News
Reserve Update Wednesday 21st March
Spring is here! Now admittedly there is still a bit of a chill breeze but we have observed our first Wheatear of the season yesterday afternoon. It turned out to be a slightly strange day with a Bar-headed goose mixed in with the flock of Barnacle Gee
21 March 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 20th March
A bright, sunny morning with plenty of birds singing and some starting to gather nesting materials. Several Linnets were heard singing down the Avenue, with the males starting to come into their summer plumage. No sign of the male Garganey this mor
20 March 2018
Fire/Ice
Only small traces of the chaos of the combined forces of the Beast from the East and Storm Emma remain and thankfully it is now possible for me to have a cup of tea without altering my normal brew with coconut milk or reverting to frost burnt bread at th
19 March 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 17th March - Garganey again
The drake Garganey is still on the Teal Pond this morning, but patience is required. Patience is still required, and it is worth looking from upstairs in the Peter Scott Observatory first as it is sometimes only visible from there and not the Teal Pond
17 March 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 16th March - Garganey still here
The drake Garganey is still on the Teal Pond this morning, but patience is required. We waited at least 40mins before it appeared today. This photo of the Garganey was taken yesterday, phone scoped by Reserve Warden Steve Cooper. Also on the Teal Pond,
16 March 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 15th March - Garganey!
It was worth a walk around the Reserve this morning despite the bad weather. Male Garganey on Teal Pond was the absolute highlight and probably one of the earliest spring arrival records for this species. There are still Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank,
15 March 2018
Reserve Update Friday 9th March
Lots of male chaffinch's singing down the avenue this morning. A good number of Pintail on the Flood Ground, and several waders in Lochar Field. 2 Black-headed Gulls were on an island on the Flood Ground, possibly trying to claim nesting territory. Named
9 March 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 8th March
The waders are returning to Folly Pond with 29 Redshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Curlew feeding around the edges this morning. Duck numbers are dropping here but Teal and Wigeon can still be seen out in the flooded fields around the Peter Scott Obse
8 March 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 7th March
Well the Chaffinches have decided that we are back to Spring again and are in full voice down the Avenue. They were joined by singing Goldfinch, a lovely flock of about twenty Linnet and a Treecreeper. There are lots of Tufted ducks around at Whooper
7 March 2018
Update, Monday 5th March
A Balmy 5C today, with the snow virtually gone (the Blackshaw approach road requires care close to the centre but is easily driven), resulting in "The Return of the Barnacle" - a good few thousand around today after a relative dearth over the snowy period
5 March 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 28th February- Very Snowy!
A very snowy morning, with a blizzard going on outside right now. Folly Pond, Back Pond and Teal Pond are nearly completely frozen, so the majority of birds are on the Whooper Pond. A few images below of the reserve this morning. Image: Folly Pond
28 February 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 24th February
Another brilliantly sunny start to the day, a light frost this morning which is melting quickly in the sun. A brisk north easterly wind keeping things fresh. Plenty of wildfowl on the ponds & fields, birds are singing down the Avenues. A Stoat was da
24 February 2018
Reserve Update Friday 23rd February
Two lovely flocks of Yellowhammer and Goldfinch were seen down the avenue this morning. Teal Pond has more duck on than usual, including Wigeon, Teal and a Little Grebe. The Flood Ground has a good number of birds on, with two female Gooseander's feeding
23 February 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 22nd February
Today's weather is nice and sunny down on the reserve. The rest of the Wetland Bird Survey counts are below, with a large number of Dunlin and Knot present at the high tide on Sunday. There are a good number of swans around at the moment, with at least 17
22 February 2018
Reserve Update Sunday 18th February
A wet start to the day, with the weather clearing up now. The Wetland Bird Survey takes place today, with some numbers for the inland ponds included below. There is a large number of Pintail on the flood ground, with a good mix of both females and males.
18 February 2018