Latest sightings
Bird Sightings
A good day on site with the fresh westerly and rain bringing in a few new birds, the best being a juvenile Osprey which flew through the site early afternoon and was escorted away by 2 Marsh Harriers! Juvenile Osprey being
20 August 2016
Bird News
A very quick round up of today's news; 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Peregrine, 6 Common Snipe, 16+ Dunlin, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 12+ Ruff,3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover. Also 2 young Kingfishers, meaning we now have 4 or more on the re
18 August 2016
Hobby and other raptors
Just a brief update following on from yesterday's comprehensive review. A six species of raptor day with Hobby from the Ron Barker Hide late afternoon, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4+ Common Buzzard, Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrel. Twelve species of butterfly
16 August 2016
Latest Highlights
A compilation of the past few days sightings. It's currently possible to top 60 species in a days birding on the reserve. The waders are still providing plenty of possible interest with an excellent count of c.40 Dunlin out on Woodend Marsh today. We can'
15 August 2016
Bird News
No new infuxes of birds over the past couple of days, but nothing much seems to have moved on either, so lots of birds to be found. 2 Green Sandpipers, 6+ Dunlin, and 8+ Ruff (including 3 juveniles) were the most interesting waders today, and Marsh Harr
12 August 2016
Marsh Harriers and Waders
A nice selection of birds over the past couple of days with new waders dropping in and new Marsh Harriers arriving. At least 4 different Marsh Harrier with 2 juveniles, a 2nd year bird and an adult male seen around the reserve. Other raptors included a ju
10 August 2016
Recent Sightings
Still up to 4 Green Sandpipers to be seen on site along with a Common Sandpiper, also a trickle of Dunlin coming through with a count of 5 on Sunday. A juv Little Ringed Plover is still being seen from Ron Barker, also a Ringed Plover today. Snipe are bec
8 August 2016
Sightings
Plenty to see and look for at the moment with at least 2 Green Sandpipers still around, also a Little Ringed Plover, 7 Ruff and 50+ Black-tailed Godwits. The Lapwing flock continues to grow, now over 500 birds on the reserve. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull
5 August 2016
Latest Sightings
Overcast with low cloud turning very windy for the time of year on Wednesday. Interesting to note that the low cloud cover on Tuesday produced a small fall of passerine locally. On the reserve a Willow Warbler in the tit flock was probably part of that fa
3 August 2016
Latest Sightings
The arrival of August heralds a further increase in migration activity with more species leaving the breeding grounds and heading South. On the reserve it will generally be the waders that are obviously changing although many passerines also can pass thro
1 August 2016
Latest Sightings
A slight chill in the hides today as the air comes from the North West and probably helping more waders on there way! Waders still dominate with 500+ Lapwing, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Dunlin (half and half adult/juvenile), 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Re
30 July 2016
Bird News
Up to 2 kingfishers were showing well from the Ron Barker hide, where 20+ Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Ringed Plovers were amonngst the waders present. Also from the Ron Barker hide, a pair of Ravens were feeding a single juvenile, and Kestrel, Sparrowh
29 July 2016
Changing Waders
Fresher condition and the odd shower from the weekend starting to produce more waders today. Lapwing numbers are over 500 although two Peregrine hunting flushed some off the reserve this afternoon. They'll be back (Lapwings and the Peregrines!) At least 2
25 July 2016
Hobby
A good raptor day with 5 species recorded. Hobby hawking for insects high to the right of the Ron Barker Hide. An immature male Marsh Harrier was mobbed by 3 Raven, at least 3 Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk today. Barn Owl roosting in the barn op
23 July 2016
Green Sandpipers
A brief summary. Green Sandpipers (2) still showing well from the Hale Hide. Plenty of waders to be seen tucked away across the reserve although without a telescope some of the viewing will be limited. Marsh Harrier was the pick of the raptors, hunting on
22 July 2016