News

Latest Sightings

Latest Sightings

An extraordinary start to the day when it appeared it wasn't going to get light, all caused by Saharan dust brought up on the weather system driving ex-hurricane Ophelia. When the Sun did break through it looked like this.

16 October 2017

Today's Highlights

Today's Highlights

Whooper swan Mute swan Canada geese Greylag geese Shoveler Teal Wigeon Grey heron Cormorant Ruff Black-tailed godwit Coot Moorhen Snipe Common sandpiper Dunlin Marsh harrier Buzzard Kestrel Sparrowhawk Meadow pipit Stonechat Pied wagtail Cetti's warbler T

16 October 2017

Wildlife sightings - 16/10/17

Wildlife sightings - 16/10/17

a.m. Tide Level: Very low Wader Lake Eurasian teal 12 Redshank 13 Shoveler 1 Lapwing 176 Kestrel 1 Goldfinch 26 Saline Lagoon Curlew 3 Eurasian teal 5 Hawthorn Wood Sparrowhawk 4 Nuthatch 2 Coal tit 14 Blue tit 23 Great tit 24 Chaffinch 8 Willow tit 3 Wre

16 October 2017

Recent Sightings 16th October 2017

Recent Sightings 16th October 2017

Severe weather warnings - unfortunately we have had to close the reserve for safety reasons. However, the following sightings were recorded today at Castle Espie:   Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Geese ~100

16 October 2017

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Rushy Hide 2 Ruff, Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit on the lower pond, 2 Little Grebe, the hybrid male Wigeon with a female Eurasian Wigeon. Tack Piece 400 Teal, 30 Wigeon, Snipe and a Ruff on the scrape. Holden Tower Red-breasted Goose flew to the Seve

16 October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 16th October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 16th October 2017

1 Great White Egret - main lake 12:00-12:20 2 Pintail - main lake 3 Snipe - grazing marsh 3 Water Rail - sheltered lagoon, main lake, reedbed 1 Grey Wagtail - courtyard 1 Willow Warbler - South route   September/October bird highlights: Common Sand

16 October 2017

Two Dowitchers...

Two Dowitchers...

Top day for visitors with a great deal of goose action coming and going throughout the day and very mild too. Good numbers of Pink-footed Geese with around 10,000 in the vicinity and a couple of Barnacle Geese with them. P

15 October 2017

Sightings Sunday 15th October

Sightings Sunday 15th October

Bright start to the day, but clouding over. All hides and Summer walk are open. Sightings so far today: Crane (3 Nelson-lyle hide) Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag goose Canada goose Shoveler Teal Wigeon Coot Moorhen Great white egret Grey Heron Little egre

15 October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 15th October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 15th October 2017

5 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 1 Kingfisher - wildside 8 Meadow Pipit - flew over S, SW 4 Redwing - flew over S 7 Siskin - entrance area and flew over SW 1 Water Rail - sheltered lagoon   September/October bird highlights: Common Sandpiper,

15 October 2017

Latest Sightings

Latest Sightings

The Long-billed Dowitcher was present on site until ~9.45am when it must have flown off as it was relocated back on the Ribble on Bank's Marsh around 11am before flying back onto the reserve mid afternoon. Little Stint, Dunlin, 70+ Ruff, 20+ Snipe and 700

14 October 2017

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Cranes (x15) Whooper swan Greylag Canada goose Mallard Teal Shoveler Wigeon Gadwall Moorhen Little egret Coot Black-tailed godwit Dunlin Cormorant Kingfisher Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Brambling Blue tit Great tit Bearded tit Marsh harrier Kestr

14 October 2017

Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank.

Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank.

Rushy Small numbers of Blackwit, Redshank and Ruff dropping in here through the day. The juvenile Little Ringed Plover was there again this morning and 6 Pintail were on the top pond. Check out the islands on the top pond midday for a great gathering of

14 October 2017

Latest Sightings - 14th October

Latest Sightings - 14th October

Another dull start to the day, but it is dry and the birds haven't disappointed so far. Great numbers of duck still on the Folly Pond with over 600 Teal and close to 100 Wigeon. Plenty of Barnacle Geese on the reserve and surrounding fields this morning,

14 October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 14th October 2017

Wildlife sightings for 14th October 2017

9 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 2 Stonechat - grazing marsh 2 Chiffchaff - South route 2 Grey Wagtail - Otter exhibit 2 Peregrine - on Charing cross hospital September/October bird highlights: Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Cattle Egret

14 October 2017

Long-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher

After a very quiet wader passage in September we had thought we had seen the best until next spring barring a good rarity which indeed happened today with a Long-billed Dowitcher being found by regular watcher Philip Johnson. It's likely that this is the

13 October 2017