May has gone pretty flat at the moment with very little to report of note. The Scott hide Mute Swans have 6 cygnets. A pair of Lapwing on the north shore plough have at least 2 chicks. A single Hobby flew north east with prey. Hopefully the easterly winds forecast tomorrow and through the weekend will liven things up a bit.

A Spotted Flycatcher was in the reservoir plantation. It was roughly halfway between the woodland and Scott hides off the southern side of the path. A single Dunlin and LRP were on the north shore. A Tawny Owl was roosting behind the container in the car park. 4 Common Tern and 3 Teal were noted. A Beautiful Demoiselle was by the ringing station. Still very rare at Belvide.

3 Red Kite flew over high to the north east at 4.40pm, also a Hobby was seen this afternoon. 2 Ringed Plover were on the north shore also 2 LRP and 2 Redshank were noted. A pair of Wigeon were present and were new arrivals yesterday. A male Wheatear was on the north shore plough.

At around 10.50pm yesterday evening, news was broadcast of a Cream Coloured Courser on a golf course on Bradnor Hill in deepest Herefordshire. I was fortunate to see the juvenile on the Scilly Isles in 2004, but the chance to see an adult so close to home was just too good to refuse.

On arrival the bird performed very well, strutting around the open fairway to it’s gathered admirers. Surprisingly there have been 44 accepted records, but these days it holds true mega status. Other than the Scillies bird it is the first twitchable mainland bird since a bird in Essex in 1984.

A Black Tern was a new arrival. A single Sanderling at the west end was new, also 6 Dunlin and 9 Ringed Plover were present. The WeBS count produced 3 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 62 Mallard, 74 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 17 GC Grebe, 181 Coot, 44 Mute Swan and 50 Canada Geese. 2 Hobby were also noted.

At around midday I received a phone call from Chris Hawkridge to tell me he had just found a BLUETHROAT at Doxey Marshes. On arrival I was greeted with superb views as the bird performed in a marshy area off the main footpath. This is the 3rd record for Staffordshire following males at Knotbury on May 17th 1988 and Tittesworth on May 22nd 1994. Well done Chris for a great find.

The first Spotted Flycatcher of the year was in the reservoir plantation behind the woodland hide. A bit of wader passage noted today with a Sanderling flying thru, also 14 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover and 3 Curlew. 2 Hobby were present on and off throughout the day. 3 Teal, 2 Pochard and 2 Shelduck were counted.

A 1st summer Yellow-legged Gull (photo) at the west end was unusual for the time of year. A drake Gadwall x Mallard hybrid (photo) was a new arrival. 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank and 2 Hobby were noted.

2 Little Egret were present between 10.55am-1.40pm when they flew off north. A Greenshank dropped in at 5.15pm, also 2 Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Redshank were present. 2 Hobby and a Lesser Whitethroat were noted.

A pretty mundane afternoon. The 2 Ringed Plover were still present also 2 LRP, 3 Redshank, 4 Common Tern, 3 Teal and 2 Shoveler were noted.

The female Whinchat and 2 Wheatear were still below the dam. 2 Ringed Plover were new arrivals, also 3 LRP were present. 2 Hobby were seen several times. A Tawny Owl was in the reservoir plantation, also a possible Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported in the same area.

A Whimbrel was on the north shore, also 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 LRP were noted. A female Whinchat and 2 Wheatear were below the dam. 2 Hobby and 3 Teal were present.

An Osprey flew thru to the north at 8am. A drake Mandarin at the west end was new for the year. 2 Hobby were again hunting Swifts this morning. A male Wheatear was below the dam. 20 GC Grebe were counted.

2 Arctic Tern dropped in mid morning, also 5 Common Tern were present. A Little Egret was perched in the north wood before flying out south west at 9am. 2 Hobby were hunting Swifts this morning. A Cuckoo was heard to the south of the reserve this morning. A Lesser Whitethroat was again singing in the car park. 4 Dunlin flew thru this morning. 3 Teal and 2 Shelduck were counted.

