Latest sightings
Wader Lake news 22 February
Today, 23 grey heron nests were occupied in the hedge at Wader Lake, with 8 pairs incubating eggs. This is one of the best times to watch the heron colony, as the birds are at different stages of breeding activity with pair bonding, displaying, nest buil
22 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake/Tide - Mid/Time - AM Grey Heron - 27 Shelduck - 30 Teal - 41 Redshank - 53 Lapwing - 10 Oystercatcher - 2 Stock Dove - 1 Saline Lagoon Teal - 44 Canada Goose - 2 Grey Heron - 1 Hawthorn Wood Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Bullfinch - 16 Chaffinch
22 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Low 10% Frozen Grey Heron - 18 Shelduck - 24 Teal - 35 Redshank - 16 Curlew - 2 Black-headed Gull - 6 Herring Gull - 4 Saline Lagoon 80% Frozen Teal - 7 Hawthorn Wood Sparrowhawk - 1 Tr
12 February 2014
Rare visitor to river corridor
A shag has been spotted on the River Wear by our reserve manager John on his morning rounds. That's his first sighting in more than five years of working here, so he's excited to say the least! The coastal bird is most likely to have come inland because o
11 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Mid Shelduck - 21 Canada Goose - 6 Grey Heron - 19 Greylag Goose - 1 Moorhen - 2 Lapwing - 15 Mallard - 12 Widgeon - 4 Black-backed Gull - 2 Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch - 10 Robin - 4 Chaffinch - 14 Blue Tit - 4
10 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake/Tide - High/Time - AM Grey Heron - 34 Shelduck - 27 Teal - 24 Mallard - 44 Redshank - 22 Lapwing - 2 Mute Swan - 2 Saline Lagoon Teal - 25 Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch - 21 Siskin - 11 Goldfinch - 2 Treecreeper - 1 Goldcrest - 1 Redwing - 5 Long Tai
8 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/High Grey Heron (17 Nests) - 22 Shelduck - 24 Greylag - 18 Canada Goose - 7 Redshank - 32 Lapwing - 4 Sparrowhawk - 1 Saline Lagoon Oystercatcher - 2 Teal - 20 Hawthorn Wood Siskin - 10 Goldfinch - 4 B
7 February 2014
Today's sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide Level/Mid Grey Heron - 26 (11 in trees) Redshank - 82 Oystercatcher - 4 Lapwing - 2 Shelduck - 26 Teal - 32 Canada Goose - 7 Greylag - 2 Carrion Crow - 15 Saline Lagoon Teal - 14 Mallard - 11 Shelduck - 2 Hawthorn
6 February 2014
Wildlife reserve update
Grey heron by John Bridges The grey heron colony has begun its annual return to Wader Lake, with 12 birds spotted showing nesting behaviour in the heron hedge during the first week of February. These majestic waders t
5 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Low Grey Heron - 16 Redshank - 28 Lapwing - 2 Curlew - 1 Shelduck - 22 Teal - 19 Mallard - 47 Moorhen - 6 Canada Goose - 7 Greylag - 1 Black-headed Gull - 5 Saline Lagoon Great Black-backed Gull - 2 Ha
5 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake/Tide - Mid/Time - AM Grey Heron - 12 in trees, 5 on ground Mute Swan - 1 Shelduck - 26 Teal - 15 Mallard - 42 Greylag - 1 Canada Goose - 7 Lapwing - 2 Sparrowhawk - 1 Saline Lagoon Shelduck - 2 Teal - 5 Hawthorn Wood Sparrowhawk - 1 Bullfinch -
4 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Mute Swan - 2 Shelduck - 21 Teal - 30 Mallard - 56 Heron - 8 Redshank - 22 Canada Goose - 6 Greylag Goose - 1 Black-headed Gull - 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 22 Kestrel - 1 Saline Lagoon Teal - 20 Mallard - 12 Hawthorn Wood Siski
3 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake/Tide - Low/Time - AM Grey Heron - 4 in the trees, 10 on the ground Mute Swan - 6 Shelduck - 26 Teal - 30 Lapwing - 4 Sparrowhawk - 1 Herring Gull - 1 Great Black Backed Gull - 1 Song Thrush - 1 Saline Lagoon Teal - 5 Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch - 1
1 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/low Grey Heron - 8 (4 in trees, 4 on ground) Shelduck - 12 Mallard - 36 Tufted Duck - 11 Moorhen - 6 Carrion Crow - 32 Saline Lagoon Teal - 6 Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch - 10 Siskin - 14 Long-tailed Tit -
31 January 2014
High tide spectacle at saline lagoon
The latest from the saline lagoon...on Friday 31 January we will experience one of the highest tides of 2014 as the River Wear floods into our newest habitat. Exciting, yes, but even more so because it will happen while the centre is still open to the pub
29 January 2014