BELVIDE 21.1.25 Cloudy SW 2

 A pair of Black-necked Grebe off the Chappell hide were new arrivals. A Great Egret and 206 Lapwing were at the west end. 7 Shelduck were noted.

BELVIDE 20.1.25 Overcast SW 1-2

 This evening's WinGS survey produced a 1st winter Caspian Gull (photo) 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 179 Herring Gull, 356 LBB Gull, 1510 BH Gull and 1 Common Gull. A Great Egret and 25 Shelduck were on the north shore. A male Stonechat was at the west end.

BELVIDE 19.1.25 Overcast S 1-2

 The Green-winged Teal was at the west end, also 20 Shelduck and 3 Goosander were counted. A Great Egret was on the north shore this afternoon. A juvenile male Goshawk and Peregrine were in the area.

I nipped over to the I54 just off Lawn Lane this afternoon to see a Black Redstart that was found by Mark Foster on Friday. Some nice views were had as the bird fed along the west side of the unit and along the side track.

BELVIDE 18.1.25

 News received today included a report of the Slavonian Grebe on Bird Guides, despite many observers there today and no sign up to early afternoon. The Green-winged Teal was again on the north shore opposite the Gazebo hide, also 24 Shelduck were counted. 37 Siskin and 2 Redpoll were along the Gazebo bay. 

I've had a day out down Cornwall to see a pale morph Booted Eagle that has been in the Marazion area all week. We first saw the bird around 8.45am as it left it's roost site to fly north towards Crowlas. Not long after, we had fantastic views of the bird flying up and down a hill side close to the road. It also perched up a few times, which was nice to see.

I have seen one other Booted Eagle, back in 1999 not far away at Drift Reservoir. At the time it was placed on Category D, meaning there was a possibility it was an escape. This has never gone down too well with the birding community and I have since heard that this bird is going to be reviewed.

BELVIDE 17.1.25 Overcast SW 1

 A Slavonian Grebe was found in the south east bay by Kay Donaghy this morning. It later relocated to in front of the Gazebo hide where it loafed around till dusk. The Green-winged Teal was again on the north shore opposite the Gazebo hide but could be elusive at times. 35 Shelduck on the north shore becomes a new reserve record count, also 4 Pintail and a Goosander were noted. 3 Little Egret flew in to roost.

BELVIDE 16.1.25 Fog am/ Sunny pm SW 1

 The Green-winged Teal was still present on the north shore opposite the Gazebo hide this afternoon. 2 Smew were seen by others this morning but there was no sign of any this afternoon. 17 Shelduck and 1 Goosander were present. A juvenile Goshawk flew across the reservoir at dusk.

BELVIDE 15.1.25 Fog am/Sunny pm SW 1

 The Green-winged Teal was present again on the north shore opposite the west end hide this afternoon. The 3 redhead Smew were along the south east bay this afternoon and could often hide away in the margins below the ringing station. 6 Shelduck and a Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 14.1.25 Overcast S 1

 The 3 redhead Smew were still present, though mobile. 3 Goosander, 2 Mandarin, 4 Egyptian Geese and 2 Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE 13.1.25 Overcast S 2

 The 3 redhead Smew were back together again but there was no sign of the Green-winged Teal with far fewer Teal present. A Red Kite over the west end was new for the year. A Great Egret was present briefly this morning. 20 Siskin were along the Gazebo bay. 6 Shelduck were noted.

BELVIDE 12.1.25 Overcast am/Sunny pm S 1

 The main highlight today was a drake Green-winged Teal on the ice opposite the Gazebo hide. This becomes the 6th record for the reserve and the first since January/February 2022. The redhead Smew was from the Chappell hide, also 16 Shelduck, 170 Gadwall, 4 Mandarin 2 2 Goosander and 4 Little Grebe were counted. A pair of Stonechat were in the west marsh.

