Latest sightings

Great White Returns

The Great White Egret or another bird spent most of the day on site mainly from Ron Barker feeding in Langley's Brook with an accompanying Grey Heron. Also the Greenland White-fronted Goose spent a while giving great views on the Mere with lots of Pink-fo

23 September 2016

Greenland White-fronted Goose

Another fine autumn day with plenty of activity around the reserve. A definite influx of wildfowl is occurring with increasing numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail. Three Whooper Swan were seen to fly over the reserve mid morning but were not relocated. Th

21 September 2016

Further arrivals

Pink-footed Geese numbers continue to build with 6170 birds counted this afternoon. Some blocking weather fronts over Iceland are likely to slow the progress of birds leaving this week, so it will be interesting to see how the numbers change.

20 September 2016

Sightings

Another excellent couple of days, yesterday a Crake specie was reported from United Utilities Hide, no sign today but it could well reappear, here's hoping! Also yesterday a Curlew Sandpiper was seen but no reports today. The highlights today included the

19 September 2016

Recent Sightings

Another excellent day with lots of new birds, mainly Pink-footed Geese, small flocks could be seen dropping in through out the morning, by late morning more than 600 had been counted. By the end of the day more than 800 had appeared. The eclipse male Ga

16 September 2016

Recent Sightings

The low murk around most of the day looked like it may produce something good but a surprise was 2 Red-breasted Merganser which flew south around 10am, very rare on site with only a few records over the years. The eclipse male Garganey was again among the

15 September 2016

Great White

Calm and warm with a light south easterly, rain later in the day. Two days in a row and another new species for the year list in the shape of the formerly rare Great White Egret. We didn't record one in 2015 and although birds are hanging around on the Ri

13 September 2016

Bar-tailed Godwit new for the year

A Bar-tailed Godwit found yesterday was still present today and is the first record of thiss coastal wader on the reserve this year. More wader action with the arrival of 3 Little Stint best viewed from the Ron Barker Hide. Other waders included 11 Dunlin

12 September 2016

First Pink-footed Geese arrival

Always a red letter day at the WWT with the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn. Just five birds joining the the mixed feral Greylag and Canada Geese on the Mere this afternoon. Interesting to see if we get many more in the next day or two, although the

10 September 2016

Recent Sightings

The Green Woodpecker was seen again around the Canoe Safari area in the collection, it was heard calling -'yaffling' before it was seen flying towards Marsh Moss Lane area. Grey Wagtails are being heard/seen most days now on site, a sure sign of autumn! A

9 September 2016

Latest Sightings

Pink-footed Geese from October 2014 Starting off with a picture from 2014 just in case you are thinking there has been a mass arrival overnight! There was a report of a few birds out on the Ribble a week ago but they

7 September 2016

Latest Sighting

Variable weather over the past few days, none of which produce any rarities as such although a few passage Wheatear were recorded from the United Utilities Hide over the weekend. Quite a few wagtails on the move today. The influx of Common Snipe continues

5 September 2016

Recent Sightings

Thursday was a good day for raptors with 6 species being seen, including at least 16 Common Buzzard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Kestrel, juv Merlin, 3 Sparrowhawk and Peregrine. Good numbers of Snipe are still around the reserve with up to 70+ birds still present

2 September 2016

Black Tern new for the year.

Weather wise the morning started off with low cloud and misty rain, classic conditions for dropping something onto the reserve. Having missed the sizable spring influx of Black Tern it was nice that one called in on the return autumn visit. There were qui

31 August 2016

Latest Sightings

Overcast early on with light winds and no rain. Just a brief update. Waders include 400+ Lapwing, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, 20+ Ruff including one carrying what looks a crossbow bolt right through it's body, presumably shot on the breeding

30 August 2016