The Wood Sandpiper was still present along with a Green Sandpiper along the west shore, also 1 Redshank, 7 Common Sandpiper, 18 LRP, 2 Snipe and 2 Oystercatcher were present. An adult Mediterranean Gull was present this afternoon. 2 Great Egret and 6 Little Egret were noted. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly was in front of the Hawkshutts hide. A Willow Emerald was along the ditch near the west end hide.
The juvenile Wood Sandpiper was still at the west end, also 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Ringed Plover and 18 LRP were present. The drake Common Scoter remains off the dam. A Marsh Harrier flew thru at 11am, also Hobby, Peregrine and Red Kite were noted. 2 Great Egret and 10 Little Egret were at the west end. 17 Little Grebe were counted.
News received today included a juvenile Wood Sandpiper at the west end, also 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, 14 LRP and 2 Snipe were present. The drake Common Scoter remains off the dam. An impressive 21 Grey Wagtail were along the dam this morning. A Green Woodpecker was at the west end. 2 Great Egret and 7 Little Egret were noted.
A juvenile Wood Sandpiper along the south west shore was a new arrival this afternoon, though there was no further sign late afternoon. 2 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 20 LRP and 14 Common Sandpiper were present. The drake Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe remain off the dam. 2 Great Egret and 7 Little Egret were noted.
A drake Common Scoter off the dam was a new arrival, also 2 juvenile Black-necked Grebe. A Turnstone was at the west end, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plover, 16 LRP, 19 Common Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin were present. 11 Little Egret and 2 Great Egret were at the west end. 2 juvenile Yellow Wagtail were along the south shore. 2 Hobby, 2 Red Kite and a Common Tern were noted.
This morning I found an adult White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore with 2 Dunlin at 7.54am. It was present till 8.25am, when it flew off high south east. This becomes the 3rd record for Belvide, following the first record on the 6th August 2022 and the ridiculous flock of 8 on the 11th October 2025.
2 Turnstone dropped in at 8.40am, also 5 Ringed Plover, 17 LRP, 1 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher and 13 Common Sandpiper were present. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was in the south east bay. 7 Little Egret and a Common Tern were noted. 1 Hobby flew over.
The main highlight today was Belvide's first ever Stone Curlew that graced the north shore all day. A juvenile bird, found this morning by me and Paul Smith looking from off the dam. It started off along the shoreline below the north wood, before moving further west and showed well for a short time from the Hawkshutts hide late afternoon. I think this becomes only the 4th record for Staffordshire and the first available to all.
Other news today included a Turnstone dropping in late morning on the south shore, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 9 Common Sandpiper and 17 LRP were present. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was agian present this afternoon, also a Hobby flew over. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe remains off the dam. 11 Little Egret and a Great Egret were at the west end. 140 Moorhen were counted.
The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was still off the dam. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was again present today. 2 Great Egret and 9 Little Egret were at the west end. 9 LRP, 6 Common Sandpiper and 2 Snipe were noted.
The Chappell hide has now been taken down in preparation for the new hide that will be constructed in the next few weeks.
A juvenile Black-necked Grebe was still present. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was touring around the reservoir this afternoon. 10 Common Sandpiper and 15 LRP were present. 1 Great Egret and 10 Little Egret were at the west end including a colour ringed individual. 20 Teal and a Wigeon were noted.
The 4 Black-necked Grebe were still present. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was present from late morning to early afternoon. 10 Common Sandpiper and 11 LRP were present. 2 Great Egret and 9 Little Egret were at the west end. 1 Wigeon and 25 Egyptian Geese were noted.
DNA analysis has finally come back from the Chiffchaff that was present between 27th February- 11th March as genetic Siberian Tristis Chiffchaff
An adult Arctic Tern (photo) off the dam was a new arrival. The 4 Black-necked Grebe were still present, also 28 GC Grebe, 17 Teal and 25 Egyptian Geese were counted. 2 Great Egret and 7 Little Egret were at the west end. 8 Common Sandpiper, 11 LRP and 2 Snipe were noted.
