News
Latest sightings
We are now open but you can only visit if you have booked, please book your tickets on our website. Some of the hides are closed (United utilities, Hale and gladstone) there is a one way system in place so to get to the Gordon Taylor hide you must go arou
15 June 2020
Latest sightings
We have been open for 2 days now, bookings only on our website to limit numbers and ensure social distancing. Most of the hides are open but we have had to close United utilities, kingfisher, Hale and gladstone as they are either too small, can't have a o
11 June 2020
Latest sightings
We are gearing up to opening on Wednesday 10th June, it is booking only, details on our website, sorry if you haven't got your tickets yet but more will be released on Wednesday 10th at 9am. The rain has put some much needed water on woodend marsh which t
8 June 2020
Latest sightings
A lovely pair of otters on the mere today (photo)The rain has arrived which has refreshed the ground, we are due rain over the next few days which will hopefully fill the pool in woodend marsh. Currently on woodend marsh there are ringed plovers, little r
4 June 2020
Lots of avocet chicks
We have had lots of avocets hatch this week and now have 20 brood on the site, some are infront of the Gordon Taylor hide (which is very dry at the moment, hopefully we’ll see some rain on Wednesday) Photo Ian Henderson/WWT. There are 102 black-tailed g
1 June 2020
First avocet chicks
Are first avocet chicks hatched this week, so far we have 5 broods on the mere and many more to hatch over the next few days. 6 lapwing chicks have fledged so far and they are currently in front of the Gordon Taylor hide. We have a flock of 86 black-taile
28 May 2020
Warblers galore
We have had some very sunny and calm days which has been great for our warblers, the reed and sedge warbler males have been singing loudly in the reedbed, in some areas the territories are very close together as they compete against each other. The great
21 May 2020
Latest sightings
Lots of duck nests on the reserve which should hatch soon, we have pochard, tufted ducks, shovelers and Shelduck. The avocets are still sitting on the mere and due to hatch soon there are still 23 nests. On woodend marsh there are a pair of Garganey (stoc
18 May 2020
Latest sightings
Another sunny week and the cuckoo's have been very active in the reedbed calling lots and flying around, there is at least 1 male and 1 female. We picked up an otter and cub on our trail camera, we have put the video on our Facebook page. The lapwing chic
14 May 2020
Latest sightings
The first Shelduck ducklings have hatched infront of Ron Barker hide this weekend. A family of 9 ducklings (stockphoto). A few broods of mallards on the reserve and in the grounds. Lots of Canada and Greylag gosling's. Woodend marsh has lots of mud which
11 May 2020
Latest sightings
Another glorious week of weather, multiple cuckoos onsite including females bubbling calls in the reedbed. We have over 20 swallow nests around the buildings and barns. The black-headed gull nests have started to hatch so there are lots of cute chicks on
7 May 2020
Latest sightings
Its been a nice weekend, the first cuckoo of the year was seen and heard on Sunday calling in the reedbed. 7 singing grasshopper warblers now across the reserve. A few Swifts screaming over the reedbed too. We have 2 pairs of bullfinches on site one on th
4 May 2020
Latest sightings
The wet weather has arrived and caused an emergence of insects which is being exploited by the sand martins and swallows and hobby. The reed warblers have arrived now and are setting up territories and singing loudly. A few wheatears knocking about sat on
30 April 2020
Latest sightings
Another lovely sunny weekend, lots of sand martins passing through. A couple of arctic terns and our first common terns have arrived onsite. We still have 4 singing grasshopper warblers reeling in the rushes.The grounds, our captive collection area, with
27 April 2020
Latest sightings
The first lapwing chicks hatched today hopefully the first of many. The little ringed plovers have set up territories we have 3 pairs.Whimbrel on site this week and still a few wheatears knocking around. 4 pairs of grasshopper warblers on site Lot is butt
23 April 2020