A brighter day, and should remain dry. A good roost of 50 or so Redshank on Folly Pond currently. Yesterday the male Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl performed well over the merses, the Tawny Owl maintains a vigil from its box overlooking the Whooper Po
22 February 2016
The Tawny Owl is still in its box next to the Whooper Pond and has been seen hunting in the evening by the visitors staying in our Farmhouse. Today's high tide is at 10:49 8.6m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 5500 Whooper Swans: 150 Whoope
20 February 2016
We have now confirmed that there are TWO Green-winged Teals on the reserve. One is on the Folly Pond as usual and a second is on the Flood Ground from the Avenue Tower. Today's high tide is at 09:52 8.1m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 5500
19 February 2016
It's the second day of our Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships, come down and make a splash 10am - 1pm! Wellies are essential to get down the Saltcot Loaning, the Avenue is just about passable with walking boots. The drake Greater Scaup has moved over t
18 February 2016
Very wet overnight means there are plenty of puddles for the start of the Scottish Puddle Jumping Championships today. Wellies are again recommended for getting down the Avenue and essential for the Saltcot Loaning. No sign of the Tawny Owl in the doorway
17 February 2016
A cold wind is making temperatures feel a lot lower than they are today. Drake Greater Scaup and drake Green-winged Teal still in their usual places this morning. The Tawny Owl is back in its box overlooking the Whooper Pond. It is best viewed from the Pe
16 February 2016
A fourth sunny day in a row, we are certainly on a roll now. A lot of Barnacle Geese on the merses this morning, hopefully they move into the fields as it warms up. Drake Green-winged Teal is back in its usual spot on the Folly Pond and the drake Greater
13 February 2016
Another bright but cold morning on the reserve. Today's high tide is at 14:53 9.9m Around the reserve today: Barnacle Geese: 2500 Whooper Swans: 147 Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 147 Mute Swan 55 Mallard 40 Tufted Duck 15 Wigeon 50 Canada Geese 30
12 February 2016
A beautiful bright, calm and crisp day. 14 Little Egrets today is a reserve record. The Flood Ground especially looks great in the low winter sun, with a good variety of duck in good numbers, wspecially Teal and Wigeon of course. Decent nos. of Whoopers a
10 February 2016
Two leucistic Barnacles and a hybrid on the reserve currently for anyone looking for the Snow Goose to be aware of. No sign of the latter as yet, but probably lurking out there somewhere. There is the best part of 200 Whoopers around, if we include the 27
9 February 2016
A bit calmer today, and dry currently, though quite a drop of rain overnight. Decent swan nos. first thing, and the Greater Scaup drake still on the Whooper Pond. The Snow Goose is around again, though just off the reserve at nearby Newmains, on the road
8 February 2016
Very windy today, but not too wet so far. Birds pretty much as yesterday, with drake Greater Scaup on the Whooper Pond and 10 Pintail close in down on the Flood Ground. Folly Field is currently heaving with Curlews, Lapwings and Golden Plovers as the tid
7 February 2016
A dull morning again today. Nice surprise to see a Tawny Owl in the owl box overlooking the Whooper Pond this morning. The drake Greater Scaup is still on the Whooper Pond, but it would appear that the drake Green-winged Teal has gone for a change of scen
6 February 2016
A dull morning, but dry at the moment. The drake Greater Scaup is still on the Whooper Pond, the drake Green-winged Teal is on the Folly Pond as usual, and a male Hen Harrier has been hunting over the merse first thing. About 70 Whooper Swans have been fe
5 February 2016
A dry bright day today for a change. Good goose nos. from the Farmhouse Tower, up to over 7,000 Barnacles. The otter has been disturbing the Whooper Pond again today - bit of a mixed blessing. Water Rails continue to confide under the bird feeders on the
3 February 2016