Latest sightings
Busy Top and Bottom New Piece
Oystercatcher and Lapwing on the Big Pen lawn The Bewick's Swan 'Indri' still resides on the Big pen pond, we don't always report as it's virtually guaranteed to be present. The waders are appreciative of the mild, wet conditions as it's easier to loca
4 December 2018
Return of Oystercatcher and Dunlin in breeding plumage
Bewick's Swans and Tack Piece water levels The 11 that had built up over recent weeks at Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes (South of Bristol) arrived here today, this includes the two cygnets, we now have families of 1, 2 and 3 present. The total number of s
2 December 2018
Excellent Crane watching
Holden Tower Crane 16 on the Dumbles including all 3 juveniles and the 2 un-ringed birds. Peregrine 2 adults on the cross fence. Teal 70 in the Holden Scrape which is beginning to hold some water. Willow Hide Water Rail 3 showing very well at feeders. Tac
1 December 2018
American visitor
A drake Green-winged Teal was on the Top New Piece this morning from the Zeiss Hide. This North American duck is a regular visitor to the UK and for a period was nearly an annual occurence at Slimbridge, but we've had a few years now without a record.
30 November 2018
Wild weather
It has been pretty windy this morning with periods of heavy rain too. The rain over the last few days has turned the Top New Piece into a haven for all manner of waders and wildfowl with big numbers of birds spread across the whole area making counting
29 November 2018
Today's sightings
Zeiss Hide Slightly quieter than the last couple of days, but hunting Peregrines and a Merlin are causing the birds to move around between the reserve more. Birds included 6 Snipe, 79 Lapwing, 504 Teal, 300+ Wigeon, 46 Pintail, 50+ Dunlin, 57 Shoveler a
27 November 2018
Sightings + news concerning South Lake work schedule
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide 28 Pintail, 5 Pochard, calling Cetti's Warbler, 360 Dunlin, 90 Golden Plover, 340 Wigeon, 220 Teal and 34 Snipe on the islands to the N end. Bottom New Piece from Zeiss Hide 58 E. White-fronted Geese came in to drink after be
25 November 2018
Saturday 24th November Sightings
Zeiss Hide Bewicks Swan 18 from Kingfisher hide. Whitefronted Goose 37 Barnacle Goose 231 Wigeon 314 Pochard 11 Golden Plover 115 Lapwing 1140 Dunlin 486 Ruff 9 Snipe 18 GBB Gull 48 a high count for this area. Holden Tower Peregrine 2 on cross fence, 3 B
24 November 2018
It's a cold one
With the mercury dipping below freezing overnight it wasn't a surprise to find many of the shallow water bodies at least partly frozen this morning. This pushes the duck into tight groups or to other deeper water, and can push waders off the reserve to
22 November 2018
A few more swans
Bewick's Swans increased again this morning with 58 birds now on the Rushy, but still just our two family groups - a brood of three with parents Dario and Bridges, and a single cygnet with parents Stephen and Shelby. Robbie Garnett Hide Amongst the severa
21 November 2018
Now 48 Bewick's Swans
The Bewick's Swan flock has increased to 48 with more arrivals overnight. The single bird Indri remains on the Big Pen with the rest of the flock spending their time between the Tack Piece and Rushy Pen. A second family has turned up, pair with one cygnet
20 November 2018
Swan fall
Rushy Hide A chorus of Bewick's Swan calls could be clearly heard from the car park at 0730, at last the clear night and favourable winds saw our first swan fall of the winter season. 21 Bewick's Swans (three juveniles) were present on the lake with a f
18 November 2018
Novemeber 17th Sightings
Zeiss Hide Wigeon 496 Pintail 28 Teal 337 Shoveler 4 Pochard 7 Lapwing 300 Dunlin 118 Ruff 11 Black tailed Godwit 18 Snipe 23 Curlew 1 Grey Heron 1 Rushy Still only one Bewick on Swan Lake with the 10 captive birds. Pintail 41 Teal 43 Pochard 40 (Male F
17 November 2018
16th November Sightings
Zeiss Hide Ruff 7 Lapwing 300 Dunlin 8 Glolden Plover 1 Teal 322 Wigeon 867 Blackwit 39 Pintail 61 Snipe 10 Dumbles White Fronts 11 Barnacle Geese 217 Peregrine 1 Crane 1 (Kia) Tack Piece White Fronts 21 Curlew 1 Redshank 12 Lapwing 1000+ South Lake Po
16 November 2018
Another mild day
Holden Tower The European White-fronted Goose flock has increased to 32. Two Peregrine were also present on the foreshore fence. South Finger Filtration beds The sunny and still morning has encouraged passerines to show well. A Chiffchaff was touring the
15 November 2018