News

Friday 30th May 2025

This morning, there was a passage of waders on East Holm, with 2 Sanderlings, 2 Dunlins & 7 Ringed plovers seen,
In the early morning, 4 brief Barnacle geese were also on East Holm, before flying off south west, with 2 then revisiting the Silt pond area in the late morning,
Also seen was Cuckoo (Far lake), Little owl, pair of Eygptian geese & a Canada goose (Crossland's lake)
Bumblebees - Common carder bumblebee,
Butterflies - Red admiral, Small tortoiseshell, Orange tip, Large skipper
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Avocet sheltering a chick on East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/30/2025 4:21:26 PM

Thursday 29th May 2025

In the early morning there were brief flocks of 10 Dunlins & 7 Ringed plovers on East Holm,
2 Barn owls were seen in the morning (Maize field & Dragonfly ponds), an Eygptian goose on West Holm, Hobby, Peregrine & the Cuckoo calling by the Far lake,
Butterflies - Large skipper
Bumblebees - Common carder
Dragonflies - Blue-tailed damselfly


female Blackcap along Dryham lane
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/29/2025 6:35:38 PM

Wednesday 28th May 2025

A Cuckoo was calling by the Far lake & New workings,
2 Hobbies were displaying to the north of West Holm, Peregrine over the same place, with a Corn bunting singing in the New workings & Barn owl also seen there,
A willow warbler was seen feeding 6 chicks,
17 Avocet chicks were on East Holm, with 4 birds still sitting, another 4 chicks were on the Silt pond,
Bumblebees - Common carder, Early & Tree bumblebees,
Butterflies - Large skipper, Small tortoiseshell, Green-veined & Large white butterflies
Dragonflies - Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Large skipper on Crossland's lane
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/28/2025 5:32:43 PM

Tuesday 27th May 2025

The Cuckoo was heard by the Far lake in the morning,
On West Holm, the Pochard family is down to 6 ducklings,
The first Shelduck family of the year of 6 ducklings was on Wets Holm,
Again at least 19 Avocet chicks were counted (with 4 of these on the Silt pond), plus the 3 Oystercatcher chicks previously seen on Crossland's lake,
Also seen was Eygptian goose, Garden warbler & juvenile Yellow wagtail (Reed-bed)


Avocet family in the morning twilight
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/27/2025 4:43:32 PM

Monday 26th May 2025

2 Cattle egrets flew south west over the reserve in the morning,
Up to 4 Cuckoos were seen around the reserve, with a juvenile being fed by a Dunnock being seen,
A female Pochard with 8 ducklings was seen on West Holm,
At least 19 Avocet chicks were seen (with 4 of these on the Silt pond),
Also seen was a pair of Eygptian geese (Silt pond), Yellow wagtail, Garden warbler, Corn bunting Little owl, Marsh harrier, Red kite & Hobby over West Holm & 3 Ringed plovers on East Holm in the early morning,
Bumblebees - Common carder, Early, Garden & Tree bumblebees,
Butterflies - Orange tip, Wall & Large white
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Avocet over the Silt pond
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/26/2025 4:25:15 PM

Sunday 25th May 2025

About 20 Arctic terns flew west over the reserve in the late afternoon,
2 Eygptian geese were on the Village lake, with 15 Canada geese on the Main lake,
Also seen was Cuckoo about the Far lake area, Barn owl, Marsh harrier & 2 Yellow wagtails, plus Hobby & Peregrine hunting the reserve.
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/25/2025 6:36:57 PM

Saturday 24th May 2025

The Cuckoo was calling by the Far lake,
At least 16 Avocet chicks were counted (with one family on the Silt pond),
Also seen was a pair of Eygptian geese on the Village lake
Bumblebees - Tree bumblebee,
Dragonflies - Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Grey heron over the Main lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/24/2025 4:43:29 PM

Friday 23rd May 2025

2 adults & a juvenile Bearded tits were in Cell 'A',
A single Eygptian goose & hobby (New workings) were seen,
Butterflies - Common blue (female), Wall, Large skipper
Dragonflies - Emperor dragonfly & Black-tailed skimmer
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/23/2025 5:21:20 PM

