BELVIDE Overcast E 2

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the dam, also a drake Pintail was still present. A Rock Pipit was briefly on the north shore. A Curlew was along the south east bay this afternoon. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was still present. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. 

BELVIDE Cloudy E 4-5

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the dam, also 33 Goldeneye 1 Pintail and 177 Wigeon were counted. A Grey Plover flew thru at 8.15am, also 5 Dunlin were present. 2 Whooper Swan were new arrivals until 4.29pm when they flew off east. An adult and juvenile Goshawk (photo by Trish Wellings) were in the area, also 2 Peregrine. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was still present. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 16 Common Gulls roosted this evening. 8 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were noted. 

BELVIDE Patchy Afternoon Drizzle NE 2

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the dam, also 320 Shoveler and 158 Wigeon were counted. 80 Golden Plover circled the reservoir early afternoon, also a Dunlin flew thru. 4 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was still present. 

BELVIDE Sunny N/NE 3

 12 Whooper Swans dropped in just after midday, including 7 adults and 5 juveniles. They were present till 4.20pm, when they flew off south east. The Long-tailed Duck remains off the north end of the dam, also 21 Goldeneye, 27 Pochard,3 Goosander and 2 drake Mandarin were counted. 12 Common Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull roosted this evening, also the 3rd winter Caspian Gull was present all day. A single Great Egret was noted.

BELVIDE Morning Fog N 1-2

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the north end of the dam, also 203 Tufted Duck, 307 Shoveler, 125 Wigeon, 139 Teal and 188 Coot were counted. A single Dunlin was present this morning. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull remains. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. 3 Great Egret, 1 Red Kite and a Peregrine were noted. 

BELVIDE Murky am SE 1

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the dam, also 40 Pochard, 315 Shoveler and 64 Gadwall were counted. 281 Fieldfare and 2 Brambling flew over the dam this morning. 2 Stonechat were off the west track with another trapped and Ringed this morning. 5 Great Egret were noted. 

BELVIDE Fair SE 1

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the dam, also 3 Pintail and 310 Shoveler were counted. A juvenile Marsh Harrier landed in front of the Chappell hide this afternoon, also 2 Peregrine were noted. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was still present.

BELVIDE Cloudy SSE 1-2

 The Long-tailed Duck remains off the north end of the dam, also 3 Goosander, 32 Pochard, 2 Pintail and 289 Shoveler were counted. A Rock Pipit was along the south east bay briefly this morning. 6 Brambling flew over the dam. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull remains. 7 Great Egret, 1 Green Woodpecker and a Kingfisher were noted. 194 Cormorant were counted. 

BELVIDE Morning Rain W 2

 The Long-tailed Duck remains along the north end of the dam. A drake Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid was off the dam. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was present all day. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening, also 3 Argentatus Herring Gulls.(photo) The adult male Goshawk flew over this afternoon. 7 Great Egret were noted. A Dunlin was on the north shore. 19 GC Grebe were counted. 

BELVIDE Fair W 3-4

 The Long-tailed Duck was off the north end of the dam. A Grey Plover was a new arrival, though flew off north at 3.35pm. Also 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Oystercatcher were present. The 1st winter Little Gull and 3rd winter Caspian Gull remain. 4 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were noted. A Goshawk and Peregrine flew over. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. 15 Goldeneye were counted at dusk.

BELVIDE Rain S 4

 The imm Long-tailed Duck was still present mainly off the dam today. The 1st winter Little Gull and 3rd winter Caspian Gull remain. An adult type Goshawk (photos) flew low over the reservoir this afternoon, also a Peregrine and Red Kite. Great Egret have increased to 12, also a single Little Egret. 13 Goldeneye and 14 GC Grebe were counted. 2 Ringed Plover were along the south east bay, also 3 Golden Plover flew over.

BELVIDE Cloudy W 5-6

 A dawn till dusk session to hopefully find a storm blown waif drew a blank. The 1st winter Long-tailed Duck was still present and was mobile around the reservoir. The 1st winter Little Gull was present on and off over the day and returned to roost this evening. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull  (photo)was present all day. 3 Ringed Plover were present until a Kestrel killed one of them. A late Swallow flew thru this morning. 2 Red Kite were over the north shore, also an imm Peregrine. 7 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were noted. 1 Pintail and 2 Goosander were present. A single Pink-footed Goose was present at dawn only.

BELVIDE Rain S 4

 Storm Austin blew in a 1st winter Long-tailed Duck overnight. It was very mobile covering pretty much the whole reservoir. Its the first record since a drake on the 16th May 2021. The 1st winter Little Gull and 3rd winter Caspian Gull were still present. 4 Ringed Plover were along the south east bay. 7 Great Egret, 1 Peregrine and a drake Pintail were noted.

BELVIDE Rain NW 3-6

 Storm Austin hit the region from late morning though nothing blown in yet. The 1st winter Little Gull was again present , dropping in late morning. 10 Great Egret were counted. 4 Ringed Plover remain. 36 Siskin flew over. 4 Pintail were counted. 

