8 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 3 Snipe were the only waders present today. 4 Pintail and 197 Shoveler were counted. An imm Peregrine and 2 Red Kite flew over . A 1st winter Med Gull (photo) and 3rd winter Caspian Gull were on the north shore late afternoon.
A juvenile Knot dropped in along the south east bay at 7.15am. A Turnstone dropped in this afternoon, also 1 Ruff, 16 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 1 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper were present. 4 Pintail and 19 Wigeon were counted. A Wheatear was on the north shore. 3 Cattle Egret were below the dam this afternoon, also 1 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were present. An imm Peregrine has been a constant menace today scaring off most of the waders mentioned above.
Not a bad day with a few new arrivals. 7 Knot flew thru south at 9.20am, also 29 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 2 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper were present. A Cattle Egret dropped in at 9.48am, then flew out over the A5 15 minutes later. A juvenile Black Tern dropped in at 10.50am and was still present late afternoon. 4 Pintail and 18 Wigeon were counted. An imm Peregrine, 2 Hobby, Red Kite and Great Egret were noted. At least 4 Willow Emerald Damselflies were by the first bench along the Gazebo bay.
29 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Ruff were present. 4 Pintail and 16 Wigeon were counted. 2 Peregrine and 2 Hobby were noted.
25 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Snipe were present. A Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end. At least 70 Linnet were on the north shore. A Goshawk and 3 Hobby were in the area this afternoon. 3 Pintail and 2 Great Egret were noted.
26 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ruff and 2 Common Sandpiper were present. A Wheatear was on the north shore. 2 Great Egret, 3 Pintail and 2 Hobby were noted.
29 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and 1 Ruff were present. A single Wheatear was on the north shore. 3 Pintail and 14 Wigeon were counted. 2 Hobby and 2 Great Egret were noted.
I took a trip up to Rudyard Lake in North Staffordshire, to see a juvenile Baird's Sandpiper that had been found this morning. The bird showed very well on arrival with a small group of Ringed Plover. This becomes the 3rd record for Staffordshire of this transatlantic vagrant and my 2nd in the county, following a juvenile I saw at Blithfield Reservoir in November 1996. Also a flock 0f 35 Pink-footed Geese flew over. Some Video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16e7IhC1MFI
The first decent gathering of large gulls this afternoon produced a 3rd winter Caspian Gull (photo) and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls including the first juvenile/ 1st winter (photo) of the season and 3 adults. 3 Ruff, 24 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 3 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper were present. 3 Pintail, 11 Wigeon and 1 Mandarin were counted. 3 Great Egret and a Hobby were noted. 2 Wheatear were on ther north shore.
2 Ruff, 26 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 4 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe and 123 Lapwing were present. 2 Wheatear and a Stonechat were on the north shore. Today's WeBS count produced 1 Goosander, 11 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 109 Teal, 147 Shoveler, 483 Mallard, 18 Gadwall, 277 Tufted Duck, 178 Coot, 91 Moorhen, 357 Greylag Geese, 229 Canada Geese, 19 Grey Heron, 2 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, 8 GC Grebe, 11 Little Grebe, 54 Cormorant.
A late afternoon /early evening visit produced 1 Black-necked Grebe, 6 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 2 Ruff, 13 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 2 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper. 2 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end. 2 Grasshopper Warbler were along the south east bay this morning , including one trapped and ringed.
A juvenile Black-necked Grebe remains off the Chappell hide. 2 Ruff, 20 Ringed Plover, 5 LRP and 5 Dunlin were present. 2 Pintail and 3 Little Egret were noted. 2 Hobby were over the reservoir plantation.
An Osprey was seen by others over the west end early afternoon. A single Black-necked Grebe remains. 3 Ruff, 11 Ringed Plover, 5 LRP, 3 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper were present. A Wheatear was in front of the Chappell hide. 2 Swift were over the dam this afternoon. 2 Hobby, 1 Great Egret and 1 Little Egret were noted. 3 Pintail were counted. 20 Meadow Pipit were grounded at the west end this afternoon.
The 3 Black-necked Grebe were still present. 3 Ruff, 6 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 5 LRP and 1 Common Sandpiper were present. 275 Shoveler, 153 Teal, 5 Wigeon and 2 Pintail were counted. A Goshawk was east of the dam late afternoon. 2 Hobby and a Great Egret were noted.
