This 1st winter Caspian Gull roosted this evening. #UKBirding

This 2nd winter Caspian Gull was at the west end this afternoon. Also a great turn out for this mornings work party, where we cleared a load of encroaching willow scrub along the south east bay and Scott hide reed bed.

One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding

My best efforts of the dark morph juvenile Honey Buzzard that flew south east at 7.35am. I picked it up way out to the north. It did the decent thing and flew between us on the dam and the Scott hide. Totally Buzzing. The yellow cere on the bill stood out a mile. #UKBirding

A few shots of the 1st winter Grey Phalarope off the dam this morning. Our 2nd in a few weeks. #UKBirding

A fantastic days birding on the autumn all dayer. 102 species recorded on the reserve today. A few photos of the Glossy Ibis, Whinchat and Black Tern.

A few shots of today's Sandwich Tern that dropped in at 9.55am and was still present around 4pm at least.

The 1st winter Grey Phalarope spent most of the day distantly at the west end. Perseverance paid off when it came closer this evening. #UKBirding

Today's 1st winter Grey Phalarope was my 8th on the reserve and the earliest on record. The last record was on the 13th September 2017. #UKBirding

The 2 eclipse drake Lesser Scaup were showing well from the West End Hide this afternoon and I've finally managed some better shots of them together. One is already dropping it's primaries and secondaries, so a prolonged stay is likely.

These two Sandwich Tern arrived at 11.35am and were still present to 4pm at least. #UKBirding

A few shots of the juvenile Arctic Tern that was present today. #UKBirding

You've heard of 'The Two Ronnies' Well we have 'The Two Lennies' First 2 photos are of the first Lesser Scaup to arrive on the 23rd. The other 2 photos are of the bird that arrived yesterday. Neither are the Audenshaw bird as that was there today. They were much closer with better light today.

Some awful record shots of the 2 eclipse drake Lesser Scaup present today. The left hand and right hand birds in ther 1st photo. Middle two in the 2nd photo and a flap shot of the new bird. #UKBirding

Some shots of the presumed returning drake Lesser Scaup, affectionately known as 'Lenny'. It was last present on the 10th January, when it was frozen out. Hopefully another prolonged stay. #UkBirding

A few shots of the Woodchat Shrike at Stafford Rugby Club/Doxey Marshes. A massive grip back, following the only other Staffs bird at Whitemoor Haye on the 8th September 2010. Thanks to Geoff Hadley for finding this fantastic bird and for getting the news out. #UKBirding

This immature male Goshawk flew over the dam early morning. #UKBirding

The 3 Black-necked Grebe were showing well in the early morning sunshine. #UKBirding

Our 5th Wood Sandpiper of the spring was showing well along the south west shore this afternoon. #UKBirding

A few shots of some of the 4 Arctic Tern present today. #UKBirding

This Black Tern dropped in this afternoon and showed well from the Chappell hide. Also a Hobby was hawking over the reservoir this afternoon and 5 Black-tailed Godwit flew thru. #UKBirding

Another excellent days birding, where the rain and light easterly dropped birds out of the sky. Some shots of some of the 15 Arctic Tern, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit and Little Gull. A full round up of the day here. belvidebirding.blogspot.com

These 2 Black Tern performed well from the Chappell hide today. #UKBirding

A day we inland patch watchers crave for, when the birds kept falling out the sky. A few of the wader highlights included 7 Avocet, 2 Wood Sand, 1 Green Sand and 7 Greenshank. For a full report of the day view here. belvidebirding.blogspot.com

Chuffed to bits to pick out this female Ring Ouzel on call as it dropped out the sky and perched in an ash tree briefly before continuing north. Also a Black Tern and Lesser Whitethroat were new for the year. #UKBirding

A few shots of some of the 8 adult Little Gulls present today, Part of a much bigger movement across the region and elsewhere. #UKBirding

This adult male Goshawk spent a few hours in the area terrorising the local Corvids.

These 2 Sandwich Tern dropped in between 8.19am-8.43am then flew west, with another bird thru west at 2.25pm. #UKBirding

A cracking days birding with the early drizzle/murk and north easterly breeze doing the trick. These 8 adult Kittiwake paused for an hour before continuing north east. #UKBirding

This 1st winter Caspian Gull has been present since Sunday, spending all it's time on the reserve. It was very interested in the big fish this Great Egret had caught this afternoon. #UKBirding

This Avocet dropped in this afternoon and showed well from the Hawkshutts hide. #UKBirding

This 1st winter Caspian Gull spent the whole day on the reserve.

A trip up to Cannock Chase this morning to see the Great Grey Shrike at the Shooting Butts. It performed superbly the early morning sunshine. A bit of sub singing heard and look at the double hook on the upper mandible. #UKBirding

This pair of Barn Owl were having a cuddle and smooch this afternoon. #UKBirding

Some shots of the Tundra Bean Goose and 5 Pink-footed Geese that dropped in this afternoon. #UKBirding A reminder to all WMBC members that the new access code to the gate and hides comes into operation tomorrow morning.

This adult Goshawk flew over this morning. Also the 2 redhead Smew circled the reservoir at 8.13am before flying off south. #UKBirding

An enjoyable day including the 1st winter Russian White-fronted Goose, 1st winter Caspian Gull 2 Great Egret and a flock of 40 Pintail. #UKBirding

A pair of Black-necked Grebe off the Chappell hide were new arrivals and follow nicely the Slavonian Grebe we had last Friday. I've put a shot of the Slavonian Grebe on to compare the 2 species. #UKBirding

This evening's WinGS survey produced poor Gull numbers. A 1st winter Caspian Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 179 Herring Gull, 356 LBB Gull, 1 Common Gull and 1510 BH Gull. #UKBirding

A few shots of the Booted Eagle from Saturday, when it had a brief sparring session with a Raven, showing what a small eagle it is. #UKBirding

I popped over this afternoon to the I54 to see the Black Redstart. It showed well along the west side of the unit. #UKBirding

This Slavonian Grebe was found by @ochrurosbirder.bsky.social this morning. Only my 7th at Belvide and follows the sum plum bird in April 2024.

I found the 6th Green-winged Teal for Belvide on the north shore this morning. The first since one January/February 2022. #UKBirding

'Lenny' our Lesser Scaup showed well from the Gazebo hide this afternoon. Present for it's 147th day. The 3 redhead Smew remain, with 2 off the dam and the other from the Gazebo hide. #UKBirding

The 3 redhead Smew showed up again, the first time since Christmas Eve. They showed well from the Hawkshutts hide this afternoon. The Lesser Scaup remains. #UKBirding

Some shots of the 3 redhead Smew after an 11 day absence. #UKBirds

A few shots of the adult Great Norther Diver, before it flew off south east at 2.05pm. It becomes the 25th record for the reserve and brings the reserve year list up to 175 species. Of all the days to go shopping. Got it with 45 minutes to spare. Phew! #UKBirding

A few shots of today's Hen Harrier when it was on Hawkshutts ridge. Hopefully it will stick around. #UKBirding

The Pintail x Pochard hybrid showed well from the Chappell hide. Also the Lesser Scaup. #ukbirding #BirdHybrids

Some shots of the 2 redhead Smew that dropped in today. A bit of a surprise, considering there aren't that many in the country at the moment. Bird one 1st photo. Bird 2, the others. #UKBirding