Work In Progress

A 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull was on the north shore early afternoon. An immature Peregrine was causing havoc at the west end. 33 Common Snipe were on the north shore and 80 Golden Plover flew thru. 2 Goosander were seen and 80 Wigeon, 182 Teal and 2 Shelduck were counted.

4 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including an adult, 2 3rd winters and a 2nd winter, also 5 GBB Gulls roosted. Other than that very quiet. Lets hope this arctic blast over the weekend brings something in.

4 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening including 2 adults, 1 3rd winter and a 2nd winter. There were also 15+Herring Gulls, 900 LBB Gull, 3 GBB Gull, 2 Common Gull and 2000 BH Gull. Pochard have increased to 44 also a single Goosander and 2 Shelduck were present. 40 Tree Sparrow were at the Gazebo feeders and the male Stonechat still on the north shore.

An immature female Scaup was a different bird to last week. 2 Shelduck were still present also a pair of Goosander, 66 Wigeon and 34 Pochard were counted. 3 Dunlin and 12 Golden Plover were on the north shore also the male Stonechat still. 3 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost.

A probable Bar-tailed Godwit was seen this morning but there was no sign this afternoon. 10+ Dunlin were also seen flying thru. A pair of Goosander, 2 Shelduck and a male Stonechat were the only other birds of note.

A smart male Brambling (photo) was at the Gazebo feeders but was sadly taken by a Sparrowhawk late afternoon. A Green Sandpiper was on the north shore late afternoon also 170 Golden Plover and 838 Lapwing were at the west end. The WeBS count produced 1 Goosander, 56 Goldeneye, 2 Shelduck, 64 Gadwall, 263 Mallard, 60 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 80 Tufted Duck, 26 Pochard, 20 GC Grebe, 217 Coot, 135 Canada Geese, 188 Greylag Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 12 Mute Swan, 2 Water Rail, 8 Cormorant and 7 Grey Heron. A single 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost.

Well still chasing my 200th year tick we decided to go to Draycote water. A Red Necked Grebe had been reported here and guess what we seen It. YIPPEE!!!! my 200th year tick.

It was a dismal, dreary, dank & drizzly morning.

Dismal Draycote

It didn't take us long to locate the Red necked Grebe, especially as there were other birders there looking at it, this does make life easy.

A slightly blurred Red Necked Grebe

The next 3 photos were took in sequence of a Great Northern Diver one of 5 reportedly present. I'm delighted to get any image at all as it was feeding and only surfacing for about 8 seconds before it would dive again. In that time I had to locate it in the telescope focus on it fit the camera and shoot. I had done this several times getting only the water in the frame before I finally got these pictures.

    

Great Northern Diver

 I'll finish off with a "slightly Dude " picture a Little Grebe one of at least 8 present.

 

2 immature Peregrines were sparring together this morniing. The male Stonechat was still on the north shore also 60+ Golden Plover. 24 Shoveler, 52 Gadwall, 30 Pochard and 2 Shelduck were counted.

An immature female Scaup was a new arrival also the drake Pintail was still present and 2 Shelduck. 86 Golden Plover were at the west end. 1 male Stonechat and an immature Peregrine was seen this afternoon. A Water Rail was infront of the Scott hide at dusk and a single adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted.

There was no sign of the Tundra Bean Geese today. On a miserable wet afternoon 1 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 20 Pochard, 20 Snipe and an immature Peregrine was the best on offer.

The 2 adult Tundra Bean Geese were again present on the north shore opposite the Gazebo hide. They were present till 5pm when they flew off to the east. 117 Golden Plover were at the west end, the drake Pintail was still present also 2 Shelduck, and 51 Goldeneye were counted at dusk. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost this evening.

The ringing group caught a Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 14 Reed Bunting and 16 Starling.

This was the photo I was dreading, the confirmation of the GLOSSY IBIS that was present on the 21st October. I'm totally gripped and gutted. Thanks to David Mayfield for use of his image.

After an absence of 2 days the 2 adult Tundra Bean Geese were again present for much of the day on the north shore. They were present till 4.50pm when they flew off to the north. A 3rd winter Caspian Gull was in the roost this evening. The drake Pintail was still present also 2 Shelduck and 95 Wigeon were counted. A Chiffchaff was along the south east bay this afternoon.

