News
Reserve Update Saturday 28th October
While Whooper Swan numbers at the feeds are remaining at around 60 birds, we are noticing a change in individuals with new leg rings being recorded daily. The Great White Egret was down along the Saltcot Merse again yesterday and some visitors were also
28 October 2017
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among the Pink-footed Geese on Owl Marsh this morning before presumably flying off, hopefully will get seen again over the weekend. Yesterday a report of a juv White-fronted Goose in the afternoon couldn't be found later, bu
27 October 2017
Today's Highlights
Pintail-3 at main observatory Kingfisher Curlew-4 Redshank Black-tailed godwit Lapwing Dunlin Avocet-1 Water rail-below cafe Golden plover Cormorant Whooper swans Mute swans Wigeon Teal Pochard Shoveler Goosander female(flew N mid morning) Crane - flew ov
27 October 2017
A surprise of ruff
We've returned to a morning of glorious sunshine which is showing off the birds well in the golden light. The main highlight today was a sizeable flock of Ruff which landed amongst the Wigeon on the Top New Piece in front of the Van de Bovenkamp Hide -
27 October 2017
Latest Sightings - 27th October
A brilliant sunny morning on the reserve, and significantly colder. This should help to bring more birds onto the reserve, especially the Whooper Swans. With northerly winds we will expect a 'fall' of Whoopers over the next few days. Named Whooper Swan ar
27 October 2017
Wildlife sightings for 27th October 2017
1 Stonechat - grazing marsh 18 Meadow Pipit - heading SW & N with some dropping onto the grazing marsh 1 Skylark - heading W 10 Redpoll - 5 in wildside, 5 heading SW 11 Siskin - wildside, sheltered lagoon 2 Chiffchaff - South route 1 Kestrel - grazin
27 October 2017
Recent Sightings (25th- 26th Oct)
British Steel Hide Little to report on the wader front from the hide, but 26 Lapwing were roosting on the saline lagoons on the 26th and times of higher tides are sure to bring some waders on to the pools. There seems to have been a big influx in Thrushes
26 October 2017
Today's Highlights
Kestrel Cormorant Tree sparrow Whooper swans Wigeon Teal Shoveler Gadwall Pochard Reed bunting Black-tailed godwit Buzzard Snipe Lapwing Marsh harrier Cetti's warbler Little egret Stonechat Grey heron Curlew Meadow pipit Stoat
26 October 2017
Wildlife sightings - 26/10/17
Wader Lake (AM, high tide): Black-tailed godwit 6 Redshank 80 Lapwing 60 Curlew 8 Common snipe 3 Teal 73 Stock dove 3 Saline lagoon: Curlew, black-headed gull and greater black-backed gull. Hawthorn Wood feeding station: Willow tit 2 Coal ti
26 October 2017
Mist and murk
What a contrast to yesterday morning. Today sees mist and murk descend up the estuary, the river being completely obscured from the Holden Tower and even the outer edges of the Top and Bottom New Piece fields from the Zeiss Hide. The weather doesn't h
26 October 2017
Wildlife sightings for 26th October 2017
1 Pintail - grazing marsh 4 Snipe - wader scrape 21 Redwing - flew over heading SW 2 Siskin - sheltered lagoon 1 Kestrel - wader scrape Additional sightings from yesterday: 1 Little Egret - wader scrape 1 Buzzard - over grazing marsh before flying West 4
26 October 2017
Today's sightings
A gloriously sunny day, a marked difference from the recent cloud, drizzle and wind we've been having. South Lake Hides The team have been busy finishing off the annual cut here today, including the islands on the deep lake and some of the shoreline. Bi
25 October 2017
Todays Sightings
Bittern Whooper swans (approx. 700) Mute swan Greylag goose Canada goose Shoveler Teal Wigeon Mallard Grey heron Ruff Black-tailed godwit Lapwing Curlew x3 Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Wood pigeon Rook Marsh harrier x2 Kestrel Snipe Stonechat Wa
25 October 2017
Reserve Update Wednesday 25th October - Great White Egret
The Great White Egret has once again been seen this morning out on the merse from Saltcot Merse Observatory. For such a blatantly large, white bird it does manage to hide rather well in the creeks! It has also been a day for waders with 50 Curlew in P
25 October 2017
Wildlife sightings for 25th October 2017
1 Pintail - grazing marsh 71 Wigeon - main lake, wader scrape 10 Snipe - wader scrape, grazing marsh 1 Little Egret - wader scrape 1 Water Rail - wader scrape 14 Redwing - flew over heading South 3 Stonechat - grazing marsh 4 Redpoll - wildisde 1 Firecr
25 October 2017