Latest sightings
Record Count
We have been edging towards a record count of Black-tailed Godwit and today we have (unofficially) hit 1100 mark breaking the previous record from July 1987 of 1075. Our godwits are of the icelandic race and these birds have been returning from the icelan
3 August 2017
Sandpiper Trio
No, not the mid sixties folk/rock singing band but the classic Wood, Green, Common Sandpiper mix that generally inhabits the same page of a good field guide on british birds. All three were present today and showing from the Ron Barker Hide.
1 August 2017
Pied Flycatcher new for 2017
This is an edited version of the original report as it has come to light that we have had a few records of Pied Flycatcher on the reserve although this is the first for ~20 years. Hot on the heels of Wednesday's Gull-bill Tern, a imm Pied Flycatche
30 July 2017
Latest Sightings
Sunshine and showers with more to come makes for an interesting week ahead. Risky to predict anymore rarities but we wouldn't want to rule out the chance of a wader or two dropping in. It's all calmed down a little since Wednesday's Gull-billed Tern, wher
28 July 2017
Gull-billed Tern a first for the reserve
Exciting start to the day when an adult Gull-billed Tern flew in during a rain shower onto the Mere. Never before recorded on the reserve this species does occur annually in the UK in small numbers but breeds in Southern / South-Eastern Mediterranean. A f
26 July 2017
Latest Sighting
Looking interesting for the next couple of days as a fast moving pressure system is swept across the Atlantic by the jet stream. Will that mean an influx of rare North American waders on the West Coast of the UK? Probably not but we can only hope. Wader c
25 July 2017
Weekend Sightings
Sighting from the weekend... Continuing the wader theme with Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 15+ Ruff, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, 10 Dunlin, Redshank and Snipe. Raptors inclu
23 July 2017
Wader action to come..
With wader migration picking up the next few weeks should be interesting particularly if we get some weather fronts moving through. Currently we have a good selection on the reserve over the past two days which includes 150+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Lapw
21 July 2017
Marsh Harrier
A juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen around the reserve today along with the usual Buzzard and Kestrel. A 1st summer Little Gull and 1st summer Mediterranean Gull were on the Mere mid afternoon. A brood of 4 Gadwall chicks were accompanying mum around the Me
19 July 2017
Latest Sightings
Temperature rising and a couple of clear days has cut the number of wader species although Wednesday looks excellent for dropping more bird in. Common Sandpiper on a 'Tern Raft' The Ruff numbers have increased with 14
18 July 2017
Weekend News
A weak rain front moved south late Saturday early Sunday produced a few new waders in. Six Green Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide this morning, 2 Common Sandpiper on the Mere, 8 Ruff, 8 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 150+ Lapwin
16 July 2017
Latest Sightings
Changeable weather over the past few days and similar for the weekend so could be interesting for waders. More Ruff arriving with at least 8 different birds present, quickly moulting out of breeding plumage. Highly variable birds including one with a Blac
14 July 2017
Dunlin
Overcast and raining for the beginning of the day before clearing to leave some good visibilty. Ten Dunlin moulting from adult plumage were new in. Other waders included 100+ Lapwing, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Oystercatcher, 7 Ruff, 6 Redshank, 8 Little
11 July 2017
Latest Sightings
Compiled from past two days. Warm on Sunday chiller and over cast on Monday after early rain. A Greenshank was present this afternoon. The Ruff numbers crept up to 5 birds and a count of 14 Little Ringed Plover on Sunday was good for this reserve. Other w
10 July 2017
Latest Sightings
A lovely summers day but of course slightly hazy visibility as a result! Honestly it's not a complaint and the Comma, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral butterflies out on the wing seemed happy enough. Four Dunlin were new arrivals. At this time of year all the
8 July 2017