Latest sightings
Hen Harrier, Green-winged Teal and Firecrest.
A top day! The influx of keen birders for the North West Birdwatching Festival paid dividends with a cracking Male Hen Harrier seen a couple times during the day, the first this autumn. The somewhat elusive Firecrest, assuming it's the same bird was seen
24 November 2012
North West Birdwatching Festival starts tommorrow!
Just to mention, the 'North West Birdfair' is on this weekend. The weather is looking good (lucky were aren't in the South West...) and there is loads of stuff on which can be found on the WWT Website. Over the years a number of good rarities have been fo
23 November 2012
Bird News
Rather grey but most of the 'weather' held off til late afternoon. Very mild in the strong southerlies. Some counts across the reserve included 2000+ Pink-footed Geese, 51 Canada, 560 Greylag, 560+ Shelduck, 400+ Wigeon, 3000+ Teal, 40 Shoveler, 32 Pochar
22 November 2012
Some counts
Some counts of selected species on the reserve included 2390 Teal, 450 Wigeon, 352 Greylag, 4700 Pink-footed Geese, 270 Pintail, 41 Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 50 Canada Geese, 14 Shoveler and Goldeneye. A single Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed G
19 November 2012
Green-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal again with Eurasian Teal from the Ron Barker Hide this afternoon. A six species of raptor day with 3+ Peregrine showing very well, female Merlin, Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Over 1000 Lapwing and highest c
18 November 2012
Wildfowl spectacle
Excellent numbers of Pink-footed Geese with several thousand on and off today with upto 1500 Whooper swan and good numbers of other wildfowl inc a single drake Goldeneye. The usual Peregrines were present again with the adult female and pale juvenile pres
17 November 2012
Green-winged Teal again
Green-winged Teal again with 2000+ Eurasian Teal from the Ron Barker Hide. Many more teal are present on the reserve. Plenty of Pink-footed Geese locally with around 5000 on the reserve mid morning. In with the Pink's were 30+ Barnacle Geese. A good rapto
14 November 2012
Teal in flight
Spectacular views of 4000+ Teal swirling around over Vinson Marsh this afternoon. Not quite sure what was flushing them but it was most likely one of the 3 Peregrines present today. The most recent Pink-footed Geese count was just under 12,000. Certainly
13 November 2012
Bird News
A wet start with a south-easterly wind. Never a bad wind as most of the hide windows face a westerly position. A month earlier this airflow may have brought interesting migrants onto the reserve but no reports of anything new today. Weather wise the rest
12 November 2012
Common Crane
The 3rd record of Common Crane this year was the highlight of the day, unfortunately it didn't stick around long before heading off towards Southport flushing thousands of Pink feet as it went. Photo: Tony Disley Upto 5000 Pink-footed Geese were using th
10 November 2012
1500 Whooper Swan
New highest count of Whooper Swan for this autumn with 1500 birds this morning. It never fails to impress when you see groups of these birds dropping in low over the trees before landing on the Mere. Around 10,000 Pink-footed Geese coming into roost, with
7 November 2012
Warmer but wetter
Today's sightings page isn't packed with reports. I guess many potential visitors (people) looked out of the window into the squally rain showers and decided to give it a miss! It's worth noting that it's possible to rack up over 60 species of wild bird a
6 November 2012
Merlin and other birds
Merlin showed well this morning to the wardens while checking on the cattle. This shot was 'digi binned', that is taken through binoculars with a small digital camera. Other raptors included 3 Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparro
5 November 2012
Tens of Thousands and a Bullfinch.
A lovely day, loads of birds and loads of visitors making the most of the spectacle. No specific counts but the total bird count will be over 20,000. With such a concentration of birds the raptors are always present, if only to feed on carrion. Merlin aga
4 November 2012
Hitting the highs.
Another days spectacular viewing with 1000's of Pink-footed Geese coming and going on the reserve. The new swan feeding regime is working well with the first of the days feed occurring at 10:30 from the Swan Link Hide and 11am in front of the heated Raine
3 November 2012