BELVIDE Warm Cloudy SE 1

 Common Sandpiper have increased to 5. 6 Little Egret were on the north shore. 16 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 1 Mandarin and 2 Shelduck were counted. 4 Red Kite flew over. 3 Stonechat were on Hawkshutts ridge. 

BELVIDE Overcast W 1-2

 A Common Sandpiper was along the dam. The Hawkshutts Oystercatchers are already down to 1 chick. 8 Little Egret were on the north shore. A Hobby was over the dam. 13 Shoveler were counted. This year's Geese crèche totals are 28 Canada, 4 Greylags and 6 Egyptian Geese. 

BELVIDE Overcast SW 2

 A Redshank was a new arrival. The pair of Oystercatchers on the Hawkshutts island have hatched at least 2 chicks. 7 Little Egret were on the north shore. 3 juvenile Stonechat were off the west track. A Hobby and Red Kite flew over. 4 Shelduck were noted. Yesterday evening a 2nd family of Tawny Owls were found in the reservoir plantation, including 2 well grown chicks. Also 4 juvenile Kestrels were ringed.

BELVIDE Cloudy Warm SW 2-3

 A quick afternoon visit produced 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Little Egret and a Teal.

BELVIDE Cloudy W 2-3

 The pair of Oystercatcher are down to 1 chick. 6 Little Egret were on the north shore. 1 Shelduck and 466 Coot were counted. 

BELVIDE Warm Cloudy SW 1

The first returning Green Sandpiper was along the north west shore and although we have just started summer, this signals the start of autumn migration in a birding sense. 7 Little Egret, including a fledged juvenile (photo) from elsewhere were on the north shore. A new brood of 10 Gadwall ducklings were from the Chappell hide.

BELVIDE Cloudy SE 3

 A Common Sandpiper was at the west end, also 14 LRP were counted. The pair of Oystercatcher on the main island have hatched 2 chicks. An adult Peregrine flew over this afternoon. 5 drake Teal were new arrivals. 4 Little Egret were noted. A new brood of 4 Pochard ducklings have appeared in the south east bay. 

BELVIDE Cloudy NNW 1-2

 An Osprey flew thru west at 1.10pm, then was followed by a female Marsh Harrier thru north at 2pm. The 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull and Ringed Plover were still on the north shore. A pair of LRP were with 3 newly hatched chicks on the north shore. Also 4 Lapwing broods of 4, 2,2 and 1 on the north shore. A Willow Warbler was feeding a fledged chick on Hawkshutts ridge, which was very surprising considering I haven't heard or seen a Willow Warbler since the last week in April. The pair of Common Tern are feedind 3 chicks now on the main island. Today's WeBS count produced 120 Gadwall, 188 Mallard, 9 Shoveler, 3 Mandarin, 60 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 3 Egyptian Geese, 124 Canada Geese, 40 Greylag Geese, 380 Coot, 3 Little Egret 12 Heron, 13 Cormorant, 8 Oystercatcher, 8 LRP and 37 Lapwing.

BELVIDE Cloudy W 4

 The June doldrums are here, as history says it's all or nothing at this time of year. Rarities such as Marsh Sandpiper, Caspian Tern,  Whiskered Tern, Laughing Gull,  Sabine's Gull, Pectoral Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope have all been seen at Belvide in June. The Ringed Plover was still on the north shore, also the 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull. The first 2 Common Tern chicks have hatched on the main island.

BELVIDE Cloudy W 3

 A single Ringed Plover was on the north shore. The Shoveler brood is down to 10. 1 Red Kite, 1 Hobby, 2 Mandarin and a Little Egret were noted. 

BELVIDE Rain SW 2-3

 The 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull remains at the west end. 1 Ringed Plover was on the north shore. 1 Teal, 2 Mandarin and 380 Coot were counted.

BELVIDE Heavy Showers N 2

 A Common Sandpiper on the Chappell bund was a new arrival, also a Ringed Plover was at the west end. The male White Wagtail was still on the north shore. The 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull (photo) was still present. The first Gadwall brood of 6 ducklings have appeared today. 3 Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE Cloudy W 4

 A White Wagtail on the north shore was an unusual June record. A 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull was at the west end. 3 Ringed Plover were on the north shore, also 8 LRP and 8 0ystercatcher were present.

BELVIDE Afternoon Showers WNW 2-3

 3 Ringed Plover were on the north shore. 9 Shoveler were counted included the female with 11 ducklings at the west end. Also 125 Gadwall and 2 Mandarin were counted. 3 Little Egret and a Red Kite were noted. 

BELVIDE Overcast SSW 3-4

 A female Shoveler was with 11 ducklings at the west end, confirming breeding here for the last 3 years. 3 Ringed Plover were on the north shore, also a Dunlin flew thru this morning. A 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull remains on the north shore. 2 Little Egret and 2 Mandarin were noted. A Red Kite and Hobby flew over. A 3rd Lapwing family has appeared by the Hawkshutts hide with at least one chick.

BELVIDE Showery SE 3

 A Little Stint was on the north shore till 10.32am when it flew off high east. A 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull was present this morning. A drake Mandarin was noted. 

I have also been to Foryd Bay near Caernarfon to see a Western Reef Heron, which is a first for Britain. We arrived on site around 2pm to see oit fly over our heads and heading way out in the distance to the south. After a 3 hour wait, the bird dropped back in and showed well along the muddy creeks on the falling tide. The bird showed a slate grey plumage all over, except for a white throat patch. The feeding behavior seemed different to the nearby Little Egrets with more darting movements. Western Reef Herons can be found in Southern Europe, Aftrica and Asia. 