4 Black-necked Grebe including 3 adults and a juvenile were off the dam. Another juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over early afternoon. 17 LRP and 8 Common Sandpiper were present. 2 Great Egret and 8 Little Egret were at the west end. A drake Wigeon was noted.
Today's WeBS count produced 4 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Little Grebe, 24 GC Grebe, 13 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 240 Mallard, 25 Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 125 Tufted Duck, 6 Pochard,, 24 Egyptian Geese, 160 Canada Geese, 46 Greylag Geese, 67 Mute Swan, 884 Coot, 2 Great Egret, 4 Little Egret, 13 Grey Heron, 55 Cormorant, 1 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpiper, 17 LRP, 61 Lapwing and 1 Kingfisher. A male and female Redstart (photo) were on Hawkshutts ridge. A Hobby was noted.
This afternoon, I took a trip down to Eastleach Downs, Gloucestershire to see my 2nd Long-tailed Shrike in the last few weeks. The bird has been present since the 8th July, but it's presence has only just come to light. The bird showed well on arrival along a hedge close to the road.
Firstly, The Spotted Redshank I thought I heard yesterday was wrong. There is something else calling and sounding like a distant Spotshank from the Chappell hide, that I can't pin point what it is?
A Whimbrel flew south at 8.03am, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Common Sandpiper and 18 LRP were present. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe remains off the dam. The juvenile Mediterranean Gull was present this morning. 2 Great Egret and 6 Little Egret were at the west end. A Little Grebe was feeding 2 chicks off the Scott hide reed bed. 2 Hobby and 3 Red Kite were noted. At least 20 Small Red Eyed Damselflies (photo) were on the pool inside the Chappell bund.
A Spotted Redshank was heard only flying over at 5.05pm but couldn't be located anywhere on the reservoir. A yellow wing tagged JR juvenile Marsh Harrier was present this afternoon. Details when I get them. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was still present, also 7 Little Grebe. The juvenile Mediterranean Gull was again present on the Chappell bund, also at least 12 Common Gull. A Redshank was along the dam, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 LRP and 6 Common Sandpiper were present. 2 Great Egret and 7 Little Egret were at the west end. A juvenile Green Woodpecker was at the west end. 2 Redstart was on Hawkshutts ridge this evening. 17 Egyptian Geese, 23 Teal and 15 Shoveler were count
4 Black-necked Grebe were off the dam , with 2 new adults arriving overnight. The first juvenile Mediterranean Gull (photo) of the season was on the Chappell bund this evening, also 7 Common Gull. 1 Greenshank, 10 Common Sandpiper, 20 LRP and a Snipe were present. 3 drake Wigeon, 18 Teal, and 240 Mallard were counted. 4 Little Egret were noted.
The adult and juvenile Black-necked Grebe remain off the dam. A drake Wigeon was a new arrival. 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 23 LRP and 6 Common Sandpiper were present. 17 Common Gull (photos) including 2 adults and 15 1st summers off the Chappell hide was a notable number for July, also 2 Yellow-legged Gull.
An adult female Ruff (photo) at the west end was a new arrival, also 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 25 LRP and 7 Common Sandpiper were present. The 2 Black-necked Grebe were still off the dam. A noticeable increase in Gulls with a few hundred LBB Gulls, 1 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull and 7 Common Gulls. A Red Kite and Peregrine flew over. 6 Little Egret were noted.
The adult and juvenile Black-necked Grebe were still off the dam. 1 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Common Sandpiper and 20 LRP were present. A Hobby and Peregrine were noted.
2 Black-necked Grebe were still present from the Scott hide, including 1 adult and 1 juvenile. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew thru east at 3.45pm. Also 3 Peregrine, including an adult, 1st summer and juvenile. 1 Red Kite and a Hobby were noted. 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 7 Common Sandpiper and 18 LRP were present. 15 Teal, 206 Tufted Duck, 1 Shelduck and 6 Little Grebe were counted. 4 Little Egret were noted. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was present early morning.
