News
Reserve update, Sunday Aug 7th
Single Green Sandpiper on The Whooper Pond this morning, Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits and Snipe on The Folly Pond, Little Grebe showing at The Teal Pond. Dry so far, but rather windy Today's high tide 15:59, 8.7m Around the reserve today: Wildflowers R
7 August 2016
Reserve Update Friday 5th August
Again Folly Pond had good numbers of waders on first thing this morning with 120+ Curlew, a single summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 5 Lapwing and 4 Teal. Flocks of Sand Martins can be seen feeding over both Whooper Pond and Folly Pond
5 August 2016
Quick update, Thurs Aug 4th
Folly Pond similar to yesterday, with 120+ Curlew, a single summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit, and 12 Teal. A Marsh Harrier was over Saltcot Merse this morning. Small flocks of Dunlin were moving on the tide yesterday though the visibility was very poo
4 August 2016
Reserve Update Wednesday 3rd August - Waders Galore!
Folly Pond is the place to be this morning. After a fairly quiet few weeks, the recent field cutting and wet weather has seen an influx of waders onto the surrounding field and muddy edges with 143 Curlew, 22 Lapwing, 2 Snipe and 1 Black-tailed Godwit p
3 August 2016
Latest Sightings - 2nd August - Tawny Owl back
A busy morning with farmers on site early to continue baling and wrapping silage in the fields. The Meadow will be cut for hay soon, so if you want to see the wild flowers come down this week! Tawny Owl is once again in its tree along the Folly Hide path.
2 August 2016
Monday August 1st
No sign yet today, but yesterday morning gave great views of the young Marsh Harrier again, this time hunting over the upper merse terraces, close to Saltcot Merse Onservatory. While enjoying that spectacle, we were distracted by a Red Kite which dropped
1 August 2016
Latest Sightings - 30th July - Marsh Harrier yesterday
Yesterday, a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reserve all afternoon. First seen from the Avenue Tower, it then moved up towards the Visitor Centre before tracking out onto the Merse. Last seen at 5pm yesterday near the Avenue Tower, no sign
30 July 2016
Latest Sightings - 29th July - Young birds a plenty
Plenty of young birds out in the sunshine this morning. Highlights so far have been 2 young Sedge Warblers in the Peter Scott Trail and a young Song Thrush in the Avenue. A Peregrine Falcon was spotted recently perched in one of our fields. A common sight
29 July 2016
Reserve Update Thursday 28th July
The mute swan family with seven cygnets is now all back together again on Whooper Pond this morning. The female sparrow hawk has once again been sighted hunting down the Avenue Today's high tide 20:01, 8.0m Around the reserve today: Wildflowers Red Clo
28 July 2016
Latest Sightings 27th July
Our Mute Swan family seem to have split up briefly, with the parents and 6 cygnets on the Whooper Pond and a lone cygnet on the Teal Pond this morning. There is also a single cygnet on the Flood Ground, which is now back with it's parents. All cygnets are
27 July 2016
Latest Sightings 26th July
A Common Sandpiper on the Folly Pond this morning, likely on passage through the reserve heading south. Roe Deer in the Meadow and Flood Ground today, with Sand Martins also beginning to pass through. Today's high tide 17:48 8.5m Around the
26 July 2016
Reserve Update Monday 25th July
The osprey chicks are proving to be a very entertaining spectacle on the big screen for visitors to the coffee shop on the reserve. They are getting more experienced with their flying and have started to feed themselves on the plentiful fish stocks tha
25 July 2016
Reserve Update Saturday 23rd July
Both osprey chicks have now taken their maiden flights, they will need a bit more practice before they attempt their long journey south! It will be interesting to see where they end up this winter. A little egret was spotted back at Folly Pond first thi
23 July 2016
Reserve Update 22nd July - Ospreys fly
The first osprey chick made its maiden flight yesterday and has been away from the nest this morning. The second chick is making tentative hops and flutters towards joining its sibling today but is yet to take off. It has chosen to pick one of the mos
22 July 2016
Reserve Update Thursday 21st July
Natterjack Toad success at last!!! Staff have discovered tadpoles present in one of the pools on the wider reserve which is great news considering this year was looking like a washout for the species (or should that be a "dry out" considering the heatwa
21 July 2016