Thursday 22nd May 2025

27 Avocet chicks were counted on East Holm,
Also seen was singing Corn bunting (North field), single Eygptian goose (Village lake), Marsh harrier, Hobby & singing Garden warbler (Silt pond)
Bumblebees - Common carder bumblebee,
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Azure & Blue-tailed damselflies


Avocet over Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/22/2025 4:54:20 PM

Wednesday 21st May 2025

The drake Mandarin was on Cell 'A' during the morning,
A Cuckoo was calling by the Far lake in the morning,
16 Avocet chicks were counted on East Holm,
There are 2 families of 4 Mute swan cygnets each in the New workings & on the Village lake, with a family of 3 Little grebes on Crossland's lake
Also seen was Marsh harrier, Little owl, 4 mobile Eygptian geese & Garden warbler (Silt pond)
Bumblebees - Common carder, Early & Tree bumblebees
Butterflies - Red admiral, Green-veined white & Orange tip,
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Skylark in the New workings
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/21/2025 4:29:38 PM

Tuesday 20th May 2025

At least 22 Avocet chicks were on East Holm, with a pair of Wigeon present,
There were 4 Mute cygnets on the Village lake, with 7 in the New workings,
2 Hobbies were feeding over the reserve in the mid-afternoon,
Finally a Garden warbler was singing by the Carp lake
Butterflies - Large skipper, Brimstone
Dragonflies - Hairy dragonfly, Black-tailed skimmer, 4 Spot chaser, Common blue damselfly


Drake Shoveler on the Reed-bed
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/20/2025 6:31:02 PM

Monday 19th May 2025

2 Spotted flycatchers were by the Viewing platform from the midday onwards,
There was a Dunlin on East Holm, with at least 12 Avocet chicks seen (including one on the Silt pond),
Also seen was a Grey partridge in the North field, 2 Eygptian geese (Crossland's lake), Cuckoo heard nearby the North field, Red kite & Garden warbler along the Silt pond,
Bumblebees - Common carder, Tree & Early bumblebees
Dragonflies - 4 Spot chaser, Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies
Butterflies - Common blue & Small copper


Little ringed plover on East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/19/2025 4:24:19 PM

Sunday 18th May 2025

2 Little terns were briefly seen above Crossland's lake, just after midday,
2 Cattle egrets were seen east of Crossland's hide,
The 2nd summer Little gull again showed itself about East Holm & Crossland's lake,
At least 14 Avocet chicks were counted today, included 2 on the Silt pond,
A Raven was seen to fly to the north,
Also seen was Barn owl (Maize field), 2 Common sandpipers, Cuckoo (by Main lake), Corn bunting (North field), Red kite, Wheatear (by the Silt pond), 2 Yellow wagtails, Black-tailed godwit, Garden warbler (Carp lake) & Marsh harrier
Butterflies - Green-veined white
Bumblebees - Common carder bumblebee
Dragonflies - Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


The Crossland's lake Oystercatcher chicks swimming from one of the islands
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/18/2025 5:31:59 PM

Saturday 17th May 2025

A Redwing was seen in the company of 2 Song thrushes on the West path in the early morning,
The 2nd summer Little gull was seen again over Crossland's lake & East Holm,
Also on East Holm, a Dunlin & Greenshank were present,
A total of 8 Oystercatcher chicks, from 4 parents were counted today (Village  & Crossland's lakes, West Holm & New workings),
Also seen was Cuckoo, Corn bunting (North field), Barn owl (West End), Marsh harrier, Red kite, 4 Eygptian geese (Crossland's lake), 3 drakes & a female Pochard (West Holm), Red kite, 2 Mistle thrushes (West End) & Little owl
Bumblebees - Common carder & Garden bumblebees,
Butterflies - Peacock, Orange tip, Small skipper
Dragonflies - Azure, Blue-tailed & Common blue damselflies


Avocet pair & chick on the shore of East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 5/17/2025 5:39:41 PM