News
WWT's 'universal duck mum' Phoebe Vaughan tells us about life as an aviculturist
Birds at risk of extinction are being bred in special conservation programmes around the world thanks, in part, to experience and skills gained by aviculturists at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) centres in the UK. Phoebe Vaughan is one such avicultur
8 August 2017
Sand martin nest, kingfishers return & martins on the move
Sand martins checking out nest holes in the sand martin hide in previous years. This is the weekly wildlife sightings blog by Reserve Manager Paul Stevens. When sand martins began to check out the holes in our artific
8 August 2017
Wildlife sightings for 8th August 2018
1 Common Sandpiper - grazing marsh 3 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 20 Teal - main lake, sheltered lagoon, grazing marsh 5 Chiffchaff - sheltered lagoon, wader scrape bank 3 Blackcap - sheltered lagoon 1 Peregrine - hunting over grazing marsh 1 Kestr
8 August 2017
Today's Highlights
Wheatear-female at Friends hide Cranes x 4 Avocet Black-tailed godwit Snipe Redshank Lapwing Dunlin Green sandpiper Common sandpiper Coot Moorhen Little egret Kingfisher Cormorant Hobby Kestrel Marsh harrier Sparrowhawk Gadwall Shoveler Shelduck Wigeon Po
7 August 2017
Dunlin increase
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide Dunlin numbers have increased dramatically in the last couple of days, lots of juveniles are present with the moulting adults, the flock displays a variety of sizes, bill lengths and stage of moult making interesting viewing
7 August 2017
Recent Sightings – 7th August
The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie. The weather has been mixed lately but there has been some interesting sightings of birds of prey recently, including Kestrel, Peregrine, Sparrow hawk and Osprey. Estuary - visib
7 August 2017
Wildlife sightings - 07/08/17
a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Swallow 4 Sparrowhawk 1 Avocet 4 Shoveler 1 Grey heron 6 Gadwall 4 Common tern 5 Lapwing 24 Little ringed plover 2 *Bird numbers low due to low tide and hunting sparrowhawk* Saline Lagoon Kingfisher (in reedbed pool) Lapwin
7 August 2017
Wildlife sightings for 7th August 2017
3 Little Egret - grazing marsh 1 Kingfisher - wader scrape 1 Peregrine - perched on the hospital 12 Teal - main lake, wader scrape 2 Willow Warbler - South route, wildside 2 Chiffchaff - South route, wildside Additional sightings from yesterday:
7 August 2017
Water Shrew seen on safari
Landrover Safaris A good day with a Water Shrew showing on both outings, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk made it a rewarding trip for raptor sightings. Two Grass Snakes were also seen with Curlew, Shelduck, Sanderling, Dunlin and
6 August 2017
Latest Sighting
Sunday started off bright and a little overcast followed by light rain in the afternoon. The Little Stint was present at the back of Sunley's early and then again from around 4pm. At least 8 Dunlin present, 800+ Black-tailed Godwit, 500+ Lapwing, 3 Green
6 August 2017
Today's Sightings
Cranes x4 Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Grey Heron Little Egret Black-tailed Godwit Pied Wagtail Teal Peregrine Swallow Goldfinch House Martin Avocet Starling Green Sandpiper Garganey Kestrel Barn Owl Hobby Yellow Wagtail
6 August 2017
Wildlife sightings for 6th August 2017
1 Black Redstart - female perched on grazing marsh fence 1 Little Egret - main lake 1 Kestrel - wader scrape fence 1 Hobby - main lake 1 Peregrine - perched on the hospital 12 Teal - main lake, wader scrape 3 Common Tern - main lake 1 Willow Warbler - ov
6 August 2017
Reserve Update Sunday 6th August
Avenue Tower is the place to be this morning with a multitude of young birds present in the hawthorn tree at the entrance and also within the cover crop. The goldfinches are still yammering for their parents to feed them while a solitary juvenile spot
6 August 2017
Little Stint and 13 other species of waders
A great start to the day with the arrival (overnight?) of a Little Stint out on Vinson's Marsh before flying to the back of Sunley's. Plenty of vegetation for such a small bird to hide amongst. Little Stint this morning wi
5 August 2017
Todays sightings
Whooper swan Mallard Shoveler Teal Gadwall Garganey Crane (x4) Moorhen Coot Little egret Avocet Redshank Common sandpiper Green sandpiper Snipe Black-tailed godwit Common tern Kingfisher Swallow House martin Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Chaffinch
5 August 2017