Accessibility during autumn and winter

During the colder months, the reserve can be wet and muddy so waterproof footwear is recommended. Those with limited mobility or using push wheelchairs may find traversing the Avenue and Saltcot Loaning unsuitable. Please call us on 01387 770200 for more info.

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Latest sightings

55 whooper swans now at our feeds

55 whooper swans now at our feeds

We're now getting up to 55 whooper swans, and up to 28 mute swans at our daily feeds.

19 October 2021

Recent counts for barnacle geese and whooper swans

Recent counts for barnacle geese and whooper swans

Today's barnacle goose count was 5,700 with large groups constantly on the move between fields and the merse. Whooper numbers today were 23 on the whooper pond, and 10 on the flood ground.

16 October 2021

Barnacle Geese are back

Barnacle Geese are back

A little later than some years, but our wild barnacle geese are now arriving back in big numbers!

12 October 2021

Early Autumn

Early Autumn

A poem by Andy Ormandy

9 October 2021

Rain bringing more birds in

Rain bringing more birds in

This week has brought 5" of rain! This has reopened many of our scrapes, and 600 golden plover can be seen mingling with lapwing.

4 October 2021

Increase in wintering wildfowl

Increase in wintering wildfowl

With a drop in temperature we are seeing an increase in wintering wildfowl on the reserve. This week we have had counts of around 300 pintails and 400 teal on the folly pond.

29 September 2021

A Long-Eared Owl and high Teal numbers

A Long-Eared Owl and high Teal numbers

The week started with 475 Teal on the Folly pond, before we were then treated to several close encounters with a Long-Eared Owl.

16 September 2021

It's the little things...

It's the little things...

A little egret, little stint and a little grebe have been spotted on the reserve this week.

10 September 2021

Autumn fruits

Autumn fruits

Find out the variety of autumn fruits that are appearing around the reserve

3 September 2021

Marsh harriers and more

Marsh harriers and more

It's been a busy week with lots of sightings, including two marsh harriers.

3 September 2021

Great curlew numbers

Great curlew numbers

The reserve is receiving regular visits from curlews, 70 being the biggest count of the week.

26 August 2021

Sandpipers and godwits

Sandpipers and godwits

Our latest sightings are 3 x green sandpipers and 3 x black-tailed godwits.

19 August 2021

Visits from migrating waders

Visits from migrating waders

We have had brilliant wader sightings this week: 1 wood sandpiper, 6 x black-tailed godwits, 3 x spotted redshank, and 3 x green sandpipers.

11 August 2021

Heading into August

Heading into August

It has been another dry week here and the low water levels in the ponds have been particularly great for viewing snipe feeding on the folly pond.

4 August 2021

Hares are Abound

Hares are Abound

Hares are being seen more regularly in the fields now they have been mown and the leverets have grown. Wader numbers are definitely increasing with 30 snipe, 82 curlew and 20 lapwing being peak numbers we have recorded this week and a wood sandpiper dropp

27 July 2021