Latest sightings
The English Longhorn cattle are now in 3 herds - 3 are in pumphouse field (to the right of Ron Barker hide). 12 cows and 3 calves on Sunleys which is the pool infront of the Ron Barker hide (right side). 30 cows 1 bull and 20 calves on the Mere best seen from the Discovery Hide. Look out for the flock of Cattle egrets which are increasing daily. 16 cattle egrets including 3 juveniles is the highest count we have had this week. The juveniles are easy to distinguish as they lack the orange breeding plumage of the adults and they have a black bill (adults have a yellow bill).
Woodend marsh - still great for waders but drying out quickly. Over the weekend the family of Avocets were still viewable from the Gordson Taylor hide which is made up of 2 adults and 2 fully grown chicks. The chicks are colour ringed on site so hopefully we will find out where they spend the winter and if they come back to breed in the future. The male Avocet is also colour ringed he has a white ring with the code RR9. He was originally colour ringed as a chick in Spain (Laguna de los tollos, Cadiz ) in 2014 which is 2000km away!!!!
Also seen from the Gordon Taylor hide this weekend, juvenile Water rail, Common sandpiper and Green Sandpiper.
Barn owl has been showing from the Ron Barker hide, with the dry weather they have struggled this year and no signs of breeding yet, we hope this might improve as the summer progresses.
Photo - adult cattle egret showing the orange head and neck plumage and the yellow beak
