News
Researchers fit satellite tags to unlock secrets of ‘lost’ geese
Researchers in Bulgaria have taken the largest ever catch of Endangered red-breasted geese and fitted satellite tracking devices in a bid to unlock one of the biggest mysteries of the natural world. Red-breasted goose Bulg
20 February 2013
Sheldgeese.
The Ashy-head marching I've a penchant for Sheldgeese all year round, not just for their characters (they can be a touch vacuous at times) but for their behaviours. These glorious southern hemisphere beauties have a
19 February 2013
Today's sightings
The Zeiss Hide Bittern 1- Showing well Cetti's Warbler 1 Water Rail 1 Teal 550 The Holden Tower Tundra Bean Gooose 3 White-fronted Goose 220 Barnacle Goose 140 Egyptian Goose 1 Golden Plover 700 Dunlin 500 Curlew 60 Lapwing 1600 Reserve Short-eared Owl 1
19 February 2013
Spring-like
Another lovely day starting with a hard frost but soon warming up in the strengthening sun. A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly was seen flying today. Probably disturbed from hibination by the warmth of the sun. No surprises to say that the Avocet numbers hav
19 February 2013
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 198 Mute Swan 60 Wigeon 120 Tufted Duck 36 Canada Goose 1 Greylag Goose 3 Folly Pond Teal 140 Shoveler 10 Wigeon 100 Redshank 1 Lapwing 10 Oystercatcher 2 Flood Ground Green-winged Teal (Drake) Little Egret 5 (1 off the reserve r
19 February 2013
Spring migration begins at WWT Martin Mere
Spring is in the air at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre with 22 avocets returning to the centre as part of the spring migration. The avocets will remain at the centre until early August, using the reserve as their breeding ground. In the past, numbers have
19 February 2013
Wildlife sightings for 19th February 2013
1 Shelduck - scrape 1 Pintail - male, scrape 125 Teal - site count 61 Wigeon - grazing in NE corner, flew to reservoir lagoon Recent bird highlights: Smew, Bittern, Peregrine, Dunlin, Woodcock, Waxwing, Skylark, Bearded Tit. At least 2 Bitterns can
19 February 2013
More Avocets
Another cracking day weatherwise but just a brief update. Now 15 Avocet on the Mere for most of the day. A 1000+ Whooper Swan present looking great in the morning sun. Still big numbers of wildfowl present many now displaying including Goldeneye. A Gree
18 February 2013
Illegal shooting persists
Over the past few weeks we have been able to catch 19 Bewick’s swans wintering at Slimbridge. A 'swan-pipe' These are birds that have swum up a netted tunnel trap known as a ‘swan-pipe’ and once caught,
18 February 2013
Cranes
Crane - 2 (Lady Fen) Water levels are starting to drop once again as we head towards better tides, for letting water off the reserve, in the next two weeks. Weekend sightings included: Barn owl Lapwing and golden plover on lady Fen Ferruginous duck - 1 Li
18 February 2013
The morning feed
Feb 12 by Paul Stevens I am doing the morning feed today. Water levels are high on the reserve after heavy rains. Wild gulls and mallard can interfere with the morning feed, scaring away the captive birds in our collection to get at the food. The gull
18 February 2013
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 100 Mute Swan 50 Wigeon 120 Tufted Duck 76 Canada Goose 20 Greylag Goose 10 Folly Pond Green-winged Teal 1 (drake) Teal 140 Shoveler 23 Wigeon 100 Redshank 1 Lapwing 10 Oystercatcher 2 Snipe 7 Flood Ground Little Egret 4 Goosande
18 February 2013
Wildlife reserve update
February wildlife reserve update from reserve manager John Gowland... The grey heron colony – voted one of the UK’s best by Countryfile magazine in 2012 – has begun to return to Wader Lake. Grey heron The birds
18 February 2013
Today's sightings
Holden Tower Tundra Bean Goose 3 E White-fronted Goose 221 Peregrine 1 Crane 4 (GCP) seen dancing and feeding on seawall from Holden Tower. Tack Piece Lapwing 900 Dunlin 400 Golden Plover 200 Ruff 3 Redshank 20 Teal 340 Wigeon 800 Pochard 90 Pintail 100 C
18 February 2013
Wildlife sightings for 18th February 2013
1 Bittern - main lake 1 Shelduck - scrape 2 Pintail - pair, scrape 64 Shoveler - scrape, main lake 94 Cormorant - main lake A Cormorant with a colour-ring was seen yesterday, yellow ZA6. It was ringed in the nest as a chick at Rutland Water on 11th May 20
18 February 2013