Latest Sightings
It’s been a chilly couple of days on the reserve, and cold weather has pushed some of our Eastern migrants in. Large numbers of fieldfares from Scandinavia were bustling in the trees between Hale and Ron Barker hides. Higher numbers of pintails from Russia and Siberia seem to be joining the mallard, wigeon, shovelers and shelduck on the mere.40 gadwall were counted from Harrier Hide.
Waders seem to be making a comeback this week. Yesterday a group of 10 ruff were feeding and preening on one of the mere islands and six flew in for the morning feed. 30+ black tailed godwits were aerially displaying above the mere this morning. Two dunlin were flushed up with the lapwings from Gordon Taylor, but weren’t seen to land again so could have headed over to Ron Barker. Groups of 5-7 snipe were flying over Woodend Marsh, landing in the reeds behind the hide.
Swan numbers are still rising: for the first time our dawn count was above 500. Numbers of pink footed geese roosting on the reserve are also going up. However as most of the pink footed geese depart to nearby fields to feed during the day the best chance visitors will have to see them is in plover field or on the back of the mere. And of course as the nights draw in their spectacular evening arrival gets closer and closer to our open times.
There was a great egret on plover field in front of united utilities and the two cattle egrets still join the cows. Once rare visitors to the UK from the Mediterranean, the warming climate has seen all 3 species of egret breeding, wintering and passaging more commonly.
Two bullfinches were spotted in the hedge near Janet Kear this morning. There was a great spotted woodpecker feeding with the goldfinches, greenfinches and tits on the feeders. Long tailed tit flocks are still a charming sight and sound in trees and scrub across the reserve. The strident calls of cetti’s warbler can be heard through out the reedbed and occasionally on the reedbed walk, along with the sharming of water rails.
Hares, though a little less active in winter, have been seen on the reedbed walk and on the path between United Utilities and Gordon Taylor. Three roe deer were loping the fields in front of Ron Barker on Tuesday.