BELVIDE

 No news received today. 

I have had a successful trip to Flamborough head to see a Rufous Tailed Robin at South Landing. The bird was very elusive  but I managed to see the bird 5 times between 0730-1530 hrs. Some excellent but brief views were had on each occasion of this far eastern Robin. I think this becomes the 6th record for Britain 

BELVIDE Rain W 3

 A Cattle Egret (photo by Trish Wellings) was at the west end late afternoon, also 9 Great Egret. 4 Ringed Plover were on the north shore. 186 Cormorant were counted. A Peregrine flew over. Just 2 Pintail were present today. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was still present . 

The work on the Car Park is now finished and ready to use. 

BELVIDE Rain E 2

 The 1st winter Little Gull was present again early afternoon only. A Rock Pipit was on the north shore this morning. 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 3 Dunlin and 1 Ringed Plover were present, though they were all scared off by the pesky Peregrine this afternoon. An adult male Goshawk (photo) flew over. 13 Pintail, 226 Wigeon, 35 Gadwall, 1 Mandarin and 1 Goosander were counted. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull (photo) was present all day. 8 Great Egret were noted. 181 Cormorant were counted.

There was no work on the car park today due to the rain, so expect again very limited spaces tomorrow. Park at Leafields Barns if so.

 

BELVIDE Overcast/Cloudy SE 2-3

 A fantastic days birding from dawn to dusk today. A record 7379 Redwing flew over during the day, all heading in a north easterly direction. Also 29 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 10 Brambling, 76 Chaffinch, 7 Redpoll and 11 Siskin between 0700-1200hrs. A 1st winter Little Gull (photo) dropped in at 4,30pm, 2 1st winter Med Gulls (photo) roosted this evening, also 19 Common Gull and a 3rd winter Caspian Gull. 177 Golden Plover flew over. 2 Scaup (photo) were new arrivals, also  9 Goldeneye, 11 Pintail, 243 Shoveler, 106 Wigeon and 1 Mandarin were counted. A Goshawk, Peregrine and 2 Red Kite flew over. 10 Great Egret were noted.

BELVIDE Sunny NE 2-3

 Firstly I would just like to say I will not be submitting the Buff-breasted Sandpiper from yesterday. Because of the magnitude of the record, the brief and less than ideal views of the bird, it doesn't sit right with me as a Belvide and Staffordshire tick, even though I know what it was.

A Ringtail Hen Harrier (photo by Kev Wardlaw) flew thru south at 3.05pm. A single Whooper Swan flew south east at 8.05am. A Vis Mig off the dam between 0730-0910 hrs produced 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Brambling, 14 Chaffinch, 560 Redwing, 26 Fieldfare, 348 Starling, 1 Yellowhammer, 4 Siskin, 4750 Wood Pigeon and 15 Stock Dove. A single Dunlin flew thru, also 2 Oystercatcher remain. 3 Goldeneye, 11 Pintail and 24 Pochard were counted. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was present again along with 3 Yellow-legged Gulls. A Barn Owl was seen at the west end this evening. A Peregrine and Red Kite were noted. 

Tomorrow, work will start again resurfacing the Car Park. It is very likely that spaces will be very limited, so it would be better to park at Leafield Barns, that is signposted. 

 

BELVIDE Fair NNE 2

 The main highlight today was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper that flew around the reservoir twice at 9.50am then was lost to view at the west end with no further sign, despite an extensive search. If accepted this becomes a first record for the reserve and the 3rd record for Staffordshire. 

The Grey Plover was present early morning only, also a male Ruff, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin and 20 Golden Plover. 2 Merlin flew over early morning. An adult Goshawk was over the dam. A Marsh Harrier flew thru east this afternoon, also 2 Red Kite were noted. 4470 Wood Pigeon flew thru this morning. 325 Redwing and 28 Fieldfare flew west this afternoon. 6 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were present. 19 Pochard and 10 Pintail were counted. 

BELVIDE Fair/ pm Showers NW/N 3

 A drake Common Scoter off the dam was a new arrival, also 10 Pintail, 232 Shoveler and 13 Pochard were counted. The 3 Grey Plover remain along the south east bay, also 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher. 5 Great Egret, 2 Peregine and 2 Red Kite were noted.

The car park over the weekend will be 90% accessible as work will continue again on Monday.

BELVIDE Overcast SW 3

 First of all a late item of news for yesterday was a Whooper Swan was seen during the morning only. 

The 3 Grey Plover remain from the Chappell hide, also 4 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher. 7 Great Egret, 11 Pintail and 131 Wigeon were counted. 

Limited car park spaces available tomorrow, though a bit more juggling around as the contractors begin to resurface the car park. The centre path through the wood has been completed. 

