Latest sightings
A busy week
Its been a busy week on the reserve with work in many areas now complete for winter. All we need now are some easterly winds to bring the birds across from Europe! . Rushy Hide Duck numbers continue to build with now at least 74 Pochard, 70 Shelduck and
3 November 2017
Lots of passerines
Rushy Hide 2+ Snipe in the cut reeds, 30+ each of Pintail and Pochard among the gathering duck flocks as well as a few duck hybrids including the Pochard x Ring-necked Duck, Red-crested Pochard x Pintail and Pochard x Ferruginous. Tack Piece 250 Wigeo
31 October 2017
Frosty morning
Tack Piece Two Russian White-fronted Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 300+ Teal and 30 Curlew. Knott Hide Again parties of Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbird feeding on the berries, a pair of Bullfinch, a single Mistle Thrush and a Cetti's Warbler. South Lake Early m
30 October 2017
Returning Russian 'White-fronts'
Tack Piece The first pair of Russian White-fronted Geese were back on the Tack Piece by this afternoon, hopefully we'll see more arriving this week, the forecast for later in the week looks good for more wildfowl arrivals. The scrape also hosted 400 Teal
29 October 2017
Ruff flock looking great
Rushy Really coming alive now that feeds have started, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Pintail numbers building daily. The Ferruginous X Pochard hybrid that has been around for several years is also back along with a Red Crested Pochard X Pintail and Th
28 October 2017
A surprise of ruff
We've returned to a morning of glorious sunshine which is showing off the birds well in the golden light. The main highlight today was a sizeable flock of Ruff which landed amongst the Wigeon on the Top New Piece in front of the Van de Bovenkamp Hide -
27 October 2017
Mist and murk
What a contrast to yesterday morning. Today sees mist and murk descend up the estuary, the river being completely obscured from the Holden Tower and even the outer edges of the Top and Bottom New Piece fields from the Zeiss Hide. The weather doesn't h
26 October 2017
Today's sightings
A gloriously sunny day, a marked difference from the recent cloud, drizzle and wind we've been having. South Lake Hides The team have been busy finishing off the annual cut here today, including the islands on the deep lake and some of the shoreline. Bi
25 October 2017
Pink-pink!
A rather dull grey and horrid looking morning with a band of drizzle passing through mid-morning with some drier weather behind. The strong breeze kept most birds in the hedgerows but there has been a great passage of Chaffinches so far this morning 140
24 October 2017
A carpet of wigeon
It appears there has been a small arrival of wigeon overnight with just 100 seen yesterday but over 500 present today. The bulk of the numbers, around 450 birds, were feeding in their distinctive carpet formation in front of the Van de Bovenkamp Hide.
23 October 2017
Aftermath of Storm 'Brian'
The winds were still gusting over the morning tide which resulted in a few tired seabirds. Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece A tired Kittiwake was resting on the shore of the flood, a party of c100 Dunlin, 5-6 Little Stint and 2 Ruff were also seen. Later in the d
22 October 2017
A windy high tide
Strong winds and a high tide this morning to bring bird into the hides. Zeiss Hide A little exposed in the strong winds but 450 Teal sheltering around the edges. Lots of lapwing around the fields with starling and a few Ruff maybe 25 mixed in with them.
21 October 2017
Today's sightings
It has been a bizarre week over the high tides - they've been over 9m for the last few days but birds have been reluctant to drop in to the Top New Piece at the Zeiss Hide. A great variety of species have been seen, but lower numbers and shorter periods
20 October 2017
Awash with birds
Its been a very busy morning with a dry spell for high tide, lots of birds on the river and lots of passerine movement too along the hedgerows. Holden Tower High tide shortly before 9am pushed all of the birds off the river, but a small party of Curlew an
19 October 2017
Winter is coming
There is a distinct chill in the air with temperatures falling away after the weekend's warmer weather. The birds seem to responding too with a slight increase in the number of duck on the Rushy all getting ready for the Bewick's to arrive and our feeds
18 October 2017