Latest Sightings
A Barn Owl was observed perching and flying very close to Ron Barker hide today.
Other species seen were Snipe, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Buzzards, 2 Great White Egrets, and 2 Little Grebe.
The Kingfisher was showing well, hunting in the pool to the left of the hide.
3 Cattle Egret were seen in the field on the right, around the English Longhorn bull and steers.
1 Stoat was also spotted at Ron Barker.
The path to Tomlinson hide was quite abundant, with Stonechats, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard and 1 Barn Owl. Teal are often seen in the streams. 2 Roe Deer have also been occupying Woodend Marsh.
Redwings have been observed in the car park, and songbirds like Robins and Long-Tailed Tits can be seen on the feeders on the nature trail near Raine's Observatory and Hale hide, or at Janet Kear hide.
The Pink-Footed Geese have been spread across the back of the mere, a little closer than they are usually situated. The most we have counted so far this winter is around 10,000. There are hundreds of Whooper Swans still to be seen, with the high count at around 800.
You can view the Whooper Swans up close during the daily 3pm Wild Bird Feed with commentary from a reserve warden. You will also see a large number of Shelduck, Pintail, Wigeon, Pochard, Coot, Greylag Geese and Mallards, as well as some Black-Tailed Godwits, Ruff, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall and Shovelers.
There are many Lapwing on the mere. In the late afternoon, there have been Starling murmuations over the reedbeds and the mere. 1 female Goldeneye has also been present on the mere.
Photograph of Whooper Swans.
