Latest sightings
Brambling, Starlings and other birds
Northerlies putting a chill in the air but lovely and bright on Sunday at least. The huge Starling roost of 50000+ birds is attracting a lot of attention. It's worth noting that last entry onto the reserve is 3.30pm and the reserve is staying open a littl
12 November 2017
Latest Sightings
Cool in the fresh northerly today. Jam packed with birds currently, in particular the enormous roost of Starling that is happening on the Reed Bed with an estimated 50,000 birds coming in from 4pm onward viewed from the Harrier Hide area. The reserve wint
10 November 2017
New Scaup
An adult male Scaup on the Mere this morning was a new bird, and still present this afternoon, also still at least 1 Goldeneye present. The adult male Scaup on the Mere (Tony Disley) At least 2 possibly 3 Water Rail o
8 November 2017
Brambling
Two Brambling at the Janet Kear feeding station were new birds, keep checking for Hawfinch, a bird was on feeders in Southport yesterday. On Woodend Marsh viewable from UU Hide today were 2 juvenile Little Stint, 223 Snipe, 63 Ruff, 1130 Lapwing, 7 Dunlin
7 November 2017
Greenland White-fronted Geese
Late Saturday afternoon a pair of adult Greenland White-fronted Geese were found on Woodend Marsh with Canada Geese, still present on Sunday. One of the birds had a collar which looked like one of the satellite tracking devices marked X5T. Currently we ha
5 November 2017
Geese
Thousands of Pink-footed Geese coming into roost late afternoon. A Little Stint was seen on Woodend Marsh from UU Hide late afternoon, other waders included good numbers of Ruff including great photo opportunities at feeding time on the Mere. Also still 6
3 November 2017
Latest Sightings
Calm condition continued over the past two days, frosty on Monday and slightly overcast today. The day started off with a catch of 26 Pink-footed Geese on Top Mere and a few Teal. These birds have been ringed and a couple have had satellite tags added so
31 October 2017
Whoopers and other birds.
Lovely end to the weekend making up for the miserable conditions on Saturday. Whooper Swan numbers are on the up with around 260+ counted on the reserve this morning with around 100 at the 3pm feed in front of the Discovery Hide.
29 October 2017
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was among the Pink-footed Geese on Owl Marsh this morning before presumably flying off, hopefully will get seen again over the weekend. Yesterday a report of a juv White-fronted Goose in the afternoon couldn't be found later, bu
27 October 2017
Raptors
Good numbers of raptors in in recent days with up to 6-7 Marsh Harrier, juv Peregrine, 4 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Merlin and several Common Buzzard including 1 or 2 pale birds. Common Buzzard at the edge of the Mere (Tony D
24 October 2017
Scaup
Before the wild weather arrived mid afternoon there were a few sightings of interest, the 1st winter male Scaup re-appeared on the Mere and was showing well at times alongside Tufted Duck for comparison. Also 2 redhead Goosander flew over the Mere early a
21 October 2017
Latest Sightings
Misty rain until midday then a brief gap in the weather before more cloud rolled in. At least 15000 Pink-footed Geese roosted on the reserve. Two Barnacle Geese came in around midday with the Pink-footed flocked. At least 55 Whooper Swan also roosted with
20 October 2017
Mallard family
A couple of sightings today had a spring feel, a newly hatched batch of at least 16 Mallard Ducklings on the Mere were late, and a Swallow which was around in the afternoon were both a reminder of a time earlier in the year.
19 October 2017
Egyptian Geese
A surprise among the Pink-footed Geese today were a pair of Egyptian Geese, not much chance of being wild birds as this is an introduced African species. One of two Egyptian Geese among the thousands of Pinkfeet (Tony Disl
18 October 2017
Dowitcher Still
Long-billed Dowitcher still present after the overnight strong winds that brought a few branches down around the reserve. It spent most of it's time out on Woodend Marsh with Ruff but can go missing in the vegetation but was still present at 5pm at the ba
17 October 2017