The immature Shag was still present off the dam wall. 2 Little Egret were at the west end. A Green Sandpiper was along the Gazebo bay also 1 Redshank and 96 Golden Plover were present. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore and 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.

A message to permit holders. Work will start tomorrow on the extension to the car park area. The work is estimated to take 3 - 4 days, so there will be limited parking available during this time. Thank you for your co-operation.

Hughie King has kindly sent me some video grabs of the wader at Belvide today that several observers consider to be a Baird's Sandpiper. I would like to start a debate on this bird to see what others think. The video grabs are poor so I dont know if they give a true reflection on the bird.

I can only comment on the video grabs but I feel the bird looks a little on the dumpy side and not attenuated enough. It also hasn't got that flat backed look about it. The bill does look interesting though. I only wish I had seen it with my own eyes.

Please post your thought in the comments section.

 This afternoon a small wader has been seen which several observers are happy  was a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. The bird flew off to the south west and wasn't seen again. Video footage has been taken so watch this space. The immature Shag was still present mainly feeding along the dam wall and also roosting there. 2 Little Egret dropped in late morning. 2 Green Sandpiper were mobile also 1 Redshank and 85 Golden Plover were present. A very poor WeBS count produced 125 Teal, 29 Wigeon, 180 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 6 Pochard, 30 Tufted Duck, 4 Ruddy Duck, 80 Coot, 65 GC Grebe, 134 Cormorant, 2 Greylag Geese and 6 Mute Swan.

A very good days birding. An immature SNOW BUNTING was found late morning feeding on the south shore infront of the West End Hide. The bird showed well and was still present late afternoon. This is the first record since a single bird on the 17th-18th November 1996. The most significant bird however was an immature SHAG found late afternoon while doing the gull roost. Someone had entered a Shag in the log book for yesterday, they clearly didn't realise how rare this bird is at Belvide as it's the first record since January 1988!!

2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 90 Golden Plover, 50 Snipe, 477 Teal, 123 Cormorant and 1 Goosander were also noted today.

Today Bernie Smith found a 1st winter Great Northern Diver (photo by George Bell) which was present between 1030-11.25am when it flew off east.  A 1st winter Kittiwake flew thru to the west at 3.15pm and 6 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. 4 Green Sandpiper remain also 1 Redshank and 212 Golden Plover were present. The Chiffchaff was along the south east bay late afternoon.

4 Green Sandpiper were again off the fisherman's car park also 9 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 36 Snipe and 507 Golden Plover were present. 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present from 2.30pm. A female Goosander (photo) 3 Ruddy Duck and 55 GC Grebe were noted. The female Stonechat was on the north shore and at least 1000 Fieldfare were below the dam. The Snow Goose was still present at the west end with the Greylag flock.

The Little Egret was still at the west end this afternoon. 8 Dunlin remain also 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 245 Golden Plover were present. 2500 LBB Gulls roosted this evening also 3 GBB Gull and 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls. 2 Ruddy Duck were at the west end and the Snow Goose was with 226 Greylag Geese.

I have just received information back for the drake Pochard we had for several weeks with the light blue bill saddle. The bird was banded in Paris, France on the 29th January 08. It had been logged many times around the Paris area but this is the first sighting away from there.

The 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper was still present also 1 Dunlin, 3 Green Sandpiper, 548 Golden Plover and 38 Snipe were present. A Snow Goose (photo by Martyn Pitt) dropped in with 249 Greylag Geese this morning. 540 Teal were counted.

The 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper was still present infront of the Scott hide also 2 Dunlin, 3 Green Sandpiper and 500 Golden Plover were present. A female Merlin was at the west end at 2.25pm then flew north. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in the pre roost. At least 500 Fieldfare were around the reserve this afternoon. A notice to permit holders. A work party is planned on Sunday Morning to burn the Willows that have been cut down. Meet at the Scott hide at 0930.

 Photo of Mistle Thrush near Scott hide.

A 1st winter drake Red-breasted Merganser (photo) was present until 1.30pm, but there was no sign after. An adult Kittiwake (photo) dropped in between 1pm-1.10pm. The 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper was still present also 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 430 Golden Plover. 5 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening including 4 adults and a 3rd winter. A single drake Ruddy Duck is note worthy these days also 48 GC Grebe, 1 Little Grebe and 74 Cormorant were noted. An immature Peregrine was present this afternoon.

A male Merlin (photo) was perched in a tree at the west end between 3.05-3.15pm when it flew off to the east. The 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper remains, mainly between the Scott and Gazebo hides. A single Redshank was a new arrival also 3 Green Sandpiper and 427 Golden Plover were present. 5 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. The female Stonechat was on the north shore also 132 Linnet. 72 Cormorant were counted.