Finally a bit of wader passage today. 12 Whimbrel dropped on the north shore at 2.15pm and were still present 6pm at least. A total of 59 Dunlin passed thru during the day with a maximum of 8 staying to feed on the north shore. 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank and 2 LRP were noted. 2 Arctic Tern flew in this afternoon also 3 Common Tern were present. 2 Hobby were seen several times. 2 Lesser Whitethroat were in the car park. A single Cuckoo was on the north shore. The two Tawny Owl chicks were seen again behind the Gazebo hide.

A Cuckoo was seen around the south east bay/Gazebo area. 2 Hobby were chasing Swifts this afternoon. 4 Common Tern, 4 Redshank, 2 LRP and 2 Pochard were noted.

3 Black-tailed Godwit at the west end were new arrivals, also 2 Dunlin, 3 LRP, 1 Common Sandpiper (photo by Martyn Pitt) and 5 Redshank were noted. A Hobby was over the dam this afternoon. 3 Common Tern were present. The last 2 Wigeon have now departed.

An Osprey flew thru to the north east at 12.05pm. A single Hobby was seen this afternoon. 2 Tawny Owl chicks were again viewable along the Gazebo bay, sat in alone oak in the wheat field adjacent  to the Gazebo bay. 1 Dunlin and 2 LRP were on the north shore. 6 Common Tern, 2 Wigeon and 2 Shelduck were noted.

2 female Whinchat were still in the west marsh. A male and female Wheatear were below the dam. 4 Yellow Wagtail were at the west end. 2 Hobby, 6 Common Tern, 2 Wigeon, 4 LRP and 4 Redshank were noted. 3 Tawny Owl chicks remain along the Gazebo bay. Today they were high up in a large ivy covered ash tree before the main bend.

A much quieter morning. 1 Tawny Owl chick (photo by Martyn Pitt) was still viewable along the Gazebo bay. 6 Shelduck and a Lesser Whitethroat were birds not noted on yesterdays count. 2 Wheatear were below the dam. 4 Wigeon remain. 6 Common Tern were present.

Yesterday’s official list is as follows. 1 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Goose, 3 Canada Goose, 4 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 8 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Red-legged Partridge, 12 Pheasant, 13 Little Grebe, 14 GC Grebe, 15 Cormorant, 16 Grey Heron, 17 Buzzard, 18 Sparrowhawk, 19 Kestrel, 20 Hobby, 21 Moorhen, 22 Coot, 23 Oystercatcher, 24 LRP, 25 Lapwing, 26 Dunlin, 27 Common Sandpiper, 28 Redshank, 29 Whimbrel, 30 Snipe, 31 BH Gull, 32 LBB Gull, 33 Common Tern, 34 Feral Pigeon, 35 Stock Dove, 36 Wood Pigeon, 37 Collared Dove, 38 Cuckoo, 39 Tawny Owl, 40 Little Owl, 41 Swift, 42 GS Woodpecker, 43 Skylark, 44 Sand Martin, 45 Swallow, 46 House Martin, 47 Pied Wagtail, 48 Yellow Wagtail, 49 Dunnock, 50 Robin, 51 Wheatear, 52 Whinchat, 53 Song Thrush, 54 Mistle Thrush, 55 Blackbird, 56 Garden Warbler, 57 Blackcap, 58 Whitethroat, 59 Sedge Warbler, 60 Reed Warbler, 61 Willow Warbler, 62 Chiffchaff, 63 Goldcrest, 64 Wren, 65 Great Tit, 66 Coal Tit, 67 Blue Tit, 68 Marsh Tit, 69 Willow Tit, 70 LT Tit, 71 Nuthatch, 72 Treecreeper, 73 Magpie, 74 Jay, 75 Jackdaw, 76 Rook, 77 Crow, 78 Raven, 79 Starling, 80 House Sparrow, 81 Tree Sparrow, 82 Chaffinch, 83 Linnet, 84 Goldfinch, 85 Greenfinch, 86 Bullfinch, 87 Reed Bunting 88 Yellowhammer.

