Latest sightings
Latest Sightings
More wild weather from the past few days. The Long-billed Dowitcher decided to visit Burton Mere on Monday and Tuesday before returning to the reserve on Wednesday, still present here late afternoon. Great White Egret again around the reserve. Avocet num
26 February 2020
Wader Influx
As wildfowl numbers start to drop back the reserve can appear to be much quieter, however we are moving into the spring season and the return of breeding and passage waders. The first Ringed Plover was seen along the back edge of the Mere. At least one Re
19 February 2020
Storm Ciara
The reserve is open again this still windy Monday morning after yesterday's closure. Sustained gusts above 55 mph forced the reserve to close for safety reasons although not too many people were out and about. No real damage on the reserve but a tree did
10 February 2020
Avocets return
As mentioned in the last sighting report we were expecting Avocet to return in the next couple of weeks. However, they decided to break all records when a pair turned up on the Mere on Monday morning, beating the previous record by 6 days. In fact, we are
5 February 2020
Weekend Sightings
A substantial potato delivery onto Top Mere during the week has brought good numbers of Whooper Swan onto the Mere with smaller groups of Pink-footed Geese also dropping. The injured Tundra Bean Goose (below) is present mostly around the Mere loosely asso
2 February 2020
Latest Sightings
Plenty of action on and around the reserve. The Tundra Bean Goose (below) is still present showing around the Mere. Locally there has been a small influx of birds which have probably arrived following Pink-footed Geese on their journey North. Good for rap
28 January 2020
Bird News update
A quick update of today's highlights in list form - more expansive notes will follow over the weekend - time is against me!Bean Goose still present on the Mere, also 2 Mediterranean Gulls (both adults), Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, 60+ Ruff, 5+ Black-tailed
24 January 2020
Tundra Bean Goose still
A brief update. The Tundra Bean Goose has been spending all of the day around the Mere, sleeping and feeding, mostly associating with some injured Pink-footed Geese. Bird of the day had to be a cracking adult male Hen Harrier (picture by David Thompson) w
18 January 2020
Bird News
Despite rather unpleasant weather, lots of birds around today. The Tundra Bean Goose was on the Mere again all day after going missing yesterday. Also on the Mere a male Goldeneye was joined briefly this afternoon by a single Goosander. 2 Peregrines, Mars
17 January 2020
Weekend Sightings
A good swan count locally between Formby and the Ribble with 1692 Whooper swans (373 cygnets = 22%) also 4 Bewickâs swans (1 cygnet). Twite (3) seen again on the islands on Vinson's Marsh in front of the Ron Barker Hide in the afternoon. Peregrine have
12 January 2020
Twite
It's been a good start to 2020, in particular the arrival of a handful of Twite onto the reserve. Previous to this, there only appears to have been one single observer record from the mid 00's. The birds are being seen feeding with Linnet on the islands i
7 January 2020
Weekend Sightings
Plenty of action around the reserve. It should be possible to see over 60 species fairly easily in a days birding around the reserve. Over 80 species have been recorded since the 1st Jan. Good for raptors with 8 Marsh Harrier seen together early on Saturd
5 January 2020
End of the Decade.
Just a brief update to thank all of the regulars who call in at the in focus shop to report sightings. This sighting page would be far less interesting without your help. It goes without saying that the same should be said for Louise and Jack and the rest
31 December 2019
Weekend Sightings
Six species of raptor this weekend. A ring-tail Hen Harrier was seen on the reserve earlier afternoon. At least 3 Marsh Harrier but more roaming the area. Also present 1st calendar year Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and 4+ Buzzard (pic below), the l
29 December 2019
A Happy Christmas to you all.
Happy Christmas to you all out there. Thought we would feature a couple of images from the intensely cold winter of 2010. Great to look at but very difficult condition for the wintering birds at the time! Plenty to see if you are visiting over the winter
24 December 2019