BELVIDE 18.4.25 Patchy Rain SE 3

 The main highlight today was a female Ring Ouzel (photo) that dropped out the sky at 10.35am and sat in an Ash tree by the West End Hide for 5 minutes before flying off north. A Black Tern was present between 8,23am-1015am. The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was off the west track, also 5 Whitethroat and 14 Reed Warbler were noted. 3 Yellow Wagtail were on the north shore. A Dunlin flew thru early morning, also 4 Common Sandpiper and 7 LRP were present. A Peregrine flew over this morning. 1 Goldeneye, 1 Wigeon and 16 Shelduck were counted.

BELVIDE 17.4.25 Cloudy WSW 1-2

 A decent afternoon with an unexpected fall of wheatear. A total of 11 birds were present including 4 males and 7 females. 6 were in a field off the north east corner of the dam and another 5 off the west track. The first Hobby of the year flew over this afternoon. A Garden Warbler was reported on the board. 2 female Redstart were present, with one below the dam and the other off the west track. 6 Yellow Wagtail and 1 White Wagtail were on the north shore. A Redshank was a new arrival, also 11 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover and 10 LRP were present. 12 Shelduck and 1 Wigeon were counted. A Great Egret was noted.

BELVIDE 16.4.25 Showers SSW 3-5

 A female Redstart off the west track was new for the year. 6 Yellow Wagtail and 9 White Wagtail were on the north shore. A Whitethroat was singing by the West End Hide, also 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Reed Warbler. 3 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover and 7 LRP were present. 200 Sand Martin, 25 House Martin and 50 Swallow were noted. A Great Egret was at the west end. 1 Goldeneye and 1 Wigeon remain.

BELVIDE 15.4.25 Overcast N 2

 A Black-necked Grebe out in the middle of the reservoir was a new arrival. 2 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover 7 LRP and 9 Common Sandpiper were present. 340 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Wigeon, 168 Gadwall and 12 Shelduck were counted. A Great Egret and Little Egret were noted. A Yellow Wagtail was on the north shore this evening.

BELVIDE 14.4.25 Overcast S 3-4

 A Ringed Plover, 6 LRP and 6 Common Sandpiper were on the north shore. At least 200 Sand Martin, 3 House Martin and 10 Swallow were present. A White Wagtail was on the north shore late afternoon. A Whitethroat was below the dam. 7 Little Grebe and a single Goldeneye were noted.

BELVIDE 13.4.25 Cloudy WNW 2-3

 A Whimbrel flew north at 6.52am, also a single Curlew thru this morning. 1 Ringed Plover and 3 LRP were on the north shore, also 9 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. 2 male Wheatear were in the field behind the Hawkshutts hide. Also up to 8 Yellow Wagtail dropping in and out this morning. 3 Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler were singing. A Red Kite was feeding on a carcass below the dam this afternoon. Today's WeBS count produced 73 Shoveler, 5 Wigeon, 94 Teal, 64 Mallard, 144 Gadwall, 6 Shelduck, 208 Tufted Duck, 10 Pochard, 4 Goldeneye, 180 Coot, 4 Little Grebe, 22 GC Grebe, 37 Mute Swan, 57 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag Geese 4 Egyptian Geese, 13 Lapwing, 13 Snipe. 2 Great Egret, 2 Little Egret. 200 Sand Martin, 30 Swallow and 5 House Martin were present this morning.

BELVIDE 12.4.25 Fair SE 2

 A good days birding with plenty of new arrivals to keep the interest going. A Wood Sandpiper was on the north shore briefly around 8am. 2 Whimbrel dropped in this morning on the north shore. They were present until 12.20pm, when they flew off west. Also 2 Redshank and 6 Common Sandpiper were present. A Cattle Egret was at the west end before relocating to the field along the A5 below the white house. 2 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were noted. 2 Whitethroat were new for the year with one at the west end and the other below the dam. Also new was a Reed Warbler from the Scott hide. 6 Sedge Warbler and 3 Willow Warbler were singing. 3 Wheatear were in a field just north of the dam. 3 Fieldfare flew over this morning.

BELVIDE 11.4.25 Sunny N 1-2

 The Ruff was showing well on the Chappell bund, also 8 Common Sandpiper and 5 LRP were present. 2 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end , also 3 White Wagtail. 4 Sedge Warbler were singing, with 3 at the west end and another along the south east bay. 3 Great Egret and a Little Egret were on the north shore. 3 or 4 Red Kite were in the area.

