BELVIDE 1.7.25 Overcast NW 2-3

 A cool front moved across the region this afternoon making the birding much more comfortable. An Avocet was reported on the board but there was no sign of it this afternoon. 21 Black-tailed Godwit including a flock of 20 dropping in at 4.20pm, joining the bird from yesterday, also 9 Common Sandpiper were present. A new Pochard brood of 2 ducklings were off the Chappell hide joining the other broods of 5 and 4. 1 Great Egret and 6 Little Egret were noted.

 Finally, the adult Mediterranean Gull with white ring 36VR was ringed as a 3CY on the 22nd May 2025 at De Kreupel Island Ijsselmeer North Holland.

BELVIDE 30.6.25 Hot Sunny SSW 2

 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls (photo) were on the north shore this evening then flew west, also an adult Common Gull. 2 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Common Sandpiper, 17 Oystercatcher and 9 LRP were present. The last Common Tern chick on the Hawkshutts island looks like it's been taken along with many BH Gull chicks and the LRP nest. The island has joined up with the shoreline with the dropping water levels and I presume a Fox is responsible . A male Lesser Emperor Dragonfly (photo)was between the Gazebo bay and west end hide.

BELVIDE 29.6.25 Overcast Warm SW 1-2

 The breeding success of the reserve continues with 3 new duck broods making an appearance. Firstly a brood of 5 Shoveler ducklings were on the north shore. A brood of 8 Shelduck young were off the fishing club car park and finally a new brood of 4 Pochard ducklings were along the south east bay. A fresh juvenile Redstart (photo) was along the path between the Gazebo bay and West End hide, also a Lesser Whitethroat. 5 Black-tailed Godwit were present early morning only, also 1 Greenshank, 13 Common Sandpiper and 21 LRP were present. Unfortunately it appears that 2 of the Common Tern chicks on the Hawkshutts island have been predated. 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were present. 13 Egyptian Geese were present, including a family of 6 fledged juveniles from elsewhere.

BELVIDE 28.6.25 Cloudy Hot SW 3

 The Greenshank remains on the north shore, also 7 Common Sandpiper and 16 LRP were present. Another pair of Lapwing with 1 chick have appeared on the north east shore, making this the 10th pair to breed. 3 Yellow Wagtail were along the north west shore. An imm Peregrine flew over. It's looking like a 5th pair of Common Tern are settling down to breed. 1 Great Egret and 4 Little Egret were noted. The 3 Kestrel young look like they are due to fledge any day now.

BELVIDE 27.6.25 Cloudy SW 3-4

 The Greenshank remains on the north shore, also 5 Common Sandpiper and 11 LRP were present. A Red Kite flew over this afternoon . 2 Yellow Wagtail were on the north shore. 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were noted. 

BELVIDE 26.6.25 Cloudy W 3

 A female Goshawk took a BH Gull chick off the main island at 5.05pm. 3 Curlew, including a colour ringed bird were on the north shore early evening. The Greenshank was still present, also at least 6 Common Sandpiper. 3 Great Egret and 5 Little Egret were on the north shore. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen along the west lane. The  Lapwing brood along the south west shore have 4 chicks,  not 3.

BELVIDE 25.6.25 Cloudy Humid SW 2

 A single Greenshank on the north shore was a new arrival, also 5 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. Confirmation, there are 3 Lapwing chicks along the south west shore, not 2. Also another colour ringed Lapwing from Elmley, Kent was at the west end. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were on the north shore. A Yellow Wagtail flew over.

BELVIDE 24.6.25 Cloudy W 4

 The Lapwing breeding success continues with another new undetected pair appearing with 2 chicks on the north shore in front of the east side of the north wood. Also the pair that were sitting along the south west shore have hatched at least 2 chicks. 4 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were noted . 

BELVIDE 23.6.25 Cloudy W3-4

 2 Common Sandpiper were present. Teal have increased to 21. A Lesser Whitethroat was seen at the west end. A Yellow Wagtail was on the north shore this afternoon. A Red Kite flew over. 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were noted. Forgot to mention 3 Kestrel chicks were ringed in the usual box on Saturday. 