BELVIDE Cloudy SW3-4

 The 3 Grey Plover remain in front of the Chappell hide, also 4 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher. 7 Great Egret and a Little Egret were at the west end. 4 Stonechat were at the west end. 11 Pintail, 109 Wigeon, 224 Shoveler, 19 Egyptian Geese and 138 Cormorant were counted. 

Parking remains the same with limited spaces available.  

BELVIDE Cloudy W 4

 2 Rock Pipit were on the dam this afternoon with possibly a different bird from the Chappell hide. 3 Grey Plover remain, also 4 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher were present. 5 Great Egret and 2 Peregrine were noted. 11 Pintail, 213 Shoveler and 123 Cormorant were counted.

Limited parking will be available tomorrow with an area cordoned off where work is taking place. Follow signs to Leafields Barns for alternative parking if car park is full. 

BELVIDE Patchy Drizzle S 2

 2 Rock Pipit (photo) were present this afternoon with one on the dam and the other in front of the Chappell hide. The 3 Grey Plover were still present, also 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatcher. A late Wheatear was at the west end, also 6 Stonechat and 88 Skylark off the west track. A female Marsh Harrier flew thru east at 2.10pm, also 2 Peregrine were present. 5 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted. 11 Pintail were counted.

There will be limited parking available on the car park tomorrow. The contractor will cordon off a area to park. If this is full follow signs 200 yards east of the car park to park at Leafields Barns on the gravel area only. DO NOT PARK AT LEAFIELDS FARM!!

BELVIDE Fair SW 2

 The 5 Grey Plover and Little Stint were still present, also 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatcher. 9 Stonechat were at the west end, also 78 Skylark were off the west track. 10 Pintail and a female Goldeneye were counted. 4 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were noted. The 3rd winter Caspian Gull was present again this morning. A Goshawk was perched briefly by the Chappell hide early morning with another east of the dam, also Red Kite and Peregrine were present. 2 Pink-footed Geese were on the north shore. A Green Woodpecker was below the dam this morning. A single Swallow flew thru. 

Work will begin tomorrow to resurface the car park. The car park will be out of use tomorrow as the whole surface will be scraped. At the moment, there is parking for around 4 cars in the layby 300 yards east of the car park. There will be some additional parking at the Barn Conversions just before Leafields Farm at some stage tomorrow when signs have been put out. Please be understanding during this time as we juggle the changing situation from day to day.

BELVIDE Fair WNW 3-4

 The first 2 Rock Pipit of the year was seen by others today. Grey Plover have increased to 5, also 1 Little Stint, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatcher were present. A Merlin was again at the west end this afternoon. At least 3 Goshawk, 5 Red Kite and 2 Peregrine were in the area. The first Goldeneye of the autumn was off the dam.. 3 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were noted. 5 Stonechat were at the west end. 169 Redwing flew west this morning. 3 Swallow flew south late morning. 91 Cormorant were counted. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. A Barn Owl was at the west end at dusk.

A notice to all members. Work will begin this Monday to resurface the car park and to hardcore the centre path through the reservoir plantation. The work could take up to 2 weeks to complete, so parking will be limited during this time. There will be additional parking down the lane at Lea Fields Farm, so keep up to date on the blog during this time for forthcoming announcements.

BELVIDE Showery W/NW 3-4

 The first push of Redwing this morning with 838 heading west in the stiff westerly breeze. The Little Stint was still present, also 3 Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatcher were present. 3 Goshawk (photo) were sparring east of the dam this morning, also 2 Red Kite and 2 Peregrine were noted. 5 Stonechat were at the west end. The 1st winter Pink-footed Goose was in front of the Chappell hide. The Linnet flock continues to increase with 438 counted at the west end. 11 Pintail, 103 Wigeon, 197 Shoveler, 151 Teal, 10 Gadwall, 70 Mallard, 5 GC Grebe, 140 Coot, 408 Greylag Geese were counted. 5 Great Egret remain.

BELVIDE Cloudy WSW 2

 A Glossy Ibis was found by + photo by Roger Mullard at the west end this morning, but it didn't hang around. The Little Stint was still present, also 3 Grey Plover, 3 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher. A Merlin was chasing Linnets at the west end.

BELVIDE Morining Rain NNW 3-4

 A decent days birding with a change in the weather doing the trick. A Spotted Redshank dropped in on the north shore at 9.52am. It was present till 11.10am when it was flushed by a Peregrine and flew off south. The Little Stint was still present, also 3 Grey Plover, 7 Golden Plover, 9 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ruff and 2 Snipe were present. 4 Whooper Swan dropped in at the west end at 12.44pm were the first of the year. 7 Great Egret remain. 11 Pintail, 98 Wigeon and 9 Pochard were counted.

BELVIDE Morning fog Calm

 A Little Stint on the north shore was a new arrival. Grey Plover have increased to 3 at the west end, also 16 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Ruff and 2 Snipe were present. A different 1st winter Pink-footed Goose was in front of the Chappell hide. 8 Pintail and 92 Wigeon were counted. An adult Peregrine and Red Kite were noted. 6 Great Egret remain.