bed if left. Again it was the same faces that turn up, week in, week out. It would be nice to see some new faces, that could help with the work load. Another work party is next Sunday. Meet in the car park at 9.15am, if you can spare a few hours.
A Ruff and Redshank at the west end were new arrivals, also 1 Golden Plover, 35 Snipe and 200 Lapwing were present. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 170 Wigeon, 6 Mandarin (4 drake) 1 Pintail and 400 Coot were counted. The 45 Pink-footed Geese flew out north early morning, also 420 Greylag Geese were counted. At least 300 Redwing and 200 Fieldfare were in the area. 3 Lesser Redpoll and a Cetti's Warbler were off the west lane. 3 Great Egret and a Peregrine were noted. A Brambling flew over this morning.
The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 76 Pochard, 617 Tufted Duck, 5 Goldeneye and 146 Shoveler were counted. 68 Pink-footed Geese flew west at 3pm, then the 45 dropped in at 4.45pm to roost. A 2nd winter Caspian Gull roosted this evening (photo) 2 Dunlin were on the north shore, also 27 Snipe were along the south west shore. A juvenile male Goshawk flew over late afternoon, also an adult Peregrine was present. A Barn Owl was opposite the car park at dusk.
The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 4 Goldeneye and 177 Wigeon were counted. A Ring-necked Parakeet was perched in the reservoir plantation othe the car park before flying south at 4pm. 5 Golden Plover were on the north shore. 3 Great Egret and a Little Egret were present. A Red Kite and 20 Fieldfare flew over.
The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 4 Goldeneye. 15 Fieldfare at the west end were the first of the autumn and the latest I have gone before seeing one. 4 Great Egret and 28 Snipe were at the west end. At least 4 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted.
The Lesser Scaup remains off the dam for it's 84th day, also 1 Pintail, 163 Wigeon and 105 Gadwall were counted. 3 Great Egret were present. At least 4 Water Rail were calling with 2 at the Scott hide,1 Gazebo bay and 1 south west shore.
The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 78 Pochard, 2 Pintail and 8 Shelduck were counted. A Swallow flew south this afternoon. A Cetti's Warbler was by the West end hide. A Stonechat was off the west track.
A juvenile female (photo) and 1st winter drake Scaup were new arrivals also the Lesser Scaup was off the dam. 158 Wigeon, 141 Shoveler, 3 Pintail and a Shelduck were counted. The 45 Pink-footed Geese were again present at dawn. 2 Redshank on the north shore were new arrivals. A juvenile male Goshawk was below the dam, also a Red Kite and Peregrine were noted. A Vis Mig off the dam between 0635-0915 produced 12750 Wood Pigeon, 292 Redwing, 53 Chaffinch, 28 Skylark. 3 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were present.
This morning our 2nd work party of the autumn saw us continue to coppice the willow scrub along the south east bay. A good turn out by the usual crew. It would be nice to see some new faces join in. There are work parties planned for the next two Sundays. What better way to say thank you for all the scarce bird news we put out over the years.
The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 8 Pintail dropped in this morning. 66 Pochard were counted. A Vis Mig off the dam between 0750-0930 produced 1 Swallow, 2800 Wood Pigeon, 53 Chaffinch, 19 Redwing, 9 Skylark and 1 Siskin. The 45 Pink-footed Geese were again present at dawn before flying out north at 8.10am. 23 Snipe were at the west end. A Chiffchaff was along the Gazebo bay. 2 Stonechat and 5 Great Egret were noted.
The 45 Pink-footed Geese flew out north at 7.47am. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 63 Pochard and a Pintail were counted. 3 Dunlin flew thru this morning. 3 Brambling flew over south this morning. 5 Great Egret remain. A Red Kite and an adult Peregrine were noted.
The 45 Pink-footed Geese were still on the north shore, then flew off south at 3.15pm, before returning again at 6.20pm. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam. A possible Baltic Gull (photo) roosted this evening, also 11 Yellow-legged Gulls. 6 Bullfinch along the Gazebo bay was noteworthy. 2 Stonechat were off the west track. 13 Snipe and 5 Great Egret were noted. A Red Kite flew over.
The 45 Pink-footed Geese flew in again from the north at 2.23pm, also the Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end. The Lesser Scaup was off the dam, also 3 Goldeneye and 5 Pintail were on the north shore. A male Brambling was by the Gazebo hide with a female below the dam. A juvenile male Goshawk (photo) was seen 4 times over the afternoon, also 2 Red Kite were present. 5 Snipe were on the south west shore. 6 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted.
The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 7 Pintail, 95 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck and a female Mandarin were counted. The Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end. An adult Peregrine was noted. 6 Great Egret were present.
The Lesser Scaup was in the south east bay, also 61 Pochard, 104 Gadwall and 3 Shelduck were counted. The Tundra Bean Goose was still at the west end. 2 Cattle Egret were at the west end early afternoon, also 6 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were present. 2 Chiffchaff and a Stonechat were noted.
