Latest Sightings
On Friday, one Red Kite was spotted flying over the Mere, and on Friday and Sunday, Sand Martins were also seen flying around the Mere in small flocks.
Over the weekend, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret were spotted on the Mere.
Also counted were 60 Black-Tailed Godwits, 30 Ruff, 20 Oystercatchers, 6 Cormorants, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, and 1 Snipe, along with 10 Whooper Swans and 120 Pink-Footed Geese still sitting on the back of the Mere. There are Pintail, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon and Shelduck seen all around the reserve.
32 Avocets were counted on Woodend Marsh, where they are expected to start nesting soon, visible from Rees, Tomlinson and Gordon Taylor hides. At Janet Kear hide yesterday, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming on the trees.
From Raine's Observatory, 25 Shoveler, 3 Reed Bunting and 2 Kestrels were observed. 4 Buzzard and 5 Marsh Harrier were seen from Ron Barker hide. 1 Fieldfare was observed in the visitor car park.
On the way to Tomlinson hide at Longmeadow, 13 Cattle Egret were counted yesterday, riding on the backs of the English Longhorn cattle. Several more have been seen today, on the cattle in the fields at Ron Barker hide.
Today, 2 Mute Swans were sighted, displaying a courtship dance in front of Harrier hide.
1 Barn Owl was seen soaring over the Reedbed walk this morning.
On the nature trail towards Ron Barker hide, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and 1 Redwing were spotted in the trees and on the feeders.
Photograph of a Cattle Egret.
