Latest sightings
Latest Sightings - Saturday 22nd December
A bright and sunny morning on the reserve. The Folly Pond is very busy this morning, plenty of ducks and waders to see. Two Ruff have been reported in front of the Newfield Hide at 11am. Named Whooper Swan arrivals: YHS - Solway Siren Lost Darvic - Hagar
22 December 2018
Latest Sightings - 21st December - Open every day except Christmas Day
We still have restrictions on our network which means our webcams will not be online until January at the earliest. We apologise for this and are working to restore the system. Thankfully we are now able to take card payments in the visitor centre. It's
19 December 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 15th December - no snow yet
A cold and overcast start to the day. If the forecasts are correct, we could expect some travel disruption in the area later today so please be prepared if you plan to visit today. The ponds have thawed out a bit from yesterday so the wildfowl have more o
15 December 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 14th December - Some internet connection back, but no card payments or webcams yet
We apologise for the lack of recent sightings updates, we have been experiencing problems with our internet connection. Although we are now able to make website updates, we are still unable to take card payments in the Centre, so if you plan to visit befo
14 December 2018
Internet connectivity issues
We're currently experiencing internet connectivity issues on site and therefore apologise for the lack of recent updates. We're hoping for service to be restored by Thursday 13 December.
7 December 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 28th November
Passerine activity remains good around the site with two Brambling spotted on the Peter Scott Trail feeders yesterday and a male down with the Yellowhammers and Reed Bunting opposite the Peter Scott Observatory. They have been heard again this morning a
28 November 2018
Monday 26th November - Reserve Sightings - Plenty of Passerines!
Good morning all! It's a very frosty morning on site today and the 130 Whoopers on the pond have had to spend their first feed breaking through sheets of ice; winter has truly arrived. And with this arrival of the colder weather there are plenty of bird
26 November 2018
Reserve Update Friday 23rd November - hen harrier again!
So another lovely flypast of the male hen harrier again today. This time flying across Teal Pond and heading south towards the merses. It could be it's presence that was causing all the Lapwing to keep taking flight with up to 100 in the air at any ti
23 November 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 22nd November - hen harrier
Lovely fly past of a male Hen Harrier at Saltcot. It then decided to tuck itself away down on the ground in amongst the gorse to the east of the Observatory but of course was still visible! Whooper numbers are creeping up now we progress through the win
22 November 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 21st November
The ducks, waders and geese are loving the Lochar field this morning down at Avenue Tower. Over three hundred each of Wigeon and Lapwing feeding around (and in!) the flooded grassland. They are joined by good numbers of Barnacle Geese and over 50 Curl
21 November 2018
Reserve Update - Monday 19th November - Old friend returns!
Happy news from the Whooper Pond today, a swan that has not been seen for 10 years has shown up so we are all very pleased. It's interesting to think what it may have been up to for the last decade! Teal and Wigeon numbers are still high, with 1000 of e
19 November 2018
Reserve Update - Thursday 15th November - Raptors
Following the strong wind and rain yesterday we have been left with quite a few waders on the Folly pond. There are also large numbers of Teal and Wigeon so it's well worth checking them out for any peculiarities. The Saltcot Merse Observatory was brill
15 November 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 13th November
Ten Pintail could still be seen on Flood Ground this morning although they have now seemingly flown into the field to the North of the Avenue Tower. Look for them feeding in amongst Whooper swans, Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese, Lapwing, Curlew and Wigeo
13 November 2018
Reserve Sightings - Monday 12th November 2018 - Peregrine
Great start to the day with a Peregrine flying around the Whooper Pond this morning. Not many Whooper swans joining in with the first feed of the day, likely because they are finding plenty of food in the fields around the Avenue Tower. Hopefully more
12 November 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 10th November
Duck numbers continue to rise, the Folly Pond and Flood Ground especially good at the moment. Over 9,000 Barnacle Geese are regularly feeding in the local area with both white leucistic birds and two suspected Barnacle x Snow Goose hybrids amongst them.
10 November 2018