BELVIDE BIRDING
• Friday, March 19, 2010 - Belvide Overcast/Rain from 4.10pm SW 1
| 2 Black-tailed Godwit were present briefly this morning also 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher were present. 50 Sand Martin were present this morning, with only 4 left in the afternoon. 6 Chiffchaff were scattered along the southern hedge. Wildfowl numbers are dropping with only 18 Wigeon and 55 Teal remaining. 45 Gadwall and at least 70 Goldeneye were also noted. |
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• Thursday, March 18, 2010 - Belvide Overcast SSW 4
| A noticable arrival of Sand Martin today. 50 was the most seen together, but with fluctuating numbers over the day there could have been as many as 100 passing thru. 4 Chiffchaff along the south east bay hedge were the first of the year. A Green Sandpiper was on the north shore, also 7 Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher were noted. 7 Shoveler were also present. |
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• Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - Belvide Cloudy SSW 2-3
The main highlight today was a single Avocet present on the north shore and was still present at 5.15pm at least. This is the 8th record for Belvide, and is the 3rd year in a row Avocet has been recorded. Curlew have increased to 11, also 3 Oystercatcher and 1 Redshank were noted. The first Sand Martin of the year was present briefly around midday. An adult Peregrine flew thru, a single Shelduck was a new arrival, and an adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted.
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• Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - Belvide Sunny SSW 2-3 + Possible Mew Gull at Albert Village Lake
A Green Sandpiper was at the west end late afternoon also 1 Redshank, 5 Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher were present.
This afternoon I took a trip over to Albert Village Lake to have a look at a possible 2nd Winter American Mew Gull that has been present for several days. On arrival the bird was showing well amongst a mass of BH Gulls and many Common Gulls. On the 2 hours spent on site studying the bird, left me in the mind that it was indeed an interesting bird, but I can never see it ever going any further than a possible. To me the bill wasn't particularly shorter than some of the nearby Common Gulls. The bird was on the smaller and slimmer side, only being slightly bigger than BH Gull, but could this be due to the bird being a smaller female? The neck did appear shorter than Common Gull. The head was no more rounded than Common Gull. The tertials still had some dark centres which should be absent on a 2nd winter Canus Common Gull. The bird was more impressive in flight, appearing noticeably darker grey on the upper wings. The upper wing colour gave you the impression of a Laughing Gull. The primary coverts still showed brown markings which should be lacking in a Canus Common Gull of the same age, also there was an obvious broken black tail band which again should be lacking in a 2nd winter Canus Common Gull. However, there are cases of 2nd winter canus Common Gulls showing some of the same features, which certainly clouds the issue.
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• Monday, March 15, 2010 - Belvide Overcast WNW 3
An adult Little Gull (photo) roosted this evening with 2000 BH Gulls and 2 adult Common Gull. 7 Curlew were on the north shore also 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin and 2 Redshank. A female Stonechat was on the north shore this morning. 4 Shoveler and 4 Pochard were noted.
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• Sunday, March 14, 2010 - Belvide Cloudy NW 4-5
| A poor WeBS count produced 45 Wigeon, 106 Teal, 28 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 36 Mallard, 73 Tufted Duck, 9 GC Grebe, 168 Coot, 28 Mute Swan, 50 Canada Geese and 2 Greylag Geese. 4 Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher were on the north shore. |
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• Saturday, March 13, 2010 - Belvide Overcast NW 3-4
| A single Dunlin was on the north shore briefly this morning. 8 Curlew flew in at dusk also 4 Oystercatcher were noted. An immature Peregrine flew over this morning. 85 Goldeneye including 22 drakes were counted at dusk. |
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• Friday, March 12, 2010 - Belvide Showery NW 3-4
• Thursday, March 11, 2010 - Belvide Cloudy NNW 3
• Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - Belvide Overcast NE 3
A Nordic Jackdaw was with 50+ Jackdaw in the north wood this afternoon. A single Dunlin was on the north shore also 3 Curlew and 5 Oystercatcher were present. 5 Shoveler and 45 Wigeon were noted. The ASBO pair of Great Black Backed Gulls remain causing mayhem in the gull roost. A pair of Carrion Crows killed an adult BH Gull this afternoon.
