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.

A very late 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper (photo) ranged between the west end and Scott hide. This is the latest bird on record at Belvide, the previous latest being 22nd October. A single Ringed Plover was also new, Golden Plover have increased to 332 and 4 Green Sandpiper were off the Fisherman's car park. The Linnet flock has increased to 85 on the north shore. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.

A 1st winter Black-necked Grebe (photo) was a new arrival and surprisingly our first bird of the autumn. 2 Green Sandpiper were off the fisherman's car park also 1 Dunlin and 159 Golden Plover were present. 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. A wildfowl count produced 48 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 496 Teal, 57 Wigeon, 42 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 260 Mallard, 65 Pochard, 86 Tufted Duck, 138 Coot, 12 Mute Swan, 76 Greylag Geese and 64 Cormorant. An immature Peregrine was seen this afternoon.

I have not been to Belvide today as a car load of us made the trip to the Lizard in Cornwall to see a controversial Greenish or Green Warbler. Because this bird was showing a hint of yellow around the face and supercilium and more yellowy green upperparts, some observers believed it to be the much rarer Green Warbler which would be a 2nd for Britain.

This morning the bird showed well, but was very active mainly sticking to the tree canopy. At 0740 the bird began to call continuously for nearly a minute giving a "chi weeee" call. Luckily someone was on hand to take a sound recording of the bird. To be honest the bird showed the slightest hint of yellow around the face and supercilium but this wasn't easy to see, and to me the upperparts did appear a more yellow green than i remembered on previous Greenish Warblers I had seen.

On the way back home news came on the pagers that the bird was indeed a Greenish Warbler, based on the sound recordings taken that morning. Oh well not the end result we had hoped for, but in this game you have to be in it to win it.

On a final note to Belvide permit holders. The work Party tomorrow has been cancelled due to the weather forecast.

284 Golden Plover were infront of the Scott hide this morning also 4 Green Sandpiper were off the Fisherman's  car park. The female Stonechat was on the north shore and a single Raven flew west.

A skywatch between 0715-0815 produced 86 Redwing, 68 Fieldfare, 217 Wood Pigeon, 3 Meadow Pipit, 5 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Redpoll and 2 Reed Bunting.

231 Golden Plover were present including a leucistic bird (photo) 3 Dunlin and 3 Green Sandpiper were also present. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore also 40+ Linnet and 15 Greenfinch were noted. An adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted this evening.

5 Green Sandpiper (photo by Martyn Pitt) were off the fisherman's car park late afternoon. 150 Golden Plover were at the west end. The female Stonechat was still on the north shore and 2 Goosander dropped in late afternoon.

3 Dunlin and 108 Golden Plover (photo by Martyn Pitt) were at the west end, 2 Green Sandpiper were in the south east corner. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore.

Can I say a big thank you to all of those who have attended the work parties over the last few months. We have worked out that over 200 man hours have been put in during this time. We have penciled in another two work parties on the 29th November and the 6th December. Keep viewing the blog for confirmation of these dates.

2 readhead Goosander were present this morning also 366 Teal were counted. 2 Green Sandpiper were on the north shore also 3 Dunlin and 104 Golden Plover were present. An immature Peregrine was around this morning.

A notice to permit holders. A work party will take place tomorrow morning at 9.30am. If you can spare a few hours please lend a hand to improve YOUR reserve. Dont forget clocks go back 1 hour tonight.

Below another photo of yesterdays Eastern Crowned Warbler.

Last night at around 10pm, news was broadcast of an EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER at South Shields in County Durham. This has been a bird that always captured my imagination, always expecting that the first record would be on the Shetlands.

 A car crew was quickly arranged and at 5.30am we were on our way. At 7.43am the good news was put out that the bird was still present. We arrived at 9.25pm to find that the bird was favouring a clump of small sycamores in a sheltered quarry. After a small wait the bird performed very well to the several hundred admirers. The bird showed a distinctive dark green crown with a pale creamy central crown stripe and a broad creamy supercilium. The mantle was greyish contrasting with the brighter green wings with two indistinct wing bars. The undertail had a distinct yellow wash. The lower mandible was all pale lacking any dark tip. The bird was sharing these trees with a Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Blackcap and a Robin.

This eastern gem had come a very long way, originating from China or south east Russia. It should be wintering in Malaysia or West Indonesia. I think this is the 5th record for Europe.

5 Green Sandpiper were off the fisherman's car park this afternoon also 3 Dunlin and 150 Golden Plover were present. A Rock Pipit was near the Scott hide with 40 Meadow Pipit. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore. 69 Pochard, 3 Pintail and 12 Gadwall were counted. This afternoon hundreds of Black-headed Gulls were feeding on huge shoal of fish at the west end.

A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull (photo) was present this afternoon. This is the 3rd different 1st winter bird in 9 days. The Rock Pipit remains on the dam wall. 2 Ringed Plover flew thru this afternoon also 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 9 Golden Plover and 3 Snipe were present. 3 Pintail were at the west end. 67 Cormorant and 52 GC Grebe were counted. 52 Pied Wagtail were on the north shore.

The Rock Pipit was still present near the dam. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore. 150 GoldenPlover were at the west end also 4 Green Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin. Wigeon have increased to 42 also 3 Pintail were present.

This morning I finally managed to put GLOSSY IBIS on my Staffordshire list. Over the weekend I managed to miss the 2 different ringed individuals that have been present at Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve. Mid morning today news was broadcast of a Glossy Ibis again feeding on Fishers Mill pool. On arrival the bird was tucked in the far left corner meaning the bird was in Staffordshire (back of the net!!!!) Amazingly this bird had no rings on the legs so was an incredible 3rd different individual!! After watching the bird for 15 minutes the bird then flew up and flew to the other end of the pool which was in Warwickshire. After an hour or so the bird took flight again. this time flying deep into Staffordshire and landing at Drayton Bassett pits.

A Rock Pipit was on thedam this afternoon. The Stonechat (photo by Martyn Pitt) was still present on the north shore. A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted this evening. 4 Green Sandpiper were still present also 1 Dunlin and 64 Golden Plover. 1 Pintail and 30 Wigeon were counted.

A skywatch off the dam between 0715-0915 produced 175 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 763 Wood Pigeon, 5 Stock Dove, 26 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet, 5 Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 15 Jackdaw, 19 Skylark and 18 Starling.

 Only the 2nd Stonechat of the year was infront of the Gazebo hide. 3 Green Sandpiper, 26 Goldeneye, 58 Shoveler and 41 Pochard were the only other note worthy birds around the reserve.

Later in the day 3 of us took the trip to Stains Moor near Heathrow where a Brown Shrike has took up residence for the past week. On arrival the bird performed well on scattered Hawthorne bushes. This is only the 7th record for Britain. Very similar to Red Backed Shrike it shows a shorter primary projection with 5 visible primary tips. Also the outertail feathers are shorter creating a tapered look. The  eye mask is darker and the upperparts less rufous than a Red Backed Shrike.

After leaving the Shrike we called in at Didcot in Oxfordshire to hopefully see the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull that's been present for a while. I saw the bird very briefly last week but wasn't happy with the views.

On arrival, this time the bird was showing very well on a small pool next to the tip. The birds heavily streaked head being the main give away.