Latest Sightings
Light winds pleasant temperature a good start to Monday all round.
Plenty of duck action on the Mere with Tufted Duck and 7 duckling getting bigger each day. The majority of ducks are in eclipse plumage but with a bit of searching there are 10+ Gadwall in among 60+ Mallard, a few Shoveler are present, a few Teal, 3+ Pochard and 2 Wigeon all on the Mere.
One pair of adult Shelduck are still on the Mere with recently hatched young. Late for Shelduck as birds have been moving east to moult for a while now.
Common Tern on the back island (The Mere) now have at least one flying chick. The middle island pair have one chick some way off fledging.
One of the Mere Avocet have a close to fledging chick. Others have flying young around the reserve already. A further pair have just hatched out two young in the last 24 hours, late for here.
At least 30 Black-tailed Godwit on site and 3 Ruff.
Common Sandpiper on the Mere. Four Little Grebe on the Mere taking advantage of the deeper water currently. Little Grebe below fishing in front of the Discovery Hide.
Out on the Reed Bed 4 juv Water Rail and 1 or 2 Bearded Reedling heard.
On Woodend Marsh/Langley's 4 reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
Thanks goes to Charlie Lowe for the excellent pictures of this adult Hobby hunting over the Reed Bed and Woodend Marsh from yesterday.
If you are visiting for the first time or would just like to find out were the best spots are around the reserve, or have seen something interesting, call in at the in focus shop, next to the Discovery Hide.
