Latest sightings
Eel in a Puddle
Rather strange start to the morning with Reserve Manager Joe Bilous discovering an eel in one of the puddles down the Avenue. This was safely caught and placed in the Teal Pond, a location in which we have recorded them in the past. Another unusual sigh
5 September 2020
Autumn Berries
The season is really progressing and the hedgerows are filling with berries. Some of the Hawthorn shrubs down the Saltcot Loaning are heavy with haws that will be beneficial to the migrant Thrushes who will shortly start returning to our shores. The hed
3 September 2020
Phalarope on Folly
Not to sound like a broken record about the Folly Pond but once again it has delivered. A Red necked phalarope has dropped in and is busy feeding in the deeper water. Wader numbers in general are building with over 20 Curlew, still good numbers of Lapwi
2 September 2020
Lapwing on the Folly Pond
Good numbers of Lapwing on the Folly Pond this morning. The Shoveler numbers are also on the increase and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit is present feeding in the water. The Marsh Harrier that has been observed around the Reserve last week is originally
1 September 2020
Marsh Harrier over Folly Pond
Having mentioned yesterday about the Teal numbers starting to creep up on Folly Pond, well the Marsh Harrier discovered the same thing this morning. Cracking views of the juvenile bird flying over and flushing all the birds as observed from Sharp's Looko
29 August 2020
Natterjacks Emerging
After the tidal surges and flooding of the Merses last week, it is very heartening to see that some of our Natterjack tadpoles have made it to the emergence stage. This week has seen little toadlets appearing on the path to the Saltcot Merse Observatory
28 August 2020
Wet, wet, wet
Well recent weather has been decidedly on the wet side. It has meant that the Pasture Pathway has become flooded and as such has been closed. It is however, good for the waders and ducks. Teal numbers are increasing around the reserve with over 400 bir
27 August 2020
Info for Wednesday 26th August
If you are visiting on Wednesday 26th August, please be aware that the Visitor Centre will be closed between 1pm - 2pm. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.The reserve will be open as normal, you will still be able to enter and exit the
25 August 2020
Tidal flooding
Yesterday brought big tides coupled with unseasonally strong winds which meant the afternoon tide flooded the majority of the saltmarsh. This is becoming more regular in winter but for late summer it is quite unusual.Sadly this may have been a disaster fo
22 August 2020
Snipe, snipe, snipe
Snipe numbers are really building on the Folly Pond at the moment, with over 20 of them this morning. Lapwing, Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit are also regularly feeding on the muddy fringes.Teal numbers continue to grow, and we have seen Marsh Harrier, Gr
19 August 2020
Minibeast Magic
The good weather recently has seen a surge in the number of "creepy crawlies" making an appearance around the reserve. The above photo shows the caterpillar of the Elephant hawkmoth and is just one of the many moth caterpillars we come across. We have a
15 August 2020
Greenshank Making an Appearance
While the weather the past few days has screamed summer, our bird life is definitely more on the Autumnal side! Three Greenshank have been spotted feeding along the edges of the Folly Pond this morning. They are joined there by 81 Curlew, 4 Snipe, Teal,
14 August 2020
Marsh Harrier on the Move
After saying about returning raptors yesterday we have seen our first Marsh harrier of the autumn hunting out on the Merse this morning. It was being mobbed by a cloud of Skylarks and Meadow pipit which really highlighted just how many of these two speci
6 August 2020
Raptors Returning
As we move into late summer, we are now starting to observe more raptors around the reserve. Kestrels can regularly be seen down at Saltcot Merse Observatory and visitors are also reporting the presence of a Peregrine out on the far merses. Be sure to s
5 August 2020
Wet meadows
The heavy downpours have left the grasslands rather soggy, so best to wear boots or wellies for a little while just until the puddles can drain away. The wet grassland isn't a bad thing for wildlife as it brings new feeding opportunities for many species.
29 July 2020