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

Latest Sightings - Saturday 10th November

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

Reserve Update Thursday 8th November

Reserve Update Thursday 8th November

The Barnacle Geese are loving Corner field this morning.  We had good numbers around the reserve yesterday with over 10,000 birds recorded during our daily counts.  Whooper Swan numbers are building up again on the Whooper Pond although they are still t

8 November 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th November

Reserve Update Wednesday 7th November

Silver and Gold hide is a good place to visit this morning with over 400 Teal and 300 Wigeon out feeding around the seasonal pool in Corner field.  They have been joined by small numbers of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit too.  Elsewhere on the wader fr

7 November 2018

Reserve Sightings- 5th November 2018 - Pochard!

Reserve Sightings- 5th November 2018 - Pochard!

A mild an sunny day on site, with many duck species such as Teal and Wigeon in high numbers. On the folly pond a Pochard has been spotted snoozing and clearly having a lazy morning (nice for some!!!). A Pintail has also been spotted on the Folly Pond this

5 November 2018

Latest Sightings - Friday 2nd November

Latest Sightings - Friday 2nd November

Another sunny and frosty morning on the reserve. The Mute Swan cygnets have been taking their first flights over the past few days, and Whooper Swans are feeding all around the local area. Snipe have been flying over the reserve recently, including 8 over

2 November 2018

Reserve sightings - Thursday 1st November

Reserve sightings - Thursday 1st November

The fog from earlier this morning has cleared leaving a clear and sunny day.  There were 28 whooper swans on the whooper pond at around 8:30 with more dropping in as the morning progresses.  Yesterday proved to be exciting with a Spotted Redshank showin

1 November 2018

Reserve Sightings -Tuesday 30th October - Yellowhammer!

Reserve Sightings -Tuesday 30th October - Yellowhammer!

Another cold day on the reserve however all the frosty weather has brought the Yellowhammers back on site! Keep an eye out walking from the Farmhouse towards the Peter Scott Observatory as this is where they like to feed among the other passerines. The av

30 October 2018

Latest sightings - Monday 29th October

Latest sightings - Monday 29th October

The temperature remains below zero this morning resulting in some of our ponds being partially frozen.  Good numbers of whooper swans on the whooper pond again this morning as well as a new family of mute swans with 4 cygnets.  Wigeon numbers also conti

29 October 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 27th October

Latest Sightings - Saturday 27th October

Even colder this morning, but it seems some of the Whooper Swans have found food elsewhere as there were just 40 on the Whooper Pond at 8:30 as opposed to the 120 we had yesterday. Keep an eye on the fields in the area as they could be feeding out there.

27 October 2018

Latest Sightings - Friday 26th October - Influx of Whooper Swans

Latest Sightings - Friday 26th October - Influx of Whooper Swans

The cold snap overnight with clear skies has resulted in an influx of Whooper Swans, including some named swans. The sun is shining and the birds look fantastic feeding in the ponds and fields. Named Whooper Swan arrivals: YHS - Solway Siren Lost Darvi

26 October 2018

Reserve Update Thursday 25th October - named Whoopers in with cygnets

Reserve Update Thursday 25th October - named Whoopers in with cygnets

Exciting morning with some of our named Whooper Swans returning with cygnets.  The weather is still mild so new birds arrive daily and some Whoopers continue to feed off the reserve.  Will see what happens this weekend with the cold snap and northerly

25 October 2018

Reserve Update Wednesday 24th October

Reserve Update Wednesday 24th October

Good mix of birds on and around Folly Pond this morning.  We have Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit in the waders category, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler representing the ducks, Whooper Swans (obviously a touch late leaving the roosting pond!) and a m

24 October 2018

Reserve Update Tuesday 23rd October

Reserve Update Tuesday 23rd October

Nice flight over of Pink footed Geese this morning.  The Great White Egret is showing well on the merse from the Saltcot Observatory.  Numbers of swans and ducks are creeping up on the Whooper Pond and it was lovely to see a pair of Pintail on there fir

23 October 2018

Reserve Sightings - Monday 22nd October

Reserve Sightings - Monday 22nd October

We have a new pair of Whoopers on the reserve complete with 1 cygnet! There was plenty of noise and commotion on the Whooper pond this morning and we were joined by 38 Greylags. 14 Little Egrets were spotted from the Avenue Tower in the direction of the L

22 October 2018

Latest Sightings - Friday 19th October - Whooper Swan families arrive

Latest Sightings - Friday 19th October - Whooper Swan families arrive

Plenty of Barnacle Geese around the reserve this morning and an influx of Whooper Swans overnight. We now have 58 on the reserve. This includes 3 family groups; with two cygnets, five cygnets & a massive family with eight cygnets. Well done those par

19 October 2018