Today I completed 100 consecutive visits for the first time ever. Last time I didn't visit was the 15th March. 

BELVIDE 22.6.25 Overcast Patchy Rain SW 3-4

 3 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. To confirm that all the Common Tern broods have 3 chicks. 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret remain. 13 Teal were counted. The Pochard brood are down to 5.

BELVIDE 21.6.25 Cloudy SE 2

 6 Common Sandpiper were present with 3 along the dam and 3 at the west end, also 12 LRP including 3 fledged juveniles from elsewhere. Another 2 new Lapwing chicks have appeared by the Hawkshutts bund. It's been the best year for many years, with this being the 8th pair to nest, of which 5 have hatched young. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret remain. A Red Kite flew over. 10 Teal were counted. 

BELVIDE 20.6.25 Cloudy Hot SSE 2-3

 The first returning Green Sandpiper was on the north shore, also 3 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. A Colour ringed Lapwing on the Hawkshutts island looks like it was ringed at Elmley in Kent, details to follow. Both pairs of Common Tern on the main island have at least 2 chicks each. 4 Raven were feeding on a Mute Swan carcass. A Red Kite flew over. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret remain. 8 Egyptian Geese were counted. The female Pochard still has 6 ducklings intact along the south east bay.

BELVIDE 19.6.25 Hot Sunny SE 1

 2 Common Sandpiper were still present. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were on the north shore. 25 GC Grebe were counted. Common Tern pair B have 2 visible chicks on the main island. 

BELVIDE 18.6.25 Warm Sunny W 1-2

 A flock of 14 Crossbill flew over to the west at 3.18pm. Also a single Siskin flew over the west end. The 3rd pair of Common Tern on the main island have hatched at least 1 chick today. A new brood of 9 Gadwall ducklings were at the west end. 2 Common Sandpiper were on the north shore. A Red Kite was over the dam. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were noted. 

BELVIDE 17.6.25 Sunny Warm W 2-3

 A 2nd pair of Common Tern have hatched at least 1 chick on the main island.  Also a new brood of 2 Lapwing chicks have appeared on the north shore. An adult male Goshawk flew over this afternoon. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were at the west end. A single Common Sandpiper was noted. 6 Teal were counted. 

BELVIDE 16.6.25 Cloudy Warm, SW 2

 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were at the west end. 2 Red Kite flew over. The pair of Oystercatcher on the Hawkshutts island have hatched one chick today and are still incubating a single egg. Also 13 adult Oystercatcher were present. Just to confirm there are 3 Common Tern chicks on the Hawkshutts island. 

BELVIDE 15.6.25 Cloudy WNW 2

 A pair of Common Tern on the Hawkshutts island have hatched 2 young today. 2 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were at the west end. Today's WeBS count produced 16 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 162 Mallard, 65 Gadwall, 12 Pochard, 110 Tufted Duck, 17 GC Grebe, 647 Coot, 76 Mute Swan, 91 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag Geese, 3 Egyptian Geese, 5 Cormorant, 10 Grey Heron. 2 Red Kite were over the dam. 

BELVIDE 14.6.25 Cloudy SW 3-4

 10 Little Egret were at the west end including 7 juveniles fledged from elsewhere. Also 1 Great Egret. 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Redshank were present. 2 Red Kite flew over. An adult Tawny Owl was with a well grown chick along the Gazebo bay. 5 Teal and 15 Shoveler were counted. The BH Gull colony now stands at 163 pairs, with 115 on the main island and 48 on the Hawkshutts island. 3 newly hatched Lapwing chicks were on the north shore. 7 pairs have nested this year. This is the 3rd nest to successfully hatch. 

