Latest Sightings
Plenty of interesting sightings over the past few days here on the reserve, this morning we had the nice surprise of 3 tundra bean geese which roosted with the pink-footed geese in front of Ron Barker hide. They stayed until around 07:55 am this morning then headed off with the pink-footed geese. Presumably the same birds that were seen on Marsh Moss Lane on the 24th of Jan so hopefully they will make another appearance soon! The other two highlights from the past few days was a short-eared owl that flew over top mere at dusk yesterday and 3 water pipits were on Outer Sunley's field on the 3rd. Although there is no public access to this area, the pipits are close to the pools in front of Ron Barker hide so hopefully will show there soon.
The yellow-browed warbler and 3 Siberian chiffchaffs are still at the sewage farm, the YBW becoming more elusive but calling fairly frequently. A number of common chiffchaffs are still present too.
Apart from these most species and numbers are fairly similar to usual on the reserve although 2 ringed plovers were seen on Woodend marsh yesterday afternoon, at least one of which is still present this morning. 5 black-tailed godwits were in front of Discovery yesterday along with 3 ruff.
Whooper swans and pink-footed goose numbers are remaining pretty steady, with plenty of whoopers and the odd pink coming to our feeds at Discovery hide and Raines. Pintails, wigeons and shelducks are coming to the feeds and good numbers and tufted duck, pochard and gadwall are still seen in the largest numbers from Harrier hide.
The feeders at raines are still full of chaffinches, goldfinches, blue tits and great tits and a coal tit was in the trees near Raines Hide this morning. Cetti's warblers are singing over much of the reserve still and all the usual raptors can be seen most days (Kesterls, marsh harriers, barn owl , buzzards).
There's been some botanical signs of spring on the reserve. The snowdrops are coming out in their droves after the first few two weeks ago. We had our first delicate little blackthorn flower come out on the slope up to harrier hide. It's amazing to think of it scrunched up all winter only to burst out when it gets warm enough. Hazel catkins and their minute hot pink flowers are also showing, typically the first tree to show them.
