Latest sightings

Barn Owls

Barn Owls

Four or five Barn Owls hunting on the reserve early this morning. The usual raptors with Marsh Harrier, 3+ Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Some small flocks of Lapwing present C.150, 10+ Common Snipe, 2 Ruff and Green Sandpiper.

7 August 2013

Some Passage

Some Passage

A better day weatherwise and more signs of autumn passage underway. An adult and juvenile Little Gull flew through the reserve. Twelve Common Buzzard went south with another 6 present around the reserve. Also present Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. Good number

6 August 2013

Bird News

Bird News

Mostly wet this morning so a limited number of reports. Three Marsh Harrier present today, at least 3 Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. Waders included a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 10+ Common Snipe. A juvenile Water Ra

5 August 2013

Little Egret still

Little Egret still

The Little Egret is still present from the Harrier Hide, also upto 3 Little Grebe on show from here and 4 Wigeon. At least one Marsh Harrier was on the reserve today along with Sparrowhawk, several Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Three Dunlin were new birds w

3 August 2013

Little Egret

Little Egret

A Little Egret was showing well from the Harrier Hide today. At least one Marsh Harrier was on the reserve along with the usual Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Upto 14 Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwit were from Ron Barker hide today along with good

2 August 2013

Hobby

Hobby

A Hobby was seen over the reserve today along with a male Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard. No sign of the Wood Sandpiper or the Garganey today, but still 14 Ruff, several Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper. Two K

1 August 2013

Garganey

Garganey

An eclipsed drake Garganey seen this morning from the Ron Barker Hide with 100+ Teal. Other wildfowl included 140+ Greylag and 46 Shelduck. A good selection of waders with a new Wood Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide, c50 Black-tailed Godwit and 10+ Ruff

31 July 2013

More Lapwing

More Lapwing

More Lapwing arriving with 500+ birds present, split between Woodend Marsh and from the Ron Barker Hide. Again 14 Ruff, some Common Snipe, at least one Green Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, yesterday Greenshank again. Greylag Geese are starting to floc

30 July 2013

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

A little bit of 'weather' and a few new birds drop in! Wood Sandpiper joins the list of recent waders. More Ruff arriving with 14 birds, 160+ Black-tailed Godwit,  a juvenile Redshank today, Green Sandpiper, 5+ Common Snipe and unusually for this time of

29 July 2013

Greenshank

Greenshank

Just a brief summary with Greenshank, new in, from the Ron Barker Hide. Waders reported included Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. Excellent views of Marsh Harrier hunting round the Mere.

27 July 2013

More Lepo

More Lepo

More lepidoptera action around the reserve with plenty of butterflies to log on the Butterfly Conservation sheet available free at the entrance desk. The survey continues until 11th August. Yesterday the moth trap was packed with just over 100 species inc

24 July 2013

Another scorcher

Another scorcher

Another hot one as the wind blew lightly from the SSE. There seem to be the odd shower forecasted over the next few days so always a chance of something new arriving out of the blue. A good raptor day with Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, female Sparr

22 July 2013

True Lover's Knot

True Lover's Knot

A good catch for the moth morning including True Lover's Knot which once imputed into the Mapmate recording software turned out to be a first for the reserve! The recent spell of easterlies has produce local movements of this heath/moorland specialist. 

21 July 2013

Latest Sightings

Latest Sightings

A few butterflies on the wing with Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Large Skipper and Peacock with probably a few others not reported. Whimbrel this morning, probably a new bird in. The usual G

20 July 2013

Bird News

Bird News

More post breeding birds in evidence around the reserve. At least 3 Chiffchaff in a mixed tit flock containing Long-tailed, Coal, Great and Blue Tits along the nature trail. A few more Common Snipe being seen. It's quite likely as some area start to dry u

17 July 2013