The first Redshank of the year was at the west end this morning. Curlew have increased to 10, also 5 Oystercatcher were present.
I’m off to Islay on a wild goose chase for 3 days, so one of the Belvide regulars has kindly agreed to update the blog.
The first Chiffchaff of the year was near the West End Hide. 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Curlew were present. There was no sign of the Scaup today. 4 Water Rail were seen from the Scott hide late afternoon.
A Ruff was at the west end this morning, but there was no sign this afternoon, also 5 Oystercatcher and 23 Snipe were present. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 1 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler and 12 GC Grebe were counted.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present. A Little Egret was at the west end late afternoon. 5 Oystercatcher and 2 Golden Plover were noted. A Water Rail was showing well in front of the Scott hide from 5pm.
A notice to all permit holders. The new 2012 code to the car park gate and hides is now in operation.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also a single Little Grebe and 1 Goosander were present. 5 Oystecatcher, 1 Curlew and 1 Golden Plover were noted. 2 Water Rail were in front of the Scott hide this morning.
The lower tier of the West End Hide is out of order at the moment as a new combination lock is needed
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present. 22 Snipe and 4 Oystercatcher were at the west end. 2 Shelduck were noted.
A reminder that there is a work party tomorrow morning. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.
The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in the roost again this evening from 4.50pm, also 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present. Pochard have increased to 105, also 2 Shelduck were noted. An excellent 1181 Lapwing were at the west end, also 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Curlew were present. A Water Rail was again showing well from the Scott hide late afternoon.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also a drake Pintail and 135 Goldeneye were counted at dusk. The first Little Grebe of the year was near the spill weir. An adult summer Mediterranean Gull roosted. 3 Oystercatcher and a Curlew were at the west end. The remains of a predated Knot were found on the dam. A Water Rail was showing well in front of the Scott hide at dusk.
A reminder that there will be a work party this Saturday. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.Also the codes to the car park gate and hides will change this weekend.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also 3 Shelduck, 1 Pintail and 128 Goldeneye were counted at dusk. An adult and 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. 2 Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher and 664 Lapwing were at the west end. 2 Water Rail were in front of the Scott hide at dusk.
A new juvenile Iceland Gull roosted at 5.33pm. This individual showing a complete biscuit wash across the whole wing and tertials. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 3 Shelduck and 122 Goldeneye were counted at dusk. A single Curlew on the north shore was the first of the year, also 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Golden Plover and 2 Snipe were noted.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 79 Pochard, 1 Pintail, 211 Wigeon and 3 Shelduck were counted. 2 Oystecatcher, 1 Dunlin and 4 Snipe were on the north shore.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also a drake Pintail and 1 Shelduck were noted. Oystercatcher have increased to 2 also 1 Dunlin and 6 Golden Plover were present. An adult summer Mediterranean Gull roosted.
The 2nd winter Iceland Gull that roosted last night was present until 7am when it flew west. This evening an adult summer Mediterranean Gull and 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull roosted. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also a drake Pintail, 1 Shelduck, 203 Wigeon and 121 Goldeneye (personal best) were counted at dusk. A single Oystercatcher, 30 Golden Plover and 644 Lapwing were noted.
This morning, I took a trip to Rhiwderyn in south Wales to see a Common Yellowthroat. This was a British tick for me having missed the last twitchable one on the Scilly Isles in 1997. The bird was staked out feeding along a whole network of dense hedgerows. Initial views were poor and in flight only, but eventually the bird gave itself up and showed very well. This is the 10th record for Britain of this North American warbler.
A notice that tomorrows work party is still on weather permitting. If it is cancelled there will be an additional work party next Saturday.
A 2nd winter Iceland Gull roosted at 4.50pm. This is the same bird that had roosted on the 7th Feb and has frequented Priorslee Lake. Also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted including a 1st winter, 2nd winter and 3rd winter. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also a drake Pintail was noted. A single Dunlin was on the north shore.
This afternoon from 3.40pm the adult Ring Billed/LBB Gull hybrid (photo) that was at Priorslee 3-4th Feb was picked out in the roost. If I hadn’t seen it at Priorslee (lower photo) I would have struggled to pick it out. Also an adult summer Mediterranean Gull and a 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull roosted. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 2 Pintail and an Oystecatcher was noted.
A juvenile Iceland Gull roosted at 3.45pm. This is not the Priorslee bird as it didn’t have a contrasting pale head. The upper breast was paler, the greater coverts and tertials were plainer and P7 was missing on the right wing compared to the Priorslee Iceland Gull. Click on Jim Almonds blog in the links section to see photo’s of that bird. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also 51 Pochard, 2 drake Pintail, 97 Goldeneye and 3 Goosander were counted. A single Oystercatcher was at the west end.
A reminder that there is a work party this Saturday. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.
Around 3500 large gulls roosted this evening which included a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull and 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (3rd w, 2 2nd w and 2 1stw) The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 1 Shelduck and 3 Goosander were noted.
The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also Tufted Duck have increased to 297. 4 Goosander, 280 Teal and 236 Wigeon were also present. 30 Golden Plover flew over to the west.
After West Bromwich Albion’s superb 5-1 victory at the Custard Bowl this afternoon. Sorry I couldn’t resist.
The juvenile Glaucous Gull was stood on the ice this morning until 8.25am, also a 4th winter Yellow-legged Gull. The gull roost this evening was pathetic with only 250 large gulls roosting. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present, also 277 Tufted Duck, 46 Pochard, 80 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander, 62 Gadwall, 7 Shoveler, 217 Mallard, 1145 Coot, 262 Greylag Geese, 290 Canada Geese and 30 Mute Swan were counted. A Green Sandpiper was on the dam wall and an adult Peregrine was at the west end.
The juvenile Glaucous Gull roosted at 3.55pm also a 4th winter and 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present. 8 Goosander (7drakes) was a decent total in recent times. An adult male Peregrine was at the west end. A Woodcock flew past the Scott hide at dusk.
A reminder that there is a work party tomorrow morning. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can lend a hand.
There was no sign of any white winged gulls in the roost despite 3500 flying in from Telford. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present with 271 Tufted Duck, 48 Pochard and 2 Goosander. An adult male Peregrine was at the west end. 28 Mute Swan were counted.
The juvenile Glaucous Gull roosted again this evening, dropping in at 4.45pm, also a possible adult Caspian Gull. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present also 4 Goosander were noted.. The Little Egret remains on the north shore. A single Dunlin dropped in this afternoon. A Sparrowhawk caught a Redwing.
A reminder that there is a work party this Saturday. Meet at the Scott hide at 9.30am if you can help.
Another decent number of gulls roosting, the highlight being a juvenile/2nd winter Iceland Gull dropping in at 5pm. Also 3 Yellow-legged Gulls roosted. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present. Pochard have increased to 38 also 231 Greylag Geese were counted. The Little Egret was still on the north shore.
This afternoon visability was down to 100yards. A single Snipe was in front of the Andrew Chappell hide. Both Marsh and Willow Tit were at the woodland feeding station.
A good 4 inches of Snow fell yesterday evening, but the thaw was already happening this afternoon. The reservoir was still 90% frozen. The 1st winter drake Scaup was still present with 251 Tufted Duck, 30 Pochard and 41 Goldeneye. There was no sign of the juvenile Glaucous Gull in a very small roost of no more than 400 large gulls. 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull roosted.