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Snipe showing well on the marsh

Snipe showing well on the marsh

2 Bittern - main lake (SE shore and N shore by Headley Hide) 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 1 Chiffchaff - wildside 2 Shelduck - main lake 4 Pintail - main lake, reservoir lagoon 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 7 Snipe - graz

27 December 2018

Boxing Day birding

Boxing Day birding

The Bewick's Swans were again at 92 birds this morning, including all four families with cygnets.  Another adult dropped in shortly after the feed, a male known as Shoon (pictured) who has been visiting for around 8 years. South Lake At least 27 Pochard

26 December 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose White-fronted goose Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Wigeon Pochard Goldeneye Tufted duck Cormorant Coot Moorhen Water rail (calling) Great egret Little egret Curlew Black-tailed godwit Redshank S

26 December 2018

Latest Sightings - Wednesday 26th December

Latest Sightings - Wednesday 26th December

The mist of yesterday has cleared so we can at least see the reserve this morning. It's a dry start to the day, with plenty to see. Barnacle Geese are all around the site, duck numbers are high in the Flood Ground and Folly Pond. Waders have returned to t

26 December 2018

Wildlife sightings - 26/12/18

Wildlife sightings - 26/12/18

a.m. Tide Level: Mid Wader Lake Teal 44 Shoveler 3 Lapwing 30 Shelduck 2 Grey heron 1 Saline Lagoon Curlew 38 Teal 54 Hawthorn Wood Brambling 6 Siskin 1 Nuthatch 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Goldfinch 6 Robin 3 Chaffinch 8 Coal tit 1 Bullfinch 10 Redpoll

26 December 2018

Boxing day birding

Boxing day birding

2 Bittern - main lake (SE shore and N shore by Headley Hide) 4 Pintail - main lake 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 2 Shelduck - main lake 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 15 Redwing - entrance area 7 Fieldfare - flew over heading S 1 Chiffchaff - wildsid

26 December 2018

Christmas Eve sightings

Christmas Eve sightings

Rushy Hide At least 81 Bewick's Swans present at dawn, good numbers of duck also present but the Pochard and Tufted Duck have been rather nervous, many moving to the South Lake and Long Ground Pool. Two Redshank and 10 Snipe present with large congregati

24 December 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Barnacle goose White-fronted goose x 2 Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Goldeneye (Lyle hide) Pochard Tufted duck Coot Moorhen Water rail White stork (reedbed hide) Grey heron

24 December 2018

Latest Sightings - Monday 24th December

Latest Sightings - Monday 24th December

A frost last night has frozen many of the ponds and fields. Whooper Pond, Folly Pond and the Flood Ground are mostly ice free and that's where most of the birds are at the moment.   A Mistle Thrush in the Avenue this morning is a fairly unusual species f

24 December 2018

Wildlife sightings - 24/12/18

Wildlife sightings - 24/12/18

a.m Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Water rail 1 Snipe 6 Shelduck 9 Teal 13 Saline Lagoon Sparrowhawk 1 Shelduck 1 Hawthorn Wood Brambling 1 Chaffinch 9 Nuthatch 1 Willow tit 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Bullfinch 6 Blue tit 5 Coal tit 4 Great tit 9 Other bird

24 December 2018

4 Bitterns and 3 Jack Snipe!

4 Bitterns and 3 Jack Snipe!

(Male Reed Bunting with food, Russ Myners)   4 Bittern - main lake (SE shore, NE shore, N shore by Headley Hide) 3 Jack Snipe - scrape, main lake island 21 13 Reed Bunting - main lake, reedbed, south route/main l

24 December 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck Moorhen Grey heron Great egret Little egret Black-tailed godwit Ruff Redshank Snipe Dunlin Lapwing Great black-backed gull Reed bunting T

23 December 2018

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas!

Lapwing avoiding Peregrine over the Mere Happy Christmas to you all out there and a big thanks for all of your sightings that help us to compile these reports. Great to see a few more Pink-footed Geese on the reserve,

23 December 2018

3 Bitterns on the main lake this morning

3 Bitterns on the main lake this morning

1 Little Owl - calling from cover near wildside Dragonfly Pond 3 Bittern - main lake (N shore, SE shore, Headley Hide) 1 Jack Snipe - scrape 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 11 Mandarin - reservoir lagoon Grebe Pool, scrape 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 10

23 December 2018

Todays Sightings 22nd December

Todays Sightings 22nd December

Rushy Bewick's Swan 90 overnight Teal 70 Lapwing 400 looking great in flight Snipe 1 along left edge of lower pool. Redshank 1 Grey Wagtail 1 close views in front of hide. Martin Smith Pools Some great close up birding here, the Jack Snipe was showing wel

22 December 2018