October 4th 2026 – Habitat Management for Wading Birds
Belmont reservoir was built in 1826 to provide the people of Bolton with water, today it is home to a sailing club and is also a haven for for 100 bird species including black redstart, common sandpiper, little ringed plover, green plover (aka lapwing/peewit), oystercatcher, curlew, golden plover, great black-backed gull lesser black-backed gull, goosander, great crested grebe and ring ouzel to name a random few. Today also saw a rare visitor from eastern Europe, the pallid harrier, which caused a bit of a stir amongst the birders. The site is owned and managed by United Utilities.
Our task at this site was to remove willow and willow seedlings in order to maintain the habitat for wading birds, as they don’t like vegetation around them that can hide predators. The work involved a lot of wandering around looking at the ground searching for willow seedlings, consequentley we didn’t see any rare birds. Once found, we pulled out the little willows by hand, or with the help of trowels. Some willows were so big they had to be dug out with mattocks and aching backs.
Although not the most exciting task we have ever done it was a task of considerable importance for bird life on the site. Belmont Reservoir was one of the largest populations of black headed gull in the country; during breeding season there can be in excess of 5000 pairs, not counting the chicks.
Thanks to everyone who came out, and to both United Utilities and the Belmont Sailing Club for letting us work on the site.
