BELVIDE Cloudy NW 2

 The Siberian Chiffchaff (photos)was still between the West End Hide and Gazebo bay with 2 Chiffchaff. A Bean Goose was seen briefly by Paul Smith early morning before flying off with Greylags. A juvenile female Goshawk (photo) flew over the west end aerly afternoon, also 3 Red Kite and a Peregrine were present. A single Curlew flew thru this morning, also 1 Dunlin and 10 Oystercatcher were present. A Woodcock flew out the reservoir plantation at dusk. 4 Stonechat were off the west track. 1 Mandarin and 3 Shelduck were present. A Great Egret flew thru, also 1 Little Egret was noted. The Starling roost was down to 15-20,000 this evening, but still giving a good display. The reed bed is being flattened, so probably won't last too much longer.

Finally a notice to all WMBC members. The 2026 code to the car park gate and hides will not be changed until Monday 9th March, as the guys who change them aren't available until then.

 

BELVIDE Drizzle N 2

 The first Ringed Plover of the year was seen by others on the north shore this morning, also 12 Oystercatcher. 2 Chiffchaff were near the West End Hide, including a pale grey brown bird, possibly a Siberian Chiffchaff, though I did'nt hear it call. Another great performance from the Starling murmuration with 40,000 birds dropping in front of the Scott hide at 6.15pm.

BELVIDE Afternoon Rain SW 2

 Another spectacular performance this evening from the Starling murmuration. There appeared even more birds, maybe pushing 35000. They finally dropped infont of the Scott hide at 6.13pm. At least 12 Oystercatcher and 3 Mandarin were noted.

BELVIDE Cloudy SW 2

 An unexpected 25-30,000 Starling roosted in the south east bay this evening, finally dropping in at 6.10pm. There hasn't been much of a Starling roost this winter, so this took me by surprise. 15 Golden Plover flew over this afternoon, also 11 Oystercatcher were present. A juvenile Goshawk was chasing Wood Pigeon late afternoon, also a Peregrine was noted. I've posted a video of the Starlings on You Tube. Click on the link to view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBRPvfLFP5g

BELVIDE Cloudy S 3

 A Goshawk and 2 Red Kite flew over this afternoon. 9 Oystercatcher and 268 Lapwing were counted. A Little Egret was noted. A Lesser Redpoll was along the south east bay.

BELVIDE

 News received today included a Cetti's Warbler singing at the west end . A Little Grebe was a new arrival . A Shelduck was on the north shore. 14 Oystercatcher remain.

BELVIDE Cloudy SW 3-4

 The first Redshank of the year was on the north shore, also 14 Oystercatcher and 248 Lapwing. The first Chiffchaff of the year was by the West End Hide, also a singing Cetti's Warbler. 2 Goshawk and 2 Red Kite were in the area. Today's WeBS count produced 24 Pochard, 120 Tufted Duck, 148 Wigeon, 151 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall, 73 Mallard, 105 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag Geese, 174 Coot, 1 GC Grebe, 2 Goosander, 30 Goldeneye, 23 Grey Heron, 7 Little Egret and 14 Cormorant. 40 Linnet were on the north shore.

This morning I took a trip to Lea Marston to see a Hume's Leaf Warbler that was found earlier in the week. It's only my 2nd ever in Britain, so was nice to catch up with another. The bird was along the River Tame. We found the bird calling high up in the tree canopy where it hung around in the same area for the hour we were there. The call was very similar to a Pied Wagtail.

Hume's Warbler breed in the high altidude mountains of Central Asia, specifically across the Altai Mountains, Himalayas, Afghanistan, , Pakistan, Tajikistan and into western China. They spend the winter mainly in the Indian subcontinent. 

BELVIDE 21.2.26

 News received today included an adult female Goshawk over the north wood and an imm Peregrine. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull remains. 14 Oystercatcher were present. A Cetti's Warbler was singing at the west end, also a Yellowhammer flew over the west track.

BELVIDE

News received today included The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was present this afternoon. 5 Goosander and 2 Mandarin were noted . 2 Cetti's Warbler were present.

BELVIDE Drizzle NW 2

 14 Oystercatcher and 310 Lapwing were on the north shore. 4 Goosander were noted.

BELVIDE

 News received today included 14 Oystercatcher and 4 Goosander. 

BELVIDE Cloudy N 1

 6 Pintail (3 drakes) were new arrivals,  also 5 Goosander and 174 Coot were counted. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull roosted this evening. A juvenile Goshawk and Red Kite flew over. 13 Oystercatcher and 266 Lapwing were present.

