Latest sightings
Wood Sandpiper
Just a brief update today with more waders turning up daily at the moment. Wood Sandpiper on the Mere late afternoon.Out on Woodend 3 (2 male and a female) Ruff, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, Little Ringed Plo
1 July 2019
Ruff returns
Fresher today after the humidity of Saturday. The wader action is hotting up already and it's not even July yet. Traditional birding wisdom is that June and July are quiet months but the waders can always be interesting and 2017 July curve ball in the sha
30 June 2019
Spotted Redshank
A breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank is still present from yesterday, today it has been on the pools out from Ron Barker Hide, but no reports of yesterdays Wood Sandpiper. A nice count of at least 5 Green Sandpiper this morning on Woodend Marsh also a Com
29 June 2019
Friday update
Lots of waders about at the moment, with Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank (in breeding plumage) new in today, adding to the Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plovers, Avocets and at least 500 Black-tailed Godwits already present on Woodend Marsh.Cuckoo ca
28 June 2019
Wednesday News
We checked the Barn Owl boxes this week and three pair are nesting. Top Mere – 3 chicks (about 5 days old) 1 chick (about 1 day old) 1 egg. Long meadow – 2 large chicks (about 3 weeks old) 1 medium chick (2 weeks old) Doehyles – 1 chick (1 day old
26 June 2019
Tuesday's Sightings
Mere - Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, 3 pair of Common Tern, 3 adult Med Gull, 250 Black-headed Gull, 30+ Gadwall. Plover Field/Ashton's - Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 3+ Buzzard (some distant). Woodend – 33 Black-tailed Godwit, 73 Lapwing, Little Egret and
25 June 2019
A reserve first - Obscure Wainscot
Some milder nights have seen our reserve placement students running the moth trap. The reserve has a reasonable list with ~ 560 species of moth recorded. Saturday night produced a good catch including Obscure Wainscot (picture below by Maria Scullion), a
24 June 2019
Sunday's Sightings
'Bird of the day' has to go to this Whooper Swan that flew in late afternoon. We can only guess it's story but it must be interesting... Common Sandpiper on the Mere, another returning 'autumn' bird. Little Ringed Plover on the Mere, Avocet with chicks th
23 June 2019
Today's Sightings
A lovely day, coolish breeze in the hides, warm in the sun. Plenty of breeding activity in full swing with many birds fledging young and other on a second go. If you spend a little time looking you will come across adults feeding birds that have recently
19 June 2019
Great White Egret
A Great White Egret was seen in flight from the Reedbed walk area in the morning which is the first sighting of the year of this species, also at least 2 Little Egret around today. The other first sighting was of a Hobby in flight over Vinson's Marsh from
18 June 2019
Common Terns
The Common Terns nesting on the Mere this year so far seem to be doing very well with the second pair hatching at least 2 chicks this morning, so that's at least 5 chicks on that island and another pair hopefully to hatch more young on the second island.T
17 June 2019
Breeding Bearded Reedlings!
The outstanding news today concerns the first confirmed breeding of Bearded Reedlings on the reserve and also the first breeding in Lancashire away from the Leighton Moss/Barrow Scout area! A female was caught and ringed in the Reedbed walk area this morn
15 June 2019
More Med Gulls
More Mediterranean Gulls on the Mere with at least 5 birds today, 2 pair of adults and a 1st sum/2nd cal year. One pair were actively looking around for nesting sites among the Black-headed gull colony, were there are lots of young Black-headed Gulls from
12 June 2019
Black-necked Grebe
A fabulous breeding plumage Black-necked Grebe was the highlight of the day, present all day on the Mere and showing very well. This is either the 4th or 5th record for the reserve.Other sightings included the usual Marsh Harrier that has been with us for
5 June 2019
Sightings
A quiet day for new sightings but plenty of new chicks hatching everyday as well as plenty more yet to hatch. Two pair of Common Tern are currently sitting on eggs on the Mere which is the first time they have bred on the Mere.Another 4 Avocet chicks hatc
4 June 2019