Not much to report today due to a constant volley of gunfire in the surrounding fields for most of the day, with clay pigeon and Pheasant shoots disturbing the wildfowl. 30 Golden Plover and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were the only birds of note.

An imm/fem Merlin was perched in an ash tree for a couple of minutes around 11am. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls were present most of the morning at the west end, including 2 adults and a 1st winter. 65 Golden Plover and 13 Pochard were also noted.

A male Merlin flew west over the Chappell hide at 1.25pm. The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted again also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls including 2 adults and a 3rd winter. 82 Golden Plover and 6 Snipe were at the west end and a Green Sandpiper was on the dam wall. A Brambling was in the reservoir plantation this afternoon. 60 Mute Swan were counted. The leucistic Redwing was seen again at the west end with a couple of hundred Redwing and Fieldfare.
Wishing all Belvide Birders and Blog readers a Merry Christmas.

The only news received today was 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted.

A single Egyptian Goose was still at the west end. A female Pintail and 60+ Golden Plover (photo by Martyn Pitt) were noted. 5 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults, 1 4th winter, 1 2nd winter and 1 1st winter. Goldcrest photo by Martyn Pitt.

2 Egyptian Geese were new arrivals, 2 Dunlin, 900+ Lapwing and 87 Golden Plover were noted. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also seen.

A Little Egret was roosting in Willows on the north side by the fisherman’s car park this afternoon. 2 Dunlin were at the west end. A single Lesser Redpoll was along the Gazebo bay. 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted.

At 0850 I had a phone call off Martyn Yapp to say that 2 Whooper Swan had flown through Gailey Reservoir and were heading my way. 9am, sweet as a nut they flew in and landed at the west end. They were present till 9.55am when they continued off to the west. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also the female Pintail remains. There was no sign of the Tundra Bean Goose up and till midday at least. A Tawny Owl (photo by Nigel Talbot) was sat in the entrance to the Gazebo bay owl box this morning. An immature Peregrine made several attempts at the wildfowl this morning. 206 Canada Geese were counted.

The Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end. The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted also 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull. The WeBS count produced the 1st winter drake Scaup, 52 Pochard, 26 Tufted Duck, 100 Goldeneye, 1 Goosander, 2 Mandarin, 1 Pintail, 40 Shoveler, 103 Gadwall, 470 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 262 Mallard, 68 Greylag Geese, 54 Mute Swan, 820 Coot, 12 Cormorant and 5 Grey Heron. 4 Dunlin were at the west end and a Curlew flew west this morning. A leucistic Redwing at the west end was of interest.

The Tundra Bean Goose was still at the west end this afternoon. The 1st winter drake Scaup was again present also the female Pintail remains. The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted. 4 Dunlin were at the west end.

The Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end. The female Pintail was still present also 352 Teal and 20 Pochard were counted. 2 Dunlin and 20 Golden Plover were noted. 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted.

The Tundra Bean Goose was still present at the west end with the Greylag flock. 3 Dunlin and 21 Golden Plover were also at the west end. 2 immature male Peregrine flew over late afternoon. 1 female Pintail, 112 Wigeon, 22 Shoveler, 79 Gadwall and 1 Goosander were noted.

The Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end. The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted at 3.43pm. A pair of Pintail were present. 50 Golden Plover and a Peregrine were noted.

The Tundra Bean Goose remains at the west end with the Greylag flock. A  Cetti’s Warbler was seen near the Scott hide this morning. The adult Mediterranean Gull roosted also a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull. The drake Pintail was still at the west end also 920 Lapwing, 20 Golden Plover and 2 Dunlin were noted. A Peregrine was also seen.

2 adult Bewick’s Swan (photo by Martyn Pitt) were present between 12.15-12.50pm when they flew off south. They were earlier seen at Aqualate Mere and after leaving Belvide were relocated at Marsh Lane GP. The Tundra Bean Goose was present during the morning only. An adult Mediterranean Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. The drake Pintail was still present also 115 Wigeon and 800 Coot were counted. 2 Dunlin and 99 Golden Plover were at the west end. 2 Kingfisher were along the south east bay.

The Tundra Bean Goose was again present at the west end until 2.20pm when it flew off to the north. I’ve had a report of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near the Gazebo hide. Can you give me your name please as this is now a mega bird at Belvide these days. The cold weather has brought an increase in wildfowl with a 1st winter drake Scaup (same bird a few weeks ago) 2 Pintail, 2 Mandarin, 110 Wigeon, 436 Teal, 118 Gadwall, 34 Shoveler, 227 Tufted Duck, 31 Pochard. 2 Dunlin and 20 Golden Plover were at the west end. An adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted.

The adult Tundra Bean Goose appeared again today at the west end where it loosely associated itself with the Greylag flock. It flew off to the north on it’s own at 3.56pm presumably to roost. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults and a 4th winter. A Woodcock flew over the spill weir at dusk also 2 Dunlin and 100 Golden Plover were at the west end. 100 Goldeneye were counted at dusk.

An adult Mediterranean Gull and 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull roosted this evening. 2 Dunlin and 15 Golden Plover were at the west end. A drake Pintail, 33 Pochard, 37 Tufted Duck, 104 Wigeon, 32 Cormorant, 16 GC Grebe and 1 Little Grebe were counted.

A Tundra Bean Goose was with 169 Greylag Geese at the west end this afternoon. I was about to say it was probably the Priorslee bird, but that bird was also still present this afternoon. This is now the 4th record for Belvide. 2 Dunlin and 25 Golden Plover were at the west end. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including 2 adults and a 3rd winter. An adult Peregrine flew over this afternoon.

Ted Bundy our resident GBB Gull killed a female Mallard this afternoon. Adult and 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. 2 Dunlin were at the west end. 83 Gadwall, 15 Pochard, a pathetic 7 Tufted Duck and 162 Greylag Geese were counted. 1 Little Grebe was new. 25 Siskin were along the Gazebo bay.