Latest sightings
Reserve Update Thursday 18th October - Redwing
Wigeon are moulting back into their breeding plumage with the males looking stunning with their yellow head stripe back. We keep scanning through the flocks in case the recent storms have blown in any American visitors to join them and the Teal, but no
18 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Wednesday 17th October
Whooper Swan numbers are slightly down this morning, but that is likely due to disturbance on the Whooper Pond by an Otter. Duck numbers on the reserve are reaching a peak, with the Flood Ground and Folly Pond particularly good. Flocks of Redwing have be
17 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 16th October
More Whooper Swans are starting to drop in with a couple more named swans in. Duck numbers creep up steadily with good flocks of mixed Wigeon and Teal out on Folly Pond and Flood Ground. The flooded fields are drawing in the waders with Lapwing, Curle
16 October 2018
Reserve Sightings - Monday October 15th - An Egret Morning
It's been a cold start on the reserve this morning but following this weekends bad weather, the birds aren't holding back! We have plenty of duck species across the ponds today with large numbers of Shoveler and Teal and even some Gadwall have made an app
15 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 13th October - Wild Goose Weekend
The heavy rain yesterday and today means that wellies are highly recommended when visiting at the moment. Today is the start of our Wild Goose Weekend. Although it is raining, there is still plenty to do today and more events on Sunday. See below for even
13 October 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 11th October - 18,000 Barnacle Geese!
Peak Barnacle Goose counts yesterday of around 18,000 birds utilising the reserve! This could be due to the recent high tides pushing birds off other feeding areas. These geese remain very jumpy having just returned to the area and are in need of dist
11 October 2018
Reserve Update Wednesday 10th October
Well what a contrast weather wise compared to yesterday, lovely morning on the reserve with a cracking sunrise. Still large flocks of Barnacle Geese around with them favouring our Corner and Tower fields. Newfield hide is also a good spot to watch the
10 October 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 9th October - Pintail on Folly Pond
Another (very) blustery morning which has mixed things up a bit on the reserve. There is evidence of coastal flooding outside Saltcot Merse Observatory which has drawn in the Lapwing for feeding. With today's high tide it could be interesting down the
9 October 2018
Reserve Update - Monday 8th October - Autumn leaves and bright feathers!
It's a blustery day today on the merse, the winds have encouraged many autumn leaves to fall onto the avenue making a lovely colourful walk. The same can be said about our waterfowl, with many of the shoveler and teal coming out of their eclipse plumage
8 October 2018
Reserve Update Saturday 6th October - Marsh Harrier
Sighting of the day so far was a female Marsh Harrier hunting along the eastern Merses. The Otter was back on Whooper Pond first thing, although Whooper Swan numbers have dropped off again. There were forty Whooper Swans that joined us for the 11am Sw
6 October 2018
Reserve Update Friday 5th October - Otterly brilliant morning!
Well things certainly livened up on Whooper Pond again this morning. The slight drop in temperature encouraged some of the elusive Whooper Swans to remain on the pond with new leg rings being recorded. The Mute Swan pair were not entirely happy about
5 October 2018
Reserve Update Thursday 4th October
Lovely flock of over fifty Curlew busy feeding out in the Meadow next to Whooper Pond this morning. They were a bit jumpy due to the regular fly-pasts of a kestrel. The best place to see the Barnacle Geese this morning is down at Avenue Tower, around
4 October 2018
Reserve update Wednesday 3rd October - Hen harrier and Peregrine
The Barnacle Geese seem to be enjoying the fields around the reserve with good views to be had from Silver and Gold hide this morning. One of the hybrid Geese was present in the flock. It was a good morning for raptor sightings down at Saltcot Merse w
3 October 2018
Latest sightings - Monday 1st October - Fantastic Mr. Fox
A crisp morning kicking off the first of the month. It has been a good morning for mammals with clear views of Roe deer from the Peter Scott Obs and a fox sneaking around the Lochar Field. More barnacle geese in over the weekend with good views of aroun
1 October 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 29th September - Barnie influx
Over 5,000 Barnacle Geese are now on the reserve, with an influx overnight. Whooper Swans are still in the area, but are spending little time on the reserve. They have been dropping in briefly on the Whooper Pond and Flood Ground. Wigeon and Teal numbers
29 September 2018