News
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
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
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
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
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!
(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
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!
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
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
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
Today's sightings
Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Black swan (main observatory) Greylag Canada goose White-fronted goose Barnacle goose Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck Cormorant Coot Moorhen Crane x 7 (Friends hide) White sto
22 December 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 22nd December
A bright and sunny morning on the reserve. The Folly Pond is very busy this morning, plenty of ducks and waders to see. Two Ruff have been reported in front of the Newfield Hide at 11am. Named Whooper Swan arrivals: YHS - Solway Siren Lost Darvic - Hagar
22 December 2018
Splashing family fun this February half-term
Grab your wellies and join us outdoors as we host our 2019 Puddle Jumping Championships this coming February half-term – guaranteed fun whatever the North East weather! Warm up in our puddle jumping practice zone before challenging your family and frien
21 December 2018
Today's Sightings
Whooper swan Bewick's swan-Main Obs Mute swan White-fronted geese x 7+8 Tundra bean geese x 5 Greylag geese Canada geese Barnacle goose x 1 Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck x 23 Cormorant Coot Moorhen White stork-R
21 December 2018
Wildlife sightings - 21/12/18
Wader Lake (AM, low tide): Mute swan 2 Shelduck 8 Shoveler (male) 1 Teal 8 Grey heron 3 Lapwing 26 Water rail 2 Saline lagoon (AM, low tide): Curlew 1 Shelduck 1 Grey heron 1 Hawthorn wood feeding station: Great-spotted woodpecker 3 Nuthatch
21 December 2018