andythomas
Well-known member
Belvide is a 75 hectare canal feeder reservoir near the village of Brewood, seven miles north-west of Wolverhampton (map reference SJ8710). It is leased to the West Midland Bird Club by British Waterways as a nature reserve. The reservoir was constructed in the 1830s to serve the nearby Shropshire Union Canal.
Birdwatchers began visiting the site in the 1920s, realizing its value for wintering wildfowl and passage migrants. The West Midland Bird Club began issuing permits to visit the reservoir in 1953, and the first hide was erected in 1956. The nature reserve was established in January 1977.
In addition to the reservoir there are almost 9 acres of woodland. Other habitats include reed beds and unimproved pasture. The reserve has 4 hides and there is a feeding station in the car park.
During the winter common ducks such as Mallard, Teal and Wigeon are present in large numbers. Diving ducks such as Goosander are also present. The large gull roost sometimes includes Glaucous or Iceland Gulls. Divers and migrating swans and geese occur annually.
Belvide is an excellent place to look for waders during spring and autumn passage. In recent years the common waders have been joined by Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little and Temminck’s Stint. Tern passage is also good, with Black, Arctic, Little and Sandwich Terns annual visitors. Other birds seen at this time include Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Black-necked Grebe and Spotted Crake.
Location: South of A5 north-west of Brewood.
Access: Open to members of the West Midland Bird Club with “inclusive” membership. Otherwise a separate permit is required, available from West Midland Bird Club, cost £12 per annum.
Website: http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/belvide/index.htm
Resident: Little and Great Crested Grebe, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow.
April - September: Hobby, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge and Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher. Regular passage waders include Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper.
October - March: Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Water Rail, Snipe.
Birdwatchers began visiting the site in the 1920s, realizing its value for wintering wildfowl and passage migrants. The West Midland Bird Club began issuing permits to visit the reservoir in 1953, and the first hide was erected in 1956. The nature reserve was established in January 1977.
In addition to the reservoir there are almost 9 acres of woodland. Other habitats include reed beds and unimproved pasture. The reserve has 4 hides and there is a feeding station in the car park.
During the winter common ducks such as Mallard, Teal and Wigeon are present in large numbers. Diving ducks such as Goosander are also present. The large gull roost sometimes includes Glaucous or Iceland Gulls. Divers and migrating swans and geese occur annually.
Belvide is an excellent place to look for waders during spring and autumn passage. In recent years the common waders have been joined by Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little and Temminck’s Stint. Tern passage is also good, with Black, Arctic, Little and Sandwich Terns annual visitors. Other birds seen at this time include Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Black-necked Grebe and Spotted Crake.
Location: South of A5 north-west of Brewood.
Access: Open to members of the West Midland Bird Club with “inclusive” membership. Otherwise a separate permit is required, available from West Midland Bird Club, cost £12 per annum.
Website: http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/belvide/index.htm
Resident: Little and Great Crested Grebe, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow.
April - September: Hobby, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge and Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher. Regular passage waders include Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper.
October - March: Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Water Rail, Snipe.
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