4 Turnstone were present early morning, also 1 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP and 6 Common Sandpiper were present. Another juvenile Osprey flew thru south at 4.10pm. 5 Pintail, 4 Wigeon and 175 Shoveler were counted. 3 Black-necked Grebe remain in the south east bay. 6 Swift were over the dam this afternoon. 2 Great Egret were noted.
Another Sanderling was along the south east bay, also 1 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Common Sandpiper and 1 Snipe were present. The 3 Black-necked Grebe remain in the south east bay. 5 Pintail, 3 Wigeon and 16 Mute Swan were counted.
A bit of raptor passage this afternoon, with 2 Osprey thru. A juvenile flew thru at 1.37pm, followed by an adult at 2.45pm. This was followed by 2 Marsh Harrier thru at 1.50pm and 4pm. There was also 3 Hobby and a Peregrine. A Knot flew thru at 7.12am, followed by a juvenile Sanderling in the south east bay. 4 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 1 Black-tailed Godwit,, 4 Ruff, 7 Common Sandpiper and 1 Snipe were present. The 3 Black-necked Grebe remain. 5 Pintail, 3 Pochard, 4 Wigeon and 459 Tufted Duck were counted. 4 Swift were over the dam this morning.
Today was the regional patch all dayer. The only thing was, we were flagging by mid afternoon with the poorest return of species since we've been doing it.
85 species were recorded. Highlights were 2 adult Osprey at 9.25am, with further sightings at 2.45pm and 3.25pm. The 3 Black-necked Grebe were still present. A Whinchat and 6 Yellow Wagtail were below the dam. 3 Hobby, Red Kite and a Peregrine were present. 2 Ruff, 5 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 6 Common Sandpiper and 1 Snipe were present. 8 Swift were over the dam this morning. The Egyptian Goose record has increased to 44 today.
Another Osprey flew thru at 1.25pm, also Peregrine, 2 Hobby and Red Kite were noted. 4 Ruff, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 3 Dunlin and 5 Common Sandpiper were present. At least 40 Swift passed through today. The 3 Black-necked Grebe were in the south east bay. 7 Great Egret were noted.
A juvenile Osprey was seen around 9.25am, with possibly another bird flying thru later in the morning, also 2 juvenile Red Kite were sparring above the north wood this afternoon. The 3 Black-necked Grebe were still present. 4 Ruff, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, 3 Dunlin and 5 Common Sandpiper were present. 8 Great Egret and 4 Little Egret remain. 507 Mallard and 39 Egyptian Geese were counted. A Hobby and imm Peregrine were noted.
3 juvenile Black-necked Grebe were from the Gazebo hide. Since the 27th June, there has now been 28 birds passing through, including 16 adults and 12 juveniles. This is no doubt connected to the 35 breeding pairs that has recently been announced at Woolston Eyes in Cheshire. If you add the 6 adults that passed through in the spring, a grand total of 34 birds have been recorded at Belvide this year.
An adult Osprey was present between 11.20-12pm when it caught a fish. It was seen again over the west end at 2.05pm. 2 Hobby and a Red Kite flew over. Waders today included 6 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 LRP and 5 Common Sandpiper. 7 Great Egret and 4 Little Egret were present, including a new colour ringed bird. At least 15 Swift were present. 3 Mandarin and 3 Wigeon were noted.
An Osprey flew thru this morning, also 2 Red Kite and a Hobby flew over this afternoon. Waders today included 8 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 9 Ringed Plover, 3 LRP, 3 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper and 5 Common Sandpiper. The Black-necked Grebe was in the south east bay. 184 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon and 658 Greylag Geese were counted. 7 Great Egret and 2 Little Egret were noted.
A juvenile Little Stint dropped in this morning and was still present late afternoon. 2 juvenile Sanderling dropped in this afternoon, also 9 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 7 LRP, 3 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 7 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper and 7 Common Sandpiper were present. 2 Osprey flew south at 9.40am, also 2 Hobby and a Peregrine were noted. A Wheatear was at the west end. The Black-necked Grebe remains. 7 Great Egret and 4 Little Egret were at the west end. 6 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Mandarin were noted.
