Latest sightings
Reserve Update Thursday 15th March - Garganey!
It was worth a walk around the Reserve this morning despite the bad weather. Male Garganey on Teal Pond was the absolute highlight and probably one of the earliest spring arrival records for this species. There are still Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank,
15 March 2018
Reserve Update Friday 9th March
Lots of male chaffinch's singing down the avenue this morning. A good number of Pintail on the Flood Ground, and several waders in Lochar Field. 2 Black-headed Gulls were on an island on the Flood Ground, possibly trying to claim nesting territory. Named
9 March 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 8th March
The waders are returning to Folly Pond with 29 Redshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Curlew feeding around the edges this morning. Duck numbers are dropping here but Teal and Wigeon can still be seen out in the flooded fields around the Peter Scott Obse
8 March 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 7th March
Well the Chaffinches have decided that we are back to Spring again and are in full voice down the Avenue. They were joined by singing Goldfinch, a lovely flock of about twenty Linnet and a Treecreeper. There are lots of Tufted ducks around at Whooper
7 March 2018
Update, Monday 5th March
A Balmy 5C today, with the snow virtually gone (the Blackshaw approach road requires care close to the centre but is easily driven), resulting in "The Return of the Barnacle" - a good few thousand around today after a relative dearth over the snowy period
5 March 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 28th February- Very Snowy!
A very snowy morning, with a blizzard going on outside right now. Folly Pond, Back Pond and Teal Pond are nearly completely frozen, so the majority of birds are on the Whooper Pond. A few images below of the reserve this morning. Image: Folly Pond
28 February 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 24th February
Another brilliantly sunny start to the day, a light frost this morning which is melting quickly in the sun. A brisk north easterly wind keeping things fresh. Plenty of wildfowl on the ponds & fields, birds are singing down the Avenues. A Stoat was da
24 February 2018
Reserve Update Friday 23rd February
Two lovely flocks of Yellowhammer and Goldfinch were seen down the avenue this morning. Teal Pond has more duck on than usual, including Wigeon, Teal and a Little Grebe. The Flood Ground has a good number of birds on, with two female Gooseander's feeding
23 February 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 22nd February
Today's weather is nice and sunny down on the reserve. The rest of the Wetland Bird Survey counts are below, with a large number of Dunlin and Knot present at the high tide on Sunday. There are a good number of swans around at the moment, with at least 17
22 February 2018
Reserve Update Sunday 18th February
A wet start to the day, with the weather clearing up now. The Wetland Bird Survey takes place today, with some numbers for the inland ponds included below. There is a large number of Pintail on the flood ground, with a good mix of both females and males.
18 February 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 14th February
Another changeable weather day with snow showers moving in. Wader sightings remain good with over 60 Redshank on the Folly Pond together with a few Lapwing and Curlew. Yesterday there were over 50 Golden Plover there too. Wigeon and Teal numbers hav
14 February 2018
Latest Sightings - 10th February - Puddle Jumping begins!
A very wet start to the day but it has now cleared up, the rain has stopped and there is blue sky showing! Plenty of waders in the flooded fields at the moment. Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Redshank & Black-tailed Godwit can be seen in the Corner F
10 February 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 7th February
Cool, crisp start to the morning with a load of frozen ponds and ice skating Whoopers! Lovely flock of over 30 Linnets perched up in the very tree tops of a Sycamore down near Avenue Tower first thing. They have a been a regular sighting there over th
7 February 2018
Latest Sightings - 3rd Feb - Otter & White-fronts
An Otter in the Whooper Pond at 08:30 this morning was a pleasant surprise, it fished for 20 minutes before disappearing into the Back Pond. The 8 Greenland White-fronted Geese are still here having gone missing yesterday morning. They reappeared yesterda
3 February 2018
Latest Sightings - 2nd Feb - World Wetlands Day
No sign of the Greenland White-fronted Geese this morning, but they could still be here somewhere. A male Hen Harrier was hunting over the merse at 09:30 disturbing the ducks in the pools. Today is World Wetlands Day and in celebration, we have been build
2 February 2018