Latest sightings
Bird News
2 Little Egrets on the Mere briefly today - although Little Egrets are seen fairly regularly on the reserve, 2 together is unusual. Also on the Mere, as many as 300 Shelduck, along with 20 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, a single male Goldeneye, 1 Black-tailed Go
6 December 2016
Bird News
The Green-winged Teal was again present in front of the Ron Barker hide throughout the day. Bird of the day however was an Egyptian Goose which appeared on the Mere mid-morning and spent the next couple of hours moving around the reserve before retuning t
2 December 2016
Follow that Goose !
Not much bird news over the last couple of days, other than a "small group" of Bramblings on the feeder in front of the Janet Kear hide early yesterday morning. However, they were not seen later in the day. Marsh Harriers, Peregrine, and Common Buzzard co
1 December 2016
Green-winged Teal again
Slightly warmer over night melting most of the ice out on the reserve. The drake Green-winged Teal was picked out on Vinson's Marsh early afternoon. On the Mere 2 Goldeneye (female) joined big numbers of Shelduck, Pintail and Mallard. Small numbers of Tuf
27 November 2016
Woodcock Winter Wonderland
Another beautiful frost covered morning which lingered right through the day in sheltered spots. The back of the Mere iced over although the mass of wildfowl present helped keep most of the water open. Wildfowl numbers are high with 2500+ Teal and 1000+ W
26 November 2016
Bird News
A very similar day to yesterday, with great weather and lots of birds. At least 40 Black-tailed Godwits and a similar number of Ruff were on the Mere, and Kingfishers were seen from the Ron Barker and United Utilities hides, as well as a "fly-past" from t
25 November 2016
Bird News
A beautiful day with a great variety of birds to be seen. The Green-winged Teal was again present from the Ron Barker hide - although it can be difficult to pick up amongst the flocks of Common Teal at times, the vertical white bar on their American cousi
24 November 2016
Sunday Viewing
Chilly again but with light winds making it less cold than it could be. A couple of counts put the Whooper Swan numbers on 1200 and Pink-footed Geese down to 6700. Most of the Whooper Swan are feeding off the reserve at the moment. [caption id="attachment
20 November 2016
Green-winged Teal again
Wintery condition biting a little on the reserve over the past couple of days. Some excellent light too as long as you are wrapped up! Hail clouds passing by with flocks of Teal flushed by Peregrine The Green-winged T
19 November 2016
Green-winged Teal found
It was only a matter of time before a Green-winged Teal was picked out of the increasing numbers of Eurasian Teal. The confusingly named Green-winged Teal is a North American species and is probably the commonest duck to visit British waters from the stat
16 November 2016
Latest Highlights
Apologies for the lack of updates recently, normal service has now returned. Jam packed with wildfowl as many species continue to arrive as the weather gets colder across continental Europe. Recent counts produced 1910 Teal, 1010 Wigeon and 221 Shelduck.
15 November 2016
Whooper influx
The first proper frost of this winter period, overcast for most of the day with light winds. This morning's dawn count produced 1360 Whooper Swan. Quite surprised at the total even though it has been obvious that new birds have been arriving over the week
8 November 2016
Cattle Egret again
Overcast and chilly but excellent visibilty. Bird of the day was Cattle Egret which was seen just off the reserve arounf midday before being seen on the Mere in the afternoon. As noted before on here there has been a considerable influx of Cattle Egret in
6 November 2016
Whooper Swans arriving
The chilly northerly air flow makes for excellent viewing as long as you have got several layers on! Although no count it appears there has been an influx of Whooper Swan on the back of the weather with 600+ birds present this morning. The Pink-footed Gee
5 November 2016
Latest Sightings
A brief update. If you check the previous 3 of 4 sightings updates you will get a good idea how busy the reserve is at the moment with wildfowl, geese and swans. Raptors; Peregrine (ad), 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk. Green S
4 November 2016