Latest sightings
Reserve Update- 20th November (WeBS count figures)
A wet start to the day with rain overnight, but this does not stop the birds. Two sparrowhawks each with prey were seen this morning on the way to Avenue Tower. At the Tower there were some great close up views of a few hundred barnacle geese (with
20 November 2017
Latest Sightings - 18th November - Hen Harrier, Great Egret & plenty of Geese
A fantastic morning on the reserve and we were out at dawn to count Pink-footed Geese coming off the roost for the Icelandic Breeding Goose Census. The Pink-feet have headed inland to feed but there are plenty of Barnacle Geese in the fields this morning.
18 November 2017
Reserve Update 16th November - Waders Galore
What a change from yesterday morning, lovely start to the day! Avenue Tower is the place to be with 18 Little Egret, a mixed flock of over 1500 Golden Plover and Lapwing, plus Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. Three drake Pintail on t
16 November 2017
Reserve Update- 15th November
A misty start to the morning, but there is still plenty of wildlife around. 12 Twite were seen along the avenue this morning (image below). There was a lovely sight of a sparrowhawk flying between the trees down the avenue. Lots of fieldfare are also stil
15 November 2017
Reserve Update Saturday 11th November
More Whoopers in again! The Whooper Pond is really starting to fill up and come alive with all the calling going on. Newfield was great yesterday afternoon with 23 Dunlin, 34 Curlew, 230 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover and a Ruff. The Black-tailed Godwit r
11 November 2017
Reserve Update Friday 10th December
The Black-tailed Godwit are showing nicely on the Folly Pond currently with 61 individuals present. They tend to fly out to the Newfield to feed later on returning to Folly Pond at dusk. Some more new arrivals for the Whooper Swans this morning so ple
10 November 2017
Reserve Update Thursday 9th November
Lovely start to the morning today and what a change from yesterday. Whooper swan numbers for the Swan feeds are now regularly up to 90 birds with the cold snap at the beginning of the week encouraging them in. A few more named birds are in so please s
9 November 2017
Latest Sightings - 8th November - foggy start, now cleared
A very foggy start to the day which has made this update slightly more difficult than usual. Still a huge number of wildfowl around the site, with a Pintail on the Teal Pond a particular highlight this morning. The mist has now lifted so we should be able
8 November 2017
Reserve Update- 3rd November
A ring tail Hen Harrier was seen this morning flying around the flood ground. Several Buzzards were also seen from Avenue Tower. This cold weather seems to be great for raptors. Fieldfare were heard along the avenue this morning, and a few Goldcrest were
3 November 2017
Reserve Update Wednesday 1st November
Male Hen Harrier was spotted quartering some of the fields next to Avenue Tower this morning. The past couple of days have been a bit of a raptor fest with regular sightings of Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk. The Hybrid
1 November 2017
Latest Sightings- 29th October
What a lovely sunny start to the day. Overnight we have had an influx of Whooper Swans, with 138 on the Whooper Pond first thing this morning. Hopefully we have some more of our named swans in! Some have flown off since and can be seen from the Avenue Tow
29 October 2017
Reserve Update Saturday 28th October
While Whooper Swan numbers at the feeds are remaining at around 60 birds, we are noticing a change in individuals with new leg rings being recorded daily. The Great White Egret was down along the Saltcot Merse again yesterday and some visitors were also
28 October 2017
Latest Sightings - 27th October
A brilliant sunny morning on the reserve, and significantly colder. This should help to bring more birds onto the reserve, especially the Whooper Swans. With northerly winds we will expect a 'fall' of Whoopers over the next few days. Named Whooper Swan ar
27 October 2017
Reserve Update Wednesday 25th October - Great White Egret
The Great White Egret has once again been seen this morning out on the merse from Saltcot Merse Observatory. For such a blatantly large, white bird it does manage to hide rather well in the creeks! It has also been a day for waders with 50 Curlew in P
25 October 2017
Latest Sightings - 24th October - Great White Egret
A Great White Egret is currently on the merse and can be viewed from the Saltcot Merse Observatory. It is going in and out of creeks so requires some patience to view. Named Whooper Swan arrivals: YHS - Solway Siren ZHP - Andrew K & YFZ -
24 October 2017