Latest Sightings
Snowfall has covered the reserve, and half of the mere is frosted over! We have supplied an extra feed for our winter visitors, the Whooper Swans, to give them energy during this cold spell.
There is still plenty to see, and the site looks even more beautiful. You can enjoy birdwatching from the comfort of our hides, nip into the café for hot food and drinks, or browse our gift shop and migration exhibit.
Be sure not to miss our daily Wild Bird Feed at 3pm in the Discovery Hide. See the wonderful Whooper Swans up close, alongside Icelandic Black-Tailed Godwits and wintering dabbling ducks like Pintail, visiting from Russia.
During our recent Floodlit Swans evening event, a European Otter made an appearance on the mere!
Other species that can be found on the mere are Mute Swans, Pochard, Wigeon, Mallards, Greylag Geese, Coot, Ruff, Cormorants and Lapwings. 2 Great White Egret, 3 Snipe, 3 Shoveler, 2 Marsh Harrier, and 1 Buzzard were spotted today.
On Tuesday, a flock of ~5,000 Pink-Footed Geese landed on the back of the mere in the afternoon. The highest count this winter so far is ~10,000.
56 Pink-Footed Geese remained on the lake at Ron Barker hide this morning. Goldfinches and Chaffinches were also observed in the trees outside, on the nature trail. Keep an eye out for animal footprints in the snow!
Redwings are often seen outside of the Bird Observatory, where you can find out more about recent sightings and learn about how we manage the reserve. 2 Little Egret have been spotted in the Collections.
2 Grey Heron were seen on the track to Gordon Taylor Hide.
Stonechats and Cattle Egret are visible around the English Longhorn Cattle, in the field on the way to Tomlinson Hide.
Photograph of a European Otter.