BELVIDE 13.6.25 Fair SW 2

 2 Cattle Egret were new arrivals on the north shore, also 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret. A Cuckoo flew over the dam late afternoon. A Hobby was over the west end. 55 Lapwing were counted. The female Pochard with 6 duckling were still along the south east bay. Also 2 broods of 5 and 4 Gadwall. The Spotted Flycatcher remains in the plantation.

BELVIDE 12.6.25 Afternoon Rain SE 2-3

A probable Bittern was reported to me, seen very briefly in flight over the Scott hide reed bed late morning. A female Pochard with 6 ducklings were along the south east bay, also a brood of 5 Gadwall ducklings were the first of the year. 1 Great Egret and 3 Little Egret were on the north shore. A Peregrine was noted. 110 Tufted Duck were counted.  

BELVIDE 11.6.25 Warm/Cloudy SSE 2

 A quick visit produced 1 Great Egret, 3 Little Egret, 4 Teal, 25 GC Grebe and 75 Mute Swan. 

BELVIDE 10.6.25 Early Rain/Sunny NNW 2

 The Spotted Flycatcher continues to sing in the plantation and appears to have obtained a tick below it's left eye. 3 Little Egret and 1 Great Egret were at the west end. 15 Shoveler were counted.

BELVIDE 9.6.25 Overcast W 2

 A quick afternoon visit produced 8 Ringed Plover, 1 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret. A Redshank was seen this morning. 

BELVIDE 8.6.25 Cloudy/Showers WNW 2-3

 An adult female Goshawk (photos) flew over this morning, looking like it had fed well, showing a full crop. 2 Curlew, 9 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper were present. 1 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were at the west end. 94 Tufted Duck were counted. The first few BH Gull broods have started to hatch on the main island. The Spotted Flycatcher remains in the plantation. 

BELVIDE 7.6.25 Overcast SW 2

 An adult and fledged Tawny Owl chick were in the reservoir plantation this morning. The Spotted Flycatcher continues to sing along the path between the car park and spill weir. 3 Curlew flew thru early morning, also 7 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin were present. A Goshawk raided thenorth wood this afternoon also a Hobby was hawking over the west end. 1 Great Egret and a Little Egret were noted. Some video of the Tawny Owl chick can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5HrvV1exI

BELVIDE 6.6.25 Cloudy W 3

 13 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were on the north shore. 1 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were at the west end. The Spotted Flycatcher was still along the path between the car park and spill weir. 3 Yellow Wagtail were on the north shore. 13 Common Tern were noted. 

BELVIDE 5.6.25 Morning Rain SW 2

 14 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were on the north shore. A Great Egret and Little Egret were at the west end. 11 Shoveler and 14 Pochard were counted. 

BELVIDE 4.6.25 Cloudy SW 3

 12 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin were on the north shore. A Great Egret remains. A Hobby flew along the dam this afternoon. The first brood of 3 Reed Warbler have fledged below the Scott hide. Also a Water Rail was singing from there.  

BELVIDE 3.6.25 Early Rain W 3-4

 The harsh reality of the breeding season, when a Goshawk took one of the 2 well grown Oystercatcher chicks below the west end hide this afternoon. 2 Sanderling were on the north shore, including a colour ringed bird. Also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and 7 Ringed Plover were present. A Great Egret was at the west end. 9 Shoveler, 128 Gadwall, 1 Mandarin,101 Greylag Geese and 1 Bar Headed Goose were counted. The Black Headed Gull colony now stands at 136 pairs.

BELVIDE 2.6.25 Fair SW 2-3

 The Spotted Flycatcher remains along the path between the car park and spill weir. 1 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin were present. 74 Greylag Geese were counted. 

BELVIDE 1.6.25 Afternoon Showers SW 3

 A 2nd summer Arctic Tern (photo) flew thru this morning. A female Marsh Harrier was present between 10am-12pm when it flew off west. Also 3 Red Kite and 2 Hobby were in the area. The Spotted Flycatcher was still singing along the path between the car park and spill weir. 12 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and a Redshank were on the north shore. 3 Teal, 7 Shoveler and 2 Shelduck were counted. 2 Great Egret were noted.