News

Monday 19th January 2026

2 Bitterns were again seen in the 'Bittern' Cut from the Turret hide, along with 2 Water rails,
A small skein of Pink-footed geese flew north over the reserve,
A Peregrine was flushed from one of the trees in the 'Oak' Avenue


Bittern in the 'Bittern' Cut
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/19/2026 3:25:38 PM

Sunday 18th January 2026

2 Bitterns were seen in the 'Bittern' Cut in the morning, with another bird elsewhere,
4 Bearded tits were seen on the Island lake,
About 20 Pink-footed geese flew north over the East ridge,
Also seen was an Eygptian goose Green sandpiper, Marsh harrier, Red kite, 3 Redpolls, pair of Stonechats, Treecreeper, 4 Water rails & a Woodcock (East path),
80,000 Starlings roosted in Cell 'C'


Bittern from the Turret hide
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/18/2026 5:29:10 PM

Saturday 17th January 2026

There were 2 Otters in the 'Bittern' Cut seen from the Turret hide in the morning,
In the same place, there was a Bittern & water rail,
A male Merlin  flew west over West Holm,
Also seen was 3 Golden plovers south, 2 Mistle thrushes (New workings), 14 Eygptian geese (early morning on West Holm) & Treecreeper (West path)


Female Sparrowhawk in the 'Bittern' Cut
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/17/2026 6:37:03 PM

Friday 16th January 2026

A pair of Grey partridges were feeding in the Central field of the reserve,
2 Bitterns were in the Village lake 'Bittern' cut,
Also 75 Siskins were along the Wets path, with about 200 Fieldfares thro',
About 80,000 Starlings were hunted by a Peregrine in the afternoon, roosting in Cell 'C


Starling by Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/16/2026 4:48:19 PM

Thursday 15th January 2026

2 Bitterns, 2 Water rails (plus singles on Cell 'C' & the Carp lake) & 2 Otters were seen in the 'Bittern' cut on the Village lake in the morning,
About 300 Pink-footed geese flew north in the mid morning,
Also seen was Marsh harrier, , Woodcock (disturbed on Butterfly walk), 16 Golden plovers south, Treecreeper (East path) & a pair of Stonechats between Cells 'B' & 'C',
8 Curlews feeding in the North field,
About 50,000 Starlings roosted in the Village lake. with a Merlin, Sparrowhawk & Peregrine hunting them in the evening


Song thrush by the Far Corner
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/15/2026 5:29:17 PM

Wednesday 14th January 2026

16 Curlews were on the Village lake, plus 2 Eygptian geese in the North field,
A Bittern was on the Village lake
A male Stonechat was by the Dragonfly ponds,
Also seen was a pair of Tree sparrows (Dryham farm), Tawny owl (heard on East path), Coal tit (reserve entrance) & 2 Marsh harriers
Only 5,000 Starlings roosted in Cell 'C' (the rest carried on south east)

Meadow pipit on the Dragonfly ponds
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/14/2026 5:09:18 PM

Tuesday 13th January 2026

Early in the morning, 3 juvenile Whooper swans were on Crosslands lake, before flying off south west, with the female Goldeneye also here,
A Dunlin on Crossland's lake & then flew off towards East Holm, with a Green sandpiper heard in the New workings & 10 Redshanks on Cell 'A',
2 Bitterns & 2 Water rails were seen in the 'Bittern ' Cut on the Village lake,
Only 30,000 Starlings roosted in the Reed-bed today
Posted By: BJNcw on 1/13/2026 6:38:22 PM