Work In Progress

2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present mid afternoon. 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 113 Golden Plover remain. An immature Peregrine was present this morning. A Lesser Redpoll and Chiffchaff were by the Gazebo hide.

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.

A Chiffchaff was by the West End Hide this afternoon. 8 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 6 adults, 1 2nd winter and 1 1st winter. 4 Green Sandpiper were still present also 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and 330 Golden Plover. GC Grebe have increased to 70 and the Snow Goose remains at the west end.

4 Green Sandpiper were off the fisherman's car park also 1 Redshank and 330 Golden Plover were present. Cormorant have increased to 107 also 5 Ruddy Duck, 11 Shoveler and just 8 Gadwall were noted. The female Stonechat was on the north shore, a Brambling was at the feeding station and just 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted. The Snow Goose was still at the west end.

3 Green Sandpiper were still present also 7 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and 320 Golden Plover were noted. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were present this morning. The white morph Snow Goose flew in mid morning with the Greylag flock.

There was Bittern and Twite mentioned as being present at Upton Warren yesterday, so off we went in high expectation of seeing both. But alas we didn't see either. I once saw 23 Twite on a fence in Scotland they were a magical sight it would have been nice to see them again, there had been 3 present on the flashes yesterday but no sign of them today. I'll just have to stick with my memories.

Still we had a lovelly morning seeing Kingfisher & Water Rail heard Cettis Warbler, there were also 22 Curlew in a field near by.

Upton Warren the Flashes

Kingfisher finally managed to get a photo of one perched.

Kingfisher

Curlew there were 22 in total

Black-headed Gulls & Cormorant

Thought I'd finish off with a typical Dude Photo!!!

 

 

What happened to the 70mph winds they were forecasting today? The only bird blown in today was a brief adult Little Gull at 1.30pm. 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening. 7 Dunlin remain also 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 380 Golden Plover. The Snow Goose was still at the west end also 1 Stonechat and 92 Cormorant were noted.

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.

9 Dunlin were from the Scott hide also 1 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper and 311 Golden Plover. The Snow Goose was still at the west end with the Greylag flock. An immature Peregrine was around this afternoon. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was loafing around during the day, also 41 Goldeneye were counted. (day time count) A female Goosander dropped in at dusk.

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.

A touch of movement today. At around 11am a 1st winter Kittiwake flew thru, followed by at 11.10am 2 Little Gulls including  1st and 2nd winter birds and then a 1st winter drake Red-breasted Merganser flew west. A Little Egret dropped in at 12.30pm and remained at the west end till dusk. Dunlin have increased to 13 also 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 400+ Golden Plover were present. The adult white morph Snow Goose was again present with the Greylag flock. A single Brambling flew over early afternoon also at least 700 Fieldfare flew south this afternoon. The female Stonechat remains on the north shore and 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.

6 Dunlin were present at the west end also 2 Green Sandpiper and 335 Golden Plover. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening and an immature Peregrine was seen this afternoon.

I've called this entry Dunlin day as we went to 2 places Belvide and Chasewater and there was one Dunlin present at both places.

Dunlin & Lapwing Belvide

Dunlin Chaswater

We didn't stay too long at Belvide as there was a work party there about to burn some old scrub which had been removed. I managed to take this shot of Golden Plover before they were flushed by the fires. 

Golden Plover Belvide

The winter ducks are starting to arrive in numbers, I took this photo of Goldeneye at Chasewater

Goldeneye, Chasewater.

I've had better mornings but I really shouldn't complain for November. I actually had a year tick seeing a Treecreeper in the wood at Belvide, count now 201 for the year. We also had great views of a Marsh Tit on the feeders there.

 

There was no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper today but 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and 400 Golden Plover were present. The Snow Goose was again present with the Greylag flock this afternoon.  61 GC Grebe and 56 Goldeneye were counted this morning. 3 Lesser Redpoll were at the Gazebo feeding station. The female Stonechat was on the north shore.

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.

The 1st winter Curlew Sandpiper was still present, Golden Plover have increased to 390, 3 Green Sandpiper were off the fisherman's car park. The Linnet flock on the north shore now stands at 127. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted this evening.

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.