News
Swan counts this winter
We have now finished the fortnightly dawn swan counts for this winter as the first Bewick's swans start their migration back to Arctic Russia. The first whooper swans will be starting their migration back to Iceland this month too. Peak swan counts for
1 March 2013
Out on the reserve today
Marsh harrier - 1 (female), just beyond the bird feeding station, so again very close to the visitor centre as was the case a few weeks back. Brown hare - good numbers and activity (including boxing) seen from the visitor centre and on the walks, more det
1 March 2013
Today's sightings
Migration Very good conditions for migrating last night has resulted in only 181 Bewick's Swans left. The Zeiss Hide BITTERN 1 Still feeding on or near the fallen fence post on the front right end of the reed bed. This bird seems to be spending all day
1 March 2013
Wildlife sightings for 1st March 2013
1 Bittern - western corner of reservoir lagoon 1 Pintail - wader scrape 76 Shoveler - main lake, wader scrape, reservoir lagoon 5 Snipe - wader scrape, main lake 41 Fieldfare - flew over S Peacock Tower closed today due to high winds affecting the roof ti
1 March 2013
Bird News
Another lovely day to be birding with the only down side being a reduction in visibility resulting from the 'heat haze'. No reports of the Dark-bellied Brent today although the Pink-footed Geese flocks have been absent for most of the day so the bird may
28 February 2013
Todays sightings
Today I have seen the following species around the reserve; Pochard, Tufted duck, Gadwall, Teal, Common shelduck, Canadian, Grey-lag and Egyptian geese, Cormorants, Kingfisher, Grey heron, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute swans. Reed bunting, Gold fi
28 February 2013
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 160 Mute Swan 40 Wigeon 85 Tufted Duck 46 Canada Goose 4 Greylag Goose 4 Shoveler 12 Folly Pond Teal 240 Shoveler 10 Wigeon 100 Redshank 3 Black-tailed Godwit 4 Lapwing 10 Oystercatcher 2 Flood Ground Little Egret 4 Teal 220 Wige
28 February 2013
Today's sightings
Wader Lake (AM, low, 100% frozen) Grey heron: 22 Shelduck: 15 Lapwing: 49 Other birds Reed bunting in the filter reedbed: 3 Goldcrest in Hollowood: 2 Treecreeper in Hollowood: 1 River Wear Goosander: 3 Goldeneye: 1 Grey heron: 5 Redshank: 8 Oystercatcher:
28 February 2013
Recent Sightings
Sightings from the 23rd February have included: Wader Marsh – 42 Black Tailed Godwits, 13 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks and 1 Curlew. Peninsula Salt Marsh – 4 Brent Geese, 1 Greenshank and 1 Redshank. Finches and Sparrows have been spotted using the feede
28 February 2013
WeBS count
Highlights: Goldeneye - 8 Another reserve record this winter for tufted duck on the Ouse washes at WWT Welney. Great crested grebe - 9 Little egret - 2 Little grebe - 1 Wigeon - 5001 Mallard - 917 Tufted duck - 730 Pochard - 502 Teal - 397 Gadwall - 33 Sh
28 February 2013
Wildlife sightings for 28th February 2013
1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon (halfway along the N shore) a.m. 120 Cormorant - main lake 45 Shoveler 40 Wigeon 5 Water Rail - reedbed, marsh 55 Fieldfare - flew N and NW Peacock Tower closed today due to high winds affecting the roof tiles. All other hide
28 February 2013
Today's sightings
South Lake Cranes (GCP) to 0930 Pochard 90 Holden Tower E White-fronted Geese are in the 50 Acre American Wigeon x Eurasian Wigeon male with 200 Wigeon Rushy Bewick's Swans 240 plus 30 on Tack Piece Zeiss Hide Bittern 1 Goshawk 1 male dropped by Kingfish
28 February 2013
Meet Flick, our baby otter
Today is the last day that we are profiling our baby otters. Today we are telling you about Flick. The largest of the 3 cubs, she is already heavier than her father, and will throw her weight around! She is highly inquisitive and very playful and loves
28 February 2013
Nene nest special.
The Nenes are incubating! I knew we had lots of heavy females, but they really waited right up until the last minute before laying their eggs. The sunny weekend of the 9th of February stimulated the mass lay, and it felt that by the 16th, everyone was inc
27 February 2013
Dark-bellied Brent again.
Dark-bellied Brent flew in around 2.45pm with Pink-footed Geese viewable on Woodend Marsh from the United Utilities Hide. A glorious spring-like day. The first reported Curlew of the year came in today with 5 birds from the Ron Barker Hide. Still 20 Avoce
27 February 2013