22-4-11, Belvide Reservoir

First day of a long weekend and time to start mopping up on some incoming and passing migrants including Black Tern, Wood, Reed and Sedge Warbler, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher. I headed for Belvide nice and early, headed down to the first hide, started watching a distant Buzzard fly over the dam across the reservoir. It didn't look right so bins on it again and it was only a cracking male Marsh Harrier, a county tick for me. Spot on, early bird catches the other early bird!!! Then it was off to the far side of the reservoir to nail the main reason, Grasshopper Warbler and a couple showed nicely. Other birds noted today were Red-legged Partridge, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Blackbird, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Magpie, Jackdaw, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Oystercatcher, Wren, Reed Bunting, Mute Swan, Carrion Crow, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Lapwing, Shoveler, Mallard, Reed Warbler, Rook, Teal, Stock Dove, Skylark, Tree Sparrow, Greylag Geese, Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Gadwall, Redshank, Wigeon, Pied Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Cormorant, Shelduck, Long-tailed Tit and Ruddy Duck. A nice four hours here.