Latest sightings
Latest Sightings - Thursday 27th September - Geese and Dragonflies galore
Plenty of geese on the reserve this morning, great views from the Peter Scott Observatory. At the Avenue Tower there are good numbers of Common Darter and Common Hawker Dragonflies out in the sunshine! A male Goshawk was causing trouble around the Flood G
27 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Tuesday 25th September - no sign of the Bittern so far
There are plenty of geese around the reserve this morning. Pink-footed Geese flying everywhere, some still out on the mud. Barnacle Geese can be seen from the Saltcot Merse Observatory around the trig point. No sign of the Bittern as yet this morning, and
25 September 2018
Reserve update, Monday Sept 24th
Things happening today, with 4 Whooper Swans on the main feed pond along with a Scaup among the few Tufted Duck. (A further 15 or so Whoopers just off reserve on nearby Newmains). Barnacles slowly arriving - 36 yesterday, up to 214 today so far, mixed in
24 September 2018
Reserve Update Saturday 22nd September - Otter
Well our Whooper Swan count has doubled today with two now on Whooper Pond! Also there this morning was a fishing otter, a second sighting in two days. It was an interesting day on this pond yesterday with a Red Crested Pochard making a brief appearan
22 September 2018
Reserve Update Friday 21st September - Whooper!
Our first Whooper Swan has turned up on the Reserve this morning. Back on Whooper Pond and ready for some food! It has been an interesting week with the storms causing a degree of havoc on Wednesday. It did however push in a Little Gull for a brief
21 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 15th September
A clear morning with great views across to the Lake District. Folly Pond is busy with plenty of duck, some waders and geese. Today's high tide is at 16:49, 8.5m Around the reserve: Whooper Pond Mute Swan 2 plus 6 cygnets Mallard 75 Tufted Duck 2 Teal 4 C
15 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 14th September - Saltcot Loaning open as normal
The Saltcot Loaning has now reopened after essential hedge management work. This should prolong the life of the Hawthorns, they will now bush out to provide better habitat for breeding birds, allow more light in & keep the track drier during wet perio
14 September 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 11th September - Saltcot Loaning closed this week
The Mute Swan family have now taken up residence on Whooper Pond which is not such good news for the other Mute Swans trying to land there. So far five interlopers have been seen off. This will all change once we start to get the Whooper Swans returni
11 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 8th September
An overcast morning, but the Avenues are alive with birds. The Swallows and House Martins are gathering on wires and on top of the swan pipe, ready for migration. A flock of Gold and Greenfinches are regularly feeding in the Wildlife Garden. A flock of L
8 September 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 5th September
Autumn is making it's presence known with cooler mornings and the gathering of the Swallows and House Martins. The courtyard around the Farmhouse Tower and the roof of the Peter Scott Observatory have been inundated with them. Small bird activity rema
5 September 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 4th September
Duck numbers continue to build with a solitary Tufted Duck and two Wigeon joining the mallards on the Whooper Pond. The Little Grebe also remains on this pond. If insects are your thing then the Joe Pye Weed and Sedum are spectacular for Butterflies a
4 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 1st September
So much for the sun, it's an overcast and drizzly morning on the reserve. The Summer Walk is now closed for the winter. Plenty of ducks around the site now, many of them still in eclipse plumage. There has been an increase in Canada and Greylag Goose numb
1 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Wednesday 29th August
A sunny start to the day, which means the butterflies are looking fantastic in the Farmhouse Garden at the moment. Two Little Grebes are on the Whooper Pond amongst the moulting Mallards. The Summer Walk will be shut on Saturday morning for another year
29 August 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 25th August
A brilliant sunny morning but a very cool breeze at the moment. The Hawthorns at the Avenue Tower are still busy: Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock amongst others. An duck ID challenge in the Flood Ground today. All in eclipse plumage, we
25 August 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 23rd August
Good range of species down on the Flood Ground this morning with Shoveler joining the mix. Over 180 Teal were observed there yesterday but numbers have dropped right down again first thing this morning. Rather bedraggled Kestrel perched on the fence l
23 August 2018