BELVIDE 31.12.25 Sunny NW 2

 An adult female Goshawk (photo) flew over the Scott hide this morning, also an adult Peregrine was on the north shore. 3 Shelduck, 168 Gadwall, 357 Wigeon, 246 Teal, 1 Mandarin, 52 Pochard, 117 Tufted Duck, 18 Goldeneye and 13 GC Grebe were counted.

The year ended on 169 species, which is slightly down on previous years. I managed to see 165 species and 298 visits made. Personal highlights for me were the 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on October 11th and the juvenile Honey Buzzard on September 21st. 

I would like to thank you all for being there for me this year, and listening. You know who you all are, as it's been a very challenging year in my personal life.  Belvide has been a life saver.

BELVIDE 30.12.25

 No news received today 

BELVIDE 29.12.25

News received today included 2 Little Egret and a Great Egret.

BELVIDE 28.12.25 Overcast E 2-3

 An afternoon visit produced 7 Goosander , 3 drake Mandarin and 25 Pochard. There was no sign of the White-fronted Geese or Green-winged Teal today.

BELVIDE 27.12.25

 News received today included the 2 Russian White-fronted Geese still on the north shore. A Marsh Harrier flew thru early afternoon. 6 Little Egret left the north wood roost this morning. 2 Shelduck and 2 Redpoll were noted. 8000+ Starling left the Scott hide roost this morning.

BELVIDE 26.12.25

 News received today included the 2 Russian White-fronted Geese on the north shore. The Green-winged Teal was still present, also 5 Goosander were noted.

BELVIDE 25.12.25 Sunny E 4-5

 The 2 White-fronted Geese were still present at the west end this morning with 271 Greylag Geese and a Bar Headed Goose. The Green-winged Teal remains at the west end, also 217 Coot were counted. A Brambling was in the car park at dawn. A Goshawk and Peregrine were noted. 6 Little Egret left the north wood roost this morning . 

BELVIDE 24.12.25 Cloudy E 3-4

 The easterly wind did the trick and dropped 2 adult Russian White-fronted Geese on the north shore. They commuted between there and the field behind the north wood off the A5. The drake Green-winged Teal remains at the west end, also 127 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler ,16 Pochard and 1 Goosander were counted. 4 Little Egret were at the west end. An imm Peregrine was buzzing the wildfowl and Egrets, also a Red Kite and a Goshawk were noted. A male Brambling was at the Gazebo feeders. A 2nd winter Caspian Gull (photo) was prersent this morning.

BELVIDE 23.12.25

 No news received today.

BELVIDE 22.12.25

 News received today included the drake Green Winged Teal at the west end, also a drake Goosander.

BELVIDE 21.12.25 Overcast SE 2-3

 The drake Green-winged Teal remains at the west end, also 109 Gadwall and a Shelduck were counted. A 3rd Winter Caspian Gull (photo) adult Yellow Legged Gull and GBB Gull were present this afternoon.

BELVIDE 20.12.25 Cloudy SE 2-3

 The drake Green Winged Teal remains at the west end. A Brambling was seen in the reservoir plantation. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. 15 Siskin were along the Gazebo bay and 2 Redpoll were along the south east bay. A Little Egret was noted.

BELVIDE 19.12.25

 News received today included the drake Green Winged Teal still at the west end and a Little Egret.

BELVIDE 18.12.25

 No news received today. 

BELVIDE 17.12.25

 The only news received today was the Green-winged Teal still at the west end.

BELVIDE 16.12.25

 No news received today 

BELVIDE 15.12.25

 News received today included a female Common Scoter off the Chappell hide and the Green-winged Teal at the west end.

BELVIDE 14.12.25 Cloudy S 3-4

 The drake Green Winged Teal was from the Chappell hide with 500 Teal, also 116 Gadwall and 3 Goosander were counted. 2 imm Peregrine were at the west end this afternoon. 1 Little Egret was noted.

BELVIDE 13.12.25 Cloudy SSW 2

 The drake Green Winged Teal was on the north shore this morning, also 5 Shelduck. A juvenile male Goshawk flew out the north wood this morning. 2 Great Egret flew south this morning, also 2 Little Egret were present. 2 Cetti's Warbler were noted with singles from the Gazebo and west end hides.

BELVIDE 12.12.25

 News received today included the drake Green Winged Teal was still present, also a single Shelduck. A Stonechat was off the west track. A Water Rail and 20 Siskin were along the south east bay. 

BELVIDE 11.12.25

 News received today included the drake Green Winged Teal from the Chappell hide and 2 Little Egret.

BELVIDE 10.12.25 Cloudy W 3

 The drake Green-winged Teal was showing well along the south shore between the Chappell and Gazebo hide this afternoon.

BELVIDE 9.12.25

 No news received today 

BELVIDE 8.12.25 Cloudy SW 2

 The drake Green Winged Teal remains on the north shore , also 120 Gadwall and 46 Mute Swan were counted. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was present from 2pm. 2 Stonechat, 1 Little Egret and a Peregrine were noted. 

BELVIDE 7.12.25 Rain SSE 2

 Today's WeBS count produced the drake Green Winged Teal, 694 Teal, 262 Wigeon, 97 Gadwall, 438 Mallard, 15 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 97 Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 9 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 8 GC Grebe, 133 Coot, 1 Water Rail, 103 Greylag Geese, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Egyptian Geese, 12 Mute Swan. 2 juvenile Goshawk and 2 Peregrine were in the area. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.

BELVIDE 6.12.25

 News received today included the drake Green Winged Teal still present on the north shore opposite the Gazebo hide. A Great Egret was along the south east bay. A pair of Stonechat were off the west track. A Peregrine was noted. Tomorrow's work party has been cancelled due to the poor weather forecast . 

Today I took the trip down to Dawlish Warren, where a Lesser Crested Tern was discovered on Wednesday. It's been 36 years since my last one off Musselburgh Lagoons. We arrived at dawn to the news that the bird had been seen at first light. However, the bird flew off up the estuary and out of view. For the next 4-5 hours the bird showed very distantly in the middle of the estuary on the falling tide, which was very frustrating. In the end, the bird gave itself up and flew down the estuary and settled on the mud off Cockwood. Here, we had fantastic views as it was pushed closer and closer on the rising tide. I think this is only the 10th record for Britain and the first for twenty years. Some video can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKT_gfV94AY

BELVIDE 5.12.25 Cloudy SSE 3

 A drake Green-winged Teal was found by Ken Mather amongst 565 Teal between the Gazebo and Chappell hides this afternoon. This becomes the 7th record for the reserve and follows a bird that was present earlier this year between 12th-19th January. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was again present late afternoon. 2 juvenile Goshawk were around the reservoir at the same time this afternoon, with one beyond the dam and the other raiding the north wood. A Peregrine was noted. A Water Rail was in the west marsh. A Stonechat was off the west lane. 30 Shoveler were counted.

BELVIDE 4.12.25

 No news received today.

BELVIDE 3.12.25

 No news received today . 

BELVIDE 2.12.25 Fair S 1-2

 The 2nd winter Caspian Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. A Peregrine killed a Wood Pigeon along the south east bay late afternoon. 486 Teal, 220 Wigeon, 111 Gadwall and 12 Goldeneye counted.

BELVIDE 1.12.25

News received today included a Peregrine and single Little Egret. 5 Siskin were along the Gazebo bay.