The past few days on the reserve have been good for weather and wildlife alike. Our migratory Pink-Footed Geese that have flown in from Iceland continue to be seen with 420 out today on the fields behind the mere.
On the mere this week, there have been 3 Pintail, 2 Wigeon, and 1 Pochard. These migratory duck species travel here from mainland Europe for the Winter. Also seen on the mere were 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Cormorants, 1 Great Whte Egret, 3 Snipe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 2 Great Black-Backed Gulls (the largest gull species in the world!), 51 Teal, 1 Mute Swan, and 1 Common Gull.
1 Little Egret, 6 Little Grebes, 35 Shovelers, and 26 Gadwall were spotted today at the Harrier hide.
At United Utilities hide, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 35 Cattle Egrets, 2 Kestrel females, 4 Buzzards, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Marsh Harrier juvenile, 7 Stock Doves, and a large group of 70 Linnets were spotted.
At Raines Observatory on Tuesday, 1 Common Sandpiper was observed foraging along the bank of the mere.
Photograph of a female Pintail.
