Belmont Reservoir Most astonishing sight was the lack of gulls on the island after over 1000 last week noisily claiming territory. Today - none ! There were c50 on the water at the south end but I was surprised that they hadn’t maintained their territorial claims from last week. Maybe the cold wind ...

Eyes Lane Lapwing c50. Shelduck 6. Black Headed Gull 30. Grey Heron 1. Teal 6.Mallard 10. Pied Wagtail 1 Croston Moss (Compound to Alma Wood) *Black Tailed Godwit 3 on compound flood 840-900 and then presumably 2 of these seen flying south Great Close 945 when none were on compound flood due to the ...

Eyes Lane Redshank 2 Lapwing 88 Shelduck 4 LBB Gull 1. Common Gull 1. Bh Gull c150 Buzzard 4. Kestrel 1 Little Egret 1 Croston/Mawdesley Moss full circular from compound Canada Goose 12 Golden Plover 106 on Great Close Lapwing 40-50 Curlew 18 near the small holding Skylark 30-40, many in song Grey P...

Walk up from Alance Bridge up on to the moors above Lead Mines Dipper 1 near Alance Bridge Siskin 3 Goldcrest 2 Woodcock 1 flushed on the moors and 6 Pheasants. Chaffinch 4 Alance Bridge A pair of *Pochard was a nice surprise :D close in from the bridge. Few Mallard and 2 Canada Goose. The *Pochard ...

Joined Pete Scholes for the evening shift ! Huge flock of gulls tonight stretching pretty much the length of the reservoir. Estimated at 5000 in total of 6 species although a majority of the larger gulls were closer than the Black Heads. GBB Gull 2 LBB Gull c200 Herring Gull c50 Common Gull c20 Medi...

Greylag Goose 23 Canada Goose 66 Pink Footed Goose 3 (south end with the Greylags) Curlew 44 (they were hiding on the far bank at the south end, Len !) GBB Gull 2 BH Gull c999 (there were c1000 until a successful Sparrowhawk reduced numbers by one !) Oystercatcher 2 Lapwing 64 Mallard 3 Long Tailed ...

Mawdesley Moss (from Rufford end) Singing Chiffchaff :D was a nice surprise along the railway behind the small holding. Curlew 3 Yellowhammer 7 incl singing Corn Bunting 32 Grey Partridge 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Linnet c100 Eyes Lane GBB Gull 2 on main flood Mediterranean Gull 2 on main flood Common G...

Eyes Lane Little Egret 1 Oystercatcher 4 Shelduck 3 Goosander 1 pair Mallard 10 Teal 6 Moorhen 6 Black Headed Gull 30 Lapwing 30 on solar farm field including some in display flight Mawdesley Moss from Rufford end Buzzard 1 Great White Egret 1 Little Egret 1 (both egrets together west of Alma Wood) ...

Main flood was surprisingly fruitful at dusk.

Shoveler 3 (2m/1f) were a nice surprise
Gadwall 2+ (1 pair plus possibly 2 more female but light was against me)
Teal c15
Mallard 4
Shelduck 18
Lapwing c75
Moorhen 3

Also a Barn Owl on the way home.

Well done on the ton !

Roost this evening was probably similar in size and split to Tuesday with an additional Yellow Legged Gull which put in an appearance late on. 10 Meds.

Oystercatcher 1 heard.

Eyes Lane (1st visit) Oystercatcher 2. Shelduck 11. *Curlew 1 over and calling. Teal 4. BH Gull. Meadow Pipit 2 Croston Moss (work unit to Alma Wood) Buzzard 2. Skylark 20. Greylag Goose & Canada Goose 5-10 of each. Lapwing c100 Starling c400. Teal 4. Fieldfare c30. Greenfinch 2. Tree Sparrow 2....

450 to 540pm. Already a decent size roost when I arrived 20 mins before sunset and mostly close to the southern and western shores which was good considering the murky conditions ! I reckon numbers up on my previous visit a couple of weeks ago with c3500-4000 tonight in total: GBB Gull 2 LBB Gull c1...

Eyes Lane Day flying Barn Owl. 2 Oystercatcher. 4 Teal. c10 Pied Wagtail. Kestrel 1. Croston Sewage Works Reed Bunting 7. Linnet 20. Meadow Pipit 1. Pied Wagtail 20-30. Goldcrest 2. Robin 1. Dunnock 1. Blue Tit 2. Great Tit 1. Long tailed Tit 3. *Chiffchaff 1. Green Sandpiper 1. Herring Gull 2. BH G...

Thanks Nora and Gary.