Latest sightings
Pink-feet building in number
Great today for anyone wanting good views of Pink-footed Geese. At least 10,000 birds in the locality and a few thousand on the Mere til mid morning. Eight Dunlin dropped in briefly at Woodend Marsh. Kingfisher on the Canoe Safari. A first winter Med Gull
6 October 2012
Bird News
Around 8,500 Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve this morning. Thousands of Teal scattered around the reserve slowly emerging from eclipsed plumage. Video below of Pink's from the other day. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jFRlZpvjr4&am
5 October 2012
Skylarks
Big movement of passerines this morning. Difficult to assess numbers passing south but a conservative estimate of 500+ Skylark is probably understated. Other species were involved including Meadow Pipits, Wagtails, Jays and at least one Great Spotted Wood
4 October 2012
Getting the wind up
Windy today, a bit too windy really, making observations difficult and keeping many of the birds well tucked in. One Lapwing that should have kept it's head down was caught by a Peregrine (ad+ juv today again) over the Mere mid afternoon. Star bird of the
3 October 2012
Bittern again
Looks like there is a Bittern hanging around on the reserve at the moment. The bird was first seen, assuming it's the same one, on the 20th Sept and again today feeding in a ditch between Woodend Marsh and Long Meadow. The first family party of Whooper Sw
2 October 2012
Vis Mig
It's a great time of year to witness visible migration ('vis mig'). Hundreds of thousands of birds will be passing through the UK during autumn migration and many of these are apparent just by looking up into the sky. Generally people choose prominent g
1 October 2012
After the sun
After yesterdays far too bright and sunny day, it was good to see some rain (and wind) falling on the reserve again... It's very 'birdy' at the moment with Pink-footed Geese numbers building up again with excellent views around the edge of the Mere throug
30 September 2012
Flood feeding frenzy
The recent almost biblical deluge and flooding has been fantastic for the birds, with the area size of the mere having expanded noticeably it has provided a feeding frenzy for the wildfowl and large numbers of Gulls. The drake Scaup is still present alo
29 September 2012
Bring your wellies.
Amazing coming into work this morning to see just how much the water levels had risen over night. The two pictures below represent the difference in 24 hours. &nb
26 September 2012
Building an Ark
Definitely the most rainfall I've ever seen here. Hopefully post a few shots tomorrow. The Boat House Sluice which runs through the reserve (between the United Utilities and Ron Barker Hides) has over flown and is flooding the reserve fields, ideal for fe
25 September 2012
In the rain.
A wet day, so always good to see a few hardy souls having a look. There has been quite an influx of interesting birds in the UK in the past week with north american waders from the west to Yellow-browed Warbler et al from the east, so there is always the
24 September 2012
Bird News
The Little Stint remained from yesterday but was not seen after mid morning but a Greenshank dropped in for a while but also couldn't be located later in the day. Upto 20 Ruff are still on site along with 600 Lapwing and good numbers of Common Snipe. A li
23 September 2012
More Whooper Swans
At least 18 Whooper Swan were present today and large numbers of Pink-footed Geese c8000+ in and out of the reserve all day with 1000 around the Mere most of the day. The Little Stint is still present viewable from Ron Barker Hide, also Kingfisher continu
22 September 2012
Bird News
12 Whooper Swans on the Mere today after a further 6 birds flew in mid-morning. Pink-footed Geese were very active today, with groups ranging in size from 3 or 4 birds, up to over 2,000 coming and going (and therefore making it very difficult to guage jus
21 September 2012
Bird News
Star bird today was a Bittern which flew low over the Mere before landing in the reedbed near Wood End towards the edge of the reserve. 12,000 Pink-footed Geese were present on the reserve early this morning, and have been coming and going throughout the
20 September 2012