Latest sightings
Hobby
A Hobby was seen over the reserve today along with a male Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard. No sign of the Wood Sandpiper or the Garganey today, but still 14 Ruff, several Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper. Two K
1 August 2013
Garganey
An eclipsed drake Garganey seen this morning from the Ron Barker Hide with 100+ Teal. Other wildfowl included 140+ Greylag and 46 Shelduck. A good selection of waders with a new Wood Sandpiper from the Ron Barker Hide, c50 Black-tailed Godwit and 10+ Ruff
31 July 2013
More Lapwing
More Lapwing arriving with 500+ birds present, split between Woodend Marsh and from the Ron Barker Hide. Again 14 Ruff, some Common Snipe, at least one Green Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, yesterday Greenshank again. Greylag Geese are starting to floc
30 July 2013
Wood Sandpiper
A little bit of 'weather' and a few new birds drop in! Wood Sandpiper joins the list of recent waders. More Ruff arriving with 14 birds, 160+ Black-tailed Godwit, a juvenile Redshank today, Green Sandpiper, 5+ Common Snipe and unusually for this time of
29 July 2013
Greenshank
Just a brief summary with Greenshank, new in, from the Ron Barker Hide. Waders reported included Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. Excellent views of Marsh Harrier hunting round the Mere.
27 July 2013
More Lepo
More lepidoptera action around the reserve with plenty of butterflies to log on the Butterfly Conservation sheet available free at the entrance desk. The survey continues until 11th August. Yesterday the moth trap was packed with just over 100 species inc
24 July 2013
Another scorcher
Another hot one as the wind blew lightly from the SSE. There seem to be the odd shower forecasted over the next few days so always a chance of something new arriving out of the blue. A good raptor day with Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, female Sparr
22 July 2013
True Lover's Knot
A good catch for the moth morning including True Lover's Knot which once imputed into the Mapmate recording software turned out to be a first for the reserve! The recent spell of easterlies has produce local movements of this heath/moorland specialist.
21 July 2013
Latest Sightings
A few butterflies on the wing with Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Large Skipper and Peacock with probably a few others not reported. Whimbrel this morning, probably a new bird in. The usual G
20 July 2013
Bird News
More post breeding birds in evidence around the reserve. At least 3 Chiffchaff in a mixed tit flock containing Long-tailed, Coal, Great and Blue Tits along the nature trail. A few more Common Snipe being seen. It's quite likely as some area start to dry u
17 July 2013
Latest Sightings
The first Emerald Damselfly (Common Spreadwing) seen today. Four Common Tern feeding over Woodend Marsh early morning. Today's waders included 2 Green Sandpiper, 6 Ruff, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Avocet and 60+ Lapwing. Raptors included 2+ Common Buzzard,
15 July 2013
Whimbrel
A single Whimbrel seen from the Raines Hide was new in. Generally waders turning up at this time of year will be failed breeders making a leisurely journey south or local post breeding birds ie Lapwing. At least 2 Green Sandpiper seen from the Swan Link a
14 July 2013
Waders
Another very pleasant on the reserve, especially with cooler breeze coming through the hide windows again. If you've never been before, the Reed Bed Walk is good for dragon and damselflies as well as a few butterflies on the wing. It's still the waders ma
13 July 2013
Merlin
The first Merlin of the autumn was seen today a fem/imm bird from Ron Barker along with Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and sev Common Buzzard. Two Avocet still from Ron Barker along with a Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff and 1 Black tailed Godwit. Still at least 2-3 Green Sa
11 July 2013
More of Summer
Another glorious day, very pleasant as the cool breeze comes through the hide windows. Not a huge number of reports today but notable species have included 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Tern all on the Mere. A male Kingfisher put in a
9 July 2013