News

Saturday 8th November 2025

In the early morning, there were 10 Whooper swans (including 'kinky-neck') on Crossland's lake that departed to the south,
The single Whooper swan made another morning appearance on Crossland's lake, with another 5 briefly visiting later on, 2 briefly on West Holm & another 6 south in the mid-afternoon,
The Bittern was seen on the Main lake, with the female Goldeneye on the Far lake,
2 Ruffs were on East Holm, with 4 brief Dunlins on Crossland's causeway,
Also seen was Water rail (Island & Village lakes), Treecreeper (East path), pairs of Stonechats (Dragonfly ponds & Cell 'C'), Bearded tits seen & heard on the Reed-bed & Cell 'C', 2 Marsh harriers & a Kingfisher on the Island lake tern posts,
About 40,000 Starlings roosted in Dryham Ings


Whooper swans departing from Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/8/2025 6:55:07 PM

Friday 7th November 2025

A herd of 11 Whooper swans (including 4 juveniles) roosted on the Village lake departing north west, with the Crossland's lake individual being seen intermittently there,
2 Eygptian geese were on East Holm (flying off west), with 3 seen flying south over the Silt pond,
3 Ruff were on East Holm, 3 Dunlin on Crossland's causeway, a Green sandpiper on the 'Bungalow' pond & flocks of 37 & 40 Golden plovers flew south over Crossland's lake,
Again up to 10,000 Starlings roosted in Dryham Ings,
6 Twites were seen on Dryham lane,
Also seen was Marsh harrier, Red kite, Grey wagtail (Crossland's lake), a pair of Stonechats (Dragonfly ponds), Coal tit (Dryham lane) & 40 Reed buntings (North hedge)
Dragonflies - Common darter


Posted By: BJNcw on 11/7/2025 5:31:59 PM

Thursday 6th November 2025

On East Holm today, there were 3 Ruffs & a Dunlin,
A Ringed plover flew south over Crossland's lake, where yesterday's single Whooper swan was also intermittently present,
At least 10,000 Starlings roosted in Dryham Ings, leaving to the north west in the early morning,
About 500 Pink-footed geese flew north west over the reserve
There was a female Goldeneye on the Far lake,
5 Twite were seen in the dead Ash tree along Dryham lane,
Also seen was Water rail (Island lake) & Redpoll (East path)
Bumblebees - Common carder bumblebee


Ruffs & a Dunlin on East Holm
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/6/2025 5:36:31 PM

Wednesday 5th November 2025

A Whooper swan was on Crossland's lake in the morning (12 later flew south), with 2 female Goldeneyes on the Main lake & 5 Shelducks on the Silt pond,
2 Ruffs were on East Holm, with a brief Dunlin on Crossland's causeway & 7 Curlews on the reserve,
About 10,000 Starling roosted on Dryham Ings,
A Great white egret flew southeast over the reserve,
Also seen were Merlin (North field), 2 Marsh harriers, 2 Red kites & Grey wagtail on East Holm,
Dragonflies - Common darter


Whooper swan on Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/5/2025 7:22:00 PM

Tuesday 4th Noveber 2025

In the early morning, there was a single Whooper swan & 2 Eygptian geese on Crossland's lake,
The 2 female Goldeneyes were on the Main lake today,
A flock of about 40 Golden plovers flew south, with the Bittern being seen in the 'Bittern cut' from the Turret hide,
About 10,000 Starlings roosted in Dryham Ings,
Also seen was 4 Ruffs on Crossland's causeway, about 100 Fieldfares west, 3+ Marsh harriers & Peregrine hunting Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/4/2025 7:09:34 PM

Monday 3rd November 2025

9 Whooper swans were briefly on Crossland's lake, including a bird ringed in Iceland in August 2025,
A female Red-crested pochard was on Crossland's lake, with at least 3 female Goldeneyes seen (Far, Main & Crossland's lakes),
3 Ruffs were on East Holm, along with a Grey wagtail,
Also seen was Marsh harrier (West Holm), Red kite (Crossland's lake), Bittern (Village lake), Treecreeper, female Blackcap (both Dryham Lane) & a pair of Stonechats (North hedge)
Dragonflies - Common darter


Female Stonechat facing the breeze in the North hedge
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/3/2025 5:55:04 PM

Sunday 2nd November 2025

9 Whooper swans (including 5 juveniles) were on Crossland's lake, with another joining them a little later on,
A female Goosander overflew the reserve in the mid-morning,
There were 1 or 2 Bitterns seen on either the Main or Village lakes,
A Black-tailed godwit was briefly seen on the Island lake, with 3 Ruffs on East Holm & 11 Curlews on the Village lake,
Again about 6,000 Starlings roosted by Dryham Ings reservoir,
Also seen was Grey wagtail (Crossland's lake), 100 Fieldfares west, 2 Marsh harriers (East Holm), 2 female Goldeneyes (Far lake) & Bearded tit (heard in the north west corner of the Reed-bed)
Butterflies - Comma
Dragonflies - Common darter


Starlings in the Ash tree by Dryham farm
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/2/2025 4:47:06 PM

Saturday 1st November 2025

In the early morning there were brief 2 Whooper swans on Crossland's lake (they flew off to the west) & the 2 female Goldeneyes on the Far lake,
5 Ruffs were on East Holm, with 5 Dunlins circling Crossland's lake & 36 Curlews washing & resting on the Island lake,
Also seen was 2 Marsh harriers (over East Holm), Treecreeper (West path) & about 6,000 Starlings roosting in Cell 'B'


Whooper swan over Crossland's lake
Posted By: BJNcw on 11/1/2025 4:52:53 PM