Latest sightings
It's a wet one
South Lake Hides A small flock of Knot were on the wader scrape briefly this morning but flew off leaving behind a flock of 135 Black-tailed Godwit huddled up against the driving rain. Also present were 125 Lapwing, 5 Redshank and 40+ Shoveler. The de
7 November 2018
Busy Top New Piece
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece The cut rides that were created by reserve staff last week worked has wonders once again, a Bittern showed for a few hours here yesterday. No sightings by 0930 today but that is quite typical, this species often shows later in the
6 November 2018
Goshawk and Bittern
Holden Tower/Dumbles A male Peregrine was actively hunting the area this morning, female Marsh Harrier seen late morning and a female Merlin at Middle Point early afternoon. At least 14 E White-fronted Geese fed among Greylag Geese, the Barnacle Goose flo
4 November 2018
Saturday's sightings
Don't forget to find all our latest sightings on Twitter, and you don't need an account yourself. Find us here. Bewick's Swan Indri still on Big Pen outside Visitor Centre Holden Tower - 26 White-fronted Geese on Dumbles, also 224 Barnacle Geese and 131
3 November 2018
Frozen again
Another cold night leaving most of the shallower water bodies frozen again this morning. New arrivals included a pair of Whooper Swan, one carrying a red darvic ring. The bird was caught at WWT Caerlaverock in March 2014, sexed as a male and has been
31 October 2018
Frozen scrapes
Rushy Hide A few bird less than yesterday as the lower pond was frozen. Pochard, Pintail and Shelducks all mingling with the Tufted Ducks and Mallards. A single Redshank present. Tack Piece The 15 Eurasian White-fronted Geese among the Greylags, 360 Wige
30 October 2018
First Bewick's Swan returns
Indri- this bird favours the Big Pen, look out for it among the flock of resident pre injured/rehab Bewick's Swans. Rushy Hide 31 Pochard and 40 Pintail among the Mallards, Teal and Tufted Ducks. A single Little Grebe and Redshank also on the pond. Tack
29 October 2018
A few more White-fronts
Rushy Hide Further increases in the duck numbers as we begin to feed the lake to settle the birds in for the winter. 38 Pintail, 11 Pochard (5 drakes), c45 Tufted Duck and 45 Shelduck on the lake. A flock of 16 Ruff were roosting on the lower ponds island
28 October 2018
Saturday 27th Octobers Sightings
Rushy Pintail 25 Teal 70 Snipe 1 Redshank 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Holden and Walkway Whitefronted Goose 1 ad 2 juvs Wigeon 70 Teal 250 Curlew 46 Snipe 1 Peregrine 2 Chiffchaff 1 (withy bed) Fieldfare 12 passing over South Lake Pochard 14 Tufted Duck 63 Shoveler
27 October 2018
Lapwing numbers building
Rushy Pintail 27, Lapwing 23, Teal 109, Redshank 1 Martin Smith Crane 2, Snipe 1, Water Rail 1, No sing of Jack Snipe yet Holden Tower Peregrine 2, Buzzard 1 South Lake Black Tailed Godwit 21, Redshank 9 Ruff 1, Grey Heron 1, Lapwing 80, Snipe 2, Teal 367
26 October 2018
Getting colder
A distinct chill in the air this morning but the fog soon cleared at dawn. A few summer species still remain, including the Garganey on the Top New Piece and a Blackcap and Chiffchaff near the Decoy, although these latter two may be wintering birds repl
25 October 2018
Rolling fog
The thick fog over the river rolled back and forth across the reserve first thing this morning making counting a bit more tricky. High tide has pushed a nice selection of waders on to the Top New Piece. Zeiss Hide The roosting wader flock included 156 G
24 October 2018
Vanishing Knot
A beautifully sunny morning with a slight arrival of birds, not least a considerable rise in the number of Black-tailed Godwit to 328 on the reserve. A flock of 145 arrived around 8am to join the 171 already on the South Lake this morning, and bought wi
22 October 2018
Autumn sunshine
A fine autumn day saw lots of sunshine and warm temperatures, Common Darter and Migrant Hawker dragonflies were seen as well as Small Copper Butterflies. South Lake A trio of Red Knot joined the 27 Redshank, 56 Black-tailed Godwit on the wader scrape, a s
21 October 2018
Early Fog later sunshine?
Heavy fog first thing hope it lifts later Rushy Black Tailed Godwit 3 Redshank 1 Little Grebe Mallard 150 Pintail 2 Teal 110 Martin Smith Snipe 3 Jack Snipe 1 Water Rail 2 Cettis Warbler 1 South Lake Pochard 6 Passing over Redpoll 1 Redwing 1
20 October 2018