BELVIDE 10.4.25 Sunny Variable 1

 The Ruff was still on the north shore, also 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 LRP were present and a Curlew flew over. 2 Sedge Warbler was singing at the west end. 2 Red Kite flew over this afternoon. 167 Gadwall were counted. 2 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end this evening

BELVIDE 9.4.25 Sunny NE 2

 The 1st winter Caspian Gull appeared again this afternoon. The Ruff was still present, also 1 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and 4 LRP were present. A Sedge Warbler was singing at the west end, also 2 Willow Warbler were noted. A White Wagtail (photo) was on the Chappell bund briefly late afternoon. 3 Great Egret were at the west end.

BELVIDE 8.4.25 Sunny SE 1-2

 A Ruff was a new arrival, also 2 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 5 LRP and 10 Oystercatcher were present. 4 adult Little Gull remain off the dam. A Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler were singing along the south east bay. A Great Egret remains at the west end. 12 Shelduck and 134 Teal were counted.

BELVIDE 7.4.25 Sunny SE 2

 The first Sedge Warbler of the year was singing in the hedge by the Chappell hide. 8 adult Little Gull were present today. 2 Redshank were new arrivals, also 1 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper and 4 LRP. A single Great Egret was at the west end. 118 Teal, 38 Wigeon and 8 Shelduck were counted.

BELVIDE 6.4.25 Sunny E 3

 The first Yellow Wagtail of the spring was on the north shore this morning. The 5 adult Little Gulls remain off the dam, also the 1st winter Caspian Gull was again present. 3 LRP and a Great Egret were at the west end. 8 Shelduck and 10 Egyptian Geese were counted. A steady stream of hirundines passing through early morning while the temperature was still cool, with up to 200 Sand Martin and 20 Swallow thru.

BELVIDE 5.4.25 Sunny ENE 4

 5 adult Little Gull were still off the dam. A 1st winter GBB Gull (photo) this evening was noteworthy. The Ruff was seen early morning only, also 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 LRP were present. 2 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted. A Willow Warbler was by the West end hide. 50 Sand Martin and 2 Swallow were present this evening. 63 Goldeneye this evening is the highest count of the season.

BELVIDE 4.4.25 Sunny E 4

 Another widespread movement of Little Gulls across the region, with Belvide producing 8 adults over the day. The Ruff was still on the north shore, also 1 Redshank, and 4 LRP were present. The first White Wagtail (photo) of the spring was on the north shore. A Red Kite flew over. 36 Goldeneye were counted.

BELVIDE 3.4.25 Sunny E 4

 A single Ruff on the north shore was the first of the year, also 1 Dunlin and 3 LRP were present. 2 Red Kite flew over this afternoon. 157 Gadwall, 130 Shoveler, 100 Teal, 41 Wigeon, 4 Shelduck and 37 Mute Swan were counted. 2 Great Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 2.4.25 Sunny E 4

 An adult male Goshawk (photo) spent a few hours this afternoon terrorising the local corvids. It was perched in the north wood for a while then flew west. The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. 3 LRP and 2 Great Egret were on the north shore. 101 Shoveler were counted.

BELVIDE 1.4.25 Sunny SE 3-4

 3 Little Gulls including 2 adults and a 1st winter were off the dam and part of a small movement of birds across the region today. The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present.2 LRP and 2 Great Egret were on the north shore. 97 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 136 Gadwall, 91 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 11 Pochard and 7 Egyptian Geese were counted. 20 Sand Martin were present this afternoon. An Orange Tip butterfly was on the wing by the Scott hide.

BELVIDE 31.3.25 Sunny ESE 1

 3 Black-tailed Godwit were on the north shore in the morning only, also 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 LRP were present. A Goshawk and Peregrine were soaring this afternoon. A Willow Warbler was singing by the Gazebo hide. 2 Great Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 30.3.25 Overcast am/Sunny pm NW 4

 The first Common Sandpiper of the year was at the west end, also 1 Redshank and 3 LRP. A 3rd summer Mediterranean Gull was on the north shore this morning, also the 1st winter Caspian Gull remains. A Willow Warbler and male Brambling were by the Gazebo hide. 41 Fieldfare flew north this morning. 35 Sand Martin and a few Swallow and House Martin were present this morning. 2 Red Kite and a Peregrine were noted. 2 Great Egret and a Little Egret were at the west end.