Below is a photo of one of the ASBO GBB Gulls. Ted Bundy as he is known, arrives at Belvide around early October where he spends the winter killing and eating Tufted Duck and Ruddy Duck (when they were commoner) and chasing Gulls at roost time to make them regurgitate their food. He is then joined by his girlfriend around the turn of the new year, where they spend their time together reakin havoc until mid March when they depart to breed.
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• Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Belvide Sunny am Overcast pm NE 3
• Monday, March 8, 2010 - Belvide Sunny NE 3
| 3 Curlew and 4 Oystercatcher were on the north shore. The male Stonechat was still present. Gadwall have increased to 58 also 2Shelduck, 72 Wigeon and 9 Pochard were counted. 6 Common Gull were in the gull roost. |
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• Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Belvide Sunny E 2
With overnight temperatures down to -6 degrees it was no surprise to see the reservoir 30% frozen. The redhead Smew was present until mid morning, then again briefly early afternoon, and then again from 5pm. 83 Goldeneye were counted at dusk also 107 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 36 Gadwall, 65 Wigeon and 172 Teal were present. 5 Oystercatcher were on the north shore and 33 Golden Plover flew over late morning, with another 55 this afternoon. A male Stonechat was on the north shore. The Water Rail was seen again from the Scott hide and a Peregrine was east of the dam. Goldeneye photo by Martyn Pitt
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• Saturday, March 6, 2010 - Belvide Overcast N2 Switching E 2
Pretty quiet this morning. A Water Rail (photo by Colin Steer) was showing well from the Scott hide. 2 Raven were displaying north of the reserve. 3 Curlew and 5 Red-legged Partridge were below the dam. Mute Swan have increased to 22 and Wigeon are up to 66.
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• Friday, March 5, 2010 - Belvide Cloudy/ Overcast NW 3-4
An adult Great Northern Diver was present between 10am- 11.55am when it flew off high to the west. 3 Oystercatcher and a single Curlew were on the north shore, also 100+ Golden Plover were flying around over fields to the west. 34 Gadwall, 48 Wigeon, 145 Teal and 1 Shoveler were counted.
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• Thursday, March 4, 2010 - Belvide Sunny ENE 2-3
The redhead Smew was present off the dam from 1.30pm, the female Ruddy Duck was still present, 80 Goldeneye were counted at dusk also 95 Tufted Duck were present. An adult Peregrine flew over this afternoon. 3 Curlew and 3 Oystercatcher were on the north shore.
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• Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Belvide Overcast/ Cloudy E 3-4
| The redhead Smew was present off the dam from 4.50pm. A female Ruddy Duck was the first of the year. 5 Pochard, 63 Tufted Duck, 5 Shoveler and 16 Mute Swan were counted. 3 Curlew flew in at dusk, 124 Golden Plover were in fields north of the A5, also 4 Oystercatcher were present. |
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• Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - Belvide Fair Calm
| The redhead Smew was present all day. A noticable influx of GC Grebe today with 40 present (11 yesterday). 2 Curlew were on the north shore this afternoon als 2 Oystercatcher. A Water Rail was infront of the Scott hide and a Tawny Owl was being mobbed in the reservoir plantation at 5pm. |
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• Monday, March 1, 2010 - Belvide Fair Calm/NW 1
| The redhead Smew flew into roost at 5.35pm also 77 Goldeneye, 198 Teal, 43 Wigeon, 17 Gadwall, 11 GC Grebe and 157 Coot were counted. A Water Rail was infront of the Scott hide at dusk. 2 Oystercatcher and 16 Snipe were noted. |
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• Sunday, February 28, 2010 - Belvide Morning Rain Then Cloudy NW 3-4
Oystercatcher have increased to 6 also 65 Golden Plover flew thru. 88 Goldeneye were counted at dusk. A Water Rail was along the ditch near the Gazebo hide. Long Tailed Tit Photo by Martyn Pitt.
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