There were 6 Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost this evening including 5 adults and a 3rd winter. 219 Golden Plover were at the west end. There were 3 male Stonechat present today, a drake Pintail was new also 80 Wigeon, 15 Pochard and 2 Shelduck were noted. Again the whole reserve was teaming with Redwing and Fieldfare. 2 Water Rail were infront of the Scott hide at dusk.

I was under Petticoat rule last week so I missed out on the Purple Sandpiper at Belvide which would have given me 200 ticks for the year. Still not to worry we dashed off to Belvide this morning for the 2 Tundra Bean Geese which had been reported there the last 3 days, these would make up for the Purple Sandpiper and give me my 200th year tick. They had not been staying the night at Belvide but had been flying in some time in the morning, did they fly in this morning? did they heck!!! Drat! Damn & Blast I'm still on 199.

While we were waiting for the "Mythical" Geese to arrive I took a few Dude photos starting with this Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Coal Tit

Yes I finally managed to get a Coal Tit after several expletives, sorry if the pictures a bit blurred they only stay on the feeder a second then they're off.

Fieldfare  No shortage of these this winter

Golden Plover, Snipe, Lapwing & Greylag Geese.

I've said it before Belvide never disappoints, I've been birding for nearly 25 years and I saw something this morning I've never seen before. There was this Chaffinch on the bird table and a Robin landed directly in  front of it, the Robin Raised and expanded its Red chest it the Chaffinchs face and scared it off. Wonders will never cease!!!

There was no sign of the Tundra Bean Geese up and till 12.45pm when I left. 4 Brambling were feeding just west of the West End Hide along the hedgerow with around 40 Greenfinch. There was a mass of Redwing and Fieldfare with several hundred all over the reserve. Again there was a noticable movement of Wood Pigeon this morning with several hundred heading north by north east. At least 350 Golden Plover were on the north shore also 2 male Stonechat still. 45 Goldeneye were counted at dusk

The 2 Tundra Bean Geese flew in from the north west at 10.54am and settled on the north shore at the west end. They were still present at 3.30pm at least. 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Barnacle Goose and 221 Greylag Geese were also present. 420 Golden Plover and a single Dunlin were also present at the west end. Wigeon have increased to 78 also 14 Shoveler, 4 Ruddy Duck and 2 Shelduck were noted. 3 Raven flew over this morning, a male Stonechat was on the north shore and 500+ Fieldfare flew west late morning. 6 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost this evening. An odd movement of Wood Pigeons this morning with several hundred moving in a north east direction. Did anyone else notice this elsewhere today?

The 2 adult Tundra Bean Geese flew in at around 8.30am. They spent most of the time on their own on the south  side between the Gazebo and Scott hides. They were present till 2.55pm when they flew off to the north east. Hopefully they will return tomorrow. At least 300 Golden Plover and 4 Dunlin were at the west end also 3 Shelduck and 300 Teal were counted. 219 Grelag Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose and a single Barnacle Goose were also noted. 1 male Stonechat was on the north shore and 30 Siskin were in the Gazebo bay.

 

Belvide's purple patch continues with 2 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE that were on the north shore this afternoon. They were originally identified as Pink Feet until I arrived shortly before 3pm and could see that they had orange legs!! This is the 2nd record for Belvide following 3 birds that were present between December 13th 1987- February 14th 1988. Today's birds were present till 3.12pm when they flew of low to the west with 50 Greylags. I would say that there is a fair chance they could come back in the morning.

Also present today were 352 Golden Plover, 4 Dunlin, a Jack Snipe was flushed in the south east bay. 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost, 6 Shoveler and 2 Shelduck were noted and a male Stonechat was on the north shore.

For an alternative look at the mad local birding scene click on www.surfbirds.com/blog/archie69asbo/

4 Dunlin and 67 Golden Plover were at the west end. A single Barnacle Goose was with the Canada's also 218 Greyalg Geese and the feral Pink-footed Goose still. At least 1 male Stonechat was on the north shore, a pesky Peregrine was around this morning and 2 Raven flew over.

A drake Common Scoter was a long over due first record of the year. 3 Dunlin and 201 Golden Plover were at the west end. 2 Shelduck, 70 Wigeon, 138 Teal and 23 GC Grebe were counted. 2male Stonechat remain on the north shore.