News
Reserve Update Tuesday 9th October - Pintail on Folly Pond
Another (very) blustery morning which has mixed things up a bit on the reserve. There is evidence of coastal flooding outside Saltcot Merse Observatory which has drawn in the Lapwing for feeding. With today's high tide it could be interesting down the
9 October 2018
Big tides
Holden Tower The Marsh Harrier was hunting over the spartina island for a prolonged spell over the very high tide. Peregrine and 4 Buzzards did their best to stir things up. The 10 Grey Plover flew in again. A roost of 278 Curlew and 278 Shelduck, 3 Dunl
9 October 2018
Latest Sightings
Packed in tight. These Pink-footed Geese are regularly coming in onto the Mere from ~ 4pm No specific counts but undoubtedly 10000+ Pink-footed Geese are roosting on the reserve with birds coming and going througho
8 October 2018
Common darter's last hurrah before the frosts
Common darter dragonfly catches some autumn sun. We had a black tail godwit stop in at the Ramsar hide on Sunday. A visitor showed staff a photo so we were able to confirm its. Alas they did not send it to us or post
8 October 2018
Today's Highlights
Fieldfare Lapwing Black-tailed godwit Coot Moorhen Snipe Ruff x 5 Cormorant Black-headed gull Cranes x 28 on Lady Fen Whooper swans + cygnets Mute swan Greylag geese Teal Shoveler Wigeon Gadwall Pintail Mallard Jackdaw Rook Starling Meadow pipit Tree spar
8 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 8th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie. Impressive numbers of Brent geese, ducks and waders out on the estuary at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,2500
8 October 2018
Wildlife sightings - 08/10/18
a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Teal 25 Black-tailed godwit 2 Fieldfare 1 Redshank 3 Jay 1 Saline Lagoon Teal 15 Black-headed gull 2 Hawthorn Wood Robin 1 Great spotted woodpecker 3 Willow tit 2 Great tit 5 Nuthatch 1 Blue tit 3 Chaffinch 4 Goldfinch 7 Gr
8 October 2018
Reserve Update - Monday 8th October - Autumn leaves and bright feathers!
It's a blustery day today on the merse, the winds have encouraged many autumn leaves to fall onto the avenue making a lovely colourful walk. The same can be said about our waterfowl, with many of the shoveler and teal coming out of their eclipse plumage
8 October 2018
Redwings
Holden Tower Four Cranes included two unringed adults. Over the tide a party of 10 Grey Plover, c10 Dunlin, 212 Shoveler, c30 Curlew, 14 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Pintail and c40 Wigeon were pushed up by the tide. A Peregrine and Marsh Harrier kept th
8 October 2018
Wildlife sightings for 8th October 2018
1 Jack Snipe - marsh 4 Snipe - marsh, main lake 1 Peregrine - charing cross hospital ledge 19 Greylag Goose - grazing marsh, 09:00 17 flew off W 2 Blackcap - wildside 1 Redwing - flew NW 7 Siskin - sheltered lagoon 2 Meadow Pipit - marsh September/
8 October 2018
Latest Sightings
Lapwing posing outside the in focus shop (Andy Bunting) Plenty of action today with thousands of Pink-footed Geese especially in the afternoon. A few Whooper Swan new in with peat stained heads. Waders around the Mere
7 October 2018
Sunday sightings
Migrants today included a Redwing and Wheatear. Holden Tower Song Thrush and Blackcap. 90+ Linnet, 2 Peregrine and a Buzzard on the Dumbles. A Siskin was calling from the Decoy. Two Marsh Harrier remain on the reserve and could be seen in flight to the N
7 October 2018
Today's sightings
Cranes x28 Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag goose Egyptian goose Little grebe Mallard Moorhen Ruff Redshank Black-tailed godwit Snipe Lapwing Ringed plover Fieldfare Starling Tree sparrow House sparrow Chaffinch Goldfinch Blue tit Wood pigeon Carrion crow R
7 October 2018
Wildlife sightings for 7th October 2018
5 Stonechat - grazing marsh 5 Snipe - main lake, wader scrape, grazing marsh 3 Chiffchaff - South route, sheltered lagoon, wildside 3 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh 1 Peregrine - over the wader scrape 19 Greylag Goose - grazing marsh, 09:00 17 flew off W
7 October 2018
Whoopers
Cooler but brighter after a few overcast days. A flock of 45 Whooper Swan flew onto the reserve, our biggest influx so far. A group of freshly arrived Whooper Swan. Lapwing and a few Ruff are showing well from the Dis
6 October 2018