The Black-necked Grebe passage continues with 5 present today including 4 adults and a juvenile between the Chappell hide and dam. A Greenshank dropped in at 10am, also a Redshank and 8 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 20 LRP were at the west end. A Goshawk was beyond the dam this morning, also 2 Red Kite including a fresh juvenile. A 1st summer Peregrine flew over. A new 2nd brood of 7 Shoveler ducklings were opposite the Gazebo hide.. 3 juvenile Yellow Wagtail were on the north shore. An adult Willow Warbler was along the south east bay. 11 Teal and 6 Little Egret were noted. 22 GC Grebe and 3 Little Grebe were counted.
News received today included an imm Marsh Harrier thru west at 12.40pm. 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Common Sandpiper were present. 3 Little Egret were on the north shore. A Clouded Yellow was at the west end.
A quick afternoon visit produced a juvenile Redshank, 27 LRP, 9 Common Sandpiper and 4 Little Egret.
A 1st summer Marsh Harrier was along the south east bay late morning. The 2 Black-necked Grebe were still present. 1 Black-tailed Godwit was at the west end, also 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Common Sandpiper, 22 LRP and 10 Oystercatcher were counted. 6 Little Egret were noted. A Clouded Yellow was again seen at the west end. There were many Red-veined Darter (photo) from the West end and Chappell hides.
The 2 adult Black-necked Grebe remain at the west end. 2 juvenile Great Egret were new arrivals, also 6 Little Egret were noted. A Black-tailed Godwit was on the north shore. 9 Common Sandpiper were along the dam. 15 LRP were counted, also a new family of 3 chicks were on the north shore. 195 Tufted Duck were counted + a new brood of 11 ducklings at the west end. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly was at the west end.
Yesterday, I took the trip to Crail in Fife to see a Long-tailed Shrike. We arrived at first light and were watching it by 5am. The bird was elusive in the cool overcast conditions, but once it warmed up a bit, the bird performed much better.
This becomes the 2nd record for Britain following a bird on the Isle of Harris on the Western Isles in 2000. Long-tailed Shrike breed in much of South Asia and west to Iran. They have a distinctive black mask that goes over the bill. Greyish head and upper mantle fusing into warm rusty brown lower mantle, flanks and rump. The tail is noticeably longer than other Shrike species.
News received today included 11 Little Egret and 4 Common Sandpiper. I'm on my way back from Scotland after successfully seeing a Long-tailed Shrike in Fife. I will put some photos and a write up much later.
3 Black-necked Grebe were at the west end including 2 adults and a juvenile. 7 Black-tailed Godwit were on the north shore, also 5 Redshank, 8 Common Sandpiper, 17 LRP and 123 Lapwing. The Common Tern chick on the north shore has fledged. A Bullfinch was by the Gazebo hide, which is noteworthy of late. 3 juvenile Stonechat and 3 Yellowhammer were off the west track. 4 Little Egret were noted.
A pair of Black-necked Grebe between the Chappell and West End Hides were new arrivals and part of a post breeding influx from elsewhere. These are the 7th and 8th birds in the last week. 2 Black-tailed Godwit were on the north shore, also 9 Common Sandpiper along the dam, 1 Redshank and 22 LRP were counted. A pair of Yellow Wagtail have successfully bred on the north shore with at least 3 juveniles being fed along the shore line this morning. 2 juvenile Stonechat were off the west track. A Peregrine flew over this morning. 4 Little Egret and a Mandarin were noted. The first 2 Tufted Duck broods have appeared with 10 and 1 ducklings.
The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was at the west end but no sign of any adults. A juvenile Goshawk was being mobbed by a Kestrel high over the west end this afternoon. 7 Common Sandpiper and 15 LRP were counted. 5 Little Egret were noted.
The 4 Black-necked Grebe were still present in the south east bay, with 3 moving to the west end late afternoon. 2 Common Sandpiper were along the dam, also 10 Oystercatcher were present, including 2 pairs with 2 growing chicks. 2 Red Kite and a Hobby flew over. A single Little Egret was noted. 11 Teal were counted.
4 Black-necked Grebe including 3 adults and a juvenile were between the Scott and Chappell hides. 2 Black-tailed Godwit were along the south west shore, also 2 Common Sandpiper were present. A 1st summer Hobby was over the Scott hide, also a Red Kite over. 4 Little Egret were on the north shore. 21 GC Grebe and 7 Teal were counted.