BELVIDE

 News received today included the first 2 Yellowhammer of the year below the dam. 14 Oystercatcher were still present. A juvenile Goshawk, Peregrine and Red Kite were seen. 3 Goosander, 5 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat and 15 Siskin were noted.

BELVIDE Rain S 2-3

 Another 13 White-fronted Geese dropped in the field behind the west marsh at 9.36am before being scared off by a gas gun at 9.45am and flew off north east. A juvenile Goshawk flew over early morning, also a juvenile Peregrine was present. 14 Oystercatcher were on the north shore, also a single Golden Plover flew over. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was present this morning. 366 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 2 Goosander, 1 Little Grebe and 4 GC Grebe were counted. The Reservoir is now full after all the recent heavy rain.

BELVIDE Sunny N 1

 An excellent days birding, enhanced by some beautiful sunshine. At 10.31am, a flock of 55 Russian White-fronted Geese arrived from the north east and circled the reservoir several times before departing west at 10.47am. The 5 Tundra Bean Geese appeared again on the north shore all afternoon and have probably just been feeding in the surrounding fields on the previous days. A Barnacle Goose dropped in late afternoon. 5 Golden Plover on the north shore this afternoon were the first of the year, also 11 Oystercatcher were present. 2 Goosander, 40 Goldeneye, 305 Teal and 157 Wigeon were counted. 2 Stonechat were off the west track. 6 Goshawk were up and displaying in the surrounding area with 5 adults. Also a juvenile in the north wood late afternoon. Also 2 Red Kite and a Peregrine were noted. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was present briefly this afternoon, also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. 6 Little Egret were noted . 

BELVIDE

 News received today included 7 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Goosander and a Peregrine.

BELVIDE Light Rain NE 2

 There was no sign of any Tundra Bean Geese today. 7 Oystercatcher, 3 Little Egret, 1 Goosander and 46 Pochard were counted.

BELVIDE Patchy Rain SW 2

 The main highlight today were 5 Tundra Bean Geese on the north shore that were still present late afternoon. The Black-tailed Godwit was still present , also 5 Oystercatcher and 1 Goosander.

BELVIDE

 No news received today. 

BELVIDE

News received today included 6 Curlew on the north shore this morning were the first of the year, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Oystercatcher were present. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull remains. 2 Peregrine and 1 Goosander were noted. 

BELVIDE Overcast S 1-2

 The main highlight today were a flock of 77 White-fronted Geese that flew over to the south at 9.32am. This falls just short of the record total of 80 on the 10th January 1970. They were later tracked flying over Wombourne and Wall Heath. A Black-tailed Godwit was a new arrival,  also 4 Oystercatcher. The 2nd Winter Caspian Gull was present all afternoon and joined by another 2nd winter bird in the roost. Also 5 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. A juvenile Goshawk, 2 Red Kite and an adult Peregrine were all seen. 1 Pintail, 260 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 1 Mandarin, 2 Goosander and 39 Goldeneye were counted. A Stonechat was off the west track. 5 Little Egret were noted.

BELVIDE

 News received today included the 2nd winter Caspian Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull, also a near adult summer Mediterranean Gull roosted.A Goshawk was below the dam early morning. 1 Great Egret, 1 Little Egret, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Pintail, 6 Goosander, 32 Goldeneye, 2 Water Rail and 25 Siskin were noted.

BELVIDE Rain ESE 2

 The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was still present. 4 Oystercatcher were on the north shore. 4 Mandarin, 1 Pintail and 41 Pochard were counted.

BELVIDE

 No news received today.

BELVIDE

 News received today included 3 Oystercatcher and 1 Dunlin. 3 Pintail, 33 Pochard, 2 Goosander and a Mandarin were counted. The 2nd winter Caspian Gull was reported. 25 Siskin and a Peregrine were noted.

BELVIDE

 No news received today 

BELVIDE

The 2nd winter Caspian Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. 8 Pintail (4 pairs) were at the west end, also 2 Goosander and 30 Pochard were counted. 1 Oystercatcher was noted.  

BELVIDE

 An enjoyable days birding. A near adult summer Mediterranean Gull roosted this evening, also the 2nd winter Caspian Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull. A juvenile Goshawk was seen a few times. Oystercatcher have increased to 4, also 17 Snipe were along the south east bay. 72 Goldeneye is a noticeable increase and by far the highest count of the winter. Also 3 Goosander, 127 Tufted Duck, 23 Pochard, 323 Teal, 279 Wigeon, 75 Gadwall, 1 Pintail, 2 Mandarin and 3 GC Grebe were counted. The Ruddy Shelduck with yellow rings on each leg was still present and relocated to the field below the Whitehouse this afternoon. 70 Siskin were along the south east bay. 4 Little Egret were noted.