Latest sightings
Reserve Update Wednesday 25th January
The sunny morning is really lighting up the large flocks of Golden Plover, Lapwing, Wigeon and Teal down on the Flood Ground today. It is also making it far easier to pick out the American Wigeon in the mob than has been the case the past two days. Sm
25 January 2017
Quick update, Tuesday Jan 24th
Fewer swans this morning, about 140 Whoopers at the early feed, where the pond had relatively few duck to begin with - otter activity again? Visibility is much better today - the fog has gone, replaced with a sharp SW wind. Green-winged Teal is of course
24 January 2017
Reserve update, Monday Jan 23rd
Despite the foggy conditions today we've had quite an exciting morning. Three otters (female and two slightly smaller cubs) emptied the Whooper Pond of birds first thing, but once everything had settled down and the otters moved off we had a good count of
23 January 2017
Latest Sightings - 21st January - slight frost & lots of birds!
It's a stunning morning on the reserve! A light frost has kept more swans here with 205 Whooper Swans on the Whooper Pond right now. The bright sunshine makes it hard to count the Folly Pond until later in the morning, but we can make out plenty of ducks
21 January 2017
Latest Sightings - 20th January
A bit of mist around today, but the ponds are all visible. The drake Green-winged Teal is on the Folly Pond as usual, and we are just trying to locate the drake American Wigeon but he is probably on the Flood Ground. Todays high tide is at 05:30, 7.7m Ar
20 January 2017
Reserve Update Wednesday 18th January
The Drake American Wigeon has once again been seen on the Flood Ground this morning with a sighting of a Male Hen Harrier from the Avenue Tower at the same time. It was a good morning for a bit of wader watching from the Farmhouse Tower. Twelve Red
18 January 2017
Latest Sightings - 14th January - American Wigeon still here!
Another frosty morning, but the sun is out and the ice is melting. The drake American Wigeon is asleep on the Flood Ground at the moment, visible from the Avenue Tower. Todays high tide is at 13:30, 9.8m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 7000 Wh
14 January 2017
Latest Sightings - 13th January
After a cold night, the sun is out and the reserve looks great. Plenty of birds on the Whooper Pond, but the sun is just in the wrong place for counting the Folly Pond. The Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon could be out there but we can't see them at
13 January 2017
Tuesday Jan 10th
Turning a bit blustery now. We've just located the American Wigeon in a flock of Eurasians, down near the Avenue Tower. This bird is proving to be a bit more of a challenge than the Green-winged Teal (on Folly Pond as per usual), given its propensity for
10 January 2017
Quick update, Sunday Jan 8th
Again poor visibility due to mist early on, but plenty of geese (mostly Barnacles but with a few Pinkfeet dotted in) as it clears. The Black-tailed Godwits remain on Folly Pond, as does the Green-winged Teal, but yet to locate the American Wigeon among it
8 January 2017
Latest Sightings - 7th January - Fog! and lanterns...
Very poor visibility this morning as the reserve is covered by thick fog. Although it has started to lift in the last few minutes. We have our lantern making workshop on today, if you would like to make a dragonfly lantern for the Big Burn's Supper lante
7 January 2017
Reserve Update Thursday 5th January
Brrrr.....bright, cold, frosty morning here first thing, wrap up warm if visiting! The American Wigeon was recorded back on the Folly Pond yesterday afternoon but as the pool is iced over this morning there is no sign of it yet. A good number of Whoop
5 January 2017
Late update, Monday Jan 2nd
Another bright cold day, plenty of Whoopers (153) at the feeds, Water Rail under the feeders on The Peter Scott Trail with a handful of Tree Sparrows, Green-winged Teal on the Folly Pond (no sign yet of American Wigeon), male Hen Harrier quartering the me
2 January 2017
Sunday Jan 1st
We'd like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year and apologise for the lateness of the post. Today we held the bird race, and the highest visitor was 53 species for the day. This faile narrowly to beat the warden's total of 60, though he (that's me!) m
1 January 2017
Reserve Update Saturday 31st December - Drake Mandarin Duck??
It was a double take moment at the 11am Swan feed this morning, with the presence of a lovely drake Mandarin Duck joining the regulars on the Whooper Pond. The American Wigeon has migrated back to the Folly Pond to join the Green-winged Teal. Those vi
31 December 2016