News

It's a cold one

It's a cold one

With the mercury dipping below freezing overnight it wasn't a surprise to find many of the shallow water bodies at least partly frozen this morning.  This pushes the duck into tight groups or to other deeper water, and can push waders off the reserve to

22 November 2018

Skylark migrating west in frosty conditions

Skylark migrating west in frosty conditions

2 Skylark - over W 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 5 Snipe - marsh(3), main lake(2) 1 Water Pipit - marsh 2 Redpoll - sheltered lagoon (feeding on Alders with flock of Blue Tit, Goldcrest)   November bird highlights: Short-eared Owl, Shelduck, Goldeneye,

22 November 2018

A few more swans

A few more swans

Bewick's Swans increased again this morning with 58 birds now on the Rushy, but still just our two family groups - a brood of three with parents Dario and Bridges, and a single cygnet with parents Stephen and Shelby. Robbie Garnett Hide Amongst the severa

21 November 2018

Sightings for Wednesday 21st November

Sightings for Wednesday 21st November

Bright but chilly day here at Welney today, lots of activity in front of the Main observatory, all hides remain open as is the Summer walk. Sightings so far today: Bewick swan Mute swan Whooper swan Bean goose Canada goose Greylag goose Mallard Pintail Po

21 November 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 21st November

Reserve Update Wednesday 21st November

The ducks, waders and geese are loving the Lochar field this morning down at Avenue Tower.  Over three hundred each of Wigeon and Lapwing feeding around (and in!) the flooded grassland.  They are joined by good numbers of Barnacle Geese and over 50 Curl

21 November 2018

Pintail showing well on the grazing marsh

Pintail showing well on the grazing marsh

1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 2 Pintail - grazing marsh 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 6 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 1 Bittern - main lake N shore 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh 2 Peregrine - perched on the hospital 2 Chiffchaff - South route, shelt

21 November 2018

Wildlife sightings - 21/11/18

Wildlife sightings - 21/11/18

a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Teal 7 Shelduck 5 Northern shoveller 4 Black-headed gull 1 Saline Lagoon Shelduck 2 Teal 9 Hawthorn Wood Great spotted woodpecker 3 Coal tit 2 Chaffinch 3 Blue tit 8 Great tit 5 Bullfinch 2 Goldfinch 5 Willow tit 1 Robin 1

21 November 2018

Recent sightings 17th - 20th November

Recent sightings 17th - 20th November

Avocet, Cr. Rob Werran British Steel Hide Plenty of waders still being seen over the saline lagoons with 239 Dunlin, 387 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Redshank, 17 Greenshank, 156 Lapwing and a lone Snipe. The Spoonbill

20 November 2018

Winds from the East

Winds from the East

As the easterly winds set in and the temperature falls we should see an increase in wildfowl coming out of continental Europe. The other great thing about easterlies at Martin Mere is that the wind won't be blowing through most of the hide windows. Altho

20 November 2018

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada goose Bean goose (x3) Pink-footed goose Egyptian goose (x4) Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Wigeon Teal Pochard Cormorant Coot Moorhen Great egret Little egret Curlew (x3) Black-tailed godwit Ruff Reds

20 November 2018

Now 48 Bewick's Swans

Now 48 Bewick's Swans

The Bewick's Swan flock has increased to 48 with more arrivals overnight. The single bird Indri remains on the Big Pen with the rest of the flock spending their time between the Tack Piece and Rushy Pen. A second family has turned up, pair with one cygnet

20 November 2018

Little egret numbers increase

Little egret numbers increase

Romney Turner captured these snipe out in the open. Mon 12 Nov Arun Riverlife lagoon: kingfisher, 3 little egret, 11 cormorant. Reedbed hide: reed bunting Woodland loop: Mistle thrush. Scrape hide: gadwall, green wood

20 November 2018

Wildlife sightings - 20/11/18

Wildlife sightings - 20/11/18

a.m. Tide Level: Low Wader Lake Redshank 1 Water rail 1 Shelduck 10 Herring gull 4 Teal 9 Mallard 7 Wigeon 3 Saline Lagoon Curlew 1 Hawthorn Wood Sparrowhawk 1 Coal tit 4 Nuthatch 1 Blackbird 1 Blue tit 6 Robin 1 Great tit 4 Other birds Redwing - 27 - Orc

20 November 2018

Shelducks on the flooded scrape

Shelducks on the flooded scrape

2 Shelduck - wader scrape 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 1 Pintail - grazing marsh 7 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 1 Fieldfare - South route 2 Chiffchaff - South route, sheltered lagoon November bird highlights:

20 November 2018

Sightings for Monday 19th November

Sightings for Monday 19th November

Overcast, sunny periods and the odd shower here today at Welney, all hides remain open. Sightings so far today: Mute swan Whooper swan Bean goose Canada goose Egyptian goose Greylag goose Pink-footed goose Gadwall Mallard Pintail Pochard Teal Tufted duck

19 November 2018