BELVIDE

 News received today included the 2 young Tawny Owl again along the Gazebo bay. 2 Little Egret were at the west end. 2 Lapwing chicks remain on the north shore, with another 2 along the south west shore. 

BELVIDE Cloudy SW 4

 A quick afternoon visit was very quiet with one Red Kite, 1 Little Egret and 293 Coot counted.

BELVIDE Heavy Showers SW 4

 A 1st summer Curlew Sandpiper dropped in with a Dunlin on the north shore at 4.10pm. A Great Egret dropped in this afternoon, also a Little Egret. 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby and a Red Kite were noted. A Mandarin was on the Chappell bund.

BELVIDE Afternoon Rain NW 3

 Very quiet today. 3 Little Egret were on the north shore. The Erythristic Tufted Duck was still present. A large Hawthorn has come down near the Gazebo hide this afternoon. It is just about passable.

BELVIDE Afternoon Rain SW 3

 The 2 Quail were still calling off the west track. 2 well grown Tawny Owl young were huddled together along the Gazebo bay. A Cuckoo was heard calling on the north side late morning. An erythristic Tufted Duck (photo) caught the eye this afternoon. It is a form of mutation where the pigmentation is red or pink. 2 drake Mandarin were on the chappell bund. 16 Pochard and 32 GC Grebe were counted.

BELVIDE Cloudy SW 3-4

 2 Quail were calling at the end of the west track today. A Great Egret was present early morning before flying off east, also 2 Little Egret were noted. 3 Ringed Plover were on the north shore. 3 Red Kite and a Hobby flew over.

BELVIDE Warm Sunny SW 1-2

 The Quail was still calling at the end of the west track and I managed to see it briefly 3 times. The Spotted Flycatcher was still singing between the two bridges by the Scott hide. 2 Yellowhammer , 2 Yellow Wagtail and a Lesser Whitethroat were off the west track. 2 Red Kite and 2 Hobby flew over. 1 Ringed Plover and a Little Egret were noted. The first two Lapwing chicks were on the north shore. The Pochard brood is down to the last duckling.

BELVIDE Overcast am Sunny pm WSW 3

 A Quail was calling off the west track around midday and also seen briefly. A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was at the west end. 2 drake Mandarin and 227 Coot were counted.

BELVIDE Hot Cloudy S 2-3

 A Spotted Flycatcher was singing in the reservoir plantation behind the Scott hide this afternoon. A Ringed Plover was on the north shore. A 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was at the west end late morning. The Pochard brood is down to 2 ducklings. At least 3 Lesser Emperor were from the West End hide this afternoon. Also at least 30 Red-veined Darter.

BELVIDE Sunny E 4

 2 Avocet on the north shore were new arrivals, also 3 Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper were present. A female Goldeneye was in the north east corner, also 2 Teal and 2 drake Mandarin were present. The Pochard family are down to 3 ducklings. A Hobby was noted.

BELVIDE Hot Sunny Calm

 The hot spell continues with temperatures around 33 degrees this afternoon. The 1st summer Caspian Gull (photo) was present again on the north shore this afternoon, after going AWOL since the 17th May. also a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull (photo). A Hobby was hunting at the west end. 110 Gadwall and a drake Mandarin were counted. The Pochard brood is down to 4 ducklings. 7 Ringed Plover were on the north shore. 22 Common Tern were noted. 7 Lesser Emperor were present this afternoon, with 4 off the spill weir and 3 at the west end. Also at least 15 Red-veined Darter.

BELVIDE Hot Sunny Calm

 There was no sign of the Black-winged Stilt today, though I have since found out it was seen flying over Tongue End Fen, south Lincolnshire at 6.30am, which is 128 km away. 8 Ringed Plover were on the north shore. At least one Spotted Flycatcher was in the reservoir plantation between the car park and spill weir. A female Pochard was with 5 ducklings from the Gazebo hide this morning and continues how important Belvide is for this species. At least 5 Lesser Emperor (photo) were between the Gazebo bay and West End Hide, including a pair ovipositing. Also 2 Red-veined Darter (photo) were present. Some video of the Lesser Emperor can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJF5glbtgRM

BELVIDE Hot Sunny Calm

 The Black-winged Stilt (photo by Trish Wellings) was still present on the north shore, also 9 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin were present. A pair of Spotted Flycatcher along the path between the car park and spill weir were the first of the spring. A drake Mandarin and 51 Greylag Geese were counted. A Lesser Emperor was at the west end which is the earliest ever record.

BELVIDE Fair W 1-2

 Our purple patch continues with a male Black-winged Stilt on the north shore all day. This becomes the 4th record for the reserve following records on 1968, 1987 and 2023. 22 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin were present. A female Goldeneye on the Chappell bund was a new arrival, also a drake Mandarin was noted. A Hobby and 2 Red Kite flew over. Lesser Whitethroats were singing off the west track and Chappell hide. Nearby, a Spotted Flycatcher was singing along Port Lane by Long Birch Farm early morning. Some video of the Stilt can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er7_nkZgYgI

BELVIDE Sunny Warm, S 2-3

 2 Avocet on the north shore were new arrivals. 3 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in late morning, also 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were present. There was no sign of the Bonaparte's Gull today. The Mute Swan family have already lost 2 cygnets. 7 Shelduck were counted.