On Sunday 28 May 2023, I used to be endeavor what was a ordinary go to to my beloved Belvide Reservoir, Staffordshire, till a distant hen discovered on a hedgerow revealed itself as a feminine Red-backed Shrike. This was important – it was the first-ever Red-backed Shrike for Belvide and was additionally my 250th species seen on the web site. The air was punched and handshakes had been made with the 2 buddies with me who had been in on the discover. It was a landmark hen.
You have to return 39 years, to 10 March 1984, when a 12-year-old me was launched to Belvide Reservoir on a YOC subject assembly. That was the day that kicked off a lifelong ardour for the positioning that will get stronger and stronger every time I go to.
Belvide Reservoir is a 73-ha canal feeder located in south-west Staffordshire and is about as landlocked as you will get. It is a comparatively small reservoir in comparison with most, however packs an enormous punch relating to birds, with 263 species recorded so far.
Steve has discovered no fewer than three Spotted Sandpipers at his inland Belvide Reservoir patch, together with this breeding-plumaged grownup in May 2017 (Steve Nuttall).
For the primary few years, visits had been sporadic and it wasn’t till the again finish of 1987 that I began to make extra common vigils. In September 1987, a pair of Black-winged Stilts arrived and this was to be my first expertise of a real rarity at Belvide. In 1988 I began to search out my first scarcities, within the type of a Firecrest in April and a Leach’s Storm Petrel in September. The petrel was the primary time I had skilled a crowd of individuals flip as much as see a hen I had discovered. It gave me such a buzz and I needed extra.
The biggest days
One patch date that stands out greater than most is nineteen November 1988. It remains to be probably the most memorable day of birding I’ve witnessed at Belvide. A chilly, murky day with a lightweight easterly breeze disorientated a flock of 18 Greater Scaup and 4 Common Scoter. This was to be eclipsed within the afternoon, nonetheless, when I discovered a single Red-throated Diver flying round within the murk. As I watched it via my telescope, it latched onto a flock of divers – an unimaginable 18 Red-throated Divers had been flying across the reservoir! Luckily for my sake, three birds determined to land and keep till the subsequent day, as I’m certain no one would have believed me on the time.
Early birding mentors reminiscent of John Higginson, Eric Phillips and Steve Jaggs educated me with my birding apprenticeship. This was invaluable to find notable inland rarities reminiscent of an Icterine Warbler in July 1993 and a Little Bunting in April 1995. I used to be to succeed in 200 species in September 1994 with a Red Kite.
I look again now on the immense pleasure and emotions of wellbeing that Belvide has given me over the years. From 1994, it has taken me one other 29 years so as to add an additional 50 species. Highlights embrace discovering Laughing Gull and Bonaparte’s Gulls and three totally different Spotted Sandpipers, whereas an outrageous three Sabine’s Gulls dropped in a single June day in 2017. The European Honey Buzzard invasion throughout September 2000, after I noticed no fewer than 11 birds move via, stands out too.
Seabirds on an inland reservoir at all times give me a terrific buzz. Two Long-tailed, three Pomarine and a number of Arctic and Great Skuas have all been seen. Add to the combo Northern Gannet, two Manx Shearwaters and 5 Leach’s Storm Petrels over the years. I like nothing greater than sitting within the disguise with it pouring with rain and an easterly wind blowing. That has been my major tactic in rarity discovering: simply to take a seat and wait.
At the time of writing, I’ve visited Belvide practically 9,300 instances. I’ve labored out I’ve walked a minimum of 29,000 km across the place in that point. Reaching 250 species is merely unfinished business and, god prepared, I can get one other 30 years out of the place.
