The weather on the reserve, over the past few days, has remained beautifully bright and settled which has been matched by a vast array of wonderful wildlife!
On Saturday, a Hobby remains stealing the show over at Ron Barker with some great aerial views, while a couple of Marsh Harriers have been a regular fixture over the wetlands. Monday was also incredibly busy around the reserve, with a brilliant peak count of 32 Yellow Wagtails seen feeding alongside 12 Pied Wagtails.
The Mere has remained packed with wader activity recently, with a single Wood Sandpiper persisting as a firm highlight! This has been accompanied by a Common Sandpiper, three Green Sandpipers, 19 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Snipe, and an impressive 151 Lapwing. A notable 15 Ruff have also been mixed in, while four Great White Egrets have been showing well at the water's edge as well as all around the reserve.
Over at the United Utilities hide, a group of 12 Common Terns have been seen well, while a charm of 40 Goldfinches has been active nearby. Meanwhile, the Harrier Hide has been bustling with a massive flock of 1020 Greylag Geese, six Ruff, and six Little Grebes. A family of Great Crested Grebes, consisting of two adults and three juveniles, has also been a joy to watch from here.
There has been plenty to look out for on your walks between the hides too, with a Kingfisher showing well down at Ron Barker. Don't forget to keep an eye out for insects on the wing either; the paths near the Hale hide have been a real hotspot recently with multiple stunning Clouded Yellow butterflies shining nicely in the sun!
Photograph of a Hobby.
