Latest sightings
22,000
An excellent 22,000 Pink-footed Geese roosted on the reserve last night. At least one bird didn't make it through the night as it's corpse, at the back of the Mere, provided a meal for Great Black-backed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard and assorted Ca
30 September 2013
More Geese
Another great viewing day for Pink-footed Geese on the reserve with 17,000+ birds. One Barnacle Goose also with the Pink's and an interesting partial leucistic bird with a large white blaze and white blotch on it's belly superficially resembling a White-f
29 September 2013
Close up views of Pink-footed Geese
An excellent day with a few thousand Pink-footed Geese showing very well on and around the Mere. Later on in the season the geese become more nervous and really show as well close to the Swan Link Hide. Probably (certainly) loads of other birds around but
28 September 2013
More Birds
Another marvelous day, feeling like the last blast of summer but with loads of autumn/winter birds around the reserve. At least 5000 Pink-footed Geese around the reserve. A few interesting geese among them including a single Barnacle Goose and a possible
22 September 2013
Autumn Spectacle
A lovely day on the reserve, a little low cloud early becoming calm sunny and warm from early afternoon onwards. The main action is Pink-footed Geese. Around 10,000 birds in the area, in fact, any where you might look you'll see or hear Pink-feet. A singl
21 September 2013
Pinks
A top day with skein after skein of Pink-footed Geese arriving throughout the day. Difficult to estimate numbers as birds were moving around the area, but a conservative estimate of 5000 is probably not far off the mark. A good selection of waders again w
18 September 2013
When to expect peak numbers of pink footed geese
The graph shows the numbers of Pink footed geese during weekly dawn counts in 2012. As you can see the peak numbers of geese arrive from mid October to mid November and then decrease as the geese move south. Lancashire is phenomenal for “Pink's” and M
18 September 2013
Geese on the move
A windy and wet start followed by much calmer and settled conditions. More Pink-footed Geese today with 500+ birds. The weather is looking good for bringing further influxes tomorrow. A few reports included Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Avocet,
17 September 2013
More Birds
Another good selection around the reserve even if the conditions for viewing were not ideal with many species keeping their heads down in the wind. Having said that a number of species counts were up probably as a result of birds moving in from the coast
16 September 2013
Windy Miller's
A reasonable start to the day, in fact the poor weather didn't arrive until after 12am and then most of the rain had blown through by 3:30pm. An imm/female Garganey was on the Mere this morning, and possibly another in the afternoon from the Harrier Hide.
15 September 2013
Calm before the storm.
Still 2 Little Stint and 4 Curlew Sandpiper viewed from the Ron Barker Hide. Other waders included 60+ Ruff, 600+ Lapwing, 10+ Snipe and Little Ringed Plover. An early sighting of possible Buff-breasted Sandpiper was never confirmed. Plenty of raptor acti
14 September 2013
A Damp Day
An overcast start meant excellent visibility however the rain soon set in. A good count of Little Egret with 5 birds this morning. Little Stint, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 10+ Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Snipe and 300+ Lapwing. Stonechat and Wheat
11 September 2013
Bird News
Little Stint still present from the Ron Barker Hide, 6 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, 20 Ruff, 12 Snipe, Greenshank and 300+ Lapwing around the reserve. At least 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, Perergrine and Kestrel. Kingfisher again from the Ron Barker
10 September 2013
Waders fest continues
Little Stint present this afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide. A minimum of 3 Curlew Sandpiper around the reserve probably 5. Four Greenshank flew in mid morning onto the Mere before heading towards Woodend Marsh. Other waders included 7 Dunlin, 2 Ringed P
9 September 2013
Little Stint
Super start to the day with Little Stint and 6 Curlew Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide. Not the highest autumn count of Curlew Sandpiper as we did manage 17 Curlew Sandpiper and 16 Little Stint on one day, early 00's. At least 6 Dunlin present today, Cu
8 September 2013