BELVIDE 29.3.25 Cloudy SW 3

 The first Willow Warbler of the year was singing by the ringing station this morning. The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. A minimum of 80 Sand Martin, 2 House Martin and 20 Swallow were present. 55 Goldeneye and 36 Mute Swan were counted. 3 Great Egret and a Little Egret were on the north shore. 8 Common Gull roosted this evening.

BELVIDE 28.3.25 Cloudy WNW 3

 An adult summer Mediterranean Gull dropped in off the dam this morning, also the 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. A single Dunlin flew thru this morning, also 4 LRP were on the north shore. 50 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin and 7 Swallow were present. 3 Great Egret were on the north shore. 6 Blackcap were noted. 

A notice to members that there will be a contactor coming to mow and rotivate the north shore tomorrow morning, so there will be some disturbance.

BELVIDE 27.3.25 Fair SW 2-3

 3 LRP and 2 Dunlin were on the north shore. A single Great Egret and Red Kite were noted. A single Sand Martin flew thru this afternoon. There was no sign of the Caspian Gull today.

BELVIDE 26.3.25 Sunny SW 2

 The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. A single Dunlin was on the north shore, also a Curlew flew thru. 2 Red Kite, 1 Goshawk and Peregrine were in the area. 2 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 25.3.25 Overcast NNW 2

 The 1st winter Caspian Gull remains for it's 10th day. 15 Sand Martin flew thru this afternoon. At least 3 Blackcap were present. 2 LRP and 1 Dunlin were on the north shore. 10 Shelduck were counted. A Red Kite flew over this afternoon. 2 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 24.3.25 Sunny NW 2

 An adult winter Little Gull (photo) off the dam this afternoon was new for the year. An adult Kittiwake was seen by others this morning, also the 1st winter Caspian Gull remains. 1 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP and 1 Dunlin was on the north shore. 3 Great Egret were noted. 2 Red Kite flew over this afternoon. A single House Martin flew north this afternoon.

BELVIDE 23.3.25 Drizzle/Murk NE 2

 An excellent days birding with the early drizzle and murk with a light north easterly breeze doing the trick. 8 adult Kittiwake dropped in at 6.55am. They were present till 7.57am when they flew off north east. 2 Sandwich Tern were present between 8.19am-8.43am when they flew off west. Another Sandwich Tern flew thru west at 2.25pm. This equals the earliest date set in 2023. A minimum of 80 Sand Martin flew thru, also the first House Martin and 4 Swallow. 1 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP and 2 Dunlin were on the north shore, also 2 Curlew flew thru. 49 Goldeneye, 370 Tufted Duck and 155 Shoveler were counted. The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. 3 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were on the north shore. Some video of the Sandwich Tern can be viewed here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr5o-QMRDYg

BELVIDE 22.3.25 Cloudy SE 2

Not a bad day with several new birds arriving overnight. A female Wheatear (photo by Rob Swift) was on the dam. 2 Blackcap were present with one singing in the plantation and another at the west end. The first Swallow of the year flew north this afternoon and at least 16 Sand Martin thru over the day. A single Ringed Plover on the north shore was the first of the year, also 4 LRP and a Curlew flew thru. A male Goshawk, Red Kite and Peregrine were in the area. 9 Yellowhammer were in the field behind the Hawkshutts hide. The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. 4 Great Egret and a Little Egret were on the north shore. 5 Shelduck were noted.

BELVIDE 21.3.25 Overcast SE 3-4

 An Avocet dropped in at the west end at 1pm, also a single LRP and 2 Dunlin. The 1st winter Caspian Gull continues to show throughout the day. 3 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were on the north shore.

BELVIDE 20.3.25 Sunny SSE 2

 The 1st winter Caspian Gull was still present. A single LRP flew thru this afternoon. 3 Great Egret were on the north shore. 5 Pintail, 116 Gadwall and 5 Shelduck were counted.

BELVIDE 19.3.25 Fair S 1

 20 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in briefly early afternoon before continuing north. The 1st winter Caspian Gull remains. 171 Wigeon, 139 Shoveler and 2 Goosander were counted. A Red Kite was noted. 3 Great Egret were on the north shore.