News
Sunny Sunday April 10th update
All seems pretty much as yesterday, with at least 3 Willow Warblers singing today. Barnacle nos. remain high with 7000 or so around, distributed pretty evenly between fields and merses. Swans are largely away now until the autumn, just 5 Whoopers at nearb
10 April 2016
Latest Sightings - 9th April - Sunshine!
A lovely sunny and warm morning on the reserve, with plenty of birds singing including Skylark, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. The Ring-necked Duck is on the Teal Pond this morning, but it could make its way back to the Whooper Pond at some point. The L
9 April 2016
Latest Sightings - 8th April - much more like Spring!
It's much more Spring-like today with Chiffchaff singing in the Peter Scott Trail and Willow Warbler singing along the Avenue. Our pair of Mute Swans are sitting on their nest in the usual spot on the Teal Pond, and there is a second pair sitting on a ne
8 April 2016
(Late) update, Wed April 6th
Not a great deal of change from yesterday, with relatively few Whooper Swans around during the day now, but perhaps 100+ still roosting on the Folly Pond at night. In the order of 6,500 Barnacles about though, still largely on the merses (saltmarshes). Gr
6 April 2016
Tuesday April 5th update
First Willow Warbler singing yesterday evening, plus a few Swallows and Sand Martins to replace the dwindling Whooper Swans, of which 21 on site this morning with a further 47 on nearby Upper Locharwoods, though there were probably about 100 at roost on F
5 April 2016
Update, Monday April 4th
The Ring-necked Duck appears to have moved on, no sign today nor yesterday. Green-winged Teal still on Folly Pond this morning though. House Martin and Sand Martin yesterday. Whoopers on the reserve down to 22, with a further 31 at nearby Upper Locharwoo
4 April 2016
Latest Sightings - 1st April
The drake Ring-necked Duck is on the Whooper Pond again this morning, in amongst the Tufted Ducks. The Flood Ground is the place to be today, with good numbers of wildfowl and waders feeding, Lapwing and Curlew displaying, and Black-headed Gulls squabbl
1 April 2016
Latest Sightings - 31st March - Ring-necked Duck returns
A drake Ring-necked Duck has appeared on the reserve with the Tufted Ducks again. We had one here earlier in the winter before it disappeared. This could be the same individual, based on behaviour, but it's difficult to say for sure. The bird looks diff
31 March 2016
Wednesday March 30th update
Male Ring-necked Duck on the Back Pond this morning. Just a handful of Whoopers (34)remain, but interestingly some dropped in from very high first thing. Goose nos (Barnacles) had also dropped yesterday, to just over 3,000. It's still possible to get cl
30 March 2016
Tuesday update, March 29th
Male ring-necked Duck on Whooper Pond this morning, but down to 32 Whooper Swans, from 86 yesterday. Barnacle nos. have been good albeit largely confined to the merses. Over 6,000 yesterday were disturbed briefly by a pair of Peregrines hunting co-operati
29 March 2016
Sunday March 27th update
Very blustery and showery so far today. 84 Whoopers at the early feed and good nos. of Barnacles in the Lochar Field. Still plenty of duck around but nos. dropping off as is to be expected. First Swallow for the area was seen and photographed by a visitor
27 March 2016
Reserve update, Wed March 23rd
Whoopers still around in reasonable nos, with about 60 here at the feeds and a further 70 at nearby Ruthwell. Barnacle nos have been at around 4000 but could only find 1350 earlier this am. A few Black-tailed Godwits are on the Flood Ground with some Snip
23 March 2016
Latest Sightings - 22nd March
Today's high tide is at 11:52 9m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 2500 Whooper Swans: 52 Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 52 Mute Swan 25 Mallard 35 Tufted Duck 10 Wigeon 75 Greater Scaup 1♂ Oystercatcher 2 - nest scraping Folly Pond Green-w
22 March 2016
Latest Sightings - 19th March - Spring is nearly here
Spring is fast on the way now, Skylarks are singing across the reserve, plenty of Daffodils out, and now the Primroses are in bloom. Today's high tide is at 09:34 7.9m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 2500 Whooper Swans: 43 Whooper Pond Whoo
19 March 2016
Latest Sightings - 18th March - migration in action
96 Whooper Swans on the pond this morning, but as soon as the 8:30 happened, 26 of them took off heading north east. They definitely haven't been to our feeds this winter, and are probably heading north having wintered further south. Today's high tide is
18 March 2016