Latest sightings
Duckling day
Today the team have completed the first breeding duck survey of the season with lots of broods of several species now just starting to hatch, including Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shelduck, Shoveler and a few new broods of Mallard. South Lake Hides A total of
8 June 2018
Today's sightings
Kingfisher Hide The Kingfisher activity has now dropped a little as we (hopefully) await a second brood in a few weeks time, but things are still busy down here with a pair of Little Grebe with four chicks. Out on the scrape in the Bottom New Piece were
6 June 2018
First Tufted Duck brood of 2018
The first Tufted Duck brood was recorded in the 100 Acre reed bed today, we should see dozens more hatching over the next few weeks. Additional Shelduck broods have appeared on the estuary and can be seen from Middle Point. See image below. A brood of Gad
4 June 2018
Today's rather wet sightings
Stop Press......... Great News Crane egg is hatching on the Rushy. One of the eggs is hatching the other still showing no sign of piping, at 32 to 33 days incubation this could well be the second egg. Also nice 2nd summer Med Gull At least 16 ad Avocet
1 June 2018
Bank holiday sightings
Middle Point/Severn Estuary Red-necked Phalarope on the mud S of the point on the ebb tide, no reports so far today of the Gull-billed Tern but it did appear here yesterday before flying inland and to the north. Waders today include a few Sanderling, Rin
28 May 2018
Little Gull
Rushy Crane still incubating. Avocet 12 at least 1 brood. Greenshank was here for most of the morning. Black Tailed Godwit 1 Oystercatcher 2 Red Kite over about 13.30 Holden and walkway Avocet 7 birds incubating + 3 broods on the Holden Flash and 1 from t
26 May 2018
Wet weather drop-ins
The colder start and drizzle has forced the hirundines and Swifts lower this morning with several hundred present across the Rushy, South Lake and out from the Zeiss Hide. Then shortly before lunchtime a Black Tern was seen over the Rushy, before moving
24 May 2018
Cranes hatch.
Crane pair 'Bart and Ruby' have hatched at least one chick. They were standing over the nest looking like something had appeared in the nest early this morning. The nest site can be seen from Hogarth Hide on the South Lake Duck Marsh. Our Guide in the Hi
22 May 2018
Today's sightings
Rushy Hide 13 Avocet + brood of 2. Pair of Lapwing, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Crane, 6 Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, female Wigeon and hybrid male, 31 Shelduck + brood of 12, 3 Greylag, 4 Coot, 2 Moorhen and 2 drake Shoveler. Middle Point/Severn Estuary 68 Sheldu
20 May 2018
Wildlife Safaris begin...... .
11.30 and 14.00 Wildlife Safaris Great first safaris today highlights included two Great White Egrets at least 3 Hobbys and 2 Cranes. Lapwing and Redshank were very active and a Kingfisher was seen briefly along the ditch. Reed Buntings, Reed and Sedge Wa
19 May 2018
Avocets prospecting on South Lake
Avocets over the grounds Rushy Hide A couple more Avocet pairs were looking at potential nest sites to add to the two pairs already nesting. A few Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Oystercatcher also present. 20+ Shelduck, 10+ Tufted Duck as well as Mall
15 May 2018
Avocets keep hatching and walking
Holden Tower The Avocet colony is very busy, what is likely to be the fifth brood has hatched today with many more nests yet to hatch. The parents spend a day or two at the scrape then lead the young to nearby scrapes or even the estuary. Lapwing (with br
14 May 2018
Hoopoe!
Hoopoe Whilst walking to start work at the Conservation Breeding Unit, staff member T. Grigg came across a Hoopoe in the car park, it flew off to the north. A subsequent search eventually relocated the bird back in the car park as it fed between the dit
13 May 2018
Kingfishers have hatched
Kingfisher Hide Lots of feeding activity yesterday with tiny fish and insects going into the borrow. Feeding events were roughly every half hour but this should increase dramatically over the next few days. The next two weeks should be a great time to co
12 May 2018
More chicks
Activity at the Kingfisher Hide this morning would suggest that the pair have hatched young. Both the male and female were seen together carrying small fish into the nest hole. Elsewhere on the reserve the first Avocet chicks have now hatched and at l
11 May 2018