Today a team of 7 with a little help from others, saw us attempt a day list. There was also some friendly rivalry against Upton Warren, Middleton Lakes and Marsh Lane. We started at 6am and finished at 8.30pm. A total of 88 species were recorded over the day with the highlights as follows.

2 Red-breasted Merganser dropped in at 4.20pm including an adult and 1st summer drakes. They were present until 4.40pm when they flew off west. The first Cuckoo of the year was in the west marsh also the first 2 Whinchat were there too. Waders included a Whimbrel flying north early morning, 1 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 LRP, 4 Redshank, 5 Oystercatcher and 1 Snipe. 2 Tawny Owl Chicks were sitting high up in Alders along the Gazebo bay. 5 Wheatear, 2 Hobby, 4 Yellow Wagtail 7 Common Tern were noted. A full species list will appear in tomorrows entry.

In the end we finished 2nd behind Middleton Lakes who recorded an excellent score of 95. Upton Warren finished on 84 and Marsh Lane scored 83. Thanks guys for the friendly rivalry. Maybe we can get some more local patches to enter for the autumn bash.

The Belvide team photo from left to right are Nigel Talbot, Barry Coomer, Me, Moira Gough, Roger Clay, Ken Mather, Kevin Clements.

At least 6 Arctic Tern were present today, also 10+ Common Tern. A Ringed Plover was on the north shore, a single Dunlin flew thru, also 2 LRP, 4 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and 6 Oystercatcher were noted. A Lesser Whitethroat was at the west end. 2 Hobby, a female Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtail were noted. 4 Wigeon remain.

Tomorrow a team of at least 7 will attempt an all day list, with some competition from Upton Warren and Middleton Lakes.

A Bar-tailed Godwit flew thru the north at 12.10pm. 3 Arctic Tern dropped in at 1pm, also 5 Common Tern were present over the day. 2 Hobby were seen several times. Other migrants included 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 8 Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Wheatear. 5 Common Sandpiper, 7 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank and 2 LRP were noted. 4 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 2 Shelduck and 1 Little Grebe were counted.

This afternoon I took a trip up to Flamborough to see a possible Atlas Flycatcher that had been present since last Saturday. This is a potential first for Britain of a bird that breeds in the Atlas mountains of North West Africa.. The problem is that 1st summer birds are very difficult to identify with any certainty. One of the main reasons are that the European Pied Flycatcher complex can throw up a whole array of hybrids that can look very similar to the Flamborough bird. Especially Collared x Pied Flycatcher.

The features that were suggestive of an Atlas Flycatcher were the large white patch on the forehead, the extensive white on the wing coverts and the white patch at the base of the primaries.

The bird had been trapped and ringed on Monday evening where the wing biometrics fall within the range of Atlas Flycatcher. A feather was also taken and has been sent away for DNA analyses to hopefully determine the birds true identity.

Steve’s away on a twitch today, a report will follow.

2 Common Terns and 4 Arctic Terns were in the Belvide log book for this morning but just 5 Common Terns could be located this afternoon. Also reported were the male Brambling at the woodland feeding station and the 3 Tawny Owl chicks were seen in Gazebo bay, 1 now out of the nest. Other birds seen this afternoon were 3 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 LRP, 2 Dunlin, 1 Hobby, a female Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail.

An adult female Marsh Harrier flew thru to the south at 7.15am and was a different bird to yesterday. 12 Arctic Tern were present from 12.30pm, also 2 Common Tern. 5 Whimbrel flew thru to the north east at 2pm, 3 Dunlin dropped in this afternoon, also 2 Common Sandpiper were noted. The first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was by the Chappell hide, also a Garden Warbler in the same area. 2 Hobby were chasing Swifts this afternoon. A female Wheatear was on the shingle island. 3 Yellow Wagtail were on the north shore. 4 Wigeon, 25 Teal and 2 Shelduck were counted. A Water Vole was in front of the Scott hide this afternoon.