News
Latest Sightings - Thursday 27th December
Another cloudy but dry morning on the reserve. The Great Egret is on the merse at the moment, usually to the west of the Saltcot Merse Observatory. A Sparrowhawk has been using the Saltcot Loaning and a Kestrel hovering over the Corner Field. Curlew, Lapw
27 December 2018
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
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
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
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
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
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