BELVIDE 11.1.25 Cloudy Calm

 Overnight temperatures were again down to -5 degrees resulting in the reservoir being 95% frozen. This has unfortunately pushed off the Lesser Scaup after a 147 day stay. A single redhead Smew was from the Chappell hide, also 22 Goldeneye, 303 Tufted Duck, 60 Pochard, 152 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 558 Mallard, 2 Mandarin, 20 Shelduck and 3 Little Grebe were counted. 2 male Stonechat were at the west end. A Mistle Thrush along the south east bay was new for the year.

BELVIDE 10.1.25 Sunny Calm

Overnight temperatures dropped to -5 degrees resulting in the reservoir being 75% frozen. The 3 redhead Smew were still present, with 2 off the dam and the other from the Gazebo hide. The Lesser Scaup was showing well from the Gazebo hide this afternoon, also 272 Tufted Duck, 55 Pochard, 2 Goosander,  15 Shelduck, 6 Pintail, 560 Teal, 191 Wigeon, 108 Gadwall, 482 Mallard, 49 Shoveler, 2 Mandarin, 266 Coot, 27 GC Grebe and 2 Little Grebe were counted. A Goshawk was hunting Wood Pigeon this morning.

BELVIDE 9.1.25 Sunny W 2

 The 3 redhead Smew were again present today, the first time since Christmas eve. The Lesser Scaup was from the Gazebo hide, also 540 Teal, 160 Wigeon, 5 Shelduck, 482 Mallard, 49 Shoveler, 2 Mandarin and 23 GC Grebe. Some footage of the Smew can be seen here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF-L5XEPyFc

BELVIDE 8.1.25 Overcast N 1

 The Lesser Scaup was off the Chappell hide, also 2 Pintail, 3 Shelduck, 1 Goosander and 311 Mallard were counted. A pair of Stonechat were in the west marsh. A single adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 GBB Gull roosted.

BELVIDE 7.1.25 Cloudy W 2

The Lesser Scaup was off the Chappell hide, also 2 Pintail, 344 Teal and 14 GC Grebe were counted. An adult and 1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. A Goshawk raided the reservoir plantation late afternoon, also a Peregrine, 2 Little Egret, 1 Redpoll and1 Snipe were noted.

BELVIDE 6.1.25

 News received today included the Lesser Scaup off the dam and 2 Little Grebe.

BELVIDE 5.1.25 Overnight Snow/Murky ESE 1-2

 The Lesser Scaup was still present. A pair of Mandarin were new for the year, also 242 Teal were counted. An adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 GBB Gull and 7 Common Gulls roosted.

BELVIDE 4.1.25 Overcast S 2

 A male Brambling at the west end was new for the year. The Lesser Scaup remains off the dam, also 2 drake Pintail, 117 Wigeon and 8 GC Grebe were counted. 3 Stonechat and 17 Siskin were off the west track. 3 Little Egret and 4 Snipe were noted.

BELVIDE 3.1.24

 News received today included a Great Egret flew thru early morning was new for the year, also a Little Egret was noted. The Lesser Scaup remains off the dam, also a single Shelduck. 3 Stonechat were at the west end. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Common Gull roosted this evening.

BELVIDE 2.1.25 Sunny N 2

7 New additions for the year included a 1st winter Caspian Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull in this evening's gull roost. Also Kingfisher, 30 Lapwing, 2 Little Grebe, Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail. 24 Pintail including 14 drakes dropped in at 11am. The Lesser Scaup was still present, also 279 Tufted Duck, 81 Pochard, 15 Goldeneye, 51 Gadwall, 110 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 137 Coot and 5 GC Grebe were counted. 14 Snipe were along the south east bay. 2 male Stonechat were at the west end. A Goshawk and Peregrine were in the area.

BELVIDE 1.1.25 Overcast W 2

 75 species were recorded on the reserve today. The Lesser Scaup remains off the dam, also 14 Pintail, 222 Teal, 34 Shoveler, 9 Goldeneye and 1 Goosander were counted. A Goshawk and Peregrine were in the area. 2 Stonechat and 3 Yellowhammer were at the west end. 2 Water Rail were below the Scott hide. 3 Little Egret left the north wood roost early morning. 6 Siskin and 3 Redpoll were noted.