Latest Sightings
Plenty to see here on the reserve over the past few days. One of the highlights have been the sparrowhawk nest that was found on our Canoe Safari. 4 chicks are branching at the moment and great views can be achieve by taking one of our boat tours. Keeping with the theme of raptors, 2 juvenile marsh harriers are being seen regularly from Ron Barker hide, interestingly one of them is colour-ringed, it will be interesting to hear where it came from! The two pairs of barn owls on the reserve are very active at the moment, particularly the harrier hide pair who are busy feeding chicks. A peregrine was seen over discovery hide on the 27th.
Herons and egrets have put on a good show recently, cattle egrets are still present on the reserve in varying number but exciting news came yesterday when 2 juveniles were seen on the mere. On the 28th, during our Bat and Barn Owl Evening we had a great surprise when a bittern flew overhead near Gladstone Hide, heading in the direction of Ron Barker hide. First record of the year!
This morning a juvenile cuckoo was seen near Tomlinson hide and 2 green sandpipers were on Woodend marsh with 4 black-tailed godwits. 12 snipe were also seen from Tomlinson on the 27th and 6 were on the mere yesterday evening.
Plenty of young blue tits and great tits can be seen on the feeders at Janet Kear hide along with the odd great spotted woodpecker and this morning there was a bullfinch. Goldfinches, chaffinches and greenfinches are also in good number there too.
North West Bird Watching Festival
Join us on the 14 & 15 October for the annual North West Bird Watching Festival. Celebrate the thousands of migratory wild birds that visit the centre over the autumn and winter period. With well-known guest speakers such as Ben Osborne, Lucy Lapwing, and David Goulson, plenty of exhibitors, and a weekend full of birding activities, this is an event not to be missed.
