Latest sightings
Wood Sandpiper still
The Wood Sandpiper and Little Gull are still present from Friday, both best looked for from United Utilities Hide. No reports of the Curlew Sandpiper today but a late report from the 12th may of an adult Hobby over the Reedbed area. Otherwise no other rep
17 May 2014
Bird news Friday 16th
The weather started to look very interesting for bringing in some new birds and straight away had an effect with a flurry of new sightings. The best of which were a Curlew Sandpiper from Ron Barker which joined 2 Ruff and later in the day these were joine
17 May 2014
Bird News
A very pleasant day and the forecast looks good into the weekend. Perhaps not the most ideal condition for turning up something new, so it probably will! A few passage waders seen included Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Dunlin. At least 20 Avocet present,
14 May 2014
Garden Warbler new for the year
The first Garden Warbler of the year seen from the Janet Kear Hide today. Many Common Swift feeding over the reserve today. Three Little Ringed Plover on the Mere this morning. A 1cy (first calender year) Mediterranean Gull was on the Mere with Black-head
12 May 2014
Anytime now
Another showery day. Perfect condition for producing migrant waders on the reserve. Anytime now something rare could drop in... Today's addition was another Sanderling with 10 Dunlin from the Ron Barker Hide early afternoon. Other waders included 2 Common
10 May 2014
Waders drop in
The first day for a while with some 'proper weather', 20mph WSW winds and the odd squally shower moving through. Classic conditions at this time of year to drop in some waders. Certainly the biggest count of the year of Dunlin with 33 birds by late aftern
7 May 2014
May Birds
What follows is a selected review of birds so far recorded on the reserve since the end of April. Wader passage turned up two new species for the year with Sanderling on the 1st of May followed by Greenshank on the 5th. Other waders in this period include
6 May 2014
Bird News
More waders again with 3 Little Ringed Plover on the Mere. A few breeding plumage Ruff scattered across the reserve. Four Whimbrel from the Ron Barker Hide this morning. Also 100+ Lapwing (many with chicks), 6+ Redshank, 20+ Avocet, 2 Ringed Plover, 6+ Oy
30 April 2014
Yellow Wagtail
A glorious day with light winds and pleasant sunshine for most of the day. Yellow Wagtail again flying from the back of the Mere towards Woodend Marsh. Fourteen Whimbrel from the Ron Barker Hide and over 800 counted in Lancashire yesterday evening. Two Li
29 April 2014
More Whimbrel
A brief update. Four Whimbrel from the Ron Barker Hide, also Curlew. Little Ringed Plover and 2 Ringed Plover on the Mere. White Wagtail back of the Mere briefly mid morning. Adult Med Gull with Black-headed Gull late afternoon.
28 April 2014
Steady as she goes.
Plenty of promise today with a combination of an early rain front, south-easterlies and of course just being the end of April. As usual it hasn't, so far, materialised anything that rare or unusual. One theory at least says winds with a westerly element a
26 April 2014
Whimbrel
Classic time for Whimbrel moving through the North West, with two birds new in today from the Ron Barker Hide. Other waders present include 100+ Lapwing a few with newly hatched chicks. At least 30 Avocet, 8 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 6 Ruff, Ringed Plover, Oyst
24 April 2014
More migrants
A few new migrants around today, the best of which was a male Redstart by the feeding station at Janet Kear Hide. A Common Tern was around the Mere most of the morning and at least 1 Grasshopper Warbler is still singing along the Reedbed walk along with R
23 April 2014
Migrants
Plenty of summer migrants to be seen on site at the moment, 2 Grasshopper Warbler can be seen and heard along the reedbed walk along with Reed and Sedge Warbler. Other warblers include Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. A slow trickle o
22 April 2014
French Gull
The Little Gull is still present along with 2 Mediterranean Gull (2nd sum bird bearing a French darvic ring and a 1st sum bird briefly). Waders present today were Dunlin, c20 Ruff, 16 Curlew, Little ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Lapwing, Oysterc
21 April 2014