A juvenile Cattle Egret was in front of the Chappell hide late morning, then relocated to the fields along the A5, also 7 Great Egret and 4 Little Egret were present. A Whimbrel was on the north shore this morning, also 4 Greenshank, 7 Ruff, 10 Ringed Plover, 4 LRP, 5 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper and 1 Green Sandpiper. The Black-necked Grebe was still present, also 5 Wigeon and a Mandarin were counted. A Juvenile Goshawk flew over the west end this afternoon, also 2 Peregrine and 2 Hobby were noted. A juvenile Wheatear was in front of the Chappell hide. 2 Water Shrew (photo) were along the west lane.
Waders today included 5 Greenshank, 7 Ruff, 13 Ringed Plover, 6 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Snipe. A Wheatear was in front of the Chappell hide. The Black-necked Grebe was still present. A Spotted Flycatcher was along the Gazebo bay. 7 Great Egret and 2 Hobby were noted. Several Swift were present this morning .
The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was from the Gazebo hide. 15 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 6 Ruff, 9 Ringed Plover, 8 LRP and 3 Common Sandpiper were present. 3 Spotted Flycatcher were seen with 2 by the Gazebo hide and another near the west end hide. 264 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon and 1 Mandarin were counted. 7 Great Egret and 2 Hobby were noted.
The Andrew Chappell Hide is now complete and ready to use. The upper tier affording fantastic elovated views over the whole reservoir. The lower tier has disabled access and very roomy.
An 11.5 hour bash today to make the most of the promising weather conditions. Not as good as was hoped but still a few birds to see. A Bar-tailed Godwit (photo by Trish Wellings)flew thru to the west this morning, also a Whimbrel thru late morning. A Sanderling dropped in this afternoon, also 5 Dunlin, 6 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 9 Ringed Plover, 9 LRP, 2 Common Sandpiper and 3 Snipe were present. The Black-necked Grebe was still present. A Spotted Flycatcher (photo by Trish Wellings)was between the Gazebo bay and west end hide. The first 2 Pintail of the autumn were at the west end, also 3 Wigeon and 231 Shoveler were counted. 126 Pied Wagtail were on the north shore.
A single Black-necked Grebe was still present. 3 Greenshank, 5 Ruff, 12 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 8 LRP, 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper were present. A juvenile White Wagtail (photo) was at the west end with 8 Yellow Wagtail. 8 Great Egret and 8 Little Egret remain. A Hobby and Peregrine flew over. Also a juvenile male Goshawk was perched on the edge of the reservoir plantation early morning.An adult Mediterranean Gull was present this morning. 206 Shoveler, 230 Teal and a Mandarin were counted. 4 Swift were noted.
The 2 juvenile Black-necked Grebe were still present. 4 Ruff, 4 Greenshank, 4 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 LRP and 2 Ringed Plover were present. 194 Teal were counted. 8 Great Egret and a Red Kite were noted.
The 2 juvenile Black-necked Grebe were still present. A juvenile Whinchat was off the west track, also a buck Roe Deer. 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 LRP, 1 Dunlin and 1 Snipe were present. A Marsh Harrier was seen this morning. A juvenile Peregrine and Hobby flew over. 8 Great Egret were noted.
2 juvenile Black-necked Grebe were off the Gazebo bay. 3 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 7 Ringed Plover, 1 LRP, 3 Dunlin and 3 Snipe were present. 8 Great Egret, 8 Little Egret and 28 Grey Heron were at the west end. 110 Shoveler and 1 Mandarin were counted. An imm Peregrine flew over. A Whinchat and 4 Stonechat were on Hawkshutts ridge this evening.
The main highlight today was a Nightjar seen by the ringing group along the south east bay at 4.30am. This becomes the 2nd record for Belvide following a bird flushed off the dam on August 6th 1978. A Tree Pipit flew over the dam at 7am. The Black-necked Grebe remains off the dam. A juvenile Spotted Redshank (photo)was at the west end this evening till 8.17pm when it flew off south west, also 4 Ruff, 4 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and 2 LRP were present. 3 Wigeon were new arrivals. 5 Great Egret were at the west end. 2 Hobby, 1 Peregrine and 2 Red Kite were noted.
